Puget Sound Partnership Public Meeting

North Sound Action Area
March 10, 2008

1-5 PM Session:
About 60 folks- mostly agency, org, and tribe representation.

Big issues: (no surprise here)

-Storm water
-Habitat loss
-Contaminants/spills
-Invasive species/ballast water
-Lack of interest/understanding/action from citizens

Whatcom Co. specific issues:
-Fraser River/lower mainland loading (sediment/contamiant/nutrient)
-Air pollution from shared airshed with BC
-Threat of deforestation/convesion of Ag lands for development
-Nutrient loading from Ag lands (I didn't know this, but one participant
     mentioned that Whatcom County has 1/3 of all cattle in PS region)
-Fish pens (breeding Atlantic salmon, and threat of breeding other non-native
    fish species in off-shore pens)

Posted by Keeley O'Connell, 3/12/08


5:30-7:30 PM Session:

About 20 folks, a third or so fighting a 100-acre development within the urban growth boundary of the city.

From the summary of concerns compiled from the afternoon session:

-education and behavior change
-conservation of land
-more people coming
-improve water quality
-invasive species
-lack of funding

From the summary of criteria for priorities:

-cost effectiveness and measurablility
-bottom up
-reflecting public values and concerns
-funding local projects
-balancing regional and local needs, concerns

Posted by Mike Sato, 3/12/08