Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 695 - OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Chapter 695 details the regulations for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). OWEB is a state agency that plays a crucial role in conserving and restoring Oregon's watersheds and native fish and wildlife habitats. It achieves this primarily through a robust grant program, funding projects undertaken by local communities, landowners, and organizations.
The purpose of OAR Chapter 695 is to establish the framework for how OWEB operates, how its grant programs are administered, and the criteria for projects receiving funding.
Here's a breakdown of the key divisions within Chapter 695:
I. Foundational Rules:
Division 1: Procedural Rules: Covers general administrative procedures for OWEB, such as how it provides public notice for rulemaking and other actions.
Division 3: Public Records Access and Reproduction: Addresses how the public can access and obtain copies of OWEB's public records.
Division 4: Watershed Enhancement Program: Provides an overarching framework for the watershed enhancement program, including its purpose and general principles.
II. Grant Program Administration (Core of OWEB's work):
Many divisions focus on the various grant programs OWEB offers, outlining eligibility, application processes, evaluation criteria, grant agreement conditions, and reporting requirements. This is where the practical application of OWEB's mission is detailed.
Division 5: OWEB Grant Program (General Provisions): Sets out general rules and conditions that apply across various OWEB grant programs, including requirements for grant agreements and compliance.
Division 10: Restoration Grants: Focuses on grants for projects designed to restore degraded habitats and watershed functions. This includes priorities, ineligible project types, application requirements, and evaluation criteria.
Division 15: Engagement Grants: Governs grants aimed at fostering stakeholder engagement and collaboration in watershed restoration efforts.
Division 25: Monitoring Grants: Provides rules for grants that support monitoring activities to assess the effectiveness of restoration and acquisition projects and to understand watershed conditions.
Division 30: Technical Assistance Grants: Outlines the process for providing grants to support technical expertise needed for project planning, design, and implementation.
Division 35: Small Grant Program: Details the rules for a localized grant program that supports smaller-scale watershed restoration projects, often managed through local Small Grant Teams.
Division 40: Watershed Council Support (Outcome-Based Watershed Council Operating Capacity Grants): Governs grants that provide operational support to local watershed councils, which are key partners in OWEB's work.
Division 45: Land Acquisition Grants: Specifies the rules for grants to acquire interests in land (e.g., fee interests, conservation easements) from willing sellers for the purpose of protecting or restoring native fish or wildlife habitats.
Division 46: Water Acquisition Grants: Addresses grants for acquiring water rights or interests to benefit instream flows or other water-related habitat needs.
Division 47: Focused Investment Partnership Grants: Details grants for larger, more strategic, and collaborative watershed restoration efforts within specific geographic areas.
Division 48: Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Program: Establishes rules for grants specifically aimed at protecting drinking water sources through watershed enhancement activities.
III. Compliance and Coordination:
Division 50: Compliance, Compatibility, Coordination, and Conditions: Addresses broader aspects of compliance with OWEB's rules, compatibility with other state and federal efforts, and general conditions for grant funding.
Overall Purpose of OWEB and its OARs:
OWEB's mission, as reflected in these administrative rules, is to protect and restore Oregon's watersheds. This is achieved by:
Providing financial assistance: Through various grant programs, OWEB supports on-the-ground projects that improve water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and restore natural processes.
Supporting local efforts: OWEB emphasizes community-led and landowner-driven initiatives, working closely with watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, and other local partners.
Promoting sound science: Grant applications and project evaluations often require scientific criteria to ensure effectiveness and accountability.
Ensuring long-term benefits: The rules often include provisions for project maintenance, monitoring, and landowner commitments to ensure the sustained success of restoration efforts.
In essence, OAR Chapter 695 is the regulatory backbone that enables OWEB to fulfill its constitutional and statutory mandate of protecting and enhancing Oregon's vital natural resources.
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