Oregon well levels are dropping, and the situation is getting another look as agriculture, fishery and environmental advocates ask lawmakers for a better idea how much water is being used and whether steps are needed to protect rivers, farms and rural residents.

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Cities, irrigation districts and other large users are required to take steps to replace the water they pump out. That includes buying water from other irrigators through a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

But people who drill new domestic wells – there were 461 of them in Deschutes County from 2004 to 2006 – can pump without any remedy.

Dingfelder has sponsored a bill that would have the state review all requests for domestic well permits.

The Oregon Water Resources Department estimates that there are 230,000 exempt wells in Oregon, growing by 3,000 a year.

Source: www.statesmanjournal.com