Erosion rates are a top concern throughout the Chehalis Basin. We use natural, proven techniques to slow erosion that provide protection from flooding and benefit aquatic habitat.
The Erosion Management Program (EMP) is an integrated program that promotes the use of natural materials in bank protection design to simultaneously maintain and improve stream and riparian habitats while also slowing erosion in the Chehalis Basin.
EMP serves public and private landowners who are willing to work with a local project sponsor (e.g., Conservation District) to address either urgent or long-term erosion concerns that threaten public infrastructure, private residential structures, commercial structures, or agricultural land.
NEW! The Office of Chehalis Basin has developed an Erosion Management Guidebook to help Chehalis Basin landowners, residents, and contractors learn about bioengineered soft shoreline techniques that can be used immediately or in the long term to solve bank erosion issues. Previously used hard shoreline techniques that installed materials such as rock or concrete are frequently no longer permitted because they cause negative impacts to salmon and their shoreline habitats and can cause erosion issues to move downstream to neighboring properties. Learn more about the bioengineered options in the link above.
Projects the EMP funds include:
- Urgent/Imminent Projects that address erosion problems posing an immediate threat to eligible structures or agricultural land in the near term and provide habitat benefits.
- Proactive Reach-scale Projects address erosion problems that do not require immediate action, but address reach-scale erosion concerns for multiple landowners and provide substantial habitat benefits.
- Technical Advancement Studies or Projects support basin jurisdictions with resources to improve their land use management in erosion hazard areas or helps them monitor and track projects, and/or supports landowners with educational materials.
EMP funding
OCB accepts urgent/imminent erosion project applications on a rolling basis to ensure action can be taken quickly to prevent substantial damage. Project applications will be evaluated by the EMP Technical Review Team, and OCB strives to notify urgent/imminent project applicants of its funding decision within three weeks of receiving the application. Projects that relocate structures out of harm’s way or are fully bioengineered with habitat benefits are preferred, and funding will be based on current availability. Applicants are encouraged to contact EMP Program Manager Jennifer Lewis (Jennifer.Lewis@ecy.wa.gov) to determine if funding is available at their intended time of application.
For proactive reach-scale and technical advancement study project applications, OCB has a biennial grant process with a call for proposals usually open in September, a solicitation will be shared with applicants and posted on this website. Proposals for these project types are also evaluated by the EMP Technical Review Team to score their overall benefits to landowners and habitat.
Applications for projects are only valid through the end of the biennium in which they are submitted.
How does the application/selection process work?
STEP 1:
Project Sponsor and landowner develop project concept and fill out EMP application
STEP 2:
Project Sponsor submits application to OCB
STEP 3:
EMP Technical Review Team reviews application, conducts site visit (and evaluates proactive reach-scale projects)
STEP 4:
OCB determines whether a project is funded and notifies applicants of its decision
STEP 5:
Sponsors of funded projects sign contract and begin work
Click here to read the EMP Framework Memorandum.
Get more information
If you’d like to learn more about the Erosion Management Program, please contact your local Conservation District representative!
Grays Harbor Conservation District
Anthony Waldrop
awaldrop@graysharborcd.org
Lewis County Conservation District
Nikki Atkins
nikki.atkins@lewiscdwa.com
Thurston County Conservation District
Katrinka Hibler
katrinka@thurstoncd.com