Early ownership consisted of  several smaller for-profit entities.

In 1954 Santiam Water Control District was formed to purchase and operate the Willamette Valley Irrigated Lands Company assets.

Between 1956 and the mid 1960’s many small organizations merged or were bought out by SWCD (Porter Improvement Co, Marion irrigation, Mt States Power Co etc.)

In 1966 SWCD purchased the assets of David Reid and the Mt states power co. This included Bennett dams, ditches and canals and water rights with priority date of 1866.