Saving Our Puget Sound

We have an opportunity to work together to protect and restore Puget Sound.

Puget Sound is important to our way of life and to our economy. It is important to us but also to those who come after us. Plagued by toxic pollution, damaged shorelines and a destroyed habitat, we need to take measures to save our Sound. Senate Democrats plan to provide leadership, accountability and adequate funding to do just that. These efforts are critical to ensuring that our Sound has healthy habitat, clean water and safe beaches.

Despite efforts and financial investments to improve the Puget Sound ecosystem, more needs to be done. In 2005, the governor created the Puget Sound Partnership and charged it with developing a strategy to protect and restore the health of the Puget Sound by 2020.

In December 2006, the partnership reported to the governor, applauding some achievements but also raising concerns. A few of the problems identified in the report: a need for better collaboration; a long-term strategic plan; and increased accountability.

These problems exist because there are 12 counties that border on the Puget Sound and more than 100 cities with programs or policies that benefit and diminish the Puget Sound’s environmental quality. Additionally, there are numerous programs by state agencies, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and private landowners.

Our current system faces challenges because it is fragmented and lacks accountability. To solve this problem, legislation is being proposed to create an agency to provide for stronger collaboration, to develop a long-term strategy based on sound science and to increase accountability.

Senate Bill 5372, which is sponsored by Sens. Rockefeller, Swecker, Poulsen, Marr, Keiser, Shin, Kline, McAuliffe, Fraser, Kilmer and Murray would provide a new structure for managing the recovery of Puget Sound. This new structure will be a partnership guided by a seven-member Puget Sound Leadership Council, Implementation Advisory Board and a Science Advisory Committee. The partnership would work on a single comprehensive action agenda to restore Puget Sound by 2020.

Significant efforts have been made by several government entities, groups, and individuals on this issue. The governor’s budget even proposed $220 million for the Puget Sound. Establishing a collaborative governance process to continue coordinated management of ocean resources issues is necessary because Washington’s quality of life and economic viability depend on the health of the Sound.

Senate Democrats recognize that and will work hard this session to ensure we save the Sound for the next generation.

Front cover and above right photos courtesy of Experience WA.