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Ecosystem Coordination Board to discuss implementation of the 2022-2026 Action Agenda

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
February 5, 2024

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

The Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordination Board will meet online on Thursday, Feb. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

We?ll be providing an all-virtual livestream of this meeting, through TVW.

TVW web link: [link removed]

*General Public Comment*: If you would like to submit public comment to the Ecosystem Coordination Board, please contact Jillian Reitz at (360) 742-2936 or [email protected] by 12:00 p.m. on February 7, 2024.

The?full Ecosystem Coordination Board agenda and meeting materials [ [link removed] ] are available?through our board meetings page:?[link removed] [ [link removed] ].

Meeting highlights include:


* A presentation and discussion about the 2024 Washington State legislative session. Partnership staff will provide an update on the 2024 Washington State legislative session. Ecosystem Coordination Board members will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss policies in play. Presentation by Don Gourlie, legislative policy director at the Puget Sound Partnership. ?


* A presentation about the status of federal policies and appropriations related to Puget Sound recovery. This session will also include an update on engagement opportunities related to Puget Sound Day on the Hill and an update on the work of the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. Presentation by Ahren Stroming, special assistant for federal affairs at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Angela Adams, science lead, Geographic Programs Section, Puget Sound National Estuary Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10.?


* A presentation and discussion about state and regional kelp and eelgrass recovery planning work. While historically abundant, there has been an observed decline in marine vegetation distribution and abundance across the Puget Sound. There are many potential causes for these declines, including impaired water quality, shoreline development, and climate change. To better understand and address these stressors, the recovery community has responded with multiple complementary regional kelp and eelgrass planning efforts and local programs. This session will include a discussion of the Ecosystem Coordination Board's interest in engaging with these efforts or ways for the board to stay informed on the progress of kelp and eelgrass recovery. Presentation by Bree Turner, marine vegetation lead with the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead, and Todd Woodard, executive director, Infrastructure and Resources, Samish Indian Nation.? ??

* A presentation and discussion about the implementation of the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. This session will include an overview of how the Partnership, in its backbone role, plans, accelerates, monitors, and advocates implementation of the 2022-2026 Action Agenda, while also highlighting some recent examples of progress. The purpose of sharing this information is to describe the ways in which the Partnership and recovery partners are working together to advance Puget Sound recovery efforts. During this presentation, Partnership staff will: outline the Partnership?s role in supporting Action Agenda implementation; highlight state and federal progress in planning and funding implementation; describe the measurement and target framework to facilitate adaptive management of implementation; share how local and regional forums support implementation; share how we communicate about Action Agenda implementation; and review how the Ecosystem Coordination Board is supporting implementation. Presentation by the following Partnership staff: Ahren Stroming, special assistant for federal affairs; Alex Mitchell, performance management analyst; Don Gourlie, legislative policy director; Jon Bridgman, communications manager; Tristan Contesse, boards program manager; Laura Rivas, Puget Sound recovery integration manager; Wren McNally, environmental planner; and Jillian Reitz, boards policy advisor.?

* A presentation and decision about the Ecosystem Coordination Board's 2024 work plan. During this session, Partnership staff will present and request approval of the proposed 2024 work plan for the Ecosystem Coordination Board. This session will include discussion about the proposed work plan. Presentation by Jillian Reitz, boards policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership.?

The full Ecosystem Coordination Board 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 Boards Policy Advisor Jillian Reitz at 360.742.2936.?

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About the Ecosystem Coordination Board

The Ecosystem Coordination Board's main role is to advise the Puget Sound Partnership?s Leadership Council on carrying out its responsibilities. The Board is made up of 30 members representing specific interests around the Sound.

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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