Sound future

Sound Future Partnering to Protect Puget Sound Wa s h i n g t o n S tat e U n i v e r s i t y

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University of Washington

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hen it comes to understanding the health of Puget Sound, Washington State University Extension Beach Watchers are among the leaders.

For the past 19 years, these dedicated volunteers— equipped with intensive, science-based training provided by WSU Extension—have been the eyes and ears and hands monitoring and working to improve Sound health in the counties surrounding one of western Washington’s most precious, and fragile, resources.

The Beach Watchers’ goal? To put into practice ecosystem-based and pragmatic local solutions to: • protect near shore and freshwater habitat by collecting data about algae blooms, invasive species, noxious weeds, and shorebird and marine mammal health; • to find, quantify, and remove creosote debris and other activities to prevent toxic contamination of the Sound; • protect the diversity of species by tracking juvenile salmon in pocket estuaries; • protect human health by collecting data on clams and shellfish and identifying potential toxin and testing water samples at public beaches.

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he time is now. With the pressures of burgeoning development and growing concerns about the long-term health of Puget Sound, Sound Future provides a practical, action-oriented solution to the issues facing Washington’s largest body of water.

Intensive monitoring of Sound conditions, habitat restoration, and education are the tools; sustained good health for Puget Sound the result.

Beach Watchers educate and engage the public, especially shoreline homeowners, about how to improve water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The Sound Future is a legacy of leadership that serves our children and our children’s children by ensuring they, too, enjoy and benefit from all the Puget Sound has to offer.

The challenge? Temporary federal grant dollars that have funded Beach Watchers since 1990 disappear in July 2009. State money is necessary to replace those funds and maintain the award-winning Beach Watcher program in seven counties—Island, Clallam, Jefferson, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, and Whatcom. Core funding must be secured before the program expands to serve other counties around the Sound.

Bringing the expertise of the state’s research universities—the University of Washington and Washington State University—to bear on the challenges facing the Sound grounds the initiative in science-based information addressing specific, relevant issues. Together, the two universities provide comprehensive and complementary science, education, and outreach.

Sound Future seeks a state investment of $4 million for the 2009-2011 biennium. Washington State University requests a biennium allocation of $1 million to fund Beach Watchers at its current level

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or 40 years, the University of Washington’s sea grant program has worked with universities, agencies, tribes, industries, and citizen groups to meet community needs and sustain Puget Sound and its economy.

re partnership and an additional $1 million is needed to expand Beach Watchers to all counties around Puget Sound. the University of Washington requests a biennium allocation of $2 million to expand and diversify sea grant expertise and outreach on critical Puget sound issues, bringing university faculty and the public together to improve environmental literacy and creating a model citizen science program with the capacity to train hundreds of residents to monitor Puget Sound health.

When fully funded, sound future will deliver: • a quarter million volunteer hours through a sound-wide network of stewards and teachers by expanding Beach Watchers to King, Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, and Mason counties; • a team of expert scientists to train volunteers and provide technical support for the Puget sound Partnership’s action agenda for the next five years; • a network of citizen scientists collecting vital data to monitor local marine resources and ecosystems; • a cadre of university faculty and students from University of Washington and Washington State University to translate the science into useful information for area decision-makers.

through a team of campus and community-based specialists, Washington sea grant helps people and businesses understand and employ technical advancements to prevent water pollution, restore coastal habitats, stop invasive species and take action to protect their natural surroundings. the challenge is to strengthen and expand this team to meet today’s needs and bring university resources to local user groups.

Linking citizen science and volunteer programs, this initiative will engage residents in collecting rigorous scientific data to monitor key natural and cultural indicators of Puget sound health. the goal is an integrated network of citizens and scientists working together to conserve Puget sound. it builds on successful UW-led programs that: • engage citizens as scientific partners in monitoring seabird mortality and other measures of marine ecosystem health; • recruit shoreline residents to gather shellfish from their beaches for testing and take action to keep beaches pollution- and disease-free; • train volunteers to collect water samples and track common substances like cooking spices as they make their way from homes, through sewage systems and into Puget Sound.

puget sound

12 Washington counties border the Puget Sound.

partners • Washington State University Extension

• Tribal governments

• Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington

• Public schools

• Puget Sound Partnership

• Business and industry

• County governments

• Volunteer organizations

• State agencies • Environmental groups

contacts Linda Kirk Fox Associate Vice President and Dean WSU Extension 509.335.2933 lkfox@wsu.edu ext.wsu.edu

Penelope D. Dalton Director Washington Sea Grant University of Washington 206.543.6600 pdalton@u.washington.edu wsg.washington.edu

WsU extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office.