Project Development and Funding Strategy

Matrix of Technical Assistance and Funding Opportunities

     The Chehalis Basin Partnership encourages project planners and sponsors to design salmon habitat projects and activities that meet the strategic directions under Sections Two and Three within the Chehalis Basin Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Preservation Work Plan.  In addition, this section provides guidance on project development and funding.

Project Development

     When proposing projects, the Chehalis Basin Partnership encourages project sponsors to approach the task as a group effort.  There are numerous technical assistance resources available within WRIA 22 and 23 to guarantee that any project utilizes the best science available.  Even agencies or organizations with “in-house” technical expertise will profit from consulting with other agencies that could augment the technical merits and resources of a project.  Technical experts who do assist project sponsors without the same knowledge level must avoid “talking over people’s heads,” a sure avenue to misunderstandings that could jeopardize the long-term success of projects or activities.

     In general, the Chehalis Basin Partnership will give preference to projects that fall within high priority sub-basins for inclusion on the habitat project list submitted bi-annually to the Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) Board.  However, salmon habitat projects and activities in medium and low priority sub-basins that incorporate Systematic Action Steps for Managing the Salmon Recovery Process will receive strong consideration as well.

     Overall, the Work Plan equally promotes projects that overcome limiting factors and process problems to salmon habitat recovery.  Many projects that deal with process problems may not be eligible for funding before the SRF Board, but other implementation resources do exist and the Chehalis Basin Partnership encourages accessing them.  

Project Funding

     Although the Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) Board is the most prominent public funding source for salmon habitat projects and activities, the Chehalis Basin Partnership encourages project sponsors to consider the wide array of other funding possibilities available.  Tapping into these other funding sources is essential for achieving the statewide vision for salmon habitat recovery within WRIAs 22 and 23 for the simple reason that the SRF Board simply does not have enough funding to cover all of the needs within this watershed.  Furthermore, a greater mix of funding sources within individual projects can make them more competitive against proposals from other Lead Entities.

     Accessing funding for projects is a time consuming and often-tedious task.  Private landowners typically will not participate in this task; instead, the Chehalis Basin Partnership encourages public agencies and nonprofit organizations with experienced staff people to provide leadership and assistance in this process. 

     To help project sponsors of salmon habitat projects and activities, the Work Plan provides a Matrix of Technical Assistance and Funding Opportunities.  Using the matrix is easy.  As an example, if you are interested in finding out what funding or technical assistance is available for in-stream passage projects or activities, simply go to that column and wherever a dot appears, check that row to find out the agency, program title, contact person, and type of assistance available.

     The matrix relies on the SRF Board definition for each project category.  To aid you in your research, the Work Plan includes these definitions below.

• Acquisition 

     This includes the purchase of land, access, or other property rights in fee title or less than fee, such as conservation easements.  Rights or claims may be acquired, provided the value can be established or appraised.  All acquisitions are from willing sellers and all less than fee acquisitions are perpetual.

• In-Stream Passage 

     Includes those items that affect or provide fish migration up- and downstream to include road crossings (bridges and culverts), barriers (dams and log jams), fishways (ladders, chutes, and pools), and log and rock weirs.

• In-Stream Diversions

     Includes those items that affect or provide for the withdrawal and return of surface water to include the screening of fish from the actual water diversion (dam and headgate), the water conveyance system (both gravity and pressurized pump), and the by-pass of fish back to the stream.

• In-Stream Habitat

     Includes those freshwater items that affect or enhance fish habitat below the ordinary high water mark of the water body.  Items include work conducted on or next to the channel, bed, bank, and floodplain by adding or removing rocks, gravel, or woody debris.  Other items necessary to complete the project may include livestock fencing, water conveyance, and plant removal and control.

•  Riparian Habitat

     Includes those freshwater, marine near shore, and estuarine items that affect or will improve the riparian habitat outside of the ordinary high water mark or in wetlands.  Items may include plant establishment/removal/management, livestock fencing, stream crossing, and water supply.

• Upland Habitat

     Includes those items or land use activities that affect water quality and quantity important to fish, but occur above the riparian or estuarine area.  Items include the timing and delivery of water to the stream; sediment and water temperature control; plant removal, control and management; and livestock fencing and water supply.

• Estuarine/Marine Near Shore

     Includes those items that affect or enhance fish habitat below the ordinary high water mark of the water body.  Items include work conducted in or adjacent to the inter-tidal area and in sub-tidal areas.  Items may include beach restoration, bulkhead removal, dike breaching, plant establishment/removal/management, and tide channel reconstruction.

• Assessments and Studies

     Includes feasibility studies; channel migration studies; reach-level, near-shore, and estuarine assessments; and inventories such as barriers, unscreened water diversions, and landslide hazard area.  A feasibility study could include assessing the willingness of landowners to allow access to their land for a habitat restoration project or to consider selling a property interest.