The Impact of the Habitat Recovery Pilot Program and Efforts to Make it Permanent – FbD Lunch & Learn

*Note: we moved this month’s Lunch & Learn back a week to adjust for the holidays. We look forward to seeing you all this Thursday!

Join us on January 9th, from 12pm – 1pm to hear how the Habitat Recovery Pilot Program has increased the efficiency of habitat restoration project investments. Gina Piazza, HRPP Coordinator for the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife will provide an overview of the program and highlight significant impacts it’s making; Don Gourlie, Legislative Policy Director for the Puget Sound Partnership will give an update on legislative efforts to make the program permanent before it sunsets on June 30th, 2025; and Jason Griffith, Environmental Program Manager for the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians will provide a specific example of how the tribe has coordinated with project partners to navigate the new HRPP process program to accelerate their projects and save money.

The Habitat Recovery Pilot Program (HRPP) is designed to streamline the local and state environmental permitting process for habitat recovery projects. Over the past four years, the HRPP has helped streamline permitting for over 40 projects statewide, with implementation partners reporting saving up to $80,000 and a year on project timelines. Absent legislative action the program will expire in June 2025. Many FbD network partners have benefited from the program and expressed a desire to make it permanent, so join us to share and learn more about its impact and how you may be able to support legislative efforts this session.