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Public Comment Opportunity
The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) invites written public comment on the Technical Review Team (TRT) application ranking and funding recommendations for the first 2025 cycle of Irrigation Modernization Funding. OWRD will present the TRT funding recommendations, and any public comments received, to the Water Resources Commission for its funding decision on June 12-13, 2025.
Written comments on the funding recommendations will be accepted until 5 p.m. on May 9, 2025.
Please submit comments to: OWRD.Grants@water.oregon.gov or Oregon Water Resources Department, Grants Analyst, 725 Summer Street NE, Suite A, Salem, OR 97301.
Grant Application Deadline – Wednesday, July 16, 2025, by 5 p.m.
OWRD invites entities to submit applications for Water Project Grants and Loans (WPGL) projects and Irrigation Modernization projects. For efficiency in application review, OWRD is running the funding cycles for WPGL and Irrigation Modernization Funding concurrently.
Water Project Grants and Loans Summary
The Water Project Grants and Loans program provides grants for projects to evaluate, plan, and develop instream and out-of-stream water supply projects. This funding opportunity will invest in projects that meet water supply needs and result in public economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits. Projects require a 25% cost match.
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Eligible Projects: Water conservation, reuse, above-ground storage, below-ground storage, streamflow protection or restoration, water distribution, conveyance or delivery systems, and other water resource development projects that result in economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits.
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Anticipated Funding Available: We expect to have at least $600k available. The amount could increase depending upon the outcome of the 2025 Legislative Session where OWRD's budget for the 2025-27 biennium is decided.
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How to Apply: Application materials are available online.
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Application Deadline: 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Irrigation Modernization Funding Summary
OWRD has funding for Irrigation Modernization projects that improve water use efficiency of irrigation systems on currently irrigated agricultural lands. To apply for these funds, the project must leverage federal funds associated with Natural Resources Conservation Service’s authorized watershed plans, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART grants or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s grants that are eligible to be on the Department of Environmental Quality’s Intended Use Plan. This funding opportunity will invest in projects that meet water supply needs and result in public economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits.
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Eligible Projects: A project that improves water use efficiency of irrigation systems on currently irrigated agricultural lands. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to: piping irrigation canals, ditches or laterals; lining irrigation canals, ditches or laterals; installing sprinkler or microirrigation systems; upgrading existing infrastructure, such as flumes or pipes; installing or upgrading pump stations, including variable speed pumps; installing measuring devices or soil moisture monitoring; installing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems; purchasing irrigation scheduling software; and upgrading turnouts.
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Anticipated Funding Available: $4.4 million.
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How to Apply: Application materials are available online. See the application materials listed under “Irrigation Modernization Funding” on the WPGL webpage.
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Application Deadline: 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Application Scoring: Water Project Grants and Loans and Irrigation Modernization applications are scored using 18 questions to assess the project’s public economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits. View the Application Scoring Overview and Scoring Criteria documents to learn more.
Pre-Application Conference: OWRD encourages all applicants to request a pre-application conference before applying. Staff will review your draft application and provide feedback. You must submit your draft application two weeks before the pre-application conference. To learn more, see the pre-application conference form.
For more information, please contact:
Louisa Mariki | OWRD.Grants@water.oregon.gov| 503-979-9160
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