Planning Grants

Overview

Place-Based Water Planning Grants support place-based initiatives to bring interested parties together, develop and update place-based water plans, and coordinate implementation of state-recognized plans. More information on Place-Based Water Planning can be found here.

Place-Based Water Planning Grants support four different phases of planning:

Planning Readiness Evaluation and Preparation (PREP) Grants support the preparation for or assessment of a community's readiness to engage in place-based integrated water resources planning.
Plan Development Grants support the development of place-based integrated water resources plans.
Post-Plan Coordination Grants support implementation coordination of state-recognized place-based integrated water resources plans.
Plan Update Grants support updates to state-recognized place-based integrated water resources plans.

Updates and Announcements

Public Review Period Extended: Place-Based Water Planning Handbook

OWRD is extending the deadline for public review and comment on the Draft Handbook for Place-based Integrated Water Resources Planning in Oregon to Friday, November 14. This handbook reflects the evolution of Oregon’s Place-Based Planning program and incorporates lessons learned from past planning efforts, agency collaboration, and public engagement.

Feedback is welcomed from all interested parties to help ensure the Handbook is clear, practical, and supportive of Place-Based Water Planning efforts.

The Handbook is grounded in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 537.872–537.873 and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 690-602. It was developed with input from natural resource agencies, public engagement, and key sources including:

Oregon’s Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Planning Program: A Participatory Evaluation (McLain et al., 2022)
Report of the Work Group on State-Supported Regional Water Planning & Management: House Bill 5006 (2021) (Oregon Consensus, 2022)
OWRD’s 2015–2019 draft guidance documents for planning steps 1 through 5 (available on the Place-Based Water Planning website)

Document: View the draft Handbook for Place-based Integrated Water Resources Planning in Oregon.

Comment Period: The comment period has been extended. Written comments on the Draft Handbook will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025.

How to Comment: Please submit comments to: WRD_DL_placebasedplanning@water.oregon.gov or Planning Coordinator, 725 Summer Street NE, Suite A, Salem, OR 97301.

Funded Planning Efforts

OWRD has been a funding partner for various water planning efforts across Oregon.

OWRD has provided more than $2.3 million in financial assistance to four places that are taking a place-based, collaborative, and integrated approach to water planning.

Learn more about these currently funded places and their planning efforts .
In 2016, 16 communities requested $3.6 million to support their place-based planning efforts, demonstrating the statewide interest in planning grants. Click here for a handout summarizing statewide interest.

OWRD has provided significant non-federal cost-share to conduct basin studies with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Learn more about these Basin Studies .

In 2008 OWRD provided small planning grants totaling $200,000 to 16 communities as a part of the Oregon Water Supply and Conservation Initiative (OWSCI).

For more information contact:

Lili Prahl 503-871-5868

Authority

Other Resources: