Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grant Round Allocation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Salmon Recovery Board sets $17 million interim grant round amid federal funding uncertainty
Summary
Facing delays in a federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund award, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board approved $17 million in unobligated state and returned federal funds as an interim 2026 grant‑round allocation, set aside money for cost increases and technical review, and delegated authority for short‑term regional capacity amendments.
The Salmon Recovery Funding Board voted June 2026 to allocate $17,000,000 in unobligated state capital and returned federal funds as an interim funding pool for the 2026 grant round while it awaits a formal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PAC‑SERF) award.
Board members approved the interim package after staff described current resources and contingencies. Kat Moore, RCO salmon team section manager, told the board that available funds include about $12 million in unobligated state capital plus roughly $4.9 million in returned federal funds. "We don't expect this will be the only amount of funding that we have," Moore said, noting staff will return with options in September if the PAC‑SERF award provides additional resources.
Why it matters: staff said establishing an interim pot lets lead entities and regions begin obligating funds to projects that are ready, while preserving flexibility to add federal dollars if and when PAC‑SERF confirms an award. The board also approved related near‑term items: $500,000 set aside for project cost increases and $340,000 in 2022 supplemental funds to replenish the technical review panel's budget.
The board further delegated authority to the RCO director to amend contracts with lead entities and regional organizations to provide short‑term capacity funding (using a $569,233 unobligated PAC‑SERF priority‑3 balance) so that regional staffing and program operations continue through December; staff said those short‑term amendments would be reconciled when the federal award is received.
Next steps: staff will present September options for how any confirmed PAC‑SERF award should be applied — increasing the grant round, funding targeted investments, or distributing funds across years — and will seek final decisions when more federal clarity exists.
