The state of Washington is looking to revitalize natural communities and ensure the resilience of vital ecosystems statewide.
The state’s Department of Ecology has opened a new competitive grant cycle, making up to $40 million available to fund projects that restore and improve streamflows across the state. Applications are open now through March 17, 2026.
Eligible applicants include Tribal governments with land or treaty rights in Washington, public government entities and nonprofit organizations operating in the state.
The grants are part of an ongoing state program launched under the Streamflow Restoration Act of 2018, which established a 15-year, $300 million funding commitment. The current solicitation represents the fifth round of competitive funding, with roughly $180 million authorized to date.
The goal of the funding is to support projects that quantitatively improve streamflows and benefit aquatic ecosystems, especially fish habitat. Priority is given to projects tied to an adopted watershed plan under the Restoration Act, projects that manage water to improve instream flows, and those that serve overburdened or vulnerable communities. Projects benefiting aquatic species, including threatened or endangered salmonids, also take precedence.
There are no matching fund requirements, and grants can fund water rights acquisitions, storage and delivery improvements, watershed function enhancements, and related planning and monitoring.
Previous grant recipients include conservation groups working on bull trout habitat restoration in the Kachess River, wildfire recovery projects in the Methow watershed, and infrastructure improvements that capture water losses from irrigation systems and redirect the saved water to improve flows in salmon-bearing streams.
Rather than relying solely on regulation, the state has increasingly turned to these types of targeted investments. The goal is to restore streamflows in watersheds facing mounting development pressure, habitat loss, and climate impacts.
Washington law establishes minimum instream flow levels for many rivers and streams to protect fish habitat, water quality, and ecological function. When flows fall below set levels, the state can restrict water use by newer consumers. The policy treats streamflows as a public resource alongside traditional water rights, while Restoration Act funding supports projects that physically add water back into streams or reduce withdrawals during critical periods.
Photo by William Jacobs from Pexels
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