All Salmon Recovery Funding is now allocated.
At this time, all the available Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) has been allocated. This was funding carried over from fiscal year 2022-23. To date, 30 projects have been awarded funding. Five project proposals were not funded because they did not meet the revised program guidelines for eligible work. The application form has been disabled for now. If funds are returned later on in the fiscal year, we may re-activate the application form and review additional proposals. We will announce that opportunity when and if it happens. Review the programmatic guidelines.
New Riparian Grants
In 2023 the WA State Legislature approved funding for SCC to run a voluntary riparian grant program for priority riparian restoration and protection. SCC is bringing together a work group and grants advisory committee to begin this work.
SCC is committed to supporting private landowners’ voluntary stewardship of natural resources. This opportunity provides funding for projects to restore and protect riparian habitat.
The Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) Program began in 2022, funded by the Washington State Legislature. SRF encourages incentive-based projects with landowners focusing on riparian restoration. In 2023, the Legislature allocated funding to support salmon recovery through streamside riparian habitat restoration and protection. SCC is working to develop this new Riparian Grants Program.
A new appropriation of funds is coming to SCC in fiscal year 2024. SCC is bringing together a work group and advisory committee to begin this work. This new funding has a couple of components to be aware of. There are two separate appropriations as follows:
Salmon Riparian Restoration Program Outreach - $3,000,000
This is operating funding. The budget proviso language states, “One-time funding is provided solely to support the outreach, identification, and implementation of salmon riparian habitat restoration projects that are appropriated through the capital budget.”
New Riparian Grant Program - $25,000,000
This is capital funding. The budget proviso language states, “the appropriation is provided solely for the Commission to run a voluntary riparian grant program for priority riparian restoration and protection.....” Read the full proviso language here.
Next steps:
In coordination with the work group and advisory committee, SCC would like to present new draft programmatic guidelines to commissioners this winter, followed by a review and comment period, with final guidelines presented for possible adoption early in 2024.
SCC will also share updates about draft guidelines for new riparian grants with tribes, state agencies, agricultural and environmental representatives, local government, and others during the State Riparian Roundtable meetings.
Check back soon for updated funding information.