MEDIA ADVISORY
July 9, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Hyde, 360.819.3045, kevin.hyde@psp.wa.gov 

Science Panel to discuss target-setting for Puget Sound ecosystem recovery

The Puget Sound Partnership's Science Panel will meet on Wednesday, July 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Thursday, July 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the July 14-15 Science Panel meetings will be virtual Zoom meetings for all participants and the public. 

For the July 14 session, join the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/94208898758?pwd=K1VmU3BkUUdlazZ2U3JmV3pvczJ3UT09 Meeting ID: 942 0889 8758, Password: 580498.

For the July 15 session, join the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/95095005162?pwd=RXlIbHR1dUxjS0ZURERubzNZNEtCZz09 Meeting ID: 950 9500 5162, Password: 383074.

Full Zoom instructions are included in the meeting agenda, which is available here: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php

Meeting highlights include:

• A presentation for discussion about the Science Panel's comments for the 2021 State of the Sound. This session will include discussion of the Science Panel's draft comments and specific changes or revisions to those comments. Presentation by Colin Grier, member of the Science Panel, and John Stein, chair of the Science Panel. 
  
  
• A presentation on the draft strategies for the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. Strategies describe effective approaches for advancing progress toward desired outcomes, Vital Signs, and overall recovery. This session will include an update about revisions to the draft strategies and a draft framework for identifying specific actions to include in the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. Presentation by Dan Stonington, planning manager at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Don Gourlie, environmental planner at the Puget Sound Partnership.
  
  
• A presentation for decision about setting targets for Puget Sound ecosystem recovery. Targets provide a vision of a long-term recovery destination and identify waypoints that, if achieved, will help us recover and protect Puget Sound. This session will include a discussion of draft criteria and preliminary scoring to evaluate Vital Sign indicators and Action Agenda outcomes as candidates suitable for target-setting in 2021. Presentation by Kirsten Feifel, adaptive systems manager at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Scott Redman, director of the Science and Evaluation program at the Puget Sound Partnership.
  
  
• A presentation about the State of the Salish Sea report. This session will include an overview of the key findings and recommendations from State of the Salish Sea report, produced by Western Washington University's Salish Sea Institute. Presentation by Kathryn Sobocinski, assistant professor, marine and coastal science, Western Washington University, and Ginny Broadhurst, director of the Salish Sea Institute. 
  
  
• A presentation for discussion about alternative futures scenario analysis. Alternative exploratory scenarios help us assess and incorporate changing dynamics and uncertainty into planning. This session will include discussion about the list of driving forces affecting the future of Puget Sound recovery, a list of metrics to compare scenarios, and the development of a business-as-usual scenario. Presentation by Katherine Wyatt, assistant science director at the Puget Sound Partnership. 
  
  
  

The full Science Panel agenda is available here: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php. 

If you need special accommodations to participate in this meeting, please notify Board Policy Specialist Jillian Reitz at 360.742.2936.

About the Science Panel

The Science Panel's expertise and advice are critical to the Puget Sound Partnership’s efforts to develop a comprehensive, science-based plan to restore Puget Sound. The members, appointed by the Leadership Council, are chosen from the top scientists in Washington State.

About the Puget Sound Partnership

The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency formed to lead the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with hundreds of governments, tribes, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits, the Partnership mobilizes partner action around a common agenda, advances Sound investments, and tracks progress to optimize recovery. For more information, go to www.psp.wa.gov.