First Round of Grants Awarded to Eight Nonprofits

We are excited to announce that eight projects have been awarded grants from the Oregon Conservation & Recreation Fund. You can find a list below or see a brief look at where the funds came from and the work being supported in Oregon on the OCRF Projects page here.

Since its inception, the Oregon Conservation & Recreation has raised approximately $180,000 through donations from more than 10,000 contributors! Much of this has been small donations averaging around $10 from customers purchasing hunting or fishing licenses, aquatic invasive species permits or parking passes as well as this website. The Fund has also received sizable donations from foundations looking to help implement conservation and recreation projects on-the-ground. We hope you’ll lend your support for future conservation and recreation projects with your donation today!

We look forward to continued funding of great projects. So, mark your calendars to submit your grant applications for Round Two funding no later than October 21, 2020. Find out more details on the application process here.

Sincerely,

The OCRF Advisory Committee

First Round Funded Projects (See full bios and funding here)

• Succor Creek and Beaver

  • In collaboration with Oregon State Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Owyhee will execute a short-term, detailed beaver survey along Succor Creek in the Owyhee basin.

• Link Creek Restoration with Students and USFS

  • Trout Unlimited and Caldera will engage public school students from Central Oregon and urban youth from Portland, with restoration work conducted by US Forest Service.

• Gilchrist Underpass Wildlife Directional Fencing 

  • Oregon Hunters Association, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and many other partners will install the directional fencing needed to guide animals to the newly constructed Gilchrist under pass on Highway 97.

• Monitoring Efforts for Rare Carnivores

  • This project is designed to address two critical needs: (1) long-term monitoring of rare carnivores that supports and informs better wildlife conservation and management practices, and (2) connect Oregonians to the wildlife and wild places that make Oregon such a special place to live.

• Feasibility Study: Restoring Sea Otters to the Oregon Coast 

  • The Elakha Alliance will conduct an Economic Impact Assessment and engage in an outreach and public engagement strategy focused on coastal tribal communities and fisheries stakeholders.

• Applegate Northwestern Pond Turtle Project

  • On Applegate Pond, invasive species will be removed and nesting habitat will be improved. Over the course of three years, this project aims to improve habitat for Northwestern pond turtles and other native wildlife by eliminating largemouth bass and nutria, and controlling bullfrogs and bryozoans.

• Crooked River National Grasslands Sustainable Trails Project

  • Ochoco Trails seeks to create sustainable trail networks in the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland that make the nearby small towns more attractive places to live and work, allow local residents to reap the health benefits of outdoor recreation, encourage visitors to come to enjoy our beautiful area, connect locals and visitors to public lands and reduce trail conflicts while protecting wildlife habitat and our natural resources for generations to come.

• Portland Audubon Backyard Bioblitz

  • The Portland Audubon Backyard BioBlitz is a fun interactive project that engages urban residents in collecting wildlife data in their own yards and neighborhoods and which provides participants with weekly reports and information about local natural history, wildlife stewardship, reducing wildlife hazards and avoiding human-wildlife conflicts.