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HomeMy WebLinkAbout092424 - RCO Newsletter - September 2024ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/1d9e606c-e643-9cc9-ddd8-3c4e3a1ffa7e.png> Message from the Director Welcome to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s (RCO) September newsletter. In this bimonthly newsletter, we will share useful news about important policy changes, upcoming grant deadlines, and approaching issues, as well as celebrate successful projects that help make Washington a great place to live, work, and play. Please enjoy! Announcements * Marissa Dallaire <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=e9495d4185&e=186c5ff3d1> has joined the Invasive Species Council as an intern. * Dawn Pullin <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=f4b2cea40c&e=186c5ff3d1> has joined RCO as the tribal affairs director. * Salmon Recovery Funding Board meets September 24-25 to award nearly $52 million in grants. Meeting details <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=c218635035&e=1 86c5ff3d1> . * Recreation and Conservation Funding Board meets October 29 to approve grant rankings. Meeting details <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=30852af4c7&e=186c5f f3d1> . What's Happening Salmon Recovery Grants Awarded Learn more Drones Collect Data from Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales Learn more <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/fd70d1c7-27a5-acd6-3152-8daf11b5bd39.png> Check Your Trees Learn more Ranked Lists Published for Recreation Grants Learn more Grant Limits Raised for Trail Projects Learn more No Child Left Inside Applications Coming Due Learn more <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/6bc4fd51-267e-a218-8249-6dd506dfb533.png> Congressional Staff and Whale-Sniffing Dog Tour Puget Sound Learn more <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/d61fbccb-51cf-6700-8d88-5dde5f8cac34.png> Salmon Recovery Grants to be Awarded The Salmon Recovery Funding Board is set to award $51.9 million in grants for restoration projects across the state in late September. The projects cover a range of actions, such as removing migration-blocking structures from rivers, rerouting streams, and placing logjams and simulated beaver dams in rivers to restore damaged and altered habitat. Salmon, steelhead, and bull trout are designated as at-risk of extinction across much of Washington, and these projects target protecting and restoring the places they live. In addition, the board approved another $23.8 million in projects that could be funded if the Climate Commitment Act remains after the November elections and another $148 million in projects that are pending approval by the Legislature next year. When all combined, the board will consider approving an unprecedented nearly $224 million in potential salmon recovery projects. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/028aa4ad-1f4b-4e77-dbcf-3883d6436966.png> Ranked Lists Published for Recreation and Conservation Grants RCO’s advisory committees for recreation and conservation grant programs have been busy all summer reviewing grant applications. The results of those application reviews are now online. You can see the preliminary ranked lists for the following grant programs: * Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account * Community Forests Program * Land and Water Conservation Fund * Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program * Youth Athletic Facilities In total, more than 280 projects requested nearly $300 million in funding. The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board will review the preliminary lists at its meeting October 29 with funding awarded in June, pending the Legislature’s approval of the 2025-2027 budget. See the preliminary ranked lists on the individual grant pages on RCO’s website <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=c9f1c17f7f&e=186c5ff3d1> . <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/099413d2-7cfb-489a-5937-d9fe1aaf38b4.png> No Child Left Inside Applications Coming Due Applications for Washington’s grant program that provides outdoor recreation and education experiences for underserved, underrepresented, and historically excluded youth are due October 31. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s No Child Left Inside grant program, historically has funded 276 projects that have served nearly 154,500 youth, providing them with more than 5.3 million hours of time spent outside or learning about the outdoors. You can see what’s happening in your county with RCO’s new interactive dashboard that shows how many projects were funded statewide or in your county and the details of each of those projects. Check out RCO’s grant web page <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=eff568f811&e=186c5ff3d1> to view the dashboard or to apply. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/d5fb3192-f170-26fa-f8c2-c9a571badb2d.png> Drones Help Collect Data from Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales The state orca recovery coordinator, Tara Galuska, who works at RCO, joined a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and SeaDoc Society to learn about recent efforts to collect data on endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Veterinarians and scientists have been using drones to collect breath samples from whales for laboratory analyses and a directional microphone to collect breath sounds. Scientists also are studying thermal imaging of the intranasal temperature and fecal sample analyses. These veterinarians and researchers, along with others from the Center for Whale Research, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and SR3 (SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research) are collaborating on a shared electronic medical record system for individual whales. Centralizing these data in near real-time will allow for more efficient recovery actions. Watch Sea Doc’s video about their work: Killer Whales: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat! <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=bb21ba9322&e=186c5ff3d1> <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/73ba29db-9ed6-858a-1429-d69fbb5e7068.png> Grant