ORS 537.332: Definitions for ORS 537.332 to 537.360.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
As used in ORS 537.332 to 537.360: (1) “In-stream” means within the natural stream channel or lake bed or place where water naturally flows or occurs. (2) “In-stream flow” means the minimum quantity of water necessary to support the public use requested by an agency. (3) “In-stream water right” 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 in-stream for public use. An in-stream water right does not require a diversion or any other means of physical control over the water. (4) “Public benefit” 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. (5) “Public use” 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. [1987 c.859 §2; 1995 c.416 §32]
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 340-056-0015: Policy — authority
- OAR 340-056-0100: Definitions — authority
- OAR 340-056-0200: Selection of Receiving Waters for Instream Water Rights Application — implements
- OAR 340-056-0200: Selection of Receiving Waters for Instream Water Rights Application — authority
- OAR 340-056-0300: Instream Water Rights Evaluation and Application Procedures — implements
- OAR 340-056-0300: Instream Water Rights Evaluation and Application Procedures — authority
- OAR 340-056-0320: Periodic Review of Instream Water Rights — implements
- OAR 340-056-0320: Periodic Review of Instream Water Rights — authority
- OAR 340-056-0400: Flow Determination Methodology — implements
- OAR 340-056-0400: Flow Determination Methodology — authority
- OAR 690-013-0005: Introduction — implements
- OAR 690-013-0010: Definitions — implements
- OAR 690-013-0030: Eligibility to Petition — implements
- OAR 690-013-0050: Individual Applications — implements
- OAR 690-013-0070: Interim Transfers — implements
- OAR 690-013-0100: District Petitions — implements
- OAR 690-013-0110: Requests for Additional Information — implements
- OAR 690-013-0150: District Shall Certify Petition — implements
- OAR 690-013-0310: Processing of Petition — implements
- OAR 690-013-0350: Field Verification of the Petition and Map — implements
- OAR 690-077-0000: Purpose — implements
- OAR 690-077-0010: Definitions — implements
- OAR 690-077-0019: State Agency Instream Water Right Applications: Process for Instream Water Right Certificate Requests — implements
- OAR 690-077-0019: State Agency Instream Water Right Applications: Process for Instream Water Right Certificate Requests — authority
- OAR 690-077-0020: State Agency Instream Water Right Applications: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 690-077-0027: Application Processing: Completeness Review — implements
- OAR 690-077-0029: Application Processing: Initial Review — implements
- OAR 690-077-0031: Application Processing: Public Notice and Comments — implements
- OAR 690-077-0033: Application Processing: Public Interest Presumption — implements
- OAR 690-077-0037: Application Processing: Public Interest Review — implements
- OAR 690-077-0039: Application Processing: Proposed Final Order — implements
- OAR 690-077-0043: Application Processing: Protests and Conduct of Contested Case; Final Orders on Default when No Protest Filed — implements
- OAR 690-077-0047: Application Processing: Final Orders — implements
- OAR 690-077-0048: Application Processing: Final Public Interest Determination — implements
- OAR 690-077-0049: Application Processing: Statement of Findings — implements
- OAR 690-077-0051: Application Processing: Contested Case Hearing on Final Order that Modifies Proposed Final Order — implements
- OAR 690-077-0052: Application Processing: Time Requirements — implements
- OAR 690-077-0053: Application Processing: Issuance of Instream Water Right Certificate — implements
- OAR 690-077-0054: Conversion of Minimum Perennial Streamflows to Instream Water Rights — implements
- OAR 690-077-0065: Instream Transfers and Leases: General Provisions — implements
- OAR 690-077-0065: Instream Transfers and Leases: General Provisions — authority
- OAR 690-077-0076: Application for an Instream Lease — implements
- OAR 690-077-0077: Processing an Instream Lease Application — authority
- OAR 690-077-0079: Split Season Use Instream Leasing — implements
- OAR 690-077-0105: Application for Expedited Instream Lease Renewal — authority
- OAR 690-077-0110: Processing an Application for Instream Lease Renewal — authority
- OAR 690-512-0010: Definitions — implements
This rule cites
- ORS 537.332 — resolved
- 537.360 — resolved
Cited by
- ORS 537.040: Registration of water for road construction, maintenance or reconstruction; fee; annual renewal statement; limitations; rules.
- ORS 537.334: Findings.
- ORS 537.343: Proposed final order; conditions.
- ORS 537.352: Precedence of uses.
- ORS 537.354: In-stream water right subject to emergency water shortage provisions.
- ORS 537.470: Allocation of conserved water by commission; criteria; percentage to state; certificates showing change in original water right.
- ORS 537.746: Mitigation credits for projects in Deschutes River Basin; relationship to water made available; rules; annual report.
- ORS 537.803: Application proposing use of water outside of basin of origin; contents.
- OAR 340-056-0100: Definitions
- OAR 635-400-0000: Purpose
- OAR 635-400-0010: Definitions
- OAR 690-018-0012: Allocation Formula and Process
- OAR 690-018-0080: Management of Conserved Water
- OAR 690-051-0010: Definitions
- OAR 690-052-0010: Definitions
- OAR 690-077-0000: Purpose
- OAR 690-077-0010: Definitions
- OAR 690-077-0047: Application Processing: Final Orders
- OAR 690-077-0090: Miscellaneous Provisions: Drought Emergency Provisions
- OAR 690-512-0010: Definitions
- OAR 736-060-0000: Purpose
- OAR 736-060-0040: Purchase, Lease, or Gift of Water Rights for Instream Water Rights
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors537.html