Wetland Conservation Plans 



(Wetland Conservation Plans) 



196.668 Legislative findings. The Legis- 

 lative Assembly finds that: 



(1) Wetlands provide a natural means of 

 flood and storm damage protection through 

 the absorption and storage of water during 

 high runoff periods, thereby reducing flood 

 crests and preventing loss of life and prop- 

 erty; 



(2) Wetlands provide essential breeding, 

 spawning, rearing, feeding, nesting and win- 

 tering habitats for a major portion of this 

 state's fish and wildlife; 



(3) Wetlands provide essential habitat for 

 waterfowl using the Pacific Flyway and for 

 the rearing of salmon and other anadromous 

 and resident flsh; 



(4) Wetlands act as accumulation areas 

 for sediments which retain nutrients and 

 other pollutants that may prevent entry of 

 the pollutants into other waterways; 



(5) Wetlands provide a valuable public 

 service of maintaining clean water by re- 

 taining nutrients, metals and toxic materials 

 from the water to protect water quality; 



(6) Wetlands provide significant opportu- 

 nities for environmental and ecological re- 

 search, public recreation and education and 

 provide scenic diversity and aesthetic value 

 as open space and areas of visual enjoyment; 



(7) Much of this state's original wetlands 

 have been diked, drained, filled, dredged, 

 ditched or otherwise altered; 



(8) There is continuing development 

 pressure on wetlands in Oregon; 



(9) There are often conflicts between 

 wetland protection and other resource values 

 and usc^ -'^^^" 



(10) Uncoordinated regulation of 

 wetlands by local, state and federal agencies 

 can cause confusion, frustration and unrea- 

 sonable delay and uncertainty for the general 

 public; and 



(11) Wetland mana^ment is a matter of 

 this state's concern since beneflts and im- 

 pacts related to wetland resources can be 

 international, national, regional and state 

 wide in scope. 11989 c.837 S2| 



I9(.C7t (Fonnerlr 54I.fi(tS: renumbered 196.800 in 

 19891 ' 



196.672 Policy. In addition to the policy 

 described in ORS 196.805, it is the policy of 

 the State of Oregon to: 



(1) Promote the protection, conservation 

 and best use of wetland resources, their 

 functions and values through the integration 



and close coordination of state-wide planning 

 goals, local comprehensive plans and state 

 and federal regulatory programs. 



(2) Use a single definition of "wetlands" 

 for the purposes of ORS 196.800 to 196.905 

 and state-wide planning goals and a single, 

 uniform methodology of delineating wetland 

 boundaries. 



(3) Develop a state-wide inventory of 

 wetlands based on uniform identification 

 standards and criteria at a scale practicable 

 for planning and regulatory purposes, and to 

 make such inventory available to state agen- 

 cies and local governments to facilitate bet- 

 ter management of wetland resources and 

 closer coordination of local, state and federal 

 wetland programs. 



(4) Maintain a stable resource base of 

 wetlands through the mitigation of losses of 

 wetland resources and the adoption of the 

 procedural mitigation standard currently 

 used by federal agencies. 



(5) Elstablish the opportunity to increase 

 wetland resources by encouraging wetland 

 restoration and creation where appropriate. 



(6) Reduce the delays and uncertainty 

 which can occur in the current wetland 

 planning and regulatory framework through 

 improved coordination of the provisions in 

 ORS 196.800 to 196.905 with local land use 

 planning and regulation and by providing 

 mechanisms for expedited permit review con- 

 sistent with the protection and conservation 

 of wetland resources. 



(7) Continue to meet the requirements of 

 federal law in the protection and manage- 

 ment of wetland resources, while asserting 

 the interests of this state, in concert with 

 those of. local governments in urgin^^the 

 federal resource and regulatory agencies to 

 develop a uniform wetland policy and more 

 consistent, cohesive standards to implement 

 the Federal Water Pollution CJontrol Act (33 

 U.S.C. 1344). 



(8) Develop and provide information to 

 the general public concerning the fiinctions, 

 values and distribution of wetlands of this 

 state to raise public awareness of these re- 

 sources. 



(9) Promote the protection of wetland 

 values on private lands by developing and 

 using public recognition programs, incentives 

 and oUier nonregulatory actions. 



(10) Encourage wetlands as an interim 

 use of mining and construction sites on lands 

 that were not originally wetlands and are 

 designated for other than wetland ptirposes 

 in an acknowledged comprehensive plan. 



