The State of the Sound

Scott Redman

Puget Sound Action Team

February 5, 2003

Marine Water and

Nearshore

Successes & Challenges

My thesis –We, the people of Puget Sound:

• Recognize the beauty and bounty of Puget Sound

• Expect much of the Sound

• Can behave and invest to protect, restore, and sustain Puget Sound

Puget Sound• Diverse environments for

people, fish, wildlife, and plants

– Nearshore• river mouth estuaries

• shorelines

– Open marine waters• bays and inlets

• larger basins

• Homes• Agriculture• Forestry• Recreation

• Industry and commerce

• Homes• Recreation

Shellfish Harvesting

Source: Washington Department of Health

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Ac

res

Approved or Conditionally Approved

Restricted or Prohibited

Puget Sound Commercial ShellfishAcres Available for Harvest

During 2000-01:• Net upgrade of 691 acres.

Minimize nutrient and pathogen pollution

• Manage dairy nutrients

• Protect and restore shellfish growing waters

• Operate and maintain on-site sewage systems

• Permit municipal and industrial discharges

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

-6 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90

Months Post Cap Initiation

Od

ds

Ra

tio

/ R

isk

Fa

cto

r

May2001

start ofcapping

(Sept 93)

end ofcapping(Mar 94)

1983-85(estimated)

Liver lesions in English sole at Eagle Harbor

Minimize toxic pollution• Care for and minimize

household hazardous waste

• Manage pests appropriately

• Prevent and respond to spills

• Clean up contaminated sediment

• Permit municipal and industrial discharges

Protect and restore shorelines and estuaries

• Manage our shorelines

• Decide where and how to grow

• Conserve and restore key processes and features

0

50

100

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Per

cen

t S

paw

nin

g P

ote

nti

al North

South

Decline in Spawning Potential of Copper Rockfish

(Strait of Juan de Fuca)

(Whidbey Bas in, Central Puget Sound, Hood Canal)

Source: Washington Departm ent of Fish and Wildlife, 2001

nodata

Conserve and restore biological populations & communities

• Minimize threats from nuisance species

• Manage harvests, including by reserves

• Protect representative habitats

The Nature Conservancy: Conservation by Design

Setting PrioritiesEcoregional Plans

Measuring Success

Developing StrategiesSite Conservation Plans

Taking Action

• The Nature Conservancy’s Ecoregional Plan

Sustaining Puget Sound

• Do no harm – best practices– On the land (other sessions)

– On the water & shores

• Conserve and restore processes, functions, and features