(a) "Enhancement" includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:
(A) Angler access.
(B) New fishways and screens.
(C) Habitat.
(D) New hatchery equipment and technology.
(E) Public education.
(F) Aquatic inventories.
(b) "Restoration" includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:
(A) Modification of existing fishways and existing screens.
(B) Hatchery restoration.
(C) Liberation equipment.
(2) The Restoration and Enhancement Board shall meet at least four times each biennium.
(3) The board shall adopt recommendations regarding fish restoration and enhancement programs and present the recommendations to the State Fish and Wildlife Commission.
(4) The commission shall review fish restoration and enhancement programs and may approve or disapprove program recommendations made by the board. Funds may be expended from the subaccount referred to in ORS 496.283 for projects that have been approved by the commission.
(5) The State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the board jointly shall submit to each odd-numbered year regular session of the Legislative Assembly a report on expenditure of funds for the fish restoration and enhancement program and on the status of various projects.
(6) In recommending fish restoration and enhancement programs, the board shall:
(a) Recommend a mix of projects that provide a balance between restoration and enhancement benefits.
(b) Recommend projects that are to be implemented by the salmon and trout enhancement program and nonprofit organizations engaged in approved restoration and enhancement activities.
(c) Encourage projects that result in obtaining matching funds from other sources.
(7) All moneys made available for the fish restoration and enhancement program from funds received under ORS 497.126, 508.288 and 508.506 and from gifts and grants made to carry out the fish restoration and enhancement program may be expended only if recommended by the board and approved by the commission. Such amounts may be expended:
(a) On programs benefiting the commercial fishing industry in the same proportion as revenues received from surcharges under ORS 508.288 and 508.506 bear to the total amount of surcharge revenues.
(b) On programs benefiting recreational angling in the same proportion as revenues received from the dedication under ORS 497.126 bear to the total amount of dedicated revenues.
(8) The board may accept, from whatever source, gifts or grants for the purposes of fish restoration and enhancement. All moneys so accepted shall be deposited in the subaccount referred to in ORS 496.283. Unless otherwise required by the terms of a gift or grant, gifts or grants shall be expended as provided in subsection (7) of this section. [1989 c.512 §12; 1997 c.8 §12; 2011 c.545 §60; 2015 c.779 §43; 2019 c.458 §3]