Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 196 § 196.672 — Policy

Policy. In addition to the policy described in ORS 196.805, it is the policy of the State of Oregon to: (1) Promote the protection, conservation and best use of wetland resources, their functions and values through the integration and close coordination of statewide planning goals, local comprehensive plans and state and federal regulatory programs. (2) Use a single definition of “wetlands” for the purposes of ORS 196.800 to 196.921 and statewide planning goals and a single, uniform methodology of delineating wetland boundaries. (3) Develop a statewide inventory of wetlands based on uniform identification standards and criteria at a scale practicable for planning and regulatory purposes, and to make such inventory available to state agencies and local governments to facilitate better management of wetland resources and closer coordination of local, state and federal wetland programs. (4) Maintain a stable resource base of wetlands through the mitigation of losses of wetland resources and the adoption of the procedural mitigation standard currently used by federal agencies. (5) Establish the opportunity to increase wetland resources by encouraging wetland restoration and creation where appropriate. (6) Reduce the delays and uncertainty which can occur in the current wetland planning and regulatory framework through improved coordination of the provisions in ORS