Division of State Lands’ Wetlands Program

1. Division of State Lands’Wetlands Program

2. Issues That Spawned State Wetlands Program (SB 3) • Lack of detailed wetlands inventory information or guidance • Lack of wetlands expertise within local governments and state planning agency • Conflicts between zoning designations and wetlands regulations • Lack of land use certainty for landowners & developers

3. DSL Wetlands Program Elements • Develop statewide wetlands inventory • Develop technical guidance & standards • Improve linkage between land use planning and state/federal regulations • Provide assistance to local governments

4. DSL Wetlands Program Elements, cont. • Improve regulatory program • Provide education & training • Advance scientific basis of state programs • Maintain state’s wetlands resource base

5. Statewide Wetlands Inventory MandateSB 3 (1989) • DSL shall compile and maintain a comprehensive statewide wetlands inventory, based upon NWI • Develop, by rule, a system for uniform wetland identification, delineation & mapping • Provide inventory to city & county planning offices, state agencies & public • Revise inventory as new or more complete information becomes available • Develop public information about the inventory

6. Statewide Wetlands Inventory (SWI) • Wetland identification & mapping standards set by DSL • DSL maintains & distributes SWI • National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) forms base • Developed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Available statewide • Local Wetlands Inventories (LWI) supplement • LWI developed by local government or DSL • DSL sets standards & approves LWIs

7. National Wetlands Inventory • Shows wetlands and deepwater habitats (streams, lakes, estuaries, ponds) • Covers entire state on 1,869 USGS base maps • Small scale (1 inch = 2,000 ft.) • Based on high-altitude air photo interpretation • Shows approx. location of wetlands > 2 acres • Does not include agricultural wetlands • Distributed by DSL; some digitized

8. Local Wetlands Inventories • Show most wetlands in limited area (UGB) • Include wetlands 0.5 acre and larger • Extensive field verification • Property boundaries included on maps • Wetland descriptions included • Meet state standards • Available at local planning office or DSL

9. Technical Guidance & Standards • Wetland identification • Definition & criteria (same as federal) • Wetlands inventories • SWI & LWI rules; quality control • Wetland function & condition assessment • Oregon Freshwater Wetland Assessment Method • “Significant wetland” criteria • Rules for local governments to follow

10. LWI Steps • Obtain funding & develop work plan with DSL • Contract with wetlands consultant • Hold public meeting to review objectives & process • Consultant conducts field work • Draft maps and data to DSL for review • Public meeting to review draft maps • Prepare final maps and supporting data • DSL reviews & approves; local government adopts • Local government notifies landowners of results

11. LWI Uses & Benefits • Basis for Goal 5 & 17 wetlands planning • Accurate wetlands maps available at local planning department • Detailed wetlands maps for regulatory purposes • Inventory process provides educational opportunity in community • Alerts landowners to wetlands on property • State standards provide for consistent inventory quality statewide

12. Improve Linkage between Local Planning and State Regulations • LWI standards & significant wetland rules • fewer “surprise” wetlands; more wetlands included in comprehensive plans • Wetland Land Use Notification • links local applications to state regulations • Technical & planning assistance for local governments • Wetland Conservation Plan (WCP) option • state permits issued according to WCP

13. Local Government Assistance • Conduct site reviews upon request • public facilities, areas to be annexed, etc. • Assist planner and consultant with all wetland inventory & planning steps • Participate in public meetings associated with wetlands inventory & planning • Grant program for wetland planning

14. Improve Regulatory Program • Work with Corps, EPA & NRCS on program improvements • Direct grant funds to needed improvements • Maintain scientific expertise of staff • Integrate regulatory program with land use and watershed management plans • Incorporate best available science • Keep informed on other state programs & adapt appropriate elements to Oregon

15. Provide Information, Education & Training • Public information materials on wetlands functions, wetland planning, & regulation • Wetlands Update; fact sheets; manuals • Workshops for planners & public • Wetland identification; wetland assessment; wetland map use; regulations; topics tailored for realtors, public works & other groups • Presentations to organizations

16. Maintain Wetland Resource Base • DSL responsible for Wetlands Benchmark • maintain 1990 base of wetlands • Additional authority from SB 3 (1989) • Approaches include: • regulatory program (permit; mitigation) • non-regulatory wetland restoration • identify potential sites in LWIs/local plans • monitoring & research

17. Examples of DSL-Sponsored Research • Historic vegetation of Willamette Valley • Recent wetland loss trends in Willamette Valley • Bird use of seasonal ponds on farmland • Wetland-associated plant & animal species • Geology & status of Agate Desert vernal pools • Oregon Freshwater Wetland Assessment Method • Oregon Hydrogeomorphic Assessment Guidebook • Wetland restoration program recommendations • Hydric soils research in Willamette Valley