The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead is announcing two new funding opportunities.

Two funding opportunities are open from the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL): 

1. Restoration effectiveness of soft shore alternatives to hard armor. 
   • The HSIL will invest up to $1 million in proposals to improve our understanding of the effectiveness of different soft shore designs on allowing physical processes to maintain shoreline structure and function to increase confidence and adoption where appropriate for habitat protection and restoration activities in Puget Sound. 
   • This funding is also focused on the effectiveness of soft shore designs against the current and future threat of sea level rise and related climate change hazards.   

2. Planning for sea level rise and climate related hazards to nearshore habitat. 
   • The HSIL will invest up to $1 million to fund near term activities that increase long-term strategic coastal resiliency planning for existing and projected sea level rise and other climate related hazards for nearshore habitat across Puget Sound. 
   • This includes planning activities that address critical steps along the resiliency planning spectrum for priority nearshore habitat areas such as: vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning, strategy implementation, and adaptive management. This funding is also focused on accelerating nature-based solutions and appropriate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and/or Accessibility (DEIJA) best practices or principles into resiliency planning.   

Key Dates:

• Request for Proposals Opens: June 25, 2024  
• Request for Proposals Closes: 5 p.m. on August 27, 2024 
• Applicant Webinar: July 11, 2024, 1 - 2:30 p.m. Registration is required (click here).  
• Technical Assistance Office Hours: July 16, 2024, 9 - 11 a.m.; August 8, 2024, 1 - 3 p.m. 

Request for proposals solicitation, application materials, and additional resources, including opportunities for technical assistance, are available on the HSIL's Request for Proposals webpage. 

For questions regarding these funding opportunities, contact the HSIL RFP Coordinators: Matt Lurie (WFDW, matthew.lurie@dfw.wa.gov) and Rebecca Brown (DNR, rebecca.brown@dnr.wa.gov). 

Did you know?

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead accelerates Puget Sound recovery by improving the health of the rivers, forests, shorelines, estuaries, and marine vegetation through advancing Habitat Implementation Strategy outcomes. For questions on the HSIL Program, contact Jennifer Griffiths (WDFW, jennifer.griffiths@dfw.wa.gov)