Floodplains by Design Grant Program

The Floodplains by Design grant program is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation as part of a broader public-private initiative. The program is funded through Washington’s State Building Construction Account and the Climate Commitment Act, which directs cap-and-invest revenues toward environmental resilience, climate mitigation, and public health improvements. The initiative reflects a shift in flood management philosophy, moving away from traditional structural controls such as levees toward integrated approaches that restore natural floodplain functions while protecting communities and ecosystems. The primary purpose of the program is to support multi-benefit projects that reduce flood risk and restore ecological processes in Washington’s major river corridors. These projects are designed to simultaneously enhance flood protection for communities, improve habitat for salmon and other aquatic species, and preserve agricultural lands. The program emphasizes collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations, to develop comprehensive, watershed-scale solutions that balance environmental and economic needs. Funding is available for a wide range of project activities that align with integrated floodplain management. Eligible uses of funds include community engagement, integrated planning, pre-construction studies and modeling, design and engineering work, permitting, construction, habitat restoration, land acquisition or easements, and property-level interventions such as home elevation or relocation. The program allows flexibility in project scope, provided that proposals demonstrate clear benefits across flood risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, and community resilience. There is no matching fund requirement for the 2027-2029 funding cycle, reducing barriers to participation for eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns, special purpose districts such as flood control districts, federally recognized tribes, conservation districts, ports, municipal or quasi-municipal corporations, and nonprofit organizations recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service. Only applicants that successfully pass a pre-application screening process are invited to submit full proposals. This two-step process ensures that projects meet baseline criteria before requiring a full application submission. The application process is conducted through the Washington Department of Ecology’s EAGL IGX online system. The full application period opened on March 12, 2026 and closes on May 13, 2026. Prior to this, a pre-application period ran from November 1, 2025 through January 23, 2026, with selected applicants invited to advance. Applicants are also expected to participate in presentations and may attend optional office hours with program staff during the application window. Following submission, applications undergo evaluation between May and July 2026, with a ranked list finalized in August 2026. Final funding decisions are made by the Washington State Legislature in April or May 2027. Applicants are notified of outcomes in June 2027, and funded projects are expected to begin on or after July 1, 2027. The anticipated project performance period extends through June 30, 2031. The program operates on a biennial cycle aligned with state budget processes, indicating that future funding rounds are expected. Applications are evaluated based on their ability to deliver integrated benefits across flood risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, agricultural viability, and community outcomes. Proposals must demonstrate strong partnerships, clear implementation strategies, measurable outcomes, and alignment with watershed-scale planning efforts. The program places emphasis on collaborative planning, technical feasibility, and long-term sustainability of project benefits. For assistance or inquiries, applicants may contact the program coordinator at the Washington Department of Ecology.

Ensure strong multi-benefit outcomes across flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration; demonstrate partnerships and watershed-scale coordination; prepare EAGL system submission early due to complexity