3 local organizations awarded $1.7M for salmon recovery projects

The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership have announced the award of more than $42 million in grants to organizations around the state for projects that restore and protect salmon habitat.

In Pierce County, three organizations were awarded just over $1.7 million for six projects. The Nisqually Land Trust was awarded a $55,000 grant to help fund a project to conserve the Mashel River shoreline, and a $368,460 grant to help fund a project to restore the Lower Ohop Valley. Pierce County was awarded a $679,325 grant to help purchase land along Alward Road for a levee removal project, and a $535,189 grant to help fund a project to restore Fennel Creek. Finally, the Pierce Conservation District was awarded a $95,000 grant to help fund a project to restore the banks of South Prairie Creek, and a $18,343 grant to help fund a project to control Japanese knotweed in the Nisqually River Basin and to replant at least 10 acres of previously infested stream bank.

Funding for the grants comes from the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and the sale of state bonds. In addition, $24.4 million comes from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund, which is jointly approved by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership in coordination with local watersheds, for projects that will help restore Puget Sound.

“Salmon are an important part of both Washington’s culture and economy,” said Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. “Healthy salmon populations support thousands of jobs in fishing, hotels and restaurants, seafood processing, boat sales and repair, charter operations, environmental restoration and more. I am very pleased with the work of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and its efforts to fund projects that help our economy and assure future generations of Washingtonians can enjoy the return of wild salmon.”

A complete list of statewide grant recipients and their projects is available online here.