Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)

"Water users interested in more information on the cost-share program or in applying for cost share assistance are encouraged to contact the regional screens coordinator for their area."

Deadline text on the page: No application deadline published; contact the regional screens coordinator.

Greg Apke

Program Manager, Fish Screening and Passage Program

Katherine Nordholm

Fish Screens and Passage Coordinator

Josh Kelsey

Southwest Oregon Field Coordinator

Nathaniel Ashley

Eastern Oregon Field Coordinator

Toby Schuyler

Northwest Oregon Field Coordinator

Jason Wunschel

Shop Manager, Central Point Screen Shop

Bryce Macnab

Shop Manager, The Dalles Screen Shop

Mike Jensen

Shop Manager, John Day Screen Shop

Chuck Simpson

Shop Manager, Enterprise Screen Shop

ODFW shares the cost of installing fish&#x2004;screens, by-pass devices and fishways on water diversions so irrigators and other water users can keep taking their water without pulling fish into ditches and fields. Individual water users, irrigation districts, SWCDs, watershed councils and others can apply by contacting their regional screens coordinator. ODFW also gives technical and design help, and handles major maintenance on cost-shared screens at diversions under 30 cfs. The Fish Passage Program also "has limited funds for fish passage projects" through the same regional coordinators.



ODFW shares the cost of installing fish screens, by-pass devices and fishways on water diversions so irrigators and other water users can keep taking their water without pulling fish into ditches and fields. Individual water users, irrigation districts, SWCDs, watershed councils and others can apply by contacting their regional screens coordinator. ODFW also gives technical and design help, and handles major maintenance on cost-shared screens at diversions under 30 cfs. The Fish Passage Program also "has limited funds for fish passage projects" through the same regional coordinators.

- "Water users may include: individual users, irrigation districts, state agencies, municipal suppliers, commercial industries, watershed councils, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others."
- Ineligible: "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) projects operated solely for hydropower generation, projects associated with a water right issued since January 1. 1996, and projects with a Federal agency listed as the applicant."

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

ORS 498.306(4): ODFW-installed screen -> user fee of no more than 40% of construction and installation cost; user-installed screen -> reimbursement of no more than 60% of actual cost. "Under statute (ORS 498.306) ODFW is responsible for major maintenance and repair of screen devices operating at sites diverting less than 30 cfs." Water users can combine this with the 50% state tax credit (ORS 315.138).

Published amounts: Page gives no rate. Statute ORS 498.306(4): if ODFW builds the screen, the water user's fee "does not exceed 40 percent of the construction and installation costs of the device"; if the water user builds it, "the person shall be reimbursed from the Fish Screening Subaccount or other state funds in an amount that does not exceed 60 percent of the actual construction and installation costs of the device."

Contact the ODFW regional screens coordinator; ODFW issues a preliminary certificate of approval and then final certification, and "the credit shall be taken in the tax year in which the final certification is issued" (ORS 315.138(1)).

Deadline text on the page: Statutory sunset (note to ORS 315.138, 2023 c.490): "The State Department of Fish and Wildlife may not issue a preliminary certificate of approval under ORS 315.138 after January 1, 2030."

General office

An Oregon income tax credit for water users who install a fish screen, by-pass device or fishway on a diversion, worth 50% of the net certified cost up to $5,000 per device. The screen does not have to be cost-shared or installed by ODFW, but ODFW must certify it. Unused credit can be carried forward up to five years.



- ORS 315.138(1): taxpayers "that install screening devices, by-pass devices or fishways, pursuant to ORS 498.306 or 509.585, and the diversion is not part of a hydroelectric project required to be licensed under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission."
- Personal (ORS ch. 316) or corporate (ORS ch. 317) taxpayers.

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

50% of net certified costs, max $5,000 per device; credit in a year cannot exceed tax liability; unused credit carries forward up to five succeeding tax years (ORS 315.138(3)-(4)).

Published amounts: ORS 315.138(2): "The credit shall be equal to 50 percent of the taxpayer's net certified costs of installing a screening device, by-pass device or fishway. The total credit allowed may not exceed $5,000 per device installed." The 2023-25 ODFW legislative report adds "The screen does not need to be cost shared or installed by ODFW."

