Flood Damage Prevention Grants

2009–2011 Biennium (September 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011)

Background

The 2009 Legislature provided the Department of Ecology (Ecology) with $1,350,000 in the capital budget for the 2009-11 Biennium for grants to local governments for projects that will prevent flood damage. (These funds are not designated as Flood Control Assistance Account Program (FCAAP) monies).

Project Selection

The legislation provides specific criteria that Ecology must use to select projects for this funding:

1. The applicant and project must be in an area that is at risk of flooding.
2. Those applicants least able to fund such mitigation projects with local resources shall have higher priority.
3. Those applicants most ready to proceed with construction of the project shall have higher priority.
4. Applicants will be selected with consideration for achieving a balance of the needs of different regions of the State.
5. No match is required, but matching funds are welcome.

Eligibility

A county, city, town, or tribal government is eligible to apply for these funds if:

• The jurisdiction is currently enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• The jurisdiction or its project is in an area at risk of flooding.
• Either the project has been previously identified in a local Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan or Hazard Mitigation Plan, or the applicant can document that the project has the approval of the county engineer for its jurisdiction.
• The jurisdiction is ready to proceed with the project in a timely manner.
• The jurisdiction certifies that the project cannot be implemented solely with local resources during the 2009-11 Biennium.

Schedule

Funding Limits

Although the Legislature did not define any funding limits, we suggest that the project cost range from $200,000–$500,000. However, more costly projects will be considered. Ecology does not require a match, but will accept any matching funds. Projects selected for grant funding will meet the criteria established in the legislation.

Application Process

• Click for Application Materials

Applicants must use Ecology’s form “Application for Flood Damage Prevention Projects” provided by Ecology. All local jurisdictions must submit applications directly to Ecology. Special districts (such as flood control zone districts, diking districts, and ports) must submit their applications through their county engineer. The application review committee will be selected by Ecology. It will be made up of persons with expertise in evaluating flood damage protection projects.

Applicants must also provide:

1. Problem statement and analysis.
2. Technical feasibility.
3. Economic justification.
4. Legal permissibility.
5. Consistency with the CFHMP or plan recommendations.
6. Priority of project as identified in the plan.
7. Impacts to any ESA listed fisheries habitat.
8. ESA checklist and mitigation strategy.
9. Provide a description of the project benefits which describe how the project will mitigate flood damages and describe development which exists on adjacent and nearby lands which are protected by the facility.
10. Identify itemized costs for labor, material, and equipment for each project.
11. Availability of qualified personnel or resources for project construction purposes.
12. Permit status (if applicable).
13. Projects involving construction must have plans and specifications signed by an engineer who is licensed in the State of Washington.

NOTE: Grant recipients must submit copies of plans, specifications, and all required permits to Ecology prior to initiating work.

Examples of Flood Damage Prevention Projects:

• Biotechnical streambank stabilization projects to protect river banks in a manner more compatible with the natural river system.
• Shore protection by building a mound system to prevent damage of a waste water treatment plant.
• Replacement of an undersized culvert with a bridge to reduce backwater flooding and improve fish passage.
• Installation of flood warning systems.
• Acquisition of flood-prone properties to provide open space for floodplain function.
• Installation of water-tight access lids to prevent infiltration of storm water into the sewer system.
• Cost-share of Corps of Engineers feasibility studies to reduce flooding and erosion.
• Repair of dikes to reestablish original flood protection capabilities for critical facilities.
• Removal of existing dikes/levees and construction of a setback system that improves flood protection and helps to restore natural functions.

Endangered Species Act

Due to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings of salmonids in Washington’s waters, flood grant applicants must determine whether their proposed project will affect ESA-listed or candidate salmon stocks.

Inherent in any floodplain activity is furthering these efforts toward recovery of (ESA-listed) fisheries resources. Wherever possible, proposals that preserve, restore, or enhance those resources through planning or flood damage prevention projects will receive higher priority in the evaluation process. This can achieved through Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management plans or flood damage prevention projects (such as culvert or tide-gate replacement to encourage fish passage; placement of groins to slow the velocity of flood water and provide habitat and resting areas for fish; or biotechnical streambank stabilization for improved habitat).

As part of the application process, we encourage local jurisdictions to look at non-structural possibilities. Then within their planning process, they can decide whether those possibilities are viable enough to be implemented.

In the course of planning a project, applicants must identify all potential impacts to salmonids and describe the mitigation measures that will be used to avoid, minimize, or compensate for those impacts. Failure of an applicant to disclose ESA impacts, or to demonstrate adequate mitigation for impacts, will result in delays or disqualification for funding.

Construction projects will receive the most scrutiny in this regard. For these projects, Ecology has provided the “ESA-Listed Salmonids Checklist / Mitigation Strategy Form" as part of this application packet. Any construction project with potential impacts to salmonid species listed under the ESA will require completion of this form to document how identified impacts will be mitigated.

The National Flood Insurance Program

The role of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is to make affordable flood insurance available to communities and to stimulate sound floodplain management. To qualify, a community must adopt approved floodplain management regulations at least as stringent as the federal minimum standards established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once a community enrolls, insurance is made available to all within that community. Ecology requires that general purpose units of government participate in the NFIP in order to be eligible for financial assistance grants. For more information on the National Flood Insurance Program, please contact the regional Flood Team Member for your jurisdiction (see below).

Contacts

Ecology’s Flood Team shares a commitment to providing technical assistance to grant recipients through a partnership approach. This concept applies to prospective applicants. By speaking with applicants directly on their individual projects, staff gain a better understanding of the intended project and can field questions during the evaluation process. We strongly encourage you to contact our Flood Team whenever we can provide assistance on flood related issues - from pre-application stage to project completion; from technical to grant administrative questions.

Our Flood Team routinely consults with other Ecology staff and agencies, both state and local, on issues such as fisheries resources; wetlands acquisition, preservation, and restoration; Shoreline Master Programs; and water quality, to provide local governments with comprehensive technical assistance.

Application Submittal Information

1 electronic copy + supporting documents to: bhue461@ecy.wa.gov

1 hard copy + supporting documents + signed certification via snail mail to:

Bev Huether
SEA Program
WA State Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600