As used in ORS § 196.600 to 196.921, unless the context requires otherwise:

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(1) ‘Channel relocation’ means a change in location of a channel in which a new channel is dug and the flow is diverted from the old channel into the new channel if more than 50 cubic yards of material is removed in constructing the new channel or if it would require more than 50 cubic yards of material to completely fill the old channel.

(2) ‘Estuary’ means:

(a) For waters other than the Columbia River, the body of water from the ocean to the head of tidewater that is partially enclosed by land and within which salt water is usually diluted by fresh water from the land, including all associated estuarine waters, tidelands, tidal marshes and submerged lands; and

(b) For the Columbia River, all waters from the mouth of the river up to the western edge of Puget Island, including all associated estuarine waters, tidelands, tidal marshes and submerged lands.

(3) ‘Fill’ means the total of deposits by artificial means equal to or exceeding 50 cubic yards or more of material at one location in any waters of this state.

(4) ‘General authorization’ means an authorization granted under ORS § 196.850 for a category of activities involving removal or fill, or both, without a permit.

(5) ‘General permit’ means a permit for removal activities or fill activities that are substantially similar in nature, are recurring or ongoing, and have predictable effects and outcomes.

(6) ‘Intermittent stream’ means any stream which flows during a portion of every year and which provides spawning, rearing or food-producing areas for food and game fish.

(7) ‘Large woody debris’ means any naturally downed wood that captures gravel, provides stream stability or provides fish habitat, or any wood placed into waters of this state as part of a habitat improvement or conservation project.

(8) ‘Material’ means rock, gravel, sand, silt and other inorganic substances, and large woody debris, removed from waters of this state and any materials, organic or inorganic, used to fill waters of this state.

(9) ‘Mitigation’ means the reduction of adverse effects of a proposed project by considering, in the following order:

(a) Avoiding the effect altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action;

(b) Minimizing the effect by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation;

(c) Rectifying the effect by repairing, rehabilitating or restoring the affected environment;

(d) Reducing or eliminating the effect over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action by monitoring and taking appropriate corrective measures; and

(e) Compensating for the effect by creating, restoring, enhancing or preserving substitute functions and values for the waters of this state.

(10) ‘Person’ means a person, a public body as defined in ORS § 174.109, the federal government, when operating in any capacity other than navigational servitude, or any other legal entity.

(11) ‘Practicable’ means capable of being accomplished after taking into consideration the cost, existing technology and logistics with respect to the overall project purpose.

(12) ‘Public use’ means a publicly owned project or a privately owned project that is available for use by the public.

(13) ‘Removal’ means:

(a) The taking of more than 50 cubic yards or the equivalent weight in tons of material in any waters of this state in any calendar year; or

(b) The movement by artificial means of an equivalent amount of material on or within the bed of such waters, including channel relocation.

(14) ‘Water resources’ includes not only water itself but also aquatic life and habitats therein and all other natural resources in and under the waters of this state.

(15) ‘Waters of this state’ means all natural waterways, tidal and nontidal bays, intermittent streams, constantly flowing streams, lakes, wetlands, that portion of the Pacific Ocean that is in the boundaries of this state, all other navigable and nonnavigable bodies of water in this state and those portions of the ocean shore, as defined in ORS § 390.605, where removal or fill activities are regulated under a state-assumed permit program as provided in 33 U.S.C. § 1344(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.

(16) ‘Wetland conservation plan’ means a written plan providing for wetland management containing a detailed and comprehensive statement of policies, standards and criteria to guide public and private uses and protection of wetlands, waters and related adjacent uplands and which has specific implementing measures and which apply to designated geographic areas of the State of Oregon.

(17) ‘Wetlands’ means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. [Formerly 541.605 and then 196.670; 1999 c.373 § 1; 2003 c.253 § 7; 2003 c.738 § 14; 2007 c.849 § 2; 2009 c.343 § 18; 2013 c.198 § 1]

The amendments to 196.800 by section 13, chapter 403, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative on the earlier of the effective date of rules first adopted by the Director of the Department of State Lands under 196.806 or January 1, 2026. See section 15, chapter 403, Oregon Laws 2023. The text set forth below is operative from the earlier of the effective date of the rules adopted by the Director of the Department of State Lands or January 1, 2026, until 196.800 as set forth in Note 2 becomes operative.

As used in ORS § 196.600 to 196.921, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) ‘Channel relocation’ means a change in location of a channel in which a new channel is dug and the flow is diverted from the old channel into the new channel if more than 50 cubic yards of material is removed in constructing the new channel or if it would require more than 50 cubic yards of material to completely fill the old channel.

