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MEDIA CONTACT
Katy Johansson
360.725.5442
katy.johansson@psp.wa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04-01-2008

Science and policy experts invited to guide Puget Sound cleanup effort

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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