11 replies to this topic

[Cat]

Talk about government out of control... they say this man isn't allowed to have three ponds on his over-170 acres of land. All water is "publicly owned" and subject to the state's control.

Harrington said the case first began in 2002, when state water managers told him there were complaints about the three “reservoirs” – ponds – on his more than 170 acres of land.

According to Oregon water laws, all water is publicly owned. Therefore, anyone who wants to store any type of water on their property must first obtain a permit from state water managers.

Harrington said he applied for three permits to legally house reservoirs for storm and snow water runoff on his property. One of the “reservoirs” had been on his property for 37 years, he said.

Though the state Water Resources Department initially approved his permits in 2003, the state – and a state court -- ultimately reversed the decision.

“They issued me my permits. I had my permits in hand and they retracted them just arbitrarily, basically. They took them back and said ‘No, you can’t have them,’ so I’ve been fighting it ever since,” Harrington told CNSNews.com.

The case, he said, is centered on a 1925 law which states that the city of Medford holds exclusive rights to “all core sources of water” in the Big Butte Creek watershed and its tributaries.

(More at site)
http://cnsnews.com/n...ty#dsq-comments

[dogmom4]

That is crazy....

[Louis1]

That is crazy....

This is the new normal.

Keep your eyes and ears open ,the times are changing FAST.

[Mt_Rider]

In considering a different climate to live in, we looked at Oregon.....then...backed away s l o w l y...and shut the door quietly. Horrible government despite such a lovely land.


...although water rights in CO have been just as nasty. We can NOW have water catchment from the roofs. Been illegal until recently.


MtRider [...looking for that 'hidden valley' somewhere to ride out the waves of insanity coming....arriving..... ]

[homeschoolshe]

Frankly this scares the daylights out of me......owning rights to rainwater??????? Hey that cloud had my name on it! (see, even that isn't funny to me today). Hmmm, nope, no appropriate jokes for this. Even my shrug your shoulders and just keep moving doesn't help this one.

So what do we do? How bout dropping a barrel underground under the tile line. slice a good slot on the bottom of the black and let about half run downward and the rest out the bottom....see it's coming out the bottom the tile line. ..nothing to look at here, move along folks. Maybe not as good, but easier to get done in town without suspicion, how about some buckets hidden in the bushes. Plant bushes under the downspouts, raise up the elbow so it goes straight through the middle of the bushes and slit open the bottom over the bucket.

Reminds me of the Tim Hawkins song "The Government Can" . "Who can tax the sunshine...... Okay, found my happy place!

[Cat]

I wonder if the old-fashioned cistern might be a good investment?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistern

http://www.motherear...ad-Cistern.aspx

[Midnightmom]

I posted this article in on another board with this question: "Do you think they would stretch the no water saving rule to include people who store water in their homes for emergencies?" Watcha' think???

[Jeepers]

I posted this article in on another board with this question: "Do you think they would stretch the no water saving rule to include people who store water in their homes for emergencies?" Watcha' think???

I thought the same thing. Except the water I store at home comes from the city and I PAID FOR IT!
That would be my answer if someone would ever come knocking.

What about pool water? Most people fill their pools at the beginning of the season but what about the rain that keeps it filled? It's so hard for me to wrap my head around not being able to collect rain that falls from the sky. But I remember a time when the gas stations starting charging for air and people thought that was crazy. And when they started pay TV. How in the world can they charge you to watch TV? They figured out how...cable.

Sometimes it pays to be old. You can remember how things used to be and how far we can sink.

[Midnightmom]

30 day JAIL sentence and $1500 FINE for "collecting" rainwater!!!



http://www.youtube.c...eature=youtu.be

Edited by Midnightmom, 31 July 2012 - 02:47 PM.

[dogmom4]

Is Oregon the only state that has these restrictions?

[Mt_Rider]

Nope...gotta be wary in the western states.

Bum deal when he HAD permission and they changed their minds....for what reason and CAN they do that? He'd invested by then. The govt is not supposed to overburden the constituents.


I think that includes the small business owner!!!!


MtRider [..CO has some real doozey water laws. ]

[CrabGrassAcres]

Colorado's water laws are what keep me from moving back there. Total insanity. Texas has pretty decent water laws. You do own the water in your stock tanks. It is legal to use gray water on your lawn or crops. Not even allowed to do that in CO.