By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director
On Tuesday, September 8, the King County Flood Control District (KCFCD) announced the recipients of the 2026 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program, awarding $14,307,027 to 39 projects across King County aimed at reducing flood risks and improving resilience for local communities.
The Flood Reduction Grant Program was created in 2014 to provide a flood reduction benefit focusing on geographic equity, funding smaller flood reduction projects that generally would not be part of the KCFCD’s capital program. The program was expanded in 2020, adding three application categories. Today, the Flood Reduction Grant Program is comprised of four different categories: (1) original flood reduction grants; (2) urban flooding and small stream erosion; (3) coastal erosion and sea level rise; and (4) culvert replacement and fish passage. This year, the application process included a new scoring criterion – 10 additional points for projects responding to new or exacerbated issues related to the 2025/2026 flood season.
The KCFCD received 46 grant requests for the 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program, totaling $33,213,081. The 2026 budget authorized $14,307,228. Therefore, the amount of grant requests exceeded the amount of funds available for the 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program by over $18.9 million. There was at least one grant application from every King County Council District, including applications submitted by 19 cities, 1 county, 15 non-profits, 7 homeowners associations, 2 special purpose districts, and 2 land trusts. Of the 46 applications, 27 were in the original category; 12 were submitted in the urban flooding and small stream erosion category; 2 were for the coastal erosion and seal level rise category; and 5 were in the culvert replacement and fish passage category.
District 1
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $2,603,581 in funding to the following projects located in District 1.
- Cultivate received $250,000 for Nature-based Urban Designs (award shared with Districts 1, 2, 4, and 8)
- City of Kirkland received $200,000 for Holmes Point Drive NE Pipe Installation
- Seattle Parks Foundation received $400,000 for Duwamish Valley and Thornton Creek Industrial Greening (award shared with Districts 1 and 8)
- City of Shoreline received $350,000 for Storm Creek Erosion Management Project – Construction Phase
- Springbrook Square HOA received $90,000 for Juanita Creek Tributary Pedestrian Bridge Flood Damage Repair
- EarthCorps received $105,316 for Kirland Knotweed Flood Reduction (award shared with Districts 1 and 6)
- EarthCorps received $208,265 for Seattle Public Utility Knotweed Knockout (award shared with Districts 1 and 4)
- Seattle Public Utilities received $1,000,000 for North Thornton Natural Drainage System Construction
District 2
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $1,985,000 in funding to the following projects located in District 2.
- Cultivate received $250,000 for Nature-based Urban Designs (award shared with Districts 1, 2, 4, and 8)
- Homestead Community Land Trust received $1,000,000 for Skyway Affordable Homeownership
- Seattle Parks & Recreation received $500,000 for Arboretum Creek Headwaters – Construction Phase 2
- Stewardship Partners received $235,000 for the Adopt-a-Downspout Project Expansion: Phase 2 (award shared with Districts 2, 6, and 9)
District 3
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $3,571,173 in funding to the following projects located in District 3.
- Carnation Farms received $75,000 for Flood Risk Reduction on the Snoqualmie River
- King Conservation District received $350,000 for the KCD Agricultural Drainage Project – Phase 13 (award shared with Districts 3, 5, 7, and 9)
- City of Sammamish received $200,000 for the Loree Estates Outfall Diversion
- Town of Skykomish received $257,194 for the Maloney Creek Sediment Removal Design & Permitting
- Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance received $275,000 for the Floodzilla & Flood Preparedness Initiative
- Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District received $492,010 for the Ames Creek Watershed Improvements
- Wild Fish Conservancy received $238,348 for the 101P-02 Unnamed Tributary to Patterson Creek Culvert Replacement (Phase I – Design & Permitting)
- Adopt A Stream Foundation received $750,000 for the Friendly Village Flood Resilience and Bridge Replacement
- Trout Unlimited received $683,621 for the Flood Protection in Lower Laughing Jacobs Creek (Reach 1 construction)
- City of Woodinville received $250,000 for the Culvert Removal & Fish Passage Restoration on Urban Stream Under Eastrail Corridor – Phase 1
District 4
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $458,265 in funding to the following projects located in District 4.
