2011 Budget Book - WHOLE - Kitsap County Government

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Alternatives:
Efficiencies/
Innovations:
Mandates and
Contractual
Agreements:
Regional or Local?
Description of
Requirements:
Minimum Service
Level:
Program
Justification:
Alternative locations for the Salmon Recovery Lead Entity and project sponsorship and
management have been discussed in the past with no action taken. More recently with the
availability of other, federal funding sources, the County has received internal and external
support for sponsoring and executing projects that achieve local protections and
improvements to the larger Puget Sound ecosystem, inclusive of salmon recovery. These
additional outside grant sources may continue to present opportunities for local ecosystem
restorations related to both County and regional priorities.
Kitsap County has long communicated its support for and agreement with the imperative to
restore salmon habitat and, where feasible, preserve in-tact ecosystems. More recently, the
County has been awarded environmental restoration and protection funds from other federal
agencies to restore and protect Puget Sound environments. This program element
accomplishes ecosystem restoration and preservation through on-the-ground construction
and restoration projects that mitigate past environmental impacts and restore salmon habitat
and viability.
Sponsoring, administering and managing the Salmon Recovery Lead Entity is through a
contractual agreement through the WA RCO. Likewise, sponsoring, administering and
managing restoration and habitat projects through outside granting agencies is though
contractual arrangements as well.
This program element accomplishes on-the-ground results, which is a local-level measure.
Given the high level of support by area Tribes for salmon and ecosystem restoration, there is
both a local and regional affect. The awarding of grant funds is directly based on and related
to regional priorities set by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board through their 3-year project
list and the Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda.
The contract with RCO provides the funds necessary to execute the coordination and statelocal
components of the SRFB program. Grant-funded projects are detailed in a project
contract with the granting agency - e.g., U.S. EPA or WA RCO - to fulfill project requirements
within budget and time line limits.
The minimum service level for the Salmon Recovery Lead Entity is 1.0 FTE which is its
current staffing level. Project sponsorship, administration and management is directly tied to
the level of outside grant funds obtained to support a project plus the match utilized through
internal sources such as the SSWM fund. This program element operates at a minimum level
of service due to it being tied to the limitations of grant funds.
Local citizens and area Tribes of Kitsap County support the County's salmon recovery and
ecosystem restoration programs. Kitsap County is recognized for its leadership in protecting
and restoring Chico Creek Watershed, the most productive natural salmon stream in the
West Puget Sound . Similarly, Kitsap County works directly with state and federal granting
agencies to protect, preserve and restore important shoreline, stream and headwater
resources including Carpenter Creek a priority on the federal Salmon Recovery Program.
The Board's mission to "identify and secure lands and shorelines that should be preserved or
protected in order to maintain the natural qualities and functions of Kitsap Peninsula" is
achieved in large part through this program.