As used in ORS 537.332 to 537.360:\n(1) 'In-stream' means within the natural stream channel or lake bed or place where water naturally flows or occurs.\n(2) 'In-stream flow' means the minimum quantity of water necessary to support the public use requested by an agency.\n(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.\n(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.\n(5) 'Public use' includes but is not limited to:\n(a) Recreation;\n(b) Conservation, maintenance and enhancement of aquatic and fish life, wildlife, fish and wildlife habitat and any other ecological values;\n(c) Pollution abatement; or\n(d) Navigation. [1987 c.859 §2; 1995 c.416 §32]
Oregon Legal Code