Washington will benefit from two grants awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of more than $5.7 million in grants to help conserve and recover imperiled species and habitats through the State Wildlife Grants Competitive Program. The federal funds will be matched by more than $4.6 million from states and their partners.

Among the projects funded is a partnership between Washington and Oregon to improve the population status of 21 rare or declining species associated with prairie-oak habitats of the Willamette Valley and Puget Trough regions. Doing so would reduce the likelihood of the need for consideration under the Endangered Species Act. The federal grant was for $974,664, with $665,428 in matching funds.

With a $950,000 grant, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will conduct a comprehensive survey of 20 species in the Idaho Panhandle and northeast Washington to provide baseline data to assess the status of these species. The initiative will involve a coalition of more than 20 partner organizations. The nonfederal match is $1.21 million.