A bill to consent to the Goose Lake Basin Compact between the States of California and Oregon.
PL 98-334 (S.1135), enacted 07/02/1984

PUBLIC LAW 98-334—JULY 2, 1984 
98 STAT. 291 
Public Law 98-334 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To consent to the Goose Lake Basin Compact between the States of CaHfornia and 
July 2, 1984 
Oregon. 
[g. 1135] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of 
Congress is hereby given to the Goose Lake Basin Compact between 
the States of California and Oregon, which compact is as follows: 
"GOOSE LAKE BASIN COMPACT 
"INDEX 
"Article I 
Purposes. 
Article II 
Definition of Terms. 
Article III 
Distribution and Use of Water. 
Article IV 
Administration. 
Article V 
Termination. 
Article VI 
General Provisions. 
Article VII 
Ratification. 
Article VIII 
Federal Rights. 
"ARTICLE I. PURPOSES 
"The major purposes of this compact are: 
"A. To facilitate and promote the orderly, integrated and compre-
hensive development, use, conservation and control of the water 
resources of Goose Lake Basin. 
"B. To further intergovernmental cooperation and comity and to 
remove the causes of present and future controversies by (1) provid-
ing for continued development of the water resources of Goose Lake 
Basin by the States of California and Oregon, and (2) prohibiting the 
export of water from Goose Lake Basin without consent of the 
legislatures of California and Oregon. 
"ARTICLE II. DEFINITION OF TERMS 
"As used in this compact: 
"A. 'Goose Lake Basin' shall mean the drainage area of Goose 
Lake within the States of California and Oregon and all closed 
basins included in the Goose Lake drainage basin as delineated on 
the official map of the Goose Lake Basin which is attached to and 
made a part of this compact. 
"B. 'Person' shall mean the States of Oregon and California, any 
individual and any other entity, public or private. 
"C. 'Water', 'waters' or 'water resources' shall mean any water 
appearing on the surface of the ground in streams, lakes, or other- 
-t ;• 0 
wise, and any water beneath the land surface or beneath the bed of 
98 STAT. 292 
PUBLIC LAW 98-334—JULY 2, 1984 
any stream, lake, reservoir, or other body of surface water within 
the boundaries of Goose Lake Basin. 
"ARTICLE IIL ^^DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF WATER 
"A. There are hereby recognized vested rights to the use of water 
originating in Goose Lake Basin existing as of the effective date of 
this compact and established under the laws of California and 
Oregon. 
"B. Except as provided in this Article, this compact shall not be 
construed as affecting or interfering with appropriation under the 
laws of California and Oregon of unappropriated waters of Goose 
Lake Basin for use within the basin. 
"C. Export of water from Goose Lake Basin for use outside the 
basin without prior consent of both State legislatures is prohibited. 
"D. Each State hereby grants the right for a person to construct, 
and operate facilities for the measurement, diversion, storage, and 
conveyance of water from the Goose Lake Basin in one State for use 
within the basin in the other State, providing the right to such use is 
secured by appropriation under the general laws administered by 
the Water Resources Director of the State of Oregon or the Water 
Rights Board of California and the laws of the State from which the 
water is to be taken shall control. 
"E. Should any facilities be constructed in one State to implement 
use of water in the other State, the construction, operation, repairs 
and replacements of such facilities shall be subject to the laws of the 
State in which the facilities are constructed. 
"ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATION 
"No commission or administrative body is necessary to administer 
this compact. 
"ARTICLE V. TERMINATION 
"This compact may be terminated at any time by consent of the 
legislatures of California and Oregon and upon such termination all 
rights then established hereunder shall continue unimpaired. 
"ARTICLE VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS 
"Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit, or prevent 
any State from instituting or maintaining any action or proceeding, 
legal or equitable, in any court having jurisdiction thereof for the 
protection of any right under this compact or the enforcement of 
any of its provisions. 
"ARTICLE VII. RATIFICATION 
Congress. 
"A. This compact shall become operative when ratified by the 
legislatures of California and Oregon and consented to by the Con-
gress of the United States. 
"B. This compact shall remain in full force and effect until 
amended in the same manner as is required for it to be ratified to 
become operative or until terminated. 
"C. A copy of any proposed amendments to or termination of this 
compact shall be filed with the Board of Supervisors of Modoc 
County, California, and the County Court of Lake County, Oregon, 
PUBLIC LAW 98-334—JULY 2, 1984 
98 STAT. 293 
at least 30 days prior to any legislative consideration by the legisla-
tures of the States of California and Oregon. 
"ARTICLE VIIL FEDERAL RIGHTS 
"Nothing in this compact shall be deemed: 
"A. To impair or affect the existing rights or powers of the United 
States of America, its agencies, or instrumentalities, in and to the 
use of the waters of the Goose Lake Basin nor its capacity to acquire 
rights in and to the use of said waters. 
"B. To subject any property of the United States of Anierica, its Taxes. 
agencies or instrumentalities, to taxation by any State or subdivi-
sion thereof, nor to create an obligation on the part of the United 
States of America, its agencies or instrumentalities by reason of the 
acquisition, construction or operation of any property or works of 
whatsoever kind, to make any payments to any State or political 
subdivision thereof. State agency, municipality or entity, whatso-
ever in reimbursement for the loss of taxes. 
"C. To subject any property of the United States of America, its 
agencies or instrumentalities, to the laws of any State to any extent 
other than the extent to which these laws would apply without 
regard to the compact.". 
Approved July 2, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1135: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-841 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-397 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
May 1, considered and passed Senate. 
June 18, considered and passed House.