Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

08/20/2026

💧 It’s Thirsty Thursday—a weekly spotlight on drought awareness and the work happening across our watersheds! 💧

Today, we’re heading to the streets of NE Bend, where Deschutes SWCD has partnered with the City of Bend to transform a traditional lawn-lined parkway into a WaterWise Pollinator Parkway. By replacing turf with native, drought-tolerant plants, this project helps reduce irrigation overspray, decrease runoff, and support a contiguous corridor of native pollinator habitat throughout the community. In turn, pollinators support the success of local growers.

The upgrade from sprinklers to high-efficiency drip irrigation maximizes water savings and improves water quality while providing pollinators with habitat connectivity in an urban setting.

This project received funding through OWEB’s Small Grant Program—an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that works on a shorter timeframe than is available under OWEB’s other grant programs.

For more information on OWEB’s Small Grant Program, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oweb/grants/small-grants/Pages/small-grants.aspx

City of Bend, Oregon Government

08/19/2026

📢 OWEB is now accepting applications for Water Acquisition Grants! 📢

💧 The Water Acquisition program provides grants for voluntary projects that increase stream flows and improve water quality.

⏲️ Applications must be submitted online by 5 pm (PT) on October 14, 2026

☎️ Pre-application consultations are highly encouraged. Contact Brian Wolcott to schedule a consultation at [email protected] or 971.345.7010.

➡️ For more information and to apply, visit: www.oregon.gov/oweb/grants/Pages/water-acquisition.aspx

08/18/2026

Do you know a person or organization that should be honored by the Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer? ⁠

⁠Nominations for State Land Board Awards are open! There are several award categories:⁠

⁠🥇 Individuals whose work supports and inspires stewardship of state lands and waters⁠
⁠🥇 Exemplary wetland or stream projects that were completed in 2025⁠
⁠🥇 Organizations that have partnered with the Department of State Lands to advance our work through volunteer efforts⁠
⁠
➡️ More information, past winners, and nomination forms: www.oregon.gov/dsl/Pages/land-board-awards.aspx

⁠Nominations close Monday, September 7.
Awards will be given out by the State Land Board on December 8 in Salem.⁠

08/13/2026

💧 Thirsty Thursday 💧 Drought awareness post!

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has created a Drought Early Warning System dashboard that includes current conditions, forecasts, and monitoring the effects on Tribal First Foods, including water (Cúuš), salmon (Núsux), deer (Yáamaš), cous root (Xáwš), and huckleberry (Wíwnu).

➡️to learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/5yzuwzdh

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

08/11/2026

Funding Opportunity! 📢

FEMA announced the release of the fiscal year 2026 Rehabilitation of High-Hazard Potential Dams grant program, offering $11.4 million to support state and territorial dam rehabilitation, repair or removal projects.

This funding aims to reduce or eliminate the risk associated with high-hazard potential dams and is available to non-federal governments and nonprofits for the technical expertise, planning, design, and construction needed to rehabilitate eligible, non-federal high-hazard potential dams.

Eligible states and territories can apply beginning on August 5, 2026, using the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) management system.

📆 Applications must be submitted by 5 pm (Eastern Time) on August 31, 2026.

➡️ For more information and to apply, visit: https://tinyurl.com/46mmmzwp

08/10/2026

🧑‍🌾 OWEB is pleased to announce that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm Bill Technical Assistance Grant Offering is now open.

The goal of this grant program is to provide funding for Technical Assistance to help implement local Farm Bill conservation programs. OWEB, in partnership with NRCS, seeks to award funding to partners to provide technical assistance for local conservation efforts.

Eligible Applicants must be based in Oregon and be one of the following:
• Tribes
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• Watershed Councils

💵 Available Funding: $436,011
💵 Match Requirement: 5%

ℹ️ An informational webinar will be held Wednesday, August 26th from 9:00 am - 10:00 am (Pacific time).

➡️ For more information, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oweb/grants/Pages/NRCS-OWEB-TA.aspx

Photo: Ian Sane, cc

08/06/2026

Sharing this great article "E. Oregon tribes take systems approach to agriculture for flour mill" by Berit Thorson in the East Oregonian for "Thirsty Thursday" focus on drought resilience!

🌱 Healthy soil is one of our best defenses against drought. Tiicham Conservation District and Cairnspring Mills are working with local farmers to test practices that build organic matter, boost water‑holding capacity and keep crops resilient in dry years. Strong soil supports stronger grain — and better flour — even when conditions get tough. 🍞

➡️ Read the article: https://eastoregonian.com/2026/08/05/e-oregon-tribes-take-systems-approach-to-agriculture-for-flour-mill/

Photo from article: Berit Thorson/East Oregonian


East Oregonian

MISSION — Tiicham Conservation District and Cairnspring Mills are partnering to try figuring out what impacts the quality of baking flour. Cairnspring Mills is a stone-ground flour business based in […]

08/04/2026

Last week, at the OWEB Board Meeting, the Board awarded over $15 Million for 72 grants to local organizations statewide!

The grants support watershed restoration activities and collaborative projects to increase the pace, scale, and quality of restoration on Oregon’s federal forests.

“These investments strengthen watershed health, improve water quality and quantity, enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, bolster resilience to catastrophic wildfire and drought, and support the economies of communities across Oregon,” says Executive Director Sara O’Brien.

➡️ To see a listing of all grants awarded at the July 2026 Board meeting, visit:https://www.oregon.gov/oweb/Documents/2026-Jul-Board-Awards.pdf

Funding for these grants comes from the Oregon Lottery and other state sources. The Oregon Lottery provides constitutionally dedicated funding to OWEB’s grant program that helps restore, maintain, and enhance Oregon’s watersheds.

🤞For more information about the Oregon Lottery visit: oregonlottery.org/natural-habitats/.

We look forward to seeing all of this great work!!

08/03/2026

A friendly reminder that Open Solicitation Grant Applications are due today by 5 pm (Pacific time)!

07/28/2026

🔥 Attn. Gilliam and Wheeler Counties 🔥