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Goal 5: Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces

The Painted Hills in central OregonGoal 5 is a broad statewide planning goal that covers more than a dozen resources. The resources range from wildlife habitat, to historic places, and gravel mines. To protect and plan for them, local governments are asked to create a number of inventories. The inventories in a local plan may address only a portion of the resources included in Goal 5.

When a local governments first developed its Goal 5 plan, they looked at the Goal 5 resources that occurred locally and were important to address. Cities and counties reviewed land uses allowed on or near each resource site that might have a negative impact on the resource. They then decided on a level of protection appropriate for each resource site and adopted codes to put their policies into effect. State rules for implementing Goal 5 have been adopted and amended over the years. As cities and counties update their plans and codes they have the opportunity to adopt policies and codes that are consistent with the current state rules for Goal 5.

The "Goal 5 Process" starts with an inventory of Goal 5 resources. Resource sites are assessed and significant sites are protected. Rules for some Goal 5 resource categories rely on inventories and assessments that have been conducted by state or federal entities. There are six Goal 5 resource categories that rely on state or federal inventories: wild and scenic rivers, state scenic waterways, groundwater resources, Oregon recreation trails, Sage Grouse habitat, and wilderness areas. Three categories require local inventories. Initiating an inventory and completing the Goal 5 process for the remaining resource categories is optional.

There are separate state rules for each Goal 5 resource category. Many of the rules have not been revised since 1996 and rely on periodic review as a trigger for compliance. Since many jurisdictions are no longer required to enter into periodic review, many local plans and codes are not consistent with the current Goal 5 standards. 

Original Adoption: 12/27/74; Effective: 1/25/75
Amended: 2/17/88; Effective: 3/31/88
Amended: 6/14/96; Effective: 9/1/96

Read full text version of Goal 5

Administrative Rules that implement Goal 5:

OAR 660-023 – Procedures and Requirements for Complying with Goal 5
OAR 660-016 – Complying with Statewide Planning Goal 5
OAR 660-031 – State Permit Compliance and Compatibility

Related:

Planning for Historic Preservation in Oregon
Planning for Sand and Gravel (Aggregate) Mining
DSL Wetland Program
DEQ Drinking Water Program
State Historic Preservation Office
Endangered Species Act
Endangered and ESA Candidate Species in Oregon
OPRD State Scenic Waterways

Contact

Amanda Punton
Natural Resources Specialist
amanda.punton@dlcd.oregon.gov
Phone: 971-718-3245