MEDIA ADVISORY
August 27, 2021

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

Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council to decide on strategies for the 2022-2026 Action Agenda

The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council will meet on Wednesday, September 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the September 1 Leadership Council meeting will be a virtual Zoom meeting for all participants and the public. 

Join the meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/93857184170?pwd=czdFTytBOVFTU1gvN3BxWWpOY2dsQT09 Meeting ID: 938 5718 4170, Password: 118637. Dial from any phone: 1-253-215-8782.

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 decision about the 2021 State of the Sound report. This session will include a discussion about the draft of the 2021 State of the Sound report, the communications and outreach plan for the report, and the Leadership Council's letter for the report. Presentation by Jon Bridgman, communications manager at the Puget Sound Partnership. 
  
  
• A presentation and discussion about the State of the Salish Sea report. The report, produced by Western Washington University's Salish Sea Institute, offers a science-based assessment of ecosystem conditions as well as a collective call to action. This session will include discussion of mutually reinforcing conclusions from the 2021 State of the Sound report and the State of the Salish Sea report. Presentation by Ginny Broadhurst, director of the Salish Sea Institute, and Kathryn Sobocinski, assistant professor, marine and coastal science, Western Washington University.  
  
  
• A presentation and discussion about the prospects for the upcoming 2022 Washington State legislative session. This session will include a discussion by Leadership Council members of priorities for the coming legislative session and beyond. This session will be led by Jay Manning, chair of the Leadership Council, and Don Gourlie, legislative policy director (incoming) at the Puget Sound Partnership. 
  
  
• A presentation for decision about revised strategies for the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. Strategies describe effective approaches for advancing progress toward desired outcomes, Vital Signs, and overall recovery. Each strategy represents a suite of actions that will align and leverage efforts across the recovery community and deliver transformational change. 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 Kaitlin Harris, environmental planner at the Puget Sound Partnership.
  
  
• A presentation and discussion about forage fish recovery. This session will include an overview about the status of forage fish stocks and the importance of forage fish to the Puget Sound ecosystem. Panel members include Phill Dionne, forage fish research and management lead, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife; Trina Bayard, director of bird conservation, Audubon Washington; Julie Watson, killer whale policy lead and Puget Sound recovery and regional fisheries enhancement group lead, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife; Tessa Francis, lead ecosystem ecologist at the Puget Sound Institute and managing director of the Ocean Modeling Forum; and Christopher Ellings, salmon recovery program manager, Nisqually Indian Tribe.    
  
  
• A presentation and discussion about the Puget Sound Federal Task Force Action Plan and the fiscal year 2021 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Funding Guidance to the three Strategic Initiative Leads. Presentation by Peter Murchie, program manager, EPA Geographic Programs Section. 

The full Leadership Council agenda is available here: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php. These meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to provide comment and learn about the regional effort to restore and protect Puget Sound.

If you need special accommodations to participate in this meeting, please notify Special Assistant to the Boards Anna Petersen at 360.338.2384.

About the Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is the governing body of the Puget Sound Partnership. Its seven members are leading citizens chosen from around the Sound and appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms. Jay Manning currently chairs the Leadership Council. 

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.