The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) is inviting applicants for its Water Acquisition Grant Program to increase instream flow to address the conservation needs of habitats and species and to improve water quality.
Donor Name: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWED)
State: Oregon
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/09/2024
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Water Acquisition Grant Program considers grant applications that acquire an interest in water from a willing seller or lessor, or to implement projects that result in contractually protected instream flow. The program purpose is to maintain or restore instream flows to benefit watersheds and native fish and wildlife habitat.
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) encourages prospective applicants to coordinate with state agencies such as Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW), and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) to better understand their priorities, how the proposed project aligns with those priorities, and/or how any other agency voluntary flow protection programs could be utilized. A
Eligible Project Types
Any proposal to acquire an interest in water that results in protected instream flows is eligible for funding consideration. This could be through OWRD’s Allocation of Conserved Water Program, instream leasing or transfers, or other mechanisms. Projects must result in Legally or Contractually Protected Instream Flows to address either:
- Identified conservation needs of habitats and species as determined by ODFW or
- Improving water quality in a water-quality-limited area as determined by ODEQ
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
Evaluation Criteria
Water acquisition grant applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- The significance of the projected ecological outcomes, including how the proposed water acquisition project:
- Achieves or helps to achieve any professionally accepted flow target during the period of use;
- Addresses limiting factors identified in conservation plans for habitat conservation needs or water quality;
- Provides benefits to impacted species and life stages;
- Monitors and tracks project impacts over time;
- Monitors project compliance; and
- Contributes to climate change resiliency.
- The alignment of proposed costs with the work necessary to accomplish the objectives described in the application, including:
- Evidence of the ownership, use, validity, and reliability of the water right;
- How the proposed cost of the protected instream flow is consistent with local or regional market conditions; and
- How the term of the water acquisition project is appropriate to meet the habitat, species, or water quality needs.
- How the proposed activities are part of a strategic effort or long-term vision for restoring instream flows in the watershed, including how the proposed water acquisition project:
- Complements other habitat conservation actions and needs;
- Will lead to future expansion of instream flow restoration;
- Addresses ODFW or other federal or tribal fish and wildlife agency priorities for aquatic habitat, or ODEQ water quality management or implementation plans, if established; and/or
- Promotes collaborative basin planning efforts, including efforts under the state Integrated Water Resources Strategy.
- The capacity and qualifications of the applicant, including staff or consultants to be retained, to accomplish the proposed water acquisition project activities described in the application and to sustain the projected ecological outcomes over the project term.
For more information, visit OWEB.
