The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board is a state agency that provides grants to help Oregonians take care of local streams, rivers, wetlands, and natural areas. Their mission is to help protect and restore healthy watersheds and natural habitats that support thriving communities and strong economies.
The "Engagement Project" grant focuses on initiatives aimed at communicating and engaging with landowners, organizations, and communities about the importance and benefits of specific eligible restoration, acquisition, or resource assessment/planning projects within a certain geography. The goal is to facilitate successful planning or implementation of these projects. Eligible activities for the grant include projects tied to a specific geography that address habitat, watershed, or ecosystem function goals, and have a clear path toward measurable outcomes. These can include land or water acquisition for habitat or wildlife protection, projects aimed at native fish or wildlife habitat restoration, initiatives to restore natural watershed or ecosystems functions to improve water quality or streamflow, and engaging stakeholders in resource assessment and planning leading to eligible restoration or acquisition projects.