North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity For Salmon
					Clallam County Courthouse
					223 E. Fourth Street, # 5
					Port Angeles, WA  98362
                                       (360) 417-2326

HOW TO APPLY:
        		
N.Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity for Salmon’s 
 2026 SRFB/PSAR Grant Guidelines

In January & February 2026, the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity for Salmon is accepting project applications for potential 2026 Salmon Recovery Funding Board(SRFB) grants and 2027 Puget Sound Acquisition & Restoration funds(PSAR). 
  
According to our N.Olympic Lead Entity Group, regional recovery organization and others, projects submitted for funding must be high ranking and part of the priority projects which qualify for applying as indicated in our lead entity’s 2025 four year work plan. The ranked 2025 Workplan is a separate document. 

All applicants seeking funding for projects within the N. Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity boundary must submit their SRFB & PSAR grant applications to the N.Olympic Lead Entity which vets and decides which projects will be submitted to the SRFB for possible funding. Applicants must also fulfill local, regional and state grant submission requirements, including those laid out here, as well as in the SRFB’s Manual 18 which specifies how to complete salmon recovery grants applications.

Please note Manual 18 which governs much of these grants can be found on the SRFB website:
https://rco.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SAL-Manual18.pdf 
For acquisition projects, see SRFB manuals on Acquiring Land: Policy Manual #3.
For Large Scale Acquisition projects, see SRFB manuals on Acquiring Land: Policy Manual #3, plus our Large Scale Land Acquisition Policy. 

(Note: there is no funding to allocate for Monitoring in 2026.)For Monitoring Project Proposals, refer to: 

https://rco.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MON-MonitoringGrantRFP.pdf

The N. Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity’s grant process includes the following Required Deadlines, Meetings & Responsibilities:

Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, (Preferably Sooner): Potential project sponsors are required to send an electronic Letter of Intent indicating which project proposals they plan to submit for the current 2026 Grant Round and an estimate of potential funding amount to be requested per project via either a simple e-mail or via a letter which is attached to an e-mail. E-mail should be sent to both the N. Olympic LE Coordinator at:  cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov & Lara Kawal at lara.kawal@clallamcountywa.gov

Early submittals always welcomed and result in your getting a PRISM number sooner from us which gives you more time to work on your application in PRISM. We will start your project in the Salmon Recovery Portal & then get you a PRISM number.

Thurs. Jan. 29, 2026 RCO Application Virtual Workshop, particularly helpful for new project sponsors & grant applicants.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026:  Grant Applications due in PRISM. Final Deadline by which Project applicants MUST HAVE ENTERED ALL required information and attachments in the SRFB’s electronic PRISM system.  First Time project applicants will need to download PRISM onto their computers beforehand and will need to contact SRFB for a Password which allows them to access PRISM. It takes at least 2 business days to get a password, so do not delay. Also, NO INCOMPLETE FORMS may be entered into PRISM (such as unsigned landowner acknowledgement forms). For more information on PRISM, see SRFB Project Manual 18 referenced on Page 2.

Project applicants must also send an e-mail to N.Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Coordinator Cheryl Baumann Cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov letting her know your Project Name & PRISM project number and when your project application has been completed and is available in PRISM.

When entering projects in PRISM, project sponsors must list the N. Olympic Lead Entity and Coordinator Cheryl Baumann in the contact information section so that we may access your application. 

Make sure and hit SAVE regularly when entering projects in PRISM. Only hit submit AFTER you have completed your entire application in PRISM.

No application submittal by e-mail, hard copy or fax. Required elements(as listed in SRFB Manual 18 referenced above) include a completed, full application, including:

·	A Signed Landowner Acknowledgement Form
·	A Project Location Map
·	A Site or Parcel Map
·	A Preliminary Design Plan or sketch for restoration projects & future restoration projects
·	A Project description
·	Estimated Budget
·	Evidence that the project is part of a recovery plan or lead entity strategy (please cite specifics)
•	What salmon species the project will benefit and what restoration goals and objectives will be met
·	If the project or any portion has been previously reviewed and/or funded by SRFB, then provide the project name and SRFB project number or year of application . If the project was submitted for funding but later withdrawn or was not considered for SRFB funding, please describe how the current project differs from the original.
·	Anything else required in the SRFB’s Manual 18.

NOTE: SRFB Review Panel members require complete applications, so project sponsors must have a complete, thorough application and supply the required elements listed within Manuel 18 or it could result in your project being removed from this grant round. 

Please also note that all application materials will be available to the public throughout the process on the world-wide web via a new change that will allow PRISM application materials to also populate the online Salmon Recovery Portal. Community outreach is possible regarding proposed projects, so please make sure you have kept all  landowners and stakeholders informed and updated.

