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Science Panel to discuss the 2025-2029 Science Work Plan

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
October 6, 2023

*MEDIA CONTACT: *Kevin Hyde, 360.819.3045, [email protected]?

The?Puget Sound Partnership Science Panel will meet on Wednesday, October 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Western Washington University, Viking Union room 462 A/B, Bellingham, WA.?

All are welcome to attend the meeting. With the expiration of the Governor?s COVID-19 State of Emergency, masking for Partnership staff, board members, and attendees is voluntary. We continue to strongly support those who choose to wear a mask.

We?ll be providing all-virtual livestreams of this meeting, through TVW (links below). We highly encourage partners and other members of the public to use this virtual option, if possible, to reduce carbon emissions and to minimize COVID risks for everyone.?

TVW web links:

October 11:?[link removed]

October 12:?[link removed]

The full Science Panel agenda and meeting materials are available?through our board meetings page at:?[link removed] [ [link removed] ].

Meeting highlights include:


* A presentation and discussion about the implementation of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. This session will include a discussion about how the Partnership will carry out key components of the HEAL Act: conducting environmental justice assessments of significant agency actions and embedding environmental justice principles and equal distribution of environmental benefits within the Partnership's budget and expenditure processes. Presentation by Lea Anne Burke, tribal affairs manager at the Partnership.?


* A presentation and discussion about science and the addendum to the regional chapter of the Salmon Recovery Plan. The addendum includes strategies and actions that move salmon recovery forward to achieve the 2050 Chinook salmon Vital Sign target [ [link removed] ], descriptions of key recovery partners and their roles as implementers, and a monitoring and adaptive management framework. This session will include a discussion about potential ways the Science Panel can support the science needs and adaptive management process in the addendum. Presentation by Annelise Del Rio, salmon scientist at the Puget Sound Partnership; Melissa Speeg, salmon recovery manager at the Puget Sound Partnership; and Ashley Bagley, salmon policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership.?


* A presentation and decision about the Science Panel's "Comments on science and policy," a document that expands on the Science Panel's comments in the?"2023 State of the Sound". This session will include discussion about remaining gaps and needs in the longer-form contribution. 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.?
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* A presentation and discussion about the Science Work Plan. The Science Work Plan, one of the Science Panel's primary products, identifies priority science work actions and broader recommendations for science. This session will include discussion about how the various topics might inform the content and process of the Science Work Plan. The Science Work Plan is responsive to the science needs identified in the current Action Agenda and informs strategies in the next Action Agenda. Partnership staff anticipate working with the Science Panel to complete the 2025-2029 Science Work Plan by December 2024.?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.


* A presentation and discussion about the work of the SeaDoc Society. This session will include an overview of SeaDoc Society's work to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education. Presentation by Joe Gaydos, science director at the SeaDoc Society.?


* A presentation and discussion about pressing scientific topics. This session will include a discussion and brainstorm about pressing science topics that might be elevated to the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council and other boards. Presentation by Scott Redman,?Science and Evaluation program director at the Puget Sound Partnership; Katherine Wyatt, assistant science director at the Puget Sound Partnership; Jillian Reitz, boards policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership; John Stein, chair of the Science Panel; and Ruth Sofield, co-vice chair of the Science Panel.??


* A presentation and discussion about federal policy. This session will include an update about federal policy and an overview of the Puget Sound Day on the Sound event. Presentation by Ahren Stroming, special assistant for federal affairs at the Puget Sound Partnership.?


* A presentation and discussion about marine heat wave and El Ni?o impacts in 2023 and 2024. This session will include a presentation about how marine heat wave and El Ni?o conditions in the Pacific Ocean might affect Puget Sound. Presentation by Micah Horwith, ocean acidification senior scientist at the Washington State Department of Ecology and Alex Fisher, natural resources scientist at the Washington State Department of Ecology.?

* A presentation and discussion about the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Puget Sound Coastal Storm Modeling System (PS CoSMoS). This session will include an overview of PS CoSMoS and discussion about the development and applications of the USGS system for modeling coastal flooding in Puget Sound. Presentation by Eric Grossman, research geologist, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, USGS, and Patrick Barnard,?research geologist, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, USGS.?

* A presentation and discussion about legislative priorities for the 2024 state legislative session. Partnership staff will ask Science Panel members to review preliminary results of an ongoing prioritization exercise in advance of an all-boards meeting on Nov. 30, at which time the boards will finalize their recommended prioritization for the Leadership Council's consideration in December. Presentation by Wendy Loosle, boards policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership.?

The full Science Panel agenda and meeting materials are available?through our board meetings page at:?[link removed].

If you need special accommodations to participate in this meeting, please notify Special Assistant to the Boards Anna Petersen at 360.338.2384

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About the Science Panel

The Science Panel's expertise and advice are critical to the Puget Sound Partnership?s efforts to develop a comprehensive, science-based plan to restore Puget Sound. The members, appointed by the Leadership Council, are chosen from the top scientists in Washington State.

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 [ [link removed] ].







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