Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 629 - DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY › Division 625 - FOREST ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE › Section 629-625-0320 - Water Crossing Structures

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1)
			 Operators shall design and construct all water crossing structures in all typed
			 waters and lakes, bays, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs, rivers, streams,
			 creeks, estuaries, marshes, wetlands, inlets, and canals to:
(a) Minimize excavation of side slopes near
			 the channel.
(b) Minimize the
			 volume of material in the fill.
(A) Operators
			 shall minimize fill material by restricting the width and height of the fill to
			 the amount needed for safe use of the road by vehicles, and by providing
			 adequate cover over the culvert or other drainage structure.
(B) Fills over 15 feet deep contain a large
			 volume of material that can be a considerable risk to downstream beneficial
			 uses if the material moves downstream by water. Consequently, for any fill over
			 15 feet deep operators shall submit to the State Forester a written plan that
			 describes the fill and drainage structure design. Written plans shall include a
			 design that minimizes the likelihood of:
(i)
			 Surface erosion;
(ii) Embankment
			 failure; and
(iii) Downstream
			 movement of fill material.
(C) The operator shall armor fills against
			 erosion where large fills over 15 feet deep are determined to be necessary by
			 the State Forester.
(c)
			 Prevent erosion of the fill and channel.
(d) Minimize hydrologic connectivity for
			 adjacent roadway.
(e) Avoid or
			 minimize alterations or disturbances to stream channel, bed, bank, or bank
			 vegetation to that which is necessary to construct the water crossing
			 structure. Operators shall limit the alteration or disturbance of stream bed,
			 bank, or bank vegetation to that which is necessary to construct the
			 project.
(f) Plant disturbed stream
			 banks with native woody species or stabilize with other erosion control
			 techniques.
(g) Ensure that
			 streamflow is not likely to be diverted out of its channel if the crossing
			 fails.
(h) Preserve water quality
			 and unobstructed flow.
(i) Route
			 and deposit temporarily turbid water from crossing projects to the forest floor
			 in an upland area, or above the 100-year flood level if present, to allow
			 removal of fine sediment and other contaminants prior to discharge to waters of
			 the state.
(j) When the State
			 Forester determines that installing a water crossing in a flowing stream will
			 cause excessive sedimentation and turbidity, and sedimentation and turbidity
			 would be reduced if stream flow were diverted, operators shall divert stream
			 flow using a bypass flume or culvert, or by pumping the stream flow around the
			 work area. In this situation, operators may install culverts within 0.25 miles
			 of a Type F or Type SSBT stream or within two miles of a hatchery
			 intake.
(k) For water crossing
			 structures on Type F and Type SSBT streams, operators shall, consistent with
			 the rules in this section:
(A) Avoid or
			 minimize impacts to fish and their spawning and rearing habitat;
(B) Minimize the loss of fish life during the
			 project; and
(C) Ensure free and
			 unimpeded fish passage at all flows when fish are expected to move through the
			 life of the structure.