Funding for Salmon Conservation

Crow Marsh Do you have a habitat restoration or protection project in mind? Are you looking for money to help make your good idea for salmon a reality? Staff working for the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council can help you find money through a variety of sources.

Two sources are influenced by the Salmon Recovery Council, the watershed decision-making body:

Other grants are available through our partner governments and still others are available through other state, federal, and non-profit sources.

Many of the local jurisdictions participating in the watershed salmon habitat planning process have also implemented habitat projects on their own or through other funding opportunities. To learn more about projects completed in your local area, visit the Habitat Work Schedule(HWS) database website and click on WRIA 8 on the map.

Salmon Recovery Funding Board


Since 1999, the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council (formerly the WRIA 8 Steering Committee - the Steering Committee and WRIA 8 Forum merged in 2007) has annually solicited, reviewed and ranked applications for state and federal funding administered through the state's Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB).

Between 1999 and 2005, SRFB awarded over $9 million to WRIA 8, funding a total of 29 projects. In 2006 and 2007 WRIA 8's SRFB allocation was $436,000 and $610,353 respectively, which funded one project per year.

For each SRFB funding round, the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council seeks proposals for habitat projects that contribute to Chinook salmon recovery in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed. Restoration, acquisition, and assessment projects that benefit Chinook salmon, and the habitat and ecosystem functions on which they depend are eligible. Proposals must have strong technical merit, meet SRFB requirements, and be recommended in or consistent with the Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan. Cities, King County, Tribes, non-profit groups, conservation districts, regional fisheries enhancement groups, and special purpose districts all are eligible to apply.

To learn more about these projects, view a map showing where SRFB-funded projects are located in the watershed and visit the Habitat Work Schedule(HWS) database website.

For more information, contact Mary Jorgensen, Actions and Funding Coordinator, 206-296-8067.

King Conservation District Funds


Representatives of local governments participating in the Lake Washington/ Cedar/Sammamish watershed salmon planning effort make up the former Forum portion of the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council. This group makes annual recommendations about how to use the King Conservation District grant funds (funded through county tax assessments) for salmon habitat protection and restoration projects, monitoring and studies, and outreach and education.

Between 1999 and 2005 WRIA 8's share of King Conservation District (KCD) grants totaled approximately $5 million for 64 projects and actions that include monitoring, studies, and public outreach and education.

KCD funding doubled in 2006 due to an increase in the KCD assessment from $5 per parcel to $10 per parcel. In 2006 and 2007 KCD grants to help WRIA 8 salmon conservation totaled approximately $1.4 million annually and funded 15 actions each year.

The highest priority for WRIA 8 KCD funding are projects and programs recommended in the watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan.

To learn more about how King Conservation District grants are making a difference in this watershed, click on WRIA 8 on the map of the Habitat Work Schedule(HWS) database website.

For more information, contact Mary Jorgensen, Actions and Funding Coordinator, 206-296-8067.

Other Grant Sources

A wide variety of sources exist for funding. Links to these sources are provided below: