$63M awarded for floodplain management

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Ecology is awarding $63 million to 12 recipients including tribes, counties, and conservation group across Washington as part of a program designed to transform how floodplains in the state’s major river basins are managed, according to an announcement from the Department of Ecology. Three of the recipients are in central and eastern Washington.

Funding comes from the state Floodplains by Design program, a public-private partnership led by Ecology, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and The Nature Conservancy, with support from American Rivers, a tribal liaison, and other contractors, the announcement said. Ecology administers Floodplains by Design funds through a competitive grant program.

Awards include:

• $4.2 million for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation to acquire at-risk parcels within the city of Twisp threatened by Methow River flooding. The project is designed to restore salmon habitat, protect lives and property, and keep non-regulated flood protection measures from being constructed.

• $1.2 million for the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation to restore floodplain capacity and connectivity, provide for river channel migration, and improve riparian conditions to help create 1.5 miles of salmon habitat along the Methow River in Okanogan County.

• $1 million for the Kittitas Conservation Trust to design the Hanson Ponds Floodplain Restoration Project near Cle Elum. The project will protect infrastructure, reduce flood hazards for adjacent and downstream landowners, improve floodplain functions, create and enhance off-channel habitat for salmon and other native fish, create wetland habitat, and enhance recreational opportunities for the community.

A floodplain is the area of land adjacent to a river that stretches from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, the announcement said. Floodplains often experience flooding during heavy rains, storms, and rapid snowmelt. Since flooding can disperse nutrients, floodplain soils are often fertile, making them desirable areas for agriculture. Floodplains are also critical for a myriad of fish and wildlife species, and home to most of Washington’s salmon spawning and rearing habitat.

“We are working with partners across the state to improve the resiliency of Washington’s floodplains so that we can protect community health, safety, and the environment,” Ecology Director Laura Watson wrote in the announcement. “Floodplains are essential. They provide important habitat for salmon, rich soil for farms, and remarkable opportunities for recreation and enjoying nature.”