ESRP Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program

Funding

$15.7 million

Details

Grant Limit

0

Details

Match Requirement

30%

Details

This program provides grants and technical assistance for projects that restore and conserve near-shore areas in Puget Sound. The goal is to ensure Washington's estuaries, bays, and shorelines are intact, functioning, and resilient to climate change.

This grant program is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with RCO administering the grants.

For details, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Web site.

Grant Application Schedule

Item Date

Learning Program Schedule

November 8, 2021 - June 30, 2022

Learning Program (Pre-Design) RFP Released

Learning Program RFP 2023-25

November 8, 2021 

Request for Projects

November 23, 2021 

Pre-proposals Due (Pre-Design)

January 25, 2022 

Notify Applicants to Submit Full Applications

March 8, 2022 

Applicant Presentations to Reviewers (Pre-Design)

April 12, 2022 - April 13, 2022

Full Applications and Portfolio Applications Due

May 19, 2022 

Questions from Reviewers Provided to Applicants

June 22, 2022 

Applicant's Response to Reviewer Questions Due

June 30, 2022 

Small Grants Program Schedule

January 13, 2022 - June 15, 2022

Release Small Grants Request for Proposals

Small Grants RFP 2023-25

January 13, 2022 

Informational Webinar

January 18, 2022 

Pre-proposals Due in PRISM (Site Visit)

February 7, 2022 

Virtual Site Visits (Required)

February 23, 2022 - February 24, 2022 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Full Applications Due

May 11, 2022 

Questions from Reviewers Provided to Applicants

June 8, 2022 

Applicant's Response to Review Questions Due

June 15, 2022 

Restoration Program Schedule

January 13, 2022 - July 22, 2022

Release Restoration and Protection Grants RFP

Restoration and Protection RFP 2023-25

January 13, 2022 

Informational Webinar

January 18, 2022 

Register for Site Visits

February 15, 2022 

Pre-Proposals Due in PRISM

March 18, 2022 

In-Person Site Visits

March 7, 2022 - April 1, 2022

Notify Applicants to Submit Full Applications

April 15, 2022 

Full Applications and Portfolio Applications Due

June 1, 2022 

Applicant's Presentations and Techincal Review

July 18, 2022 - July 22, 2022

All Programs

September 1, 2022 - July 1, 2023

Preliminary 23-25 ESRP Investment Plan Released

Preliminary 2023-25 ESRP Investment Plan

August 26, 2022 

Grants Become Available

July 1, 2023 

Grant Award History

Most recent grants and evaluation results, listed by the application year.

Application Resources

Announcements

Check out some videos:

Northwest Straits Foundation’s Shore Friendly Living Series
Project Celebrations

Programs

  • Restoration and Protection Grants: This grant program focuses on protecting and restoring the natural processes that create and sustain the near-shore ecosystem. The intent is to regain some of the natural services that have been lost as a result of more than a century of human development in the region.
  • Small Grants: This grant program has similar goals as the Restoration and Protection program with a focus on local engagement. Projects are eligible to receive awards between $30,000 and $150,000. At least $500,000 is available each biennium for the program.
  • Regional Pre-Design: This grant program, also known as the Learning Program, was developed to direct future investments by investigating outcomes at a regional or ecosystem scale and informing construction siting and design. The projects help us understand how we can improve the effectiveness of habitat restoration in Puget Sound. Funding for these projects is 10 percent of the total ESRP award.
  • Shore Friendly: New to the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program in 2019, this grant program funds local programs that provide stewardship incentives to landowners to create healthy shorelines. More information is on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Shore Friendly Web page. 

Typical Projects

  • Protecting near-shore and wetland habitat
  • Restoring salmon habitat
  • Removing or breaching dikes
  • Removing bulkheads
  • Completing feasibility studies and designs
  • Decommissioning roads and removing fill

Who May Apply?

  • Federal agencies
  • Local agencies
  • Native American tribes
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Private institutions
  • State agencies
  • Universities and colleges

Funding

Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program funding is awarded every 2 years.

The Washington State Legislature provides the majority of the funding through the sale of bonds. Additional funding has come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Grant Limits

The Small Grants program funds projects from $30,000 to $150,000.  The other programs do not have grant limits.

Match Details

Match may be in cash or in-kind services and must be incurred during the award period. Some of this match must be from non-state funds.

Eligible Projects

All projects must be in Puget Sound, east of Cape Flattery.

  • Acquisition
  • Design
  • Feasibility studies
  • Regional feasibility and predesign projects
  • Restoration

Ineligible Projects

Projects that primarily provide recreational access or remediate chemical contamination are not eligible as stand-alone projects; however these activities may be eligible components of larger efforts. Grants will not be awarded for work that relieves obligatory payment or mitigation requirements.

Long-term Commitment

Any land acquired with Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program grants must be managed forever for the purposes stated in the grant agreement at the time of purchase. Grant recipients must submit a stewardship plan that identifies how the site and restoration investment is to be protected over time.

Restoration projects must be operated and maintained for 10 years after construction is completed.

Project Management Resources

PRISM Information and Training
Billing
Acquisition Toolkit