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:
- The applicant and project must be in an area that is at risk of
flooding.
- Those applicants least able to fund such mitigation projects with local
resources shall have higher priority.
- Those applicants most ready to proceed with construction of the project
shall have higher priority.
- Applicants will be selected with consideration for achieving a balance
of the needs of different regions of the State.
- 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
July 1, 2009:
July 30, 2009:
August 14, 2009:
September 1, 2009: |
Applications available from this website.
Applications due to Ecology by 4:30 p.m.
Grant awards announced.
Effective date for selected grant agreements. |
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
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:
- Problem statement and analysis.
- Technical feasibility.
- Economic justification.
- Legal permissibility.
- Consistency with the CFHMP or plan recommendations.
- Priority of project as identified in the plan.
- Impacts to any ESA listed fisheries habitat.
- ESA checklist and mitigation strategy.
- 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.
- Identify itemized costs for labor, material, and equipment for each
project.
- Availability of qualified personnel or resources for project
construction purposes.
- Permit status (if applicable).
- 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.
| Name, email, phone # |
Technical Expertise |
Counties Served |
Kevin
Farrell
360-407-7253 |
FCAAP Plans, projects and NFIP technical
assistance |
Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor,
Jefferson, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Wahkiakum,
Skamania, Thurston |
Jerry
Franklin
360-407-7470 |
Mapping: FEMA / GIS |
All |
Bev
Huether
360-407-7254 |
Grant Administration |
All |
Ted
Olson
509-456-2862 |
FCAAP Plans, projects, NFIP technical
assistance and engineering assistance |
Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Douglas,
Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend-Oreille, Spokane,
Stevens, Walla-Walla, Whitman |
Patricia Olson
360-407-7540 |
Hydraulic / hydrologic technical assistance
Biotechnical bank stabilization projects |
All |
Dan
Sokol
360-407-6796 |
Flood Policy and NFIP technical assistance |
All |
Chuck
Steele
425-649-7139 |
FCAAP Plans, projects and NFIP technical
assistance |
Chelan, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas,
Okanogan, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom, Yakima |
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
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Important Links:
2009-11 Flood Damage
Protection Grants Awards List (pdf)
Application Materials
Supplemental Information
Related Links Contacts |