2024-2025 Salmon Recovery Grant Opportunity in West Sound

Overview

West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery (WSPER) is calling for salmon habitat project proposals. As the lead entity for salmon recovery in Water Resource Inventory Area 15 (East), WSPER coordinates the solicitation, review, and ranking of projects. Project sponsors are invited to submit proposals for review by WSPER’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and the state’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB).

Key Dates:

Funding Information

The SRFB is providing funding to support salmon and steelhead habitat protection and restoration. Projects must align with WSPER’s Recovery Plans and Strategies and/or appear on the Planned Project Forecast List or 4-Year Workplan.

  • Total SRF Funding Anticipated: Approximately $295,000. Approved projects will receive SRFB funding after the September 2025 SRFB meeting.
  • Total Riparian Funding Possible: RCO has submitted a state budget request for $25 million in Riparian Funds. If this funding is included in the state budget, WSPER could receive up to $477,972 to allocate to riparian projects over two years in 2025 and/or 2026.

Submission Information

  1. Letter of Intent Due: January 21, 2025
  2. Review Process:
    • WSPER’s TAG will review submissions to ensure alignment with local recovery plans and priorities.
    • By January 31, 2025, WSPER will notify project sponsors about whether their projects align with local priorities and are eligible for the 2025 grant round.
  3. Site Visit: Projects moving forward will require a site visit on March 11, 2025.
  4. Final Ranking: The competitive grant round will continue until August 2025, when the final ranked list is submitted.

For More Information

Eligible Applicants

  • Cities
  • Counties
  • Native American Tribes
  • Conservation districts
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Regional fisheries enhancement groups
  • Special purpose districts
  • Private landowners
  • State agencies (with local partner)

Eligible Projects

  • Acquisition
  • Planning (Designs, Assessments, and Inventories)
  • Restoration
  • Combination projects (Acquisition and Restoration, Acquisition and Planning)

Criteria for Scoring

(Criteria are a guide for scoring, not finite)

  1. Alignment with Recovery Strategy (Yes/No)
  • Does the project implement a recovery strategy or appear on the Planned Project Forecast List or 4-Year Workplan?
  • If yes, the project is eligible for ranking. If no, the project is not eligible.
  1. Scope and Budget (10 points)
  • Is the scope of the project appropriate? Can it be phased?
  • Is the budget consistent with expected benefits and similar projects?
  • Consideration: Have there been previous investments in the project (e.g., Shore Friendly or earlier design phases)?
  1. Benefits to Fish (20 points)
  • Does the restoration project address high-priority habitat, watershed processes, or nearshore processes with a measurable impact on salmon productivity?
  • Does the project target high-priority watersheds (refugia with source populations and high productivity)?
  • Acquisition targets high habitat function, low disturbance, and intact processes.
  • Is the acquisition necessary for high-priority restoration?
  • Does the project meet Tier 1 criteria from the Nearshore Integration and Synthesis Tool?
  1. Certainty of Success (15 points)
  • Does the sponsor have experience implementing similar projects?
  • Is the restoration approach well-established with predictable outcomes?
  • Does the project restore ecosystem processes, not just structural modifications?
  • Is there a clear stewardship/maintenance plan for restoration and/or acquisition projects?
    • Are actions self-sustaining or low maintenance?
    • Is funding available for monitoring and stewardship?
  • Are the benefits realized immediately or long-term, and are they independent of other projects?
  • Are the benefits of acquisition not dependent on future restoration actions?

 

WSPER Lead Entity 2025 Salmon Habitat Project Grant Round Schedule

Phase Date Description
Planning November Call for projects, scoring criteria, & Letter of Intent distributed and discussed at the TAG meeting
January 21 Letter of intent due
January 28 Sponsors present their projects at the TAG meeting and receive feedback
January 31 Preliminary project applications due in PRISM (do not hit submit)
Jan 31 – Early March Application technical review period
Feb or March Site visit w/SRFB review panel March 11
March 28 SRFB Review Panel comment form released, identifying projects as “Clear,” “Conditioned,” “Needs More Information,” or “Project of Concern.” Monitoring Panel provides comments for monitoring projects.
April 9 & 10 1-hr call w/SRFB Panel for project sponsors to discuss “Need More Information,” “Project of Concern,” or “Conditioned” projects
LE Develops Habitat List April 30 Sponsors submit final responses to Review Panel comments, giving the TAG time to review these responses as they score and rank projects.
May 13 TAG submits scores to WSPER Coordinator for processing
May 27 TAG meeting: discuss scores and produce ranked list
June 23 Final applications due in PRISM
June 24 WG meeting: TAG chair provides recommendations and requests feedback and approval from the WG
July TBD EC meeting: WG chair provides recommendations and requests feedback and approval from the EC
Funding Decision July 25 Review Panel comments distributed to sponsors
August 7 Applications with conditioned projects must accept conditions or withdraw project
August 8 Coordinator submits ranked list
Sept 16 & 17 Salmon Recovery Funding Board awards grants