Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Grants

The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Grants program is administered by the Office of Columbia River within the Washington State Department of Ecology. The program was established following legislative authorization under Chapter 90.38 RCW to support implementation of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, a long-term initiative focused on ensuring sustainable water supplies for agricultural, municipal, and ecological needs within the Yakima River Basin. The plan reflects a collaborative, stakeholder-driven effort that integrates water resource management, environmental restoration, and infrastructure improvements over a multi-decade timeframe. The primary purpose of this grant program is to fund projects that enhance water supply reliability and ecosystem health across the Yakima Basin. Eligible project types include fish passage improvements, fish habitat enhancement, irrigation system modifications, surface water storage development, groundwater storage, water market-based reallocation such as water banks, and enhanced water conservation. These project categories demonstrate a comprehensive approach to addressing both environmental and economic water needs in the region. Funding for the program is determined through the Washington State capital budget and is allocated on a biennial basis. The current funding cycle corresponds to the 2025–2027 biennium, with the performance period aligned to the state fiscal cycle. There is no predefined minimum or maximum award amount, and funding levels are established through legislative appropriations. The program does not require matching funds, reducing financial barriers for eligible applicants and supporting broader participation among public and nonprofit entities. The application and project selection process is highly structured and involves multiple stages of stakeholder engagement and technical review. Project ideas are developed by stakeholders and presented to subject matter subgroups within the Yakima Basin Workgroup. These subgroups evaluate proposals based on established criteria, score and rank projects, and submit recommended project lists to governing bodies. Final project selections are incorporated into budget proposals submitted to the Washington State Legislature, which ultimately determines funding through the capital budget process. Eligibility for funding includes a wide range of public and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants include federal, state, and local government agencies, tribal governments, quasi-governmental entities such as irrigation and conservation districts, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. This inclusive eligibility framework supports coordinated, basin-wide efforts to improve water management and environmental outcomes. Projects must be located within and directly benefit the Yakima River Basin. Applications are currently being accepted as part of the ongoing biennial funding cycle, although submission is not fully open-ended. Applicants typically work in coordination with Department of Ecology staff to develop proposals, which are reviewed and refined prior to formal submission through the agency’s grant management system. This structured intake process reflects the collaborative and programmatic nature of the funding mechanism rather than a continuous, independently submitted application model. Once awarded, grant recipients must comply with administrative and financial requirements established by the Department of Ecology. Projects are managed through the agency’s Administration of Grants and Loans system, and recipients are required to submit regular progress reports, maintain financial documentation, and adhere to procurement and environmental compliance standards. The program is expected to continue on a recurring basis through future biennial capital budgets, reflecting the state’s ongoing commitment to water resource sustainability in the Yakima Basin.