(1) There is created a Fish Passage Restoration Subaccount within the Fish Passage Fund established under ORS § 497.139. Fees described in ORS § 543.765 (15) shall be paid into the subaccount. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife may solicit and accept additional moneys for crediting to the subaccount, including but not limited to federal funds, appropriations, donations, grants from nongovernmental entities and moneys from other public or private sources. Any interest earned by moneys within the subaccount shall be credited to the subaccount.

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(2) The department shall use the subaccount moneys to fund priority fish passage restoration projects. The department shall give priority to the funding of projects on the statewide inventory of artificial obstructions priority list described in ORS § 509.585, with an emphasis on those statewide priority list projects that also pay fees under ORS § 543.765 (15), and give priority to projects that have the ability to leverage matching dollars. The department may not use subaccount moneys to fund culvert projects or projects that are state-owned structures. The department may not expend more than six percent of the annual contributions to the subaccount to pay staffing costs associated with the advancement of capital projects funded by the subaccount. [2013 c.674 § 1; 2023 c.49 § 3]

497.141 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 497 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.