2023 Oregon Revised Statutes › Volume : 10 - Highways, Military › Chapter 390 - State and Local Parks; Recreation Programs; Scenic Waterways; Recreation Trails › Section 390.971 - Department duties and powers; rules.

(1) Within the exterior boundaries of areas under its administration that are included in the right of way selected for an Oregon recreation trail as provided in ORS 390.950 to 390.989 and 390.995 (2), the State Parks and Recreation Department may do any of the following:
(a) Enter into written cooperative agreements with landowners, federal agencies, other state agencies, local governments, private organizations and individuals in order to provide for the development, operation, maintenance, location and relocation of the trail. Where the trail crosses commercial forestland, such agreement shall make reasonable provision for temporary relocation reasonably required for commercial forest management.
(b) Subject to limitations set forth in ORS 390.950 to 390.989 and 390.995 (2), acquire lands or interests in lands by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds or exchange, or with funds obtained under ORS 390.980.
(2) The department, in the exercise of its exchange authority, may accept title to any nonstate-owned property within a trail right of way, and, in exchange therefor, the department may convey to the grantor of such property any state-owned property under its jurisdiction or the jurisdiction of any state agency consenting to such exchange that the department or the applicable consenting state agency classifies as suitable for exchange or other disposal. The values of the properties so exchanged either shall be approximately equal or, if they are not approximately equal, the values shall be equalized by the payment of cash to the grantor or to the department or applicable consenting state agency as the circumstances require.
(3) If lands included in an Oregon recreation trail right of way are outside the exterior boundaries of state or federally administered areas, the department shall attempt, and any local governments involved shall be encouraged, to enter into written cooperative agreements with landowners, local government, private organizations and individuals in order to develop, administer and maintain the trails and to acquire, develop and administer such lands or interests therein. However, if the department or local governments fail or are unable to enter into such agreements or to acquire such lands or interests therein within one year after the selection of the right of way, the department may acquire private lands or interests therein by donation, exchange or purchase with donated or appropriated funds and may develop and administer such lands or interests therein. Exchanges shall be governed by the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.
(4) Oregon recreation trails shall be administered, protected, developed and maintained by the department, or as provided under subsection (1)(a) of this section, to retain their natural, scenic and historic features. Along trails in more remote areas, provision may be made for campsites, shelters and related public-use facilities. Other uses, including reasonable crossings for motor vehicles, public utilities and water pipes and ditches, that will not substantially interfere with the nature and purposes of the trails may be permitted or authorized, as appropriate. The use of motorized vehicles by the general public along any such Oregon recreation trail is prohibited. However, the department shall authorize the use of motorized vehicles when, in its judgment, such vehicles are necessary to meet emergencies, trail construction and maintenance needs or to enable adjacent landowners or land users to have reasonable access to their lands or timber rights. The fact that private lands are included in an Oregon recreation trail by cooperative agreement of a landowner does not preclude the owner of such lands or agents of the owner from using motorized vehicles on or across such trails or adjacent lands from time to time in accordance with such agreement. Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, the state laws, rules and regulations applicable to lands or areas included in any Oregon recreation trail shall continue to apply. Nothing in ORS 390.950 to 390.989 and 390.995 (2) prohibits the use of roads existing on private lands on September 9, 1971, which may cross or traverse portions of the trail right of way, nor shall ORS 390.950 to 390.989 and 390.995 (2) prevent trails from crossing such roads.
(5) The department shall endeavor to induce agreements with appropriate state and federal agencies to provide for youth work projects to assist in the construction and maintenance of trails that are part of the Oregon recreation trails system.
(6) The department shall endeavor, when it considers such to be appropriate, to develop and enhance the educational values and opportunities of Oregon recreation trails. In this connection the department shall cooperate with schools, educators and other interested persons or groups in developing and utilizing techniques and materials to demonstrate to and inform the trail-using public of various scenic and natural features visible along or from such trails, including geological, botanical, historical, zoological and similar features.
(7) The department shall place and endeavor to maintain signs at such places as it considers appropriate along Oregon recreation trails advising users of the Oregon laws of criminal trespass and encouraging users to protect the trails and the rights and property of adjacent landowners.
(8) The department, with the concurrence of any federal agency administering lands through which an Oregon recreation trail passes, and after consultation with the local governments, private organizations and landowners that the department knows or believes to be concerned, and the advisory council established under ORS 390.977, may adopt rules that may be revised from time to time governing protection, management, use, development and administration of an Oregon recreation trail.
(9) The department, on lands not within a forest protection district, upon recommendation of the State Forester, shall have the authority to close trails during periods of high fire danger. The department shall also have the authority to close trails if it deems it necessary to protect the safety of the public.
(10) Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS chapter 477, forestland on which a fire exists that was caused by a person using, for recreational purposes, a trail established pursuant to ORS 390.950 to 390.989, shall not be considered an operation area as defined by ORS 477.001, if the fire did not start within an operation. [1971 c.614 §9; 1973 c.46 §7; 1983 c.740 §123; 1997 c.274 §37; 2003 c.14 §169]