Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.600 (2026)

Definitions for ORS 196.600 to 196.655

✓ current as of May 2026
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      196.600 Definitions for ORS 196.600 to 196.655. As used in ORS 196.600 to 196.655:

      (1) “Compensatory mitigation” means activities conducted by a permittee or third party to create, restore, enhance or preserve the functions and values of the water resources of this state to compensate for the removal-fill related adverse effects of project development to waters of this state or to resolve violations of ORS 196.800 to 196.921. Compensatory mitigation for removal-fill activities does not affect permit requirements of other state departments.

      (2) “Credit” means the measure of the increase in the functions and values of the water resources of this state achieved at a mitigation bank site.

      (3) “Mitigation bank” means a site created, restored, enhanced or preserved in accordance with ORS 196.600 to 196.655 to compensate for unavoidable adverse impacts to waters of this state due to activities which otherwise comply with the requirements of ORS 196.600 to 196.921.

      (4) “Mitigation bank instrument” means the legally binding and enforceable agreement between the Director of the Department of State Lands and a mitigation bank sponsor that formally establishes the mitigation bank and stipulates the terms and conditions of the mitigation bank’s construction, operation and long-term management.

      (5) “Off-site compensatory mitigation” means activities conducted away from the project site that create, restore, enhance or preserve the functions and values of the water resources of this state in order to compensate for the adverse impacts to waters of this state from project development.

      (6) “On-site compensatory mitigation” means activities conducted at the project site to create, restore, enhance or preserve the functions and values of the water resources of this state in order to compensate for the adverse impacts to waters of this state from project development.

      (7) “Permit action” means activity under a specific removal or fill permit or other authorization requested or issued under ORS 196.600 to 196.921.

      (8) “Service area” means the boundaries set forth in a mitigation bank instrument that include one or more watersheds identified on the United States Geological Survey, Hydrologic Unit Map - 1974, State of Oregon, for which a mitigation bank provides credits to compensate for adverse effects from project developments to waters of this state. Service areas for mitigation banks are not mutually exclusive.

      (9) “Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan” means the plan created by the State Parks and Recreation Department pursuant to the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended (16 U.S.C. 460-L et seq.). [Formerly 541.550; 1995 c.370 §2; 2003 c.738 §3; 2009 c.343 §1]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2003–2024 · leading case: Waterkeeper v. Port of Coos Bay Or., 423 P.3d 60 (Or. 2018).
Waterkeeper v. Port of Coos Bay Or., 423 P.3d 60 (Or. 2018). · cites it 4× “815 if the director determines that the project described in the application: "(a) Is consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the water resources of this state as specified in ORS 196.600 to 196.905 ; and "(b) Would not unreasonably interfere with the…”
Owen v. Div. of State Lands, 76 P.3d 158 (Or. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “” The permit requirements of ORS 196.600 to 196.905 apply when a person contemplates filling or removing material from wetlands or the “waters of this state.”
Gienger v. Dep't of State Lands, 214 P.3d 75 (Or. Ct. App. 2009). “810 provides, in part: “(l)(a) Except as otherwise specifically permitted under ORS 196.600 to 196.905, a person may not remove any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under authority of the…”
Jack Scott Farms, Inc. v. Dept. of State Lands, 336 Or. App. 139 (Or. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× ““Any person who violates any provision of ORS 196.600 to 196.921 or any rule, order or permit adopted or issued under ORS 196.”
Examilotis v. Dep't of State Lands, 244 P.3d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “825, the director concluded: “DSL has shown that the fill and removal plan proposed by Coos STEP is consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the water resources of this state, as specified in ORS 196.600 to 196.905, and would not unreasonably interfere with…”
Examilotis v. Dept. of State Lands, 244 P.3d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “825, the director concluded: "DSL has shown that the fill and removal plan proposed by Coos STEP is consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the water resources of this state, as specified in ORS 196.600 to 196.905, and would not unreasonably interfere with…”
Jack Scott Farms, Inc. v. Dept. of State Lands, 336 Or. App. 139 (Or. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× ““Any person who violates any provision of ORS 196.600 to 196.921 or any rule, order or permit adopted or issued under ORS 196.”
Citizens for Responsible Dev. in the Dalles v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 433 P.3d 364 (Or. Ct. App. 2018). “815 if the director determines that the project described in the application: "(a) Is consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the water resources of this state as specified in ORS 196.600 to 196.905 ; and "(b) Would not unreasonably interfere with the…”
Coos Waterkeeper v. Port of Coos Bay Oregon, 395 P.3d 14 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). “That statute provided, in part: “(1) The Director of the Department of State Lands shall issue a permit * * * if the director determines that the project described in the application: “(a) Is consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the water resources of…”
Cardenas v. Castelli (D. Or. 2024). · cites it 2× “MSJ"), ECF [24], at 2; Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.600 et seq. As relevant to this action, the law prohibits removing "any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under authority of the Director of the…”
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