About OWRC

The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC) was founded in 1912 to protect
water rights and encourage conservation and water management statewide.

Mission History Membership Services Organization and Staff Board of Directors

The mission of the Oregon Water Resources Congress is to promote the protection and use of water rights and the wise stewardship of water resources.

Pivot Sprinkler in Action in the Umatilla Basin

To meet our mission, OWRC will always:

S Fight for protection of water rights

S Actively steer a legislative agenda

S Represent their member's collective interests

S Be a technical resource to its members

S Advocate on behalf of its members

S Disseminate information to its members

A pre-fabricated structure commonly used by
settlers during the development of an irrigated farm.

Concrete-lined ditches used to convey water
from the Owyhee Project in the 1960's.

History

The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC), incorporated in 1912, represents local governments throughout Oregon that provide irrigation water. These entities and the thousands of water users they supply embody the associations founding principles to promote the development, control, conservation, preservation and utilization of land and water resources of the State of Oregon.

The "Congress" is an association of local governments, a non-profit trade association originally incorporated in Oregon in 1912. The original association was entitled the Oregon Irrigation Congress, but was broadened to become the Oregon Reclamation Congress when it was joined by the Oregon Drainage Association. Later, the Oregon Association of Soil Conservation Districts joined with the Reclamation Congress. Through the years other forms of water districts and local governments joined with these water suppliers so that the membership now includes a number of ports, cities, counties, drainage, irrigation, water control and water improvement districts, along with associations of water users. The name of the association was changed once again on October 27, 1970 to the Oregon Water Resources Congress to embody the full range of local government membership it represents.

OWRC identifies issues of concern to the membership on an immediate basis through the association's web site and email listserve. The association represents its members' interests in Oregon before the legislature, promoting legislative changes to meet the members' needs; supporting positions at natural resource agency hearings and rulemakings; and participating in other forums where water issues are the agenda.

For over 90 years OWRC has represented its members’ interests before the Oregon Legislature and nationally before Congress promoting legislation to meet members’ needs.

Membership Services

Legislative Services

OWRC provides an experienced voice in Salem and Washington, D.C. OWRC sponsors state and federal legislation to meet its members’ needs and supports its agenda through the political process at the State and Federal level.

S Federal program:

Washington DC

Salem1
State Capitol
Salem, Oregon

Washington D.C. lobbyist

Washington D.C. Congressional visits

Interaction with Oregon’s Congressional delegation

Member of the National Water Resources Association

Member of the Family Farm Alliance

S State program:

Salem lobbyist

Host irrigation district tours for Legislators

Service on state agency rulemaking committees

Member of Ag-PAC Educational Services

Coordination with other associations with shared interests

Information and Training

OWRC provides training, educational, and networking opportunities for its members.

S Annual conference

S Bi-annual water law seminar

S Topical workshops

S Daily news summary on topics of interest

S Annual district survey

S Membership directory

S Policy and planning workbooks (such as conservation plan guidance, easement protection, and other issues)

OWRC Membership Directory

Irrigation in the Deschutes Basin

A directory of OWRC members is published annually.
Contact information for OWRC Members in the various categories is provided below:

S Local Government District Members

S Professional Services Affiliate Members
(Attorneys, Consultants, Suppliers, and Farms)

S Associations and Government Affiliate Members

S Individual Members

S Life Members

To find out more information about OWRC membership, or to apply for membership, please visit our Membership page or contact the OWRC office at (503)363-0121.

OWRC Organization and Staff

OWRC programs are carried out by the combined efforts of volunteer and professional staff. The business of the organization is managed by a eight-member Executive Committee and a 27-member Board of Directors supported by the central staff. You may direct email to OWRC staff or board members: E-mail OWRC

OWRC STAFF

Anita Winkler, Executive Director
April Snell, Assistant Director
Lea Rasura, Office Administrator

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONSULTANTS

Peter Carlson, Will and Carlson
Kristina McNitt, KLM Consulting, Inc

2008 OWRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Executive Committee

President, Larry Trosi, Santiam Water Control District
Vice-President, Chuck Wilcox, Hermiston Irrigation District
Treasurer, Jay Chamberlin, Owyhee Irrigation District
Secretary, Shawn Gerdes, Arnold Irrigation District
Past President, Jim Pendleton, Talent Irrigation District
At Large, Elmer McDaniels, Tumalo Irrigation District
At Large, Doug MacDougal, Schwabe Williamson Wyatt LLP

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Region 1
Bob Koenig, Santiam Water Control District
Joe Rutledge, Tualatin Valley Irrigation District

Region 2
Herman Baertshiger, Ft. Vannoy Irrigation District
Blair Nash, Sutherlin Water Control District

Region 3
Jason Chapman, Klamath Irrigation District
Dave Solem, Klamath Irrigation District

Region 4
Russ Rhoden, Ochoco Irrigation District
Marc Thalacker, Three Sisters Irrigation District

Region 5
John Buckley, East Fork Irrigation District
Mike Richardson, The Dalles Irrigation District

Region 6
Bev Bridgewater, West Extension Irrigation District
Ray Kopacz, Stanfield Irrigation District

Region 7
Vacant

Region 8
Ron Kiester, Ridgeview Irrigation District
Scott Ward, Vale Oregon Irrigation District

Affiliates
Steve Bruce, EnviroLogic Resources, Inc
David Filippi, Stoel Rives, LLP
Douglas MacDougal, Schwabe, Williamson, Wyatt, LLP
David Newton, Newton Consultants

At Large
Terry Buchholz, David Evans and Associates, Inc.
Elmer McDaniels, Tumalo Irrigation District
Brian Nakamura, East Fork Irrigation District
Steve Shropshire, Jordan Schrader Ramis

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About OWRC

The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC) was founded in 1912 to protect water rights and encourage conservation and water management statewide.

OWRC Organization and Staff

The Oregon Water Resources Congress (OWRC) was founded in 1912 to protect
water rights and encourage conservation and water management statewide.