ORS 541.945: Watershed Conservation Operating Fund; purposes.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1) The Watershed Conservation Operating Fund is established in the State Treasury separate and distinct from the General Fund. The Watershed Conservation Operating Fund shall consist of all moneys placed in the fund as provided by law. The purpose of the fund is to carry out activities that support all of the purposes described in ORS 541.942. Moneys in the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund shall be used for each of the following: (a) To develop, implement or update state conservation strategies or plans to protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitats or to protect or restore natural watershed or ecosystem functions to improve water quality or stream flows; (b) To develop, implement or update regional or local strategies or plans that are consistent with state strategies or plans described in paragraph (a) of this subsection; (c) To develop, implement or update state strategies or plans to prevent, detect, control or eradicate invasive species that threaten native fish or wildlife habitats or that impair water quality; (d) To support local delivery, including but not limited to delivery by watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts and other community-based organizations, of watershed education activities and other programs or projects that protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitats, watersheds or ecosystems; (e) To pay the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board costs of administering the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund; (f) To enforce fish and wildlife laws and regulations and fish and wildlife habitat protection laws and regulations; and (g) To reimburse the Secretary of State as described in ORS 297.230 for the costs of audits performed by the Secretary of State under section 4c, Article XV of the Oregon Constitution. (2) Interest accruing to the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund shall be credited to the fund. Watershed Conservation Operating Fund moneys appropriated and not expended by the completion of a biennium shall remain in the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund. (3) Any public or private source may make gifts or grants to the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund. [2011 c.643 §16]
Official history and status
History: Note: 541.945 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 541 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
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
- ORS 541.942 — resolved
- ORS 297.230 — resolved
Cited by
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors541.html