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Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board > Web site
The State Lands Building in Salem houses the central offices of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. (Oregon State Archives Photo)
Present Duties
In 1998, a ballot measure was approved by Oregonians dedicating Lottery Funds to support salmon, watershed and habitat restoration. In 1999, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) was created by the Legislature. Since then, OWEB has awarded $229.3 million in Lottery Funds and $134.1 million in other funds to landowners, watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts and others for watershed enhancement work.
OWEB’s grants help Oregonians take care of local streams, rivers, wetlands and natural areas. Community members and landowners use scientific criteria to decide jointly what needs to be done to conserve and improve rivers and natural habitat in the places where they live. OWEB maintains a Watershed Restoration Inventory of all funded projects to track local restoration efforts and report investment results. OWEB also monitors watershed conditions and provides leadership for natural resource data management. Biennially, the agency reports progress of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds to the governor and Legislature.
The agency is led by a 17-member citizen board made up of 11 voting members and six advisory members. Five voting members represent five state natural resource agency boards and commissions: Board of Forestry, Board of Agriculture, Water Resources Commission, Environmental Quality Commission, and Fish and Wildlife Commission. Six public voting members represent all regions of the state. Nonvoting, advisory members represent federal natural resource agencies: U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, the Tribes and the Oregon State University Extension Service. The board acts on applications for funds to accomplish watershed restoration activities and is responsible for establishing Oregon's long-term strategy for achieving sustainable watershed health.
OWEB is administered by an executive director and staff in Salem with six regional field offices.
Agency Subdivisions
Information about this agency's divisions, offices, programs, etc.
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 775 Summer St. NE, Suite 360, Salem 97301-1290
Telephone: 503-986-0178
Fax: 503-986-0199
General E-mail: bonnie.ashford@state.or.us
Contact: Tom Byler, Executive Director
Administrative Rules Coordinator E-mail: Melissa Leoni
Records Officer E-mail: Cindy Silbernagel
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov
Location Map: by Yahoo! Maps
Legal and Legislative Information
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 541
Natural Resources Budget Analysis (pdf) - by Legislative Fiscal Office
Audit Reports - select agency from menu
Records, Publications and General Information
State Library Publications - a link to the Oregon State Library Catalog