Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) - Restoration and Protection Grant Program (WA)

The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) is inviting project proposals for nearshore restoration and protection in Puget Sound. Projects will be evaluated on costs, technical readiness, stakeholder support, and ecological benefits. The initiative aims to enhance the nearshore ecosystem, focusing on restoring vital processes and improving ecosystem functions. Successful proposals will address degradation sources and protect intact areas, contributing to the 2025-27 Investment Plan for state appropriations.

Purpose
The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) is seeking nearshore restoration and protection project proposals in Puget Sound, including new and portfolio projects. Proposed project actions will be competitively evaluated based on assessment of completed project costs, technical merit and readiness, stakeholder support, and ecological benefits. A competitive review of proposals will result in a ranked project list. This ranked list, along with funding recommendations, will be the basis for ESRP’s 2025-27 Investment Plan. A draft Investment Plan will be presented to the State Legislature in consideration of 2025-27 state appropriations.
ESRP Nearshore Restoration and Protection Program Objectives
ESRP nearshore restoration and protection projects are one of four ESRP investment types managed through the ESRP. The four investment types include:
Beach Restoration Small GrantsRestoration and ProtectionRegional Pre-Design (e.g. Learning)Shore Friendly
Nearshore restoration and protection projects are projects of regional importance that provide substantial and cost-effective nearshore ecosystem restoration or protection of ecosystem functions, goods, and services. Our work is centered on the scientific principles and ecosystem restoration strategies developed by the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) during the feasibility phase of the Sound-wide PSNERP General Investigation.
Protecting and Restoring Nearshore Ecosystem Processes
The nearshore ecosystem of Puget Sound is a dynamic environment strongly shaped by physical and ecological processes. PSNERP research and findings suggests that projects designed to protect and restore the ecosystem processes that shape and maintain nearshore structure will result in self- sustaining improvements in ecosystem functions, goods, and services, thereby justifying our capital investments in nearshore ecosystem projects. The broad restoration objectives of ESRP include:
Restore the size and quality of large river delta estuaries and the nearshore processes that deltas support.Restore the number and quality of coastal embayments.Restore the size and quality of beaches and bluffs.Increase understanding of natural process restoration to improve the effectiveness of program actions.
The most competitive ESRP nearshore restoration and protection project proposals will be those that employ management measures that can most fully address the source of degradation of these natural processes or that are focused on protection of intact areas.