Watershed Small Grants Recipients
Since 2004, Pierce County and partners have distributed about $500,000 to support community projects that improve habitat and water quality across the county.
From funding stream clean-up events to contributing to nature-based education camps, the Watersheds Small Grants Program allows community organizations to focus on environmental education and implement projects that protect our watersheds.
Explore the tabs below to see how the 2021 grant recipients are using the funds to bring environmental benefits to their communities.
Become a Funding Partner!
If you'd like to contribute to your community and become a funding partner in the small grants program, contact:
Rebecca Lee
Grant Coordinator
[email protected]
- Clover Park School District
- Clover Park Technical College
- Forterra
- Friends of Spanaway Lake
- Harbor WildWatch
- Pierce Conservation District
- Tacoma Tree Foundation
- Tahoma Audubon Society
Grant Project: Salmon in the Classroom
Award Amount: $1,947.81
Description: Purchases equipment to expand the salmon-rearing program to one additional elementary school to raise Salmonid eggs and provide buses for student transportation to release the fry into Chambers Creek. This is supported by the WDFW’s School Cooperative Program providing the eggs and permit for release.
Grant Project: Garry Oaks Garden & Gathering Space
Award Amount: $1,588.44
Description: Creation of an outdoor gathering space for CPSD’s Early Learning Program under a stand of endangered Garry Oak habitat, adding a deck space with seating for students to observe, sketch, listen to stories or sing songs in an area that will be restored by planting native flowers, shrubs, and greases under the oak trees. Teachers will create and implement sustainable curriculum to be used year-round by community members and students enrolled in Head Start and ECEAP programs for low-income families.
Grant Project: Flett Wetland Riparian Zone Restoration and Education
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: Activities supporting an outdoor lab facility: The Natural Resources Laboratory and Research Park at Flett Creek. Four objectives include removal of invasive plant species, planting native species in the riparian zone of the Flett Wetland, construction of two bird blinds near open water areas, and educating students within the Environmental Sciences and technology program at CPTC on habitat stewardship and restoration. Students will design a restoration plan using ecosystem assessments.
Grant Project: Schibig Lakeview Nature Preserve
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: Supports ongoing riparian and prairie habitat restoration for native butterflies and other insects at the Schibig Lakeview Nature Preserve, a 10-acre prairie located near Spanaway Loop Road and Tule Lake Road on Clover Creek. Restoration of the native plant community by introducing native flora and removing invasive species, providing valuable habitat for native insects including pollinators. Volunteers will assist in the restoration efforts.
Grant Project: Spanaway Lake Community Engagement & Communication
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: Provides general operating support for FOSL by offsetting costs associated with trimester mailings, monthly public meeting location costs, maintain /update FOSL webpage and social media, office expenses of maintaining the organization, annual meeting costs to rent room and prepare visuals, volunteer recruitment & training to conduct the following: lake-wide algae watch; identification and guidelines of appropriate removal of invasive plant species; Algae Watch.
Grant Project: Virtual Environmental Education in the CCW
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: Delivers a series of 20 interactive educational programs, to increase environmental awareness and literacy, instilling a sense of place that leads to behavior changes to protect and conserve the watershed. Students, adults, and families will have the opportunity to engage in 15 classroom workshops and guided walking tours (5) for the public at local water bodies. Programs will introduce people to plants and animals that inhabit the intertidal zone, freshwater creeks, and estuarine habitats. This will be done virtually in 2021-22 using Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook LIVE digital platforms until it is safe to resume in-person gatherings.
Grant Project: Thelma Gilmur Park Interactive Sign Project
Award Amount: $2,495.75
Description: Installation of education signage about native plant species at Thelma Gilmur Park in Fircrest, utilizing the artwork and sign design developed through the Adriana Hess Wetland Park signage project from 2019. Updated signage will create a welcoming space for park visitors to learn ad explore this natural area including wetland and forest.
Grant Project: Wapato Hills Spanish Language Tree Walk and Giveaway
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: Provided a free Spanish-language tree walk and plant giveaway at Wapato Hills Park in South Tacoma, continuing outreach to the Hispanic community and foster environmental awareness in the Flett Creek watershed, an area of low canopy density and high equity need according to Tacoma’s Equity Index. Free plants will be available, eliminating a barrier to participation due to cost, and instruction will be provided on proper planting techniques. Will distribute 100 trees and 30 shrubs, conduct a guided walk in Spanish, and provide tree planting and care instructions.
Grant Project: Environmental Education Outreach – Healthy Habitat
Award Amount: $1,498
Description: Engages watershed residents through printed and electronic newsletter to 1000 neighbors whose yards drain into Chambers Creek and/or Spanaway Lake or tributaries. A guided tour of Bresemann Forest will be offered. Focus of communications will be on promoting behaviors that protect habitat and water quality, including natural yard care practices and creating backyard wildlife-friendly habitats.
