Proposed Rulemaking

By rule, DSL is required to coordinate with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) and engage in rulemaking to update our GIS map of Essential Salmonid Habitat (ESH) areas in Oregon. In addition to updating the ESH map, the Department is using this rulemaking to revise the process for future map updates. View the draft 2021 ES​H map and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking​​​, which includes the rule draft and fiscal impact statement, ​

Learn more about ESH​, Removal-Fill Permitting​, and how to submit an ESH review request form to DSL.

The public comment period for the proposed rule change opened on February 2, 2021, and closed on March 19, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Please note that the close date was changed due to the agency receiving a formal request to extend the comment period. Two public hearings were held on February 16 and 17, 2021.

The Department held four rule advisory committee (RAC) meetings between September and December of 2020. To watch recordings of the RAC meetings, visit DSL's YouTube channel.

The first RAC meeting was held on September 22. Meeting materials include the RAC roster​​​​​​​​​​​,​​ the meeting agenda, a presentation on the project purpose and scope​, and an ODFW presentation on the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution and ESH​. The meeting summary is available here​.

The second RAC meeting was held on October 7. View the meeting agenda, a 2014 informational handout, a presentation on current ESH map updates, and a presentation on future ESH map updates​. The meeting summary is available here.

The third RAC meeting was held on November 4. Meeting materials include an agenda​ and a fact sheet describing the scope of the rulemaking.

The fourth RAC meeting was held on December 10. View the meeting agenda, draft rule, draft fiscal impact statement​, and a synopsis of the rulemaking. The meeting summary is available here​.