Puget Sound Protection and Restoration: Tribal Implementation Assistance Program

 

Puget Sound has been designated as one of 28 estuaries of National Significance under ?320 of the Clean Water Act. The goal of the National Estuary Program is to attain and maintain water quality in designated estuaries that would assure protection of public water supplies and the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish and wildlife and allows recreational activities in and on the water. The Puget Sound National Estuary Program's approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) is the Action Agenda. The goal of the Action Agenda is to restore and maintain the Puget Sound estuarine environment by 2020 so that it will support balanced indigenous populations of shellfish, fish and wildlife and support the extensive list of recognized uses of Puget Sound. The EPA is committed to protecting and improving water quality and minimizing the adverse impacts of rapid development in the Puget Sound Basin. These commitments include protecting the watersheds and waters of Puget Sound by protecting the fundamental watershed processes that provide and create aquatic habitats and by reducing the generation and release of toxic, nutrient and pathogen pollution. The Puget Sound Protection and Restoration: Tribal Implementation Assistance Program is aimed at assisting the Indian Tribes of the greater Puget Sound basin in their efforts to carry out work critically needed for Puget Sound protection and restoration. This work includes activities identified in, or consistent with, the Action Agenda such as efforts called for by established salmon recovery plans in the Puget Sound basin. EPA has a trust responsibility to Federally recognized Indian Tribes. EPA also recognizes that Federally recognized Indian Tribes in the greater Puget Sound basin have a critical role in the protection and restoration of the ecosystem and its resources. EPA seeks to provide financial assistance to these Tribes to help them implement priority strategies and actions in or consistent with the approved Clean Water Act ?320 CCMP for Puget Sound. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2019: Tribal Capacity (non-competitive) Capacity grants will be continued with incremental FFY2019 funding to support each Tribe and Consortium to participate in the Puget Sound Management Conference, depending on appropriations. Eligible tasks include representing tribal interests in Management Conference forums and processes and other activities like identifying limiting factors to habitat protection and salmon and shellfish recovery. Tribal Implementation Lead (competitive) This grant will be continued with incremental FFY2019 funding, depending on appropriations, to support eligible subaward work which includes watershed and marine/estuary habitat restoration projects. We anticipate that many of these projects will directly address salmon and shellfish recovery.

Active 66.121 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 Accomplishments in FFY2016: Example Tribal Capacity award accomplishments during FY 2016: •Completed aerial and historic map review as part of a channel re-alignment and fish passage feasibility and alternatives analysis of upper Boise Creek (RM 4.3 to 4.6). This task supports development of the conceptual design of this habitat restoration project to restore access by anadromous salmon including ESA-listed fish of approximately 6,000 lineal feet of stream corridor in prime salmon-bearing tributary of the White River within tribe's Usual and Accustomed fishing area. Increase in ESA-listed fish production would be an estimated 40 chinook, 15 steelhead redds and 100 coho redds. (Puyallup Tribe). •Continue to actively participate in regional and local Puget Sound Management Conference processes and forums, including the Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC), the Straits Ecosystem Recovery Network (ERN), and the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, to discuss issues of concern for the tribe. This includes assisting in developing strategies for protecting and restoring habitats and species in Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe). Example Lead Organization award accomplishments during FY 2016: •Completed extended sampling of nutrient sources and harmful algal blooms (HABs) for the Sequim Bay watershed (sampling extended into FY16 due to extended algae blooms), and initiated statistical analysis of sampling results (sub-award to Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe) •Continuing to lead coordination and integration of data and analyses for Skagit Watershed Salmon Recovery Plan, including working with subgroups on modeling and GIS analysis (sub-award to Skagit River System Cooperative) Accomplishments in FFY2016: Example Tribal Capacity award accomplishments during FY 2016: •Completed aerial and historic map review as part of a channel re-alignment and fish passage feasibility and alternatives analysis of upper Boise Creek (RM 4.3 to 4.6). This task supports development of the conceptual design of this habitat restoration project to restore access by anadromous salmon including ESA-listed fish of approximately 6,000 lineal feet of stream corridor in prime salmon-bearing tributary of the White River within tribe's Usual and Accustomed fishing area. Increase in ESA-listed fish production would be an estimated 40 chinook, 15 steelhead redds and 100 coho redds. (Puyallup Tribe). •Continue to actively participate in regional and local Puget Sound Management Conference processes and forums, including the Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC), the Straits Ecosystem Recovery Network (ERN), and the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, to discuss issues of concern for the tribe. This includes assisting in developing strategies for protecting and restoring habitats and species in Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe). Example Lead Organization award accomplishments during FY 2016: •Completed extended sampling of nutrient sources and harmful algal blooms (HABs) for the Sequim Bay watershed (sampling extended into FY16 due to extended algae blooms), and initiated statistical analysis of sampling results (subaward to Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe) •Continuing to lead coordination and integration of data and analyses for Skagit Watershed Salmon Recovery Plan, including working with subgroups on modeling and GIS analysis (subaward to Skagit River System Cooperative)
Fiscal Year 2017 Projects funded by Lead Tribal Organization Samish Indian Nation. In the past 4 years, Samish Indian Nation Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in partnership with the state department of natural resources and others, has removed over 500,000 pounds of treated wood and other marine debris from public and private shorelines. Samish DNR surveyed islands for creosote and marine debris and located 325 creosote or marine debris sites within the San Juan Islands. European green crabs were detected on Graveyard Spit on the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in April 2017 through monitoring conducted by Washington Sea Grant and the refuge. To date 90 live crabs have been caught on the refuge in a trapping effort led by the Refuge and WDFW invasive species specialists. A single green crab was also found in the Jimmycomelately Creek estuary. Tribal Capacity Grantees Suquamish Indian Tribe: In August 2017, 802 acres within the Liberty Bay Shellfish Growing Area were upgraded to either Approved or Conditionally Approved by the state health department. The Tribe requested the health department to evaluate the classification in 2012, and has been involved in many activities to improve the water quality within the watershed since the growing area was downgraded in May 1991. In addition, Suquamish continued to actively participate in Puget Sound regional planning processes that included the WCLIO, the West Sound Nearshore Integration and Synthesis Project Workgroup, and the Puget Sound Shoreline Armor Implementation Strategy Identification Team
Fiscal Year 2018 15 capacity grantees have participated in local processes such as Shoreline and Growth Management Act forums. 17 Tribes have engaged in regional salmon recovery and Action Agenda meetings. 21 Tribes have engaged in collecting or providing data, traditional knowledge, or other information to local and regional processes. Several Tribes have engaged in creating tribal mechanisms relating to tribal environmental prioritizing in Puget Sound. Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2018
Clean Water Act, Section 320 All federally recognized Indian Tribes located within the greater Puget Sound basin, and any consortium of these eligible Tribes, may apply for funding under the program. The greater Puget Sound basin is defined as all watersheds draining to the U.S. waters of Puget Sound, southern Georgia Basin, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. An eligible Intertribal consortium is one that demonstrates that: 1) a majority of its members meet the eligibility requirements for this program; 2) all members that meet the eligibility requirements authorize the consortium to apply for and receive the grant; and 3) only members that meet the eligibility requirements will benefit directly from the grant project and the consortium agrees to a grant condition to that effect. Federal and state agencies, institutions of higher learning, units of local government, special purpose districts, conservation districts, watershed planning units organized pursuant to RCW 90.82.040 and 060, local management boards organized pursuant to RCW 90.88.030, salmon recovery lead entities organized pursuant to RCW 77.85.050, regional fisheries enhancement group organized pursuant to RCW 77.95.060 and nongovernmental entities are not eligible to directly receive financial assistance awards under this announcement. Business enterprises and individuals or families will also not be eligible applicants. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. The beneficiary of this assistance under this program would be the Federally recognized Indian Tribes or the consortia of these Tribes that receive the assistance. Ultimate beneficiaries would include the tribal members and the general public (due to the general public's interest in restoring and protecting the resources of Puget Sound). Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" . 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through https://www.grants.gov. Additional information on applying for EPA grants can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-apply-grants For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under any RFA or RFP issued under this program. Each Request for Application (RFA) or Request for Proposals (RFP) issued under this program will specify the deadline for that individual solicitation. The Region expects that its review of the applications received in response to competitive announcements will be completed within 120 to 150 days following the deadline for the submission of applications for each Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications (RFA) issued under this program. