Oregon farmers file lawsuit over distribution of water

SALEM, Ore. — Some northeast Oregon farmers filed a federal complaint alleging they were cheated out of water that was given to larger operations.

The growers are seeking nearly $3 million in damages and an injunction requiring the Echo-based Westland Irrigation District to properly deliver water, the Capital Press newspaper reported.

The complaint alleges that water intended for 10 small farms with senior water rights was delivered to three large operations that have junior water rights. It contends the district used several tactics to facilitate “large scale theft,” including fraudulent accounting and improper contracts.

“Defendant’s misappropriation of plaintiffs’ senior water rights has deprived plaintiffs of the opportunity to double crop their farms and shifted that lucrative opportunity to junior water rights holders in violation of Oregon water rights law.”

District general manager Mike Wicks told the newspaper that he could not speak about the pending litigation.

The suit says the farms that diverted more water than what’s allowed — L&L Farms, Eagle Ranch and Amstad Farms — all span more than 5,000 acres. Those on the losing end are fewer than 1,000 acres.

Those who sued include ELH LLC, Oregon Hereford Ranch, Paul Gelissen, Maurice and Lucy Ziemer, Frank Mueller, Craig and Cynthia Parks and Richard and Kristine Carpenter.

Dixie Echeverria, co-owner of ELH LLC, said she was alerted to the problem when her company didn’t receive all the water it was entitled to this spring.