Oregon’s beautiful rivers provide clean drinking water, irrigate forests and agriculture, create memorable recreation opportunities, and support unique fish and wildlife habitats.
There are many ways to keep our rivers healthy, including supporting local projects that restore fish habitats.
Beginning in 2026, The Freshwater Trust is partnering with Portland General Electric to distribute funds from PGE’s Habitat Support Fund to benefit multiple rivers throughout its service area, including the Willamette, Sandy, and Deschutes rivers.
PGE’s Habitat Support Fund assists local habitat restoration projects that benefit Oregon’s cold-water fish and create stronger river systems for all. The fund is made possible by Habitat Support Fund participants, who opt to pay an additional $2.50 a month to support anadromous fish habitats.
“Together, PGE and The Freshwater Trust are strengthening natural ecosystems for our communities through meaningful fish habitat restoration,” said Juliáe Riva, PGE Clean Energy & Environmental Grants Manager.
Since 2003, PGE’s Habitat Support Fund and its partners have supported hundreds of freshwater habitat restoration projects throughout Oregon. These projects benefit native fish—including salmon, steelhead, trout, and lamprey—in more than 750 miles of rivers and streams.
About 10,000 PGE Green Future customers currently participate in the Habitat Support Fund.
“This program provides an excellent opportunity for PGE customers to contribute to improving the Pacific Northwest’s ecology,” said Monique Leslie, Senior Restoration Project Manager at The Freshwater Trust.
Restoration actions that have been implemented for past projects include removing fish passage barriers, opening streamflow in tributaries and side channels, creating natural, safe refuges, and restoring wetlands and riparian (or streamside) vegetation.
“Oregon’s migratory fish, such as salmon, are amazing and resilient species,” said Leslie. “If we build the right natural conditions, they will return. Once the fish return, the whole stretch of river comes alive.”
New applications for funding projects will kick off in April.
…
Want to get involved? Sign up for the Habitat Support option with PGE’s Green FutureSM program.
To learn more about the Habitat Support Fund grants and application process, please contact Monique Leslie.
…
The Freshwater Trust is a nonprofit organization with roots in Oregon and a mission to preserve and restore freshwater ecosystems. In addition to administering the PGE Habitat Support Fund, TFT has administered the Pacific Power Blue Sky Habitat Fund, which funds projects to restore Oregon’s native fish habitats, since 2011. TFT is also a member of the Drinking Water Providers Partnership, which supports restoration projects across Oregon and Washington that provide benefits to both drinking water systems and native fish.
…
Photo credit: Freshwaters Illustrated / David Herasimtschuk
