Wildfire Recovery Immediate Response Grant Offering

At its July 2021 meeting, the OWEB board approved $300,000 for Wildfire Recovery Immediate Response Grant offerings this biennium. OWEB is now accepting applications for the immediate response grants for the 2021 fire season.

The following fire areas are eligible for the 2021 Wildfire Recovery Immediate Response Grants, with the following maximum funding levels based on non-federal acres impacted:

• $25,000 maximum – Elbow Creek
• $25,000 maximum – Skyline Ridge
• $50,000 maximum – Cougar Peak
• $75,000 maximum – Bootleg

Funds are required to be spent by September 30, 2022. Funding will be available for eligible activities outlined below. This will be different than many of OWEB’s grant offerings, so please read all details below to understand what is eligible for funding and the application process. OWEB will be accepting only one application for each of the 4 fires identified above, so coordination at the local level will be required for this application process.

 Eligible Applicants:

OWEB is asking that local conservation non-profits, local governments, and tribes work together to select one eligible applicant per identified fire. That applicant will coordinate submission of the application on behalf of all local partners and serve as the fiscal agent for the grant. Partners need to coordinate on actions to be funded and who will lead each action. OWEB can assist with coordination calls as requested to help with this process.

 Actions Eligible for Funding:

OWEB-funded work will address short-term fire recovery needs generally related to soil stabilization and weed management on tribal lands or private lands (not including industrial forestlands) that have been identified as high priority in a federally led assessment through BLM or the Forest Service, or other assessments with approval from OWEB. Proposed actions must meet OWEB’s Constitutional requirements to address protection and restoration of native fish and wildlife habitat or water quality improvement.

 Eligible Implementation Funding Activities Include:

• Log transport and stockpiling for future restoration.
• A limited suite of conservation practices to help stabilize soils and manage weeds post-fire, including: conservation cover, cover crop, herbaceous weed treatment, mulching, range planting, woody residue treatment and fencing.
• Other stabilization practices designed to protect or restore habitat or water quality that are specified in a qualifying assessment and discussed in advance with OWEB.

 Eligible technical assistance activities include:

• Technical assistance – to participate on local assessment teams and select restoration practices.
• Stakeholder engagement – to help landowners understand programs available for post-fire recovery and to assist them in participating in those programs; and

 Eligible Geography:

Applications will be accepted on a continuing basis from one applicant per eligible fire. Local partners will identify one eligible applicant who will serve as the fiscal agent and will work in cooperation with area partners to apply for the maximum funding list below for each of the following fire areas:

• $25,000 maximum – Elbow Creek
• $25,000 maximum – Skyline Ridge
• $50,000 maximum – Cougar Peak
• $75,000 maximum – Bootleg

OWEB can assist partners with facilitating eligible applicant determination if requested.

If you have questions about applying for a Wildfire Recovery Immediate Response Grant, contact Renee Davis at renee.davis@oregon.gov.

Thank you for your interest in watershed restoration and protection!

Renee Davis, Deputy Director