Home What's New? Process Overview Lead Entity Organizations Lead Entity Accomplishments LEAG (Lead Entity Advisory Group) Information and Meeting LEAG Executive Committee Membership Related Planning Efforts Links Puget Sound Nearshore Project Priorities 2008 Directory of Lead Entities for Salmon Recovery 2008 Lead Entity Coordinator Welcome Packet 2002 Program Report Contacts For further information about the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Lead Entity Program, contact one of the program staff. Lauri Vigue Lead Entity/Watershed Steward Coordinator Environmental Services Division/ Habitat Program Washington Dept. Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, WA 98501-1091 (360) 902-2549 Fax: (360) 902-2946 viguelav@dfw.wa.gov To access the contact information of specific Lead Entities, use the Recreation and Conservation Office's Salmon Recovery Funding Board website, or Lead Entities Contact Information

Lead Entity Program Lead Entity Accomplishments Past Successes of the Lead Entity Program In the brief time since the inception of the Lead Entity Program, each Lead Entity has identified and prioritized projects to protect or restore salmon habitat. As a group, the Lead Entity Program has also had several major successes since 1998. These include: Lead Entity Program has grown significantly. Since its inception in 1998, the number of Lead Entities has increased from eight to 26 in 2002. Lead Entities now cover most of the state’s salmon bearing streams. Funding Cycle Fiscal Year Total No. Projects Total Funds ($) Salmon Federal (GSRO) 1999 168 19,400,000 Salmon Barriers & Habitat (State - IRT) 1999 94 5,400,000 SRFB - Early 2000 2000 84 13,000,000 SRFB - Second Round 2000 2001 150 32,900,000 SRFB – Third Round 2001 2002 132 37,800,000 SRFB – Fourth Round 2003 82 24,400,000 SRFB – Fifth Round 2004 106 26,800,000 SRFB – Sixth Round 2005 103 23,100,000 SRFB – Seventh Round 2006 95 16,700,000 Totals   1,014 199,500,000 The Salmon Recovery Funding Board relies on Lead Entities for its project funding decisions. The SRFB has recognized the value and efficiency of coordinating numerous local projects through one entity. As such, the SRFB requires all requests for salmon restoration and protection project funding under Chapter 77.85 RCW to go through the Lead Entity process for technical and citizen committee review and ranking. The Lead Entity Program has enhanced state agency coordination for salmon recovery. Agencies with major roles, including WDFW, Ecology, the Conservation Commission, and IAC, actively support and have specific staff dedicated to Lead Entities. These agencies have been steadily improving their deployment of staff resources as well as how they interact with each other. WDFW funding for Lead Entities enables local leveraging. Lead Entity operational funds provided by WDFW are a catalyst for broader watershed planning efforts. Most Lead Entity organizations use these funds in concert with other local, state and federal funds to enhance the coordination of salmon recovery efforts at the local level. Additionally, since WDFW’s funds are distributed in a collaborative rather than competitive process, Lead Entities are not obligated to spend unproductive time on complicated grant applications.