Who We Are
The purpose of the Puget Sound Action Team partnership
is to protect and restore Puget
Sound and its spectacular diversity of life now and for future
generations.
Puget
Sound Action Team
The
Puget Sound Action Team Partnership defines, coordinates and
implements Washington state’s environmental agenda for Puget
Sound. The legislature created the Puget
Sound Action Team (Action Team) in 1996 as the state’s
partnership for Puget Sound.
The Action Team partnership includes:
- A
chair appointed by the governor.
- Directors
from 10 state agencies.
- Representatives
from tribal, federal and local governments with direct responsibilities
and authorities for conservation and restoration of Puget
Sound.
The Action Team partnership is the central coordinator
for the state’s vision and collective efforts in Puget Sound.
The
Puget Sound Council which
consists of representatives from a variety of important interests
from the Puget Sound region, advises the Action Team. A Strategic
Framework guides the Action Team partnership’s work.
The
Action
Team staff provide the necessary professional and
technical services to ensure the team's success. Staff functions
include:
- Serving as an advocate for the Sound’s conservation
needs.
- Providing and synthesizing information.
- Coordinating scientific monitoring, conducting
outreach and education, and performing conservation projects.
Staff
guide
the implementation of the Puget
Sound Water Quality Management Plan and work with tribal and local governments,
community groups, citizens and businesses and state and federal
agencies to develop and carry out two-year
work plans. The work plans outline measurable results,
as well as needed actions to improve the water quality and
habitats for fish, marine animals and other aquatic life in
Puget Sound.
 Action
Team Members
Puget
Sound Council
 The
Puget Sound Council provides advice and guidance to help
steer the Action Team. It
has representation from:
- Business
- Agriculture
- The shellfish industry
- Environmental organizations,
- Local governments
- Tribal governments
- Washington state legislature.
The Puget Sound Council
advises the Action Team on work plan priorities and tracks
the progress of state and local agencies in implementing the
plans. The Council also recommends changes to the Puget
Sound Water Quality Management
Plan to address emerging issues.
Council
Members
Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan
 The
Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan is Washington
state's strategy for protecting and enhancing the water quality
and biological resources of Puget Sound. The plan guides the
efforts of state and federal agencies and local and tribal
governments to address priority environmental and public health
issues facing the Sound.
Management
Plan
Puget Sound Work Plan
Every two years Action Team staff develop the Puget Sound
Water Quality Work Plan to identify actions needed to
gain a cleaner and healthier Sound each biennium. Work plan
actions are guided by the management plan's long-term goals
and specific priorities in the Strategic Framework.
Work
Plan
Puget Sound Monitoring and Research
Monitoring and research
are vital to understanding the status of Puget Sound's health.
The Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program (PSAMP) brings
together local, state, tribal and federal government organizations--coordinated
by the Action Team--to assess trends in the environmental
quality in the Sound and make policy decisions to take actions
to protect and improve the Sound.
PSAMP
Shared Waters Program
 The
international boundary between Washington and British Columbia
zigzags through the inland marine waters of Puget Sound and
the straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca. Since 1992, the Puget
Sound/Georgia Basin International Task Force has connected
scientists, agencies and policy-makers on both sides of the
border to improve the protection of our common waters.
Shared
Waters
Outreach and Technical Assistance
 Local
liaisons form the outreach and technical assistance arm of
the Action Team. They provide local and tribal governments,
citizens and businesses with tools and information such as
model programs and ordinances, educational materials and sources
of funding. Linked as a team, the liaisons bring a Soundwide
knowledge of issues involving water quality. They offer practical
solutions to deal with local problems.
Local
Liaison County Information
Public Involvement and Education (PIE)
 The
Public Involvement and Education Fund (PIE) is one of the
most powerful tools available to help protect and improve
Puget Sound's water quality and marine resources. It puts
money and motivation into the hands of dedicated individuals,
businesses, non-profit organizations and local and tribal
governments that create and nurture environmental programs
in their communities.
Education
and Public Involvement
Publications/Website
The Action Team produces a number of publications to inform
and involve citizens in the health of Puget Sound. Sound
Waves, a newsletter, features articles about regional
conservation and restoration initiatives, an update about
Puget Sound's health and a news about the Sound.
Action
Team Publications Master List
Sustainability Plan
In 2002, Governor Gary Locke
issued Executive Order 02-03, which directed each state agency
to establish sustainability objectives and prepare a biennial
sustainability plan to modify its practices regarding consuming
resources, using vehicles, purchasing goods and services and
constructing, operating and maintaining building facilities.
The Puget Sound Action Team completed its sustainability plan
in September 2003.
Sustainability
Plan (PDF)
The
executive order also called for periodic status reports showing
progress in implementing agency plans.
Status
Report - March
2004
(PDF)
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