Updates
2027 Funding Cycle
The next funding cycle for Feasibility Study Grants will be announced in fall 2026 and applications will be due in spring 2027.
Applications will be accepted online once the funding cycle is announced. Sign up here to receive email announcements.
Eligibility
Feasibility Study Grants provide funding for studies that assess the feasibility of projects aimed at meeting Oregon's water supply needs. Eligible project types include water conservation, water reuse, aquifer recharge, aquifer storage and recovery, streamflow protection or restoration, and water storage. This competitive funding opportunity helps individuals and communities investigate whether a project is worth pursuing. Any local government, Indian Tribe, nonprofit organization, or person may apply for funding.
Match
Grants require a 25% cost-share match for all applicants except incorporated cities. Incorporated cities must provide a match based on their population size according to the most recent federal decennial census. See below for additional information.
Available Funding
OWRD anticipates having approximately $1 million to $1.5 million available for the 2027 funding cycle, pending confirmation of the Departments 2027-2029 budget by the Oregon Legislature. Projects awarded funding must complete their studies by June 30, 2029.
How to Apply
Applications for Feasibility Study Grants will be accepted through OWRD's online grant platform. Prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in a pre-application conference prior to submitting an application for funding online. The purpose of a pre-application conference is to answer your questions about the funding process, identify any additional information that may be needed, discuss potential eligibility issues, and provide guidance on both the procedural and substantive requirements of the application, including how applications are scored. Applicants must complete the sections identified in the grant pre-application conference checklist before requesting a pre-application conference and email a request at least two weeks prior to scheduling a pre-application conference meeting. Please contact the Grants Analyst with questions.
More Information
OWRD has been funding Feasibility Study Grants since 2009. It has awarded more than $10.4 million in grants.