State Land Board To Meet April 14 - 04/07/26

Agenda items include updated rules for waterway authorizations and a land exchange at the South Slough Reserve

SALEM, Ore. – The State Land Board will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m.

Agenda items the Land Board will consider include:

• Authorize the exchange of approximately 0.2 acres of lands between the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Lee Family in Coos County.
  The Reserve’s Visitor Center entrance is being moved to improve safety, expand parking capacity, and enhance bus mobility. The proposed land exchange involves the existing entrance area and will benefit both the neighboring Lee family and the Reserve.
• Adopt updated rules that implement best management practices to protect the health and safety of Oregon-owned waterways and achieve sustainable operations.
  The rules govern leases, licenses and registrations for structures and uses on state-owned submerged and submersible land, such as marinas, ports, docks, and floating homes. Rules include fees, compensation, insurance requirements, and other minor updates.

The Land Board will also hear legislative updates, the annual report of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve program, and a summary of progress on the Department’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan projects.

Meeting Details and Agenda

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

This meeting of the Land Board will be held virtually only. Watch the meeting livestreamed online on the DSL YouTube channel. The full meeting agenda and materials are available on the DSL website.

The public may submit written testimony or sign up to provide spoken testimony (by phone or virtually) during the meeting. The meeting agenda indicates whether testimony will be accepted on an item. Advanced sign-up is required. The deadline is 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13.

If you need assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability, please contact Arin Smith at 503-986-5224 or arin.n.smith@dsl.oregon.gov at least two working days prior to the meeting.

Visitors are not permitted to bring backpacks, bags, or large purses into the building prior to, during, or following Land Board meetings. Purses, medical bags, and diaper bags are permitted, but may be subject to inspection by the Oregon State Police.

About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands: The State Land Board consists of Governor Tina Kotek, Secretary of State Tobias Read, and State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. Established by the Oregon Constitution in 1859, the Land Board oversees the state’s Common School Fund. The Department of State Lands is the Land Board’s administrative agency, managing the lands and resources that help fund Oregon’s public schools and protecting the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide.

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www.oregon.gov/dsl

Updated Essential Salmonid Habitat Map Available Now - 03/31/26

The map identifies streams where removal-fill permits are often required to help protect critical habitat for salmon species

Salem, ORE. – The State of Oregon has published the 2026 essential salmonid habitat map, which shows streams where activities like building docks or adding riprap usually require a removal-fill permit.
 

The map identifies streams that are critical habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and other sensitive, threatened or endangered fish species. Oregon law protects these streams by requiring a removal-fill permit for most projects that remove or add materials. View the adopted 2026 map and learn more.

The map is reviewed annually to reflect current Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) data.

“As Oregon’s waterways face increasing pressures, keeping our map current with habitat data is more important than ever,” said Oregon Department of State Lands Director Kaitlin Lovell. “This map helps guide smart decisions today so salmon, steelhead, and other native fish can continue to thrive for generations.”

If you live near a stream, this map is one of the most useful tools you can check before starting a project on your property. It helps answer a simple but important question: what do I need to do to protect fish habitat here?

The 2026 update added approximately 45 stream miles of essential habitat in multiple areas of Oregon. Approximately 4 stream miles are no longer essential habitat due to changes in habitat barriers or improved accuracy and detail in GIS data. This change from 2025 to 2026 represents less than a 1% change to the overall 22,000+ stream miles of essential habitat. See the draft map to view the changes for 2026*.

This year’s update is unusual due to the historic removal of the four lower Klamath River dams in 2023-2024 and the rapid, ongoing changes to fish distribution that followed. This unprecedented action reopened more than 400 miles of historic fish habitat and spawning grounds.

Anadromous fish were first observed late in the 2025 season and have begun to re-populate newly accessible areas. Given both the timing and limited data on whether observed habitat use reflects long-term, repeatable patterns, it was determined that these observations did not support designation in time for the 2026 essential salmonid map update. Additional monitoring and coordination will be needed, consistent with the State of Oregon’s commitments under the Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement.

The annual map update process includes Tribal engagement and a public review and comment period. Stay informed about future map updates by joining DSL’s email list for essential salmonid habitat map information. Sign up to receive emails.

*Additional minor edits were made to the adopted map after the comment period, in response to feedback and with confirmation from ODFW. These are not reflected in the draft map.

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www.oregon.gov/dsl