WaterWorks

The King County Water Quality Block Grant Fund

Grants up to $60,000 are available for community projects that protect or improve watersheds, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and tidewater. Projects must have a demonstrable positive impact on the waters of King County and must:

• Improve or protect water quality and water dependent habitats; or
• Demonstrate the beneficial use of biosolids or reclaimed water.

Examples of Fundable Projects

• Preservation, such as a conservation or access easement to a body of water
• Water quality protection measures, such as non-polluting landscaping or livestock management
• Water re-use or biosolids demonstration project
• Stream, lake, wetland and shoreline restoration
• Long-term stewardship of a body of water
• Water quality monitoring

Grant Types:

There are three types of WaterWorks grants, depending on level of funding, with corresponding application processes:

Eligibility

Proposals must meet the following criteria:

• Protect or improve water quality or water dependent habitat.
• Foster community stewardship by engaging community volunteers.
• Leverage resources; a minimum of 10 percent cash match is required for awards more than $2,500.
• Develop long-term partnerships.
• Provide a long-term benefit or assure continuity.

Eligible Costs.

Focus Points

For competitive grants (those more than $2,500), applicants may be awarded up to 10 focus points on their application if the project meets criteria related to the following areas. Check the box on the application indicating your interest, and a form will be mailed to you if you are a finalist.

Salmon Habitat - Projects must:

• Demonstrate that the habitat improvement will result in sustained or greater salmonid use of the site as supported by scientific data.
• Have a minimum cash match of 33 percent of the project budget.
• Salmon habitat project on private property are only eligible for a Community Salmon Fund Grant.

Project Location

Projects must take place inside the Wastewater Treatment Division Service Area. Projects that are located outside the Service area in the Green and Cedar River Watersheds only may be eligible under certain conditions, and should inquire with the WaterWorks grant program before applying.

• Map of the Wastewater Treatment Division Service Area

Conditions

• Awards typically do not exceed an 18-month period.
• Recipients can only receive one Microgrant, one Small Change Grant, and one Competitive grant per year.
• A compelling public benefit is required for those projects located on private land.

Applications

Click on these links for applications in rich text format (edit with any word processing software):

• Small Change for a Big Difference Application (for requests up to $2,499)
• Competitive Application (over $2,500)

For more information, contact:

Ken Pritchard, Grant Exchange Coordinator
206- 296-8265
800-325-6165 ext. 68265
ken.pritchard@kingcounty.gov

Information presented here is available in alternate formats upon request. TTY: 800-833-6388 or 711.

For questions about this Web site, please contact Marie Alvarado, Office of Rural and Resource Programs.