Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Coastal Wetlands Grants

Background

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program (NCWCGP) was established to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands in coastal states through competitive matching grants to state agencies. The primary goal of the NCWCGP is the long‐term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems. Only legislatively approved state agencies may submit applications to the NCWCGP. Since 2013, OWEB has been an approved agency. OWEB serves as the official grantee of the federal award and makes the federal funds available to local conservation and restoration partners through sub-grants. All sub-grants are subject to the Rules and guidelines of OWEB’s grant programs.

Eligible Project Types

All projects must ensure long-term conservation. Eligible projects under the NCWCGP include:

  • Acquisition of a real property interest (permanent conservation easement or fee title) in coastal lands or coastal wetlands ecosystems from willing sellers, and/or
  • Restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands ecosystems.

Contact Jillian McCarthy​ to discuss your interest in applying for a NCWCGP grant. Applicants must schedule a pre-application consultation prior to application submittal.

Restoration Grants​

OWEB issues a solicitation for Coastal Wetlands Restoration Grant applications in the spring of each year.

  • Applicants should use the Restoration Online Grant application. All applications are submitted through the online system.
  • Applicants must upload a completed Coastal Wetland Supplement Form as an attachment to the application.

Land Acquisition Grants

OWEB issues a solicitation for Coastal Wetlands Land Acquisition Grant applications in the fall of each year.

  • Applicants should use the Land Acquisition Online Grant application. All applications are submitted through the online system.

Application timelines are approximate and subject to change, dependent upon the federal grant solicitation.​

Restoration Projects

April:​​ May:​
  • OW​EB submits draft application on behalf of the local partner to USFWS for preliminary review and feedback.
  • USFWS and Review Team provide preliminary review feedback to OWEB and local partner.
​June:
  • ​OWEB seeks legislative approval to submit NCWCG application.
  • Local partners and OWEB work together to address USFWS feedback and develop final grant application.
July:
  • ​OWEB submits the final application on behalf of the local partner to USFWS by July 18, 2025.
January:​
  • USFWS grant awards are announced.
​

​Land Acquisition Projects

​Jun​e 1: Solicitation announcement​
June 2 – August 1: ​​Local partner (applicant) initiates pre-application consultation with Miriam Forney​, and Jillian McCarthy​.
September 1: Local partner submits land acquisition application via OWEB’s online system.
September – ​March​: Acquisition Review Teams review grant applications, conduct site tours, and make funding recommendations. USFWS announces NCWCGP offering (typically in January).
April: OWEB Board makes the funding decision on the OWEB grant application and the decision to submit the NCWCG application at the Board meeting. Local partners and OWEB work together to develop the draft federal application.
May: OWEB submits a draft application on behalf of the local partner to USFWS for preliminary review and feedback.
May – June: OWEB seeks legislative approval to submit NCWCG application. The local partner ​and OWEB work together to address USFWS feedback and develop the final grant application.​
June: OWEB submits the final application on behalf of the local partner to USFWS.
January – April: USFWS grant awards are announced.​

Applications are accepted in the fall of each year and are submitted entirely through our online system. Deadlines will be posted once each grant offering opens.

  1. Obtain a login (username and password).
    If your organization already has an OGMS login, skip to step 2.
    2. An OGMS login is required to access the online grant application. Only one login per organization is allowed. If no login exists for an organization, please email Leilani Sullivan to request one. Include the following in your em​​​ail:
    • Organization name and address
    • Grantee Contact Information: name, title, email address, and phone number for the person who will receive all communication from OWEB and sign any grant agreements.
    • Payee Contact Information: name, email address, and phone number for the person who keeps records and submits payment requests and documentation.
    • FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number). OWEB may enter into agreements only with legally established entities. OWEB will review potential applicants prior to creating an OGMS login.
    • Per federal guidance, all OWEB grantees must be registered at the System for Award Management (SAM) before receiving a grant agreement. Entities will received a non-proprietary identifier (called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).) This identifier is assigned by SAM (sam.gov​​​​​​ is a free service) and entities must update their registration annually.
  2. Log in to the Online Application.
    Guidance to help you fill out the application is always available in the top navigation bar of the online application. An application template is also available after you log in and choose "Create a New Application."

Please contact Jillian McCarthy with questions.​​​​​​​

Contact

Please direct questions to Jillian McCarthy, Partnerships Coordinator, 971-345-7016.