(a) Maintain the integrity of the estuary;

(b) Protect the estuary from uses and activities, both within and beyond its boundaries, that may alter or affect the ecosystem and its natural dynamic processes; and

(c) Preserve the area for long-term scientific and educational uses.

(2) Responsibility for completing purchase of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is vested with the Department of State Lands. The department acts for the State of Oregon in any transaction respecting the purchase of acreage for the reserve on or after October 4, 1977.

(3) Except as necessary to achieve the policy set forth in subsection (1) of this section and any standards established in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-583) or any rules, regulations or agreements adopted pursuant thereto, the reserve is open to the public. However, to protect the estuarine ecosystems, public use of the reserve may be limited and controlled by the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Commission in consultation with any technical management team established pursuant to an agreement between the State of Oregon and the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States Department of Commerce. The commission shall adopt rules to carry out the intent of this subsection.

(4) The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Commission shall administer the reserve, subject to any agreement respecting the reserve between the State of Oregon and the federal Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.

(5) The agency that acquired title to the reserve shall cause title to be cleared in the name of the State of Oregon. [1977 c.496 §1; 2003 c.14 §134]