SNOHOMISH COUNTY – Snohomish County’s Department of Conservation & Natural Resources’ Community Floodplain Solutions (CFS) program has received $10 million from the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Floodplains by Design (FbD) program.
This grant will fund the continuation of integrated floodplain management work that was funded by three previous FbD grants, particularly along the Snohomish and Skykomish Rivers. Snohomish County’s CFS Phase 4 project ranked second among FbD grant applications submitted across Washington state, affirming that support for this work is a high priority. This cycle of funding brings the total FbD grant funding awarded to Snohomish County for the CFS Program to $33.3 million.
“We’re grateful to the State of Washington for supporting this important work,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Through strong partnerships, we’re advancing efforts that reduce flood risk and restore salmon habitat, efforts that benefit our environment, economy, and quality of life. This program delivers real results for key community priorities like climate resilience, flood protection, agriculture, and habitat restoration.”
Grant highlights and benefits:
- Increasing ecological function and floodplain connectivity while reducing impacts to local infrastructure from flooding: The grant is providing $1.1 million to the Chinook Marsh project that is planned to reconnect more than 400 acres of floodplain habitat while protecting critical infrastructure like the City of Everett water line, avoiding the potential for $400 million in direct economic losses if a seismic event caused damage to the line.
- Protecting and enhancing farmland productivity: The grant is providing $1 million for the Office of Agriculture’s Ag Tech Program. The program brings leading-edge technology and data driven insights to farmers at no cost. Farmers can borrow these technologies to enhance productivity, optimize resource use, and promote sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring regional food security.
- Strengthening our community through collaboration: Nearly $4.5 million will be passed through to grant partners to advance important floodplain projects, including the Tulalip Tribes, Snohomish Conservation District, Washington Farmland Trust, Ducks Unlimited, and Adopt A Stream Foundation.
- The remaining $3.3 million will go towards supporting the CFS program and projects that Snohomish County is implementing.
“Integrated Floodplain Management requires years of planning and cooperation between multiple agencies and willing landowners,” said Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM) Director, Gregg Farris. “This fourth Floodplains by Design grant builds on a strong foundation of collaboration. Not only does it help bring relief to flood-impacted residents and local farmers, but it also helps support threatened salmon runs and local agriculture.”
Flooding is the costliest natural hazard in Snohomish County. Through this suite of projects, the community is being protected from millions of dollars in potential damages from flooding in the Snohomish River Basin. Every $1 invested in climate resilience programs and projects like those funded by this grant, saves $7 in potential future disaster response and recovery costs (National Institute of Building Sciences 2022).
About Community Floodplain Solutions (CFS)
The Community Floodplain Solutions (CFS) program in Snohomish County is a collaborative effort to keep local farms viable, restore habitat for threatened salmon, and reduce flood impacts for residents. Snohomish County CFS partners (Tulalip Tribes, Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Snohomish Conservation District, and Washington Farmland Trust, and more) are working with willing landowners on multi-benefit land conservation that prioritizes properties with the highest risk of repetitive flood loss and the greatest potential for farmland preservation and salmon recovery. CFS program staff have developed an interactive map that highlights active and potential projects, as well as opportunities for landowners to engage with us about other areas. A documentary about the program and the partners doing the work will be available early 2026. Interested residents should call 425-388-6476, email CFS.info@snoco.org, or visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/CFS to learn more.
About Snohomish County Conservation and Natural Resources
The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) includes the Division of Surface Water Management; the Division of Parks and Recreation; the Office of Energy and Sustainability and the Office of Agriculture. DCNR works in support of thriving communities; a clean and healthy environment to foster environmental stewardship; ensuring food security; supporting a green economy and strengthening communities by providing regional parks and infrastructure; protecting the region’s water, air, land and natural habitats; enhancing agriculture and recreation; and reducing flooding. https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5758.
Source: Snohomish County
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