- Anderson Island Parks and Recreation District
- Peninsula School District
- Friends of Harbor Hill Environmental Sanctuary
- GGHF EnviroCorps
- GGHF Curious by Nature School
- Great Peninsula Conservancy
- Harbor WildWatch
- Nisqually Reach Nature Center
Grant Project: Schoolhouse Creek Salmon Rearing Equipment and Interpretive Sign
Award Amount: $1,060
Description: Purchase of in-stream salmon rearing equipment and signage telling the story of the restoration work done at Schoolhouse Creek. For the past eight years they have been receiving 20,000 Chum eggs from the Minter Creek Salmon Hatchery to rear in Schoolhouse Creek rearing. This year there was a blockage in the supply line which resulted in the loss of the eggs that were a few weeks away from being released. Adding a settling tank and valves will prevent this from happing again. Since the restoration of the stream will be completed this year, the parks district will erect a large sign with the following information: pictures of what the stream originally looked like, pictures of what was done, why it was done and who helped make it happen.
Grant Project: Earth0nauts Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Beach Clean-up
Award Amount: $2,440
Description:
Supporting a club at Key Peninsula Middle School whose goal is to promote environmental stewardship rooted in actionable change through inspiring, acting, and making a difference in our community, and beyond. They focus on making our earth a better planet by doing beach cleanups, education, and environmental projects.
The club does beach cleanups where they collect, sort, dispose and recycle the pollutants. The grant funds will go towards supplies such as buckets, gloves, and other cleanup supplies, and equipment from Precious Plastics. Their machines turn everyday plastics into brand new everyday objects, and it would give students an opportunity to create, learn, recycle and build, with a goal of up-cycling and reusing pollutants gathered on the beach. This would improve our marine ecology and allow students to perform community outreach. The community could drop off their plastics and give them a new life. We would ensure that the donation money would be put to good use, and it would greatly help us to make a difference in our community and oceans. Here is the link to the Precious Plastics site: https://preciousplastic.com/.
Grant Project: Harbor Hill Environmental Sanctuary Project (HHES)
Award Amount: $1,500
Description: The 15-acre Sanctuary (HHES) will be a place for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore and learn about restoration of the site, area wildlife, and healthy functioning ecosystems, to interact and connect with the natural world. FFHES promotes environmental education and passive recreation. Within Harbor Hill’s HK community are two detention-settlement ponds created when the area was developed. These ponds collect, temporarily detain, and filter stormwater runoff from the HK campus and surrounding single-family and apartment residential neighborhoods. The Harbor Hill Environmental Sanctuary will improve ecological functions and visual appearance of the site, provide environmental education and pave walking surfaces to assure ADA accessibility. This funding supports one environmental education sign in addition to three signs already funded and under development. The proposed fourth sign ($3,500) is projected to be funded by $1,000 FHHES donations and this grant. Specifically, the additional fourth sign will use environment art and narrative to document historical ownership and uses of land in the Sanctuary and surrounding area. The three existing signs educate as to water quality/flood avoidance functions of stormwater detention ponds, uses and habitat values of native vegetation and wildlife commonly seen on site. Educational signs will be viewed by park visitors in self-guided tours and by groups of students in tours conducted by HarborWildwatch and FHHES.
Grant Project: GGHF Community Campus Learning Garden
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: The Community Campus, located on 6.5 acres, .5 mile from Gig Harbor's Wollochet Bay, will be the permanent home to GGHF programs such as EnviroCorps and Curious by Nature School. Funds requested will support development of the community learning garden (Community Campus Garden or CCG). Funds awarded will support creation of the learning garden at the Community Campus. The 3,600 SF garden, enclosed by fencing, will consist of ten raised beds, a rainwater harvesting system, drip irrigation, and a composting area. A learning garden space for children with a rain barrel display is also included. 2021 marks GGHF's 15 year and the organization has outgrown its present location. The Campus will provide a permanent home for the community's foundation and space for its programs to grow and better meet community needs and deliver diverse services. Such programs include EnviroCorps, an environmental action, education, and stewardship program, and Curious by Nature School, a nature-based early learning center, and more. Installation of perimeter fencing, construction of raised beds w/ drip irrigation, creation of a composting area, installation of rainwater collections, and launch of intergenerational CCG program "Roots".
