(1) Nothing in ORS 196.600 to 196.905 applies to filling the beds of the waters of this state for the purpose of constructing, operating and maintaining dams or other diversions for which permits or certificates have been or shall be issued under ORS chapter 537 or 539 and for which preliminary permits or licenses have been or shall be issued under ORS 543.010 to 543.610.
(2) Nothing in ORS 196.600 to 196.905 applies to removal of materials from the beds or banks or filling of the waters of a nonnavigable natural waterway, or any portion thereof, in this state, if:
(a) Such waterway or portion is situated within forestland; and
(b) Such removal or filling is directly connected with a forest management practice conducted in accordance with ORS 527.610 to 527.770, 527.990 and 527.992.
(3) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, on converted wetlands for normal farming and ranching activities such as plowing, grazing, seeding, cultivating, conventional crop rotation, harvesting for the production of food and fiber, upland soil and water conservation practices or reestablishment of crops under federal conservation reserve program provisions.
(4) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for the following activities on exclusive farm use zoned lands:
(a) Drainage or maintenance of farm or stock ponds;
(b) Maintenance of farm roads in such a manner as to not significantly adversely affect wetlands;
(c) Subsurface drainage, by deep ripping, tiling or moling, on converted wetlands; and
(d) Any activity described as a farm use in ORS 215.203 that is conducted on prior converted cropland as described in subsection (8) of this section, so long as agricultural management of the land has not been abandoned for five or more years.
(5) The exemption in subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall not apply to any fill or removal which involves changing an area of wetlands to a nonfarm use.
(6) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for the maintenance or reconstruction of structures such as dikes, dams, levees, groins, riprap, tidegates, drainage ditches, irrigation ditches and tile drain systems, provided that:
(a) The structure was serviceable within the past five years; and
(b) Such maintenance or reconstruction would not significantly adversely affect wetlands or other waters of this state to a greater extent than the wetlands or waters of this state were affected as a result of the original construction of those structures.
(7) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for maintenance, including emergency reconstruction of recently damaged parts, of currently serviceable roads or transportation structures such as groins and riprap protecting roads, causeways and bridge abutments or approaches.
(8) For the purposes of this section, “converted wetland”:
(a) Means wetlands that on or before June 30, 1989, have been diked, drained, dredged, filled, leveled or otherwise manipulated to impair or reduce the flow, circulation or reach of water for the purpose of enabling production of an agricultural commodity and are managed for that purpose; and
(b) Includes land that the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, or its successor agency, certifies as prior converted cropland or farmed wetlands, so long as agricultural management of the land has not been abandoned for five or more years. [Formerly 541.695 and then 196.770; 1999 c.610 §1]
Note: Operation of the amendments to 196.905 by section 6, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, is dependent upon further approval by the Legislative Assembly. See section 11, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001. The text that is operative after that approval, including amendments by section 13, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2003, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
196.905. (1) Notwithstanding the exemptions in subsections (3) to (8) of this section, a permit under ORS 196.600 to 196.905 is required for any fill or removal of material in or from the waters of this state when:
(a) The fill or removal is a part of an activity whose purpose is to bring an area of state waters into a use to which it was not previously subject; and
(b)(A) The flow or circulation of the waters of this state may be impaired; or
(B) The reach of the waters may be reduced.
(2) Nothing in ORS 196.600 to 196.905 applies to removal of materials from the beds or banks or filling of the waters of a nonnavigable natural waterway, or any portion thereof, in this state, if:
(a) Such waterway or portion is situated within forestland; and
(b) Such removal or filling is directly connected with a forest management practice conducted in accordance with ORS 527.610 to 527.770, 527.990 and 527.992.
(3) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, on converted wetlands for normal farming and ranching activities such as plowing, grazing, seeding, cultivating, conventional crop rotation, harvesting for the production of food and fiber, upland soil and water conservation practices or reestablishment of crops under federal conservation reserve program provisions.
(4) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for the following activities on exclusive farm use zoned lands:
(a) Drainage or maintenance of farm or stock ponds;
(b) Subsurface drainage, by deep ripping, tiling or moling, on converted wetlands;
(c) Maintenance of farm roads, provided that:
(A) The farm roads are constructed and maintained in accordance with construction practices designed to minimize any adverse effects to the aquatic environment;
(B) Borrow material for farm road maintenance does not come from waters of this state unless authorized by the Department of State Lands; and
(C) Maintenance activities are confined to the scope of construction for the original project; and
(d) Any activity described as a farm use in ORS 215.203 that is conducted on prior converted cropland as described in subsection (10)(a) of this section, so long as agricultural management of the land has not been abandoned for five or more years.
(5) The exemption in subsections (3) and (4) of this section may not apply to any fill or removal which involves changing an area of wetlands or converted wetlands to a nonfarm use.
(6) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for the maintenance or reconstruction of structures such as dikes, dams, levees, groins, riprap, tidegates, drainage ditches, irrigation ditches and tile drain systems, provided that:
(a) The structure was serviceable within the past five years; and
(b) Such maintenance or reconstruction would not significantly adversely affect wetlands or other waters of this state to a greater extent than the wetlands or waters of this state were affected as a result of the original construction of those structures.
(7) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for temporary dams constructed for crop or pasture irrigation purposes that are less than 50 cubic yards, provided the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The removal or filling is conducted during periods that minimize adverse effects to fish and wildlife in accordance with guidance provided by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife;
(b) The removal or filling does not jeopardize a threatened or endangered species or adversely modify or destroy the habitat of a threatened or endangered species listed under federal or state law; and
(c) Temporary fills are removed in their entirety and the area is restored to its approximate original elevation.
(8) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for maintenance, including emergency reconstruction of recently damaged parts, of currently serviceable roads or transportation structures such as groins and riprap protecting roads, causeways and bridge abutments or approaches.
(9) Nothing in ORS 196.800 to 196.900 applies to removal or filling, or both, for the maintenance of access roads constructed to move mining equipment, subject to the following conditions:
(a) The access roads are constructed and maintained in accordance with construction practices that minimize adverse effects to the aquatic environment;
(b) Borrow material for access road maintenance does not come from waters of this state unless authorized by the Department of State Lands; and
(c) Maintenance activities are confined to the scope of construction for the original project.
(10) For the purposes of this section:
(a) “Converted wetland” means:
(A) Wetlands that on or before June 30, 1989, have been diked, drained, dredged, filled, leveled or otherwise manipulated to impair or reduce the flow, circulation or reach of water for the purpose of producing an agricultural product and are managed for that purpose; or
(B) Those areas that the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, or its successor agency, certifies as prior converted cropland or farmed wetlands, so long as agricultural management of the land has not been abandoned for five or more years.
(b) “Harvesting” means physically removing crops or other agricultural products.
(c) “Plowing” includes all forms of primary tillage, including moldboard, chisel or wide-blade plowing, discing, harrowing or similar means of breaking up, cutting, turning over or stirring soil to prepare it for planting crops or other agricultural products. “Plowing” does not include:
(A) The redistribution of soil, rock, sand or other surface materials in a manner that changes areas of waters of this state into dry land; or
(B) Rock crushing activities that result in the loss of natural drainage characteristics, the reduction of water storage and recharge capability, or the overburdening of natural water filtration capacity.
(d) “Seeding” means the sowing of seed or placement of seedlings to produce crops or other agricultural products.
Note: See second note under 196.800.
Section: Previous 196.845 196.850 196.855 196.860 196.865 196.870 196.875 196.880 196.885 196.890 196.895 196.900 196.905 196.910 196.990 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008