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be published in the announcement of the competitive funding opportunity (the Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications (RFA)). This assistance may be used by Tribes to plan for and implement work that is critically needed for Puget Sound restoration and protection. Such work includes priority actions or strategies in or consistent with the approved §320 CCMP for Puget Sound including, but not limited to, projects called for by established salmon recovery plans, except where the proposed work is inconsistent with applicable Federal law, regulation or published EPA policy. Additional information on use restrictions, if any, for the Puget Sound Protection and Restoration: Tribal Implementation Assistance Program, will be provided in each competitive announcement published on the EPA Region 10 website. Performance Reports: Recipients of this funding will be required to use EPA's Puget Sound Financial and Ecosystem Accounting Tracking System (FEATS), which is the primary mechanism for performance monitoring. Key grant outputs will be tracked on a semi-annual basis through FEATS, as well as progress towards project milestones and deliverables. FEATS provides linkages to EPA Puget Sound performance measures and Dashboard Indicators. FEATS allows award recipients to share challenges, solutions, lessons learned, and reflections associated with their work. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-federal entities that expend $750,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised by an audit, related records should be maintained until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. The Puget Sound Protection and Restoration: Tribal Implementation Assistance program has no statutory formula for allocating the funds. All of the assistance agreements will be for planning and implementation projects under the Puget Sound Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) under CWA §320(g)(2) and §320(g)(3)(ii). There is a statutory match of 50% of the total project costs for assistance agreements under CWA §320(g)(3)(ii) and CWA Section 320 allows for an aggregate match. For the awards to be made under this program, the Puget Sound Management Conference, represented by the Puget Sound Partnership, has agreed to provide all of the required non-federal match for successful project proposals for FFY 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 under a separate cooperative agreement with EPA. Accordingly, eligible applicants will not be required to provide any of the required non-federal match.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The assistance was awarded for FY2010-2014 and in FY2015 new grants were awarded for FY2015-2020. Funds will be disbursed to assistance recipients in accordance with the terms specified in their respective assistance agreements, and the availability of new appropriations. A new Tribal lead organization cooperative agreement was awarded for FY2016-2021, and incremental funds will be awarded each year depending the availability of new appropriations. Assistance will be disbursed in accordance with the terms of each assistance agreement. Typically, assistance recipients draw funds at either monthly or quarterly intervals based on their incurred costs. None/Not specified. Angela Adams
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Office of Water and Watersheds, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 155 (Mail Code: 19-H16)
Seattle, WA 98101 US
adams.angela@epa.gov
Phone: 206-553-0332 or 1-800-424-4EPA, extension 3-0332 https://www.epa.gov/pugetsound/ 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$7,700,000.00; FY 19 est $7,700,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; - $150,000 - $160,563 with three Tribes receiving an extra $50,000 for Puget Sound Ecosystems Coordination Board participation. In past years, the average capacity award for individual tribes and consortia has been ~$150,000. Yearly the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission receives a larger amount than the standard amount for some overall coordination and communication responsibilities for all 19 eligible tribes. For the Tribal Lead Organization grant, the funding has ranged from $2.490M to $5.48M. For grants and cooperative agreements with local governments, tribal governments and special purpose districts, the procedures and requirements should be in conformance with the OMB's Uniform Grants Guidance (UGG) located in 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). 40 C.F.R. Part 35 "Environmental Program Grants-State, Interstate and Local Government Agencies" is still applicable. Fiscal Year 2016 No projects to report with this year funding since the incremental funding will be awarded in late FFY2016. Accomplishments in FFY2016: Example Tribal Capacity award accomplishments during FY 2016: •Completed aerial and historic map review as part of a channel re-alignment and fish passage feasibility and alternatives analysis of upper Boise Creek (RM 4.3 to 4.6). This task supports development of the conceptual design of this habitat restoration project to restore access by anadromous salmon including ESA-listed fish of approximately 6,000 lineal feet of stream corridor in prime salmon-bearing tributary of the White River within tribe's Usual and Accustomed fishing area. Increase in ESA-listed fish production would be an estimated 40 chinook, 15 steelhead redds and 100 coho redds. (Puyallup Tribe). •Continue to actively participate in regional and local Puget Sound Management Conference processes and forums, including the Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC), the Straits Ecosystem Recovery Network (ERN), and the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, to discuss issues of concern for the tribe. This includes assisting in developing strategies for protecting and restoring habitats and species in Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe). Example Lead Organization award accomplishments during FY 2016: •Completed extended sampling of nutrient sources and harmful algal blooms (HABs) for the Sequim Bay watershed (sampling extended into FY16 due to extended algae blooms), and initiated statistical analysis of sampling results (subaward to Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe) •Continuing to lead coordination and integration of data and analyses for Skagit Watershed Salmon Recovery Plan, including working with subgroups on modeling and GIS analysis (subaward to Skagit River System Cooperative)
