Or. Admin. Code § 690-009-0020

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 11, November 1, 2024

Section 690-009-0020 - Definitions

(1) "Confined Aquifer" means an aquifer in which groundwater is under sufficient hydrostatic head to rise above the bottom of the overlying confining bed, whether or not the water rises above land surface.

(2) "Confining Bed" means a layer of low permeability material immediately overlying a confined aquifer.

(3) "Department" means the Water Resources Department, its Director, and all personnel employed by the Department.

(4) "Hydraulic Connection" means saturated conditions exist allowing water to move between two or more sources of water, either between groundwater and surface water or between groundwater sources.

(5) "Potential for Substantial Interference," or "PSI," means a groundwater use will cause Streamflow Depletion based on the assessments described in OAR 690-009-0040 for Proposed Groundwater Use or OAR 690-009-0060 for groundwater controls.

(6) "Proposed Groundwater Use" means an application to appropriate groundwater pursuant to ORS 536.750, ORS 537.143, or ORS 537.615 that is under consideration with the Department.

(7) "Streamflow Depletion" means a reduction in the flow of a surface water source due to pumping a hydraulically connected groundwater source. Streamflow Depletion encompasses:

(a) captured groundwater that would otherwise discharge to a surface water source; or

(b) induced infiltration from a surface water source to the hydraulically connected groundwater source.

(8) "Unconfined Aquifer" means an aquifer in which the hydrostatic head at the upper surface of the groundwater is atmospheric.

Or. Admin. Code § 690-009-0020

WRD 17-1988, f. & cert. ef. 11-4-88; WRD 5-2024, amend filed 09/17/2024, effective 9/17/2024

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 537 & ORS 536.027

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 537