PWR LIO Update, February 9, 2023     

PWR LIO Meetings

• Next Meeting – April 26^th; 10:00-12:00 PM PST – (Zoom)
• Past LIO Meeting Notes/Summary (Jan 25^th, 2023)

Local Events & News

• Pierce County Critical Areas Ordinance Updates – Pierce County is seeking input on potential changes to environmental rules that conserve environmentally sensitive areas and protect the public from threats associated with developing in areas like floodways and geological hazard zones. An online open house will be available from January 30-March 6, where residents can provide feedback. Environmental Advocacy Groups are invited to a Community Conversation on Feb 9 from 5:30-7pm to share their feedback to register for that conversation click HERE. To learn more and provide input please visit HERE.
• Salish Sea Estuaries Avian Monitoring Framework and Webinar – A PSEMP Marine Birds Work Group supported project team has announced the release of a regional framework for avian monitoring in Salish Sea estuary wetlands. They have released a summary of the framework and invite interested parties to join an informal webinar and Q&A on Monday, February 13 from 12-1 pm Pacific, zoom link HERE.
• 2023 Conference for Shellfish Growers – Washington Sea Grant will host the 2023 Conference for Shellfish Growers on March 6-7 to bring together shellfish producers, researchers, students and managers from the Pacific Northwest to discuss pressing issues and relevant research on aquaculture. The conference will take place at the Alderbrook resort & SPA in Union Washington. For registration and more info visit HERE.
• 2023 Restoring Riverscapes: Workshop for Advancing Process-Based Actions (Remote) – Restoring Rivers is holding a multi-day conference from March 7-9 2023 with the goals of expand the scale and pace of riverscape restoration and floodplain reconnection, increase knowledge of the principles and benefits of process-based, riverscape restoration approach, examine institutional and social constraints to implementing these restoration approaches and explore how to encourage robust, region-wide implementation and innovations to expand the practice. To learn more and sign up for future conference updates please visit HERE.
• Green Infrastructure Summit of the Salish Sea 2023 – The 2023 Green Infrastructure Summit of the Salish Sea is back in person at Cascadia College on March 17, 2023! Tickets are on sale now and will be available until March 6. The agenda will be published soon, but if you already know that you don’t want to miss it, now is the time! This year, the theme of the Summit is Money as Medicine* – Historic investments are historic opportunities for healing. Part of the summit will talk about planning infrastructure investments from indigenous perspectives that have a 10,000 year track record of success as well as creating complex collaborative projects that center the needs of communities and accomplish multiple expansive (not reductionist) goals. There will be presentations and discussions on funding, workforce and career pathways, regional coordination, research, modeling, design and planning at watershed scales, and food systems too. To buy tickets and learn more click HERE.
• Pierce County Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan – The Pierce County Planning & Public Works Department is working on the Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan. The public will be invited to provide public comments and attend an open house in late March/early April. For more details and to sign up for updates visit HERE.
• 2023 Salmon Recovery Conference – The 2023 Salmon Recovery Conference will be held April 18-19 at the Vancouver, WA Convention Center. This years theme is A Shared Future, which reflects the desire to hear broad community perspectives with regards to salmon recovery. To register, sign up to exhibit or learn more click HERE. Early Bird rates end March 6!
• Kelp Health in South Sound – DNR and Washington Sea Grant presented to the Puget Sound Partnership’s Science Panel on Feb 1 on the status and trends of Kelp in Puget Sound. To listen to the presentation click HERE (go to 1:30 in the recording to hear the agenda item).
• Environmental Career Expo – The Foss Waterway Seaport is hosting a Career Expo on May 18^th from 4:30-7pm at the Foss Waterway Seaport (705 Dock St Tacoma). The Environmental Career Expo will highlight career and volunteer opportunities for high school students, college students and community members. The goal is to share job opportunities in environmental science, education and outreach with local high school students and the community. The expo will be free to both the public and business participants and is a great way to recruit new volunteers and employees to your business. Vendors will be asked to bring handouts, information on relevant projects, and any hands-on activities that represent your business. In addition to vendors we would like to offer presentations. If you have a presentation you would like to share please contact us at Kaela Arellano at kaela.arellano@fosswaterwayseaport.org .

Funding Opportunities

• PSP’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Tracker – This tool tracks funding in the BIL related to Puget Sound recovery priorities, to view the BIL funding tracker please click HERE (updated regularly). PSP also produced an End-of-Session Review for the 117^th Congress, to read up on it click HERE.
• Federal Funding for Nature Based Solutions – The National Wildlife Federation has developed a new searchable database of federal funding sources for nature-based infrastructure solutions. To view the list and see if your project would qualify for over 75 programs please visit HERE.
• National Estuary Program Watersheds Grant Program – This grant program funds projects within one or more of the NEP boundary areas and supports the following Congressionally-set priorities: (1) Loss of key habitats resulting in significant impacts on fisheries and water quality such as seagrass, mangroves, tidal and freshwater wetlands, forested wetlands, kelp beds, shellfish beds, and coral reefs; (2) Coastal resilience and extreme weather events including flooding and coastal erosion related to sea level rise, changing precipitation, warmer waters, or salt marsh, seagrass, or wetland degradation or loss and accelerated land loss; (3) Impacts of nutrients and warmer water temperatures on aquatic life and ecosystems, including low dissolved oxygen conditions in estuarine waters; (4) Stormwater runoff which not only can erode stream banks but can carry nutrients, sediment, and trash into rivers and streams that flow into estuaries; (5) Recurring harmful algae blooms; (6) Unusual or unexplained marine mammal mortalities; and (7) Proliferation or invasion of species that limit recreational uses, threaten wastewater systems, or cause other ecosystem damage. Letters of Intent are due by 5:00 pm PT on Friday, February 10. To learn more and apply, please click HERE.

• Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership – PMEP is seeking project proposals that restore, enhance, or protect habitats for PMEP focal species within nearshore marine and estuarine systems (with an emphasis on habitat connectivity) or proposals that increase our understanding of fish habitats in estuarine and nearshore marine waters. PMEP funding can be used for all phases of a project, from feasibility to post-construction monitoring. However, projects that involve on-the-ground implementation will be more competitive. Grant Proposals Due February 17, 2023. For more information and how to apply, please click HERE.
• North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants – The U.S. Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grant program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Projects must involve only long-term protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit migratory birds. The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match and research funding is ineligible. This program supports the Department of Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission of protecting and managing the nation’s natural resources by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to conserve land and water and to expand outdoor recreation and access. Grant Proposals Due February 24, 2023. For more information and how to apply, please click HERE.
• Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) grants – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will accept grant applications for volunteer projects that benefit Washington’s fish and wildlife resources and the public’s enjoyment of them. WDFW estimates having approximately $897,000 available for grants, funded through the state’s Aquatic Land Enhancement Account (ALEA), for projects occurring between July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The program funds five primary types of projects — habitat restoration, scientific research/citizen science, public education and outreach, facility development and artificial fish production — though other project types may be considered. Applications are due Feb 28. To learn more and apply, click HERE.
• RFI for Salmon Science Investigation – The Partnership is pleased to announce a Request for Information for collaborative proposals to conduct salmon scientific investigations. Investigations could include but are not limited to modeling, research, and syntheses to address emerging issues of concern, factors limiting recovery, and other critical science and monitoring questions to advance Puget Sound salmon recovery. Outcomes of the proposed investigations should support ongoing recovery planning and adaptive management efforts to ensure self-sustaining, harvestable, salmon runs that sustain people and orcas in Puget Sound. Approximately $2,000,000 will be allocated towards projects, up to $400,000 each. Projects are anticipated to begin in July 2023 and continue through June 30, 2025. Responses are due by 12:00 pm on March 13, 2023. There is an info session for the RFI on Tuesday, January 31 from 10-11am, to register click HERE. For more information on the RFI click HERE.

• King County Parks Open Space River Corridors Grants – King County Parks will be releasing upcoming Parks Levy grant opportunities that could be used for WRIA 10 project in King County along the White Rivers. The Open Space River Corridors Grant Program supports projects that help restore the natural functions of rivers, create or restore public access, and/or increase public awareness of river corridors as valuable natural resources. This grant program incentivizes multi-benefit projects that integrate recreation and habitat restoration with larger floodplain management efforts. Approximately $9.9 million is available in 2023 for projects within King County, with maximum awards of up to $1 million per project. Grant awards can be used for all stages of project implementation: acquisition, feasibility, design, construction, and project specific outreach. Applications will be released on January 17th and due March 15, 2023 at 5pm. For more information and dates for grant webinars, please click HERE.

• WaterSMART Grant – As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Reclamation is making approximately $80 million available to projects that focus on water conservation, water management and restoration projects that will result in significant benefits to ecosystem or watershed health. Applications are due by March 28. To learn more and apply click HERE.

• Climate Resilient Riparian Systems Lead – This request for funding announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible applicants that are interested in acting as the Puget Sound Climate Resilient Riparian Systems Lead. This funding opportunity is focused on working with local programs and landowners to voluntarily protect and restore Puget Sound riparian habitat in priority watersheds, supporting salmon recovery and resilience to climate change. Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than Monday, March 31, 2023, at 11:59pm (Eastern) in order to be considered for funding. For more information and how to apply, please click HERE.
• Monitoring to Accelerate Recovery RFI – The Partnership is pleased to announce a Request for Information for collaborative monitoring-related projects to support and accelerate the recovery of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Approximately $750,000 will be allocated for selected projects with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $120,000. PSP anticipates supporting up to 10 projects for the period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025. The Partnership seeks proposals that fall under one of these two categories:
  • Category 1 – Developing and first-time reporting of Vital Sign Indicators, and
  • Category 2 – Addressing questions to inform and assess progress toward desired outcomes and statutory goals for Puget Sound recovery.

Responses are due by April 14. Please see HERE for additional details about proposal requirements, how to apply, and the priority information needs. There will also be an info session on Thursday Feb 23 from 1-2pm – register HERE.

Job Announcements

• City of Puyallup – Civil Engineer – Journey

The successful candidate will provide professional and administrative engineering work in the Public Works Department, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) division.  The primary responsibility is for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and evaluating project work within the CIP division. Applications are open until filled. For more information and how to apply please click HERE.

• Pierce County – Water Quality Monitoring Project Lead

This is a project lead position supporting Pierce County’s monitoring program with the opportunity to design and implement strategies for water quality improvements. Pierce County is looking for an experienced project manager to use their leadership and technical skills to help expand our well-established descriptive monitoring program to include a diagnostic approach for improving stream water quality. You will have the opportunity to work with our water quality monitoring team as well as many others inside and outside the county. Applications are open until filled. For more information and how to apply please click HERE.