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Maps of Oregon-Owned Waterways

River with mountains on either side and blue sky.The Department of State Lands oversees the lakes, river segments, territorial sea, and tidally influenced bays and estuaries that belong to the people of Oregon. Public use of these Oregon-owned waterways is protected by the Public Trust Doctrine. Private or commercial use of these waterways typically requires an authorization.  

Online Map and List

This online map identifies the approximate location of most Oregon-owned waterways. The boundaries are general and do not represent the exact line of ownership.



You can also view a PDF list of lakes and river segments that are considered Oregon-owned waterways in which public use is protected by the Public Trust Doctrine. Tidally influenced waterways, subject to the ebb and flow of tides, are Oregon-owned from the mouth (river mile 0) to the head of tide. Tidally influenced waterways are not individually named in the list below but many are viewable in the online map. 



The Territorial Sea

DSL also oversees the territorial sea, the waters and seabed that extend three geographical miles seaward from the coast. Learn more about telecommunication cables, power cables, and other undersea infrastructure uses of the territorial sea. 

The sandy beaches, rocky shores, and capes lining the ocean are a state recreation area overseen by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

Frequently Asked Questions

​At statehood, Oregon was granted ownership of the waterways used for navigation, commerce and fishing. Those waterways include the territorial sea, coastal bays and estuaries, and coastal rivers to head of tide.

Over time, other waterways were determined to be Oregon-owned through court decisions, laws passed by our state legislature, or State Land Board declarations. These waterways meet the federal test of navigability and are “navigable-for-title" and open to the public for navigation, commerce, recreation, and fishing. 

A waterway that is not tidally influenced is navigable-for-title under the federal test if, at the time of statehood, it was used or was susceptible of use, in its ordinary condition, as a highway of commerce over which trade and travel was or could have been conducted in the customary modes of trade and travel on water. Waterways may be declared navigable-for-title through legislative, judicial, or administrative proceedings. A navigable-for-title declaration is based on whether the waterways could have been used for trade and travel at the time of statehood.​


Typically, Oregon's ownership includes:

  • Beds, or submerged land. Lands that are underwater and lie below the line of ordinary low water, the line on the shore where water normally recedes to its lowest annually (usually in the late summer).
  • Banks, or submersible land. Lands that are sometimes submerged underwater. Banks are located between the line of ordinary low water and the line of ordinary high water, where the water typically rises to annually. Generally, the line of ordinary high water on a bank can be identified by the point where vegetation begins to grow.

Sometimes, adjacent property ownership may include part of a bank or bed. But the public has the right to use beds and banks of Oregon-owned waterways for public trust uses of navigation, commerce, fishing and recreation.


The public has the right to use the beds and banks of Oregon-owned waterways for all lawful activities. Some uses, like building a dock or other structure, requires a waterway authorization. Visit the Public Use of Waterways page to learn more about enjoying the rivers and lakes we all share.​

A waterway may be declared navigable-for-title, and therefore Oregon-owned, through legislative action, court judgment, or State Land Board declaration.   The State Land Board process for declaring a waterway navigable and Oregon-owned is in ORS 274 and OAR 141-121.

The Department does not have sufficient staff or funding to conduct navigability studies and is currently unable to recommend that the State Land Board accept any new requests for navigability studies. 








CONTACT

Erin Serra, Ownership Specialist
971-707-8105
Erin.Serra@dsl.oregon.gov