The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a funding bill that will provide $33 million in FY2020 for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Puget Sound Geographic Program, which is an increase of $5 million over FY2019 funding levels. The President is signing the bill into law on Friday. The Puget Sound Geographic Program funds implementation of the Puget Sound Action Agenda, the long-term plan for Puget Sound recovery developed by the Puget Sound Partnership.
“We know what we need to do to recover Puget Sound, our salmon, and our endangered orcas,” said Laura Blackmore, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “This very welcome funding increase will help accelerate action on the ground to protect and restore this very special place.”
“We are excited to learn of the increase in federal funding for Puget Sound restoration,” said Bill Dewey, director of public affairs for Taylor Shellfish Farms and one of the business representatives on the Puget Sound Partnership’s Ecosystem Coordination Board. “The support from Congress has been instrumental in achieving water quality upgrades in shellfish growing areas all around the Sound.”
The Puget Sound Geographic Program provides funding to state, local, and tribal governments to implement projects to improve water quality, enhance fish passage, increase salmon habitat, and protect shorelines. Several Washington State agencies manage programs to address the three Strategic Initiatives for Puget Sound preservation and recovery: stormwater, habitat, and shellfish.
“It is incredibly rewarding to have the federal government support the amazing work our region is doing to restore Puget Sound,” said Heather Bartlett, water quality program manager at the Washington State Department of Ecology, which leads the Stormwater Strategic Initiative. “Our state has dedicated millions of dollars to restore this critical ecosystem and protect our iconic orca, salmon, and natural resource economy. With this additional federal funding, we will continue to make progress towards a healthy and resilient Puget Sound.”
“The Puget Sound Geographic Program has played an integral role filling a critical funding niche in our regional recovery effort,” said Kelly Susewind, director of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Through the program’s Habitat Strategic Initiative, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with Department of Natural Resources, have slowly bridged gaps across institutional silos to achieve on-the-ground change. There is still much to be done, and this funding comes at a critical juncture for the ecosystem that supports our region’s imperiled salmon populations and Southern Resident Killer Whales. The program’s broad support really reinforces its significance to the health of our region, and this investment will continue to move the needle towards a healthier Puget Sound.”
“Many of Washington’s communities were built on our trademark salmon runs. Unfortunately, we’re seeing salmon runs decline, which is hurting our culture, our economy, and our iconic orcas,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the director of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. “I’m heartened to see increased federal investments in Puget Sound, and thankful that our state has such strong congressional leadership fighting on its behalf.”
Additional recovery initiatives receive funding
Congress approved funding or an increase in funding for a number of important Puget Sound recovery initiatives:
- $35.5 million for FY2020 for the Pacific Salmon Treaty, up from $15.5 million in FY2019. The Pacific Salmon Treaty is an agreement between the U.S. and Canada for the purposes of safeguarding the long-term conservation of Pacific salmon. Funding for the implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty ensures compliance with the Endangered Species Act, prevents overfishing, and provides sustainable harvest opportunities.
- $1.47 million for the design phase of the multi-benefit restoration of the Lower Duckabush River and estuary, a project that will result in restored estuarine habitat for summer chum and Chinook salmon, while also reducing the impact of flooding through acquisition and restoration.
The Puget Sound Partnership is grateful to Congressman Derek Kilmer, Congressman Denny Heck, Senator Patty Murray, and the entire Washington State delegation who have advocated for increased federal funding for Puget Sound recovery and introduced legislation and initiatives to spur federal engagement with Puget Sound conservation efforts.
“Our delegation has tirelessly supported Puget Sound recovery,” said Laura Blackmore. “Congressmen Heck and Kilmer lead the Puget Sound Caucus, and Senator Murray is a leading voice for the Puget Sound on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Congressman Kilmer even brought House Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Ranking Member Congressman David Joyce (R-OH) to Puget Sound last summer so they could learn about it for themselves. This kind of leadership is critical to ensure strong bipartisan federal support for tribal, state, and local efforts.”
Over the last five years, Puget Sound Day on the Hill—an event held in Washington, D.C. and organized by the Puget Sound Partnership and Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission—has raised awareness about the need for sustained federal investment in Puget Sound recovery. Representatives from tribes, state and local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, along with concerned citizens, pay their own way to attend the event and lend their voices in support of action to save the Sound. “Our partners’ dedication to Puget Sound recovery is both heartening and humbling,” Laura Blackmore said. “Their presence in Washington, D.C., demonstrates clearly to Congress that Puget Sound is important.”