Section 1501.30. Great lakes charter provision definitions

(A) As used in sections 1501.30 to 1501.35 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Consumptive use" means a use of water resources, other than a diversion, that results in a loss of that water to the basin from which it is withdrawn and includes, but is not limited to, evaporation, evapotranspiration, and incorporation of water into a product or agricultural crop.

(2) "Diversion" means a withdrawal of water resources from either the Lake Erie or Ohio river drainage basin and transfer to another basin without return. "Diversion" does not include evaporative loss within the basin of withdrawal.

(3) "Other great lakes states and provinces" means states other than this state that are parties to the great lakes basin compact under Chapter 6161. of the Revised Code and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

(4) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any state, any political subdivision of a state, and any department, division, board, commission, agency, or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state.

(5) "Water resources" means any waters of the state that are available or may be made available to agricultural, industrial, commercial, and domestic users.

(6) "Waters of the state" includes all streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems, and other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, regardless of the depth of the strata in which underground water is located, that are situated wholly or partly within or border upon this state or are within its jurisdiction.

(B) The chief of the division of soil and water resources of the department of natural resources shall define "Lake Erie drainage basin" and "Ohio river drainage basin" for the purposes of sections 1501.30 to 1501.35 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 7/17/2009.

Effective Date: 06-29-1988