This post is an excerpt of an article by Puget Sound Institute, commissioned by the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead. Click here to view the original post and read the entire story. 

Do you work with local environmental regulations? Would you like to improve habitat protection through more effective permitting? This overview can help if you are thinking about responding to a new funding opportunity from the Department in Commerce, in collaboration with the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead, for local jurisdictions to develop monitoring and adaptive management processes for their critical area ordinances. 

This post includes a broad overview of Chapter 7 from the Critical Areas Handbook; describes resources available to help jurisdictions with permit implementation and effectiveness monitoring; and provides some examples from Kitsap County’s monitoring and adaptive management program. We hope this information inspires you to launch or expand monitoring and adaptive management activities in your jurisdiction. 

Click here to read the full article. 

Did you know?

Funding opportunity now open for salmon recovery planning grants 

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead is partnering with the Department of Commerce to fund up to $2 million for critical area monitoring and adaptive management projects through Commerce’s Salmon Recovery Planning grants. This funding will support local jurisdictions and federally recognized tribes in the Puget Sound in developing critical and adaptive management programs to protect and enhance habitats, and enacting plans to institutionalize and sustain programs.  

The Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead is also allocating up to $1 million in this grant opportunity to help local governments support updates to comprehensive plans and development regulations that protect ecosystems. Cities, counties, and tribes can apply for the funding through the Salmon Recovery grants.  

Applications are due by June 3, 2024 at 4 p.m. Eligible activities, application material and additional information is available on the Commerce Ecosystem Services Program webpage.