2019 State of the Sound:
CALL TO ACTION

Partners in recovery

Each of us has a role to play in achieving Puget Sound recovery. Each of us works hard to bring the day closer when our rivers once again run clean and teem with salmon, and our shellfish are safe to harvest throughout Puget Sound.

However, the numbers in the 2019 State of the Sound speak for themselves: our journey is far from over.  While we’re all working hard, it’s not enough. We must redouble our efforts to combat climate change and the effects of a growing population that threaten ecosystems and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. This call to action is from the Puget Sound Leadership Council to each of our partners. Each of us can, and must, do more to accelerate recovery, and we are committed to our partnership with you. Together, as we look to the future, let us be bold in our intent and actions to build a healthy, resilient, and economically prosperous Puget Sound for all.

For the State Legislature

  • Enact changes to our regulatory system as recommended by the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council (psp.wa.gov/recommendations) to protect and enhance salmon habitat, ensure human health and safety, provide irreplaceable ecosystem services, sustain tribal cultures, increase resiliency to climate change, and produce food for orcas.
  • Authorize new funding that will provide reliable, dedicated funding in the amounts needed for Puget Sound recovery, as recommended by the Leadership Council.
  • Fund a Puget Sound Budget that fully supports recovery, as recommended by the Leadership Council, which will include the following:
      • State agency budget requests that fund implementation of the 2018-2022 Action Agenda for Puget Sound.
      • Habitat protection and restoration programs, including the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration fund, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, the Floodplains by Design program, and state match for the federal Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project.
      • Stormwater pollution prevention programs, such as the Stormwater Financial Assistance Program.
      • Programs to protect and enhance shellfish beds, such as Pollution Identification and Control programs, and working lands and natural resource industries.
      • Scientific research to deepen our understanding of effective recovery mechanisms, and monitoring to report progress and identify emerging issues.
  • Enact and fund implementation of the recommendations of the Governor’s Southern Resident Orca Task Force.

For State Agencies

  • Work with the Partnership and the Leadership Council to develop the Puget Sound Budget. Submit budget requests to implement the 2018-2022 Action Agenda for Puget Sound.
  • Work with the Leadership Council to identify and implement changes to state policies and programs that will accelerate recovery and increase climate resiliency while sustaining vibrant human communities and working lands.
  • Enhance collaboration with local governments and landowners to find effective ways to protect and restore habitat and water quality.
  • Continue to collaborate with the Partnership to develop the 2022-2026 Action Agenda update. Commit to collaborating on a short, unified set of priorities for programs and projects that will accelerate recovery and enhance human wellbeing.
  • Continue and enhance collaboration with British Columbia to ensure our recovery efforts don’t stop at the border. Accelerate salmon recovery work with Oregon, Idaho, California, and Alaska.

For Local Government

  • Collaborate with the Leadership Council and other regional partners to identify ways that state agencies and other partners can support local government efforts to accelerate recovery while enhancing human wellbeing.
  • Adopt, implement, and enforce land use policies that protect habitat, prevent stormwater pollution, and lead to the reopening and protection of shellfish beds. Look for ways to achieve environmental net gains while accommodating growth.
  • Help constituents understand the connections between these land use policies, climate resiliency, and Puget Sound recovery.
  • Participate in watershed-scale recovery planning and implementation efforts, via Local Integrating Organizations and salmon recovery Lead Entities. 
  • Continue to collaborate with the Partnership to develop the 2022-2026 Action Agenda update. Commit to identifying a short, unified set of priorities for programs and projects that will accelerate recovery and enhance human wellbeing.

For Congress

  • Fund the Puget Sound Geographic Program at a level commensurate with the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay.
  • Pass the Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound (PUGET SOS) Act to establish a Puget Sound Program Office at the EPA and require federal agencies to align their efforts.
  • Fund science and monitoring to increase our understanding of, and ability to report on, Puget Sound recovery.
  • Double the annual funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund to ensure that salmon recovery actions occur throughout the U.S. range of the Southern Resident orcas.

