Where's the Money Going?

Explore the Puget Sound Partnership's Puget Sound Project Atlas Exitto learn more about projects supported by the EPA and other agencies.

Current EPA funding for Puget Sound provides resources for targeted areas of work, such as:

• Ecosystem restoration
• Improvements to land-use practices
• Monitoring

Current funding grantees are called "Lead Organizations" (LOs). Each Lead Organization was selected on a competitive basis using pre-established criteria and capacity to do the work.

A portion of each grant supports the LO's work within their areas of jurisdiction and responsibilities. However, most of this funding is passed through to other governmental organizations (e.g. counties, cities, special districts or tribal nations) as sub-awards to accomplish specific regional and local projects aligned with the Puget Sound Action Agenda.

In 2011, EPA awarded seven grants to five Lead Organizations. These grants support Puget Sound recovery and restoration work through 2017. The grants cover these four themes for Puget Sound restoration and recovery:

1. Implementation of Puget Sound Action Agenda
2. Tribal Implementation Projects
3. Ecosystem Restoration and Protection
4. Outreach, Education and Stewardship

1. Implementation of Puget Sound Action Agenda (1 Lead Organization)

Puget Sound Partnership Technical Investigations and Implementation

• Lead organization: Puget Sound Partnership Exit
• Amount: $6 million awarded for the first two years; potential funding of up to $18 million over a six-year project period.
• Matching funds: Non-federal match must equal federal funding provided.
• Project description: Establish a lead entity to create and implement: 1) an accountability and performance management system to track the progress of the Action Agenda's implementation; 2) an integrated, long-term environmental monitoring, data management and reporting information system to assess environmental progress and evaluate the effectiveness of key management actions; 3) a strategic science program to advance the science and policy dialogue and to synthesize and communicate relevant science information to improve management programs, and to identify and adapt to emerging threats identified through scientific investigation; and 4) a system for working with local watershed groups, tribes, cities, counties, special purpose districts, the private sector, and other entities to align and integrate local programs with ecosystem-level priorities and strategies.
• Outcomes: Effective and efficient management of Puget Sound restoration and protection efforts
• EPA Contact: Michael Rylko (rylko.michael@epa.gov), 206-553-4014

2. Tribal Implementation Projects (1 Lead Organization)

Tribal Implementation of the Action Agenda

• Lead organization: Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Exit
• Amount: $3 million awarded for the first year; potential funding of up to $18 million over a six-year project period.
• Matching funds: Non-federal match must equal federal funding provided.
• Project description: Develop and administer a grant subaward program for the federally recognized Puget Sound Indian Tribes and authorized consortias of these Tribes. Subawards will be made for activities or strategies aligned with the Action Agenda and that meet high priority ecosystem restoration and protection needs of Tribes within the Puget Sound basin.  View project summaries, progress reports, and other project information. Exit
• Outcomes: Documented improvements in the Puget Sound ecosystem in areas identified as high priority for Puget Sound Tribes.
• EPA Contact: Lisa Chang (chang.lisa@epa.gov), 206-553-0226

3. Ecosystem Restoration and Protection (4 Lead Organizations)

Implementing Marine and Nearshore Strategies to Protect and Restore Puget Sound

• Lead organization(s): Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Exit and Washington Department of Natural Resources Exit(Co-Leads) 
• Amount: $3 million awarded for the first year; potential funding of up to $48 million over a six-year project period.
• Matching funds: Non-federal match must equal federal funding provided.
• Project description: Implement marine and nearshore strategies to protect and restore Puget Sound. Subawards to other entities to perform this work will be a significant component to these strategies. Learn how Fish and Wildlife is working to protect the marine and nearshore ecosystem. Exit
• Outcomes: Improved health of the marine and nearshore resources of Puget Sound
• EPA contact: Carrie Byron (byron.carrie@epa.gov), 206-553-8320

Implementing Watershed-Scale Strategies to Protect and Restore Puget Sound

• Lead organization(s): Washington Department of Ecology Exit and Washington Department of Commerce Exit(Co-Leads) 
• Amount:$3 million awarded for the first year; potential funding of up to $48 million over a six-year project period
• Matching funds: Non-federal match must equal federal funding provided.
• Project description: Implement watershed-scale strategies to protect and restore Puget Sound. Subawards to other entities to perform this work will be a significant component to these strategies. Learn more about how Ecology and Commerce are helping protect and restore Puget Sound watersheds. Exit
• Outcomes: Improved watershed function within the Puget Sound Basin.
• EPA contact: Michael Rylko (rylko.michael@epa.gov), 206-553-4014

Strategic Framework for the Prevention, Reduction, and Control of Toxics and Nutrients

• Lead organization: Washington Department of Ecology Exit
• Amount: $3 million awarded for the first year; potential funding of up to $48 million over a six-year project period.
• Matching funds: Non-federal match must equal federal funding provided.
• Project description: Implement strategies to prevent, reduce, and control loadings of toxics and nutrients to Puget Sound. Subawards to other entities to perform this work will be a significant component to these strategies. Learn more about Ecology's efforts to reduce toxics in Puget Sound.
• Outcomes: Decreased loadings of toxics, and decrease of adverse impacts from toxics and nutrients in Puget Sound.
• EPA contact: Gina Bonafacino (bonifacino.gina@epa.gov), 206-553-2970

Strategic Framework for the Prevention, Reduction and Control of Pathogens

• Lead organization: Washington Department of Health Exit
• Amount: $3 million awarded for the first year; potential funding of up to $48 million over a six-year project period.
• Matching funds: Non-federal match must equal federal funding provided.
• Project description: Implement strategies to prevent, reduce and control loadings of pathogens to Puget Sound.  Subawards to other entities to perform this work will be a significant component to these strategies.  Learn more about the Department of Health's efforts to control pathogens in Puget Sound. Exit
• Outcomes: Decreased loadings of pathogens, and decrease of adverse impacts from pathogens to Puget Sound.
• EPA contact: Bill Zachmann (zachmann.bill@epa.gov ), 360-753-9543

4. Outreach, Education and Stewardship (1 Lead Organization)

Puget Sound Regional Stewardship Program Implementation

• Lead organization: Puget Sound Partnership Exit
• Amount: $6 million, with incremental funding over five years.
• Matching funds: $6 million over five years.
• Project description: Establish a lead entity from a coalition of more than 300 agencies and organizations to lead public outreach, education, and stewardship efforts across the 12-county Puget Sound region. Work together through a coordinated approach to provide the coalition with an opportunity to develop, implement and administer a comprehensive public engagement program to significantly advance key public education and involvement priorities in the Action Agenda. Effective social marketing frameworks targeting measurable behavioral changes will also be created.
• Outcomes: Awareness and education; stewardship and behavior change.
• EPA contact: Sally Hanft (hanft.sally@epa.gov), 206-553-1207