Administrative Rules

Rulemaking Calendar

The Oregon Environmental Restoration Council will hold its inaugural meeting on October 9, 2025 and will authorize rulemaking for the Tribal Nations Natural Resource Fund established in SB 1561 (2024). State Agency Program Fund and Community Impact Fund rulemaking will occur at a later date. OWEB will update this calendar when additional details are available. For additional information, please visit the Oregon Environmental Restoration Program website.

Tribal Nation Natural Resource Funding Rulemaking

Approximate Dates	Rulemaking Action
October 9, 2025	Council authorization for rulemaking
October 2025	Draft rules developed
November-December 2025	Tribal engagment to vet and provide feedback on draft rules
December 2025	Rulemaking progress update to Council*
December 2025 / January 2026	Draft rules revised based on Tribal feedback
January 16, 2026	Notice filed with Secretary of State
January 16, 2026	Public comment materials posted
January 16, 2026	Notice to agency mailing list and legislators
January 16, 2026	Secretary of State's Bulletin
January 16 - February 16, 2026	Public comment period*
February 2026	Public Hearing*
February 2026	Revisions to draft rules based on public comment
March 2026	Council adoption of rules

* Opportunity for public comment

Approximate Dates	Rulemaking Action
July 2025	OWEB Board Authorization for Rulemaking
August-September 2025	Draft Rule Concepts/Language Developed
October 2025 – March 2026	Rulemaking Advisory Committee Meetings to Vet Draft Rules and Provide Feedback*
January 2026	Rulemaking Progress Update to Board*
May 1, 2026	Draft Rules/Notice Filed with Secretary of State and posted to OWEB website
May 1, 2026	Notice to Agency Mailing List and Legislators
May 1- May 31, 2026	Tribal and Public Comment Period*
May 2026	Tribal/Public Hearing(s)*
June 2026	Review Tribal and Public Comments, Provide Response, and Consider Revisions to Draft Rules
July 2026	Board Adoption of Rules

* Opportunity for public comment

The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) are working together on an engagement and subsequent rulemaking process for Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Watershed Council capacity grants. The engagement will take place from February to May of 2026, and rulemaking will most likely start in the fall of 2026. The updated rules would apply beginning with the 2029-2031 capacity grant applications.

Please register by 5:00 pm the day before the listening session(s) listed below that you would like to attend. After registering, you will receive an email with additional information about the listening session.

OWEB and ODA have developed a Frequently Asked Questions document, which will be useful to review ahead of attending a listening session.

This process was initiated through a webinar at the Oregon Conservation Partnership on February 4, 2026.

Date	Time (Pacific time)	Listening Session Location
February 24, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Virtual
March 19, 2026	10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Newport
March 26, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Roseburg
April 14, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Salem
April 21, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Virtual
May 4, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Redmond
May 5, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Burns
May 6, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Baker City
May 7, 2026	10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Pendleton
May 18, 2026	1:00 - 3:00 pm	Virtual

You may also provide feedback through an anonymous Capacity Grants Survey.

Current Rulemaking

At the July 2025 meeting, the OWEB Board authorized rulemaking for OWEB's Water Acquisition Grants program. OWEB’s Water Acquisition grant program provides funding to acquire from willing sellers interests in water to maintain or restore streamflows for the benefit of watersheds and habitat for native fish or wildlife. A Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) has been formed to assist OWEB in developing revisions to the Water Acquisition Program rules.

RAC Meeting #1 November 4, 2025 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Meeting Recording
Agenda
Water Acquisition Grants Proposed Revisions RAC Meeting #1

RAC Meeting #2 December 17, 2025 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Meeting Recording
Agenda
Public Comment
Water Acquisition Grants Proposed Revisions RAC Meeting #2

RAC Meeting #3 January 15, 2026 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Meeting Recording
Agenda
Public Comment
Water Acquisition Grants Proposed Revisions RAC Meeting #3

RAC Meeting #4 February 20, 2026 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Meeting Recording
Agenda
Water Acquisition Grants Proposed Revisions RAC Meeting #4

Access Administrative Rules Online

Administrative Rules may be accessed through the Oregon Secretary of State Administrative Rules Database (click on the buttons below) and the Oregon Transparency Administrative Rules Section:

OWEB Administrative Rules

OAHP Administrative Rules

Contact

Please direct questions and comments to Eric Hartstein, Senior Policy Coordinator, or 503-910-6201.

