FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Hyde, 360.819.3045, kevin.hyde@psp.wa.gov
The Puget Sound Partnership Science Panel will meet on Wednesday, July 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, July 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the University of Washington, Seattle campus, Atmospheric Sciences Building, Room ATG 610.
All are welcome to attend the meeting. With the expiration of the Governor’s COVID-19 State of Emergency, masking for Partnership staff, board members, and attendees is voluntary. We continue to strongly support those who choose to wear a mask.
We’ll be providing all-virtual livestreams of this meeting, through TVW (links below). We highly encourage partners and other members of the public to use this virtual option, if possible, to reduce carbon emissions and to minimize COVID risks for everyone.
TVW web links:
July 19: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-science-panel-2023071019/?eventID=2023071019
July 20: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-science-panel-2023071020/?eventID=2023071020
The full Science Panel agenda and meeting materials are available through our board meetings page at: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php.
Meeting highlights include:
- A presentation and discussion about the Puget Sound Future Scenarios Project. The Puget Sound Future Scenarios Project explores the interactions between driving forces (such as population growth, land use policy, climate change, and others) and how our Puget Sound recovery goals (such as human wellbeing and orca populations) might respond in these different futures. This session will include a discussion of the revised hallmarks of the business-as-usual scenario; a discussion of the initial analysis of results from the project's three models; and an update on the fall 2023 science-policy workshop. Presentation by Katherine Wyatt, assistant science director at the Puget Sound Partership; Elizabeth McManus, principal, Ross Strategic; and Shelby Thomas, associate, Ross Strategic.
- A presentation and decision about the Science Panel's comments for the 2023 State of the Sound. The Puget Sound Partnership is scheduled to prepare a State of the Sound report this year, which is a requirement in state statute (RCW 90.71.370(3)). As part of this requirement, the Science Panel is required to provide comments on their assessment of the implementation of recovery efforts and findings from monitoring. This session will include a discussion about the draft of the Science Panel's comments, suggestions about the tone and substance of the draft, messages that might be included in a longer form document that would be separate from the 2023 State of the Sound, and how Science Panel members would like to participate in revisions to the documents. Presentation by Science Panel member Paul Mayer; Scott Redman, Science and Evaluation program director at the Puget Sound Partnership; and Jon Bridgman, communications manager at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A presentation and discussion about the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force (PSFLTF). This session will include an update on the recent activities of the PSFLTF. Partnership staff will also share a summary report about 2023 Puget Sound Day on the Hill events. Presentation by Ahren Stroming, special assistant for federal affairs at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A presentation about the Partnership's human dimensions work. This session will include an update about a selection of active and planned projects that integrate human dimensions into Puget Sound recovery. Presentation by Rebecca Hollender, lead ecosystem recovery coordinator at the Puget Sound Partnership; Kyle Clifton, social science research coordinator at Oregon State University; and Krista Harrington, doctoral student at Oregon State University.
- A presentation and discussion about the cumulative effects evaluation of salmon recovery in nearshore habitats of Whidbey basin. The aim of this study is to analyze the combined effects produced from a suite of recovery and conservation actions across a landscape to evaluate salmon recovery efforts implemented over the past two decades in Whidbey basin nearshore habitats. This session will include an update on the status of the study and discussion about study details and interim products. Presentation by Elene Trujillo, effectiveness monitoring analyst at the Puget Sound Partnership; Mike LeMoine, senior research scientist at the Skagit River System Cooperative; and Kathryn Sobocinski, assistant professor, marine and coastal science, at Western Washington University.
- A presentation about Puget Sound scientific research investments. This session will include an overview of upcoming projects (2023-2025) recommended for Puget Sound scientific research funding. Presentation by Scott Redman, Science and Evaluation program director at the Puget Sound Partnership.
The full Science Panel agenda and meeting materials are available through our board meetings page at: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php.
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 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 government agencies, 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.
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