- Cultivate received $250,000 for Nature-based Urban Designs (award shared with Districts 1, 2, 4, and 8)
- EarthCorps received $208,265 for Seattle Public Utility Knotweed Knockout (award shared with Districts 1 and 4)
District 5
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $1,700,000 in funding to the following projects located in District 5.
- King Conservation District received $350,000 for the KCD Agricultural Drainage Project – Phase 13 (award shared with Districts 3, 5, 7, and 9)
- City of Renton received $400,000 for the Hardie Ave SW Flood Risk Reduction
- City of Kent received $750,000 for the Earthworks Sediment Pond Culvert Replacement (award shared with Districts 5 and 7)
- City of Des Moines received $200,000 for the Des Moines Creek Estuary Restoration Final Design
District 6
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $440,316 in funding to the following projects located in District 6.
- Washington Shores Condo Association received $45,000 for the Washington Shores II Drainage, Access, and Site Improvements
- Town of Yarrow Point received $55,000 for the CIP No. 4 – Stormwater Improvement
- EarthCorps received $105,316 for Kirland Knotweed Flood Reduction (award shared with Districts 1 and 6)
- Stewardship Partners received $235,000 for the Adopt-a-Downspout Project Expansion: Phase 2 (award shared with Districts 2, 6, and 9)
District 7
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $1,759,000 in funding to the following projects located in District 7.
- City of Algona received $359,000 for the 11th Avenue North Flood Reduction Property Acquisition
- King Conservation District received $350,000 for the KCD Agricultural Drainage Project – Phase 13 (award shared with Districts 3, 5, 7, and 9)
- City of Kent received $750,000 for the Earthworks Sediment Pond Culvert Replacement (award shared with Districts 5 and 7)
- City of Auburn received $300,000 for the Auburn 400 Flood Mitigation Ponds/15th St SE Culvert
District 8
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $2,030,000 in funding to the following projects located in District 8.
- Cultivate received $250,000 for Nature-based Urban Designs (award shared with Districts 1, 2, 4, and 8)
- ECOSS received $400,000 for the Duwamish Valley Industrial Greening: ECOSS – Phase 3
- King County Water & Land Resources Division received $500,000 for the White Center Ponds Cells 2 and 3 Stormwater Retrofit
- Seattle Parks Foundation received $400,000 for Duwamish Valley and Thornton Creek Industrial Greening (award shared with Districts 1 and 8)
- Vashon Maury Island Land Trust received $480,000 for the North Maury Bulkhead Removal
District 9
The 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program awarded $3,493,273 in funding to the following projects located in District 9.
- Forestbrook Homeowners Association received $120,000 for the Forestbrook Honey Dew Creek Slope Stabilization Project
- King Conservation District received $350,000 for the KCD Agricultural Drainage Project – Phase 13 (award shared with Districts 3, 5, 7, and 9)
- Lake Sawyer Community Club received $200,273 for the Hydrogeologic Assessment of Lake Sawyer Water Level Dynamics and Flood Risk Drivers Project
- City of Maple Valley received $125,000 for the Cedar Downs Flood Reduction Basin Study
- Neely Mansion Association received $175,000 for the Neely Mansion Flood Protection and Prevention Project
- City of Newcastle received $375,000 for the S-040 Landcastle Water Quality Improvement Project
- City of Covington received $750,000 for the SE 256th Street Culvert Replacement Project
- City of Enumclaw received $663,000 for the Battersby West Culvert Replacement Construction Project
- King County Road Services Division received $500,000 for the 208th Avenue SE at SE 135th Street Culvert Replacement Project
- Stewardship Partners received $235,000 for the Adopt-a-Downspout Project Expansion: Phase 2 (award shared with Districts 2, 6, and 9)
In Honor of Steve Bleifuhs
In October 2024, the King County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors renamed the program after Steve Bleifuhs, a long-time King County floodplain management leader. Bleifuhs, who passed away in July 2024, was instrumental in shaping flood hazard management in the county, including the development of the 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan.
More information is available at the Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program webpage.