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 Small Grant Program offers up to $15,000 for restoration projects on private lands in Oregon, aiming to enhance local decision-making and quick response to watershed restoration needs. It supports the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds and the Oregon Conservation Strategy by enabling landowners to perform restoration activities such as planting native vegetation, managing erosion, and improving water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife. The program is competitive and seeks projects that involve instream process improvements, fish passage enhancements, urban impact reduction, riparian, wetland, and upland process and function improvements, water quantity and irrigation efficiency, and private road impact reduction. Eligible applicants include watershed councils, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, or Tribes on behalf of various entities, with a designated fiscal agent for grant administration.