Spokane River Toxics Reduction Grant

The Spokane River Toxics Reduction Grant is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology through its Water Quality Program as part of the Columbia River Restoration Program. The grant was created to support projects that reduce toxic chemicals and contaminants in the Spokane River Basin, a subbasin of the Columbia River Basin located in Washington State. The Washington State Legislature provided funding through the 2025-2027 Model Toxics Control Act operating budget, allocating $2 million to address toxics and emerging contaminants in the Spokane River Basin, including $1 million specifically dedicated to this grant program. The program is intended to complement existing toxics reduction efforts and support strategic implementation of state, local, and federal plans focused on reducing pollution in waterways. The grant also supports Ecology’s obligations under the federal EPA Columbia River Basin Restoration-Toxics Reduction Lead Entity grant. The primary purpose of the grant is to reduce, mitigate, or prevent toxic pollution in the Spokane River Basin and its tributaries. Eligible projects must demonstrate a direct connection to toxics reduction, implementation of Total Maximum Daily Load actions, or activities identified in the 2016 Comprehensive Plan to Remove PCBs from the Spokane River and related watershed management plans. Priority toxic chemicals include PCBs, mercury, DDT, PBDEs, PFAS, PAHs, lead, dioxins, arsenic, and other contaminants of emerging concern. Priority consideration is given to projects benefiting communities disproportionately affected by pollution, including overburdened communities, Tribal communities, populations consuming untreated water or fish from the river, and populations not traditionally engaged in environmental work. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that produce measurable toxics reduction outcomes and provide long-term watershed benefits. Funding can support both new and ongoing projects. Eligible activities include source identification and control, technical assistance, education and outreach, planning, implementation of Best Management Practices, effectiveness monitoring, environmental assessments, and development of toxics reduction programs. Examples include training inspectors to identify PCB-containing materials, conducting surveys of PCB materials in schools, pesticide reduction efforts, employee toxics training, public education campaigns, pollution prevention initiatives, and implementation of structural or non-structural Best Management Practices. Monitoring projects are eligible if they directly support toxics reduction actions and include a Quality Assurance Project Plan. Projects unrelated to toxics reduction are not eligible. Ineligible expenses include lobbying, land acquisition, permit fees, solid and hazardous waste cleanup, water supply infrastructure, aesthetic landscaping, operating costs of local governments, and projects previously funded by Ecology. Eligible applicants include conservation districts, counties, cities, towns, federally recognized Tribes, irrigation districts, local health jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education if the proposed project is outside the institution’s statutory responsibilities. Applicants must not be suspended or prohibited from federal contracting and are required to verify eligibility through SAM.gov. Projects must occur within the Spokane River Basin in Washington, although projects outside the boundary may qualify if applicants can demonstrate direct benefits to the watershed. Ecology encourages applicants to coordinate with program staff during project development to ensure eligibility and avoid duplication with other funding programs. The application process is managed through Ecology’s Administration of Grants and Loans electronic system known as EAGL. Applicants must establish a Secure Access Washington account, register their organization, and add EAGL as a service before beginning the application process. Applications require detailed information including project descriptions, schedules, budgets, deliverables, maps, task descriptions, community benefit explanations, and team qualifications. Applicants must also submit schedules demonstrating readiness to begin work within three months of award notification and complete projects before the funding expiration date. Monitoring projects require Quality Assurance Project Plans and environmental data management procedures. Ecology evaluates proposals using a competitive scoring process based on feasibility and toxics reduction impact. Applications are scored on scope of work, budget, schedule, team qualifications, letters of support, and projected toxics reduction outcomes. Projects must achieve minimum scoring thresholds to receive funding consideration. The current competitive funding cycle opens January 13, 2026 and closes February 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Award notifications and agreement negotiations are expected in April 2026, with agreements signed in June 2026. The grant period expires June 30, 2027, although extensions may be considered if future funding becomes available. Ecology emphasizes that projects should be feasible within the available timeline and funding period. All grants operate on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to submit quarterly progress reports and payment requests through EAGL. Monitoring projects must upload environmental data to Ecology’s Environmental Information Management database and comply with federal Water Quality Exchange requirements. The primary program contact is Annie Simpson, Eastern Washington Watershed Planner, who provides technical assistance and eligibility guidance for prospective applicants. The Spokane River Toxics Reduction Grant represents a targeted effort by Washington State to address persistent and emerging toxic pollution challenges affecting one of the state’s critical watersheds. By supporting planning, education, technical assistance, monitoring, and implementation activities, the program seeks to reduce pollution at its source while advancing environmental justice, protecting public health, and restoring water quality throughout the Spokane River Basin. Additional information and official guidance are available through the Washington State Department of Ecology and the published funding guidelines document.

Projects scoring highest will clearly demonstrate measurable toxics reduction outcomes tied to existing federal state or local toxics reduction plans. Strong proposals align scope budget and schedule closely and demonstrate readiness to proceed within three months of award notification. Priority is given to projects benefiting overburdened communities Tribal communities and populations directly affected by toxics.