Partnership News
MEDIA CONTACT
Katy Johansson
360.725.5442 (office)
360.701.3568 (cell)
katy.johansson@psp.wa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2008
Science and policy experts invited to guide Puget Sound cleanup effort
Forums scheduled in April, May
OLYMPIA – Beginning this month, the Puget Sound Partnership will host a series of gatherings to experts on the Sound’s ecosystem to help steer its efforts to restore and protect Puget Sound.
“We can’t effectively clean up Puget Sound without an understanding of the connections between water, land, marine life and wildlife, and people,” said David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “Our restoration plan will for the first time embrace all of Puget Sound – from the tops of the mountains to the bottoms of the waterways.”
The forums will help synthesize the region’s knowledge on key aspects of the Puget Sound ecosystem in preparation for a broad, ecosystem-wide forum May 28. During these all-day work sessions, science and policy experts will:
- Review Sound-wide status and threats analyses;
- Discuss the technical understanding of the problem; and
- Identify policy strategies needed to help achieve a healthy Puget Sound.
Each of the following topic forums will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
Human Health – April 22
Landmark Convention Center, 47 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma
Water Quality – April 25
Washington State Convention & Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle
Habitat/Land Use – April 28
Kitsap Conference Center, Fountain Room, 251 First St., Bremerton
Species/Biodiversity – May 1
TOC Conference Center, 5799 – 23rd Drive W., Everett
Water Quantity – May 5
Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds
Detailed materials developed for each topic forum will be posted on the Partnership’s Web site on or before April 14.
Attendees should be able to share their scientific and policy expertise on each of the topic areas. The meetings are open to the public. If you cannot attend a forum, comments can be submitted electronically; they must be received by May 6.
For more information about the topic forums process, visit http://www.psp.wa.gov/aa_topic_forums.php.
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