Dear partners,
This week, May 8–12, is Puget Sound Day on the Hill, an annual event organized by the Partnership and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Representatives from tribes, state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, along with concerned residents, travel to Washington, D.C., to lend their voices in support of action to save Puget Sound and uphold tribal treaty rights.
Last year, Congress delivered some big wins for Puget Sound recovery, passing parts of the PUGET SOS Act and substantially increasing funding for recovery—including $54 million for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Puget Sound Geographic Program, which helps fund projects that improve water quality, enhance fish passage, increase salmon habitat, and protect shorelines.
Making Waves Conversations: Nora Nickum on her new book, “Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest”
This episode of Making Waves Conversations features an interview between Laura Blackmore, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, and Nora Nickum, senior ocean policy manager at the Seattle Aquarium and author of books and magazine articles for kids. In the interview, Laura and Nora discuss Nora’s new book, “Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest;” orca recovery; and what it takes to make scientific information accessible for all readers.
Puget Sound Geographic Program funds at work
The National Estuary Program and the Puget Sound Geographic Program have provided key funding for hundreds of projects throughout the Puget Sound region. Our new video highlights a few of the people and projects that are putting that funding to work and making a difference to the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem.
Clearing the road for salmon recovery: 6PPD-quinone and mitigation solutions
6PPD-quinone, the byproduct of a chemical added to automotive tires to keep them from breaking down, is lethal to coho salmon. People and organizations throughout the region are working hard to figure out how to control 6PPD-quinone pollution and remove it from stormwater runoff.
Preventing stormwater pollution protects what we care about
The Stormwater SIL recently awarded $1.6 million in Puget Sound Geographic Program funds to help prioritize locations for stormater management projects, control and lessen stormwater flow, improve water quality, control and lessen 6PPD-quinone, and replace culverts.
Protecting and restoring shellfish beds throughout Puget Sound
The Shellfish Strategic Initiative Lead recently awarded $5.5 million in Puget Sound Geographic Program funds to help establish pollution identification and correction programs, manage and control fecal pollution and disease-causing bacteria and viruses from onsite sewage systems (septic systems), and assist and educate farmers to help them voluntarily reduce livestock and animal manure runoff.
Puget Sound habitat restoration efforts to receive $14 million boost
Starting this spring, Puget Sound habitat recovery is getting a $14 million boost! Distributed through the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead, a partnership between Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the investment will benefit 25 projects across Puget Sound.
