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Small Grant Program

Background

The Small Grant Program is an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that awards grant funding for on-the-ground restoration projects principally carried out on private lands across Oregon. This program responds to a need for local decision-making about watershed restoration opportunities on a shorter timeframe than is available under OWEB’s regular grant program.

The Small Grant Program enables landowners across the state to contribute to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds and the Oregon Conservation Strategy by committing “small acts of kindness” on their properties for the benefit of water quality, water quantity, and fish and wildlife. From planting native plants along stream sides to reducing sedimentation and erosion from upland farms and ranches, citizens everywhere can make a difference.

Small Grant Projects

Small Grant Projects is an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that awards up to $20,000 for on-the-ground restoration projects principally carried out on private lands across Oregon.

Offered: Small Grant Areas accept applications year-round until April 15, 2027. At a minimum, all Teams must conduct reviews on submitted applications four times in the state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).

Opens: Contact your Small Grant Team Contact for application windows.


Max Request: $20,000
Match Requirement: 25%

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.​​

Project Sites

Projects may occur on sites owned by private landowners, not-for-profit institutions, schools, community colleges, state institutions of higher education, independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education, or local, state, or federal agencies.​​​

​​​Fish Passage​​​​​​​​

  • Remove Irrigation or Push-Up Dams: Install alternatives (e.g., infiltration galleries, point-of-diversion transfers) or convert from gravity diversion to pumps.
  • Remove and/or Replace Culverts (as a condition of funding, such projects require Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) or Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) technical review and approval, or tribal government review and approval for projects on Tribal Trust Lands, using a standard OWEB form; and for culverts under state roads, a 50% Oregon Department of Transportation match).
  • Remove or Replace Stream Crossings (as a condition of funding, such projects require ODFW or ODF technical review and approval, or tribal government review and approval for projects on Tribal Trust Lands, using a standard OWEB form).​​

Urban Impact

  • Install Storm Water Runoff Treatments (e.g., create bioswales, pervious surfaces, native plant buffers, green roofs) where vegetation has exceeded its design life;
  • Employ Integrated Pest Management in conjunction with a restoration project.​

Riparian Process and Function

  • Manage Nutrient and Sediment Inputs through managed grazing (e.g., fencing and developing off-channel watering) and plantings.
  • Manage Vegetation: Plant or seed native riparian species, propagate native riparian plants, or control weeds in conjunction with a restoration project.
  • Employ Integrated Pest Management in conjunction with a restoration project.​
  • Restore floodplain reconnection.​

​Wetland Process and Function

  • Manage Nutrient and Sediment Inputs: Fence out livestock or develop alternative watering sites.
  • Manage Vegetation: Control weeds (in conjunction with a restoration project), or plant native wetland species.
  • Restore Wetlands: Excavate or remove fill, or eliminate drainage structures.
  • ​Employ Integrated Pest Management in conjunction with a restoration project.​

​Instream Process and Function

  • Improve Instream Habitat: Place large wood, boulders, or salmon carcasses.
  • Manage Erosion: Bioengineer stream banks, slope stream banks, or develop water gaps, streambank barbs.
  • Eradicate or control exotic aquatic species.​

Private Road Impact Reduction

  • Decommission Roads.
  • Improve Surface Drainage: surface road drainage improvements, gravel surfacing, stream crossings.​

Upland Process and Functi​​on

  • Manage Erosion on Agricultural Lands: terrace land, employ laser leveling, create windbreaks, install sediment basins (WASCBs), develop filter strips/grassed waterways, manage mud (e.g., gravel high-use areas, develop paddocks), seed bare areas (OWEB may require a grazing management plan, if appropriate, prior to release of funds. For post-fire areas, seed only where natural regeneration is unlikely — e.g., on slopes of 30% or more — or where it can be demonstrated that seeding would retard or prevent the spread of noxious weeds), or reduce tillage.
  • Manage Nutrient and Sediment Inputs to Streams through the management of grazing, vegetation cover, or animal waste.
  • Manage Vegetation: prescribed burning, except when conducted as part of a commercial harvest; noncommercial thinning; control/remove juniper (except late seral/old growth); plant or seed (native upland species or native beneficial mixes preferred); or control weeds (in conjunction with a restoration project). Projects for prescribed burning to reduce fuel loads require Oregon Department of Forestry technical review and approval, or tribal government review and approval for projects on Tribal Trust Lands, using a standard OWEB form.
  • Manage Wildlife: install water guzzlers.
  • Employ Integrated Pest Management in conjunction with a restoration project.​

