As used in this part:

1. (1)

   1. (A) “Agricultural irrigation science technical workgroup” means a voluntary group of technical experts and stakeholders who will assist the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission in ensuring the best possible data and science is used to support agricultural water policy decisions.
   2. (B) The Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will empanel the members;

2. (2)

   1. (A) “Arkansas Method” means the methodology used to determine instream flow needs for fisheries when calculating the amount of water that is legally available for nonriparian use.
   2. (B) The Arkansas Method divides a year into three (3) seasons based on physical processes that occur in the stream and critical life cycle stages of fish and other aquatic organisms.
   3. (C) The mean monthly flow (MMF) of a stream is determined from the gauging network and records.
   4. (D) From November to March, the Arkansas Method specifies that sixty percent (60%) of MMF is required, from April to June seventy percent (70%) of MMF is needed, and from July to October fifty percent (50%) of MMF is necessary;

3. (3) “Conjunctive water management” means use of surface water and groundwater in combination to improve water availability and reliability; (4) “Integrated irrigation water conservation practices” means irrigation practices that conserve surface water, groundwater, and energy as well as reducing:

   1. (A) Financial costs;
   2. (B) Sediment load; and
   3. (C) Nutrient runoff;
4. (5) “Irrigation water use efficiency” means the overall efficiency of obtaining, distributing, and using water for crop production;
5. (6) “Nutrient management plan” means a documented record of how nutrients will be managed on a nutrient management unit prepared in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation practice standards for Arkansas to guide and assist landowners and operators in the use of fertilizers, litter, sewage sludges, compost, and other nutrient sources for soil fertility and protection of the waters within the state;
6. (7) “Priority issues” means water resources issues identified during the planning process and selected by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission as having long-term, statewide application requiring further work to ensure water availability and quality;
7. (8) “Sustainable yield” is development and use of groundwater resources in a manner that can be maintained for an indefinite time without causing unacceptable environmental, economic, or social consequences;

8. (9) “Target efficiency” is a goal for irrigation water use formulated to:

   1. (A) Conserve surface and groundwater;
   2. (B) Save energy; and
   3. (C) Lower crop production cost;
9. (10) “Technical reports” are any documents or data helpful to the planning process; and

10. (11)

    1. (A) “Water resources planning region” means one (1) of five (5) regions of the state with similar:

       1. (i) Hydrology;
       2. (ii) Economy; and
       3. (iii) Geography.
    2. (B) See map attached as Appendix A-1.

Codification Notes: "MMF" means mean monthly flow. This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained a citation following subdivision (2) of this section as follows: "(Steve Filipek, William E. Keith, and John Giese, The Status of the Instream Flow Issue in Arkansas, Proceedings of Arkansas Academy of Science, 1987, 43-48)." This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained a citation following subdivision (8) of this section as follows: "(William M. Alley & Stanley A. Leake, The journey from safe yield to sustainability, 42 Ground Water 1, 12-16)."