Grant Project: CBNS Jr. Naturalist Stewardship Program
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: The Jr. Naturalist Stewardship Program introduces participants to diverse educational programs and opportunities to connect with nature while inspiring environmental stewardship. Funds will support extended environmental education and outreach events and activities through the naturalist-led program. Now in its fifth year, the CBNS Jr. Naturalist Program provides opportunities for KGI watershed residents to connect with nature while inspiring environmental stewardship. In the upcoming year, participants can choose between in-person or self-guided explorations, which is an adaptation to the program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Monthly education and outreach events include naturalist/staff-led exploration at local parks, trails, wetlands, beach and backyards or at CBNS outdoor classrooms. Explorer Packs (complete with curriculum tools and activity guides) will be an alternative to in-person events and will be available to rent for those who prefer self-guided adventures. Education and hands-on activities will include pollinator-friendly gardens, creating and attracting habitat for wildlife, organic gardening practices, biodiversity, water cycle and run-off education, and nature exploration, connection and appreciation. The goals and objectives relate to watershed issues including water quality, habitat restoration and sustainable practices. The expected outcome is to improve community understanding of our role and impact in the environment (that will change behavior) and instill a sense of civic duty and environmental stewardship.
Grant Project: Filucy Bay Shoreline Restoration
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: This project supports restoration efforts at Great Peninsula Conservancy's Filucy Bay Preserve by removing hazardous asbestos debris and engaging volunteers in stewardship. Filucy Bay Preserve is a publicly accessible water landing site funded by the 2020 Lu Winsor Environmental Grant Great Peninsula Conservancy’s (GPC). Filucy Bay Preserve protects 67 acres of intact, high-value estuarine nearshore, saltmarsh, riparian forest and estuarine shoreline habitats. The grant funds restoration efforts at a section of the preserve’s shoreline which contains the remnants of a dilapidated oyster shack. Thanks to funding from the previous grant to improve this site, GPC tested and positively identified this debris as friable asbestos-containing material which is slowly deteriorating in the waters of Filucy Bay. This grant will facilitate removal of hazardous debris and coordination of a stewardship volunteer day, thereby completing the shoreline restoration and creating a safe public-access water landing for nonmotorized watercraft. This landing, featuring signage educates paddlers about the natural resources conserved in Filucy Bay and encourages visitors to be respectful of its wildlife habitat and ecological function.
Grant Project: Get Your Feet Wet
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: The Get Your Feet Wet (GYFW) program introduces beach visitors to the plants and animals that inhabit the shorelines of the KGI Watershed. Led by biologists, guided virtual walking tours are designed to educate and inspire participants to be better stewards for our local marine environment. There is a substantial need for environmental education to encourage positive stewardship practices among our residents. GYFW is designed to introduce people of all ages to the plants and animals that inhabit the nearshore environment of the Salish Sea. In 2020, these programs changed to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 limitations on public gatherings. Staff biologists featured a variety of marine invertebrates on these live stream events including sea stars, moon snails, squid eggs, and even octopi! As they toured the intertidal zone, viewers learned about animal anatomy, feeding habits and adaptations, as well as threats to their survival and ways to reduce negative human impact. The GYFW program will continue to provide meaningful virtual educational opportunities to KGI residents in the summer of 2021. A Lu Winsor grant will fund a portion of the 50 scheduled beach walks with at least 5,000 minutes of video footage viewed by local residents.
Grant Project: Community Science Experience
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: The Community Science Experience (CSE) trains people to collect meaningful scientific data to help establish a baseline of biodiversity in the KGI Watershed. These events are designed to fill existing gaps and engage the public in the direct monitoring of the health of their watershed. There are not enough scientists collecting data in the KGI Watershed to provide a solid baseline of biodiversity critical to detect change or evaluate remediation. Harbor WildWatch (HWW) fills that niche by collecting meaningful scientific data to help establish a long-term biodiversity database, oversee consistent water quality monitoring, and provide an educational conduit between researchers and community members. Founded in 2013, the CSE collects data related to the health of our environment including presence of invertebrates, fish and bird populations, and water quality. Historically, volunteers are trained to conduct this monitoring alongside HWW staff and University students. In 2020, this model changed due to COVID-19 limitations on public gathering. To continue to involve the public, CSE began live streaming these events via Facebook and YouTube so community members could safely partake in the monitoring process. The combination of in-person data collection by staff and students along with virtual participation by the public will continue through the end of 2021. A Lu Winsor grant will fund a portion of these events including beach monitoring, bird counts, fish seins, native oyster planting, and water quality testing. In total, this project will include 50 monitoring events in the KGI Watershed with 1,000 minutes of video footage viewed by local residents.
