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Oregon subcommittee approves applications for $350,000 in habitat restoration grants
Summary
The Joint Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee approved Legislative Fiscal Office recommendations allowing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to apply for two grants — $100,000 for John Day Valley restoration and $250,000 for Upper Crooked River enhancements — each requiring a 25% non‑federal match.
The Joint Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on Feb. 2 approved Legislative Fiscal Office recommendations allowing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to apply for two competitive grants totaling $350,000 to support sage‑steppe and rangeland habitat restoration.
Ken Lofink, identified himself as the Chief Operating Officer for ODFW, and Bernadette Graham Hudson, Wildlife Division Administrator, described the requests during a work session. The first application would seek $100,000 from the Foundation for America's Public Lands through its Western Big Game Connectivity Fund to support restoration on Bureau of Land Management lands in the John Day Valley Habitat Area in Grant County. The second would seek $250,000 to support habitat enhancements and connectivity in the Upper Crooked River habitat area.
"The project includes targeting juniper encroachment of sagebrush habitat and controlling the spread of invasive annual grasses," Bernadette Graham Hudson said, describing how the work will improve forage for mule deer and support sage‑obligate species. The department said the grants require a 25% non‑federal match; ODFW plans to meet the match with existing resources or local project partners.
Travis Miller introduced the items for the Legislative Fiscal Office. "The Legislative Fiscal Office recommends approval of the request," the LFO stated during the work session. LFO and the state's Chief Financial Office recommended approval of both requests.
Members asked technical and operational questions, including whether the department will use particular treatments to address invasive grasses and how predator pressure and ungulate habitat needs are considered. Bernadette Graham Hudson said ODFW will tailor projects to local conditions and coordinate with partners for implementation.
Co Chair Levy moved the LFO recommendation on the John Day Valley request; the motion passed by voice vote with no objection, and Representative Owens volunteered to carry the item to the full committee. The subcommittee later approved the Upper Crooked River request by voice vote and assigned Representative Breece Iverson as the carrier to the full committee. Agency witnesses told the subcommittee the grant application deadlines for the program are imminent (applications due Feb. 4) and that award notifications were expected in April.
The subcommittee's approvals authorize ODFW to submit the federal grant applications and pass through funds to local implementers if the awards are received.
