Ecology Announces Draft Funding List

Last year's state legislature appropriated about $50 million in new money to Ecology to dole out to local governments for a) NPDES permit program implementation; and b) stormwater retrofits and LID. With input from several key groups, Ecology chose to divide those monies roughly in half between these two, large needs.

Regarding retrofits using LID, Ecology's Water Quality Financial Assistance group evaluated 100 proposals they received, equaling nearly $59 million. Based on their evaluations, Ecology plans to fund 43 projects equaling $23.4 million.

Puget Sound jurisdictions did quite well: Of the 43 projects proposed to receive funding, 38 are located within the Puget Sound basin.

LID features pretty well in these projects, too. I haven't read through the full project proposals, but in reading the Project Summaries contained within the Draft Offer and Applicant List, I found language on LID techniques in 26 of the project summaries. There may well be more or less LID used in these retrofit projects - the project summaries are brief.

Ecology is seeking public comment on this draft offer list. Comments are due by December 3rd.

If you're interested in seeing this draft offer list, see:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/funding/FundingPrograms/OtherFundingPrograms/StWa12/FY12StWa.html

If you're interested in commenting on the draft list, follow Ecology's instructions. Ecology will review and consider comments and provide a response to comments in the Final Offer and Applicant List, due to be released in mid-January.