The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) selected Necanicum Watershed Council and Rogue River Watershed Council to receive Salmon License Plate grants at their April 22-23 board meeting in Independence.

The Grindy Creek Tributary Fish Passage, LWD (Large Woody Debris) and Riparian Habitat Improvements project will improve the Grindy Creek by removing fish passage barriers, installing large wood in the creek, and planting native trees and shrubs in areas associated with culvert removals. The OWEB grant award totals $65,949.

Salmon License Plate revenues are generated from the extra fee Oregonians pay when they purchase Salmon Plates for their vehicles.

“This project is a great investment of the state’s Salmon License Plate dollars,” says Sara O’Brien, OWEB’s executive director. “This investment benefits Coho Salmon habitat, while also supporting local natural resource jobs.”

Rogue River Watershed's West Fork Trail River Mile 4.2 and Chicago Creek River Mile 0.1 Fish Passage project will replace two undersized culverts on two different creeks with structures that will allow Chicago Creek to function naturally, and for native fish to access five miles of important cold water and rearing habitat during critical times of the year. This will ultimately improve the reproductive success of adult coho salmon, steelhead, and other resident salmonids and aquatic species. The OWEB grant award totals $298,831.

Necanicum Watershed Council's Grindy Creek Tributary Fish Passage, LWD (Large Woody Debris) and Riparian Habitat Improvements project will improve the Grindy Creek by removing fish passage barriers, installing large wood in the creek, and planting native trees and shrubs in areas associated with culvert removals. The OWEB grant award totals $65,949.

In total, the OWEB Board awarded 66 grants totaling $18,585,210 to local organizations statewide to support fish and wildlife habitat and water quality projects. Funding for these grants comes from the Oregon Lottery and other state sources, along with federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A listing of all awarded grants is available at: https://www.oregon.gov/oweb/Documents/2025-Apr-Board-Awards.pdf