$8.5M Funding Boosts Puget Sound Restoration Efforts

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Kelp and eelgrass habitat decline around the Puget Sound will be among 21 topics $8.5 million in federal grants will help study further, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports.

The money will come from Environmental Protection Agency’s Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead dedicated to preserving and restore Puget Sound habitat, according to the WDFW.

“There’s a lot of work already happening to restore Puget Sound, and these grants will allow these organizations to add needed staff, resources, and trainings to continue to benefit Puget Sound's environments,” said Jennifer Griffiths, Ph.D., WDFW policy lead for HSIL. “We heard from many applicants that just having the capacity to do this important work is a challenge, and this funding will help ensure that existing efforts can leverage the influx of new funding opportunities to accelerate restoration and protection.”

Since 2016, the HSIL selects its projects through a review process in consultation with professionals and experts from the Puget Sound recovery community, the WDFW reports.

The federal grant money will support a slate of non-profits, conservation districts, academic institutions, and state, tribal, and local governments that are working to restore and protect Puget Sound, according to the WDFW.