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OWEB's History in Brief


1987

  • The Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board (GWEB) was established by the Legislature.

1988

  • GWEB began their grant offerings with Technical Assistance (TA) and Education grants.

1993

  • The Watershed Health Program was created.

1995

  • The Watershed Health Program became part of GWEB.
  • GWEB's four geographical regions were established.

1997

  • The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) was established.
  • GWEB began funding Watershed Councils.
  • Salmon License Plate Program funding to GWEB was approved.
  • The Regional Review Team (RRT) structure was established.
  • GWEB's four regions were restructured into five regions.
  • The Oregon Watershed Restoration Inventory (OWRI) was established.

1998

  • Measure 66 passed.
  • GWEB funded a land acquisition for the first time.
  • The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was initiated.

1999

  • The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) replaced GWEB.
  • OWEB funds were provided to Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) for Weed Board grants.

2000

  • OWEB received its first funding from the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF).

2001

  • OWEB administered Salmon Disaster grants as part of an emergency temporary program.
  • The Acquisition grant program formally began.
  • The Small Grant program began.

2002

  • OWEB began administering Fire Recovery grants.

2003

  • The OPSW Monitoring Strategy was approved by the Board.

2005

  • OWEB created a special grant offering, the Local Innovation Fund grants.
  • OWEB began administering the Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Program funded by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC).
  • The Effectiveness Monitoring program began.

2006

  • OWEB again administered Salmon Disaster grants, an emergency temporary program.
  • OWEB's Grant Management System (OGMS) was launched.

2007

  • OWEB's one and only Research grant offering occurred.
  • PCSRF transitioned to a competitive grants program.
  • OWEB funding was provided to ODA for Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) capacity grants.
  • Oregon Explorer made OWRI restoration data available online through Oregon State University's Institute for Natural Resources.
  • The Special Investment Partnerships (SIP) program was launched.

2008

  • OWEB's five regions were restructured into six regions.
  • The Deschutes SIP and the Willamette SIP began.

2009

  • Senate Bill (SB) 513 established the Ecosystem Services Program.
  • Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 150 grants, in coordination with Governor’s office

2010

  • A Strategic Plan was adopted.
  • Measure 76 passed.
  • OWEB's Investment Tracking Tool (OITT) was launched.
  • OWRI's Fish Passage Viewer was launched.

2011

  • The CREP-TA competitive grant program was initiated in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  • SWCD and Weed Board grants began to be managed by OWEB because of the passage of M76.
  • OWRI Online (OWRIO) was launched.
  • The Conservation Effectiveness Partnership was initiated with NRCS, ODA, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

2012

  • New PCSRF funding priorities were established.
  • The Klamath SIP began.
  • Online Project Completion Reporting was initiated.

2013

  • A Long-Term Investment Strategy (LTIS) was adopted by the Board.
  • The Acquisition Program was revised.

2014

  • The Council Capacity Program was revised.
  • OWEB began managing Forest Collaborative grants for Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).

2015

  • The Salmon License Plate Program was revised.
  • 10-Year Sage-Grouse Investments were adopted by the Board.
  • OWEB provided funding for ODA Strategic Implementation Areas.
  • Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) priorities were set by the Board.
  • The Coast Coho Business Plan grant program was initiated.
  • OWEB managed Rangeland Wildfire Threat Reduction (RWTR) grants for ODF.

2016

  • OWEB's Online application system was launched.
  • The first FIPs were funded.

2017

  • OWEB began the process to update their Strategic Plan.

2018

2019

  • OWEB celebrated 20 years!

2020

  • Oregon Water Vision launched.

2021

  • Post-Fire Resilience Grants added.

2022

  • Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP) funded.
  • Drought Relief Program funded.
  • Post-Fire Resilience Program funded.

2023

  • OWEB Adopts Climate Evaluation Criteria for Grants
  • Online Payment Requests are launched

2024

  • OWEB celebrates 25 years!
  • Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Program forms
  • OWEB updates Strategic Plan

Contact

Please direct questions or comments to Linda Repplinger, Electronic Publications Specialist, 917-719-3255.