"Once a landowner has determined with the county their property is appropriately zoned and eligible for the RLTIP, they can complete a RLTIP application and develop a Riparian Management Plan with the support of local ODFW Fish District staff, or another cooperating agency, such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service, a Soil and Water Conservation District or an extension service." "Once the application and Riparian Management Plan are complete, the landowner submits them to their local ODFW office and the local county tax assessor simultaneously."

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published. "Please note: the North Willamette Watershed District is not currently accepting applications."

Nancy Taylor

Waterway and Habitat Incentives Coordinator

A property tax exemption for private riparian land (up to 100 feet from a waterway) on farm- or forest-zoned property outside urban growth boundaries. The landowner files a Riparian Management Plan with ODFW and the county and must carry out measures to protect, conserve and restore the riparian area. ODFW local fish district staff, NRCS, a soil and water conservation district or Extension can help write the plan.



- "Private land outside of urban growth boundaries and zoned as forest or agricultural lands (with some specific exceptions)"
- The riparian width proposed "is sufficient to provide long-term stream bank stability, erosion control, water quality, large wood recruitment, fish and wildlife habitat protection, conservation or restoration, and other functions deemed important to healthy aquatic habitats"
- "Riparian land has sufficient vegetation to support habitat functions or vegetation restoration potential to enable the above"

"ODFW will periodically monitor the property to ensure conservation objectives are being met." "If the plan is not being implemented, or if the landowner chooses to withdraw from the program, the county assessor removes the land from the RLTIP. If the land does not qualify for another special assessment, the landowner may be subject to back taxes."

Published amounts: "a complete property tax exemption for the qualifying riparian lands on their property" (riparian land "can include up to 100 feet from a waterway").

No landowner enrollment steps are published on the page. It says "General directions and maps to UCAP properties are available at the Heppner district office." Landowners should contact the ODFW Heppner district office.

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment window or deadline published; page is written for hunters.

ODFW Heppner District Office

ODFW pays landowners in Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Morrow counties per acre to open their land to public upland game bird hunting. ODFW supplies signs and permission-slip booklets, patrols and enforces the rules, and landowners are relieved of liability related to UCAP. Landowners choose 'Hunting with Permission' or 'Welcome to Hunt' access.



- Private lands "in Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Morrow counties in the Columbia Basin."
- "Landowners who want to participate are compensated on a per acre basis to allow hunters access to their property for hunting."

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

"ODFW provides landowners with all signs, permission slip booklets, patrolling and enforcement of the program rules. Landowners are relieved of liability issues related to UCAP." Two access types: Hunting with Permission (yellow signs) or Welcome to Hunt (green signs).

Published amounts: "Landowners who want to participate are compensated on a per acre basis to allow hunters access to their property for hunting." Per-acre rate not published.

Have the county/city planning department or assessor complete the Zoning Eligibility Certification Form; secure a cooperating agency; the agency assesses the property and meets with ODFW district staff; "The landowner must submit the completed application and habitat plan to ODFW for review." Then "To apply for wildlife habitat special assessment the landowner must submit the appropriate application to their local county assessor."

Deadline text on the page: "Applications must be submitted by April 1 for the tax year for which special assessment is desired, for a habitat plan that was approved prior to January 1." Annual self-report due before April 1.

ODFW Clackamas office (North Willamette Watershed District)

ODFW Corvallis office (South Willamette Watershed District)

ODFW Tillamook office

ODFW Newport office (Mid-Coast Watershed District)

ODFW Roseburg office

ODFW Bend office

A property tax special assessment for landowners who keep or restore native wildlife habitat on farm-, mixed farm/forest- or forest-zoned land in participating counties. The land is taxed at the low farm or forest use value even when it is managed for habitat instead of, or as well as, farming or timber. A cooperating agency (ODFW, NRCS, SWCD, watershed council, land trust, Extension and others) helps write the habitat plan, which ODFW approves.



