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Aquatic Habitat Grants Home

About the Program
Detailed Program Guidelines  (PDF File)
Eligbility Criteria
Eligibility Checklist  (PDF File)
Steps to Develop a Project
Fact Sheet  (PDF File)
Drainage Outfall Locations  (PDF File)



Services > Drainage & Sewer > Get Involved > Aquatic Habitat Grants

Steps to Develop a Project

1. Develop the Project’s Scope
Begin your work plan with simple goals and objectives. List the activities needed to accomplish your goals.


2. Determine Resources Needed
Resources you will probably need include expertise, equipment, supplies, volunteer labor, and services. You may also need liability insurance, permit fees, maps and technical studies, construction management, and information about competitive bidding requirements.


3. Develop a Project Budget
After listing the necessary resources, you will need to estimate costs in order to do a budget. Volunteer labor is valued at $15/hour.


4. Determine the Funding Match
You must match the City’s resources at least 100% with community or private resources. The match may include: cash, volunteer labor, donated land or easements, donated supplies or equipment, donated professional services, or other non-City funds.


5. Research Regulations
Many projects need permits, insurance, or design review before proceeding. Find out what regulations and permits apply to your project.

Here are examples of different permits and the agencies that require them.


Permit

Agency

Hydraulic Permit Approval (HPA)
If your project will use, divert, obstruct or change the natural flow or bed of any fresh or salt water of the state. This includes bed reconfiguration, all construction or other work waterward under or over the ordinary high water line, including dry channels and may include projects landward of the ordinary high water line (e.g. activities outside the OHW line that will directly impact fish life and habitat, falling trees into streams or lakes, dike construction etc.). For more information see Streamlined Process for HPA below.


Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

Street use (right-of-way)
For any work within the Street right of way please contact Christie Santos, Seattle Department of Transportation, at (206) 684-5147.


City of Seattle, Department of Transportation

Section 404 (Clean Water Act)
if your project includes:
Placement of dredged or fill material waterward of the OHW mark, or the MHHW in tidal areas, in waters of the US, including wetlands.


Mechanized land clearing and sidecasting in waters of the US, including wetlands

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consultation.

Army Corps of Engineers

Section 10 required for:
Any work in or affecting navigable waters of the US (e.g. floats, piers, docks, dredging, excavation, piling buoys, overhead power lines, etc.).


US Army Corps of Engineers

Environmental Critical Areas Review or Exemption
Vegetation clearing and replanting within. the riparian corridor, which is the area 100-ft horizontally from the OHW level of a creek. Work within a steep slope, steep slope buffer, wetland or wetland buffer. For more information see Environmental Critical Areas Code below.


City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development

Shoreline Permit or Exemption
Any substantial development work within 200-ft of the OHW level of Lake Washington, Lake Washington Ship Canal, Lake Union, Duwamish River and Waterway, and the Puget Sound. For more information see Shoreline Exemptions below.


City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development



6. Purchase insurance
The City of Seattle has no liability for any phase of the projects. Project sponsors are expected to purchase insurance to limit the liability of their organization, as well as the City.



Links to other sites
Streamlined Process for HPA - RCW 77.55.290
Environmental Critical Areas Code - Seattle Municipal Code 25.09

Shoreline Exemptions - Seattle Municipal Code 23.60.020 C

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

City of Seattle, Department of Transportation

Army Corps of Engineers

City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development