ORS 541.895: Legislative findings; principles of Oregon Plan; policy.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that: (a) The long-term protection of the water resources of this state, including sustainable watershed functions, is an essential component of Oregon’s environmental and economic stability and growth; (b) Each watershed in Oregon is unique, requiring different management techniques and programs; (c) Management techniques and programs for the protection and enhancement of watersheds can be most effective and efficient when voluntarily initiated at the local level; (d) Cooperative partnerships between affected private individuals, interested citizens, tribes and representatives of local, state and federal agencies may improve opportunities to achieve the protection, enhancement and restoration of the state’s watersheds; and (e) The establishment of such cooperative partnerships should be encouraged by local individuals, local organizations and representatives of state agencies. (2) The Legislative Assembly declares that the Oregon Plan for integrating regulatory efforts while fostering incentives and voluntary action for environmental stewardship should be founded upon the following principles: (a) Promoting collaboration and partnerships among local, state, regional, tribal and federal governments and private individuals and organizations; (b) Establishing clear, technically defensible, practicable and achievable recovery and restoration objectives; (c) Assessing the conditions in each watershed to determine the quality of the existing environment, to identify the causes for declines in habitat, fish and wildlife populations and water quality, and to assist with the development of locally integrated action plans for watersheds that will achieve agreed-upon protection and restoration objectives; (d) Coordinating implementation of integrated watershed action plans; (e) Monitoring and ensuring implementation of the integrated watershed action plans using adaptive management to make appropriate changes in action plans and goals as needed; and (f) Establishing funding priorities across basins based on the value of programs and projects for watershed and habitat recovery. (3) It is the policy of the State of Oregon that: (a) Voluntary programs initiated at the local level to protect and enhance the quality and stability of watersheds are a high priority of the state and should be encouraged; (b) State agencies are encouraged to respond cooperatively to local watershed protection and enhancement efforts and coordinate their respective activities with other state agencies and affected local, regional, tribal and federal governments and private landowners to the greatest degree practicable; and (c) State agencies responding to local watershed protection and enhancement efforts are encouraged to foster local watershed planning, protection and enhancement efforts before initiating respective action within a watershed. [Formerly 541.353]
Official history and status
History: Note: See note under 541.890.
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 695-001-0000: Notice Rule — implements
- OAR 695-004-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-004-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-004-0030: Process and Criteria — implements
- OAR 695-005-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-005-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-005-0030: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 695-005-0040: Application Processing — implements
- OAR 695-005-0045: Climate-Related Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 695-005-0050: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 695-005-0060: Distribution of Funds — implements
- OAR 695-005-0070: Waiver of Rules — implements
- OAR 695-005-0080: Periodic Rules Review and Program Evaluation — implements
- OAR 695-010-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-010-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-010-0030: Watershed Restoration Priorities — implements
- OAR 695-010-0040: Ineligible Project Types — implements
- OAR 695-010-0050: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 695-010-0060: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 695-010-0070: Regional Review Process — implements
- OAR 695-010-0080: Staff Funding Recommendation Process — implements
- OAR 695-010-0090: Board Funding Decision — implements
- OAR 695-010-0100: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 695-010-0110: Waiver of Rules — implements
- OAR 695-025-0080: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-025-0090: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-025-0100: Eligibility — implements
- OAR 695-025-0140: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 695-025-0150: Technical Review Process — implements
- OAR 695-025-0160: Staff Funding Recommendation Process — implements
- OAR 695-025-0170: Funding Decision — implements
- OAR 695-025-0180: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 695-025-0190: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 695-030-0005: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-030-0015: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-030-0025: Eligibility — implements
- OAR 695-030-0035: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 695-030-0045: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 695-030-0055: Technical Review Process — implements
- OAR 695-030-0065: Staff Funding Recommendation Process — implements
- OAR 695-030-0075: Funding Decision — implements
- OAR 695-030-0085: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 695-030-0095: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 695-035-0010: Small Grant Program — implements
- OAR 695-035-0015: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-035-0020: Small Grant Program Administered by Small Grant Teams — implements
- OAR 695-035-0030: Small Grant Project Application — implements
- OAR 695-035-0040: Small Grant Project Grants — implements
- OAR 695-035-0050: Eligible Small Grant Projects — implements
- OAR 695-035-0060: Ineligible Small Grant Projects — implements
- OAR 695-035-0070: Periodic Review and Evaluation of the Small Grant Program — implements
- OAR 695-035-0080: Waiver of Rules — implements
- OAR 695-046-0201: Staff Funding Recommendation Process — implements
- OAR 695-046-0202: Funding Decision — implements
- OAR 695-047-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-047-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-047-0030: Board-identified Priorities — implements
- OAR 695-047-0040: Eligibility — implements
- OAR 695-047-0060: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 695-047-0070: Focused Investment Partnership Initiative Expert Review Process — implements
- OAR 695-047-0080: Focused Investment Partnership Initiative Funding Recommendation Process — implements
- OAR 695-047-0090: Board Funding Decision — implements
- OAR 695-047-0100: Focused Investment Partnership Implementation Initiative Partnership Agreement — implements
- OAR 695-047-0110: Focused Investment Partnership Implementation Initiative Project-level Grant Process — implements
- OAR 695-047-0120: Distribution of Funds — implements
- OAR 695-047-0130: Reporting — implements
- OAR 695-047-0140: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 695-050-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 695-050-0015: Definitions — implements
- OAR 695-050-0020: Policy — implements
- OAR 695-050-0025: Applicability — implements
- OAR 695-050-0030: Compliance with Statewide Planning Goals — implements
- OAR 695-050-0035: Compatibility with Acknowledged Comprehensive Plans — implements
- OAR 695-050-0040: Compliance of New or Amended Rules and Programs and their Compatibility with Acknowledged Comprehensive Plans — implements
- OAR 695-050-0045: Coordination with State and Federal Agencies and Special Districts — implements
- OAR 695-050-0050: Cooperation with, and Technical Assistance to, Local Governments — implements
This rule cites
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Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors541.html