U.S. government invests $11M in Washington conservation efforts
Chum salmon swim upstream to spawn in the waters of Pipers Creek in Carkeek Park on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. (Grant Hindsley for Crosscut)
The U.S. Interior Department announced this week $11 million in grants for conservation projects in Washington state.
The federal grants are part of the “America the Beautiful Challenge” to restore land and water across the nation. The 74 grants announced Tuesday total $140 million and will pay for conservation projects in 46 states, three U.S. territories and 21 tribal nations.
In Washington the grants will fund:
– Salmon habitat restoration projects run by the Yakama Nation and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation: $2.99 million and $2.5 million.
– A multistate effort led by the Nez Perce Tribe to plan for California condor habitat management and restoration: $1.99 million.
– A collaborative effort involving 31 tribal nations to mitigate ecological damage from recreation on Washington public lands: $1 million.
– Cross-border salmon restoration efforts by the Coeur d’Alene Nation: $614,300.
– An effort by Conservation Northwest to improve native vegetation for tribal harvest and improve salmon habitat in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: $810,000.
– Reduce flood risk in the Olympic National Forest: $870,700.
The Biden Administration launched the America the Beautiful Challenge in 2021, with the goal of conserving 30 percent of U.S. lands and water by 2030.