Watershed Benefits

Healthy watersheds allow rain water to soak into the ground, have good water quality, and are healthy for fish, wildlife, and people. Project elements can include:

• Native plants, which help rainwater soak into the ground, slow erosion, and are a valued resource for people and wildlife.
• Restoring places through actions like depaving sections of playgrounds and regreening neighborhoods.
• Education about water pollution and responsible prevention.
• Stewardship of natural areas such as removing invasive plants and replacing with native species.

Community Involvement and Partnerships

CWSP seeks to award funding to projects that create strong partnerships, build capacity in local communities and increase the ability of all communities to connect with their watershed.

• Project involves multiple partnerships
• Project involves volunteers and participants beyond the project coordinators
• Project builds and/or strengthens relationships among groups and organizations
• Project fosters ongoing partnerships and connections between neighbors and groups.

Equity and Leadership of Underrepresented Communities

CWSP seeks to award grants in a manner that advances the City’s established equity goals, with regard to where projects are carried out and who they involve and benefit. We encourage projects that expand and diversify leadership and participation in watershed stewardship. Such projects include those that:

• Are led by, or include meaningful partnerships with, people of color, low-income residents, immigrants, youth, elders, those with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups;
• Educate and involve individuals and groups that have not previously participated in watershed stewardship projects;
• Are located in areas of the city that have been historically underfunded by CWSP (see map at www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/article/330365)