Ohio § 1517.02

§ 1517.02.

(A) There is hereby created in the department of natural resources the division of natural

areas and preserves, which shall be administered by the chief of the division of natural

areas and preserves.  The chief shall take an oath of office and shall file in the office of the secretary

of state a bond signed by the chief and by a surety approved by the governor for a

sum fixed pursuant to section 121.11 of the Revised Code . (B) The chief shall administer a system of nature preserves.  The chief shall establish a system of nature preserves through acquisition and dedication

of natural areas of state or national significance, which shall include, but not be

limited to, areas that represent characteristic examples of Ohio's natural landscape

types and its natural vegetation and geological history.  The chief shall encourage landowners to dedicate areas of unusual significance as

nature preserves, and shall establish and maintain a registry of natural areas of

unusual significance. (C) The chief shall administer a system of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers.  The chief shall supervise, operate, protect, and maintain wild, scenic, and recreational

rivers, as designated by the director of natural resources;  with the approval of

the director of natural resources, cooperate with federal agencies administering any

federal program concerning wild, scenic, or recreational river systems;  and participate

in watershed planning activities with other states, local or federal agencies, or

other state agencies. (D) The chief shall do the following: (1) Formulate policies and plans for the acquisition, use, management, and protection

of nature preserves; (2) Formulate policies for the selection of natural areas of unusual significance suitable

for registration; (3) Formulate policies for the dedication of areas as nature preserves; (4) Formulate policies for the declaration of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers; (5) Prepare and maintain surveys and inventories of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers

and natural areas and assist the division of wildlife in preparing and maintaining

surveys and inventories of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, and

other unique natural features.  The information shall be entered in the Ohio natural heritage database, established

under section 1531.04 of the Revised Code . (6) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing all

of the following: (a) Requirements governing the use, visitation, and protection of nature preserves and

natural areas owned or managed through easement, license, or lease by the department

and administered by the division; (b) Requirements governing the use, visitation, and protection of scenic river lands

and of publicly owned lands that are administered by the division that are within

the watersheds of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers; (c) Fees and charges for conducting stream impact reviews of any planned or proposed

construction, modification, renovation, or development project that is subject to

approval under section 1517.15 of the Revised Code and may potentially impact a designated wild, scenic, or recreational river.  Such fees and charges shall be credited to the natural areas and preserves fund

created in section 1517.11 of the Revised Code . (7) Provide facilities and improvements within the state system of nature preserves,

wild, scenic, and recreational rivers, scenic river lands, and publicly owned lands

that are administered by the division and are within the watersheds of those rivers

that are necessary for their visitation, use, restoration, and protection and do not

impair their natural character; (8) Provide interpretive programs and publish and disseminate information pertaining

to nature preserves and natural areas, scenic river lands, and publicly owned lands

that are administered by the division and are within the watersheds of wild, scenic,

and recreational rivers for their visitation and use; (9) Conduct and grant permits to qualified persons for the conduct of scientific research

and investigations within nature preserves, wild, scenic, and recreational rivers,

scenic river lands, and publicly owned lands that are administered by the division

and are within the watersheds of those rivers; (10) Establish an appropriate system for marking nature preserves, wild, scenic, and recreational

rivers, scenic river lands, and publicly owned lands that are administered by the

division and are within the watersheds of those rivers; (11) Provide wild, scenic, and recreational river conservation education; (12) Provide for protection, restoration, habitat enhancement, and clean-up projects in

wild, scenic, and recreational rivers, scenic river lands, and publicly owned lands

that are administered by the division and are within the watersheds of those rivers; (13) Publish and submit to the governor and the general assembly a biennial report of: (a) The status and condition of each nature preserve, activities conducted within each

preserve, and plans and recommendations for natural area preservation; (b) The status and condition of each wild, scenic, and recreational river and activities

conducted within each river corridor. (E) The chief, in carrying out sections 1517.14 to 1517.19 of the Revised Code , may accept, receive, and expend donations, gifts, devises, or bequests of money,

lands, or other properties as authorized under section 9.20 of the Revised Code .  If the donations, gifts, devises, and bequests are monetary in nature, the money

shall be credited to the scenic rivers protection fund created in section 4501.24 of the Revised Code .