top of page
Agricultural Drainage Assistance Program
< Explore more
Program level:
Local
Provider:
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Stormwater Services
Benefits provided:
Financial, Free technical assistance
Land use:
Agriculture
Water-focused program:
No
Do you have an agricultural field with poor drainage? If so, King County’s Agricultural Drainage Assistance Program (ADAP) can help. ADAP helps agricultural property owners keep water flowing off their agricultural lands by providing both technical and financial support.
Overview
Description:
One or more of the following best management practices (BMP's) will be implemented by the landowner.
The ADAP has developed BMPs for addressing four of the most common impacts to agricultural drainage:
- Sediment deposition
- Reed canary grass
- Beaver dams
- Damaged culverts
ADAP created best practices to address these common impacts in the Manual of Best Management Practices for Maintenance of Agricultural Waterways in King County. This manual lists the best practices required to perform an ADAP project.
Eligibility:
Most ADAP projects need to get only one permit. Agricultural landowners need to follow these best management practices (BMPs) for drainage projects. If a property owner in an Agricultural Production District wants to help water flow their property, then they need to:
- Have an approved farm plan prepared in conjunction with the King Conservation District
- Follow the ADAP BMPs
- Apply for one, free permit, a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Am I part of an Agricultural Protection District?
The ADAP developed a classification system for agricultural waterways. This is one of the key parts of the permit process for maintaining water on agricultural lands. The waterway classification determines which BMPs are required for a waterway maintenance project. King County classified the waterways in the five Agricultural Production Districts (hyperlinks available on the program website):
- Snoqualmie River
- Sammamish River
- Enumclaw & Upper Green River
- Lower Green River
Waterways outside the Agricultural Production Districts will be classified as needed.
Financial benefit:
Matching funds available for project costs.
Contact information
Information last updated on July 15, 2025.
Planning Importance
Developing a forest, agricultural, or conservation plan helps identify and prioritize objectives for landowners. These objectives can determine what type programs to search for. Supporting organizations in your area often provide free consultation and planning.
Landscape Characteristics
See how your land fits into the broader context of regional conservation, ecosystem services, and working lands' values across the landscape through our interactive mapper tool. It could help you determine which program is a good fit for you!
Contact Us
bottom of page