Watershed protection & restoration grants

Puget Sound is one of 28 estuaries of national significance as designated by the National Estuary Program (NEP). Under this program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) receives federal funding to support local efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound. These funds are used for financial assistance to state, local, and tribal governments for their efforts to implement the Puget Sound Action Agenda.

In January 2011, EPA selected the Washington departments of Ecology and Commerce to receive a grant for watershed protection and restoration. This established a six-year grant program under which the state agencies receive annual allotments from EPA and pass through a large part of the funding as sub awards to other entities such as local governments.

Our primary goal is to protect and restore ecosystem processes, structures, and functions, within a watershed context. This program has received a total of approximately $23.9 million.