In Oregon, the Oregon Natural Resources Division (“NRD”) is a state agency that protects and improves Oregon’s natural beauty, with clean air and clean water for future generations, while ensuring the viability of many important agricultural commodities.  The objectives of the NRD are:

a)     To implement watershed based management plans, preventing water pollution from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs),

b)     To coordinate the efforts of the state Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWCC),

c)     To provide administrative oversight and financial support to Oregon’s 45 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs),

d)     To administer the smoke management and research programs, addressing land use issues relative to farmland, and managing oyster plat leasing in the state estuaries.

The NRD’s mission is to conserve, protect, and develop natural resources on public and private lands, so agriculture will continue to be productive and economically viable in Oregon.  The primary program areas include: water quality, confined animal feeding operations, smoke management, and soil and water conservation districts.

The NRD also serve as community advisors to cooperatively develop watershed enhancement projects with volunteers.  It also cooperatively evaluates watershed enhancement projects with those responsible for project implementation.  The NRD provides technical assistance to individuals responsible for implementation of a watershed enhancement project.  The NRD works with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to coordinate the implementation of enhancement projects with the activities of other agencies, including but not limited to, those state and federal agencies participating in coordinated resource management planning[i].

The NRD is authorized to review and approve or disapprove all projects, practices, budgets, contracts, or regulations of soil and water conservation districts.  The NRD also keeps the directors of the soil and water conservation districts informed of the activities and experiences of other districts, to assist in the interchange of advice and information among the districts, and to promote cooperation among the districts[ii].
Pursuant to ORS § 561.400, the NRD is also authorized to do the following:

a)     To coordinate, as much as possible, the various programs of the soil and water conservation districts;

b)     To solicit the cooperation and assistance of any department or agency of the United States or other department or agency of this state;

c)     To disseminate information concerning the activities and programs of soil and water conservation districts and encourage formation of such districts in areas where they would be desirable and feasible;

d)     To receive, from any source, materials, machinery and equipment and to transfer such to any soil and water conservation district under terms and conditions deemed appropriate, including payment by the district for costs of delivery or use.

Oregon Natural Resources Division

[i] ORS § 541.390.

[ii] ORS § 561.400.