(1) There is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund, the Parks and Natural Resources Fund to be administered by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. All moneys transferred from the State Lottery Fund and all other moneys authorized to be transferred to the Parks and Natural Resources Fund from whatever source are appropriated continuously for the public purposes of restoring and protecting Oregon’s parks, beaches, watersheds and critical fish and wildlife habitats. Fifteen percent of the net proceeds from the Oregon State Lottery shall be deposited in the Parks and Natural Resources Fund created under this subsection.
(2) Of the moneys deposited into the Parks and Natural Resources Fund from the Oregon State Lottery, 50 percent shall be deposited into a Parks Subaccount for the public purpose of financing the protection, repair, operation, creation and development of state parks, ocean shores, public beach access areas, historic sites and recreation areas. The State Treasurer may invest and reinvest the moneys in the Parks Subaccount as provided in ORS 293.701 to 293.820. Interest from the moneys deposited in the subaccount and earnings from investment of the moneys in the subaccount shall be credited to the subaccount.
(3) All moneys in the Parks Subaccount for financing the protection, repair, operation, creation and development of state parks, ocean shores, public beach access areas, historic sites and recreation areas shall be allocated to the State Parks and Recreation Department. Such moneys shall be deposited into the State Parks and Recreation Department Fund established under ORS 390.134 and shall be used for the following purposes:
(a) Maintaining, constructing, improving, developing, managing and operating state park and recreation facilities, programs and areas.
(b) Acquiring real property, or interest therein, deemed necessary for the creation and operation of state parks, ocean shores, public beach access areas, recreation areas and historic sites or because of natural, scenic, cultural, historic and recreational values.
(c) Operating grant programs for local government entities deemed necessary to accomplish the public purposes of the Parks and Natural Resources Fund.
(4) Of the moneys deposited into the Parks and Natural Resources Fund from the Oregon State Lottery, 50 percent shall be deposited into a Restoration and Protection Subaccount for the public purpose of financing the restoration and protection of native salmonid populations, watersheds, fish and wildlife habitats and water quality in Oregon. The State Treasurer may invest and reinvest the moneys in the Restoration and Protection Subaccount as provided in ORS 293.701 to 293.820. Interest from the moneys deposited in the subaccount and earnings from investment of the moneys in the subaccount shall be credited to the Restoration and Protection Research Fund created under ORS 541.378.
(5) The moneys in the Restoration and Protection Subaccount for financing the restoration and protection of native salmonid populations, watersheds, fish and wildlife habitats and water quality shall be administered by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and shall be used for all of the following purposes:
(a) Restoration and protection of watersheds and fish, wildlife, riparian and native species and for habitat conservation activities, including but not limited to planning, coordination, assessment, implementation, restoration, inventory, information management and monitoring activities.
(b) Watershed and riparian education efforts.
(c) Development and implementation of watershed and water quality enhancement plans.
(d) Entering into agreements to obtain from willing owners determinate interests in lands and waters that protect watershed resources, including but not limited to fee simple interests in land, leases of land or water or conservation easements.
(e) Enforcement of fish and wildlife and habitat protection laws and regulations.
(6) Of the moneys deposited into the Restoration and Protection Subaccount from the Oregon State Lottery, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall deposit:
(a) Sixty-five percent of the funds into the Watershed Improvement Grant Fund established under ORS 541.397 to be used only for funding capital expenditure projects; and
(b) Thirty-five percent of the funds into the Watershed Improvement Operating Fund established under ORS 541.379 to be used for the purposes set forth in ORS 541.379 (1).
(7) The Legislative Assembly shall not limit expenditures from the Parks and Natural Resources Fund. The Legislative Assembly may appropriate other moneys or revenues to the Parks and Natural Resources Fund. [1999 c.1026 §7; 2003 c.14 §346]
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