Advancing Nearshore Restoration and Protection

The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) provides funding and technical assistance for nearshore restoration and protection efforts in Puget Sound. Developed as a tactical element by the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project, ESRP is focused on moving from opportunistic grant funding towards strategic ecosystem restoration. This strong link to science and our ecosystem-scale approach ensure that ESRP’s investment decisions are strategic and that our efforts will translate into our estuaries, bays and shorelines that are intact, functioning and resilient to climate change.

Investing in Natural Systems - Providing Benefits to Local Communities

Healthy functioning ecosystems provide local communities with a range of valuable ecosystem goods such as abundant fish and shellfish, clean water, public , access and swimming beaches as well as ecosystem services such as flood storage, erosion control, water filtration, and carbon sequestration. As Puget Sound's nearshore has been altered, its ability to provide the same level of ecosystem goods and services has decreased. However, by strategically focusing restoring on key ecosystem processes we can restore the nearshore to a more vibrant and resilient condition for all its inhabitants. Through this process we are engaging local citizens and creating jobs in local communities.

Infrastructure Improvements	Recreation and Public Access	Drainage and Flood Storage	Resiliency to Climate Change	Local Jobs

Partner Spotlight	Restoring natural processes	Strategy for Puget Sound Shorelines
Partner Spotlight: with generous support from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program, over $1.3 million was recently made available for Puget Sound projects. To learn more about this partnership effort... More »	Restoring natural processes– where solutions match problems. By supporting projects that address the  root cause of environmental degradation, ESRP is delivering sustainable projects with multiple benefits or ecosystem, functions, goods and services... More »	Strategy for Puget Sound Shorelines- The best opportunities in Puget Sound... More »

GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD IS CLOSED

The 2012 grant cycle is underway. We are no longer accepting applications.  Proposals received are currently being evaluated for funding. 

See the Grants page for more on our upcoming grant competition.