KCD offers riparian area enhancement services to help landowners and managers protect and improve the health of aquatic areas. A buffer planted with native trees and shrubs adjacent to a water body can improve water quality, stabilize shorelines, and promote healthy fish and wildlife habitat. In addition to offering riparian education and free site consultations, KCD can provide buffer enhancement project funding and implementation support to select properties. KCD native buffer plantings require a 15 year agreement and come with 3-5 years of maintenance and monitoring to ensure plant establishment.
Who is eligible?
Landowners or land managers who have aquatic areas on their
properties most areas of King County. Residents within the city
boundaries of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific, and Skykomish
are not eligible.
What is included?
● Free project design
● Cost share on labor for invasive species (such as blackberry and ivy)
removal and native vegetation planting
● Project materials which included plants, mulch and plant protectors
What are the benefits?
● Cleaner water
● Improved shoreline stability
● Attractive native plants for increased property value
● Improved land stewardship
How much will it cost?
● Staff time for design and project coordination: FREE
● KCD covers up to 90-100% of crew labor and plant material costs
● Free maintenance by KCD for a minimum of 3 years
Additional Resources for Riparian Stewardship:
Shore Friendly King County
Shore Friendly King County (SFKC) is a collaborative of restoration and conservation agencies and organizations working together to bring Shore Friendly tools and assistance to homeowners in King County. Comprised of staff in four King County departments, King Conservation District, and Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, SFKC provides assessment and education to shoreline owners to encourage consideration of armor removal and nearshore habitat improvements. Shore Friendly is a program under the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Recovery Project, which is run by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and in partnership with the Estuary and Salmon Recovery Program.
Workshops
KCD offers in-person, online, and go-at-your-own-pace education opportunities. Topics include streamside restoration, marine shorelines, planting with native plants, wildfire preparedness, agricultural stewardship, and more.
Cost-share
KCD provides landowners with cost-share assistance to support implementation of conservation practices on private property.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Agricultural property owners interested in protecting and enhancing fish habitat can participate in a federally funded land rental program that compensates lost production based on a “soil rental rate” and provides up to 100% of the funding needed to plant a stream buffer.
Fish Barrier Replacement Program
KCD assists family forest landowners to participate in Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ Family Forest Fish Passage Program, which provides funding to replace road culverts and other stream barriers that prevent fish from reaching upstream habitats.
Native Plant Cooperative
KCD’s Native Plant Cooperative provides wetland emergent plants to individuals, organizations and agencies in trade for volunteer service at the nursery or in-kind contributions such as soil, lumber or pots.