Scientists fear for the health of Puget Sound
Experts criticize plan by governor's panel as inadequate
If you want to fix a technically challenging problem, you go to the experts, right?
Not if you're the governor's task force sent forth to save Puget Sound.
A group of 14 experts on controlling stormwater runoff is criticizing the Puget Sound Partnership's draft plan for returning local marine waters to health. None was part of the science team advising the partnership.
The scientists expressed "little hope" for the restoration of the Sound unless the draft recommendations on stormwater -- due for final consideration today and Thursday -- are strengthened.
"Indeed it is far more likely, with the arrival of millions more newcomers and concomitant high-impact development, that the health of Puget Sound will continue in its precipitous decline," it stated.
"All of us signed on to that letter because we do feel strongly that the traditional approaches to stormwater have not been successful in actually protecting stream ecosystems," said Derek Booth, a geologist with the consulting group Stillwater Sciences.
Stormwater -- the rainwater runoff from roads, parking lots and rooftops that carries pollution and erodes streams -- is considered one of the greatest threats to Puget Sound's salmon, orcas and other marine life.
The traditional strategy for dealing with runoff is to channel it through pipes or streams and flush it into the Sound. The recommendations from Gov. Chris Gregoire's partnership emphasize carrying out stormwater plans already in development -- even though the state has admitted they are "sometimes inadequate" -- as well as monitoring pollution and encouraging new ways of controlling runoff.
The partnership's final meetings are today and Thursday in Pierce County's University Place. Members said they're still considering public comments.
"This letter is very important," said Kathy Fletcher, member of the partnership and director of the People for Puget Sound environmental group. "If you look at the people who sent it, these are the people who are the true experts on this topic."
The partnership was formed less than a year ago and told to come up with a plan for restoring the Sound to good health by 2020.
It must provide the governor with recommendations by early December.
"By the nature of this body, they're not able to take every one of these issues and get into the detail of how they should be solved," said Bill Ruckelshaus, co-chairman of the partnership. He said the group would consider all of the public input.
"We're supposed to outline a solution (that's achievable) by 2020," Ruckelshaus said. "Believe me, this is a mammoth undertaking."
Continue reading this article from the Seattle P-I:
Scientists fear for the health of Puget Sound
