FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Ian McCabe, 564.669.4628, ian.mccabe@psp.wa.gov
OLYMPIA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Estuary Program evaluation of the Puget Sound Partnership shows that the Partnership is making progress with achieving environmental results and strengthening relationships with partners. The Partnership is the National Estuary Program for Puget Sound.
EPA’s evaluations measure how National Estuary Programs carry out their Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans, which, in the case of the Partnership, is the Puget Sound Action Agenda. EPA reviewed the Partnership’s progress and accomplishments from July 2019 through Sept. 2023 and gave the Partnership a “proficient” rating, which is the highest rating for program evaluations.
“We are extremely proud of the EPA’s recognition of the Puget Sound Partnership’s strengths as a National Estuary Program,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “In their review, the EPA highlighted the Partnership’s successful approach to carrying out the Action Agenda through robust programming and diverse partnerships. This is a testament to the hard work of the Partnership’s staff and all the partners dedicated to Puget Sound recovery.”
“The Puget Sound is a national treasure, and improving its health requires patient, deliberate collaboration,” said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, co-chair of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus. “Puget Sound Partnership is that pivotal collaborator, bringing together our congressional delegation, federal and state agencies, Tribes, local governments, businesses, and nonprofits."
EPA Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller said, “Protecting and restoring Puget Sound is critically important work. It’s vital that a strong and effective organization lead this collective effort, and the program evaluation shows how well the Puget Sound Partnership fulfills that role. The success of a National Estuary Program depends on building relationships, engaging communities, and sharing reliable information. The Partnership has excelled in those aspects.”
Within the evaluation, the EPA noted several strengths of the Partnership:
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Leveraging funding and communicating grant opportunities. The Partnership leveraged $500 million in funding, either directly or in a supporting role, from 2020-2023. The Partnership also connected partners with funding through PS RAFT and other communication tools.
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Administration and partnerships. The Partnership changed the Action Agenda to focus less on individual projects and more on strategies and actions that have multiple benefits. It brought together groups to work on issues that include 6PPD-quinone in stormwater and integrating the transportation sector into Puget Sound recovery.
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Gains in the health of ecosystems. Puget Sound recovery partners and the Partnership have helped re-open shellfish beds, which supports Tribal harvesting rights. The Partnership has also worked with partners to reconnect habitat to promote salmon and broader species recovery.
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Improving water quality. The Partnership has coordinated with partners to address 6PPD-quinone-polluted stormwater in transportation areas. It has also helped protect and restore riparian habitat.
The EPA’s National Estuary Program evaluations also include recommendations for the program to further strengthen its performance. The EPA highlighted several areas where the Partnership can continue to improve: helping local partners acquire the resources they need to carry out the Action Agenda; working with partners to develop the 2026-2030 Action Agenda and refine multiple-benefit approaches to Puget Sound recovery; communicating Puget Sound ecosystem conditions in ways that are accessible to the recovery community and the public; and working with Canadian partners at an ecosystem scale to address Salish Sea-wide issues.
“The EPA’s program evaluation provides valuable feedback to National Estuary Programs throughout the country,” said Dennis McLerran, chair of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made. We also know there’s more we can do to strengthen the program and accelerate the restoration and protection of Puget Sound.”
“I’m grateful to the EPA for their careful attention to our work and recognition of our program,” said Laura Bradstreet, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “As the EPA pointed out, many of our program’s strengths come from the people who are involved—whether that’s our staff, our many committed partners, or the members of the community who care deeply about Puget Sound. It’s our privilege to help lead this collective effort and work toward the recovery of this beautiful ecosystem.”
About the National Estuary Program
The National Estuary Program (NEP) is an EPA place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Currently, 28 estuaries located along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and in Puerto Rico are designated as estuaries of national significance. Each NEP focuses within a study area that includes the estuary and surrounding watershed. The NEP is a non-regulatory program established by Congress and was authorized by section 320 of the Clean Water Act in 1987.
The NEPs are located in a variety of institutional settings, including state and local agencies, universities and individual nonprofits. In overseeing and managing the national program, EPA provides annual funding, national guidance, and technical assistance to the local NEPs.
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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