Floodplains by Design

Floodplains by Design is our primary grant program for projects that help communities live better in their floodplain. Floodplains by Design is a partnership of local, state, federal, and private organizations focused on coordinating investment in and strengthening the integrated management of floodplain areas through Washington. Floodplains are vital to the ecological health of the state. They are critical to the economic vitality, cultural heritage, and quality of life provided by our region—from salmon, to farmland and commercial development, and recreational opportunities.

Local organizations with Floodplains by Design grants are working on projects that are multi-benefit: both reducing flood hazards to communities and restoring natural functions of Washington’s rivers and their floodplains. These projects bring together many different uses in the floodplain to benefit the entire community and ecosystem, improve flood protection for towns and farms, restore salmon habitats, improve water quality, and enhance outdoor recreation.

I want to...

Funding cycle

Amount of funding available: Varies - determined by the state Legislature
Funding allocated:
Grant award limit: Achievable in two to three years
Amount of matching funds required: 20 percent

Application information

Applications are currently being accepted.

App Period Delayed - Estimated Dates:

Start date: Mar 21, 2018

End date: Jun 15, 2018

March 21, 2018: After a review of pre-applications, the following projects were invited to submit full applications for funding in the 2019-21 state fiscal years:

CTUIR	NF Touchet
Ellensburg	Reecer Crk.
City of Kent	Downey Farm
King Co.	Lones Levee
King Co.	Willowmoor
Kittitas Co.	Upper Yakima
Skagit R. Coop	Barnaby Reach
Whatcom Co.	Nooksack River
Yakima Co.	Cowiche Crk.
Yakima Co.	Gap 2 Gap
Town of Hamilton	Floodplain A & R
Hood Canal SEG	L. Big Quilcene 2
Mason CD	Skokomish
City of North Bend	SF Snoqualmie
Pierce Co.	Floodplains for future
Skagit Co.	Colony Crk
Snohomish Co.	SLS in Snohomish Basin
Stillaguamish Tribe	Stillaguamish IFM
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe	Dungeness/Hurd Crk.
City of Montesano	Wynoochee
Walla Walla CD	Mill Creek
City of Snoqualmie	Riverfront Acq. & Bank Stabilization

Who's eligible Eligible project types

Additional information about this funding program

Due to delays in the release of the State Capital budget and related schedule changes, we are modifying our timeline for full 2019-2021 applications.

We will notify the list of invited applicants once the Ecology Grants and Loans (EAGL) system is ready to accept applications. We anticipate that will occur in late April. The deadline for submitting the full applications may also be extended, depending on the impact to our overall schedule.

Contact information

Scott McKinney
Fund Manager
Floodplains by Design
Email: Scott.McKinney@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 407-6131

Bev Huether
Financial Manager
Floodplains by Design
Email: Bev.Huether@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 407-7254

Grant Managers

Southwest and Northwest Washington, Adam Sant, (360) 407-7675

(Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties)
(Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties)

Central Washington, Michelle Gilbert, (509) 457-7139

(Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties)

Eastern Washington, Lynn Schmidt, (509) 329-3413

(Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties)

Welcome to our new website. Learn more about what's new.