By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director

Every year on February 2^nd, the world comes together to celebrate World Wetlands Day, a United Nations International Day dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role wetlands play in our ecosystem. This year’s theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” highlights the urgent need to conserve and restore these precious habitats, which are disappearing three times faster than forests. At the King County Flood Control District (KCFCD), as we approach this annual global celebration, we recognize the importance of wetlands not just for flood risk reduction but also for their critical contributions to biodiversity, climate resilience, and salmon recovery.

Why Wetlands Matter

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat for a diverse array of species and playing a crucial role in water purification, flood regulation, and carbon sequestration. However, with nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands degraded, the need for conservation is more pressing than ever. Our investments in wetland restoration are vital for sustaining these ecosystems, which in turn support our flood risk reduction objectives and enhance community resilience.

Our Commitment to Multi-Benefits

While our primary mission is to manage flood risks by implementing flood mitigation projects and programs, we are also committed to fostering habitat restoration and supporting the recovery of endangered salmon species. In fact, our commitment to advancing principles of integrated floodplain management extends to balancing flood risk reduction with several other multi-benefits including equity and social justice, agriculture, habitat protection, salmon recovery, recreation, and a vibrant economy, among others.

Considering multi-benefits in flood risk reduction projects is crucial because it ensures that our efforts not only help protect lives and property but also help meet a multitude of other important community needs. For example, by integrating habitat restoration, salmon recovery, and biodiversity conservation into our projects, where practicable, we create resilient ecosystems that can better withstand and adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The KCFCD defines habitat protection and salmon recovery as restoring and helping to protect riparian and in-stream habitats to benefit fish and aquatic organisms and to support long-range recovery goals for Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed Chinook and steelhead. We include habitat protection and improvement as part of flood hazard mitigation actions, when feasible, and the KCFCD also contributes significant annual funding to the goals and habitat restoration targets in four Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs), which are related to major river basins throughout the county.

Supporting WRIAs with the Cooperative Watershed Management Grants Program

One of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to multi-benefit projects, particularly habitat restoration and salmon recovery, is through the Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) Grants Program. In 2025, the KCFCD allocated over $11.6 million to support critical habitat restoration projects across key watersheds, aiming to bolster salmon recovery and enhance watershed health. These funds are directed toward four major WRIAs:

• Snoqualmie/Skykomish (WRIA 7)
• Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish (WRIA 8)
• Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound (WRIA 9)
• Puyallup-White (WRIA 10)

Each WRIA has already started its application process, seeking grant proposals supported by CWM Grant funding from the KCFCD for salmon habitat restoration and protection projects, salmon-focused outreach and education programs, and priority monitoring and assessment activities occurring within their watershed boundaries. The WRIA Forums typically provide their grant funding recommendations to the KCFCD by May. The KCFCD Board of Supervisors then reviews the WRIA recommendations, taking them into consideration as they make the final approval for the allocations of funds – this final approval by the KCFCD Board of Supervisors generally happens at their June or July board meeting.

Following final approval of funding by the KCFCD’s Supervisors, the WRIAs then enter contracts with the applicants for the work to proceed. The grant recipients typically have three-years to complete the proposed work and expend the approved and allocated funds.

Restoration and Salmon Recovery: A Collaborative Effort

Protecting & Restoring Wetlands

As we celebrate World Wetlands Day on February 2, 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting these invaluable ecosystems. By integrating habitat restoration into our flood risk reduction strategies, the KCFCD is not only helping to safeguard communities but also contributing to a healthier, more sustainable environment for future generations. You can learn more about our flood risk reduction projects and our CWM Grant Program by visiting our Investments & Projects and Grant Funds & Programs webpages.

You can also take action to help protect wetlands by:

• Reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers in your yard and garden to prevent harmful runoff.
• Supporting and volunteering with local conservation groups dedicated to wetland preservation.
• Advocating for policies that protect wetlands at the local, state, and national levels.
• Participating in wetland clean-up events to remove trash and invasive species.
• Educating others about the importance of wetlands and how they can contribute to their protection.

Together, we can ensure resilient and thriving ecosystems for all!