11/7/08

The Puget Sound Partnership issued its long-awaited Action Agenda on November 6 for restoring Puget Sound's health by 2020. The public now has about two weeks to comment before the final Action Agenda is adopted December 1.

"Ultimately, the partnership’s to-do-list is similar to proposals made in the late 1980s by the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, one of the state’s first forays into restoring the Sound.

"The primary sources of pollution of the Sound haven’t changed in 20 years, they’ve just gotten more critical, said Kathy Fletcher, executive director for People for Puget Sound, a nonprofit environmental group.

"Other than the growing impact of climate change, the same old problems of pollutants in stormwater runoff and development encroaching on wildlife habitat and agricultural land remain as important as ever, she said.

“'What’s different is the situation is far more urgent today,' said Fletcher, who from 1985 to 1990 was the Sound water quality agency chairwoman. 'The real issue is: When are these issues going to get done and are they going to get funded and who is going to do what and when and are people going to be held accountable.'"

--Skagit Valley Herald, 11/7/08, "Agency releases Puget Sound cleanup proposal"

11/7/08 Seattle Times:  Draft plan released for Sound recovery

11/6/08 Seattle PI: Draft plan to help rescue Puget Sound unveiled

11/7/08 Olympian: 2020 vision to clean up Puget Sound unveiled

11/6/08 Kitsap Sun: Puget Sound Partnership Releases Action Agenda