2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food
Chapter 541 - Water Distributors; Water Releases; Conservation and Storage; Water Development Projects; Watershed Management and Enhancement
Section 541.945 - Watershed Conservation Operating Fund; purposes.
(1) The Watershed Conservation Operating Fund is established in the State Treasury separate and distinct from the General Fund. The Watershed Conservation Operating Fund shall consist of all moneys placed in the fund as provided by law. The purpose of the fund is to carry out activities that support all of the purposes described in ORS 541.942. Moneys in the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund shall be used for each of the following:
(a) To develop, implement or update state conservation strategies or plans to protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitats or to protect or restore natural watershed or ecosystem functions to improve water quality or stream flows;
(b) To develop, implement or update regional or local strategies or plans that are consistent with state strategies or plans described in paragraph (a) of this subsection;
(c) To develop, implement or update state strategies or plans to prevent, detect, control or eradicate invasive species that threaten native fish or wildlife habitats or that impair water quality;
(d) To support local delivery, including but not limited to delivery by watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts and other community-based organizations, of watershed education activities and other programs or projects that protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitats, watersheds or ecosystems;
(e) To pay the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board costs of administering the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund;
(f) To enforce fish and wildlife laws and regulations and fish and wildlife habitat protection laws and regulations; and
(g) To reimburse the Secretary of State as described in ORS 297.230 for the costs of audits performed by the Secretary of State under section 4c, Article XV of the Oregon Constitution.
(2) Interest accruing to the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund shall be credited to the fund. Watershed Conservation Operating Fund moneys appropriated and not expended by the completion of a biennium shall remain in the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund.
(3) Any public or private source may make gifts or grants to the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund. [2011 c.643 §16]
Note: 541.945 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 541 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
Note: Sections 1 to 4, chapter 696, Oregon Laws 2019, provide:
Sec. 1. Of the moneys deposited into the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund established under ORS 541.945, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall allocate $10,073,617 to the Department of State Police for fish and wildlife activities to implement Article XV, section 4b, of the Oregon Constitution. [2019 c.696 §1]
Sec. 2. Of the moneys deposited into the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund established under ORS 541.945, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall allocate $7,640,031 to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife for activities and projects to implement Article XV, section 4b, of the Oregon Constitution. [2019 c.696 §2]
Sec. 3. Of the moneys deposited into the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund established under ORS 541.945, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall allocate $10,636,822 to the State Department of Agriculture for activities and projects to implement Article XV, section 4b, of the Oregon Constitution. [2019 c.696 §3]
Sec. 4. Of the moneys deposited into the Watershed Conservation Operating Fund established under ORS 541.945, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall allocate $5,322,214 to the Department of Environmental Quality for activities and projects to implement Article XV, section 4b, of the Oregon Constitution. [2019 c.696 §4]
