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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031025 - RCO Newsletter - March 2025ALERT: 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) 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 * Salmon Recovery Funding Board meets March 11 <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=eba058ec90&e=186c5ff3d1> * Land and Water Conservation Fund-Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant applications due March 12 <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=932596d30c&e=186c5 ff3d1> * Washington Invasive Species Council meets March 20 <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=c165a645fe&e=186c5ff3d1> * Recreation and Conservation Funding Board meets April 22 and 23 <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=3804c728f2&e=186c5ff3d1> What's Happening Governor Declares Invasive Species Awareness Week Learn more Salmon Habitat Restored with Completion of Milltown Island Project Learn more Salmon Projects Helped by Climate Commitment Act Learn more <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/49aaea3e-9445-9eac-0b67-d9af5a6ca160.png> Accepting Applications For a Grant that Improves Boating Facilities Learn more RCO Seeks Comments on Changes to Definition of “Urban” Learn more <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/5e3d4fe8-bf7e-445a-d7cc-73eb50cc9955.png> Outdoor Learning Grants Expand Access to Outdoor Education Learn more <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/3bb09542-d970-51ed-80e0-084b7e07e2dd.png> Governor Declares Invasive Species Awareness Week Governor Bob Ferguson, in partnership with the Washington Invasive Species Council, proclaimed <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=e6e3163648&e=186c5ff3d1> February 24-28 as Washington Invasive Species Awareness Week, to coincide with National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Whether on land or in water, non-native species such as fish, insects, plants, other wildlife, and even diseases can damage agriculture, recreation, forests, and other resources. Invasive species are a global problem that has cost the United States more than $1.2 trillion in the past fifty years. A 2017 state study estimated that some species not yet in Washington, such as invasive freshwater mussels, would cost more than $100 million annually in damages and loss if they establish in the state. Washington State’s awareness week included a series of webinars and events aimed at sharing information on priority invasive species, risks to the economy and environment, and ways to become part of the solution. Throughout the week, the Washington Invasive Species Council also displayed a series of short videos on social media that celebrated the 2024 Invasive Species Recognition Awards winners for their contributions in protecting Washington’s rich natural resources from invasive species: * Mary Dye, Distinguished Leader Award <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=472e356fce&e=186c5ff3d1> * 10,000 Years Institute, Outstanding Organization Award <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=4481375087&e=186c5ff3d1> * Evan Hiatt, Valiant Volunteer Award <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=d37d5bbf36&e=186c5ff3d1> <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/6b625869-81c9-2d2b-f621-572d7db541ca.png> Salmon Projects Helped by Climate Commitment Act Salmon recovery projects across the state got a big boost when RCO awarded $66 million in grants for seventy-one projects, thanks to the Climate Commitment Act. The act, which was created by the Legislature in 2021, caps climate pollution and requires the state’s largest polluters to buy allowances. The revenue from the purchases of emissions allowances is re-invested into projects that help reduce contributions and impacts of climate change, including salmon recovery projects. For example, restoring and protecting estuaries and shorelines helps communities prepare for sea level rise and has significant benefits for fish. Other projects include conserving forests, restoring salmon-bearing rivers and streams, and replacing pipes or other structures the carry streams under roads and block fish passage when they are too small or too high. The funding has been an important boost to salmon recovery as it allows for more projects, critical to salmon recovery to be implemented. Some of the largest projects include conserving eight hundred acres in the Grays River watershed in southwest Washington, removing structures such as levees in the Tucannon River to improve habitat and natural floodplain connectivity, and restoring 2.6 miles of stream habitat and 110 acres of floodplain in the headwaters South Fork Toutle River valley. See a list of the funded projects <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=d1ed3b76f6&e=186c5ff3d1> . <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/320f533c-d894-9186-3786-baf64845e9f6.png> RCO Seeks Comments on Changes to Definition of “Urban” RCO is seeking comments on proposed changes to how “urban” is defined in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program’s Urban Wildlife Habitat Category <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click? u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=6c98acb4f1&e=186c5ff3d1> . One of the ways to be eligible for a grant in this program is based on a geographic area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as an “Urban Cluster.” The Bureau recently changed its definition of urban areas and eliminated the use of urban clusters. RCO is looking to adjust its definition to be consistent. The proposed policy would remove urban clusters and instead include projects within five miles of a U.S. Census Bureau-designated urban area. An urban area must have at least five thousand people or a housing unit density of at least two thousand. Adding the housing unit density option will allow more communities to apply for grants. Other eligibility criteria for the Urban Wildlife grant will remain the same. This grant program provides funding to acquire or develop quality native habitat near urban and urbanizing communities. A primary goal of this category is to increase people’s interactions with nature by providing close-to-home opportunities for nature-based activities. More information about the proposed changes are in the Public Comment Package <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=8dd57883d8&e=186c5ff3d1> . Comments may be submitted by completing this web form <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=ba04890412&e=186c5ff3d1> by 11:59 p.m. March 14. