Farmer Flood Relief Fund

Farmer Flood Relief Fund: 

(King County & Snohomish County)

Regional Coordination & Expanded Eligibility

In response to the widespread impacts of the December 2025 flooding, and in recognition that flood impacts extend well beyond a single watershed, SVPA is coordinating with regional partners to strengthen and streamline farm relief efforts.

As of December 23, 2025, the Farmer Flood Relief Fund will expand eligibility to support commercial farms across King County and Snohomish County, including farms in areas such as the Lower Snoqualmie Valley, South King County (Green River Valley, Enumclaw Plateau), Sammamish Valley, Stillaguamish Valley, and other flood-impacted agricultural regions.

This expansion is being undertaken in close coordination with SnoValley Tilth, Snoqualmie Valley Farmers Cooperative, Washington Farmland Trust, King County Local Food Initiative, and King Conservation District. By working together, we aim to:

• Reduce confusion for farmers seeking assistance
• Centralize outreach and application processes where possible
• Ensure relief funds are distributed fairly, efficiently, and transparently
• Strengthen the overall impact of community generosity

Donor Intent Commitment:
Donations made prior to December 23 will be earmarked exclusively for farms within the Snohomish Basin (WRIA 7) — including the Snoqualmie Valley, Skykomish, and Snohomish River basins — consistent with how the fund was originally presented. Donations made after this update will support the expanded regional effort across King and Snohomish Counties.

SVPA and our partners will continue to collaborate with additional organizations and agencies as recovery efforts evolve, and we will keep donors and the community informed as this work progresses.

About the Farmer Flood Relief Fund

The Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Skykomish, Stillaguamish, Green River basins and surrounding regions recently experienced one of the largest flood events in more than a decade. While waters have begun to recede, the impacts of the December 2025 flooding are only now becoming fully visible. Across King and Snohomish Counties, farms are reporting significant damage to infrastructure, access roads, fencing, equipment, and materials, along with soil erosion, debris, and field damage that will take months — and in some cases years — to recover from.

100% of donations to the Farmer Flood Relief Fund will be distributed directly back to farms as micro-grants. These funds provide rapid, flexible support during a critical early window, helping farms begin cleanup, make urgent repairs, and stabilize operations. Recovery is a long road, and in this moment, we are mobilizing our passionate, supportive, and generous community — alongside trusted partner organizations — to help farmers take the first steps forward.

Who This Fund Supports

This fund is open to commercial farms in King County and Snohomish County that have experienced flood-related impacts from the December 2025 flooding. 

How Funds Will Be Used

Donations to this fund will support small, short-term micro-grants to farms facing urgent flood-related needs, such as but not limited to:

• Cleanup and debris removal

• Repairing essential infrastructure (fencing, pumps, utilities, irrigation)
• Replacing damaged materials or equipment
• Stabilizing farm operations during recovery

Grants are intended to fill early gaps in assistance, not to fully compensate losses.

Grant Structure & Accountability

Grants will be awarded in tiered amounts, generally ranging from $500, $1,000, $2,500, up to $5,000 for the most severe cases. Awards will be prioritized using a transparent rubric based on severity of impact, urgency, insurance gaps, and overall vulnerability.

To ensure timely and equitable access to relief, funds will be disbursed directly to farms upon award approval, rather than on a reimbursement basis. This approach recognizes that many farms cannot front recovery costs, especially during the winter months when revenue is typically at its lowest, and allows funds to be used immediately for urgent recovery needs.

Grant recipients will be asked to complete a short follow-up after funds are received, confirming how the grant was used. This will include a brief written summary and simple documentation, sufficient to demonstrate responsible use of funds. Our goal is to complete application review promptly and disburse funds beginning in February.

Why This Matters

While state and federal programs play a critical role in long-term recovery, they often take time to activate. This fund provides bridge support during a critical window — helping farms take the first steps toward recovery while larger systems mobilize.

SVPA will continue to connect farmers and residents to broader assistance programs and advocate for the long-term policy and infrastructure changes needed to reduce flood risk and protect agricultural viability in the Valley.

Every contribution helps ensure local farms can recover, rebuild, and continue feeding our region.