Oregon Historical County Records Guide
Sherman County Records Inventory
Water Rights Records
1904-1987
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 (i.e., length of time, usage). Original water rights certificates are filed with the Oregon Water Resources Department.
Records at the Sherman County Courthouse, Clerk's Vault:
Certificates of Water Rights [with index], vol. 1,
1914-1959 (1 volume);
[Certificates of Water Rights-with index], vol. 1, 1914-1959 (1 reel of
microfilm);
Deschutes River-Supplemental Findings of Fact and Order of
Determination, 1953 (1 volume);
In the Matter of a Water Resource Program for the John Day River
Basin Hearing Record [State Water Resources Board], 1961
(1 volume);
John Day River and Its Tributaries-Findings and Order of
Determination, 1930 (1 volume);
[Miscellaneous Records-includes water rights, mining claims,
commissioners' journals, marriages, military discharges,
miscellaneous records, and other documents], 1960-1977,
1982-1987 (7 reels of microfilm);
Water Rights [Records-trifolded], 1904-1910 (.15 cu.ft.).
Records at the Sherman County Courthouse, Basement Vault:
H2O Rights Transcripts [Water-includes Helms Creek,
Deschutes River], 1922-1926 (.30 cu.ft.);
Miscellaneous Records [includes water rights, mining claims,
commissioners' journals, marriages, military discharges,
miscellaneous records, and other documents], 1960-1977,
1982-1987 (7 reels of microfilm).