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The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was established by Congress in 2002 "for the purpose of protecting important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural or recreational state to other uses," giving priority to lands that can be effectively managed and protected and that have significant ecological value. Congress directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to administer this program and to establish guidelines that would make CELCP project selection an objective and nationally competitive process. To meet this directive, NOAA developed CELCP guidelines that require states wanting to participate in this voluntary program to first prepare a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan (CELCP Plan). NOAA requires approval of a CELCP plan for a state to be eligible to nominate grant application to NOAA under CELCP.
To assure Washington’s eligibility for future participation, and to help guide selection of state priority projects for nomination to NOAA, Ecology drafted a Washington State CELCP Plan. Although dedicated grant funds have not yet been authorized by Congress, a state plan has been drafted to assure Washington's eligibility for future participation.
Washington's CELCP Plan seeks to protect important coastal and estuarine areas having significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, which are threatened by conversion. It gives priority to lands which can be effectively managed and protected and which have significant ecological value. Local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and state agencies with authority to own land are eligible to apply for land acquisition assistance.
The state CELCP Plan 1) identifies conservation needs and priority areas to acquire, 2) delineates general criteria for grant awards, and 3) establishes an approach for nominating projects for a competitive national review.
Download WA State CELCP Plan - April 2007 (PDF, 350 kb)
The Department of Ecology is submitting three applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for consideration of funding in FY 2009 under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP). These three projects seek federal funds to acquire significant coastal properties in Puget Sound and the Hood Canal.
Federal funds are matched 1:1 by state, local, and non-governmental funds to complete the projects. The applications are:
These three applications will now enter a nationwide competition and ranking
process. After that has been completed, Congress must appropriate the funds
for the top-ranked projects.
More information? Contact Jeanne Koenings, (360) 407-7258.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
