It’s not just scientists, volunteers and activists who make a difference in helping the environment — those who care enough about the salmon that run through their backyard streams once or twice a year can do the same.

Kitsap County is encouraging landowners to apply for grant money available through the East Kitsap Community Salmon Fund, a grant program established by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Washington state’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Kitsap County, the lead agency for the East Kitsap fund, received $120,000 this year to disperse to applicants living on the east side of Kitsap to help fund salmon recovery projects.

The grants are intended to stimulate small-scale, voluntary action by landowners, community groups and businesses to support salmon efforts on private property in East Kitsap, including the North End.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of private landowners who want to do restoration,” said Kitsap County’s Stream Team coordinator Val Koehler. However, she encourages landowners to partner with local agencies, such as a government or tribe, or a non-profit, like a regional enhancement fisheries group, for better chances of being awarded grant money. The maximum amount a group can receive is $20,000 and proposed projects must by completed Oct. 31, 2006.

Projects can range from culvert replacements to fish passage improvements. Requirements include restoration of habitat within and along salmon-bearing streams, the upland areas affecting them and nearshore areas; or project design and development that is anticipated to lead to an on-the-ground restoration effort.

“It’s a really great opportunity to come across funds that would be able to improve our natural resources and some of the issues we might have with fisheries, fish blockages, either full or partial,” Koehler said about why residents should apply. “With this federal money, it’s money coming back to the people to give them a chance to do improvements.”

Last year, a similar program was offered to the public through watershed mini-grants through Kitsap County’s Surface and Stormwater Management Program, but funds were limited to $5,000 per group. With that kind of funding, grant recipients were able to under take smaller projects, such as clear non-native vegetation, plant native greens and conduct public outreach. But with the bigger pot of money this year, projects can be developed on a larger scale with a much greater impact.

Koehler sees the grant program as a way for people who want to help the environment but aren’t really sure how.

“To foster that not only taking care of our natural resources (is important) but just to really become better stewards and take care of what we have,” she said.

For more information on how to apply for a community salmon fund grant, call Autumn Salamack with the Evergreen Funding Consultants at (206) 691-0700. For more information about the East Kitsap Peninsula Salmon Recovery Strategy, call Val Koehler with Kitsap County Stream Team at (360) 337-4601. Applications are due to NFWF by 5 p.m. Aug. 26.

For property owners on the west side of Kitsap, with property adjacent to Hood Canal, there are grants available through the Hood Canal Community Salmon Fund. Information on both programs can be found online at www.nfwf.org/programs/csf.htm.