ORS 273.553: South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve; agreement between Oregon and federal government; rules.

(1) It is the policy of the State of Oregon to maintain an estuarine research reserve in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The estuarine research reserve management area includes: (a) Lands acquired as the South Slough Estuary Sanctuary pursuant to chapter 415, Oregon Laws 1975, designated as the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve by federal law (P.L. 99-272); and (b) Lands owned or managed by the Department of State Lands that the department determines contribute to the management policy of subsection (2) of this section. (2) The management policy for the estuarine research reserve management area is to: (a) Maintain the integrity of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve; (b) Protect the reserve from uses and activities, both within and beyond its boundaries, that may alter or affect the ecosystem and its natural dynamic processes; and (c) Preserve the reserve for long-term scientific and educational uses. (3) The department acts for the State of Oregon in any transaction respecting the purchase of acreage for the reserve on or after October 4, 1977. The department may acquire lands for the reserve management area. (4) Except as necessary to achieve the policy set forth in subsection (2) of this section and any standards established in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-583) or any rules, regulations or agreements adopted pursuant thereto, the estuarine research reserve management area is open to the public. However, to protect the estuarine ecosystems, public use of the reserve management area may be limited and controlled by the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Commission in consultation with any technical management team established pursuant to an agreement between the State of Oregon and the Office for Coastal Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States Department of Commerce. The commission shall adopt rules to carry out the intent of this subsection. (5) The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Commission shall administer the reserve management area, subject to any agreement respecting the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve between the State of Oregon and the federal Office for Coastal Management. (6) The agency that acquired title to the reserve management area shall cause title to be cleared in the name of the State of Oregon. [1977 c.496 §1; 2003 c.14 §134; 2021 c.139 §1]