Grant Project: Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve
Award Amount: $2,500
Description: This grant supports expanding community science research on forage fish (surf smelt, sand lance) spawning on Longbranch Peninsula and Anderson Island in connection with the proposed expansion of the Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve (NRAR). The beaches on the south end of Longbranch Peninsula next to the proposed NRAR expansion area support forage fish spawning as do multiple beaches on Anderson Island. Sand lance are a key prey item for Puget Sound Chinook salmon and according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) database, the last confirmed spawn was in 2017. NRNC will develop partnerships in these communities to conduct forage fish surveys as a collaborative science program that gathers baseline data on the presence/absence of forage fish spawning in the area. This will aid WDFW by providing more frequent monitoring that would generate new data with the potential to strengthen existing shoreline protections where forage fish spawning is documented. This grant will fund additional NRNC staff time for continued and expanded research.
- Citizens for a Healthy Bay
- East Tacoma Collaborative & Voice Tacoma Creative Media
- Harbor WildWatch
- Ikkatsu Project
- Pierce Conservation District
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians
- Tacoma School District
- Tacoma Tree Foundation
Grant Project: Environmental Justice Camp
Description: Creating meaningful ways for girls to learn about environmental justice and access environmental education through an annual summer camp program for 50 young women ages 11-17. Offers experiential learning opportunities for young women of color in meaningful, hands-on programs, lessons, and activities to improve their knowledge about water quality, climate change, and other critical issues. The 2021 program will focus on the upper Puyallup watershed, and take campers to the glaciers of Mount Rainier National Park and connect them with other women of color in the environmental field, leave no trace etiquette, orienteering, and hiking.
Grant Project: Swan Creek Park Community Awareness
Description: Building on highly successful initial cleanup events in 2020, this grant supports a community cleanup of Swan Creek Park in East Tacoma with volunteers. A podcast or video will be created to educate and inspire community members to become stewards of this place by participating in future clean up events. This event and media production is being developed with the Spanish-speaking community members who live in the area in mind.
Grant Project: STEM Workshops to Inspire Stewardship
Description: Delivering environmental education to the students, adults, and families in the Puyallup Watershed. The series of activities includes 15 classroom workshops for K-12 students and five guided walking tours for the public at local water bodies. Programs are designed to introduce people to the plants and animals that inhabit the intertidal zone, freshwater creeks, and estuarine habitats, while learning about challenges these creatures face and ways they can protect them. Programs will be offered virtually until it is safe to have in-person events.
Grant Project: Three Rivers
Description: This educational program engages students in collecting and analyzing microplastics in water samples on the Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers. Curriculum necessary for classroom teachers and facilitators to present the lesson and conduct a focused field study for their students will be created. Participants will follow a river from its source to its confluence and take samples to be analyzed later in the classroom. Two kits will be produced for teachers to enable them to do this program without an outside facilitator.
Grant Project: Farm Foundations Program
Description: Farm Foundations is a part-time farm training program aimed at those interested in farming, but for whom traditional farm education is inaccessible. The program mimics a seasonal farm job by running from February to October while being enhanced by hands on learning and classroom time. The program aims to provide opportunities for those historically excluded and undervalued in the agricultural sphere to learn how to farm in a welcoming and supportive space.
Grant Project: Silver Creek – Maple Heights HOA, Round 2
Description: This project is a continuation of a habitat restoration project on Silver Creek in Puyallup that was also funded by the small grants program the previous year. A Washington Conservation Corps crew will spend two days removing non-native vegetation that wasn’t fully eradicated during the first round, to make way for additional native plantings that will be installed by the volunteers with the Maple Heights HOA homeowners.
Grant Project: Earth Day 2022
Description: This grant provides equipment needed for cleanup and removal of trash at three sites in Tacoma for Earth Day 2022, currently identified as the Canoe Landing site, Puyallup Tribal Ceremonial Grounds site, and Swan Creek. Locations were selected based on need, ecological, and cultural/historic importance to the Tribe. The events will be organized by a team of volunteers with the Puyallup Tribe’s Sustainability Working Group. Tribal and community members will be invited to participate.
Grant Project: Swan Creek Salmon Release
Description: Supporting bus transportation for 5th grade students to have field experiences by participating in juvenile salmon releases into Swan Creek. This is part of a new and expanding program with a goal to raise Salmon in the Classroom at all elementary schools in the Tacoma School District. While in the field, in addition to releasing the juvenile salmon, students will analyze water quality, vegetation, shade, and levels of macroinvertebrates. They will also use field guides to identify invasive species.
Grant Project: Hilltop Tree Giveaway and Homeopathic Uses Presentation
Description: Distribution of 100 free trees and 30 shrubs to residents living in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma and demonstrate proper planting techniques and watering guidance to ensure survivability. This area currently has a low tree canopy density and is identified as an area of highest need on the City of Tacoma’s Equity Index. They will also provide a free educational presentation about the benefits and traditional plant uses, which is a topic of interest to residents based on previous similar events held in the neighborhood.