Streamflow restoration competitive grants

Our streamflow restoration competitive grants help state and local agencies, Tribal governments, and non-profit organizations implement local watershed plans and projects to improve streamflow and aquatic resources.

Our funding guidelines outline our consistent and transparent process for awarding these grants.

Our funding guidelines will be available on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. See our funding guidelines from our previous grant round for proposal planning purposes:

Streamflow Restoration Competitive Grants, 2022: Guidance for Project Applicants

For more information, visit Streamflow Restoration.

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Funding cycle

Amount of funding available: Up to $40 million available per biennium
Funding allocated:
Grant award limit: No limit
Amount of matching funds required: None

Applications are not being accepted at this time.

We plan to accept applications for our next grant round January 2, 2024 through February 29, 2024.

Funding is available for the following entities:

Eligible applicants are limited to Tribal governments with reservation lands or treaty rights within Washington, public entities (state and local governments and quasi-governments), and nonprofit organizations. Funding is available statewide.

Priority is given to watersheds and areas specified in Streamflow Restoration law (Chapter 90.94 RCW). Projects that quantitatively improve streamflows are the highest single priority factor for funding in this grant round.

Eligible projects include water right acquisitions, water storage, altered water management or infrastructure, riparian and fish habitat improvements, watershed function, environmental monitoring, and feasibility studies.

Operation and maintenance costs are not eligible under this funding source.

More information about this funding program

Grant applicant resources

We will offer a series of applicant workshops across the state in Fall/Winter 2023 to provide information to potential grant applicants about the process and purpose of the grants.

Pre-application meetings will be offered by request in Fall/Winter 2023. Pre-application meetings are an opportunity for potential applicants to discuss the details of their project with Ecology staff before applying. These meetings are required for projects that have a water right acquisition component and optional for any other project.

Subscribe to our email list to receive Streamflow Restoration grant announcements and notifications.

View workshop materials from our previous grant round below:

Previous grant rounds

In October 2022, we selected 26 projects in 22 watersheds from a statewide pool of 57 applicants. In total, we awarded approximately $35 million.

In October 2020, we selected 21 projects in 16 watersheds from a statewide pool of 63 applicants. In total, we awarded approximately $22 million.

In January 2019, we selected 16 projects in 11 watersheds from a statewide pool of applicants. In total, we awarded approximately $20 million.

Funding rule

The Streamflow Restoration Funding rule (Chapter 173-566 WAC) was adopted June 25, 2019, providing the process and criteria for funding projects statewide under RCW 90.94.060.

Contact information

Vanessa Brinkhuis
Streamflow Restoration Grants Supervisor
sfrprjgrants@ecy.wa.gov
509-406-6505

Brandy Reynecke
Streamflow Restoration Fund Coordinator
sfrprjgrants@ecy.wa.gov
360-870-5294

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