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/2cd0a927-ac19-b0f4-c1aa-0b2105a8c956.png> Salmon Habitat Restored with Completion of Milltown Island Project The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used funds from the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=bf9993465e&e=186c 5ff3d1> and the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=6e3fc55b54&e=186c5ff3d1> grant programs, along with other funding sources, to restore natural processes on two hundred acres of land on Milltown Island <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=305fad37cf&e=186c5ff3d 1> to benefit salmon and recreationists. By lowering dikes and levees, excavated tidal channels and headwater ponds now are able to fill with water during high tides. The department also built watercraft landing sites and raised mounds to support public access for activities like waterfowl hunting, kayaking, and bird watching. The newly restored estuary benefits Chinook salmon by providing critical rearing habitat for juveniles as they migrate from freshwater to the salty waters of the Whidbey basin and Puget Sound. Juvenile Chinook typically grow bigger and healthier when they spend time in estuaries. Throughout the next two years, the department is expected to install more than 31,000 willow stakes and 6,400 plants of other species including native trees and shrubs, along with leafy aquatic plants such as wapato, or broadleaf arrowhead, to provide forage for waterfowl. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/7d454573-ae4a-ea3a-d3b6-af54f72be0db.png> Accepting Grant Applications for a Program that Improves Boating Facilities RCO now is accepting applications for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program. This program provides funding to private marina operators, state and local agencies, Tribes, special purpose districts, and other boating organizations to improve docking and comfort facilities for recreational boats that are twenty-six feet and larger. Also, funds may be used to develop educational boating materials. Typical projects include renovating guest moorage docks, installing utilities to moorage docks, and building boarding floats and guest moorage floats, fixed docks and piers, and navigational aids and buoys. Learn more about the program <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=0252822d8b&e=186c5ff3d1> and apply on RCO’s website. Pre-applications are due June 5, final applications July 17. Photos by Karolina Anderson <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/aa47daac-51a5-0e04-5185-6a4270106302.png> Expanding Access to Outdoor Education Starting April 9, RCO will begin accepting applications for Outdoor Learning Grants, a collaborative program between the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction <https://rco.us4.lis t-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=dc890074c1&e=186c5ff3d1> and RCO that supports federally recognized Tribes and outdoor education providers who partner with Washington public schools to create outdoor learning experiences for students. Outdoor education provides vital learning and growing experiences for students and this grant program helps ensure that all of them have access to outdoor spaces where they can thrive. Research shows that students who participate in outdoor educational activities are more likely to graduate, behave better in school, have more relationships with peers, achieve higher academic success, and display more critical thinking skills. Proposed programs should focus on outdoor education aligned with the Washington State content learning standards <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=d2077a5b84 &e=186c5ff3d1> , including the development of social and emotional learning skills <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=dc491dd9a2&e=186c5ff3d1> . Applicants are encouraged to review the Since Time Immemorial curriculum <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=3eb7f852ee&e=186c5ff3d1> and infuse traditional ecological knowledge in the field experiences for students. For the 2024-2025 school year, Outdoor Learning Grants served 262 schools across twenty-seven funded projects and provided 152,015 hours of outdoor learning to 18,383 students. Learn more about the program <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=2902123cce&e=186c5ff3d1> . <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=9ff43ac795&e=186c5ff3d1> <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=95d970472c&e=186c5ff3d1> <https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-link-48.png> view this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/rco.wa.gov/rco-newsletter-march-2025?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=082602587d&e=186c5ff3d1> to newsletter or unsubscribe <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=f12461e10ae d86ddd51107b5e&id=1945f2650d&t=b&e=186c5ff3d1&c=2023e2ae72> .  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=2023e2ae72&e=186c5ff3d1> uperintendent of Public Instruction","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":88046,"length":57},"@EntityId":"80fc25e6-68df-435b-91ef-628e736a3b2b","@extractionTimeUtc":"2025-03-10T23:51:53.2667746\u002B00:00 "},{"url":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026amp;id=d2077a5b84\u0026amp;e=186c5ff3d1","url/anchorText":"Washington State content learning standards","url/ur lTextSpan":{"beginIndex":89150,"length":43},"@EntityId":"3cdb200b-5ff2-445b-b40a-ccb0751b5009","@extractionTimeUtc":"2025-03-10T23:51:53.2667773\u002B00:00"},{"url":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/t rack/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026amp;id=dc491dd9a2\u0026amp;e=186c5ff3d1","url/anchorText":"development of social and emotional learning skills","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":89542,"leng th":51},"@EntityId":"7b7520f3-9b4a-4483-bbc9-d136087c3922","@extractionTimeUtc":"2025-03-10T23:51:53.2667795\u002B00:00"},{"url":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b 5e\u0026amp;id=3eb7f852ee\u0026amp;e=186c5ff3d1","url/anchorText":"Since Time Immemorial curriculum","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":89969,"length":32},"@EntityId":"50f7c486-02bd-49f4-9a49-15d4ef00ba a4","@extractionTimeUtc":"2025-03-10T23:51:53.2667819\u002B00:00"},{"url":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026amp;id=2902123cce\u0026amp;e=186c5ff3d1","url/a nchorText":"Learn more about the program","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":90622,"length":28},"@EntityId":"384a7edf-33e3-431b-a95d-17ea66d81bc2","@extractionTimeUtc":"2025-03-10T23:51:53.2667834\u002B 00:00"},{"url":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026amp;id=9ff43ac795\u0026amp;e=186c5ff3d1","url/anchorText":"","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":98349,"length ":0},"@EntityId":"195c64b5-ec72-4349-8385-918fab0a39a1","@extractionTimeUtc":"2025-03-10T23:51:53.2667858\u002B00:00"}]