OAR 635-412-0040
Mitigation Criteria
(1)
Mitigation shall not be allowed for artificial obstructions located in, or which would prevent access to, “Habitat Category 1” habitat for native migratory fish as described in OAR 635-415-0025 (Implementation of Department Habitat Mitigation Recommendations)(1).(2)
Mitigation options include:(a)
Providing fish passage at another pre-existing artificial obstruction which is not required to address fish passage under OAR 635-412-0015 (Prioritization) or 635-412-0020 (Fish Passage Approval);(b)
Restoration or enhancement of native migratory fish habitat;(c)
Fish management measures to directly increase naturally-producing, wild, native migratory fish populations; and(d)
Other actions specifically approved by the Commission.(3)
Mitigation shall not include any activity that is a requirement or condition of any other agreement, law, permit, or authorization except if it is also for fish passage mitigation of the same action at the artificial obstruction for a different level of government.(4)
Unless a fish passage waiver for a site has already been obtained and mitigation has been provided, mitigation activities shall not be completed prior to a decision regarding a fish passage waiver.(5)
The Department shall approve final mitigation designs in writing prior to implementation.(6)
Mitigation actions that provide fish passage shall meet the fish passage criteria contained in OAR 635-412-0035 (Fish Passage Criteria).(7)
The Commission may require the posting of a bond or other financial instrument acceptable to the Commission to cover the cost of mitigation actions or providing fish passage at the artificial obstruction if the mitigation action does not achieve its goals.(8)
A person owning or operating an artificial obstruction is responsible for maintaining, monitoring, evaluating the effectiveness of, and reporting on mitigation.(9)
Mitigation:(a)
Shall be conducted in-proximity to the artificial obstruction, with respect to geographic scope;(b)
Shall have habitat type and quality which is more beneficial than that affected by the artificial obstruction, if mitigation is passage into, restoration of, or enhancement of habitat;(c)
Shall at least benefit the same native migratory fish species affected at the artificial obstruction;(d)
Shall have a clear benefit for those native migratory fish species affected at the artificial obstruction if their status is listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under the state or federal Endangered Species Act;(e)
Shall have standards for monitoring, evaluating, and adaptive management which are approved by the Department, which assure that the goal of the mitigation is achieved and maintained, and which are detailed in the waiver agreement required in OAR 635-412-0025 (Fish Passage Waivers and Exemptions)(9);(f)
Shall be considered if the owner or operator of the artificial obstruction believes the feasibility of fish passage at the artificial obstruction is less than that for mitigation;(g)
May require quantification of baseline conditions before a decision regarding a fish passage waiver is made in situations with no existing information, which require recent information, or which have no clear benefit;(h)
Shall attempt to restore or enhance historic conditions;(i)
To the extent possible, shall be consistent with existing native migratory fish or watershed management plans;(j)
May qualify for financial incentives or grants issued by the Department and the owner’s or operator’s cost for mitigation or passage at the artificial obstruction shall not be a factor in the Department’s net benefit determination;(k)
May require data collection and evaluation before a decision regarding a fish passage waiver is made in situations with no existing information, which require recent information, or which have no clear benefit; and(l)
Shall be consistent with the purpose and goals of the Oregon Plan.
Source:
Rule 635-412-0040 — Mitigation Criteria, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=635-412-0040.