King County WaterWorks grants $5 million to community water quality improvement projects for 2022-23

November 16, 2021

Summary

The King County Council has approved a $5 million project list of 68 water quality grants through the WaterWorks Grant Program. Cities, non-profit groups, educational institutions, and community groups will lead the projects that help King County reach its goals of clean water and community partnerships.

Story

Sixty-eight projects aimed at protecting and improving regional water quality will be launched in the new year, thanks to funding through King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program. 

The King County Council recently passed an ordinance approving the funding. The projects include a variety of approaches, including restoring stream and riverbanks, installing rain gardens, educating students and teachers, training youth in water quality job skills, monitoring water quality, and research.
 
Here are some examples of projects funded:

• Green River Coalition was awarded $75,000 for Soos Creek Water Quality Improvement, to restore vegetation along Soos Creek in an important salmon habitat area in South King County. 
• Seattle Good Business Network was awarded $124,798 for Bridging Youth Workforce Development with Green Career and Water Quality Management Pathways, to expand the EnviroStars program by providing paid internships for youth with local small businesses and developing pollution prevention plans and water quality goals. 
• Stewardship Partners was awarded $200,000 for Equitable GSI Incentives for King County, to provide mini grants to fund Green Stormwater Retrofit projects such as rain gardens and cisterns on private property throughout the county. 
• City of Woodinville was awarded $30,000 for Lake Leota Water Quality Monitoring and Watershed Stewardship Program, to train volunteers on water quality monitoring and education and outreach on shoreline best management practices.
• Rainier Beach Link2Lake with Seattle Parks Foundation was awarded $148,104 for Mapes Creek and Estuarine Bay Riparian Improvements at CSO Outfall Site, to restore riparian and in-stream habitat along the newly daylighted Mapes Creek in Be’er Sheva Park in South Seattle, and to empower the community to advocate for safer parks and healthy watersheds.

 King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program provides funding to organizations for water quality projects that benefit the ratepayers and also protect and improve water quality within its 420-square-mile service area. Cities, nonprofit organizations, schools, tribal governments are eligible to apply. Partnerships are encouraged, and key criteria include community involvement and support. 

Program funding represents up 1.5% of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s annual operating budget. The grant funds are designated for the purpose of water quality improvement activities, programs and projects. With these latest projects, a total of 243 projects have received over $17 million in WaterWorks funding since 2015.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Marie Fiore, Wastewater Treatment Division, 206-263-0284

About the King County Wastewater Treatment Division
King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and enhances the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region. The division provides wastewater treatment services to 17 cities, 17 local sewer districts and more than 1.8 million residents across a 420-square-mile area in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.