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Millions of dollars of grant funds are coming to south King County to fund projects to reduce flood risks, improve drainage and restore waterways.
On Sept. 8, the King County Flood Control District approved approximately $14.3 million to 39 projects throughout King County with the Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program. The program targets medium and small local flood reduction projects in King County
“Flooding isn’t only about major river events. It can also mean a road that repeatedly floods, an undersized culvert, or drainage problems that make it harder for farmers to keep land in production,” King County Councilmember and Flood Control District Supervisor Steffanie Fain said. “This year’s funding will support four projects in District 5 that address those kinds of practical issues.”
$1.7 million was awarded to flood control projects in King County District 5.
The city of Kent was granted $750,000 for the Earthworks Sediment Pond Culvert Replacement project, which will replace two adjacent undersized and deteriorating corrugated culverts at the downstream end of the pond within Earthworks Park. This includes a larger culvert to improve fish passage to the Upper Mill Creek basin and reduce flood risk to downstream areas. This funding covers finalizing the design, the permitting and a portion of construction on the project.
In Renton, $400,000 is set aside for the Hardie Avenue SW Flood Risk Reduction project. This project will install 600 feet of 48-inch storm drain within the Hardie Avenue SW right-of-way, south of the BNSF Railway underpass, to reduce the risk of flooding at the sag point. The improvements will extend to SW 7th Street and connect to the existing storm main moving water to the west.
$200,000 is allocated to the Des Moines Creek Estuary Restoration Final Design, which will address flooding at Des Moines Beach Park while improving shoreline habitat and public access.
Throughout the King Conservation District, $350,000 will go to the Agricultural Drainage Project to help farmers maintain agricultural waterways and drainage systems.
In King County District 7, Auburn will receive $300,000 for the Auburn 400 Flood Mitigation Ponds / 15th Street SE Culvert project. Grant funding will allow the city to complete a comprehensive cleaning and restoration effort to verify and maintain the hydraulic capacity of the Auburn 400 culvert system. The Auburn 400 is a regional flood mitigation storage area which includes two flood storage areas and a 300-foot box culvert. The system conveys flows from Algona Creek to Mill Creek, providing important floodplain storage and regional flood conveyance for the Mill Creek basin. Storm events and frequent backwater conditions from Mill Creek contribute to prolonged and continuous high-water conditions in the area.
The city of Algona will receive $359,000 for the 11th Avenue North Flood Reduction Property Acquisition, which is a flood-prone property at 58 11th Avenue North. The city plans to control and preserve the flow path of water on the property and create an opportunity for future flood storage, maintenance access and floodplain restoration.
The Flood Control District received 46 grant requests for the 2026 Flood Reduction Grant Program, totaling $33,213,081. There was at least one grant application from every King County Council District, including applications submitted by 19 cities, one county, 15 non-profits, seven homeowners associations, two special purpose districts and two land trusts.
“The Flood Reduction Grant Program distributes funds equitability to meet flood risk reduction needs for those along river corridors as well as residents who have water-related challenges not tied to a large river system,” District 4 Supervisor for the King County Flood Control District Jorge L. Barón said.
In October 2024, the Flood Control District’s Board of Supervisors renamed the program after Steve Bleifuhs, a long-time King County floodplain management leader. Bleifuhs, who passed away in July 2024, was instrumental in shaping flood hazard management in the county, including the development of the 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan.
