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December 16, 2015

Statewide salmon projects get $44M

By JOURNAL STAFF

Photo courtesy of State Recreation and Conservation Office [enlarge]

The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board and Puget Sound Partnership said they will award $44.3 million to organizations around the state to restore habitat and complete other projects to help endangered salmon.

The grants will fund 141 projects in 28 counties. Work will include removing barriers to migration and replanting riverbanks to create places for salmon to spawn, feed and hide from predators as they move between freshwater and saltwater.

In this photo, crews assemble a large culvert to replace one that collapsed and blocked salmon migration on Erdman Creek on the Tahuya Peninsula in Mason County. The new culvert opened 475 acres of habitat to chinook, coho and chum salmon and steelhead.

Here are some of the largest grants: Clallam County, $4,541,462; King County, $2,993,921; Mason County, $4,562,806; Pierce County, $4,648,756; and Skagit County, $5,445,289.

Funds come from the sale of state bonds and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Projects are selected by tribes, local governments, nonprofits and citizen groups, and reviewed by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

The state Recreation and Conservation Office estimates that the grants will provide about 460 jobs over four years and $73 million in economic activity for contractors, crews and consultants. More information is at www.rco.wa.gov.




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