subscribe to the Partnership Newsletter link

 

Back to Press Releases

MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Grayum
(360) 628-1907
Michael.Grayum@psp.wa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08-09-2012

Partnership adopts regional priorities and actions to restore the health of Puget Sound

SEATTLE – Today the Puget Sound Partnership’s governing board unanimously adopted the 2012 update of the Action Agenda, the region’s blueprint for restoring the health of Puget Sound by 2020.

The Partnership is the state agency that leads and coordinates the recovery of Puget Sound.

“This agenda provides a road map for action,” said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “We will use it with our partners to increase momentum and build on our significant accomplishments.”

The Action Agenda, originally created by the Partnership in 2009, is updated to reflect progress, lessons learned, and emerging scientific knowledge. The 2012 Action Agenda update is the product of scientists, tribes, local governments, businesses, conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, and educational institutions all working together. It outlines the region’s priorities and actions to address the foundational elements of a healthy Puget Sound: our economy, environment, human health, and quality of life.

Regional Priorities
Three regional priorities are emphasized in the new Action Agenda:

  1. Prevent pollution from urban stormwater runoff. Polluted runoff from roads, roofs, parking lots and other paved areas is the biggest threat to Puget Sound’s water quality.  Reducing this polluted runoff is a huge challenge as our region is projected to add 1.5 million more people and 1.2 million more jobs by 2040. 
  2. Protect and restore shorelines and salmon habitat. In spite of important progress in the last few years, some native salmon runs are still in danger of extinction. Restoring damaged shorelines and protecting salmon habitat along the many rivers and streams that flow into Puget Sound is necessary to save salmon and honor tribal treaty rights.
  3. Restore and re-open shellfish beds. Shellfish harvesting is a major Puget Sound industry, and a tribal treaty right.  Both are threatened by pollution that has closed more than 7,000 acres of Puget Sound beaches.

Action Agenda Improvements since 2009

  • Regional recovery targets have been adopted to guide action.
  • Performance measures have been established to track progress and ensure accountability for results.
  • Peer-reviewed, scientific information has been synthesized and applied through the Puget Sound Science Update, Puget Sound Science Review, and other scientific resources.
  • Targets and indicators of ecosystem health have been established and incorporated into a web-based dashboard of “Vital Signs of a healthy Puget Sound” to transparently promote the status of the health of the Sound: http://www.psp.wa.gov/vitalsigns/index.php.
  • Regional strategies and actions are aligned with recovery targets—incorporating progress, lessons learned and new information since 2009.
  • Salmon recovery, climate change adaption, fish consumption and other cross-cutting issues are identified.
  • Performance measures and actions have been assigned to owners responsible for implementation, including completion dates and performance milestones.

“Puget Sound is the cornerstone of the region’s quality of life and vibrant economy. This notion is at the heart of this first-in-class, updated Action Agenda, the region’s roadmap to recovery by 2020.” said Martha Kongsgaard, Chair of the Puget Sound Leadership Council.

Major Accomplishments
A key role of the Partnership is to coordinate facilitate and advise on technical projects throughout Puget Sound. Since 2008, the Partnership has helped 702 projects be launched or completed. These projects created an estimated 15,000 jobs. Learn more about the important progress by reading the list of major accomplishments.

Reflections by Partnership Leaders
The Chairs of each of the Partnership’s boards reported on the collective contributions of the many people who created and will implement the 2012 Action Agenda. Read what Board Chairs and legislators are saying about the Action Agenda by reading reflections from Partnership leaders.

Background
The Puget Sound Partnership is the backbone organization that coordinates the efforts of citizens, governments, tribes, scientists and businesses to set priorities, implement a regional recovery plan, and ensure accountability for results. By combining efforts and clearly defining priorities, more than 2,440 acres of habitat have been protected, 70 miles of streams and rivers have been restored, and game-changing restoration projects have been advanced since the Partnership was established through bipartisan leadership in 2007.

The Partnership does three key things unique to any other entity in Washington:

  1. Sets science-based priorities for the Puget Sound region
  2. Spurs implementation of priority actions by increasing capacity of partners
  3. Ensures accountability for results

TVW broadcast of the Leadership Council meeting: www.tvw.org

Leadership Council letter to the People of Puget Sound: http://www.psp.wa.gov/downloads/AA_Release/lettertoAA2012final8_9_12.pdf

Action Agenda and supporting documents: www.psp.wa.gov/action_agenda_2011_update_home.php

Leadership Council Meeting Agenda: www.psp.wa.gov/LC_meetings.php

Leadership Council members: www.psp.wa.gov/LC_about.php

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

###