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Monitoring Grants

Background

OWEB may consider grant applications that propose 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.

Offered: Every Summer
Opens: Spring 2026 - Closes: Summer 2026


​A grant applicant may be any Tribe, watershed council, soil and water conservation district, not-for-profit corporation, school, Oregon institution of higher education, independent not-for-profit institution of higher education, or political subdivision of this state that is not a state agency. A state agency or federal agency may partner with an eligible entity. ​An applicant must also have a Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN).

In accordance with ORS 541.956(4), the board will consider only grant applications that:

  1. Describe current watershed conditions by gathering and analyzing data, and making monitoring results publicly available;
  2. Establish trends about watershed conditions by gathering and analyzing data, and making monitoring results publicly available; or
  3. Evaluate the specific effects of a restoration or acquisition project or program by comparing similar watershed components before and after implementation of a restoration or acquisition project or program, and making monitoring results publicly available.

Monitoring applications must describe the specific habitat, stream, vegetation, macroinvertebrates, fish, other animals, invasive species, soil, and/or water quality and quantity variables measured. Applicants must explain the monitoring question and provide information about local assessments or plans tied to the project, and provide information about complementary monitoring efforts conducted by partners as part of a broader plan.


Status and​ Trend​​

Description: Monitoring made at a regular interval in order to determine the long-term pattern of a particular parameter(s) and to assess those conditions relative to specific criteria. If proposing rapid bioassessment, choose status and trend.

​Activities: May include monitoring or ​​surveys targeting habitat, stream, vegetation, macroinvertebrates, juvenile fish, adult fish, other biologicals, invasive species, soil, water quantity, and water quality.​​


Project Effectiveness

Description: Monitoring designed to determine if a restoration project(s) is/are effective at meeting its biological, physical and/or ecological objectives.

Activities: May include habitat surveys, stream surveys, vegetation, macroinvertebrates, juvenile fish, adult fish, other biological monitoring, invasive species, soil surveys, water quantity, and water quality.​​

​

​Landscape Effectiveness​

Description: Monitoring that measures environmental parameters to ascertain whether restoration actions were effective in creating a desired change in watershed conditions at a large geographical scale.

Activities:​​ May​ include monitoring or ​surveys targeting habitat, stream, vegetation, macroinvertebrates, juvenile fish, adult fish, other biologicals, invasive species, soil, water quantity, and water quality.​​​​​​​​

​
Ineligible: Projects that will not inform the development of restoration or acquisition projects or programs and have the sole purpose of theory testing, evaluation of experimental designs, or the production of generalizable knowledge.

If you have questions about the eligibility of your monitoring proposal, please contact Ken Fetcho and/or the Regional Program Representative for the region in which the monitoring will take place.​

Max Request: none
Required Match:​ 5%

​After grant applications are submitted:

  1. ​OWEB staff check project eligibility in each application.
  2. Oregon Plan Monitoring Team reads applications and meets to review applications based on criteria described in administrative rules. They recommend one of the following for each grant: a) Fund, b) Fund with conditions, c) Do not fund, or d) Defer to staff or the Board with an explanation if there is a policy issue or budget issue that needs to be addressed. Review Teams prioritize projects recommended for funding based on:
    1. How well the project meets the criteria established in OARs 695-025-0120 and -0140,
    2. Certainty of project being completed successfully, and
    3. Benefit to watershed function, habitat, and water quality.
  3. OWEB staff summarize Oregon Plan Monitoring Team comments into evaluations and recommend projects for funding to the board. OWEB staff post evaluations and staff recommendations online.
  4. The OWEB Board awards grants.​

Starting in 2025,​ monitoring applications are accepted in the Summer of each year and are submitted entirely through our online system.Information about current grant deadlines can be found on the home page of this website.​

  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 email:
    • 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."

OWEB strongly encourages interested applicants to hold a pre-application consultation call with your OWEB project manager and Effectiveness Monitoring Coordinator.​​


Example Projects.

Contact

Ken Fetcho, Effectiveness Monitoring Coordinator, 971-345-7018.

Rules

Oregon's Administrative Rules


Resources

Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting Requirements (Recorded webinar with OWEB and DEQ, May 2019. 1hr 20min)

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program (DEQ website)

Monitoring for the Oregon Plan

Field and Technical Guides