WSPER Grant Round

2026 Salmon Recovery Grant Opportunity – West Sound (~$1.28M)
WSPER is announcing its annual call for salmon habitat projects in east WRIA 15. As the Lead Entity, WSPER coordinates project solicitation, technical review, and ranking for submission to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB).

Project Sponsors: Please submit a Project Summary Form to Renee Johnson by January 20, 2026 to initiate review by the Technical Advisory Group and the SRFB.

Funding Information
Funding is anticipated to available through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) and Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) programs to protect and restore priority salmon and steelhead habitat.

• SRFB: ~$295,000 anticipated available (funding released after the September 2026 SRFB meeting)
• PSAR: ~$990,000 anticipated available (funding available July 2027)
• PSAR Large Capital Grant Round: Designed for complex, high-cost projects that exceed what can be supported by a Lead Entity’s Base PSAR funding allocation. Eligible projects are those with costs above $1 million or higher than the Lead Entity’s Base PSAR allocation—whichever amount is lower (more at Puget Sound Partnership – PSAR Program). Large Cap proposal sponsors must participate in the WSPER grant round AND the PSAR Large Capital process (see the RFP).

Projects must align with applicable salmon and steelhead Recovery Plans and Strategies and be on the 4-Year Workplan or Planned Project Forecast List (projects may be added at WSPER TAG’s discretion). Funding amounts subject to change based on state and federal funding.

 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)

SRP: Salmon Recovery Portal — statewide project entry and tracking database
PRISM: Project Information System — public platform to apply for grants, review and manage funded projects, and produce reports
TAG: Technical Advisory Group — local technical reviewers
SRFB: Salmon Recovery Funding Board — state funding board and review panel

Scoring Criteria

(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 (2024-2025) or 4-Year Workplan?
• If yes, the project is eligible for ranking. If No, the project is not eligible.

2. 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)?

3. 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?

4. 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?

For More Information Contact: Renee Johnson at rkjohnso@kitsap.gov. More details at WSPER Recovery Plans and Strategies and RCO Website.

Recovery Plans and Strategies and RCO Website.