Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 537 § 537.873 — Place-based water planning grants; rules

Place-based water planning grants; rules. (1) As used in this section: (a) “Eligible implementation coordination costs”: (A) Means costs associated with actions taken to coordinate the implementation of a state-recognized place-based integrated water resources plan. (B) Does not include the costs of implementing a project. (b) “Environmental justice community” has the meaning given that term in ORS 182.535. (c) “Indian tribe” means a federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon that has members residing on a reservation or tribal trust lands in Oregon. (d) “Person” has the meaning given that term in ORS 536.007. (e) “Place-based integrated water resources plan” means a plan that: (A) Is developed for a planning area associated with waters from sources within a shared hydrologic boundary; (B) Is developed in collaboration with a balanced representation of interests; (C) Addresses current and future in-stream and out-of-stream needs; (D) Includes the development of actions that are consistent with the state water resources policy and other state laws concerning the water resources of this state; (E) Is developed using an open, equitable and transparent process that fosters public participation and meaningful engagement with environmental justice communities, consistent with the requirements of ORS 182.545; (F) Is developed in consultation with the Water Resources Department and other relevant state agencies; (G) Facilitates implementation of local water resources solutions and supports the knowledge and relationships needed to implement the solutions; (H) Assesses actions that are compatible with local comprehensive plans; (I) Strives to integrate solutions to cost-effectively achieve multiple benefits; (J) Is consistent with the guiding principles of the integrated state water resources strategy; and (K) Complies with the rules of the Water Resources Commission, including any rules regarding the development of place-based integrated water resources plans. (f) “Place-based integrated water resources planning” means a collaborative and inclusive process that is designed to: (A) Gather information to develop a shared understanding of water resources and identify critical issues and knowledge gaps; (B) Examine the existing and future in-stream and out-of-stream water needs for people, the economy and the environment; (C) Identify and prioritize strategic, integrated solutions to understand and meet in-stream and out-of-stream water needs; and (D) Develop, implement and update a place-based integrated water resources plan. (g) “Public body” has the meaning given that term in ORS 174.109. (h) “Situation assessment” means an assessment conducted for the purpose of understanding the status of an issue, stakeholder perspectives and the needs and conditions that potentially affect the feasibility and design of a collaborative process to develop and implement a place-based integrated water resources plan. (i) “State-recognized place-based integrated water resources plan” means a place-based integrated water resources plan that has been reviewed by the Water Resources Commission and recognized by a commission resolution stating that the completed place-based integrated water resources plan adheres to applicable requirements. (2) The Water Resources Director may award grants with moneys from the Place-Based Water Planning Fund established in ORS 537.872 to fund the costs of actions supporting place-based integrated water resources planning, including costs of: (a) Filling gaps in state, tribal and local capacity, knowledge and skill sets. (b) Developing data and associated analyses tailored to the area of a place-based integrated water resources plan. (c) Assessing critical issues within the planning area. (d) Building knowledge and relationships among state agencies, organizations with ties to or an interest in the planning area and people who live in, work in or are interested in the planning area. (e) Assisting groups with preparing and assessing readiness to engage in relevant planning. (f) Assisting with building the capacity of a community to engage in relevant planning. (g) Facilitating and managing a collaborative process to support relevant planning. (h) Developing, or supporting development of, a place-based integrated water resources plan. (i) Facilitating associated public participation, including participation by members of environmental justice communities, through education, outreach, financial support and other activities. (j) Updating a state-recognized place-based integrated water resources plan. (k) Eligible implementation coordination costs. (3) In awarding grants, the department may require cost matching by applicants. (4) The grants may be awarded to persons, public bodies, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations. (5) The grants may be awarded as cost sharing with other programs that support place-based integrated water resources