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Policy and Oregon Plan Coordination
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| Overview |
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This section is responsible for OWEB’s Oregon Plan coordination role and the implementation of recovery plans for state and federally listed species. This section is also responsible for OWEB’s partnership investments, land and water acquisition grants, prioritization development, legislative support, administrative rules, policy development, and the Oregon Plan Biennial Report.
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| OWEB Policy |
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Mitigation Policy Guidance (PDF)
In 2004, the OWEB Board adopted an administrative rule that states: “The Board will not consider: (3) A watershed improvement project constructed solely to comply with a state or federal agency enforcement order, legal judgment or mitigation requirement;…” (OAR 695-010-0040). In 2009, the OWEB Board adopted policy guidance to further define and clarify the eligibility for projects under this rule.
Environmental Cleanup Sites Policy Guidance (PDF)
Based on concerns that OWEB should not be viewed as the sole funder or strong funding source for mine cleanups, in 2011 the OWEB Board adopted general policy against funding activities at environmental cleanup sites. The limited exception to this policy is for high priority activities which will improve water quality and/or restore habitat of abandoned mines on private land and for which other funding is not available. Please download the PDF for a complete description of the policy and guidelines.
Working with Oregon's Tribes
The 2001 Oregon Legislature enacted SB 770 (ORS 182.162-.168) formalizing the government-to-government relationship that exists between Oregon´s Indian tribes and the State of Oregon. The bill requires state agencies to develop and implement policies on tribal relations. Agency managers and others who communicate with the tribes are to be trained in tribal matters, participate in annual meetings and prepare annual reports.
The bill institutionalized the May 22, 1996 Executive Order EO-96-30 (PDF), which established a process to "assist in resolving potential conflicts, maximize key inter-governmental relations, and enhance an exchange of ideas and resources for the greater good of all of Oregon's citizens."
Provisions of the statute also include annual meetings, require 'key contact' designation, and encourage inter-governmental agreements.
Read OWEB's policy (PDF) that guides our government-to-government activities and issues.
The OWEB key contact on tribal matters is Ken Bierly, 503-986-0182, in Salem.
OWEB Information Security Plans and Policies
The statewide Information Security policy (#107-004-052), effective as of July 30, 2007, directs each state agency to establish a plan to initiate and control the implementation of information security within the agency and manage risk associated with information assets. OWEB is currently developing and implementing its Information Security Plan and associated polices.
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| Working Lands Easements |
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OWEB has funded a number of working lands easements. A working land easement is an easement that encumbers the property to protect specific resources but allows economic uses of the property. In many parts of the country, working lands easements are a mechanism that purchases development rights preventing property subdivision and development. In Oregon, where land use laws have partially addressed land division opportunities, the use of conservation easements has less certain outcomes. OWEB has recently contracted for an evaluation of programs from other states and federal programs. The evaluation is part of a larger review of the use of dedicated lottery funds for land conservation.
Working lands easements have been purchased with OWEB funds, in part, for forest and range lands. Projects in the Klamath basin (Yainix Ranch) and the Deschutes basin (Rimrock Ranch and Coffer Ranch) are examples of working lands easements. Large scale working lands easements include Page Ranch in Grant County and Drews Valley Ranch in Lake County.
Report Now Available
A Policy Analysis of the Role of Working Land Conservation Easements Using Dedicated Lottery Funds
Full Report, PDF
Executive Summary, PDF
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| Partnership Investments |
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OWEB continues to explore ways to make state funds go further by partnering with other public and private programs to achieve common outcomes and share the costs of implementing restoration efforts. The following partnerships have been approved by the OWEB Board and have extended the reach of state Lottery funds.
Special Investment Partnerships
The OWEB Board has targeted long-term, large-scale restoration commitment to address specific ecological outcomes in specific locations, called Special Investment Partnerships (SIP). The Board approved SIPs in the Deschutes and Willamette in 2008 (more).
Oregon Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
The goal of the Oregon Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is to enhance riparian and instream habitat and water quality in streams along agricultural lands. Through CREP, agricultural landowners receive financial incentives to restore riparian forested buffers to streamside areas, benefiting fish, wildlife, and water quality (more).
Whole Watersheds Restoration Initiative
The Whole Watersheds Restoration Initiative is a partnership between OWEB and the U.S. Forest Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Ecotrust to identify priority basins and targeted watersheds to complete a series of restoration activities that address the critical needs in that watershed and allow for natural recovery (more).
Oregon 150
In celebration of Oregon’s Sesquicentennial, OWEB allocated $1 million to support a collaborative grant offering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to fund projects for the protection and enhancement of several of Oregon’s state species, the Western Meadowlark, Chinook Salmon, American Beaver, and Swallowtail Butterfly (more).
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| Sustainability and the Local Innovation Fund |
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Sustainability means using, developing, and protecting resources in a manner that enables people to meet current needs and provides that future generations can also meet their needs. Sustainability requires simultaneously meeting environmental, economic and community objectives. OWEB has a number of projects and programs that support sustainability (more).
One example of OWEB’s efforts was The Local Innovation Fund, which was created in 2005 as a pilot program to support creative initiatives that directly connect and show benefit to the local watershed, economy, and community (more).
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| Special Studies |
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Read about the community, economic and social impacts of Oregon´s watershed councils (PDF).
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