The King County Flood Control District approved $1.6 million in grants to help protect the Green River Watershed (WIRA) 9 including more than $1 million to support salmon recovery efforts in Kent.
These funds were part of $5.1 million the district approved Monday as part of the Cooperative Watershed Management Grant Program.
“Our iconic king (chinook) salmon are threatened in the Green River because the water is too warm,” said district board member Dave Upthegrove in a county media release. “This project provides considerable environmental benefit by improving habitat for fish in addition to significant flood protection for Kent.”
A county-wide property levy of 12.9 cents per $1,000 assessed value funds the Flood Control District, whose board is composed of members of the King County Council. The owner of a $416,000 home pays about $54 per year. The levy raises roughly $54.5 million a year.
“While the main objective of the Downey Farm project is to prevent flooding, we get a double benefit with this grant funding,” said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke. “We all recognize that enhancing habitat and fisheries is a step in the right direction. Our fish stocks are now stressed because of the temperature of the water and the river flow. Any time we can practically enlarge the path of the river to slow it down, fish will benefit.”
Two grants, totally more than $1 million will be used as part of the Downey Farmstead restoration project.
More than $880,000 will fund work to improve a historic homestead site that was previously used as a tree nursery and is between the Green River and State Route 516. Kent is working with the flood district to reshape the 22-acre site into a network of side channels which will enhance habitat for juvenile salmon and increase flood storage in the Green River.
The funds will go toward the construction of nearly 2,000 linear feet of side channel to the Green River to provide rearing and refuge habitat for threatened chinook and other salmon species. The project will also provide 130-acre feet of flood storage to reduce flooding in nearby urban and agricultural areas.
Another grant, for $120,000 was approved and will go towards a project to create space for the future full-build out of the Downey Farmstead project. The work will maximize shading and habitat creation and assist with utility creation.
“Supporting these projects throughout the Green River watershed is both an investment in the future of our local environment and insurance for residents who live in flood risk areas,” said Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn.
Grant recipients participating in the Cooperative Watershed Management Grant Program must address high priority habitats or watershed processes that significantly influence productivity in each basin. To ensure high quality projects, only those that have been scientifically vetted and ranked competitively by their respective WRIA Forum are candidates for funding. Cities, towns, special districts, public schools, King County, federally recognized tribes and nonprofits are eligible to apply for the grants.
The Flood Control District Executive Committee oversees project selections and King County’s Water and Land Resources Division administers the grant allocation process.
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