Funding available to Oregon Farmers, Ranchers and Forestland Owners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon announces funding available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program(RCPP) across seven projects. Applicants are encouraged to sign up by February 13, 2026 to be eligible for this first round of FY26 funding.

Learn more below about Oregon's RCPP opportunities available to producers:

Smith Rock Irrigation Modernization & Conservation
Lead partner: Deschutes River Conservancy
The Deschutes River Conservancy proposes to address water supply issues to benefit the Oregon spotted frog and state-sensitive native Redband trout within the Western Waters Critical Conservation Area. A Prioritization Toolbox, developed through partnerships with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Oregon Water Resources Department, will help identify the most cost-effective combinations of projects for maximum conservation impacts. The long-term goal is to create a fully piped and pressurized system that is operable on-demand, thereby maximizing water marketing opportunities.

Klamath Basin Farming and Wetland Collaborative
Lead partner: Ducks Unlimited, Inc
Ducks Unlimited will offer financial assistance to Upper Klamath Basin producers in Oregon and parts of Northern California to implement three to five-year conservation projects that provide temporary habitat for migrating waterbirds. Through an innovative design approach unique to this RCPP project, producers can choose to convert an agricultural field to a seasonal or semi-permanent wetland, or flood unharvested grain crops during peak migration dates. Producers can also receive funding to repair and replace flood irrigation infrastructures in Oregon. The project supports a long-term collaboration to mitigate Klamath Basin water limitations for producers while augmenting resources for wildlife.

Three Sisters Irrigation District McKenzie Canyon Pipeline On-Farm Irrigation & Renewable Energy
Lead partner: Three Sisters Irrigation District
This project will allow farmers in the Upper District to pipe private laterals, thereby providing access to pressurized water from the Three Sisters Irrigation District pipelines. Pressurized water will eliminate electrical pumps that use over 450,000 kWh of electricity annually. Funding comes from partners to include Deschutes River Conservancy using Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and the Pelton Fund (PGE & Tribes). TSID will be working with renewable energy advocates to remove barriers that were identified during the study in the next three years.

Southeast Harney County, Oregon Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy
Lead partner: Harney Soil and Water Conservation Districts
The Southeast Harney County, Oregon Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy project aims to reduce primary threats to Greater sage-grouse and improve habitat quality and quantity by accelerating implementation of conservation actions on private lands. This project will expand participation in the Conservation Agreements and Assurances program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which has proven to restore wildlife habitats while simultaneously creating opportunities for landowners and benefiting rural economies. Ecological objectives of the project include: Reduce wildfire risk, treat invasive annual grasses/noxious weeds and augment understory vegetation, minimize juniper/conifer encroachment, improve grazing management strategies, plan and implement actions to connect fragmented habitat, and enhance mesic habitat.

McKay Creek On-Farm Modernization
Lead partner: Deschutes River Conservancy
Historically, McKay Creek in central Oregon was a breeding ground for steelhead, salmon, and other native species, but due to water diversions and changing climate conditions, the middle reach of the creek runs dry by late summer. The McKay Creek On-Farm Modernization project is the on-farm portion of a larger project led by Deschutes River Conservancy. This project will provide participating producers along McKay Creek with the irrigation infrastructure necessary to increase irrigation efficiency by helping move producers from flood irrigation to pressurized systems. The goal of the project is to improve the overall hydrology of McKay Creek and the adjacent riparian ecosystem, as well as restore steelhead, salmon and other fish to reach.

Western Oregon Cascades Recovery Effort Climate-Smart Reforestation and Recovery Assistance
Lead partner: Sustainable Northwest
A partnership led by Sustainable Northwest plans to address forest health, fuel accumulation, erosion, and wildlife habitat resource concerns with forest landowners in the footprint of the 2020 Labor Day fires across the western Oregon Cascades. The project's objectives are to build scalable solutions for post-fire recovery and reforestation, coordinate producer outreach, and facilitate forest management planning and seedling sourcing across multiple fire-impacted areas. Previous outreach and sign-up efforts illustrated a substantial backlog and pent-up demand, which the partnership plans to address using a streamlined AFA planning, contracting and payment approach.

Stewarding the Working Wild in MT, OR, and CO: Non-lethal Predator Risk Management on Agriculture Operations
Lead partner: Heart of the Rockies Initiative
The Stewarding the Working Wild project will help producers address some of the many threats they currently face, including drought, soil degradation, invasive species, wildlife displacement, conversion pressure, and commodity market fluctuations. The Heart of the Rockies Initiative and other contributing partners will provide a holistic approach to incentivize producers to implement solutions that benefit land, livestock, and wildlife. This project will support the biologically diverse working lands that produce food and fiber, sustaining both rural and urban communities; enhance ecosystem services including clean water, biodiversity, and carbon storage; and maintain connected lands that provide essential habitat and migratory corridors.

Learn more

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to eligible producers and landowners. NRCS aids producers through partnership agreements and through program contracts or easement agreements. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.

While NRCS accepts program applications year-round, applications received after February 13 will automatically be considered during the next funding cycle.

To learn more and apply for available funding in your area, contact your local USDA Service Centeror apply online at farmers.gov.