Oregon Historical County Records Guide
Grant County Records Inventory
Water Rights Records
1862-1986
Series documents the authorization by the state and local governments for the use of public waters. Series includes water rights, licenses, and certificates of water rights issued by the state and filed with the county. Records may include alphabetical indexes to the certificates, transcripts, statements, evidence, and other records specifically related to water rights cases heard by circuit and appellate courts. Information includes names of individuals proving water rights; locations of water rights including the township, range, and section number; descriptions of land under such rights; and limitations of appropriations of rights and use of rights (e.g., length of time, usage). Original water rights certificates are filed with the Oregon Water Resources Department.
Records at the Grant County Courthouse, Basement Vault:
Adjudication Claims Settled by Decree [John Day River Water Rights
Records-includes adjudications, certificates, petitions, exceptions, and objections-records
transferred from county clerk to watermaster], ca.1913-ca.1961
(2.50 cu.ft.);
Circuit Court Concerning John Day River Adjudication
[includes transcripts of testimony, bills of execution, and
original evidence-title varies], 1887-1959 (2 cu.ft.);
Circuit Court Misc. Exhibits [Miscellaneous Exhibits and Files-includes water
rights cases], 1925-1940 (2.25 cu.ft.);
Water Misc Proof of Labor [Miscellaneous Mining Claim and Water Rights Documents], 1884-1902 (1 binder).
Records at the Grant County Courthouse, Clerk's Office:
Index to Mining Records Canyon Creek and Marysville [includes water
rights],
1862-1863 (1 volume);
Mining Claim Record [includes water rights-with
index], vol. C, 1864-1879 (1 volume);
Mining Record Canyon Creek and Marysville [includes water rights],
1862-1863
(1 volume); 1862-1863 (4 sheets of microfiche);
[Mining Record-includes river claims, bills of sale, bank claims, gulch claims,
and water rights], 1862-1865 (1 binder);
Record [Water Rights], 1878-1900 (1
volume);
[Water Rights Index], vol. B, 1878-1900 (1 volume);
Water Rights Record [also indexes volume G-with index], vol. C-F,
1900-1971 (4 volumes);
[Water Rights Record], vol. G, 1971-1985 (1 inch of aperture cards).
Records at the Grant County Courthouse, Clerk's Break Room:
[Water Rights Record], vol. G, 1971-1985 (1 inch of aperture
cards).
Records at the Grant County Courthouse, Planning Department Office:
Instream Water Rights John Day Basin, 1986-n.d. (2 maps).