Riparian Plant Propagation Program

What’s RPPP? 

SCC is excited to announce the Riparian Plant Propagation Program (RPPP) – A tree-mendous new initiative that will support habitat restoration for salmon-bearing streams and the many co-benefits riparian habitat provides. Funded by a $1.3 million annual budget, this program is designed to address the shortage of native trees and shrubs available for riparian habitat restoration.

By coordinating with nurseries and restoration groups, including conservation districts, RPPP will help increase native trees and shrubs available for planting by: 

  1. Determining the numbers and species of native plants needed
  2. Coordinating seasonal propagation schedules
  3. Providing financial support for increased native plant nursery stock
  4. Matching plants with riparian restoration projects
  5. Building community through outreach, education, and potential engagement opportunities

The RPPP program will be implemented through 3 phases: propagation, cultivation, and restoration.

  1. Propagation: Working with nurseries to increase propagation of locally sourced native trees and shrubs.
  2. Cultivation: Increasing holding sites at conservation districts to grow out native trees and shrubs until they are mature enough to be used in riparian projects. Survival rate is increased if plants are 2-3 years old when transplanted into habitat.
  3. Restoration: Working with restoration groups to match locally-grown native trees and shrubs with riparian habitat projects.

For nurseries: A follow-up Request for Information to support native riparian plant propagation

SCC will work with interested Washington nurseries to support native plant propagation as a part of the Riparian Plant Propagation Program (RPPP). The aim of this program is to support Washington State’s goal to significantly increase restoration of salmon habitat by addressing the potential shortage of native riparian(streamside) trees and shrubs.

SCC is issuing a second Request for Information (RFI) to gather relevant information needed to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP).

After reviewing the results of the previous RFI and considering contracting logistics, it became apparent that a limited-scope RFP would not be feasible this fiscal year ending June 30. Therefore, we are focusing on an RFP for the next biennium that begins July 1. We also learned from the previous RFI that there is a lot of interest in contract purchases with nurseries. We are pleased to announce that we will be able to contract with nurseries through bulk wholesale purchases over a 2-year period with a possible option to extend the contract an additional year.

The information gathered in this second RFI will play a crucial role in ensuring that funding addresses the specific needs of nurseries to support propagation of locally sourced native trees and shrubs.

RFI responses are due by April 14 at 11:59 p.m.

RFI Information

Learn more about RPPP: Q&A webinar recording

Join SCC staff for an introduction to RPPP and goals, what types of projects may be eligible for funding, funding rounds and timing, and what information is helpful to gather from CDs, restoration groups, and nurseries to help shape this work.

Grants for conservation districts to cultivate native plants

Funding rounds for conservation districts to cultivate native plants have closed. In preparation for future funding in the fiscal year 2024, you may review the past funding guidelines and the application here.

The award funding selection process for the creation of new holding sites was guided by the following factors: 

  • geographic necessity
  • experience in plant cultivation
  • long-term capacity to maintain plant cultivation for restoration projects.

For any questions regarding the application, please contact B'Elanna Rhodehamel, RPPP Manager.

Meet the team

B'Elanna Rhodehamel
Riparian Plant Propagation Program Manager
Alison Halpern, PhD
Scientific Policy Advisor