2021-2023 Floodplains by Design grants: Legislature approves $50.9 million
The Washington Legislature approved $50.9 million in the 2021-23 two-year state capital budget (July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023) to fund nine Floodplains by Design projects. We worked closely with our partners, including the Nature Conservancy, Puget Sound Partnership, and other state agencies and conservation districts to help evaluate and rank the projects.
Our ranked and funded 2021-2023 projects
| Project Sponsor |
Project |
Rank |
Funding request |
| King County Water Land and Resources Division |
Restoring Snoqualmie River Floodplain Processes
Constructing high-priority agricultural drainage projects including removing 1,200 feet of levee and 1,400 feet of revetment, constructing new revetment and a flood protection berm, excavating a new 2,900-foot bank channel, and planting native vegetation in the Snoqualmie River floodplain.
|
1 |
$10,309,278 |
| Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe |
Dungeness River Floodplains and Farmlands
Purchasing agricultural easements and acquiring land upon which to design, permit and construct nearly a mile-long dike setback project to restore 60-acres in the Dungeness River floodplain.
|
2 |
$9,894,899 |
| Pierce County |
Puyallup Watershed Floodplains for the Future
Restoring 2.5 miles of natural riverine processes by reconnecting up to 37 acres of floodplain and preserving up to 350 acres of farmland throughout the Puyallup River watershed.
|
3 |
$10,155,670 |
| Walla Walla Conservation District |
Mill Creek Floodplain Improvements
Conducting flood modeling and assessing the reach to design River Mile 17 project, including installing large woody debris structures, provide access to 17 acres of historic floodplain and approximately 1,225 linear feet of side channel in the Mill Creek floodplain.
|
4 |
$711,340 |
| Stevens County Land Services Department |
Colville River Floodplain Improvement
Completing final designs and permitting for Phase 1 improvements and conducting feasibility work for Phase 2 of multi-benefit floodplain improvement projects for the Colville River floodplain.
|
5 |
$341,031 |
| City of Kent |
Downey Farmstead Restoration
Completing remaining construction work, including excavating 100,000 cubic yards of material, installing 50 habitat structures, and installing native plants in the Green river floodplain.
|
6 |
$3,326,680 |
| Whatcom County Public Works |
The Nooksack River: Floodplains that Work Phase 2
Building on previous collaborative efforts to implement integrated floodplain management throughout the Nooksack River floodplain, including designing Ferndale levee improvement, Fish Camp integrated fish-flood project, and Glacier-Gallup Creek Alluvial Fan project.
|
7 |
$6,515,464 |
| Snohomish County Public Works |
Community Floodplain Solutions
Project includes acquiring properties and implementing various agricultural resilience and trail and water conveyance/connectivity improvement projects in the Snohomish River floodplain.
|
8 |
$8,829,047 |
| The Nature Conservancy |
Facilitation and Technical Assistance
As the primary partner in the public-private Floodplains by Design partnership, the Nature Conservancy will provide critical program support including statewide technical assistance, technical studies, and facilitation of public-private-tribal advisory groups related to implementing the proposed capital projects. They will also contribute a minimum of $600,000 in match funding to support these activities.
|
N/A |
$824,742 |
Please note that 3% has been added to each funded project to pay for our administrative costs.
Previous Floodplains by Design funding
2019-2021: $50.4 million total for 10 projects.
| Project sponsor |
Project |
Rank |
Funding request |
| Whatcom County Public Works |
The Nooksack River: Floodplains that Work
This project on the Nooksack River will fund preliminary design for Ferndale levee improvement, final design for Lynden levee improvement, Reach 4 levee reconfiguration, Jones Creek debris flow mitigation, Glacier-Gallup creek alluvial fan restoration, and agricultural program support. |
1 |
$6,221,000
|
| Kittitas County Public Works |
Upper Yakima River Floodplain and Habitat Acquisition
This project will acquire 413 acres of contiguous Yakima River floodplain and associated senior water rights; prevent residential development on 90 subdivided floodplain acres; and provide opportunities for habitat enhancement in Spring Creek and historic side channels. |
2 |
$4,275,000
|
| Mason Conservation District |
Skokomish Watershed Ecosystem and Floodplain Restoration: Phase 2
This project will construct two setback levees, help remove an existing levee, reconnect a side channel, and install large woody debris in the Skokomish watershed. It will also reconnect the South Fork Skokomish with the Swift Creek wetland complex. |
3 |
$6,180,000
|
| Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation |
North Fork Touchet Floodplain and Habitat Restoration
This project will reconnect 50 acres of floodplain, remove or set back one mile of levee, and use large woody debris to create habitat. It will also improve irrigation efficiency. |
4 |
$2,107,000
|
| Yakima County Public Services |
Gap to Gap 1135 Locally Preferred Alternative
This project will reconnect 1,039 acres of floodplain to the Yakima River, set back and raise the freeboard on an existing levee, create new pilot channels, replace a culvert and flood gate, and remove bank armor. |
5 |
$8,072,000
|
| Snohomish County Public Works |
Advancing Sustainable Lands Solutions in the Snohomish Basin
This project will elevate three sections of flood-prone road, acquire up to four properties, protect agricultural land, and restore aquatic habitat. It will also include agricultural land project designs as well as modeling and risk assessment on the Skykomish and Snohomish rivers. |
6 |
$4,957,000
|
| Yakima County Public Services |
Naches-Cowiche Flood Risk Reduction and Floodplain Restoration
This project will entail spearheading a collaborative design process, acquiring flood-prone parcels, and completing final design and permitting of the Naches-Cowiche river confluence project. |
7 |
$531,000
|
| Pierce County Public Works |
Floodplains for the Future: Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers
This project will use a variety of approaches to reconnect floodplains and restore habitat in the Puyallup River basin including land acquisitions, agricultural land conservation measures, restoring habitat functions in the river basin and its tributaries, and continuing engagement with local agricultural community. |
8 |
$9,685,000
|
| Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians |
Stillaguamish Watershed Integrated Floodplain Management Project
This project will include managing stormwater in the city of Stanwood, restoring District 7 dikes, undertaking phase 2 of the dairy waste processor project, developing solutions to landslides in the Gold basin, acquiring property, protecting farmland from development, and conducting modeling. |
9 |
$7,572,000
|
| The Nature Conservancy |
Floodplains by Design facilitation and technical assistance
As the primary partner in the public-private Floodplains by Design partnership, the Nature Conservancy will provide critical program support including statewide technical assistance, technical studies, and facilitation of public-private-tribal advisory groups related to implementing the proposed capital projects. They will also contribute a minimum of $600,000 in match funding to support these activities. |
10 |
$800,000 |
2017-2019: $35 million
-
Funded seven projects to reduce community flood risks and improve the lower Columbia River estuary as well as the Cedar, Puyallup, White and Carbon, Quilcene, Skagit, Skokomish, and Yakima river watersheds.
2015-2017: $35.6 million
-
Funded seven projects to reduce community flood risks and improve the Cedar, Dungeness, Green, Puyallup, Quinault, and Yakima river watersheds.
2013-2015: $44 million
- $33 million used to advance nine integrated floodplain projects in Puget Sound.
- $11 million for a statewide floodplain management and control competitive grant program.