As used in ORS § 537.332 to 537.360:

Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 537.332

  • Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100

(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]