The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) is accepting 2026 Land Acquisition Grant applications for projects that acquire interests in land from willing sellers to maintain or restore watersheds and habitat for native fish or wildlife.
Deadline and application process
The program opened September 1, 2026 and closes October 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. A required pre-application consultation must occur between September 1 and September 30, 2026. Applications are submitted through OWEB’s online grant application and are expected to be considered at the April 2027 OWEB board meeting.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include local governments, Tribes, not-for-profit land conservation organizations and trusts, Oregon institutions of higher education, independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions of Oregon. State and federal agencies may hold OWEB-funded property interests but are not direct applicants.
Funding and match
OWEB states there is no maximum request amount. A 25% match is required. Current OWEB match guidance permits qualifying cash or in-kind contributions under applicable program rules.
Current program materials
OWEB lists the Land Acquisition Program Guidance, Appraisal Contracting Worksheet, Land Acquisition Budget Worksheet, Landowner Acknowledgement Form, Organizational Capacity Review Memo, Soundness Review Memo, grant agreement template, easement/deed templates, and related acquisition materials.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 62/100. The program is currently open, has no stated maximum request, and expressly allows Oregon higher-education institutions to apply. Relevance is limited because the funded activity is specialized conservation land acquisition and a 25% match is required.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The verified program scope does not establish a healthcare, telehealth, remote physical examination, guided-vitals, or other QC Healthcare technology use case.
Official source: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Land Acquisition Grants.