Grant program promotes healthy Puget Sound stream and river habitats

We are now accepting grant applications from local governments, Tribes, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations seeking to fund projects and activities that improve, restore and protect habitat areas in and along the estimated 2,800 streams and rivers that flow to Puget Sound.

Qualified entities can apply for our Puget Sound riparian system grants until June 3. For more details, see our 2026 funding guidelines.

The competitive grant program is designed to promote innovative and sustainable approaches for restoring Puget Sound riparian areas - the important transition zones between land and water bodies such as lakes, streams, rivers and floodplains.

Our grants are only available for riparian projects located in the Puget Sound region encompassing the 12 Washington counties contiguous to the Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal.

Puget Sound's riparian areas are known for their moist, mild microclimates and fertile soils that enhance plant growth and support complex flood webs for many critical plant and animal species, especially salmon.

We have about $3 million available in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Individual grant awards will be between $150,000 and $600,000.

Our riparian system grants can be used to fund:

• Planning and outreach
• Acquiring and growing native riparian vegetation
• Activities that restore riparian areas
• Monitoring and adaptive management programs
• Methods that incentivize private landowner participation
• Permanent protection of existing riparian habitat, often through conservation easements and other agreements

We anticipate awarding final grants this fall.