Floodplains by Design Grants

Floodplains by Design Grants is sponsored by Washington State Department of Ecology. Aims to enhance community resilience to flooding and restore vital habitats in Washington's river corridors.

Floodplains by design grants - Washington State Department of Ecology > Payments, contracts & grants > Floodplains by design grants Floodplains by design grant program Learn more about climate action in Washington. Floodplains by Design is a grant program for reducing flood risk and restoring floodplain functions in Washington's major river corridors.

This competitive grant program is a component of a public-private partnership led by us and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Floodplains provide important habitat for salmon, rich soil for farms, and beautiful backdrops for residents and visitors to Washington.

In the past, attempts were made to control rivers, thinking flooding could be stopped by walling off rivers with levees and laying a grid of commercial and residential development across them. Now, salmon runs are disappearing and more people live in the path of dangerous floodwaters.

Local and Tribal governments, along with nonprofit organizations, are using Floodplains by Design grants across Washington to complete multi-benefit projects that reduce flood hazards to communities and restore the natural functions of rivers and their floodplains. These projects bring together many different stakeholders in the floodplain to: Improve flood protection for communities that live and work in floodplains.

Conserve and restore habitat for salmon and other important aquatic species. Preserve farmland to keep agriculture viable for future generations.

Apply for or manage a grant or loan Get guidance for managing a grant or loan Amount of funding available: Varies - determined by the Legislature Grant award limit: Soft cap of $10 million Amount of matching funds required: No match required as of the 2025-2027 funding cycle Applications are currently being accepted.

Applications for the 2027-2029 biennium will be accepted: Program milestones and expectations Pre-application period opens Pre-application period closes EAGL grant application period opens at 8 a. m.

Office hours with program staff Week of March 30 -April 3, 2026 Applicants give project presentations to the Evaluation Team Office hours with program staff Office hours with program staff Office hours with program staff Office hours with program staff Office hours with program staff EAGL grant application period closes at 5 p. m. Application evaluation period We finalize ranked project list Legislature makes the final funding decision.

We send applicants notice of funding decisions and grant award offer letters Anticipated start date for funded grant agreements We send draft grant agreements to funded applicants to begin negotiating funded grant agreements Funding is available for the following entities: Counties, cities, and towns Special purpose districts, such as flood control districts Federally-recognized Tribes Municipal or quasi-municipal corporations Not-for-profit organizations that are recognized as tax exempt by the IRS Projects that support integrating flood hazard reduction with ecosystem protection or restoration, as outlined in the funding guidelines.

Examples of eligible project activities: Community engagement or integrated planning committee support Pre-construction planning, such as studies or modeling Conceptual, preliminary, or final designs Permitting, construction, or planting Acquisitions or easements Demolition, home elevations, or home relocation More information about this funding program The Washington State Legislature approved $75.

7 million to fund nine projects for the 2025-27 biennium. This total includes $927,000 in funding for Bonneville Environmental Foundation's (BEF) continued support of the Floodplains by Design program. They will provide statewide technical assistance, technical studies, and facilitation of public-private-tribal advisory groups related to implementing capital projects.

Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Lower Big Quilcene River and Estuary Restoration Community Floodplain Solutions Phase 4 North Olympic Salmon Coalition Hoko River Floodplain Restoration at Upper Cowan Ranch Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Stillaguamish Watershed – Improving Floodplains and Farmlands North Fork Stillaguamish River Pierce County Planning & Public Works Clear Creek Floodplain Reconnection (Near-Term Actions) Chewelah Valley Floodplain Restoration and IFM Kittitas County Public Works Upper Yakima River Floodplain and Habitat Restoration Implementation Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Nooksack River: Floodplains that Work – Phase 4 King County Water & Land Resources Snoqualmie River Collaborative Floodplain Restoration 3% has been added to each funded project to pay for our administrative costs.

Floodplains by Design 2027-29 Application Instructions and Prep Tool Tribal Notification Letter template Floodplains by Design 2027-29 New Applicant webinar presentation Floodplains by Design 2027-29 Returning Applicant webinar presentation Floodplains by Design 2027-29 Metrics template Floodplains by Design 2027-29 Leverage Reporting template Funding program guidelines The Floodplains by Design grant program is paid for by funds from the State Building Construction Account and the Climate Commitment Act .

The Climate Commitment Act supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Floodplains by Design Partnership Floodplains by Design program coordinator amelia. petersen@ecy.

wa. gov Southwest Washington grant manager Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties Central Washington grant manager Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties