Puget Sound at sunset. / Shutterstock

Saying that we must “do more” and “do better” to protect and restore Puget Sound, Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled an initiative on Dec. 19, 2005, to revitalize efforts to protect one of the state’s crown jewels.

Recognizing that achieving the goal of a healthy Puget Sound will only happen by dramatically increasing efforts, Gregoire outlined three key elements of the Puget Sound Initiative:

• Launch the Puget Sound Partnership to engage leaders and the public to draw a new road map to a sustainable Puget Sound by 2020.
• Accelerate cleanups, restoration and adoption of new technologies through a $42 million supplemental budget proposal for 2006.
• Reduce harm from septic systems, and improve the handling of marine oil and fuel transfers through two new proposed laws in 2006.

“This initiative zooms in on the most challenging problems in Puget Sound,” said Brad Ack, Chair of the Puget Sound Action Team. “The new funds and policy bills will accelerate high-priority actions on the ground, while the public-private partnership will build the broader coalition needed to safeguard the future of this spectacular natural area.”

Puget Sound Partnership
The Governor enlisted some of the region’s leading citizens to form the nucleus of a long-term public/private entity—the Puget Sound Partnership. The Partnership will lay the foundation for a 15-year effort to solve the Sound’s most vexing problems.

The Partnership will:
CREATE A 2020 ACTION AGENDA Recommend a set of actions that will begin to recover the Sound by 2020.

INCREASE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Engage citizens, governments, the business and conservation communities and others in ramping up efforts to recover the Sound.

IMPROVE STRUCTURE Recommend the best organizational structures and approaches to steward the Sound back to health and protect it over time.

EXPAND FUNDING Review funding sources for the protection and restoration of the Sound and prioritize spending to achieve the 2020 outcomes.

USE SCIENCE MORE EFFECTIVELY Recommend how scientific knowledge should be organized and applied in order
to inform policies and assist in setting and meeting goals.

The Partnership must present initial recommendations by June 15, 2006, and final recommendations in October 2006.

2006 budget proposal and legislation
There are nearly 15 line items in the original supplemental budget proposal. Highlights:

• Increase the rate of cleanups of contaminated sites on or near
  the Sound.
• Store oil spill equipment closer to where oil spills may occur at 40 sites around the Sound.
• Provide low- and no-interest loans to homeowners to fix failing septic systems.
• Improve wastewater treatment systems at six state parks.
• Accelerate adoption of low impact development techniques.

The two new laws focus on reducing harm from septic systems, and improving the handling of marine oil and fuel transfers, respectively.

What happens next?
Exact outcomes will be clearer after the 2006 Legislature acts on the Governor’s proposals, and as the Partnership makes its recommendations later this year. “What we know for certain is that our collective energy is very high to do something significant,” said Ack. “We can be sure the focus will never stray from getting to a clean and healthy Puget Sound. We want marine life that thrives, fish and shellfish that we can safely eat, and beaches where the strong-willed can swim.”

For more information, www.psat.wa.gov.

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