As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Assurance storage” means that part of the conservation storage water supply capacity of any reservoir devoted to the storage water for the water assurance program;

(b) “assurance water” means water stored in assurance storage of a reservoir under a water reservation right and provided as supplemental water to eligible water right holders;

(c) “water assurance district” means an organization of eligible water right holders;

(d) “assurance reservoir” means any reservoir containing assurance storage;

(e) “eligible water right holder” means any entity holding a water right or permit, pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 82a-701 et seq., and amendments thereto, to appropriate water from a stream or water from the alluvium of the stream downstream from an assurance reservoir for municipal or industrial purposes as determined by the chief engineer pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 82a-1333; and

(f) “member” means an eligible water right holder who, because of a determination of benefit by the chief engineer, is required to participate in and is subject to the rules of a water assurance district. An eligible water right holder who withdraws water from the alluvium of a stream supplemented by an assurance reservoir shall be a member if the chief engineer determines there is a significant benefit to such holder from supplementing the stream by assurance reservoir releases.