 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 06, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Hyde, 360.819.3045, kevin.hyde@psp.wa.gov
The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council will meet on Wednesday, September 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m, and Thursday, September 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Hotel Leo, 1224 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA, 98226. There will also be site tours of the South Fork Nooksack Fish Camp Project and Squalicum Estuary on Wednesday, September 11, from 2:15 p.m to 6:00 p.m.
All are welcome to attend the meeting. We’ll also be providing an all-virtual livestream of the meeting portions, 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.
Public Comment: You may provide public comment during the general public comment period on September 11 as noted on the meeting agenda. In-person attendees may fill out a comment card and provide it to staff. The Chair will call you up to speak at the appropriate time. You may also submit written public comment in advance of the meeting by emailing Wendy Loosle, Board Policy Advisor, wendy.loosle@psp.wa.gov, by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10. Written comment submitted prior to the meeting will be included in the meeting correspondence.
TVW web link, Wednesday, September 11: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-leadership-council-2024091049/?eventID=2024091049
TVW web link, Thursday, September 12: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-leadership-council-2024091050/?eventID=2024091050%C2%A0
The agenda and meeting materials are available through our board meetings page: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php
Meeting highlights include:
Wednesday, September 11:
- A presentation and discussion about the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan Addendum. Partnership staff will provide a summary and overview of the final draft of the Addendum and seek feedback on key changes. Staff will also share next steps to prepare Leadership Council members for a decision at the December Leadership Council meeting. The Addendum will guide the Puget Sound regional salmon recovery organization's salmon recovery strategies and actions over the next 10 years. Presentation by Melissa Speeg, salmon recovery manager at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Ashley Bagley, salmon policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A forum with the Whatcom Local Integrating Organization (LIO). The Whatcom LIO will host a local forum to share their unique perspectives and experiences. The forum will include:
- A presentation on the intersection of population growth, land use, flood risk, salmon recovery, and climate change.
- A panel discussion about collaborative solutions to complex challenges, including recovery and restoration, reducing flood risk, and managing and planning for in-stream and out-of-stream needs, among other topics
Forum participants include Becky Peterson, Whatcom LIO coordinator, Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County executive, Gary Stoyka, natural resources manager at Whatcom County Public Works, Chris Heimgartner, general manager at Public Utility District No. 1 of Whatcom County, Devin Flawd, stock assessment manager at Lummi Nation Natural Resources, and local Tribal members.
- The Leadership Council, Partnership staff, Whatcom LIO representatives, and interested parties will tour the South Fork Nooksack Fish Camp Project in Acme, WA and the Squalicum Estuary in Bellingham, WA. No official business will be conducted on the tour and will not be part of the official meeting or TVW livestream.
Thursday, September 12:
- A presentation and discussion about the 2025 Washington state legislative session priorities. Partnership staff will share an early list of topics and ideas for attention during the 2025 session and will seek Leadership Council input. This discussion is a key milestone in the Partnership’s annual process to develop Puget Sound legislative priorities. Presentation by Don Gourlie, legislative policy director at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A presentation and discussion about federal updates and the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. Staff will provide updates on progress of priority federal policies and appropriations related to Puget Sound recovery, and on the work of the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. Presentation by Ahren Stroming, special assistant for federal affairs at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Peter Murchie, geographic programs manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- A presentation and discussion about the 2025-2029 Science Work Plan. The Science Work Plan, one of the Science Panel's primary products, identifies priority science work actions and broader recommendations for improving ongoing science. This session will include discussion about the process and schedule for creating the Science Work Plan for 2025-2029. Staff will also share next steps to prepare Leadership Council members for a decision at the December Leadership Council meeting. Presentation by Katherine Wyatt, assistant science director at the Puget Sound Partnership; and Scott Redman, Science and Evaluation program director at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A presentation and discussion about the 2024 Puget Sound National Estuary Program (NEP) Evaluation. The NEP is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Partnership staff will provide a summary of the findings from the EPA's final 2024 Puget Sound Partnership Program Evaluation. Presentation by Jennifer Carlson, agency workplan and EPA grant manager at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A presentation and discussion about the 2024/2025 Leadership Council work plan. This session will include a discussion about the implementation status of the Leadership Council's 2024/2025 work plan priorities in preparation for adopting a new or revised work plan in December. Presentation by Tristan Contesse, boards program manager at the Puget Sound Partnership.
The full Leadership Council 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 Boards Policy Advisor Wendy Loosle at wendy.loosle@psp.wa.gov.
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. Dennis McLerran 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 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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