Wed. Feb. 25, 2026 Initial Project Presentations beginning at 9 a.m. Grant applicants make initial project presentations including a virtual 15 minute oral & power point presentation, followed with time for questions and dialogue with N. Olympic Lead Entity Group Members, Technical Reviewers, LEG Members, Citizen Salmon Advocates, the public and anyone else in attendance. Presenters must indicate which weighted watershed score should be used to score the project and explain if it is different than the existing Workplan watershed score used previously to rank the project and why. This allows the TRG to know early in the process if there is a potential discrepancy regarding watershed ranking priority when scoring. Presenters must also come prepared to answer questions about their project proposal. 

Project sponsors will receive feedback during the initial project presentation about ways in which they can strengthen their project proposals and areas which require work. Project sponsors are expected to make changes in their projects and application as a result of feedback given and report back on those changes during their final project presentation.

Tues. Mar. 3rd & Wed. March 4, 2026 Project Site Visits!  (Please block off both days in your calendar) ***  Project sponsors must prepare well in advance of this by getting landowner permission for LE & Review Panel access, figuring out plenty of parking & also in taking photos, videos, drone footage etc. in case the visits are virtual.

During site visits, Grant Applicants present their proposed projects and answer questions posed by SRFB Review Panel Members and the WA Recreation & Conservation Organization Staff, TRG & LEG Members, Citizen Salmon Advocates and others. Site visit schedule to be finalized after initial application project submittal. Project sponsors will receive feedback during the virtual or on-site visits and after about ways in which they can strengthen their project proposals and areas which require work. Project sponsors are expected to make changes in their projects and application as a result of feedback given and doing so sooner rather than later will put you in a better situation with the Review Panel.

Approx. Mon. March 30, 2026 – Approximate SRFB Review Panel Comments Release date. Responses in PRISM due as part of Final Application. 

Mon. April 20, 2026 Final Applications Due! Project Sponsors must enter their final applications and required attachments in PRISM, including Review Panel ResponsNo application submittal by e-mail, hard copy or fax. Please notify the lead entity coordinator Cheryl Baumann by e-mail once you have finished completing your application in PRISM.

Wed. April 22, 2026  Final Project Presentations Beginning at 9 a.m. at Elwha Heritage Center: Grant applicants make a full and final 15 minute oral & power point presentation to the N. Olympic LEG, N. Olympic TRG & Citizen Salmon advocates and the public.  All expected and required elements should be included in PRISM prior to the final application presentation. During the presentation, Grant applicants must show where and how they changed their application or project in response to suggestions and comments made by the SRFB Review Panel, TRG, LEG & other input. TRG members score projects after these presentations. Presentation times to be scheduled beforehand. 

Project Sponsors should keep in mind that the Lead 
Entity will attach Powerpoints presented at the final project presentation in PRISM and on the Salmon Recovery Portal and will therefore be available to the public on the Internet/World-Wide web. 

TRG Scores Due to Lead Entity Coordinator Wed. April 29, 2026

Tues. May 12, 2026 Scoring Meeting 9 a.m.Elwha Heritage Center  – TRG Scoring Meeting to review, sign off on score results and make scoring recommendation. Final scoring results and TRG Recommendation released after that.

Wed. May 13, 2026  (2 p.m. to 5 pm) Project applicants who have proposed projects located in WRIA 17 West & WRIA 18 East in Dungeness present their projects to the Dungeness River Management Team at the Dungeness River Audubon Center in Sequim. DRMT Members score projects following the presentations & DRMT forwards their project funding recommendations to the LEG who considers such when making project funding decisions.

Wed May 27, 2026  LEG Ranking Meeting Elwha Heritage Center. The Lead Entity Group will make ranking decisions and approve the list of projects to be forwarded for funding at this meeting. 

Project sponsors need to provide contact information where they can be reached during June, July & August when projects will be finalized for submittal and to respond to Review Panel Member Comments . 

Members of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board’s Review Panel and RCO Staff will make site visits for all proposed projects unless a visit to a phased or previously visited project is not needed. The Review Panel is comprised of scientists from different disciplines. They will review all grant application materials, listen to project applicants’ presentation at the project site and ask questions. They will use this information to make recommendations regarding whether the project should be considered for funding or whether additional changes or requirements are needed.

In addition, project sponsors must work with the Lead Entity to answer any questions, make requested changes or provide any needed information in order to answer SRFB Review Panel questions or finalize project applications prior to submittal.

