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OWEB Grants

Watershed Council Support Grants
Listening Sessions
 
May 2013 Council Support Listening Sessions - You're encouraged to attend 
  • Become informed on details of proposed policy changes and proposed process changes
  • Ask questions
  • Provide feedback on the proposed changes including the 2 options

Please RSVP to Courtney so we can provide enough lunch.

June 2013 OWEB Board meeting
At the June 2013 Board meeting in Pendleton, staff will request Board approval to start rulemaking to develop a new council support review process for 2015-2017. Staff will also ask the Board for policy direction on the rulemaking that will help determine the “scale” at which councils can apply for an individual council support grant in the updated program.
Rulemaking would begin with the convening of a stakeholder Rules Advisory Committee in the fall of 2013. The Rules Advisory Committee will advise OWEB staff in developing rule changes and policy guidance for council support grants.
The Board will not be making final decisions regarding the 2015-2017 council support review process at the June 2013 meeting.
Staff plans to present the final proposal for program changes to the OWEB Board by June 2014.
 
May 2013 Listening Sessions
Listening Session Documents
 
No Council Support Grant Cycle for 2013-15


At OWEB’s March 2012 Board meeting, the Board waived rules for Council Support application requirements, evaluation criteria, and grant evaluation process for the 2013-2015 council support application cycle.

During this time, the Board directed staff to develop ideas for process and policy changes and to hold listening sessions as a means for stakeholders to provide input.

 

What this means to
Current OWEB Watershed Council Support Grantees
These councils will not have to submit a Watershed Council Support grant application for the 2013-2015 biennium. The Board signaled its intent to award 2013-15 Council Support funds at the June 2013 Board meeting, at the same funding level as councils received in 2011-13,
dependent on OWEB’s legislatively adopted budget.
In addition, councils will be able to carry-over 2011-2013 unspent council support funds into the 2013-2015 biennium.

Watershed Councils without a current Council Support Grant 
New applicants, previous "do not fund" councils, and councils requesting solo funding will not be able to apply for OWEB Watershed Council Support funds in 2013-15. These councils may continue to apply for OWEB regular and small grants.

 

 
Future Vision for Council Capacity

• Watershed councils are successful, stable organizations, producing watershed restoration and community engagement results across the state.
• OWEB contributes to council capacity over the long term.
• OWEB does not, alone, support the capacity needs of councils. Community support, and local, state, and regional partnerships, will sustain council capacity most successfully over the long term.

 This vision is accomplished by a council support grant program that:
• Is administratively efficient for councils and OWEB.
• Ensures the most effective, efficient and accountable use of public funds.
• Encourages councils to maximize partnerships, collaboration, and operating efficiencies to
become more self-sustaining.
• Provides a stable number of capacity grants for: a more efficient granting process for OWEB, and  more predictable and equitable distribution of capacity grants for councils.
• Provides councils local flexibility, innovation and creativity within OWEB’s program and
funding structure.
• Encourages a whole watershed approach by investing in geographically and ecologically
based “ridgetop to ridgetop” council capacity areas.

 
Short-Term Transition Timeline
      
Mar. 2013

OWEB Board Meeting - staff presentation and Board discussion

Mar. 2013 Performance Review
OWEB Staff and Board Subcommittee review 2011-2013 performance of council support grantees.
  • Staff will review any performance concerns and develop special conditions for the awarded funds, including potential termination of funding. 
  • Staff will review council budgets, proof of match, and an updated council officer contact list.
  • Because OWEB’s rules on watershed council eligibility are based in statute, councils must submit and OWEB staff will review
    • An updated council membership list which OWEB will review to ensure the council has a balance of interests and
    • An updated map to verify the council’s boundary has not changed.  Councils do not have to resubmit local recognition information, unless it has changed since January 2009.
  • Existing grant agreements will be amended to extend grant end dates to June 30, 2015, add special conditions and add the 2013-2015 funding. The funding level for 2013-15 is dependent upon OWEB's legislatively adopted budget.
June 2013
 ​OWEB Board Meeting
Funding levels are dependent on OWEB's legislatively adopted budget.
  • Award 2013-2015 council support grants to existing grantees (no new applications for 2013-2105)
  • Request approval for council support rulemaking.

 
Long-Term Transition Timeline
      
Now - Jan. 2014 Discussions and Stakeholder Input
  • Survey Monkey
  • Listening Sessions
  • Rules advisory committee (June-December 2013)
  • OWEB Board Meetings (June and September 2013, January 2014)
  • Public hearings - Rulemaking (2014)
Aug. 2013 Councils must submit to OWEB:
  • A 2013-2014 work plan.
  • Reports for period 2011-2013, including documentation of communication with the council’s recognizing local government, Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund reporting, and fiscal reporting.
​Mar. or June 2014 ​Proposed Action Item:  Board adopt new council support rules
July 2014 Councils must submit to OWEB their progress reports (2014-2015 work plans).
OWEB staff anticipate work plans and progress reports will be important to the future, streamlined Outcome Based Review and Award Process in which councils are evaluated based on demonstrated progress.
​Jan. 2015
 ​Council Support eligibility materials due
​Feb. 2015 ​Council Support application materials due
​June 2015 ​OWEB Board meeting Award 2015-17 council support grants

 
Additional Resources and Guidance

Fiscal Guidance, Self Evaluation, Liability Coverage and other forms for manageing a Council Support Grant (opens a new page)
Watershed Councils in Oregon Statute (PDF)
Watershed Council Support Administrative Rules (Adopted September 2004, PDF)

OWEB's administrative rules address: (1) eligibility criteria, (2) watershed council support grant application requirements, (3) the criteria used to evaluate watershed council support grant applications, and (4) the process used to evaluate watershed council support grant applications and make funding recommendations. View complete copies of the Administrative Rules for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, or Division 40, Watershed Council Support. (Secretary of State Web site) 

Additional resources for watershed councils (more).

Questions? contact Courtney Shaff 503) 986-0046