Fiscal Year 2018 Tribal Implementation Projects - The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Dungeness River. As of 2018 (part-way through this multi-year project), the tribe has successfully conserved an addition 8 acres of floodplain habitat on the Dungeness River. Protection of floodplain habitat is recognized as a priority within the Puget Sound National Environmental Program (NEP) Management Conference and within the Puget Sound NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). Developing and maintaining relationships between tribal staff and landowners is key to working through these complex processes and sustaining support for conservation and restoration efforts. The skills that the tribe and its partners have developed are in demand from other entities working to restore Puget Sound and they are frequently invited to participate in regional discussions on improving the efficiency of conservation projects. Effective collaborative governance and collaborative restoration is a hallmark of the goals of the NEP program. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is a strong partner in the urgent regional effort to stem the invasion of European Green Crab. The tribe leads monitoring and eradication efforts in the tidal channels of Dungeness Bay and Sequim Bay; in 2018 they led a successful monitoring season with no additional green crab found in Sequim Bay however, Dungeness Bay continues to produce green crab. Green Crab was removed from tidal channels; an additional 60 crabs were removed from Dungeness Bay. The Makah Tribe is leading a Brownfield remediation effort to protect and restore part of their reservation’s watershed. Protection of Puget Sound tribal watersheds and resources is recognized as a priority within the Puget Sound National Environmental Program (NEP) Management Conference and within the Puget Sound NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).The tribe selected and contracted with a firm for this project because of their previous experience with the site, their knowledge of the issues at the site, and understanding of the project’s goals. The Nisqually Tribe continued to work collaboratively with many other regional science and salmon management authorities to support a large and exemplary U.S.-Canada joint scientific effort to identify the causes and potential solutions to patterns of massive mortality of juvenile salmon as they transit Puget Sound and greater Salish Sea, which extends into Canada. This effort is recognized as a priority within the Puget Sound National Environmental Program (NEP) Management Conference and within the Puget Sound NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The tribe uses this funding to provide facilitation support for the U.S. Coordinating Committee, U.S. Technical Team, and U.S.-Canada research teams leading pending and active research activities; to ensure coordination between the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project and other relevant Puget Sound-region management initiatives. The Nisqually Tribe is also evaluating and implementing management plans for riparian habitat in four priority areas of the Nisqually Watershed, including the Nisqually Estuary, Mashel River, Ohop Creek, and the Nisqually River mainstem. Riparian issues are clearly recognized as a priority within the Puget Sound NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). In addition, the Nisqually Chinook Recovery Plan, a regional plan developed by multiple entities under the ESA-listing of the Puget Sound Chinook, has designated these areas as highest priority for restoration in the watershed. The Tribe will develop a maintenance plan for each of the priority areas and perform maintenance tasks identified during habitat assessment on up to 25 acres of riparian habitat. To date, the tribe has conducted site visits to 5 riparian areas for this project. Tribal Capacity Grants - During FY2018, in response to downgrades of 65 acres of shellfish growing areas from Approved to Prohibited, the Suquamish Tribe used this funding to support staff who coordinated with the county health district to identify potential sources and corrective actions. The Suquamish Tribe leads planning and assessment studies to protect local watersheds. In FY 2018, they completed two watershed assessment reports and submitted an abstract on one of these projects to the largest regional Puget Sound/Salish Sea ecosystem recovery conference. Muckleshoot Tribe In FY2018, the Muckleshoot Tribe continued its work monitoring upstream migration and pre-spawning mortality of Chinook salmon in the Green-Duwamish River. Puget Sound chinook salmon recovery is a central regional priority for the Puget Sound regional recovery effort. Tagging began July 23, 2018 and was completed September 5th, 2018 after 297 adult Chinook were equipped with tag bundles. Monitoring migration by mobile and stationary tracking occurred on schedule. Spawning ground carcass surveys started on time and, depending on weather conditions, will continue through early November. Stationary receivers have been downloaded as scheduled. As of September 30, 2018, 47 tags were recovered from Chinook fisheries, 8 tags were recovered from the spawning grounds and 23 tags were recovered from Soos Creek Hatchery; additional tags will be recovered as spawning continues.