1. (1) Planning Readiness Evaluation and Preparation Grants shall be evaluated on:
   (a) The commitment and expected ability of the grantee to effectively engage a balance of instream and out-of-stream water interests on place-based water resources issues;
   (b) The need for the community to assess its readiness or prepare for place-based water planning;
   (c) The proposed approach to public participation and engagement of environmental justice communities; and
   (d) Strategic priorities identified in the state’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the Department’s strategic plan, or by the Director, and included in grant solicitation materials.
   (2) Plan Development Grants shall be evaluated on:
   (a) The convener and potential collaborative members ability to meaningfully engage and collaborate in a neutral process over multiple years, with the public, tribes, local governments, state agencies, and a balanced representation of instream and out-of-stream water interests. Commitment to a neutral process may be demonstrated, in part, through the use of neutral facilitator;
   (b) The proposed data, technical information, and planning tools that would support planning in the area;
   (c) The proposed approach to public participation and engagement of environmental justice communities;
   (d) Strategic priorities identified in the state’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the Department’s strategic plan, or by the Director, and included in grant solicitation materials;
   (e) The value of place-based integrated water resources planning in the planning area and the demonstration of a clear need for a Plan; and
   (f) State agency capacity to support the proposed planning process.
   (3) Post Plan Coordination Grants shall be evaluated as follows:
   (a) If a Collaborative’s Plan has received state-recognition for the first time within the last two years and it has not received a Post Plan Coordination Grant previously, its application may be given preference and shall be evaluated on:
   (A) Demonstration of plan strategies and actions that represent a balance of instream and out-of-stream water interests and a commitment to collaboration and place-based planning principles;
   (B) The proposed approach to public participation and engagement of environmental justice communities; and
   (C) Strategic priorities identified in the state’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the Department’s strategic plan, or determined by the Director, and included in grant solicitation materials.
   (b) If the Collaborative’s Plan received state-recognition two or more years before the application deadline, its application shall be evaluated on:
   (A) Demonstration of the pursuit of Plan strategies and actions that continue to represent a balance of instream and out-of-stream water interests and a commitment to collaboration and place-based planning principles; and
   (B) Progress made towards Plan implementation, including how progress aligns with the Plan’s implementation strategies and continues to represent a balance of in-stream and out-of-stream water interests;
   (C) The proposed approach to public participation and engagement of environmental justice communities; and
   (D) Strategic priorities identified in the state’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the Department’s strategic plan, or determined by the Director, and included in grant solicitation materials.
   (4) Plan Update Grants shall be evaluated on:
   (a) Demonstration of the pursuit of Plan strategies and actions that continue to represent a balance of instream and out-of-stream water interests and a commitment to collaboration and place-based planning principles;
   (b) Demonstration of a need to update or develop new planning strategies and/or demonstration of significant changes in local conditions, data availability, or climate change information that would impact the Plan;
   (c) The proposed approach to public participation and engagement of environmental justice communities; and
   (d) Strategic priorities identified in the state’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, the Department’s strategic plan, or determined by the Director and included in grant solicitation materials.
   (5) Additional evaluation criteria for Place-Based Water Planning grants may be added to reflect lessons learned by the Department through the administration of the grant program. Fund solicitation and application materials must reflect any new evaluation criteria before the commencement of a grant application cycle.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 537.872 - ORS 537.873 & ORS 536.027

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 537.872 - ORS 537.873

History

WRD 5-2025, renumbered from 690-602-0006, filed 04/02/2025, effective 04/02/2025
WRD 3-2025, adopt filed 03/28/2025, effective 04/01/2025