Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2023 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(1) Projects applying under ORS 541.669 for funding from the Water Supply Development Account shall be evaluated based upon the public benefits of the project. The evaluation must consider both positive and negative effects of a project. The three categories of public benefit to be considered in the project evaluation are economic benefits, environmental benefits and social or cultural benefits. Each category of benefits shall be given equal importance in the evaluation of a project. The technical review team described in ORS 541.669 shall use the evaluation system to assign initial scores and rankings to projects. The Water Resources Commission shall use the evaluation system to assign final scorings and rankings to the projects. The commission shall award loan and grant funding from the account to the projects that have the greatest public benefit and will best achieve the outcomes described in ORS 541.677.
(2) The evaluation of economic benefits for a project shall be based on the changes in economic conditions expected to result from the project, including but not limited to conditions related to:
(a) Job creation or retention;
(b) Increases in economic activity;
(c) Increases in efficiency or innovation;
(d) Enhancement of infrastructure, farmland, public resource lands, industrial lands, commercial lands or lands having other key uses;
(e) Enhanced economic value associated with tourism or recreational or commercial fishing, with fisheries involving native fish of cultural significance to Indian tribes or with other economic values resulting from restoring or protecting water in-stream; and
(f) Increases in irrigated land for agriculture.
(3) The evaluation of environmental benefits for a project shall be based on the changes in environmental conditions expected to result from the project, including but not limited to conditions related to:
(a) A measurable improvement in protected streamflows that:
(A) Supports the natural hydrograph;
(B) Improves floodplain function;
(C) Supports state or federally listed sensitive, threatened or endangered fish species;
(D) Supports native fish species of cultural importance to Indian tribes; or
(E) Supports riparian habitat important for wildlife;
(b) A measurable improvement in ground water levels that enhances environmental conditions in ground water restricted areas or other areas;
(c) A measurable improvement in the quality of surface water or ground water;
(d) Water conservation;
(e) Increased ecosystem resiliency to climate change impacts; and
(f) Improvements that address one or more limiting ecological factors in the project watershed.
(4) The evaluation of the social or cultural benefits for a project shall be based on the changes in social or cultural conditions expected to result from the project, including but not limited to conditions related to:
(a) The promotion of public health and safety and of local food systems;
(b) A measurable improvement in conditions for members of minority or low-income communities, economically distressed rural communities, tribal communities or other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes;
(c) The promotion of recreation and scenic values;
(d) Contribution to the body of scientific data publicly available in this state;
(e) The promotion of state or local priorities, including but not limited to the restoration and protection of native fish species of cultural significance to Indian tribes; and
(f) The promotion of collaborative basin planning efforts, including but not limited to efforts under the state integrated water resources strategy.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Oregon Revised Statutes Water Resources: Irrigation, Drainage, Flood Control, Reclamation § 541.673 - last updated January 01, 2023 | https://codes.findlaw.com/or/title-45-water-resources-irrigation-drainage-flood-control-reclamation/or-rev-st-sect-541-673/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)