Water Quantity / Irrigation Efficiency​

  • Recharge Groundwater, such as through infiltration galleries, infiltration basins, roof water harvesting, or similar practices;
  • Implement Irrigation Practices (e.g., pipe existing ditch, install the permanent components of drip or sprinkler systems, install automated soil moisture sensors where water and electrical savings can be documented, or recover or eliminate tailwater). Such projects must either not adversely impact the current level of groundwater in a Groundwater Management Area, or must measurably reduce the diversion of water at the point of diversion. As a condition of funding, irrigation efficiency projects require local watermaster technical review and approval, or tribal government review and approval for projects on Tribal Trust Lands, using a standard OWEB form. Landowner agreements with irrigation efficiency projects require affirmation that the landowner and/or irrigation district agree that water conserved with the project shall remain instream. For projects involving the improvement of irrigation practices for the benefit of water quality, the application shall describe how sediment, nutrients, bacteria, or waste is entering a water body along with sediment and nutrient load calculations.​

Ineligible Projects

Please see the ​complete list of ineligible projects in OWEB's administrative rules.​

  • On-the-ground restoration project in Oregon.​
  • Clearly demonstrates watershed benefit to aquatic species, wildlife, or watershed health.
  • Uses and clearly identifies (by practice code or page number and paragraph) in the small grant application technical guidance from at least one of the eight approved sources.
  • Consistent with the Small Grant Team’s priority watershed concerns and current list of eligible project types.
  • Demonstrates 25% secured match funding, based on the total OWEB award.
  • Distinct and different from projects already funded (or being considered for funding) by OWEB.
  • Adheres to Small Grant Administrative Rules.

(Guidance)

​The Small Grant Program is designed to treat the source of watershed health problems through "tried-and-true," technically sound techniques. It is not designed to fund technically complex projects, requiring expensive technical design and project oversight. To demonstrate reliance on "tried-and-true," technically sound techniques, applicants must cite at least one of seven approved Small Grant Technical Guides and Resources (see below) in the Small Grant Program Application.


​
  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 of 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 receive 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.​
    Select the "Small Grant Contact" Application.​ ​​​​An application Template may be found in the top navigation menu. Additional application guidance is provided through the "i" buttons in the application.​​​​​

Small Grant Team Contact

The Small Grant Team Contact offering provides grant funding for the administration of one Small Grant Team in each of the 28 OWEB Small Grant Areas around the state. This grant funding supports outreach efforts to engage new Small Grant Team members and potential applicants for program funding. Grant funding also supports facilitation of application review processes as Small Grant Teams accept, review, and recommend or deny funding of applications for Small Grant projects.

Offered: at the beginning of each state fiscal biennium.
Opens: July 24, 2025 – Closes: September 15, 2025


Max Request: $20,000
Match Requirement: ​5%

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.​

Projects must demonstrate:

  • Outreach efforts to engage new Small Grant Team members and potential applicants for program funding.
  • Support facilitation of application review processes as Small Grant Teams accept, review, and recommend or deny funding of applications for Small Grant projects.

(Guidance)


​
  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 of 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 receive 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.​
    Select the "Small Grant Contact" Application.​ ​​​​An application Template may be found in the top navigation menu. Additional application guidance is provided through the "i" buttons in the application.​​​​​

Contact

Please direct questions to Theresa DeBardelaben, Small Grant Program Coordinator, 971-701-3175.

Administrative Rules

Oregon Administrative Rules Secretary of State website

Resources

GoBig (Guidance on Budgeting in Grants)
Small Grant Area Contacts Map