Once project lists are submitted, the SRFB Review Panel will note any projects it believes to have low benefits to salmon, low likelihood of success, or costs that outweigh benefits, among others. If questions remains about a particular project, or it is flagged as a Project of Concern, the Lead Entity MAY request that the project sponsor attend a meeting or conference call with the Review Panel to resolve issues. Because the Lead Entity chooses which projects to submit for funding, they also reserve the right to pull Projects which continue to have a Project of Concern designation.

Please note that some projects (instream passage, diversion projects, barrier inventories) also may be submitted to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for a separate technical review. The Panel also meets with each regional organization and lead entity to consider the regional priorities in each list of projects. 

Projects proposed locally for funding are also reviewed by the Puget Sound Partnership’s (PSP) Regional Recovery Implementation Technical Team to see if they can be forwarded for funding.

It is the responsibility of the project sponsor/applicant to meet all deadlines, as well as all Lead Entity,SRFB, PSP & RCO submittal requirements. 

Questions regarding types of projects, project phasing, overall funding requests or strategy should be directed to the Coordinator. Members of the LE's Technical Review Group may also be called on for assistance.

Based on ongoing guidance from the SRFB, RCO, and work with our regional recovery organization, the Puget Sound Partnership; the Lead Entity is to select high priority, strategic projects for funding. These are strategic, high priority projects which are critical to local salmon recovery and restoration (as referenced in our N. Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Strategy, our 2025 N. Olympic Lead Entity Four Year Work Plan and scoring notebook, and the Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan, all of which can be found on the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity’s Salmon Recovery Portal: https://srp.rco.wa.gov/Site/180/projects

If you need help locating documents, please contact Lead Entity Coordinator Cheryl Baumann at: cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov; Cell: 360-912-4152

According to our N.Olympic Lead Entity Group, Puget Sound Partnership regional recovery organization and others, projects submitted for funding must be high priority projects which are part of our lead entity’s 2025 four year work plan and eligible for funding. The workplan includes a ranking of both capital projects and non-capital programs.

The North Olympic Lead Entity’s Technical Review Group(TRG) will score capital projects using the following criteria: 

•	Watershed Priority
•	Addresses Limiting Factor
•	Addresses Stock Status & Trends
•	Benefits an ESA-listed Listed Stock
•	Benefits Other Stocks
•	Protects High-Quality Fish Habitat
•	Restores Formerly Productive Habitat
•	Supports Restoration and Maintenance of Ecosystem Functions
•	Spatial-Temporal Scale of Influence
•	Project Readiness
•	Likelihood of Success based on Proposers Past Success in Implementation
•	Likelihood of Success based on Approach
•	Reasonableness of Cost and Budget

The following criteria will be used by the TRG to score Non-Capital Projects:

•	Advances Robust Harvestable Stocks
•	Advances Implementation of Recovery Plan(s)
•	Advances Habitat Protection and Restoration
•	Advances Recovery of Ecosystem Function
•	Advances Ecosystem Awareness
•	Advances Integration
•	Fulfills Requirements of External Agencies
•	Advances Multi-Agency Funding Strategy
•	Has large Spatial-Temporal Scale of Effects
•	Likelihood of Success based on Proposer’s Past Success in Implementation
•	Likelihood of Success based on Approach
•	Reasonableness of Cost and Budget

The North Olympic Lead Entity’s Technical Review Group (TRG) will score these projects after the final grant application project presentations. 

Once the TRG has scored projects, these scores are compiled and the results released. The results become part of our SRFB grant submittal and are also made available publically.

The Lead Entity Group (LEG) will consider which projects should receive funding based on the above criteria, the recommendation from the Technical Review Group, Review Panel comments and others such as  the Extent of Partnerships and Socio-Political Considerations, Regional Implementation Technical Team comments, TRG scoring recommendations and comments, comments from the Dungeness River Management Team, area citizens, local restoration priorities as outlined in our strategy, workplan and recovery plans, public comments, and information provided by applicants and others when deciding on a final project list to be submitted for funding. 

Projects Selected for Funding

 Applicants whose projects are selected for funding are expected to recognize the funding provided by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Puget Sound Acquisition & Restoration dollars; and the supporting work of the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity for Salmon in any subsequent project materials such as reports, brochures and power points or other presentations. Logos for these organizations will be furnished once projects are accepted for funding. Project sponsors must also regularly keep the N.Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity apprised of ongoing project efforts, project challenges, successes and impediments to advancing projects, as well as project planning meeting dates and times so we are able to track project implementation and provide further assistance when needed. 

For questions, more information or assistance, please contact N.Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Coordinator Cheryl Baumann at 360/912-4152 or cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov 

PLEASE Note: The North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity reserves the right to make any needed changes within this process including meeting dates & deadlines. All active participants will be notified of any changes.