(1) The Water Resources Department Hydroelectric Fund is established separate and distinct from the General Fund of the State Treasury. Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, of the moneys in the Water Resources Department Hydroelectric Fund:

Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 536.015

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • State Treasury: includes those financial assets the lawful custody of which are vested in the State Treasurer and the office of the State Treasurer relating to the custody of those financial assets. See Oregon Statutes 174.100

(a) A portion equal to 67 percent of the total moneys received each year shall be transferred to the fund created under ORS § 496.835;

(b) A portion equal to 10.3 percent of the total moneys received each year shall be transferred to an account of the Department of Environmental Quality to be used to review applications for certification of hydroelectric projects under ORS § 468B.040 and 468B.045; and

(c) All of the remaining moneys received each year are continuously appropriated to the Water Resources Commission and the Water Resources Department to provide for the payment of the administrative expenses of the commission and the department in carrying out their responsibilities related to the issuance of permits, licenses or water right certificates for hydroelectric projects.

(2) The following shall be deposited into the State Treasury and credited to the Water Resources Department Hydroelectric Fund:

(a) Fees received by the Water Resources Department for hydroelectric projects under ORS § 536.050, 543.078 to 543.092, 543.210, 543.280, 543.300, 543.710 and 543A.405; and

(b) All moneys received on behalf of this account by gift, grant or appropriation from whatever source.

(3) All interest, if any, from moneys credited to the Water Resources Department Hydroelectric Fund shall be credited to the fund and shall inure to the benefit of the Water Resources Department Hydroelectric Fund.

(4) Application fees received under ORS § 543A.405 shall be disbursed to the various agencies in the amounts specified in the cost reimbursement agreement executed with each reauthorization applicant.

(5) Annual fees paid under ORS § 543.078 shall be disbursed to state agencies pursuant to a memorandum of agreement developed by the Department of Environmental Quality, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Water Resources Department. [1991 c.869 § 2; 1997 c.449 § 36; 1999 c.873 § 13; 2021 c.516 § 1]