Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)

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.

Theresa DeBardelaben

Small Grant Program Coordinator

 Paula Wills

OWEB GIS and Technology Specialist

The Small Grant Program is an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that awards up to $20,000 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&#x2004;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 Small Grant Program is an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that awards up to $20,000 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.

Eligible Applicants: 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. Projects may occur on sites owned by private landowners, not-for-profit institutions, schools, community colleges, state institutions of higher education, independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education, or local, state, or federal agencies. Eligible project types: 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, and Water Quantity/Irrigation Efficiency.

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

Grant

- Small Grant Program Administrative Rules
- Juniper Project Review Form
- Proposed Culvert or Stream Crossing 
- Project Review Form
- Proposed Irrigation Efficiency Project, Watermaster Review Form
- Year 2 Status Report Form

Irrigation

Water Quality

Waterway Protection

Wetland Conservation

Water Management

Conservation

Infrastructure

Funding: maximum request $20,000, with a 25% secured match based on the total OWEB award. Projects must be on-the-ground restoration in Oregon that clearly demonstrates watershed benefit to aquatic species, wildlife, or watershed health; use approved technical guidance; be consistent with the local Small Grant Team's priority concerns and eligible project types; and adhere to Small Grant Administrative Rules.

Apply via OWEB's online grant application after a required pre-application consultation. The 2026 cycle opens September 1 and closes October 15, 2026 at 5:00 pm PT (pre-application consultations September 1-30); Board funding consideration is April 2027.

Miriam Forney

The Oregon Constitution authorizes OWEB to fund projects involving the purchase of interests in land from willing sellers for maintaining or restoring watersheds and habitat for native fish or wildlife. OWEB awards grants to land trusts and eligible entities to acquire fee title or conservation easements from willing sellers, who may include agricultural landowners.



Institutional applicants: local governments, Tribes, not-for-profit land conservation organizations and trusts, Oregon institutions of higher education, independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions of Oregon. State and federal agencies may hold OWEB-funded interests but cannot be applicants. A pre-application consultation is required. Required match: 25%.

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

OWEB awards grants to eligible entities to purchase fee title or conservation easements from willing sellers. Required match: 25%. No maximum request specified. Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis.

Apply online via OWEB's Online Grant Management System (OGMS). The 2026 cycle runs August 19 - October 14, 2026 (applications due 5 pm on October 14).

Brian Wolcott

The OWEB water acquisition program supports the planning and implementation of acquiring an interest in water from a willing seller across Oregon — permanent instream transfers, temporary/split-season/time-limited leases of instream water rights, conserved-water projects, voluntary curtailments, and water-use agreements — to increase instream flow for habitat and improve water quality. Willing sellers (irrigators and landowners) are paid to relinquish surface-water use.



Institutional applicants: 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 Oregon that is not a state agency (state/federal agencies may partner). Proposals must protect instream flows addressing ODFW-identified conservation needs or improve water quality in DEQ-designated limited areas. Required match: 25%.

Supports acquiring an interest in water from a willing seller. Project types: instream leases, split-season leases, time-limited transfers, conserved-water projects, permanent instream transfers, and water-use agreements. Required match: 25%. Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis.

Apply online via OWEB's grant management system (login via fiscal.oweb@oweb.oregon.gov). The 2024 cycle closed December 12, 2024 and all current funds are allocated; more may become available for a Fall 2026 cycle.

Audrey Squires

OWEB grants to public water suppliers to protect, restore, or enhance drinking-water sources through land acquisition and conservation, prioritizing suppliers serving rural communities and lower-income populations. Eligible properties must be partially or fully within the supplier's Drinking Water Source Area (surface or groundwater). Acquisition types: fee title, easements/covenants, or loan repayment.



Institutional applicants: public water suppliers with service populations at or below 25,000 (Community, Transient Non-Community, Non-Transient Non-Community, and Oregon Very Small Water Systems, each local-government or nonprofit owned), plus Tribal Public Water Systems. Ineligible: federal-owned, state-owned, and for-profit water systems. Match: 5% cash or in-kind from non-OWEB sources.

Total available $5,000,000 (allocated April 2025). Maximum request $3,000,000 per grant. Match: 5% cash or in-kind from non-OWEB sources. Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis.

