Whenever the title to lands within a district has been or is acquired by the county within which the land is located, by foreclosure of tax liens or otherwise, the county court or board of county commissioners, upon request of the district, may make application under the provisions of ORS 540.505 to 540.585 to have the water rights appurtenant to such lands transferred to other lands within the district which are owned by the county or privately owned.
ORS 540.545