State secures $1M grant to increase flood resilience of Deschutes Estuary restoration project
The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services has received a $1 million federal grant for the Deschutes Estuary restoration project in Olympia.
The funds will be used to help pay for the design and permitting for a habitat berm along the shoreline of Heritage Park to help prevent flooding.
According to a news release from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office, the estuary restoration project is one of six coastal resilience projects in the state to receive a federal grant. The DES’ project received the largest grant out of a total of $3.4 million from the National Coastal Resilience Fund.
The fund comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, according to the release. The NCRF invests in conservation projects that restore or expand natural features, which minimizes the impacts of storms and other naturally occurring events on coastal communities.
These projects will help protect communities from the impacts of storms and flooding and enhance natural habitat for fish and wildlife, according to the release. In 2024 there were 24 climate disasters in the country that each created damage exceeding $1 billion.
“Washington’s beloved coastlines are on the front lines of climate change. These investments will help ensure that communities on the coast have the tools they need,” Cantwell said in the release.
DES spokesperson Kara Klotz said the grant will help pay for the design and permitting for a habitat berm along the shoreline of Heritage Park. She said the berm is a raised, sloped bank with a flat top that is situated along a shoreline.
“The Heritage Park habitat berm will be designed to balance the recreational uses and aesthetics of Heritage Park with the need for increased flood protection and habitat creation,” she said. “The berm aligns with the City of Olympia Sea Level Rise response plan and will be favorable to the habitat that will be restored when we transition the area to an estuary.”
In 2024 numbers, the restoration project in total is expected to cost more than $350 million.
Klotz said DES expects to start design and permitting in 2025 and continue through 2026. When construction is complete, the berm will be able to contain up to 3 feet of sea level rise. The berm will be 2 to 4 feet higher than the path around the lake.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 12:03 PM.
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