A new grant program through the Washington Department of Ecology will invest up to $20 million across the state to support local projects to protect rivers and improve streamflows. This includes money for a local project.

In January 2018, the Washington Legislature created the grant program as part of the Streamflow Restoration  law that seeks to protect rivers and streams while providing water for rural homes.

Ecology evaluated 46 applications in this first round of the 15 year program and selected 15 projects in 11 watersheds for funding.

Priority was given to projects that will acquire existing water rights to offset new uses, develop infrastructure to store and release water, and alter how water is managed to align availability with demand.

Locally, this will include over $75,000 for the Grays Harbor Conservation District to do an “In-Stream Restoration Pilot Project” for streamflow improvement