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"Saving Puget Sound is the topic of the day, the topic of the year, the topic of the decade."
—Jean-Michel Cousteau

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March 20, 2008

What do local scientists know about the health of South Puget Sound?

In Tacoma on March 26, scientists from across the region will convene the South Sound Science Symposium, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary symposium to share their latest research. Twelve key scientists will share research ranging from water quality and habitat issues to changes in forage fish and marine bird populations.

The symposium supports the broader “Puget Sound Initiative” – a collaborative effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agricultural and environmental interests, and the public to restore and protect the Sound.

“We are doing a lot of research to understand the decline of Puget Sound, south of the Tacoma Narrows, but we’ve not recently all gotten together in the same room to talk and draw connections across our research fields,” said John Konovsky, environmental program manager for the Squaxin Island Tribe, a co-organizer of the symposium.

“This event sharpens our focus on all of the work being done to understand the South Sound ecosystem, and it defines a cross-disciplinary research agenda for the future,” said Mindy Roberts, a scientist with the Department of Ecology, another of the event’s co-organizers.

The symposium presents a timely opportunity for scientists active in South Puget Sound to exchange ideas and information, Roberts said. Given the overwhelming interest in this Symposium, clearly science in South Puget Sound resonates with many people, she added.

Following the symposium, the organizers will present some synthesis materials online to summarize the various research projects ongoing on the South Sound.

David Dicks, director of the Puget Sound Partnership, will give a keynote address at 8:50 a.m. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce the Puget Sound grant finalists under its new West Coast Estuaries Initiative at 1:15 p.m.

Organizers expect more than 400 people to attend.

WHAT:          South Sound Science Symposium

WHEN:          March 26, 2008
                        8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:       Landmark Convention Center
                       47 St Helens Ave
                       Tacoma, WA 98402

                       253-272-2042

Registration for the symposium is currently full, but seating is available on a limited basis for the news media. Reporters who plan to attend are asked to contact Sandy Howard, as listed below.

Sponsors of the symposium are the Washington state departments of Ecology, Health, Natural Resources, the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, People for Puget Sound, Pierce County, the Squaxin Island Tribe, Puget Sound Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Media contacts:
John Konovsky, Squaxin Island Tribe, 360-432-3804, jknovsky@squaxin.nsn.us
Heather Trim, People for Puget Sound, 206-382-7007, htrim@pugetsound.org
Sandy Howard, Department of Ecology, 360-407-6408, srud461@ecy.wa.gov
Katy Johansson, Puget Sound Partnership, 360-725-5442, katy.johansson@psp.wa.gov
Mark MacIntyre, Environmental Protection Agency, 206-553-7302, macintyre.mark@epa.gov

Websites:

South Sound Science Symposium:
http:www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound/symposium.html

Puget Sound Partnership:
http://www.psp.wa.gov/

Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound page:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound/index.html

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