695-015-0010
Purpose

The Board shall provide outreach grants, as funds are available, for Engagement Projects that are necessary for carrying out eligible restoration and acquisition projects, or programs that lead to development of eligible projects, as required by ORS 541.956(4) and OR CONST Art. XV, §4b(2)(d).

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0020
Definitions

“Engagement Project” means a project whose purpose is to communicate and engage with landowners, organizations, and the community about the need for, feasibility, and benefits of a specific eligible restoration or acquisition project or program that leads to development of eligible projects within an identified geography.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17
OWEB 4-2004, f. 11-2-04, cert. ef. 2-1-05

695-015-0040
Eligible and Ineligible Project Types

(1) The Board will only consider projects that:

(a) Are focused on a specific project site or sites, or that support resource assessment and planning that results in identification of a specific project site or sites; and

(b) Will lead to eligible restoration or acquisition projects within a specific timeframe.

(2) Projects whose primary purpose is education are not eligible.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0050
Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted on the most current form prescribed by the Board. In accordance with Section 4(b)(2)(d) of Article XV of the Oregon Constitution and ORS 541.956(4), funds used for outreach activities are required to be necessary for carrying out eligible restoration or acquisition projects. These are described in OAR 695-010 and 695-045. Engagement applications must include the following:

(1) The eligible project type, or program that leads to development of eligible project types, that the Engagement Project intends to develop. Eligible project types include:

(a) Acquiring, from willing owners, interests in land or water that will protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitats;

(b) Projects to protect or restore native fish or wildlife habitat;

(c) Projects to protect or restore natural watershed or ecosystem functions in order to improve water quality or streamflow; or

(d) Resource assessment or planning for the above project types.

(2) A description of the direct connection the Engagement Project has with future restoration or acquisition projects or programs.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0070
Evaluation Criteria

Engagement Projects will be evaluated on:

(1) The degree to which applicants engage with the appropriate audiences in the appropriate geography;

(2) The likely effectiveness of multi-directional communication among the applicant and audiences;

(3) The proposed evidence base linking the Engagement Project and the resulting restoration or acquisition projects, or program that leads to development of eligible project types;

(4) The timeliness of the resulting restoration or acquisition projects, or program that leads to development of eligible project types;

(5) Cost effectiveness;

(6) The qualifications and experience of applicant; and

(7) The expected outcomes of the resulting restoration or acquisition project with respect to protecting or restoring fish or wildlife habitat, watershed function, and water quality or quantity.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17
OWEB 4-2004, f. 11-2-04, cert. ef. 2-1-05

695-015-0080
Technical Review Process

(1) Prior to the technical review team meeting, the technical review team:

(a) Shall receive each application, past evaluations for projects resubmitted in the current grant cycle, and an evaluation sheet to complete for each application;

(b) Shall evaluate each application based on the information provided. During this process, team members are encouraged to contact the applicants, Board staff, or other agency staff to clarify information in the application or to get expert review.

(2) At the technical review team meeting, the team shall:

(a) Review and evaluate each project individually based on how well the proposed project meets the criteria in OAR 695-015-0070;

(b) Recommend the project as:

(A) Do fund;

(B) Do fund with conditions;

(C) Do not fund; or

(D) Defer to staff or the Board with an explanation, if there is a policy issue or budget issue that needs to be addressed by the Board prior to a funding decision; and

(c) Rank order all projects recommended for funding based on:

(A) How well the project meets the criteria established in OAR 695-015-0070; and

(B) The certainty of success of the Engagement Project, based on the organizational capacity of the applicant and the likelihood the project will meet its engagement objectives.

(3) The project description, summary evaluation and funding recommendation for all projects, and the rank order of projects recommended for funding shall be forwarded from the regional review team to Board staff for their consideration. This information will be sent to all applicants within a region for their region and for all regions to the Board.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 4-2018, minor correction filed 08/24/2018, effective 08/24/2018
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0090
Staff Funding Recommendation Process

(1) Staff shall review the recommendations from each technical review team and make a statewide funding recommendation to the Board based on available resources for the grant period and type. The recommendation shall include any conditions placed on individual projects and may include proposed budget adjustments. The staff recommendation, as represented in the staff report to the Board, shall be sent to applicants and members of the technical review teams at least two weeks before the Board meeting where funding decisions are to be made.

(2) Applicants may provide written or oral comment to the Board on the staff recommendation prior to the Board decision.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0100
Board Funding Decision

(1) The Board may fund a project in whole or in part.

(2) Projects not funded may be resubmitted during application submission periods prescribed by the Board.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0110
Grant Agreement Conditions

(1) The Grantee must submit a report at completion of the project describing the work done and placing it in its larger watershed context.

(2) The Grantee must agree to complete the project as approved by the Board and within the timeframe specified in the grant agreement unless proposed modifications are submitted and approved by the Director prior to the beginning of any work proposed in the modification.

(3) The Director will consider project modifications including expansion of funded projects with moneys remaining from the original project allocation if the purpose and intent of the amendment remains the same as the original project, the proposed activity is within the same geographic area, and the modification would be compatible with acknowledged comprehensive plans.

(4) The Director may authorize minor changes within the scope of the original project plan.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17

695-015-0120
Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules

The Director may waive the requirements of Division 15 for individual grant applications unless required by statute, when doing so will result in more efficient or effective implementation of the Board’s engagement grant program. Any waiver must be in writing and included in the grant file to which the waiver applies.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.956
History:
OWEB 2-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 2-2017, f. & cert. ef. 7-31-17