A pre-application consultation with OWEB is required (contact Ivy Clark-Henry); apply via the online portal. The 2026 cycle ran February 18 - July 13, 2026; the next offering is the next biennium.

Eric Hartstein

OWEB investment supporting high-performing partnerships that pursue conservation initiatives guided by existing strategic action plans, addressing a Board-identified ecological priority of statewide significance and working toward clear, measurable ecological outcomes through integrated, results-oriented approaches. Funded over three biennia (six years).



Institutional Core Partners eligible to apply: Tribes, watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, not-for-profit corporations, schools, Oregon institutions of higher education, independent not-for-profit institutions, or political subdivisions (excluding state agencies). The partnership must be "high performing," with a shared history of collaborative implementation, governance documentation, and a current Strategic Action Plan. Match: 5% (Engagement, Technical Assistance, Monitoring); 25% (Restoration and Acquisition).

Funded over three biennia (six years). Maximum $5 million per biennium per partnership; up to $15 million total for a 6-year initiative. Match: 5% (Engagement, Technical Assistance, Monitoring); 25% (Restoration and Acquisition). Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis.

A pre-application consultation with program staff is required, then apply via OWEB's online portal (Restoration or Technical Assistance application). The 2026 cycle ran February 17 through May 11; the next cycle is expected around February 2027.

Greg Ciannella

Funds water-quality improvements in the Klamath River through restoration and conservation actions in the Klamath Basin in Oregon, emphasizing nutrient reduction. Funded by PacifiCorp under Interim Measure 11 of the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement and administered by OWEB. Project types include natural wetlands restoration, diffuse-source treatment wetlands, riparian fencing and grazing management, and on-farm irrigation efficiency and water management.



Institutional applicants only: 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 Oregon that is not a state agency (individual farmers cannot apply directly). Ineligible: Steering Committee members/organizations (except Tribes), individuals, and for-profits. Projects must be within the Klamath Basin in Oregon; projects upstream of Upper Klamath Lake are prioritized.

Funded by PacifiCorp under Interim Measure 11 of the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, administered through OWEB. Approximately $4.9 million remains for future restoration and technical-assistance projects. Required match: 5% (Technical Assistance and Restoration; 25% is encouraged for Restoration). Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis. No published minimum or maximum request.

Apply entirely online via OWEB's Online Grant Management System (OGMS); one login per organization (email fiscal.oweb@oweb.oregon.gov with organization details to set up). Applications are accepted every Summer and Winter. The 2026 Summer cycle ran March 23 - August 3; the Winter cycle opens next.

OWEB Grants (general)

OWEB's core on-the-ground restoration grants. Projects must 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 project types include instream habitat (fish passage, channel complexity, floodplain reconnection, flow), riparian habitat (revegetation, invasive-weed control, exclusion fencing, improved livestock management), upland habitat (juniper removal, oak enhancement, prescribed and cultural burns, rangeland improvements), and wetland/estuarine habitat.



Institutional applicants only: 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 Oregon that is not a state agency. Excludes out-of-stream water-storage-only projects, ODFW-program fish screening, enforcement/mitigation-order compliance projects, routine maintenance, and water-conservation projects with no measurable instream/groundwater/water-quality benefit.

Offered every Summer and Winter. No maximum request ("Max Request: none"). Required match: 25%. Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis (grantees submit payment requests and documentation).

Apply online via OWEB's Online Grant Management System (OGMS); set up an organization login via fiscal.oweb@oweb.oregon.gov. Offered every Summer and Winter. The 2026 Summer cycle ran March 23 - August 3.

Supports resource assessment and planning, technical design and engineering, and organizational technical assistance needed to carry out restoration and acquisition projects that protect or restore fish and wildlife habitat and/or natural watershed functions to improve water quality and/or stream flow. Two types: Type 1 - Technical Design and Engineering (feasibility, design, and engineering leading to site-specific projects); Type 2 - Resource Assessment and Planning.



Institutional applicants only: 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 Oregon that is not a state agency (state/federal agencies may partner with an eligible entity).

Offered every Summer and Winter. No maximum request specified. Required match: 5%. Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis.

List of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Funding Opportunities