141-142-0015 Definitions As used in this division, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Area” or “Protected Area” means and refers to all marine reserves, marine gardens, marine conservation areas, marine research areas, marine protected areas, and seabird protection areas. (2) “Authorization” means a lease, registration, short-term access authorization, temporary use authorization, public facility license, easement or other authorization the department grants that allows a person to use, or place a structure in, on, under or over state-owned submerged land, state-owned submersible land, or both in the Territorial Sea. (3) “Department” means the Department of State Lands. (4) “Disturbance” means the extraction of living organisms and non-living materials, or human induced changes to the environment. (5) “Extractive Activity” means any human effort to remove or attempt to remove any living or non-living marine resource. (6) “Extreme Low Water” or “ELWL” means the lowest elevation reached by the sea as recorded by a water level gauge during a given period. Extreme low water is generally seaward of the “line of ordinary low water” as defined in ORS 274.005(3). (7) “Marine Conservation Area” are areas within Oregon’s territorial sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area with relatively intact ecosystems with high ecological value. These areas are managed to preserve the natural system to the highest degree possible by limiting adverse impacts to habitat and wildlife. (8) “Marine Garden” or “Marine Education Area” means any area within Oregon’s territorial sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area that has been reserved by the state to provide enhanced education, enjoyment, public access, and resource awareness. These sites are characterized by their high public visitation and educational potential. (9) “Marine Protected Area” means any area of the marine environment within Oregon’s territorial sea that has been reserved by the state to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein. (10) “Marine Research Area” means any area within Oregon’s territorial sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area that has been reserved by the state to support scientific research and monitoring while maintaining ecological integrity. These sites have relatively intact ecosystems that have or may benefit from scientific research. (11) “Marine Reserve” is an area within Oregon's territorial sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area that is protected from all extractive activities, including the removal or disturbance of living and non-living marine resources, except as necessary for monitoring or research to evaluate reserve condition, effectiveness, or impact of stressors. (12) “Mean High Water” or “MHWL” is a tidal datum. It is the average of all the high water heights observed over the National Tidal Datum Epoch. For stations with shorter series, comparison of simultaneous observations with a control tide station is made in order to derive the equivalent datum of the National Tidal Datum Epoch. For purposes of the department’s jurisdiction, Mean High Water corresponds generally with the “line of ordinary high water” as defined in ORS 274.005(3). (13) “National Tidal Datum Epoch” means the specific 19-year period adopted by the National Ocean Service as the official time segment over which tide observations are taken and reduced to obtain mean values (e.g., mean lower low water, etc.) for tidal datums. It is necessary for standardization because of periodic and apparent secular trends in sea level. The present National Tide Datum Epoch is 1983 through 2001 and is actively considered for revision every 20-25 years. Tidal datums in certain regions with anomalous sea level changes are calculated on a Modified 5-Year Epoch. (14) “Removal-Fill Permit” means an authorization granted by the department governing the removal, fill, alteration, or any combination thereof of material within the waters of the State of Oregon as provided in ORS 196.668 to 196.692 and ORS 196.800 to 196.990. (15) “Seabird Protection Area” is an area within Oregon’s Territorial Sea that has been reserved by the state for the protection of seabirds. (16) “State Land” as provided in ORS 273.006(8) means public land controlled by the department. (17) “Structure” means anything placed, constructed, or erected in, on, under or over state-owned submerged and submersible land. (18) “Submerged Land” as provided in ORS 274.005(7), means lands lying below the line of ordinary low water of all navigable waters within the boundaries of this state as heretofore or hereafter established, whether such waters are tidal or nontidal, except as provided in 274.705. (19) “Submersible Land” as provided in ORS 274.005(8), means lands lying between the line of ordinary high water and the line of ordinary low water of all navigable waters and all islands, shore lands or other such lands held by or granted to this state by virtue of her sovereignty, wherever applicable, within the boundaries of this state as heretofore or hereafter established, whether such waters or lands are tidal or nontidal, except as provided in 274.705. (20) “Territorial Sea” as provided in ORS 196.405(5), means the waters and seabed extending three nautical/geographical miles seaward from the coastline in conformance with federal law. (21) “Territorial Sea Plan” as provided in ORS 196.405(6), means the plan for Oregon’s Territorial Sea. In addition to the Territorial Sea as defined in section (20), the scope of the Territorial Sea Plan includes the “ocean shore” as defined in 390.605. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 196.555 & ORS 273.045 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 196.555 & ORS 196.540 History: DSL 1-2025, amend filed 02/12/2025, effective 02/12/2025 DSL 4-2012, f. 10-16-12, cert. ef. 12-1-12 DSL 10-2009, f. & cert. ef. 12-15-09