The National Estuary Program was established in 1987 by Congress to restore and protect estuaries of national significance. To date, 28 estuaries have been designated of national significance and are part of the National Estuary Program. Under the Clean Water Act, each NEP develops a comprehensive plan to advance the health and resilience of their Estuary, known as Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMP). NEP’s leverage funding and resources, and work with myriad partners to advance the actions in their CCMPs. The 2016 reauthorization of the National Estuary Program under the Clean Water Act included the addition of a competitive award to address urgent and challenging issues. Restore America’s Estuaries is administering this competitive award process through the National Estuary Program Coastal Watersheds Grant Program (NEP CWG). Complete information on NEP CWG, including specific priorities for the 2023 Request for Proposals, is available at https://estuaries.org/initiatives/watershedgrants.

Eligibility for funding is based on a map provided by Restore America’s Estuaries that includes the boundaries of the 28 National Estuary Programs as well as some adjacent watersheds outside of those boundaries. Proposed projects must demonstrate how they relate to and carry out the priority actions in one of the 28 NEP CCMPs, “or other existing state or locally approved community-based watershed management plan.” In addition, all proposed projects must include a letter of acknowledgement from the NEP located within the eligible geographic area for CWG funding. A letter of acknowledgement is not a recommendation from the Puget Sound Partnership. Please contact Matt Colston (matthew.colston@psp.wa.gov) if you are interested in partnering on a proposal. Note that Letters of Support are neither requested nor considered under the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Letter of Interest (LOI) or Full Proposal stages.

The Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership) is the state agency formed to support the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with more than 750 partners including Tribes, city and county governments, scientists, businesses, and non-profits, the Partnership coordinates and catalyzes partner action around a common Action Agenda. The Action Agenda serves as the agency’s CCMP, and outlines goals, priorities, and recommended actions to advance Puget Sound recovery. Our mission is broad: to ensure healthy and vibrant human populations, a thriving ecosystem with healthy species and habitats, and abundant and clean water.