Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 736 - PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT › Division 40 - OREGON SCENIC WATERWAYS › Section 736-040-0047 - Grande Ronde River Scenic Waterway

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) Scenic River Area:
(a) That segment of the Grande Ronde River
			 from Rondowa at the confluence of the Wallowa River with the Grande Ronde River
			 to the Umatilla National Forest boundary;
(b) This Scenic River Area shall be
			 administered consistent with the standards set by OAR
			 736-040-0035 and
			 736-040-0040(1)(b)(B).
			 In addition to these standards, all new development in resource zones (i.e.,
			 farm and forest related dwellings) shall comply with Wallowa and Union County
			 land use regulations:
(A) New structures and
			 associated improvements (except as provided under OAR
			 736-040-0030(5))
			 shall be moderately screened with native vegetation and/or existing topography.
			 If inadequate topography or vegetative screening exists on a site, the
			 structure or improvement may be permitted if vegetation (preferably native) is
			 established to provide moderate screening of the proposed structure or
			 improvement within a reasonable time (4-5 years). The condition of "moderate
			 screening" shall consist of an ample density and mixture of evergreen and
			 deciduous vegetation to moderately obscure (at least 50 percent) the viewed
			 improvement or structure, or allow a moderately filtered view (at least 50
			 percent filtering) of the proposed structure or improvement;
(B) Visible tree harvest may be allowed
			 provided that:
(i) The operation complies
			 with the relevant Forest Practices Act rules;
(ii) Harvest methods with low visual impact
			 are used; and
(iii) The effect of
			 the harvest enhances the scenic view within a reasonable time (5-10 years). For
			 the purposes of this rule, "enhance" means to improve timber stand health,
			 including reducing stand density, by emulating the mosaic character of the
			 natural forest landscape (pre-forest management tree density patterns - Prior
			 to 1920).
(C) New mining
			 operations and similar improvements shall be permitted only when they are
			 substantially screened from view from the river by topography and/or native
			 vegetation. If inadequate topographic or vegetative screening exists on a site,
			 mining and similar forms of development may be permitted if vegetation is
			 established which would provide substantial screening of the affected area. The
			 condition of "substantial screening" shall consist of an ample density and
			 mixture of evergreen and deciduous vegetation (preferably native) to totally
			 obscure the altered improvement site at all stages of its development;
(D) New roads may be permitted
			 only when fully screened from the river by topography or existing
			 vegetation;
(E) Existing roads may
			 be upgraded when those roads are moderately screened from view from the river
			 by topography or existing vegetation. No side cast which would be visible from
			 the river is permitted. Excess material shall be hauled to locations out of
			 sight from the river. If inadequate screening exists, the road upgrade may be
			 permitted if vegetation (preferably native) is established to provide moderate
			 screening of the road within a reasonable time (4-5 years). The condition of
			 "moderate screening" shall consist of an ample density and mixture of evergreen
			 and deciduous vegetation (preferably native) to allow a moderately filtered
			 view (at least 50 percent filtering) of the road;
(F) Proposed utility facilities shall share
			 existing utility corridors, and any vegetation disturbance should be kept to a
			 minimum;
(G) Improvements needed
			 for public recreation use or resource protection may be visible from the river,
			 but shall be designed to blend with the natural character of the
			 landscape;
(H) Whenever the
			 standards of OAR 736-040-0035 and the above rule
			 are more restrictive than the applicable County Land Use and Development
			 Ordinance, the above Oregon Administrative Rules shall apply.