Apply for a Backyard Habitat Grant to restore your
stream or shoreline

(Port Orchard, WA) - Residents in unincorporated Kitsap County can apply for a Backyard Habitat Grant to restore streams and shorelines on private and public properties. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $5,000. Applications can be submitted from November 1 to December 15, 2011.

The Backyard Habitat Grant projects will help restore streams to natural conditions, improve fish and wildlife habitat, stabilize banks, and maintain views and access to shorelines. Projects may include:

• Planting stream side or shoreline areas with native plants

• Removing debris

• Removing undersized culverts, old dams or concrete structures to improve fish passage

• Removing noxious weeds and replacing with native plants

• Adding woody debris and stream gravel to enhance streams

Carin Anderson, Backyard Habitat Grant manager with the Kitsap Conservation District says: “The Backyard Habitat Grant program started this year, and we awarded six grants for a total of $20,000. We have more funding available next year and encourage landowners, organizations, and conservation groups to apply.”

To apply, contact Carin Anderson at (360) 337-7171 ext 22 or
carin-anderson@conservewa.net or download the application from the Kitsap Conservation District’s web site, www.kitsapcd.org. The application includes basic information about the project, anticipated timeline, and project cost. You can request funds for materials, landowner or contractor labor, equipment rental, and other project expenses.

If your project is selected for a grant, the Kitsap Conservation District will help you create a plan, assist with project permitting (if required), and help answer questions about project implementation.

For more information, click here for the Backyard Habitat Grants brochure.

See photos of successful 2011 Backyard Habitat Grant projects
here on flickr.