Funding Sources
On this page:
- Grants
- Agency Funds
- Taxes and Fees
- Loans (including Craft3)
- For other topics see sidebar at right.
Grants
Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay Shellfish Protection Districts (SPDs) / Pierce County Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC):
Various grants have been utilized to build and refine the Pierce County Shellfish Partners effort, including centennial grants from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Pierce County also can provide grants for on-site sewage system (OSS) repairs if there is a financial need and repairs would provide a significant water quality benefit. Community Connections assesses the financial need of a property owner and makes a recommendation to the County as to whether funding should be in the form of a grant, grant and loan combination, or a loan. Recently the County added a clause to the grant funding agreement that if the property is sold within three years, any grant has to be repaid.
Henderson and Nisqually SPDs:
Thurston County has received grants from the Washington State Department of Health (Health) to supplement implementation of the Henderson marine recovery program, specifically the owner training classes, database development and compliance.
Jefferson County Clean Water District (CWD):
Grants, such as centennial grants, fund other work of the CWD.
Kitsap Public Health District:
Kitsap Health is funded by Kitsap's stormwater utility. That funding is leveraged to seek federal, state and local grants and private foundation grants. Grant funding has become more competitive and application and reporting requirements have become more detailed and time-consuming.
Oakland Bay CWD:
The current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Estuary Program (NEP) PIC grant runs through December 31, 2014. No funding has been secured for this work beyond that date.
Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed CWD:
Funded by grants only. Recent funding has included Centennial Grants and EPA funding for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and NEP funds issued through DOH. Numerous grant sources have been relied upon to pipe irrigation ditches.
Skagit County Clean Water Program (CWP) / The Clean Samish Initiative (CSI) / PIC Program:
$960,000 in EPA PIC funding for 3 and a half years (expired December 2013) was used to establish the PIC program in the Samish Basin. Additional EPA grant dollars were obtained by Skagit County to address fecal coliform pollution in the Padilla Bay watershed.
Funding for Public Health work in the Marine Recovery Areas (MRAs) varies from year to year. In a typical year, approximately $50,000 is available for base funding of this work. Skagit County has also received approximately an additional $75,000 per year for special projects.
Stillaguamish River CWD:
In the Stillaguamish CWD, a fraction of the revenue collected goes to a grant program for water quality projects on private land. Recently, septic repairs have become eligible for this funding as well. This funding is generous (currently at $10,000), but the County has seen a significant impact from the repairs. The county is now looking into smaller rebate programs, and trying to evaluate the work that's been funded to date.
Ecology offered a grant to investigate a number of pet businesses for pet waste education and outreach.
Agency Funds
Henderson and Nisqually SPDs:
A total of $146,000 a year (50% of the Conservation District assessment) funds water quality improvement projects within the SPDs.
Kitsap Public Health District:
The Kitsap Conservation District (KCD) facilitates funding through partners including the National Resources Conservation Service, Washington Conservation Commission, and local funding sources. The KCD facilitates the cost-share application process and lets homeowners know about available funding. Sometimes the KCD will put together packages of potential projects they can pull off the shelf when funding becomes available.
Oakland Bay CWD:
The current EPA NEP PIC grant runs through December 31, 2014. No funding has been secured for this work beyond that date.
Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed CWD:
Clallam County was able to access EPA support through the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, who funded a position at the county for a number of years. When that funding ended, the position was eliminated. The county hasn't been able to determine whether there was a direct connection between the staff position and improvements in water quality data.
Clallam County has reviewed the following funding options:
Sewage, Water and Drainage Systems (36.94 RCW).
Creates an OSS management utility, but this program is more appropriate for a sewer system, not an OSS. To establish this utility, the county would need to develop a plan, designate committee to review the plan, and then forward the plan to the county commissioners. This work would take about 1-2 years and require $40,000 to $60,000 to complete.
Stormwater Control Facilities (36.89 RCW).
This allows Counties to maintain, operate, or improve stormwater control facilities, including wastewater facilities. Kitsap County uses stormwater district fees to fund shellfish protection, but it is unclear if funding can be collected for OSS activities only.
Aquifer Protection Area (36.36 RCW). This provides for protection, preservation and rehabilitation of subterranean water. If an area is designated as a sole-source aquifer, fees can be collected to protect the area. To use this program, a county would need to make a strong connection between surface water and the function of the aquifer. Creating an aquifer protection area also requires a public vote.
Shellfish Protection Districts (90.72 RCW). Funding mechanisms for protection districts include general fund county taxes, reasonable inspection fees, reasonable charges or rates, or federal, state, and private grants.
Conservation District Special Assessment (89.08 RCW). To create this assessment, the local conservation board develops a proposal, designates boundaries and describes the fee per parcel (up to $5.00 per parcel). The assessment can last for up to 10 years, and must be approved by the county legislative authority – in this case, Clallam County Board of Commissioners. Clallam Conservation District may provide funding to local health jurisdictions for OSS Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and educational activities.
Annual OSS Operating Permit (246-272 WAC and 70.05.060(7) RCW). Boards of health are authorized to charge fees to implement programs required under state law. These programs are implemented by the local health jurisdictions, and require the creation of an OSS Management Plan. In some counties, fees may be collected through the property tax statement.