Limits Raised for Trail Projects The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board raised the amount of money a grant applicant may request in the Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities program. That program funds the purchase, development, and maintenance of facilities for backcountry recreation as well as education and enforcement activities. Applicants may apply for the larger grants now. RCO is accepting applications until October 31. The grant limit was raised from $150,000 for maintenance and operation projects to $200,000 for projects in the nonhighway road and nonmotorized categories and from $200,000 to $250,000 in the off-road vehicle category and the education and enforcement category. The evaluation process also was changed and will be a written evaluation with a live question and answer period. In addition to the Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=5bf9a8a4fa&e=186c5ff3d1> and education and enforcement grants <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=a0ce422bce&e=186c5ff3d1> , RCO also is accepting applications until October 31 for the following grant programs: * Recreational Trails Program <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=657f594961&e=186c5ff3d1> : Grants for projects that rehabilitate and maintain trails offering a backcountry experience. * Boating Facilities Program <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=944b4eb364&e=186c5ff3d1> : Grants for projects that acquire, develop, and renovate facilities for motorized boats and other watercraft, including launching ramps, guest moorage, and support facilities. Grants also may be used for preconstruction activities, such as completing permits, design, and cultural resources assessments. * No Child Left Inside <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=5924fe949d&e=186c5ff3d1> : Grants for projects that provide outdoor education and recreation for underserved, underrepresented, and historically excluded youth. * Firearms and Archery Range Recreation <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=500970ff46&e=186c5ff3d1> : Grants for projects that acquire, develop, and renovate firearm ranges and archery training and practice facilities. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/5353643d-edaf-a973-ba23-91ce0f6addfa.png> Congressional Staff Meet Eba, the Orca-Sniffing Dog, Get Firsthand Looks at Restoration Efforts RCO and the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office joined staff from other natural resource agencies on a tour for congressional staff to see the work being done to recover salmon and orca populations. The goal of the tour was to show congressional staff how federal and state funding is critical for on-the-ground restoration and research actions to protect and recover the endangered animals. The group toured the northern Puget Sound in August. Along the ride, they met Eba, a dog that can sniff out orca waste, which helps scientists learn more about the endangered Southern Resident killer whales and their diets. Watch a video about Eba and the orcas <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=2e15398b75&e=186c5ff3d1> . <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/f759d53c-5f30-a101-1323-979fdc47da0f.png> It’s Not Too Late to Check Your Trees While you’re out looking at the changing fall colors, take a minute to look further down on the tree at its bark. While August Tree Check Month has passed, the fall is still a great time to check for visible signs and symptoms of potential invasive insect infestations. You’re looking for a tree that suddenly has appeared unhealthy or even died. At least seventy new insect species have been detected in Washington since 1990, according to a state study. The public found 36 percent of the new insects first, highlighting the importance of an educated and aware public. If you see something, report it using the Washington Invasive Species Council’s reporting app or on its website <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461 e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=3f16792391&e=186c5ff3d1> . Read the full news release <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=61a68a0a7a&e=186c5ff3d1> . You might be a tree hero and save the trees in your yard or your neighborhood from the next infestation. <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=00fe4e94be&e=186c5ff3d1> <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=d3e1388203&e=186c5ff3d1> <http://www.rco.wa.gov/> view this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/rco.wa.gov/rco-newsletter-september-2024?e=186c5ff3d1> © 2024 Recreation and Conservation Office, all rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? Subscribe <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=9880e9fa35&e=186c5ff3d1> to newsletter or unsubscribe <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=f12461e10ae d86ddd51107b5e&id=1945f2650d&t=b&e=186c5ff3d1&c=b35a11d328> . <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=b35a11d328&e=186c5ff3d1> 8;213=0.16;214=0.02;215=4.33;216=0.16;217=0.54;218=0;219=0;220=0;221=0;222=0;223=0;224=0.05;225=0.64;226=0.3;227=0.6;228=0;229=0;230=0;231=0;232=0.05;233=0;234=0.04;235=0;236=0;237=0;238=0;239=0.01;2 40=0;241=0;242=0;243=0;244=0;245=0;246=0.15;247=0.64;248=0.02;249=0.43;250=0;251=0;252=0;253=0;254=0;255=0;256=0;257=0;258=0;259=0;260=0;261=0;262=0;263=0;264=0;265=0;266=0;267=0;268=0;269=0;270=0;27 1=0;272=0;273=0;274=0;275=0;276=0;277=0;278=0;279=0;280=0;281=0;282=0;283=0;284=0;285=0;286=0;287=0;288=0;289=0;290=0;291=0;292=0;293=0;294=2978;295=3.47;296=400;297=2.6;298=0;299=0.02;300=0.08;301=0 .02;302=0.98;303=0.36;304=0;305=0;306=0.02;307=0.12;308=0;309=0;310=0.01;311=0;312=0;313=0;314=0;315=0;316=0;317=0;318=0.09;319=0.99;320=0.02;321=0.12;322=0.01;323=0;324=0;325=0;326=0.1;327=0;328=2.3 5;329=1.76;330=3.47;331=3.04;332=0;333=0;334=1.85;335=2.55;336=0;337=0;338=1.64;339=0;340=0;341=0;342=0;343=0;344=0;345=0;346=2.44;347=3.47;348=1.85;349=2.55;350=1.64;351=0;352=0;353=0;354=2.49;355=0 ;356=0;357=1;358=0;359=0