Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Small Grant

The Small Grant Program is an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that awards up to $15,000 for on-the-ground restoration projects principally carried out on private lands across Oregon. This program responds to a need for local decision-making about watershed restoration opportunities on a shorter timeframe than is available under OWEB’s regular grant program.

The Small Grant Program enables landowners across the state to contribute to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds and the Oregon Conservation Strategy by committing “small acts of kindness” on their properties for the benefit of water quality, water quantity, and fish and wildlife. From planting native plants along stream sides to reducing sedimentation and erosion from upland farms and ranches, citizens everywhere can make a difference.

• The project host must be a landowner, not-for-profit institution, school, community college, state institution of higher education, independent not-for-profit institution of higher education, or local, state, or federal agency.

• The project applicant must be Watershed Council (council), Soil & Water Conservation District (district), or Tribe. The applicant applies for a small grant on behalf of any of the entities listed above as the project host.

• The project applicant works with the project host. The payee is the individual who administers the grant, signing the grant agreement, keeping records, submitting payment requests and documentation, etc.

Eligible Projects include:

• Fish Passage

• Urban Impact Reduction

• Riparian Process and Function

• Wetland Process and Function

• Instream Process and Function

• Private Road Impact Reduction

• Upland Process and Function

• Water Quantity/Irrigation Efficiency

Project requirements include:

• On-the-ground restoration project in Oregon

• Clearly demonstrates watershed benefit to aquatic species, wildlife, or watershed health

• Uses and clearly identifies (by practice code or page number and paragraph) in the small grant application technical guidance from at least one of the six approved sources

• Consistent with the Small Grant Team’s priority watershed concerns and current list of eligible project types

• Demonstrates 25% secured match funding, based on the total OWEB award

• Distinct and different from projects already funded (or being considered for funding) by OWEB

• Adheres to Small Grant Administrative Rules

To Apply:

1. Review project requirements and eligibility.

2. Download a Small Grant Application (from Forms, below). 

3. Work with your local Small Grant Team to determine team application deadlines and review periods. 

4. Submit your completed application to your local team contact. Teams have up to 30 days, following the application deadline, to act on your application. If the Team recommends your application for funding, a grant agreement will be drafted for signature.

5. Sign a standard OWEB grant agreement, along with the landowner, Small Grant Team Contact, and the project’s Payee. Please _read _the grant agreement before signing.

6. The Small Grant Team forwards the application and grant agreement to OWEB, which has another 20 working days after receipt to verify that the application is consistent with the team's local priority watershed concerns, eligible project types, and OWEB's statute and administrative rules.

7. Begin your project only after ALL parties have signed the OWEB grant agreement.

If you are a producer interested in this grant, reach out to your watershed council, soil and water conservation district, or tribal council to discuss a project on your land. See application instructions for further details.

• Small Grant Program Administrative Rules

• Juniper Project Review Form

• Land Use Form

• Proposed Culvert or Stream Crossing

• Project Review Form

• Proposed Irrigation Efficiency Project, Watermaster Review Form

• Proposed Prescribed Burn Project Review Form

• Secured Match Form

• Year 2 Status Report Form