Puget Sound’s Cleanup Attracts $2 Million Federal Dollars
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nearly $2 million to the Washington State Department of Ecology to accelerate and improve efforts to address the health of Puget Sound, the second largest marine estuary in the United States. Washington State now must secure approximately $2 million to match the federal grant.
In December, the state unveiled a $42 million initiative to begin restoring Puget Sound by 2020 and formed the Puget Sound Partnership, a public-private effort to help solve environmental challenges in the Sound. The Washington Legislature adopted this request, providing a total of $52 million.
The 15 year goals of the Puget Sound Partnership include finding the best ways to improve the Sound’s water quality, keep region streams flowing, protect and restore critical shoreline habitat, and help recover important species at risk from pollution such as orca whales, salmon and groundfish.
The new federal and state money will support the development of the Partnership’s 2020 agenda to integrate the states Chinook salmon recovery plan with Puget Sound restoration. The partnership will work with the regions top scientists to identify conservation priorities.
Ecology and EPA are part of the state’s Puget Sound Action Team and help manage the Puget Sound National Estuary Program, charged with protecting the Sound’s environmental health.
The State Department of Fish and Wildlife will match $700,000 of the EPA funds to support local efforts to recover endangered salmon populations.
Another portion of the funding will support outreach and education efforts to better engage citizens in support of Puget Sound conservation and protection.
Provided by the Environmental News Service.