Oregon Water Resources Department
Electronic Public Comments
Transfer: T 13944
Main
Help
Return
Contact Us
Records per page:
Date
Name
Company
Comment
Art Papathanassopoulos
I object to the change of use application. Cert. 54635 1. Water is limited in Thomas creek and its tributaries especially during irrigation months. 2. Irrigation rights are very different to the water right use applied for to cool chickens and operate an extremely large industrial-size enclosed operation no matter what the operators claim their total use will be. 3. Approval of change of use de facto allows them to use a minimum of 10,000,000 gallons per annum, the required water usage for an operation like this, by exploiting the livestock drinking water exemption loophole. The original irrigation water right was never intended to provide that level of water usage from Thomas Creek and wells within a quarter mile of Thomas Creek and its tributaries. 3. Oregon Fish and Wildlife should comment on in-stream flows and the threat to fish in Thomas Creek due to this proposed change of use and intended resulting 10,000,000 gallon per annum withdrawal. 4. It is my opinion that the applicant's statement that the water right was used during the previous five years based on "professional expertise" is insufficient, misleading and erroneous. Given his recent purchase of the property he should provide documentation to prove his assertions. It is common knowledge throughout the local community of farmers that said water rights have not been exercised in the last 15 years or more. The applicant's Evidence of Use Affidavit makes a mockery of this process.