King County Flood Control District awards $12.1 million in grants for salmon recovery and habitat restoration

Sept. 13, 2023

On Tuesday, more than $12 million in grant funding aimed at improving water quality, protecting and restoring habitat, and supporting salmon recovery efforts in four King County watersheds was unanimously approved by the King County Flood Control District.

“Supporting our struggling salmon populations is a critical aspect of the Flood Control District’s mission to be good stewards of our natural environment,” said Supervisor Reagan Dunn, Chair of the Flood Control District. "As the District works to improve flood protection for King County residents, I'm proud that we are simultaneously investing in the future health of our region's ecosystems.”

One of the projects that received grant funding was the Rutledge Johnson flood restoration, which would reconnect up to 16 acres of the Cedar River floodplain and remove up to 600 feet of the Rutledge Johnson levee, with the goal of restoring riverine processes that benefit Chinook, coho, sockeye, and steelhead trout.

In its 11th year, these Cooperative Watershed Management grants will fund the efforts of local organizations in the following areas:

• $2,328,677 for the Snoqualmie Watershed (WRIA 7) [King County Part]
• $5,133,490 million for the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed, known as Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8
• $4,148,660 million for the Green/Duwamish Watershed (WRIA 9)
• $552,991 for the Puyallup/White Watershed (WRIA 10) [King County Part]

These grants help carry out King County-based WRIA salmon conservation projects for Endangered Species Act-listed species for each of the four WRIA according to annual priorities set by the WRIA Forums.

WRIAs were created to restore watershed ecosystems for the purpose of recovering Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed salmon species in Puget Sound. The WRIAs are governed by “Watershed Forums” that are comprised of elected officials from jurisdictions within the respective WRIAs. The respective Forums propose the annual budget and identify what projects and programs may receive revenues. To ensure high quality projects, only those that have been scientifically vetted and ranked competitively by their respective WRIA Forum are candidates for funding.

In the Cooperative Watershed Management Grant Program, projects must address high priority habitats or watershed processes that significantly influence productivity in each basin. King County’s Water and Land Resources Division in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks administers the grant allocation process with the Flood Control District executive committee overseeing project selections. Cities, towns, special districts, public schools, King County, federally recognized tribes and non-profits are eligible to apply for the grants. Visit the Flood Control District website for more information.

About the King County Flood Control District

The King County Flood Control District was established in April 2007 by Ordinance 15728 of the Metropolitan King County Council to protect public health and safety, regional economic centers, public and private properties, and transportation corridors. The District is a special purpose government entity created to provide funding and policy oversight for flood protection projects and programs in King County. The District's Board is composed of the members of the King County Council. The Rivers and Floodplain Management Section of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks carries out the approved flood protection projects and programs under an interlocal agreement.