AW Comments on Puget Sound Partnership Draft Agenda
AW has provided comment on the Puget Sound Partnership's draft Action Agenda for cleaning up
Puget Sound in Washington State. The Puget Sound Partnership is a community effort of citizens,
governments, tribes, scientists and businesses working together to restore and protect Puget
Sound. The scope of this effort includes the headwater areas that flow into the Sound including
nearly 100 recognized whitewater runs that are readily accessible to the paddlers of Western
Washington and Southwest British Columbia.
The charge given to the Puget Sound Partnership by Washington's Governor Gregoire and the State
Legislature was to create a real Action Agenda that turns things around and leads to a healthy
Puget Sound including the health of rivers that flow into the Sound.
In our comments we focused on the need to utilize important river protection tools including Wild
and Scenic Rivers and Outstanding Resource Waters. We noted the importance of addressing public
access issues along rivers and echoed recommendations from previous regional planning efforts to
provide public access at least every 8 miles. By providing access and opportunities to enjoy
rivers the community becomes vested in their stewardship. We also commented on the need for
innovative market-based tools such as Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) to advance
conservation goals along waterways. With respect to restoration opportunities we provided
comments on the need to deal with unmaintained Forest Service Roads that are in violation of
Clean Water Act standards and the importance of investing in the Elwha River restoration through
the removal of two outdated dams.
You can learn more about the partnership here:
Thomas O'Keefe
3537 NE 87th St.
Seattle, WA 98115