State action plan targets health of Puget Sound

Published 11:21 am Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Submit public comment

What: Input for “Action Agenda for Puget Sound”

When: March 28-April 29

Submit comments: View draft and comment online at pugetsoundactionagendaupdate.publicmeeting.info; email AAcomment@psp.wa.gov or mail to: Puget Sound Partnership, ATTN: Kelly Adams, 326 E. D St., Tacoma, WA 98421.

Open houses: 5-7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 7, in Tacoma, and 5-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, in Mount Vernon.

More info: Call Kelly Adams at 360-464-1233 or visit                   pugetsoundactionagendaupdate.publicmeeting.info.

Sequim, Clallam County officials and local organizations are part of a collective effort to recover and restore the health of Puget Sound.

Adjusted every two years, the “Action Agenda for Puget Sound” is the road map toward that shared goal.

As part of the 2016 update, state planners are seeking public input throughout April on an array of projects, including more than 10 stemming within Clallam County, that are expected to best aid in reaching a healthy Puget Sound.

The 2016 update splits the Action Agenda into long-term (Comprehensive Plan) and short-term (Implementation Plan). The Implementation Plan identifies priority “Near Term Actions” intended for execution in the next two to four years.

The role of the Implementation Plan is to support the recovery goals and strategies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan by targeting three initiatives: prevent pollution from stormwater runoff, protect and restore habitat and protect and recover shellfish beds.

A total of 364 Near Term Action proposals from around Puget Sound were included in the Action Agenda, reviewed and ranked by teams of experts.

The Near Term Actions, including 205 that address habitat, 119 stormwater and 40 shellfish, are estimated to cost $243 million. A higher ranking indicates a greater likelihood of funding and implementation.

Local actions, rank

Most notably, a Port Angeles-based nonprofit, the Coastal Watershed Institute, ranked first under the Habitat Near Term Actions.

The project aims to acquire and restore 25 acres of shoreline property adjacent to the Elwha River delta to “protect natural processes and restore critical nearshore habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed salmon” according to the action’s description.

“We’re focused on the Habitat category,” Anne Shaffer, Coastal Watershed Institute executive director, wrote in an email following the release of the draft Action Agenda.

“We’re thrilled that Beach Lake is ranked No. 1 in the habitat category, but crestfallen that the Dungeness Bluffs conservation work is ranked 58.”

Although the Near Term Action pitched by the institute to work with willing bluff property owners to relocate and conserve the Dungeness Feeder Bluffs ranked lower than hoped, the Clallam County Marine Resource Committee ranked further down in the category at 66.

The marine resources committee’s Near Term Action seeks to increase the volunteers to assist in an oil spill response by providing trainings, raise the general awareness of communities about oil spills and show how residents can contribute to cleanup efforts.

The Clallam Conservation District and its proposal to aid in the development of an off-channel reservoir along River Road ranked 86 within the Habitat category.

Of the 119 Stormwater Near Term Actions, a proposal from Futurwise to create a “GreenLink Watershed Plan for Bell Creek Basin, Sequim and Clallam County” ranked 30.

Through public engagement and implementation of green infrastructure, the action aims to improve surface and groundwater quality, habitat and community assets for the Bell Creek basin.

Ranking close behind at 49 was the stormwater action proposed by the City of Sequim to access storm flows in the Bell Creek basin for anticipated stormwater management needs.

Turning to the Shellfish Near Term Actions where 40 proposals were included in the draft Action Agenda, local projects ranked in the top half.

Implementation of the Clallam County’s “Enhanced Pollution Identification and Correction Program” in county’s Marine Recovery Area ranked five. The project is expected to increase harvestable shellfish beds, facilitate monitoring of water quality, identify and correct sources of pollution, like onsite sewage systems and agriculture in Meadowbrook Creek and Slough, up the watershed to Matriotti Creek.

A second action submitted by Clallam County also focused on bettering the management of onsite sewage systems ranked 20 in the Shellfish category. It seeks to upgrade harvestable shellfish beds, inventory all onsite sewage systems for inspection, fix failing systems, educate owners, update the Onsite Sewage System Management Plan and attain stable funding.

Collaborative process

The Action Agenda is created collaboratively among state and federal agencies, tribal and local governments, business and nonprofit groups.

The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency tasked with bringing together the variety of participants and coordinating action around a common goal of improving the health of Puget Sound.

The Action Agenda is slated for adoption by the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council in June.

Most Near Term Actions included in the Action Agenda are eligible for federal and state funding, but 2016 Near Term Actions must be started by June 2018 and completed by 2020.

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.