The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has over 11 billion dollars to invest in creating healthy natural areas that support our wildlife, recreation, and economy. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for conservation and communities in Oregon.

Video update by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife featuring Gov. Kate Brown provides background information on the long-standing project to rehabilitate the Wallowa Lake dam. View on YouTube.

A large wood habitat restoration project was conducted in partnership with Necanicum Watershed Council, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board in Bergsvik Creek in 2017. Coho fry use of a variety of habitats created by the restoration project was captured on April 15, 2022 while evaluating the project 5 years after completion. View on YouTube.

ODFW IIJA Focal Areas

ODFW is focusing efforts in a few key places where additional funding is needed to get us over the finish line, achieving great outcomes for fish and wildlife and for Oregon’s communities. The six focal themes/areas include:

• Wallowa River Fish Passage and Flow Restoration
• Klamath Basin Restoration
• Oregon Coast Coho Recovery
• Watershed Resiliency (Rogue)
• Forest Health
• Connectivity and Wildlife Passage

The department is currently developing implementation strategies for each of our focal areas. Keeping checking in for more information, and make sure to explore our vision for IIJA funding implementation! ODFW IIJA Focal Areas (pdf)

How you can help!

There is a lot we can all do to benefit both fish and wildlife, our communities, and our economy. Funds from the IIJA are a once in a lifetime opportunity to do the work but the time is short. We have just 5 years to make the most of this chance.

• Apply for an IIJA grant directly or with partners, and bring vital funding into Oregon!
• Communicate Oregon’s IIJA funding needs with federal agency partners
• Provide support for IIJA funding in ODFW focal areas
• Let us know if you receive any IIJA funding in Oregon

Where to find more information on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

• Build.gov: The White House website on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (full text) (PDF)
• A Guidebook to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (PDF)

Where to find more information on IIJA funding opportunities:

• Visit Grants.gov: for more information on IIJA grant opportunities, enter ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’ in the keyword search. You can also subscribe to grant updates.
• Click here to see a summary of the potential funding opportunities ODFW is following that relate to natural resources in Oregon. Please note that not all funding opportunities are included, and make sure to check back frequently as the information will be updated in real-time. Updated 02/28/22
• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – complete dataset spreadsheet (XLSX) Updated 02/23/22

For more information contact Andrea Hanson, ODFW Conservation Policy Coordinator (andrea.v.hanson@odfw.oregon.gov)