OWEB's History in Brief

1987

• The Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board (GWEB) was established by the Legislature.

1988

• GWEB began their grant offerings with Technical Assistance (TA) and Education grants.

1993

• The Watershed Health Program was created.

1995

• The Watershed Health Program became part of GWEB.
• GWEB's four geographical regions were established.

1997

• The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) was established.
• GWEB began funding Watershed Councils.
• Salmon License Plate Program funding to GWEB was approved.
• The Regional Review Team (RRT) structure was established.
• GWEB's four regions were restructured into five regions.
• The Oregon Watershed Restoration Inventory (OWRI) was established.

1998

• Measure 66 passed.
• GWEB funded a land acquisition for the first time.
• The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was initiated.

1999

• The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) replaced GWEB.
• OWEB funds were provided to Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) for Weed Board grants.

2000

• OWEB received its first funding from the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF).

2001

• OWEB administered Salmon Disaster grants as part of an emergency temporary program.
• The Acquisition grant program formally began.
• The Small Grant program began.

2002

• OWEB began administering Fire Recovery grants.

2003

• The OPSW Monitoring Strategy was approved by the Board.

2005

• OWEB created a special grant offering, the Local Innovation Fund grants.
• OWEB began administering the Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Program funded by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC).
• The Effectiveness Monitoring program began.

2006

• OWEB again administered Salmon Disaster grants, an emergency temporary program.
• OWEB's Grant Management System (OGMS) was launched.

2007

• OWEB's one and only Research grant offering occurred.
• PCSRF transitioned to a competitive grants program.
• OWEB funding was provided to ODA for Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) capacity grants.
• Oregon Explorer made OWRI restoration data available online through Oregon State University's Institute for Natural Resources.
• The Special Investment Partnerships (SIP) program was launched.

2008

• OWEB's five regions were restructured into six regions.
• The Deschutes SIP and the Willamette SIP began.

2009

• Senate Bill (SB) 513 established the Ecosystem Services Program.
• Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 150 grants, in coordination with Governor’s office

2010

• A Strategic Plan was adopted.
• Measure 76 passed.
• OWEB's Investment Tracking Tool (OITT) was launched.
• OWRI's Fish Passage Viewer was launched.

2011

• The CREP-TA competitive grant program was initiated in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
• SWCD and Weed Board grants began to be managed by OWEB because of the passage of M76.
• OWRI Online (OWRIO) was launched.
• The Conservation Effectiveness Partnership was initiated with NRCS, ODA, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

2012

• New PCSRF funding priorities were established.
• The Klamath SIP began.
• Online Project Completion Reporting was initiated.

2013

• A Long-Term Investment Strategy (LTIS) was adopted by the Board.
• The Acquisition Program was revised.

2014

• The Council Capacity Program was revised.
• OWEB began managing Forest Collaborative grants for Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).

2015

• The Salmon License Plate Program was revised.
• 10-Year Sage-Grouse Investments were adopted by the Board.
• OWEB provided funding for ODA Strategic Implementation Areas.
• Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) priorities were set by the Board.
• The Coast Coho Business Plan grant program was initiated.
• OWEB managed Rangeland Wildfire Threat Reduction (RWTR) grants for ODF.

2016

• OWEB's Online application system was launched.
• The first FIPs were funded.

2017

• OWEB began the process to update their Strategic Plan.

2018

• Board adopts Strategic Plan.

2019

• OWEB celebrated 20 years!
  

2020

• Oregon Water Vision launched.

2021

• Post-Fire Resilience Grants added.

2022

• Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP) funded.
  
• Drought Relief Program funded.
• Post-Fire Resilience Program funded.
  

2023

• OWEB Adopts Climate Evaluation Criteria for Grants
• Online Payment Requests are launched

2024

• OWEB celebrates 25 years!
• Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Program forms
• OWEB updates Strategic Plan