Water Project Grants and Loans

Updates

2026 Funding Cycle 1

The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) invites applications for Water Project Grants and Loans (WPGL) projects. This year OWRD will accept applications through a new online grant platform.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, by 5 p.m.
How to Apply: Apply online through the grant platform

View a video introduction to the grant platform – please note the video says grantees will be able to receive payments via ACH by entering the information in their profile. OWRD will not be using this feature of the platform.
View application instructions
Questions about the new platform or need assistance? Attend a drop-in session with grant staff by registering for a session below.

Water Project Grants and Loans applications are scored using 18 questions to assess the project’s public economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits. View the Scoring Criteria document to learn more.

Timeline and Review Process

timeline graphic

Eligibility

This program provides grants for water projects to evaluate, plan, and develop instream and out-of-stream water projects that have economic, environmental and social/cultural benefits. Projects must provide benefits in each of these three categories to be eligible for funding.

This competitive funding opportunity is meant for implementation-ready projects. Eligible projects include: conservation, reuse, above-ground storage, below-ground storage, streamflow protection or restoration, water distribution, conveyance or delivery systems, and other water resource development projects that result in economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits.

Grants require a 25% cost match.

Any local government, Indian tribe, or person may apply for funding.

If an applicant or co-applicant is required to have a Water Management and Conservation Plan (WMCP), the plan must be submitted to the Water Resources Department prior to the application date and receive approval prior to the funding decision date.

Available Funding

OWRD anticipates having approximately $2M available for the first 2026 funding cycle pending a spring 2026 lottery revenue bond sale.

How to Apply

Applications for Water Project Grants and Loans will be accepted through our new online grant platform. OWRD encourages prospective applicants to participate in a pre-application conference prior to submitting an application for funding online. The purpose of a pre-application conference is to answer your questions about the funding process, identify any additional information that may be needed, discuss potential eligibility issues, and provide guidance on both the procedural and substantive requirements of the application, including how applications are scored. You must complete the sections identified in the grant pre-application conference checklist before requesting a pre-application conference and email a request at least two weeks prior to your desired pre-application conference date. If you have any questions, please contact the Grants Analyst.