- "If you are a landowner in a participating county you may be eligible." Participating counties are listed by ODFW watershed district (e.g., E. Columbia, Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Yamhill, Benton, Polk, E. Lane, West Columbia, western Lane, Douglas, Deschutes, Sherman, Hood River, Lake, Morrow, Wheeler).
- "To qualify for a wildlife habitat special property tax assessment, the property must be zoned exclusive farm use, mixed farm and forest use or forest use."
- "your property must meet both the statewide criteria and the appropriate District Watershed criteria, and you must find a cooperating agency that is willing to advocate for your project, help you write the plan, and provide technical assistance."
- "ODFW staff may choose to limit the number of plans approved each year due to workload constraints"

"Annually self-report your actions and compliance with the program prior to April 1. Non-compliance may result in disqualification from the program and the landowner may be liable for back taxes (ORS 308A.703)."

Published amounts: "land subject to an approved wildlife habitat conservation and management plan receives a wildlife habitat special assessment, where property taxes are assessed at the relatively low value that would apply if the land were being farmed or used for commercial forestry."

"Apply for the PFA Grant Program via the Grant Management System." Applicants create an account; online application link to be posted November 12, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to contact their regional PFA Stream Biologist while building the application. Projects on private land need the Landowner Acknowledgement Form.

Deadline text on the page: "Grant Applications Accepted Starting: Thursday, November 12, 2026"; "Grant Applications Due: Friday, January 8, 2027" (guidelines: due 11:59 p.m.). Urgent Grants may be considered out of cycle.

PFA Grant Program

Tiffany Caldwell

Private Forest Accord Staff Assistant

Andy Spyrka

Private Forest Accord Grant Coordinator

Jeremy Webster

PFA Stream Biologist, Klamath Falls Watershed District

AJ Van Domelen

PFA Stream Biologist, Umpqua Watershed District

Paul Olmsted

PFA Stream Biologist, South Willamette Watershed District

Chris Derrickson

PFA Stream Biologist, Grande Ronde Watershed District

Kevin Gray

PFA Stream Biologist, Mid Coast Watershed District

Kelsey Anderson

PFA Stream Biologist, North Coast Watershed District

Oregon's Private Forest Accord Grant Program funds projects that restore or&#x2004;protect habitat for the salmon, trout and amphibians covered by the Private Forest Accord Habitat Conservation Plan, such as riparian fencing or grazing exclusion, off-stream stock water, fish-passage barrier removal, large wood placement, beaver restoration, water transactions and land conservation. Individuals cannot apply on their own, but a landowner can partner with an eligible applicant such as a watershed council, soil and water conservation district or nonprofit; private corporations and LLCs are also eligible. The next round opens November 12, 2026, with applications due January 8, 2027.



Oregon's Private Forest Accord Grant Program funds projects that restore or protect habitat for the salmon, trout and amphibians covered by the Private Forest Accord Habitat Conservation Plan, such as riparian fencing or grazing exclusion, off-stream stock water, fish-passage barrier removal, large wood placement, beaver restoration, water transactions and land conservation. Individuals cannot apply on their own, but a landowner can partner with an eligible applicant such as a watershed council, soil and water conservation district or nonprofit; private corporations and LLCs are also eligible. The next round opens November 12, 2026, with applications due January 8, 2027.

- Eligible applicants: "Colleges and Universities; Federal agencies; Local governments and political subdivisions; Non-profit; Private corporation or limited liability corporation; Soil and Water Conservation Districts; State agencies; Tribes as recognized by the State of Oregon; Watershed Councils"
- "Individuals are not eligible to apply independently but may partner with an eligible applicant."
- Projects must benefit HCP-covered species; project types: Implementation, Research & Monitoring, Planning, Water Transactions (Conservation Easements pending).

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Advances cannot exceed 25% of the award at any one time, and 75% must be spent before another advance. Urgent Grants "may also be required to provide up to 25% project match." Reimbursement via Performance Report and Request for Reimbursement forms.

Published amounts: "No minimum or maximum funding requests exist, although most projects are expected to request at least $50,000." Program "will be capable of delivering nearly $15 million in conservation grants every year".

"Before filling out an Access & Habitat grant application, project applicants are asked to contact the ODFW Regional Coordinator in the vicinity of the proposed project." "Completed applications should be submitted to the Regional Coordinator." Applications are reviewed by a Regional Advisory Council, then the State A&H Board, then the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. "It typically takes about four (4) months for the project review and grant development processes to occur."

Deadline text on the page: Access & Habitat 2026 Grant Application Timelines: application deadlines 17-Nov-25, 9-Feb-26, 18-May-26, 24-Aug-26 (each followed by A&H Council review, Board meeting and Commission review). All 2026 deadlines have passed; the 2027 timeline is not yet posted.

Travis Schultz

Access and Habitat Coordinator (State Coordinator)

David Stroppel

A&H Regional Coordinator, Northwest Council (West Region)

Ryan Battleson

A&H Regional Coordinator, Southwest Council (West Region)

Jessica Clark

A&H Regional Coordinator, Deschutes/Klamath Council (East Region)

Landon Hardt

A&H Regional Coordinator, Malheur Council (East Region)

Jon Paustian

A&H Regional Coordinator, Northeast Council (East Region)

Grants from ODFW's Access and Habitat Program for projects on private (preferred) or public land that improve wildlife habitat, increase public hunting access to private land, or solve a wildlife damage issue. Past projects include wetland development, noxious weed control, forage improvement, water development, riparian fencing, post-fire seeding and hunting leases. Individual landowners, groups of landowners, conservation organizations and agencies can apply through their ODFW regional coordinator. The program also pays landowners per acre for public hunting access.



- "To qualify for A&H funding, a project must improve wildlife habitat, increase public hunting access to private land or solve a wildlife damage issue."
- "Access & Habitat project applications (or project proposals) are submitted by individual landowners, groups of landowners, conservation organizations, and government agencies."
- "Projects may be on private or public lands, through preference is given to projects on private lands."
- Review criteria: "The primary factors of consideration are potential benefits to wildlife habitat and improvement of public hunting access."

Grant agreement required before work starts ("project implementation may not begin prior to the signing of a grant agreement"). Up to 90% can be advanced or reimbursed against invoices; "the remaining 10% of approved funding is paid to the Grantee" after the Project Completion Report. "The Board will pay particular attention to projects which reduce economic loss to landowners and which involve funding commitments from other organizations and agencies. In-kind contributions of labor, equipment and material are also very positive aspects of successful projects."

Published amounts: No minimum or maximum published. "Advance payment can be made for up to 90% of approved funding, or ODFW reimburses the grantee for project expenses as invoices are received with a completed Request for Fund Release Form, and according to the provisions in the agreement."

"This web application is the means by which funds are applied for." New users contact the WWMP Coordinator for access to https://nrimp.dfw.state.or.us/WWMP/.

Deadline text on the page: "The WWMP FY2028 Solicitation is open through September 4, 2026"; FY2028 timeline: solicitation begins June 29, 2026; project proposals due from sponsors September 4, 2026; ODFW Director final decision January 8, 2027; BPA funding decision February 1, 2027.

Laura Tesler

WWMP Coordinator

WWMP program inbox

Justine Brumm

WWMP North Valley Biologist

Tyler Roberts

WWMP South Valley Biologist

Owen Cass

WWMP Restoration and Monitoring Biologist

Kelly Reis

Willamette Fish and Wildlife Policy and Program Manager

The Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program, funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and run by ODFW, pays for conservation easements and fee-title purchases, plus restoration and long-term stewardship, that protect wildlife habitat in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Landowners do not apply directly: a project sponsor such as a land trust, Tribe or agency applies in the annual solicitation, and you take part by selling land or a conservation easement through that sponsor. The FY2028 solicitation closed September 4, 2026.



- Projects in the Willamette River Basin that protect wildlife mitigation acreage by fee title acquisition or conservation easement.
- Applications come from project sponsors (the manual describes partnerships with "Tribes, governmental entities, private conservation organizations"); landowners do not apply directly.
- "Projects are not required to have other funding sources", but cost-shared projects are emphasized.

Conservation easement scoring rewards more management control for the easement holder; fee title scores highest. Successful FY2028 projects to be completed by September 30, 2028.

Published amounts: No award amounts published. Scoring favors fee title (5 points) over conservation easements (1-3 points).

List of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Funding Opportunities