(1) The appropriation of water for the purpose of recharging ground water basins or reservoirs is declared to be for a beneficial purpose. Permits for such appropriation may be granted by the Water Resources Department on application made therefor. Any such application shall substantially comply with ORS § 537.140 and shall be subject to the provisions of ORS § 537.150 to 537.230, as are other applications and permits to appropriate water.

(2) Any person proposing to apply to a beneficial use the water stored artificially in any such ground water basin or reservoir shall file an application for permit, to be known as the secondary permit, in compliance with the provisions of ORS § 537.130, 537.140, 537.142 and 537.145 to 537.230. The application shall refer to the artificially recharged ground water basin or reservoir as a supply of water and shall include the written consent of the holder of the recharge permit or certificate to appropriate the artificially recharged water.

(3) The Water Resources Commission shall develop standards that an applicant must meet before the department approves a permit to appropriate water for the purpose of recharging ground water.

(4) Before issuing a permit for the purpose of recharging ground water, the department shall determine, under ORS § 537.170, whether the proposed ground water recharge project would impair or be detrimental to the public interest.

(5) The department shall not issue a ground water recharge permit unless the supplying stream has a minimum perennial streamflow established for the protection of aquatic and fish life. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife may waive this prerequisite if a minimum perennial streamflow for protection of aquatic and fish life is not required for the supplying stream. [1961 c.402 § 1; 1985 c.673 § 26; 1987 c.499 § 1; 1995 c.416 § 3]