$40 million in streamflow restoration grants flowing to rivers across Washington

Restored streamflows, improved habitats and protected rivers are in the works for communities around the state thanks to $40 million in streamflow restoration grants from the Washington Department of Ecology dedicated to 15 high-priority projects.

The funding supports projects that increase water storage capacity, improve fish habitat, acquire water rights, and improve water management and infrastructure.

Ecology received 50 eligible applications requesting more than $120.8 million.

"Investing in water is investing in Washington's future," said Casey Sixkiller, Ecology's director. "These projects will help communities make the most of available water and support healthy habitat for fish and wildlife. They are an important part of Washington's Water Future - supporting rivers and building reliable water supplies for people, farms, and ecosystems in the face of growing demand and changing conditions."

Established by the Legislature in 2018, the Streamflow Restorations Grants program was created to provide $300 million for priority streamflow projects. To date, the Legislature has authorized $180 million.

Some projects selected for funding this year include:

• Kittitas Conservation Trust was awarded $5 million for the Gold Creek Valley Restoration Phase 2: Restoring Natural Streamflow. The project will restore natural streamflow to Gold Creek, near Snoqualmie Pass, improving habitat for the endangered Bull trout, reducing thermal barriers, and supporting the Yakama Nation's time immemorial water right and Yakima Basin Integrated Plan's goal of restoring healthy, harvestable fish populations.
• The City of Hoquiam was awarded $3.6 million for the West Fork Hoquiam River Final Phase - Dam Removal, Stream Restoration, Monitoring and Community Engagement. This is the final phase of a multi-year project to remove the West Fork Hoquiam River Dam and restore the stream, removing a key fish passage barrier in western Washington, and opening up 13 miles of upstream habitat for migratory fish species.
• Okanogan Conservation District was awarded $6.1 million for the Chewuch Canal Company Piping Project. The project will pipe the Chewuch Canal Company's Upper Chewuch Canal into a closed pipeline from the Chewuch River diversion to the existing Silverline system. The project will reduce seepage and operational losses, allow substantial diversion reductions, and permanently transfer all quantified conserved water to Ecology's Trust Water Rights Program to increase flows in the lower Chewuch River for endangered salmon species.

A complete list of applicants and funded projects is available online.

Ecology identified 13 additional high-quality projects from this applicant pool and will seek an additional $38.8 million in legislative bond authorization for them.