Or. Admin. Code § 690-077-0010

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 12, December 1, 2024

Section 690-077-0010 - Definitions

As used in this Division:

(1) "Affected Local Government" means any local government, as defined in OAR 690-005-0015, within whose jurisdiction the diversion, conveyance, instream or out-of-stream use, or reservation of water is proposed or established.

(2) "Agency" means ODFW, DEQ and Parks.

(3) "Beneficial Use" means the reasonably efficient use of water without waste for a purpose consistent with the laws, rules and the best interests of the people of the state.

(4) "Comment" means a written statement concerning a particular application. The comment may identify elements of the application which, in the opinion of the commenter, would conflict with an existing water right or would impair or be detrimental to the public interest.

(5) "Commission" means the Water Resources Commission

(6) "Contested Case" means a hearing as defined in ORS 183.310(2) and conducted according to the procedures described in ORS Chapter 537, 183.413 to 183.470 and OAR chapter 690, division 2.

(7) "DEQ" means the Department of Environmental Quality

(8) "Department" means the Water Resources Department

(9) "Director" means the director of the Water Resources Department.

(10) "Estimated Average Natural Flow" means average natural flow estimates derived from watermaster distribution records, Department measurement records and application of appropriate available scientific and hydrologic technology.

(11) "Held in Trust by the Water Resources Department" means that the water right must be enforced and protected for the public uses listed in the water right. Actions by the Department affecting instream water rights are limited by public trust obligations.

(12) "Instream" as defined in ORS 537.332, means within the natural stream channel or lake bed or place where water naturally flows or occurs.

(13) "Instream flow" means the minimum quantity of water necessary to support the public use requested by an agency.

(14) "Instream lease" means the conversion of all or a portion of an existing water use subject to transfer to an instream water right for a specified time-period as authorized by ORS 537.348(2).

(15) "Instream transfer" means the conversion of all or a portion of an existing water use subject to transfer to an instream water right as authorized by ORS 537.348(1).

(16) "Instream Water Right" as defined in ORS 537.332, means a water right held in trust by the Water Resources Department for the benefit of the people of the state of Oregon to maintain water instream for public use. An instream water right does not require a diversion or any other means of physical control over the water.

(17) "Minimum Streamflow" also "minimum perennial streamflow," means an administrative rule provision adopted in a basin program by the Water Resources Commission or its predecessors to implement ORS 536.235, 536.310(7) and 536.325 and support aquatic life, maintain recreation or minimize pollution.

(18) "Multipurpose Storage Project" means any storage project which is designed and operated to provide significant public benefits and provides for more than two beneficial uses and/or purposes.

(19) "ODFW" means the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

(20) "ODFW flow restoration priority watershed" means a geographic area identified by ODFW where there is a need for flow restoration during a specified season(s) to support fish recovery under the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. The ODFW flow restoration priority watersheds are identified in Figures 1 to 18.

(21) "Parks" means the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

(22) "Planned" means a determination has been made for a specific course of action either by legislative, administrative or budgetary action of a public body, or by engineering, design work, or other investment toward approved construction by the public or private sector.

(23) "Planned Uses" means the use or uses of water or land which has/have been planned as defined in this rule. Such uses include but are not limited to the policies, provisions, and maps contained in acknowledged city or county comprehensive plans and land use regulations.

(24) "Pollution Abatement" means the use of water to dilute, transport or prevent pollution.

(25) "Protest" means a written statement, filed in accordance with OAR chapter 690, division 2, and the applicable provisions of this division or division 380, expressing disagreement with an action or proposed action by the Department that, under applicable law, may entitle the person filing the protest to become a party to a contested case hearing.

(26) "Public Benefit," as defined in ORS 537.332, means a benefit that accrues to the public at large rather than to a person, a small group of persons or to a private enterprise.

(27) "Public Use," as defined in ORS 537.332, includes but is not limited to:

(a) Recreation;

(b) Conservation, maintenance and enhancement of aquatic and fish life, wildlife, fish and wildlife habitat and any other ecological values;

(c) Pollution abatement; or

(d) Navigation.

(28) "Recreation" as a public use of water means any form of play relaxation, or amusement, mostly done during leisure, that occurs in or in conjunction with streams, lakes and reservoirs, including but not limited to boating, fishing, swimming, wading, and viewing scenic attractions.

(29) "Scenic Attraction" means a picturesque natural feature or setting of a lake or stream, including but not limited to waterfalls, rapids, pools, springs, wetlands and islands that create viewer interest, fascination, admiration or attention.

(30) "Split Season Use" means the exercise of a water right in the same season defined by the water right in the same calendar year for both the existing purpose of the water right and for an instream purpose, provided that water is not used for the existing purpose during the period in which the water is to be protected instream.

(31) "Time-Limited Instream Transfer," means an instream transfer authorized under ORS 537.348(1) that is not permanent and under which the water right will revert back to its original use:

(a) Without further action by the Department at the end of the period of time specified in the final order approving the instream transfer; or

(b) On a determination by the Department that other conditions, specified in the final order approving the instream transfer, for termination have been met.

(32) "Unappropriated Water Available" means water that exceeds the quantities required to meet existing water rights of record, minimum streamflows and instream water rights and for known and yet to be quantified Native American treaty rights.

(33) "Water Purveyor" means any entity formed for the purpose of delivering water supply to water right holders.

(34) "Water quality limited" has the meaning provided in the OAR 340-041.

Or. Admin. Code § 690-077-0010

WRD 20-1988, f. & cert. ef. 11-4-88; WRD 12-1990, f. & cert. ef. 8-8-90; WRD 9-1992, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-92; WRD 1-1995, f. & cert. ef. 2-14-95; WRD 5-1995(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-4-95; WRD 1-1996, f. & cert. ef. 1-31-96; WRD 8-2001, f. & cert. ef. 12-14-01; WRD 4-2006, f. & cert .ef. 10-2-06

Stat. Auth.: ORS 197, 536.025, 536.027, 536.220, 536.310, 536.332, 537.338 & 537.356 - 537.358

Stats. Implemented: ORS 537.332 - 537.360