ORS 541.982: Working land conservation covenants and easements; requirements.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1) An owner of working land may enter into a working land conservation covenant with or grant a working land conservation easement to an organization that is a holder, as defined in ORS 271.715, other than a state agency. The covenant or easement must be for the purpose of ensuring the continued use of the land for agricultural purposes while maintaining or enhancing fish or wildlife habitat, improving water quality or supporting other natural resource values on the land. A working land conservation covenant must be for a term of years that is established as permissible in Oregon Agricultural Heritage Commission rules. (2) In addition to the purposes required under subsection (1) of this section, a working land conservation covenant or working land conservation easement may provide for carrying out any purposes of a conservation easement, as defined in ORS 271.715. The covenant or easement must provide for carrying out those additional purposes in a manner consistent with ORS 271.715 to 271.795. (3) A working land conservation covenant or working land conservation easement must: (a) Provide for regular monitoring by the organization accepting the covenant or easement to ensure that the owner of the working land is adhering to the covenant or easement provisions; and (b) If identical in duration to a conservation management plan for the working land, refer to the conservation management plan in the text of the covenant or easement. (4) An organization that enters into, or proposes to enter into, a working land conservation covenant or accept a working land conservation easement may apply to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for a grant to fund the purchasing, implementing, carrying out or monitoring of the covenant or easement. (5) An application under subsection (4) of this section may be combined with an application under ORS 541.981 for a grant to fund a conservation management plan associated with the working land conservation covenant or working land conservation easement. [2017 c.716 §5]
Official history and status
History: Note: See note under 541.977.
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 698-005-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 698-005-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 698-005-0030: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 698-005-0040: Application Processsing — implements
- OAR 698-005-0045: Climate-Related Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 698-005-0050: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 698-005-0060: Use of Restricted Funding — implements
- OAR 698-005-0070: Distribution of Funds — implements
- OAR 698-005-0090: Technical Committees — implements
- OAR 698-005-0100: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 698-010-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 698-010-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 698-010-0030: Eligible Applicants — implements
- OAR 698-010-0045: Eligible Properties — implements
- OAR 698-010-0050: Match Contributions — implements
- OAR 698-010-0060: Use of Funds — implements
- OAR 698-010-0070: Term of Payment for Conservation Management Plan Implementation — implements
- OAR 698-010-0080: Conservation Management Plan Components — implements
- OAR 698-010-0090: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 698-010-0100: Technical Review and Funding Process — implements
- OAR 698-010-0110: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 698-010-0120: Conservation Management Plan Mutual Modification — implements
- OAR 698-010-0130: Conservation Management Plan Monitoring — implements
- OAR 698-010-0140: Grant Reporting Requirements — implements
- OAR 698-010-0150: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 698-015-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 698-015-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 698-015-0030: Eligible Applicants — implements
- OAR 698-015-0040: Eligible Properties — implements
- OAR 698-015-0050: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 698-015-0060: Matching Contributions — implements
- OAR 698-015-0070: Use of Grant Funds — implements
- OAR 698-015-0080: Terms of Covenants and Easements — implements
- OAR 698-015-0090: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 698-015-0100: Technical Review and Funding Process — implements
- OAR 698-015-0110: Board Approval and Delegation of Authority — implements
- OAR 698-015-0120: Public Involvement — implements
- OAR 698-015-0130: Director Funding Approval and Distribution of Funds — implements
- OAR 698-015-0140: Compliance and Enforcement — implements
- OAR 698-015-0150: Grant Reporting Requirements for Working Land Conservation Covenants — implements
- OAR 698-015-0160: Payment Relationship Between Covenants and Easements — implements
- OAR 698-015-0170: Subsequent Conveyances — implements
- OAR 698-015-0180: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 698-020-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 698-020-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 698-020-0030: Eligible Applicants — implements
- OAR 698-020-0050: Technical Assistance Activities — implements
- OAR 698-020-0060: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 698-020-0070: Technical Review and Funding Process — implements
- OAR 698-020-0080: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 698-020-0090: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
- OAR 698-025-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 698-025-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 698-025-0030: Applicant Eligibility — implements
- OAR 698-025-0040: Application Requirements — implements
- OAR 698-025-0050: Eligible Activities — implements
- OAR 698-025-0060: Evaluation Criteria — implements
- OAR 698-025-0070: Technical Review and Funding Process — implements
- OAR 698-025-0080: Grant Agreement Conditions — implements
- OAR 698-025-0100: Grant Reporting Requirements — implements
- OAR 698-025-0110: Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules — implements
This rule cites
- ORS 271.715 — resolved
- 271.795 — resolved
- ORS 541.981 — resolved
Cited by
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors541.html