What is the Riparian Grant Program?

The Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) supports private landowners in voluntarily stewarding natural resources. Through funding from the Washington State Legislature, SCC administers the Riparian Grant Program to restore and protect priority riparian areas. This ongoing program provides financial support for projects that enhance riparian habitat, work that is vital to healthy ecosystems, salmon recovery, and biodiversity across the state.

Eligibility

Conservation districts

Forms & Links

Updates

Stay Tuned: Funding opportunity is anticipated for May 2026

About this Conservation Program

Riparian Grant Program - $25 million (Capital Funding)

The budget proviso language states, “The appropriations in this section are provided solely for the state conservation commission to provide grants for riparian restoration projects with landowners.” Funding supports projects that demonstrate a clear benefit to state salmon recovery goals. Read the full proviso language here.

Salmon Riparian Restoration Program Outreach - $2 million (Operating Funding)

The budget proviso language states, “One-time funding is provided solely to support the outreach, identification, and implementation of salmon riparian habitat restoration projects that are appropriated through the capital budget.

Work Group

To guide this work, SCC formed a work group and advisory committee from 2023-2024. Thank you to those who volunteered to help draft the Riparian Grant Program guidelines. Notes and links to past meeting recordings are available here. Guideline revisions are anticipated in September 2026.

Eligibility

Conservation districts are the only eligible entities for this program. All other organizations, agencies, and entities are encouraged to work with their local conservation district to identify, support, and partner on riparian project implementation. Find your local conservation district here.

All land ownerships are eligible under this program including private, Tribal, Federal, State, non-profit organization, or local government ownerships.

Plantings from above by Natalie Otto, Grays Harbor CD

Riparian Grant Program funds may be used for the following eligible project types:

  • Outreach which generates riparian restoration projects
  • Technical assistance, planning, design, and project monitoring
  • Landowner-implemented cost-share projects
  • District-Implemented Projects (DIPs)
  • Maintenance of previously installed practices

All stream types regardless of the presence of salmonids are eligible for riparian restoration and protection projects under this program.

This includes all management areas adjacent to freshwaters, wetlands, and marine waters that have been locally or regionally identified as an area where salmon recovery efforts would significantly benefit from enhanced protection or restoration.

Climate Commitment Act (CCA) Requirements

RPPP received additional funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which directs cap-and-invest dollars to reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health. Learn more at climate.wa.gov.

For any SCC grant program funded by the CCA, applicants must notify all affected federally recognized Tribes within the project area as early as possible prior to funding approval. See scc.wa.gov/cd/cca for all Climate Commitment Requirements.

The notifications must follow the instructions below:

Notification emails must include:

NOTE: This requirement is separate from and in addition to cultural resources requirements they cannot be combined into one process.

Funding & How to Apply

Stay Tuned: Funding opportunity is anticipated for May 2026

Subscribe to the RGP newsletter for upcoming announcements.

Files & Publications

Want more information? Check out the following files that are related to the Riparian Grant Program.

File Name
Summary

Webinars

Find videos and trainings from this program.

November 4, 2024
RGP - Outreach Funding Webinar 11.04.24
RGP Outreach Funding Webinar hosted by SCC staff.
April 15, 2025
Conservation 101 - Riparian Grant Program
This video explores SCC’s Riparian Grant Program, which funds conservation district-led, voluntary efforts to restore and protect streamside habitat for salmon recovery, in partnership with agencies like the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
March 26, 2026
RGP | Mid-Biennium Application & Prioritization Strategy Workshop 3.26.26
This workshop was held to gather conservation district feedback on the Riparian Grant Program Mid-Biennium Application & Prioritization Strategy. 

Success Stories from this Grant Program

Check back soon for more stories.