Completed Rulemaking 2025

OAHP ADMINISTRATIVE RULE

RAC Meeting #1-June 5, 2024
Agenda and Materials on meeting page
Recording
Public Comment

RAC Meeting #2-July 9, 2024
Agenda and Materials on meeting page
Recording
Public Comment

RAC Meeting #3-August 7, 2024
Agenda and Materials on meeting page
Recording
Public Comment

RAC Meeting #4-September 11, 2024
Agenda and Materials on meeting page
Recording
Public Comment

RAC Meeting #5-October 21, 2024
Agenda and Materials on meeting page
Recording
Public Comment

RAC Meeting #6-November 7, 2024
Agenda and Materials on meeting page
Recording
(no Public Comment)

Proposed Rules November 25, 2024
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Fiscal Impact
Draft Rules
Public Comment
Summary of Addressed Comments

FOCUSED INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE RULE

At the January 2024 meeting, the OWEB Board authorized rulemaking for OWEB’s Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) Grant Program. The FIP program is an OWEB investment that: addresses a board-identified focused investment priority of significance to the state; achieves clear and measurable ecological outcomes; uses integrated, results-oriented approaches as identified through a strategic action plan; and is implemented by a high-performing partnership. FIP funding supports partnerships in pursuing conservation initiatives with up to $12 million over six years. A Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) has been formed to assist OWEB in developing revisions to the FIP rules.

Focused Investment Partnership Grants RAC Meeting #1-June 27, 2024
Agenda
Focused Investment Partnership Draft Rules - RAC Meeting #1
Recording

Focused Investment Partnership Grants RAC Meeting #2-July 29, 2024
Agenda
Focused Investment Partnership Draft Rules - RAC Meeting #2
Public Comment
Recording

Focused Investment Partnership Grants RAC Meeting #3-August 20, 2024
Agenda
Focused Investment Partnership Draft Rules - RAC Meeting #3
Focused Investment Partnership Draft Rules Clean Copy - RAC Meeting #3
Recording

Focused Investment Partnership Grants RAC Meeting #4-September 12, 2024
Agenda
Focused Investment Partnership Draft Rules - RAC Meeting #4
Focused Investment Partnership Draft Rules Clean Copy - RAC Meeting #4
Recording

Proposed Rules November 20, 2024
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Fiscal Impact
Draft Rules
(no public comment)

ENGAGEMENT AND MONITORING ADMINISTRATIVE RULE

At the October 2024 meeting, the OWEB Board authorized rulemaking for OWEB’s Engagement Grants and Monitoring Grants programs. OWEB’s engagement grants provide support for grantees to communicate and engage with landowners, organizations, and communities about the need for, feasibility of, and benefits of a specific eligible restoration, acquisition, or resource assessment/planning project within an identified geography, in order to successfully plan or implement the project. OWEB’s monitoring grants provide funding for monitoring activities necessary for carrying out projects that either protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitats or protect or restore natural watershed or ecosystem functions in order to improve water quality or stream flows.

Technical and language updates are proposed in the rule revisions.

Proposed Rules November 20, 2024
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Fiscal Impact
Draft Rules
(no public comment)

Administrative Rules

Rulemaking Calendar

Environmental Restoration Council

Water Acquisition Grants (Division 46)

Capacity Grants Pre-Rulemaking Engagement

Current Rulemaking

Water Acquisition Grants (Division 46)

Access Administrative Rules Online

Contact

Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP)

Focused Investment Partnership Grants (Division 47)

Engagement Grants (Division 15) & Monitoring Grants (Division 25)