Lake Stevens accepts Department of Commerce grant to begin watershed management plan tied to salmon habitat and water quality

The Lake Stevens City Council authorized the mayor on Sept. 24 to accept a Department of Commerce grant contract totaling $44,809 for the first biennium to begin preparation of a watershed management plan focused on water quality and salmon habitat within the Lake Stevens basins.

Olin Anderson, the city’s surface water coordinator, said the multi‑year project will assess drainage basins that feed Lake Stevens and downstream waterways (including Eby Slough, Catherine Creek and Little Pilchuck Creek) and will produce planning materials that can be incorporated into the city’s comprehensive plan and other planning documents. The effort is expected to span roughly two to two‑and‑a‑half years, with the Department of Commerce allowing a multi‑phase approach and possible extensions.

Anderson described the grant arrangement as broken into two parts: a first‑biennium funding package to start work immediately ($44,809) and additional funds later. He noted staff’s understanding of a larger total award (stated in the presentation as about $247,000) but characterized that figure as an approximate total rather than a guaranteed immediate payment. “The grant funded portion for that is about $45,000 which we would execute right away and gain a contractor to begin doing the analysis and start the outreach,” Anderson said.

Council members asked about insurance requirements and whether the city or contractors would need additional coverage. Anderson and council members clarified that the standard state grant insurance requirements are typically met by the contractor or are similar to existing city coverage; the council asked staff to confirm specific insurance costs before contracting.

Council also questioned the relevance of salmon planning if migratory fish passage can be intermittent at the lake outlet; Public Works Director Aaron Halverson and online participant Shannon explained the grant’s primary nexus is water quality and basin planning (which in turn benefits salmon habitat), and the work will help identify basin conditions that affect aquatic organisms. Anderson mentioned emerging research about tire‑derived pollutants (6PPD‑quinone) that have been linked to coho mortality and said the project could eventually help locate hotspots for further study.

A council motion to authorize the mayor to sign the Washington Department of Commerce contract for $44,809 carried without recorded opposition.

Next steps: staff expect to go to contract negotiations for consultant work in the coming months, begin outreach, and return to council with status updates and any additional funding confirmations.