Next PWR Meeting

April 13th; 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. PST – (Zoom)

2022 Legislative Updates

  • Washington Legislative Status Update – the 2022 Washington State Legislative Session ended on March 10th. This link, produced by the Puget Sound Partnership, summarizes how several bills and legislative budget proposals related to Puget Sound Recovery faired during the legislative session. For a full list of how PSP ranked Puget Sound Related 2022 Supplemental Operating and Capital Budget Requests, visit this link.
  • Salmon Strategy Related Bills and Budgets – the Puget Sound Institute published an article that discusses Salmon Strategy related bills that were introduced in the 2022 Washington State Legislative Session, highlighting the Lorraine Loomis Act. To learn more about salmon specific legislative news click here.
  • White House Guidebook on the 2021 Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act – this Guidebook for the recently passed Federal Infrastructure Bill highlights serves as a roadmap to the funding available under the law for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and other partners. Click here for a more condensed overview of the new law.

 

Grants and Funding

  • Pierce County Flood Control Zone District Funding Opportunity – the Flood District announced the availability of $3.5 million in grant funding for projects that reduce the impact of flooding and improve watersheds. Applicants may apply for a maximum of $1,000,000 for a single construction project and a maximum of $125,000 for a study/plan. Pre-applications are due by March 31st, for more information on the grant program click here.
  • King County Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) Grant Program – the Puyallup and Chambers Watersheds Salmon Recovery Lead Entity is seeking proposals for the 2022 King County CWM grant round for projects within the King County portion of the Puyallup Watershed (WRIA 10) only. Applications are due March 23rd, please see attached documents for more information.

 

2022 Action Agenda & other opportunities for Public Comments

  • Opportunity for Public Review of Draft Action Agenda – the public review cycle of the latest iteration of the draft Action Agenda is up for review from March 15th to April 15th. To review the draft 2022-2026 Action Agenda, click here. To submit feedback via the online form, click here.
  • Tacoma to Puyallup Regional Trail – members of the public are invited to provide comments on the future Tacoma to Puyallup (T2P) Regional Trail. For more information about the Regional Trail and to submit feedback please visit this link.

 

Watershed News

  • 2021 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment – the Climate Impacts Group at UW along with other partners collaborated on a report examining water year conditions and sector impacts as a resource for future management of drought and other climate extremes. To learn more about last year’s drought, the June 2021 heatwave, and the regions water issues access the 2021 report visit this link.
  • Review of Puget Sound Recovery Projects over the past 5 years – A recent report from the Puget Sound Institute is in the process of reviewing and synthesizing key findings from about 100 projects that were funded over the past five years by Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Implementation Strategies. To learn more, visit the report here.
  • Nisqually Tribe and partners honored by EPA award for innovative watershed collaboration – the Environmental Protection Agency presented the 2021 PISCES Award for Excellence in Community Engagement to the Nisqually Indian Tribe. The tribe created an innovative partnership and used funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program to acquire and manage lands to protect the Mashel River, the main tributary to the Nisqually River, near Mt. Rainier in Washington. For more information see the news release here.
  • Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) now fully staffed! – The HSIL Staff Team is made up of Jennifer Griffiths (WDFW) and Devan Rostorfer (DNR) as Co-policy leads. The Implementation Strategy Leads include Rebecca Brown (DNR, Land Development & Cover), Cynthia Harbison (WDFW, Floodplains & Estuaries), Matt Lurie (WDFW, Shoreline Armoring), and Elizabeth Spaulding (DNR, Marine Vegetation).
  • New Stormwater Heatmap Tool – The Nature Conservancy recently released an interactive mapping tool, report generator, and data repository that quantitatively visualizes hotspots of pollution generation through the Puget Sound watershed. To access the mapping tool click this link. To learn more about to tool visit this blog post.

 

Upcoming Events

  • The 2022 Nature and Health Conference – the University of Washington is hosting the 2022 Nature and Health Conference in November 2022 in Tacoma. The three-day in-person conference will offer presentations that explore, engage, connect, and reconsider how to build impact with nature, human health and well-being. Call for proposals is open till April 15th, to learn more visit the conference home page.
  • Clover Park Technical College Flett Property Habitat Stewardship– the CPTC is conducting monthly stewardship opportunities on CPTC’s Flett Outdoor Lab property. Habitat stewardship will involve the removal of invasive plant species and/or planting of native plant species. This stewardship will protect and restore habitat in the grove of 700 Garry Oak trees and adjacent to the Flett Wetland. The next stewardship opportunity will take place on Saturday March 19th from 9-12 PM. For future dates and contact info see the attached pamphlet.
  • Swan Creek Tree Planting – Volunteer to help plant trees in in partnership with Forest HEalth Watch, MetroParks Tacoma, and Washington State University. 100 redcedar trees will be planted to learn more about the connections between climate change and tree health. This event is happening on March 19th at 10am. To sign up and volunteer fill out this form.
  • Practical Construction Training for Stormwater – come learn about a pollution prevention training for designers and construction folks. The series of workshops is being hosted by the Washington Stormwater Center at Washington State University. The first workshop will take place March 25th from 3-4 pm.  To sign up and learn more please see the attached flyers.

 

Job Postings

  • Agriculture Associate Planner – Pierce County

Pierce County is looking to hire additional staff at the Associate Planner level to be part of the Agriculture Program. This positions will focus on supporting and assisting with the implementation and development of the agricultural, open space and Transfer of Development Rights programs with a focus on agricultural drainage.

Applications are currently open until filled – Link to apply and more information.

  • Senior Planner – Pierce County

Pierce County is looking to hire additional staff at the Senior Planner level to be part of the Long Range Planning Division. This position will serve as the subject matter expert for assigned planning projects and programs, including but not limited to the required periodic update to the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan and the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Amendment cycle.

Applications are currently open until filled – Link to apply and more information.

  • ARPA Grant Senior Planner – Pierce County

Pierce County is looking to hire additional staff at the Senior Planner level to be part of the Sewer Utilities Division. This project-based position will work on program development and administration of grants (collaborate with key parties, interpret internal guidelines, monitor milestone objectives, and similar) related to the following programs: ARPA Utility Infrastructure Partnership Program (Download PDF reader), Sewer Programs and Financing and Broadband Grant Program Management and Support.

Applications are currently open until filled – Link to apply and more information.