OLYMPIA — Twenty-three projects to protect and restore Puget Sound have been awarded a total of $6.3 million in federal grants.
The state departments of Commerce, Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership are working together to offer the money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for projects included in the Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda.
Eighteen local, state and tribal entities in 10 Puget Sound counties were offered funding for watershed land-use planning and water quality improvements.
Among the projects are two to be overseen by the Hood Canal Coordinating Council to retrofit stormwater infrastructure throughout the Hood Canal watershed to aid in managing surface water runoff, reduce pollution and boost rainwater infiltration.
The council — made up of Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties and Port Gamble S’Klallam and Skokomish tribes — received $550,000 for the two projects.
It received $300,000 to complete an integrated watershed management plan for mitigation program and $250,000 for a regional stormwater retrofit plan.
Projects awarded funds are geared toward clearing pollution in the face of increasing development.
“Healthy watersheds are a key to a healthy Puget Sound,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire said.
“As our communities grow and prosper, it’s important that we develop and use the land in ways that protect our working lands, our streams and the Sound itself.”
A multi-agency assessment released in November found the most common way that toxic chemicals reach Puget Sound watersheds is through polluted surface water runoff that flows off of developed residential, commercial and industrial lands.
Runoff carries contaminants fresh water lakes, streams and rivers that drain to Puget Sound, the Puget Sound Partnership said in a prepared statement.
In addition, development reduces fish and wildlife habitat and can diminish the effectiveness of wetlands and floodplains to filter, cleanse and control runoff, the group said.
Dicks: Gratifying
“As I continue to fight for federal funding necessary to clean up Puget Sound, it is gratifying to see these projects moving forward,” said Congressman Norm Dicks, D-Belfair.
“We know that saving Puget Sound will require continued collaboration amongst governments, businesses and other organizations,” added the representative of the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
“These projects help build on our collective efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound for future generations,” Dicks said.
Projects receiving funding this year include:
■ Constructing a new wetland facility in Coupeville on Whidbey Island to protect the commercial shellfish industry by cleaning and cooling surface water runoff before it is discharged to Penn Cove.
■ Funding The Nature Conservancy’s collection of floodplain data for the use of Puget Sound communities and bringing together groups to restore the estuary in the Skagit Delta.
■ Aiding the Nisqually tribe in creating economic and market incentives for landowners in the upper Nisqually River to restore and protect forested lands.
■ Establishing a transfer of development rights program in Skagit County designed to help stimulate commercial redevelopment in the city of Burlington while saving surrounding farms and forests.
■ Getting experts out in the field in Kitsap County to better identify critical fish-bearing streams and protect working forest lands.
■ Restoring the Skagit River estuary while protecting local agricultural lands.
■ Helping the Washington Invasive Species Council to continue to identify invasive species in Puget Sound watersheds.
■ Funding Washington State University testing of permeable pavement.
■ Reducing the contamination of Evey’s Prairie on Whidbey Island.
Money over two years
In 2010 and 2011, EPA provided $34 million to Washington state agencies for Puget Sound projects.
The federal agency provided:
■ $8.5 million to the state departments of Ecology and Commerce to restore and protect Puget Sound watersheds.
■ $8.5 million to the state departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources to restore and protect marine and near shore habitats.
■ $8.5 million to Ecology to prevent, reduce, and control toxic and nutrient pollution.
■ $8.5 million to Health and Ecology prevent, reduce, and control pathogen contamination.
Said Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director Gerry O’Keefe: “Thanks to the work of our partners, we have many successes to celebrate today.
“Continued federal funding will advance science-based projects that put people to work, improve water quality and protect Puget Sound.”
A list of the grant award offers is at http://tinyurl.com/7ktye9o.
