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WRIA 8 Updates
Congress substantially increases funding for Puget Sound recovery
Congress recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act that will provide $54 million in fiscal year 2023 for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Puget Sound Geographic Program. This is nearly double the amount received just three years ago and even a $19 million increase from the previous fiscal year. The Puget Sound Geographic Program allocates funding to state, local, and tribal governments to administer projects within the Puget Sound Action Agenda, the long-term plan for Puget Sound recovery that was developed by Puget Sound Partnership. Through events like Puget Sound Day on the Hill and others, awareness was raised about the need for more sustained federal investment in Puget Sound restoration and salmon recovery.
Check out this summary of recent federal Puget Sound investments produced by the Puget Sound Partnership for more information.
Salmon in the News
Sea lions, seals might be hampering WA salmon recovery, what can be done? Read the full Seattle Times article.
Meadowdale Beach updates give fish, hikers more room to roam
Beach access to the Snohomish County park along the nearshore in Edmonds restores salmon habitat and improves park facilities and reacreational oppotrunities. Read the full article.
Seattle building canoe carving center in South Lake Union to showcase Native culture. Read the Seattle Times article.
Project and Program Updates
Service Restoration Projects Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.
Whale Scout celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. with two days of service restoration events at the former Wayne Golf Course, January 15th and 16th in partnership with the City of Bothell. Over seventy volunteers and special guests, including Bothell City Council members Amanda Dodd and Jenne Alderks and City Manager Kyle Stannert, joined Whale Scout Director Whitney Neugebauer and City of Bothell staff to plant 150 trees and shrubs along the bank of the Sammamish River. These plants will help shade and keep the water cool for fish, and provide clean air and water for everyone to enjoy. Special thanks to the WRIA 8 Cooperative Watershed Management grant and the Trammell Crow Company for their support.
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Public Beach Access Restored to Meadowdale Beach Park
This month public beach access was restored to Meadowdale Beach Park in Snohomish County. Final park improvements are under construction and anticipated to be finished in the summer of 2023, Access is available for public use through the new, accessible walkway under the train bridges. This estuary restoration project is regionally significant as the first of its kind, working with the BNSF Railway Company to replace a fish passage barrier culvert with a wide bridge and restore salmon habitat where Lund’s Gulch Creek enters Puget Sound. The project was initiated by Snohomish County Parks and has been a successful partnership with Snohomish County Surface Water Management, BNSF Railway, Tulalip Tribes, WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council, state and federal agencies, and the community.
Visit the webpage for more information.
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New Weed to Watch for in 2023
This past September, staff from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) identified Floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides), also called creeping water primrose, along Evans Creek in Redmond. This is an herbaceous perennial that grows in water and wet areas, forming dense mats in water up to 10 feet deep or growing flat along the mud. Large sites have been identified near Portland Oregon, but this is the first sighting in WRIA 8 (and only the second occurrence in Washington State). Because of its capacity for fast growth and dense mats, Floating primrose-willow can reduce habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife. King County Noxious Weeds Control Program and WSDOT will be monitoring and treating this site throughout the late spring and summer to prevent spread. Learn more about Floating primrose-willow from King County Noxious Weeds Control Program and report any sightings to noxious.weeds@kingcounty.gov
Upcoming Events and Funding Opportunities
Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program Webinar - Assessing effects of estuarine restoration on bird populations in north Puget Sound
Please join us for an ESRP Learning Program Webinar! The webinar will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend. Visit the webpage for more information.
When: Friday February 17th, 2023, 9:00 am- 10:00 am. Register here.
King County Parks Levy Grants: RFA open now
King County Parks is accepting grant applications through March 15, 2023, including for the Open Space - River Corridors grant program. Visit the website to learn about eligibility, applying, and the evaluation process for all grant programs. You can also view recordings of recent webinars highlighting each grant program and a DNRP Funding Open House, which shared a variety of funding opportunities from different agencies within the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
Sign up for the Parks Grants email list to receive updates about these and future grants or email the Parks Levy Grants team with questions.
National Estuary Program Watershed Grants RFP Released
The 2023 funding round will have approximately $3.2M in funds, with projects ranging from $200,000 - $500,000 and up to four years in length. Letters of Intent are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10. Full proposals, by invitation only, are due by 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, April 28, 2023.
View the Request for Proposals (RFP) document, which outlines the program and how to apply for funds.
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