San Juan County’s Environmental Stewardship Department is eager to accept Salmon Recovery project proposals for the Salmon Recovery Funding Board 2025 grant funding cycle. Private residents, nonprofit organizations, local, state and tribal governments, and special districts are invited to apply. Interested applicants must submit a one-page “letter of intent” by Jan. 31 by 5 p.m. Please send letters via email at samw@sanjuancountywa.gov. You will have the option to discuss your project during a virtual meeting with the technical team on Feb. 12.

In addition to regular Salmon Recovery projects, this year’s grant round will also include special Riparian funding that has been allocated through the Climate Commitment Act for Riparian projects in San Juan County. The amount of funding available in San Juan County is not yet known but is anticipated to fall within the following ranges for each funding source: $300,000 to $350,000 for 2025 regular SRFB-funded projects; and up to $486,000 for Riparian project funding.

Proposed projects must be located in the San Juan Islands and adjacent waters.

Previously funded projects have included acquisition and conservation easements on high-priority shoreline properties, the removal of shoreline armor impacting nearshore habitat and freshwater habitat restoration projects.

For more information, contact Sam Whitridge, San Juan County marine program coordinator, 360-317-3242, samw@sanjuancountywa.gov.

San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/839/Environmental-Stewardship.