The newest spherical of proposed funding from the state Division of Ecology, introduced Wednesday, may see $11.4 million in grants awarded to Clark County, the Port of Vancouver, the Watershed Alliance of Southwest Washington, Clark Public Utilities and the cities of Vancouver and Washougal if accepted by the Legislature.
On the finish of every yr, Ecology evaluations and ranks functions for funding to be included within the subsequent funds cycle. Out of the 155 functions it obtained, Ecology has proposed awards to 102 recipients for a complete of $175.5 million. The grants will go to high-priority clear water initiatives throughout the state.
“I am excited to announce that all four of our applications were recommended for funding in the draft offer list,” Devan Rostorfer, supervisor of Clark County Public Works’ clear water division, stated Wednesday.
If the Legislature approves the funding as submitted, Clark County would obtain $356,989 for upkeep and upgrades to its 600 bioretention services.
Rostorfer stated the grant would “help ensure the facilities are functioning as they were intended to by removing pollutants in stormwater runoff to protect and restore water quality in our local rivers, streams, and lakes.”
The opposite county initiatives slated for funding embody water high quality retrofits at services alongside Northeast Freeway 99 and Cougar Creek. The overall quantity of funding proposed for the county is $1.8 million.
It’s not simply the Legislature that would put the county’s funding in danger, nonetheless.
Rostorfer stated modifications in federal funding proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration may alter or remove state funding. Moreover, the county is out of compliance with the state Development Administration Act over its approval of floor mining zoning.
“Stormwater facility projects are not eligible for funding if the county is out of compliance with the GMA,” Rostorfer stated.
The Watershed Alliance was chosen to obtain $224,892 to extend shade cowl, management invasive plant species and plant a forested buffer alongside Curtin Creek.
“I am proud to say we ranked No. 18 out of all the applications in the state and No. 2 for the specific grant we are eligible for,” stated Dawn O’Mahoney, government director for the alliance.
In previous years, the grants have been sometimes funded however that may very well be completely different this yr due to the proposed freeze on U.S. Environmental Safety Company spending, O’Mahoney stated.
The Port of Vancouver would obtain the most important share of the grant funds going to Clark County — $7.8 million for a retrofit mission to enhance stormwater high quality by putting in a pretreatment system and a sharpening system.
Clark Public Utilities’ wetlands habitat restoration mission alongside the East Fork Lewis River is slated to obtain $273,270.
Vancouver was chosen to obtain $500,000 to help with connecting residential prospects to its public sewer system within the Burnt Bridge Creek space, $256,956 to develop stormwater retrofit designs for Fort Vancouver Excessive College and $344,956 for stormwater retrofit designs for Hudson’s Bay Excessive College.
Washougal is anticipated to be awarded $149,898 for the town’s enhanced upkeep plan.
A closing determination by the Legislature is anticipated earlier than the top of the present session April 27.