Puget Sound Partnership E-Newsletter!
Edition 8, September 24, 2008
In this issue:
  • Draft Action Agenda schedule announced
  • Public outreach by the numbers
  • Taskforce to boost local implementation of Action Agenda in linking with salmon recovery planning
Draft Action Agenda schedule announced

Building on a year of public input, the Partnership is excited to issue a draft Action Agenda for public comment on Nov. 6, 2008 that lays out a roadmap for Puget Sound protection and recovery.

The Action Agenda will bring together all the groups, interests and agencies—and get them working off the same playbook—to clean up Puget Sound by 2020. The Action Agenda is scheduled for adoption on Dec. 1, 2008.

Over the next 10 weeks, liaisons in each of the action areas will be soliciting feedback throughout the Sound including workshops, speaking engagements, and briefings to agency staff and officials. In addition, an online open house will be available for public comments along with two public hearings held at the Nov. 11 and Nov. 21 Leadership Council meetings. Visit our Web site for more information and the latest Partnership news.

Public outreach by the numbers

Since January...

The Partnership has conducted:

  • 32 public meetings attended by more than 1,650 people
  • Nearly 100 speaking engagements
In addition:
  • More than 9,500 people have signed up for Partnership e-mail updates
  • The Partnership has received over 1,030 comments
  • Five caucuses, representing state and federals agencies, business interests, environmental groups, and boating organizations engage in regular dialogue with Partnership staff
 


Participants at a July action area meeting
Taskforce to boost local implementation of the Action Agenda in linking with salmon recovery planning

The Puget Sound Partnership, Department of Ecology, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in collaboration with Tribes, Washington State Association of Counties, and Association of Washington Cities, is forming a taskforce to recommend ways to enhance the capacity of local communities to implement the Action Agenda. The taskforce’s recommendations will inform the Partnership’s 2009 legislative agenda.

Local communities are the cornerstone of Puget Sound protection and restoration. They are working on the ground with property owners and other stakeholders setting local priorities for action and making sure the real work happens. However, often the same overworked volunteers and staff people are involved in multiple state directed programs ultimately aimed at the same purpose—protecting and restoring the health of our freshwater and marine ecosystems.

A healthy Puget Sound by 2020 will require increased efficiency, cooperation and role-clarity among local communities and more support to local groups from the State.

The taskforce will include one representative from each of the following groups: city, county, and tribal governments, Northwest Straits Commission, Marine Resource Committee, Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Lead Entity, Watershed Planning Group, Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group, Shellfish Protection Districts, Conservation Districts, and WSU Extension, as well as the Puget Sound Partnership, Department of Ecology, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Taskforce members and meeting schedule will be announced soon on the Partnership’s Web site.

Thank you for working with us to protect and restore Puget Sound!

Please visit the Web site for more information and to learn about upcoming Puget Sound Partnership meetings. Comments and questions may be sent by replying to this e-mail or by contacting us directly at:

Puget Sound Partnership
P.O. Box 40900, Olympia, Washington 98504-0900
Toll-free: 800.54.SOUND
Phone: 360.725.5444
E-mail: actionagenda@psp.wa.gov

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