Puget Sound Partnership lays out PSAR large-cap ranked list process; 11 projects invited, $86M requested

Puget Sound Partnership salmon recovery manager Melissa Speake told the Salmon Recovery Council that the region is advancing 11 large-capital PSAR projects to final submission, with total requests of about $86,000,000. "Since 2007, PSAR has served an important role in salmon recovery...we've had $378,000,000 invested," Speake said, summarizing the program's long-term investments and outcomes.

Speake described the review and ranking process for large-cap projects and the weights reviewers will use: "There are 25 points for salmon benefits, 10 points for habitat quality, 15 points on probability of project success, and 5 points for connection to the action agenda," she said. Staff said reviewers invited 11 projects across eight watersheds; project requests range from about $2,000,000 to $28,600,000.

The presentation also explained how the targeted-investment (TI) program intersects with PSAR: TI funds projects of $1 million to $7 million, and regions may submit up to two TI projects (the partnership may resubmit some previously unfunded projects without counting them against the two-project limit). Staff cited Auburn Narrows and Green River as resubmission examples.

Next steps: final applications are due June 3, followed by virtual sponsor presentations and review-team scoring. Staff expects a draft ranked list on July 1, executive-committee review on July 28, and an SRC review and recommendation on July 30 before leadership-council consideration in August and an anticipated CERF board action in September.