Grants invest $3 million to support regional collaboration, update planning policies and protect salmon habitat



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News Release




Jan. 28, 2026


Commerce boosts long-range salmon recovery plans for local and tribal governments

*Grants invest $3 million to support regional collaboration, update planning policies and protect salmon habitat*

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce [ [link removed] ] today announced $3 million in grants awarded to 12 local and tribal partners. These funds will support the integration of salmon recovery efforts into local comprehensive planning and development regulations.

A leaping coho salmon in a stream.

Awardees will work internally and with partners to develop land management regulations and enforcement strategies designed to protect and restore salmon habitat and water quality.

"We can’t just hope for salmon recovery, we have to build it into our plans for our future," said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne. “This funding helps local leaders do the hard, essential work of ensuring that when we build a new road or plan a neighborhood, we’re doing it with the health of our watersheds in mind.”

Jurisdictions applied to this funding in late 2025. It complements awards announced [ [link removed] ] in July 2024 to five local projects.  

Commerce’s investments in these projects will address three key areas:


* *Policy enhancements:* Increasing the effectiveness of current best practices and evaluating the net impact of regulations and restoration programs.
* *Environmental infrastructure:* Developing urban forestry programs, water quality improvement plans, and long-range stormwater capital plans.
* *Regional collaboration:* Supporting tribal co-management of the Hood Canal watershed and integrating rural planning with salmon recovery goals.

"Photo above: Fourteen species of salmon and steelhead in Washington are at risk of extinction. Protecting and restoring salmon habitat is critical to recovery efforts."




*Salmon Recovery Grantees:*

*Skokomish Indian Tribe:* $226,000

*City of Des Moines*: $80,000

*City of Everett*: $350,000

*City of Kirkland*: $183,000

*City of Lake Stevens*: $106,000

*City of Port Angeles*: $109,000

*City of Sultan*: $146,000

*Clark County*: $316,631

*Kitsap County*: $403,878

*Pierce County*: $115,000

*Snohomish County*: $500,000

*Thurston County*: $489,696

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Why it matters*

Salmon are synonymous with Washington and have been a vital part of tribal cultures, communities and economies from time immemorial. The protection and restoration of salmon habitat is critical for the preservation of this cultural identity. As Washington grows, communities are working to balance the urgent need for housing and infrastructure with sustainable protections for salmon habitat and water quality.

Many of the impacts on salmon habitat are driven by land use changes and development. Land use decisions happen primarily at the local level, so cities and county governments engage heavily in this work. Tribal governments are state leaders in salmon conservation work. They often partner with local governments to mitigate impacts to habitat and restore ecological health and function.

These grants empower local jurisdictions to integrate salmon recovery directly into their long-term planning and ensure that the work of habitat protection is built into blueprints of our growing communities.

Commerce supports the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office [ [link removed] ] in this vital work to preserve and protect a keystone Pacific Northwest species.

*Local impact*

“This grant turns science into action. It enables the City of Lake Stevens to move the Salmonid Basins Plan from research to implementation. With prioritized capital projects and updated development standards, the result will be long-term protection for water quality, community well-being, and salmon habitat.”

*— Olin Anderson, City of Lake Stevens Surface Water Coordinator*

 

"These funds are helping Kirkland advance work towards salmon recovery that we would otherwise not be able to take on at this time. There is always more work to do than funds available and this grant will help the city gather critical information and develop an effective and efficient pipe inspection program and strategy for the surface water utility. This will allow us to advance capital projects that are highest need with the highest impact, improving water quality for our region's salmon population."

*— Julie Underwood, City of Kirkland Public Works Director*

 

“We are excited to use the grant funds to develop a Comprehensive Stormwater Systems Plan. With this plan, the city will work to integrate and promote salmon recovery, improve fish passage and barrier identification, and synchronize projects within our capital facilities. We are excited to engage the public and stakeholders in this process to build a more resilient Sultan.”

*— Russell Wiita, City of Sultan Mayor

*

CCA logo

Salmon Recovery through Local Planning grants are supported with funding from Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.



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Media Contact

Commerce Communications <[email protected]>

Amelia Lamb, (360) 995-3386, [email protected]








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