(2) ‘Estuary’ means:

(a) For waters other than the Columbia River, the body of water from the ocean to the head of tidewater that is partially enclosed by land and within which salt water is usually diluted by fresh water from the land, including all associated estuarine waters, tidelands, tidal marshes and submerged lands; and

(b) For the Columbia River, all waters from the mouth of the river up to the western edge of Puget Island, including all associated estuarine waters, tidelands, tidal marshes and submerged lands.

(3) ‘Fill’ means the total of deposits by artificial means equal to or exceeding 50 cubic yards or more of material at one location in any waters of this state.

(4) ‘General authorization’ means an authorization granted under ORS § 196.850 for a category of activities involving removal or fill, or both, without a permit.

(5) ‘General permit’ means a permit for removal activities or fill activities that are substantially similar in nature, are recurring or ongoing, and have predictable effects and outcomes.

(6) ‘Intermittent stream’ means any stream which flows during a portion of every year and which provides spawning, rearing or food-producing areas for food and game fish.

(7) ‘Large woody debris’ means any naturally downed wood that captures gravel, provides stream stability or provides fish habitat, or any wood placed into waters of this state as part of a habitat improvement or conservation project.

(8) ‘Material’ means rock, gravel, sand, silt and other inorganic substances, and large woody debris, removed from waters of this state and any materials, organic or inorganic, used to fill waters of this state.

(9) ‘Mitigation’ means the reduction of adverse effects of a proposed project by considering, in the following order:

(a) Avoiding the effect altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action;

(b) Minimizing the effect by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation;

(c) Rectifying the effect by repairing, rehabilitating or restoring the affected environment;

(d) Reducing or eliminating the effect over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action by monitoring and taking appropriate corrective measures; and

(e) Compensating for the effect by creating, restoring, enhancing or preserving substitute functions and values for the waters of this state.

(10) ‘Person’ means a person, a public body as defined in ORS § 174.109, the federal government, when operating in any capacity other than navigational servitude, or any other legal entity.

(11) ‘Practicable’ means capable of being accomplished after taking into consideration the cost, existing technology and logistics with respect to the overall project purpose.

(12) ‘Public use’ means a publicly owned project or a privately owned project that is available for use by the public.

(13) ‘Removal’ means:

(a) The taking of more than 50 cubic yards or the equivalent weight in tons of material in any waters of this state in any calendar year; or

(b) The movement by artificial means of an equivalent amount of material on or within the bed of such waters, including channel relocation.

(14) ‘Riprap’ means the facing of a streambank with rock or similar substance to control erosion in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of State Lands.

(15) ‘Water resources’ includes not only water itself but also aquatic life and habitats therein and all other natural resources in and under the waters of this state.

(16) ‘Waters of this state’ means all natural waterways, tidal and nontidal bays, intermittent streams, constantly flowing streams, lakes, wetlands, that portion of the Pacific Ocean that is in the boundaries of this state, all other navigable and nonnavigable bodies of water in this state and those portions of the ocean shore, as defined in ORS § 390.605, where removal or fill activities are regulated under a state-assumed permit program as provided in 33 U.S.C. § 1344(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.

(17) ‘Wetland conservation plan’ means a written plan providing for wetland management containing a detailed and comprehensive statement of policies, standards and criteria to guide public and private uses and protection of wetlands, waters and related adjacent uplands and which has specific implementing measures and which apply to designated geographic areas of the State of Oregon.

(18) ‘Wetlands’ means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.

Operation of the amendments to 196.800 by section 1, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, is dependent upon further approval by the Legislative Assembly. See section 11, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, as amended by section 19, chapter 11, Oregon Laws 2009. The text that is operative after that approval, including amendments by section 8, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2003, section 15, chapter 738, Oregon Laws 2003, section 3, chapter 849, Oregon Laws 2007, section 19, chapter 343, Oregon Laws 2009, section 2, chapter 198, Oregon Laws 2013, and section 14, chapter 403, Oregon Laws 2023, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

As used in ORS § 196.600 to 196.921, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) ‘Channel relocation’ means a change in location of a channel in which a new channel is dug and the flow is diverted from the old channel into the new channel.

(2) ‘Estuary’ means:

(a) For waters other than the Columbia River, the body of water from the ocean to the head of tidewater that is partially enclosed by land and within which salt water is usually diluted by fresh water from the land, including all associated estuarine waters, tidelands, tidal marshes and submerged lands; and

(b) For the Columbia River, all waters from the mouth of the river up to the western edge of Puget Island, including all associated estuarine waters, tidelands, tidal marshes and submerged lands.

