Oregon committee hears changes to water feasibility grants and project funding rules

House Bill 3364 would revise two Oregon water funding programs — the feasibility study grants (formerly the water conservation, reuse and storage investment fund) and the Water Project Grants and Loans Program (statutory Water Supply Development Account) — changing eligible activities, matching requirements, prioritization and data requirements, the Oregon Water Resources Department told the committee.

"House Bill 3,364 makes changes to the water conservation reuse and storage program and the water supply development account," Brynn Hudson, legislative coordinator for the Oregon Water Resources Department, told the committee during an informational presentation. Hudson said the department was providing information only and was not taking a formal position on the bill at that time.

The bill would rename the feasibility study grant fund to the Water Feasibility Investment Fund, expand eligible project types to add aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), streamflow protection or restoration, development of water management and conservation plans and other activities identified by the commission and rule. The bill would remove the $500,000 grant cap and reduce the applicant cost match from 50% to 25% for feasibility awards, aligning the feasibility program more closely with the Water Project Grants and Loans Program,…