City of Lake Forest Park News Release

Environmental Mini-grants Program for Storm Related Repairs

The City of Lake Forest Park is offering an incentive mini-grant program for businesses, individuals and non-profits up to $1000 to restore flood related damage near streams.

These grants are available to individuals and business that experienced storm related damage along creeks and streams in Lake Forest Park. If you are planning to restore the streamside by, for example, removing the hard edges of stream banks, planting or replanting with native plants, replacing culverts with fish friendly ones, you may be eligible for up to $1000 in an incentive grant from the City. The matching grants are available to foster the improvement of the natural environment within the City and to reduce the long-term impact of flooding.

Examples of other uses for these storm related mini-grants include:

Culvert replacement that meets current fish friendly standards as determined by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Removing non-native invasive plant species from aquatic habitats and restoring native plant species and riparian vegetation.
Replacing lawns with native plants near streams and wetlands.
Creating native buffers between lawns and rivers, streams, or lakes.
Replacing non-native vegetation with native species.
Installing less water – and chemical-intensive alternatives to grass lawns.
Removing fish passage blockages that are located on private property and located within a lake, stream, or wetland.
Removing bank armoring where it had been installed to protect from flows associated with waterways.
Re-establishing creek connectivity where connectivity has been disrupted.
Improving onsite stormwater infiltration and management

Additional matching money is available for neighbors who work on contiguous property.

Applications for this special incentive grant need to be completed by December 1, 2008 and will be available until funds for this grant are depleted.

The Environmental Quality Commission will review the application and forward a recommendation to the City for final approval.

You can get an application at City Hall or by clicking here .