ORS 537.356: Request for reservation of unappropriated water for future economic development; priority date of reservation.

(1) Any local government, local watershed council or state agency or any other individual cooperating jointly with a local government, local watershed council or state agency may request the Water Resources Commission to reserve unappropriated water for multipurpose storage for future economic development.

      (2) A request under subsection (1) of this section shall be in writing on a form provided by the Water Resources Department. Before deciding whether to approve the request and initiate a rulemaking process, the commission shall request comments from any local government or watershed council within the geographic area or basin affected by the request. The comment period shall be closed not later than 120 days after the request is submitted.

      (3) The priority date for any reservation established under this section shall be the date on which the commission takes action to initiate the rulemaking process.