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Ecosystem Coordination Board to hold panel discussion on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and Puget Sound recovery

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
August 8, 2022

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

The Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordination Board will meet on Wednesday, August 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The August 10 Ecosystem Coordination Board meeting will be a virtual Zoom meeting for all participants and the public. Zoom instructions are included in the meeting agenda, which is available through our board meetings page: [link removed]

TVW will?be providing an all-virtual livestream of the meeting. TVW web link:?[link removed]

Meeting highlights include:


* A presentation and discussion about the 2023 Washington state legislative session. This session will include an update on implementing budget and policy from the 2022 session and a board discussion about 2023 legislative priorities. Presentation by Don Gourlie, legislative policy director at the Puget Sound Partnership.?
* A presentation and discussion about the Puget Sound Future Scenarios project. This session will include an update on capabilities of the Future Scenarios Project, the outcomes of phase one of the project, and initial plans for phase two. Partnership staff will seek guidance from the Ecosystem Coordination Board on the use of future scenario capabilities and additional capabilities for phase two of the project. Presentation by Katherine Wyatt, assistant science director at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Jillian Reitz, boards policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership.?
* A presentation and discussion about implementing the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. This session will include a discussion about how to transition Partnership staff and board efforts to implementing the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. Presentation by Dan Stonington, planning manager at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Wren McNally, environmental planner at the Puget Sound Partnership.?
* A presentation and discussion about the Shellfish Beds Implementation Strategy. This session will include an overview of the Shellfish Beds Implementation Strategy, approaches identified to make progress toward the Vital Sign indicator target, and key barriers to progress. The Shellfish Strategic Initiative Lead (SIL) will also give an update on shellfish bed classification trends in Puget Sound?and how the Shellfish SIL and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) are working to operationalize components of the Shellfish Beds Implementation Strategy and identify cross-SIL opportunities. Presentation by Audrey Coyne, DOH, Shellfish Strategic Initiative Lead.?
* A panel discussion about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and Puget Sound recovery. Federal, tribal, and state representatives will hold a panel discussion about planning to ensure that opportunities for funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law go to collective Puget Sound recovery priorities, including salmon recovery and the Action Agenda. Participants in the panel discussion will include Larry Epstein, deputy director of the Puget Sound Partnership; Peter Murchie, program manager, EPA Geographic Programs Section; Russ Hepfer, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe member and Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council member; Erik Neatherlin, director of the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office; Megan Cotton, tribal and federal relations director, Washington State Department of Transportation; and Jen Steger, regional supervisor, NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center.?

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 27 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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