For Federal Agencies

  • Implement the priorities of the Puget Sound Federal Task Force, and report progress regularly.
  • Work with the Leadership Council to identify and implement changes to federal policies and programs that will accelerate recovery while benefitting all communities equitably.
  • Continue to collaborate with the Partnership to develop the 2022-2026 Action Agenda update. Commit to identifying a short, unified set of priorities for programs and projects that will accelerate recovery and enhance human wellbeing.
  • Develop a science enterprise to coordinate federal science and monitoring work, and implement the priorities in the Puget Sound Science Work Plan.
  • Continue and enhance collaboration with Canada and its indigenous communities to ensure our recovery efforts don’t stop at the border.

For Non-Governmental Organizations

  • Continue and intensify advocacy for policies and funding that support Puget Sound recovery and healthy and resilient human populations.
  • Continue to collaborate with the Partnership to develop the 2022-2026 Action Agenda update. Commit to identifying a short, unified set of priorities for programs and projects that will accelerate recovery and enhance human wellbeing.
  • Help raise funds for implementation of the 2018-2022 Action Agenda.
  • Increase public awareness of the condition of Puget Sound, why it matters, the effects of human activities and climate change on Puget Sound, and how individuals can support Puget Sound recovery.

For the Partnership

  • Work with the Leadership Council and all partners to identify and implement changes to state, federal, and local policies that will accelerate recovery and increase climate resiliency while sustaining vibrant human communities and working lands.
  • Lead development of the Puget Sound Budget with the Leadership Council and state agencies.
  • Intensify efforts to diversify and enhance funding for Puget Sound recovery.
  • Lead collaboration with all partners to implement the 2018-2022 Action Agenda, and to develop the 2022-2026 Action Agenda update. Commit to identifying a short, unified set of priorities for programs and projects that will accelerate recovery and enhance human wellbeing.
  • Continue work to develop and enhance our accountability and ecosystem monitoring programs, to ensure investments in Puget Sound recovery are effective and targeted.
  • Deploy cutting-edge science to diagnose pressures on Puget Sound, identify and test potential solutions, and stay abreast of emerging issues.
  • Tell the story of Puget Sound recovery. Increase diversity, equity, and inclusion to represent everyone in the recovery effort.

For the Public

  • Get involved. Volunteer on a habitat restoration project or in a community-based science program. See orca.wa.gov for links to organizations to join. Or plant a tree at home.
  • Quiet the waters of Puget Sound to help orcas find food. If you’re a boater, give orcas space. Follow the BeWhaleWise (bewhalewise.org) guidelines for whale watching. And please use pump-out stations to keep sewage out of Puget Sound.
  • Drive less. Support efforts to improve alternative transportation options in the Puget Sound region.
  • Keep plastics and toxic chemicals out of our waterways. Recycle. Use environmentally friendly products in your home and on your landscape, fix vehicle leaks, use a commercial car wash, and have your vehicle oil changed by a professional.
  • Speak up for Puget Sound.  Vote. Tell a friend. Make sure your local, state, and federal representatives know how important Puget Sound is to you. 

For Tribes

The Partnership and the Leadership Council recognize that our tribal partners are sovereign nations. We invite them to continue to work with us in the following ways.

  • Continue to work with the Partnership and the Leadership Council to help us understand how best to uphold and protect tribal treaty rights.
  • Continue to work with the Leadership Council to identify changes to federal, state, and local laws, policies, and programs that will accelerate recovery and implement the tribal habitat strategy while enhancing human wellbeing.
  • Continue to participate in regional and watershed-scale recovery planning, implementation, and science and monitoring efforts.
  • Work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Leadership Council to help us integrate habitat, harvest, and hatchery efforts in Puget Sound.
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WWW.PSP.WA.GOV

You can contact the Puget Sound Partnership at: info@psp.wa.gov
1110 Capitol Way South, Suite 255,  Olympia,  WA 98501

2023 STATE OF THE SOUND
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under Assistance Agreement PC-00J90301-1 to the Puget Sound Partnership. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.