Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council to discuss the 2025-2029 Science Work Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 06, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: Ian McCabe, 564.669.4628, ian.mccabe@psp.wa.gov 

The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council will meet on Wednesday, December 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m,at the Dumas Bay Centre (Osprey Room), 3200 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA, 98023.

We’ll be providing an all-virtual livestream of this meeting, through TVW. We highly encourage partners and other members of the public to use this virtual option, if possible, to reduce carbon emissions.

TVW web link, Wednesday, December 11: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-leadership-council-2024121045/?eventID=2024121045

Public Comment: You may provide public comment during the general public comment period 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, December 10. Written comment submitted prior to the meeting will be included in the meeting correspondence.

The agenda and meeting materials are available through our board meetings page: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php

Meeting highlights include:

• A presentation and decision about the boards shared priorities and meeting calendar for 2025. Leadership Council members will also decide on new Ecosystem Coordination Board appointments and to elect a vice chair for the Leadership Council.
   
• A presentation and decision about the 2025-2009 Science Work Plan (SWP). 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 a discussion about the SWP and receive recommendations from the Science Panel. The Leadership Council will decide about whether to approve the SWP and discuss the next steps. 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, and Kelly Biedenweg, chair of the Science Panel.
  
  
• A presentation and discussion about federal updates. Staff will provide updates on progress of priority federal policies and appropriations related to Puget Sound recovery for 2025 and discuss the upcoming Fish and the Farm Bill event. Presentation by Ahren Stroming, special assistant for federal affairs at the Puget Sound Partnership.
  
  
• A presentation and discussion about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. Staff will provide updates on the work of the EPA, Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force, and discuss the EPA Funding Model. Presentation by Peter Murchie, geographic programs manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  
• A presentation and decision about the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan Addendum. Partnership staff will provide a summary and overview of the Addendum, which will guide the Puget Sound regional salmon recovery organization's salmon recovery strategies and actions over the next 10 years. The Leadership Council will hear recommendations from the Salmon Recovery Council and then decide about whether to approve the Addendum. Staff will also provide a preview of Implementation Plan actions. 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 Washington State Departments of Ecology (ECY) and Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). ECY and WDF agency staff will host a forum on Shoreline Armoring, providing a background of their work and share their unique perspectives and experiences. The forum will include:
  
  
  • An overview of recently established compliance programs.
  • A presentation about how program staff approach unpermitted shoreline armor.
  • A discussion about some of the challenges the agencies encounter when trying to resolve cases of unpermitted armor.
  • An update on Senate Bill 5104 and how the bill relates to unpermitted armor.
  • A panel discussion, questions, and next steps.

Forum participants include Kelly Still, interim habitat program director at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Matt Curtis, habitat program protection division manager at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Misty Blair, shoreline management act policy lead at the Washington State Departments of Ecology, and Carolyn Chase, shoreline management act compliance Lead at the Washington State Departments of Ecology.

• A presentation and discussion about Riparian Roundtable recommendations. The Riparian Taskforce is currently in the process of developing proposed strategies for implementing the final Riparian Taskforce recommendations. Taskforce facilitators are meeting with the Leadership Council to present progress and solicit feedback on strategies for implementing the recommendations. Presentation by Billy Plauché and Amanda Carr of Plauché and Carr, LLP.  
  
  
• A presentation and decision about the 2025 Washington state legislative session priorities. Partnership staff will share information about what to expect in the 2025 legislative session and lead a discussion to set 2025 legislative priorities. Leadership Council members will discuss and decide on the legislative priorities to be adopted for the 2025 session. Presentation by Don Gourlie, legislative policy director at the Puget Sound Partnership.
  
  
• A presentation and decision about the Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director appointment process. Presentation by Dennis McLerran, chair of the Leadership Council. 

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 Program Coordinator Amber Raney at 564.999.0527, amber.raney@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.