OWEB Restoration Grants

The OWEB Restoration Grants support watershed projects aimed at protecting and restoring watershed functions. Eligible applicants include tribes, watershed councils, and educational institutions. Projects can involve improving fish passage, enhancing habitat, and managing invasive species. However, ineligible projects include those focused solely on water storage or routine maintenance. This program fosters collaboration among various stakeholders in Oregon to enhance ecosystems and promote sustainable practices.

Background
Restoration grants support projects that provide a public benefit by protecting or restoring native fish and wildlife habitat, ecosystem function, and/or natural watershed functions to improve water quality and/or stream flow.
Eligible Restoration Projects by Habitat and Activity
This is not an exhaustive list.
Instream Habitat
Improving fish passageEnhancing channel complexity to improve habitat and function​Reconnecting historic side channels and floodplainProtecting or increasing flow Improving water qualityRestoring proper functioning condition
Riparian Habitat
Enhancing riparian vegetation communitiesTreating invasive weed speciesReconnecting the floodplainMoving roads out of riparian zonesExclusion fencingImproved livestock management
Upland Habitat
Vegetation managementPrairie restoration, juniper removal, oak enhancement, aspen protection, mahogany enhancement, and forest healthInvasive plant and weed species controlPrescribed or cultural burns​Rangeland improvements that benefit native grassland habitatRoad closures or drainage improvements​
Wetland or Estuarine Habitat
Restoring tidal wetlands by channel creation or enhancementImproving fish passage by removing or upgrading tide gates and culvertsRemoving constrictive dikes, levees, and roads and improve hydrologyEnhancing or establishing wetland plant communitiesExcluding livestock access for habitat protectionTreating invasive weeds

Eligibility

Any Tribe, watershed council, soil and water conservation district, not-for-profit corporation, school, Oregon institution of higher education, independent not-for-profit institution of higher education, or political subdivision of this state that is not a state agency. A state agency or federal agency may partner with an eligible entity.​​​

Ineligibility

Ineligible ProjectsA watershed improvement project consisting solely of water storage structure construction for an out-of-stream use not related to watershed restoration or protection.A fish screening project eligible for funding through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's fish screening program.A watershed improvement project constructed solely to comply with a state or federal agency enforcement order, legal judgment, or mitigation requirement.Routine project maintenance costs.A water conservation project in which there is no measurable instream flow benefit, groundwater benefit, or water quality improvement.