In April of this year, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) awarded an Engagement Grant to the Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC), a local environmental non-profit, to engage the community of Lake Oswego in a process to create an Oregon White Oak Strategic Action Plan as part of a larger Oregon White Oak Habitat Restoration in a Suburban Community Project. In this project, the Oregon White Oak Strategic Action Plan will direct coordination of actions to protect and restore Oregon white oak, reduce wildfire risk, and address climate impacts across 1,900 acres is expected to begin this September and be completed in the following two years.

Lake Oswego has an actively engaged volunteer community that is crucial to the success of stewardship projects that enhance the health of our environment. The imperiled status of remaining oak habitat in our community, under mounting pressures of urbanization and invasive species, creates an urgent need for community engagement. Continued support by volunteers and landowners will ensure the survival of Oregon White Oak habitat for generations to come. For this project, OLWC will be engaging with landowners and HOA members on properties with oak. Opportunities to participate include land owner involvement, monitoring volunteers and planning committee participants.

Funding for these grants, awarded by the OWEB Board, comes from the Oregon Lottery, and Federal Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery funds provided by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. Since 1999, the Oregon Lottery has provided over $525 million to OWEB’s grant program that helps restore, maintain, and enhance Oregon’s watersheds. Combined, the Lottery has earned nearly $15 billion for watershed enhancements, public education, state parks, and economic development. For more information about the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.

For additional information about this project please contact Rio Hybert at rio@oswegowatershed.org. For additional information about OWEB and its grant programs, contact Eric Hartstein at eric.hartstein@oweb.oregon.gov. A listing of all awarded grants is available at: http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/Documents/2024-Apr-Board-Awards.pdf