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Water Acquisition Grants

Background

The OWEB water acquisition program supports the planning and implementation of the acquisition of an interest in water from a willing seller across the state.  Water acquisition grants can support a range of project activities from permanent transfers and temporary leases of instream water rights to incentive-based voluntary curtailments by irrigators. The purpose of this program is to increase instream flow to address the conservation needs of habitats and species and to improve water quality.

Eligible Projects

Any proposal to acquire an interest in water that results in protected instream flows is eligible for funding consideration. Projects must address either identified conservation needs of habitats or species (as determined by ODFW) or improving water quality in water-quality-limited areas (as determined by DEQ).

Project types can include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Instream Lease
  • Split-Season Use Instream Lease
  • Time-Limited Instream Transfer
  • Conserved Water Projects through OWRD’s Allocation of Conserved Water Program
  • Permanent Instream Transfer
  • Water Use Agreement

Apply for a Grant

The next Water Acquisition grant cycle will open in late summer of 2025.

Program Materials

Water Acquisition Program Guidance Fall 2024 (2025 guidance will be updated in late summer)
OWEB’s Guidance on Budgeting in Grants (GoBig) document.
CBWTP Flow Restoration Accounting Framework 
Water Acquisition Grant Program Summary for Public Outreach
Water Acquisition 101 part 1 video presentation
Water Acquisition 101 part 2 video presentation

Applications are accepted once per 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 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."

Please contact Brian Wolcott​ with questions.​​​

Contact

Please direct questions to Brian Wolcott, Water Acquisition Coordinator, 971-345-7010.

Rules

Oregon Administrative Rules Secretary of State's website.