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Agricultural Land - In western Oregon is land of predominantly Class I, II, III and IV soils and in eastern Oregon is land of predominantly Class I, II, III, IV, V and VI soils as identified in the Soil Capability Classification System of the United States Soil Conservation Service, and other lands which are suitable for farm use taking into consideration soil fertility, suitability for grazing, climatic conditions, existing and future availability of water for farm irrigation purposes, existing land-use patterns, technological and energy inputs required, or accepted farming practices. Lands in other classes which are necessary to permit farm practices to be undertaken on adjacent or nearby lands, shall be included as agricultural land in any event (Oregon's Statewide Planning Goals & Guidelines: Goal 3: Agricultural Lands).

Census tracts - Small, relatively permanent subdivisions of a county or equivalent entity. The primary purpose of census tracts is to provide a stable set of geographic units for the presentation of decennial census data. The 2000 decennial census was the first for which the entire United States was covered by census tracts. For the 1990 census, some counties had census tracts and others had block numbering areas (BNAs).

Census tracts generally have between 1,500 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 4,000 people. Counties with fewer than 1,500 people have a single census tract. Census tracts on American Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and special places must contain a minimum of 1,000 people.

When first delineated, census tracts are designed to be relatively homogeneous with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. The spatial size of census tracts varies widely depending on the density of settlement. Physical changes in street patterns caused by highway construction, new developments, and so forth, may require occasional boundary revisions. In addition, census tracts occasionally are split due to population growth or combined as a result of substantial population decline. (U.S. Census Bureau; http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/glossry2.pdf)

Class I soils - Soils that have only slight inconsequential limitations that restrict their use and are considered the most productive soils based on the Land Capability Classification System (USDA).

Class II soils - Soils that have moderate limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require moderate conservation practices based on the Land Capability Classification System (USDA).

Conservation Opportunity Areas - Landscapes where broad fish and wildlife conservation goals could best be met. These areas were developed to guide voluntary actions. These are not regulatory boundaries, and there are no regulatory requirements attached to them. Land use or other activities within these areas will not be subject to any new restrictions as a result of these delineations. (ODFW, 2005)

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Exclusive farm use zoning - EFU zoning. "...Limits development that could conflict with farming practices. It keeps farmland from being divided into parcels too small for commercial agriculture. Lands in these zones are automatically eligible for lower property taxes based on the land being farmed. All 36 counties in Oregon have applied EFU zoning to their agricultural land" (Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development).

Farm/Forest zoning - F/F zoning. Preserves land suitable for agricultural and forest uses. Allows the establishment of uses consistent with the predominant use of land for agriculture and forest use.

Forest-Use zoning - F-U zoning. "The land use program requires that counties inventory their forest land and designate it for forest use. These lands must then be placed in a zone which limits nonforest uses and encourages forest uses. In these zones, dwellings and commercial uses are limited, while forest operations are allowed" (Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development).

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Groundwater Restricted Area - An area designated as a critical ground water area or as a ground water limited area by the Water Resources Department or Water Resources Commission.

High-value farmlands - Areas of agricultural land defined by statute and Commission rule.

High-value forestland - means land:

1. That is in a forest zone or a mixed farm and forest zone, that is located in western Oregon and composed predominantly of soils capable of producing more than 120 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber and that is capable of producing more than 5,000 cubic feet per year of commercial tree species; or
2. That is in a forest zone or a mixed farm and forest zone, that is located in eastern Oregon and composed predominantly of soils capable of producing more than 85 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber and that is capable of producing more than 4,000 cubic feet per year of commercial tree species.

Home site approval - Approval of the subdivision or partition of property or approval of the establishment of a dwelling on property.

Irrigated - Watered by an artificial or controlled means, such as sprinklers, furrows, ditches, or spreader dikes.

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Land Capability Classification System - A system of grouping soils primarily on the basis of their capability to produce common cultivated crops and pasture plants without deteriorating over a long period of time. A capability class is the broadest category in the land capability classification system. It is a numeric field ranging from 1-8, which is used to represent both irrigated and non-irrigated soils (USDA).

Land cover - Anything that exists on, and is visible from above, the earth's surface. Examples include vegetation, exposed or barren land, water, snow, and ice.

Land use - The way land is developed and used in terms of the kinds of anthropogenic activities that occur (e.g. agriculture, residential areas, industrial areas).

Layer - Distinct map theme.

Lot - A single unit of land that is created by a subdivision of land.

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Measure 37 - M37. Measure 37 requires that the government either waive land use regulations or compensate land owners when a regulation reduces a propertys fair market value (Gray, 2006).

Measure 37 permit - Final decision by Metro, a city or a county to authorize the development, subdivision or partition or other use of property pursuant to a waiver.

Non-irrigated capability class (dominant condition) - NICCDCD. Dominant capability class, under non-irrigated conditions. This is the broadest (first level) category in the land capability classification system for soils. Non-irrigated capability class definitions are often referenced when looking at land use planning issues in Oregon. The value may range from 1-8.

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Parcel - A single unit of land that is created by a partition of land.

Partition - Either an act of partitioning land or an area or tract of land partitioned.

Partition land - To divide land into two or three parcels of land within a calendar year.

Rural Area - Any area within the state of Oregon except the urbanized portions of metropolitan statistical areas, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

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Subdivide land - To divide land to create four or more lots within a calendar year.

Subdivision - An act of subdividing land or an area or a tract of land subdivided.

Total Population - The total number of individuals enumerated by the US Census Bureau or estimated by the State Data Center at Portland State Universitys Population Research Center during inter-censal years.

Tract - One or more contiguous lots or parcels in the same ownership.

Urban growth boundary - UGB. An acknowledged urban growth boundary contained in a city or county comprehensive plan or an acknowledged urban growth boundary that has been adopted by a metropolitan service district council.

VWXYZ

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Zoned for residential use - Zoning that has as its primary purpose single-family residential use.

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