The Clallam County OSS Management plan contains the funding recommendation that an annual operating permit fee for all OSSs in the County should be implemented and the collection of those fees should be through the property tax statement (via County Treasurer). Political will is critical to establishing these fee programs.
Skagit County CWP / The CSI / PIC Program:
EPA funded the Skagit County PIC program in 2010. Other financial assistance includes Conservation District/Washington State Conservation Commission cost share funds, EPA/NEP Agriculture BMP funds, Skagit County's Natural Resources Stewardship Program, CWP funds, and OSS inspection reimbursement. The program proposed to County Commissioners to reauthorize funding for an additional five to ten years, and the response was positive.
South Holmes Harbor SPD:
Ecology funds supported much of the work of the SPD. Continued monitoring work is supported by local resources—a clean water utility was established in December 2010.
Stillaguamish River CWD: 1
8 septic repairs have been completed through discretionary funding since 2010. $250,000 of SPD funds go to the Conservation District.
Taxes and Fees
Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay SPDs / Pierce County PIC:
For more than a dozen years, stormwater utility fees have been the principal source of funds for the SPDs. The Pierce County Shellfish Partners program is not funded by revenue generated as a SPD because Washington State law prohibits the funding of both a stormwater utility and a SPD. This is a funding problem that the County has raised with DOH, but there is no indication that this will be rectified. As costs continue to rise to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit requirements, discretionary actions, such as the Pierce County Shellfish Partners, become increasingly at risk for funding.
Henderson and Nisqually SPDs:
O&M is funded through RCW 90.72.070 funding authority. Owners of property served by OSSs within the marine recovery area boundary are assessed an annual charge collected through the property tax statement. The CD has an assessment on properties in the county. The portion assessed on properties inside the SPD are set aside to fund water quality improvement project in the Henderson and Nisqually SPDs. These projects are varied, and include funding for activities such as pollution identification, farm plans and cost share, incentives such as septic riser rebates, student education, and the community shellfish farm.
Jefferson County CWD:
A $5 per parcel fee brings in $85,000 to $87,000. This fee has been used to match grants.The Clean Water District Advisory Council recommended in 2012 to the County Commissioners to expand the role of the CWD and suggested raising the fee.
Kitsap Public Health District:
Work is funded through an annual fee of $78 per residential parcel in unincorporated Kitsap County.
Oakland Bay CWD:
From 2008 to 2013, Mason County was able to access some sales tax money (0.09 percent sales tax) through RCW 82.14.370 that was designated for rural counties. Mason County used some of these funds to support the efforts of the CWDAC. $200,000 was avaible to the district each year to administer the CWD and implement water quality projects within the CWD. Those funds are no longer available.
Skagit County CWP / The CSI / PIC Program:
A $28 fee per parcel or an assessment based on impervious surface funds the SPD and the County CWP. Funding totals approximately $1,300,000. This supports the CD and CWP (Skagit County Public Works and SCPH) work in the area. Skagit County will seek reauthorization of the CWP in 2014.
South Holmes Harbor SPD:
The SPD is a non-taxing district.
Stillaguamish River CWD:
The SPD uses Snohomish County Chapter 25A rate structure for CWDs: approximately $90 per year for single family, other farm, retail, industrial and other. The SPD is currently evaluating this rate structure. The funding source has been reauthorized numerous times. The NPDES permit in 1995 may generate revenue for the SPD as well.
Loans (Including Craft3)
Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay SPDs / Pierce County PIC:
Pierce County Surface Water Management (SWM) manages the septic repair grant and loan program. Initially supported through a State Revolving Fund loan financially assured by SWM, loan repayments are now used to fund ongoing repairs, although at a reduced rate. Pierce Community Connections administers the loans, with SWM authorizing execution and Tacoma Pierce county Health Department (TPCHD) providing technical assistance. Pierce County has informed DOH, Ecology, and Puget Sound Partnership of the need for an influx of $3,000,000 to achieve full capitalization of its grant and loan program. Kitsap County also has a Craft3 loan program.
Jefferson County CWD:
Craft3 loans are available in Jefferson County.
Kitsap Public Health District:
Craft3 is a nonpoint, non-bank Community Development Financial Institution. Their mission is to strengthen the economic, ecological, and family resilience in Pacific Northwest communities. They do this by providing Clean Water Loans and assistance to cover the costs of designing, permitting, installing, and maintaining OSSs for property owners in Clallam, Jefferson, Mason, and Kitsap Counties, the Vashon-Maury Island Recovery Areas of King County, and select areas of Pacific County. The Clean Water Loans strengthen resilience by protecting and restoring water quality and shellfish harvest opportunities. The loan program also sustains local jobs and help families stay in their homes.
Oakland Bay CWD:
Mason County is one of the original counties to participate in the Craft 3 loan program. This resource has been invaluable to Mason County citizens offering very attractive options for OSS repair or replacement.
Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed CWD:
For the pollution control program targeted toward mobile home parks, the County offered park owners up to $5,000 to update their records and have their OSSs inspected and mapped, with funding available from the Craft3 loan program.
The Craft3 loan program is also available to residential and commercial OSS owners county-wide.
Skagit County CWP / The CSI / PIC Program:
Low-interest loans for the repair of failing OSSs are available through Skagit County's loan program funded by Ecology's Centennial Clean Water fund.
South Holmes Harbor SPD:
DOH provided funding for an OSS repair and replacement loan program for low income residents.