Working for a cleaner Puget Sound
Protecting the Sound from increasing pollution
Environment Washington research has shown that the Puget Sound is facing increasing threats from pollution. That’s why we will be working over the next several years to cut the pollution that is harming the Sound.
Using the state’s freedom of information laws, Environment Washington will continue to gather information to show where state and local clean water enforcement is lacking, as well as highlight polluters who fail to heed warnings and continue to dump waste into the Sound.
We’ll also be working with lawmakers in the state Legislature to give citizens and neighborhood groups the ability to hold polluters accountable for fouling their waters.
Finally, we want to make sure Washington collects the necessary information to make sure the Puget Sound stays clean.
A Washington treasure
Puget Sound is home to iconic species like orcas and salmon and is an important symbol of what makes the Northwest such a beautiful place to live and play. But the Sound is too polluted to sustain healthy wildlife populations. It has also become an unsafe place for fishing and swimming.
Pollution from stormwater, sewage and toxic chemicals from consumer products are the primary sources of the problem. Permits are issued to regulate pollution, but, all too often, permit holders pollute more than they are allowed. State regulators often let polluters off with repeated warnings, failing to ever hold them accountable.
Fortunately, Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislators like Sen. Phil Rockefeller (Bainbridge) and Rep. Dave Upthegrove (Des Moines) have made cleanup of Puget Sound a top priority. Last year, they created the Puget Sound Partnership, an agency whose mission is to restore the health of the Sound by 2020. This is an important opportunity and we need to make sure the state delivers on this promise.
As the Partnership gets ready to create a plan to restore the Sound, Environment Washington will work to ensure the Sound gets the protection it needs.
San Juan Islands with Mount Baker in the background.
