U.S. Water News Online
MEDFORD, Ore. -- A youth pastor has pleaded guilty to taking water without a permit and using water without authorization.
Pastor Gary Harrington of Trail Christian Fellowship entered the plea. The water feeds three ponds on his Eagle Point property.
``A lot of people have the misconception that they automatically have the right to use that water (on their property), and that's not the case in the state of Oregon,'' said Larry Menteer, Jackson County watermaster.
Harrington, 54, had faced six criminal misdemeanor charges but pleaded guilty to just two violations under an agreement with the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.
County code-enforcement officers noticed in February that Harrington didn't have the proper permits for the ponds, Menteer said.
Harrington refused to allow Oregon State Police or the county watermaster on his property to inspect the ponds, said Janelle McFarland, a state police fish and wildlife trooper. Troopers issued the citations this month after serving Harrington with a search warrant, she said.
Harrington said he pleaded guilty to the violations so he could apply for water rights to his 172 acres. He said he maintains the ponds fed by winter runoff for fire protection. His youth group also swims in the ponds, which are situated near a volleyball court, he said.
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