(3) ‘Fill’ means the deposit by artificial means of material at one location in any waters of this state.

(4) ‘General authorization’ means an authorization granted under ORS § 196.850 for a category of activities involving removal or fill, or both, without a permit.

(5) ‘General permit’ means a permit for removal activities or fill activities that are substantially similar in nature, are recurring or ongoing, and have predictable effects and outcomes.

(6) ‘Intermittent stream’ means any stream which flows during a portion of every year and which provides spawning, rearing or food-producing areas for food and game fish.

(7) ‘Large woody debris’ means any naturally downed wood that captures gravel, provides stream stability or provides fish habitat, or any wood placed into waters of this state as part of a habitat improvement or conservation project.

(8) ‘Material’ means rock, gravel, sand, silt and other inorganic substances, and large woody debris, removed from waters of this state and any materials, organic or inorganic, used to fill waters of this state.

(9) ‘Mitigation’ means the reduction of adverse effects of a proposed project by considering, in the following order:

(a) Avoiding the effect altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action;

(b) Minimizing the effect by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation;

(c) Rectifying the effect by repairing, rehabilitating or restoring the affected environment;

(d) Reducing or eliminating the effect over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action by monitoring and taking appropriate corrective measures; and

(e) Compensating for the effect by creating, restoring, enhancing or preserving substitute functions and values for the waters of this state.

(10) ‘Person’ means a person, a public body, as defined in ORS § 174.109, the federal government, when operating in any capacity other than navigational servitude, or any other legal entity.

(11) ‘Practicable’ means capable of being accomplished after taking into consideration the cost, existing technology and logistics with respect to the overall project purpose.

(12) ‘Public use’ means a publicly owned project or a privately owned project that is available for use by the public.

(13) ‘Removal’ means:

(a) The taking of material in any waters of this state; or

(b) The movement by artificial means of material within the bed of such waters, including channel relocation.

(14) ‘Riprap’ means the facing of a streambank with rock or similar substance to control erosion in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of State Lands.

(15) ‘Water resources’ includes not only water itself but also aquatic life and habitats therein and all other natural resources in and under the waters of this state.

(16) ‘Waters of this state’ means all natural waterways, tidal and nontidal bays, intermittent streams, constantly flowing streams, lakes, wetlands, that portion of the Pacific Ocean that is in the boundaries of this state, all other navigable and nonnavigable bodies of water in this state and those portions of the ocean shore, as defined in ORS § 390.605, where removal or fill activities are regulated under a state-assumed permit program as provided in 33 U.S.C. § 1344(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.

(17) ‘Wetland conservation plan’ means a written plan providing for wetland management containing a detailed and comprehensive statement of policies, standards and criteria to guide public and private uses and protection of wetlands, waters and related adjacent uplands and which has specific implementing measures and which apply to designated geographic areas of the State of Oregon.

(18) ‘Wetlands’ means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.

Sections 11 to 14, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, provide:

The amendments to ORS § 196.800, 196.810, 196.850, 196.895, 196.905 [renumbered 196.921], 196.990, 390.835, 421.628 and 459.047 by sections 1 to 10, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, and the repeal of section 2, chapter 45, Oregon Laws 1989, by section 13, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, become operative on January 2 of the even-numbered year following the date the United States Environmental Protection Agency grants authority by letter to the Department of State Lands to administer permits for the discharge of dredge or fill materials under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (P.L. 92-500, as amended) and the Legislative Assembly approves the grant of authority. [2001 c.516 § 11; 2009 c.11 § 19]

(1) The Department of State Lands may take any action necessary to prepare to fully implement the provisions of this 2001 Act prior to the operative date of this 2001 Act.

(2) The department shall periodically report to the appropriate committee of the Legislative Assembly on the status of its effort to assume authority to administer permits for the discharge of dredge or fill materials under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (P.L. 92-500, as amended).

(3) After the Legislative Assembly approves the grant of authority, the department shall notify the Legislative Assembly prior to the transfer of authority from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. [2001 c.516 § 12]

Section 2, chapter 45, Oregon Laws 1989, is repealed. [2001 c.516 § 13]

If, after assuming authority to administer permits for the discharge of dredge or fill materials under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (P.L. 92-500, as amended), the Department of State Lands seeks to relinquish the authority granted to the department by the federal government, the department shall, in compliance with ORS § 171.130 and at least two years prior to the anticipated date for relinquishing the authority, submit to the Legislative Assembly a proposed legislative measure designed to implement a state permitting program for the dredging and filling of materials in the waters of this state. [2001 c.516 § 14]