KINGSTON — Pat Pearson of the Washington State University Extension service in Jefferson County is one of four “Puget Sound champions” named by the Puget Sound Partnership.
The four were honored at a ceremony during a meeting of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council at the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Center in Kingston.
Pearson was recognized for her 20-year career providing education, outreach and resources about water quality and natural resources to thousands of people, nongovernmental agencies and various partners throughout the 12 Puget Sound counties.
Also recognized for work to protect and restore habitat were:
■ The Hood Canal Regional Pollution Identification and Correction Program — or PIC Program — which is a collaboration among Jefferson, Mason and Kitsap counties and the Skokomish and Port Gamble S’Klallam tribes.
■ The Kitsap Forest and Bay Coalition, which is a coordinated effort of more than 30 participating partners.
■ Skokomish Estuary Restoration Project, undertaken by the Skokomish tribe and the Mason Conservation District.
Awards were presented by Gerry O’Keefe, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, and Ron Sims, a member of the Partnership’s Leadership Council and former King County executive.
The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency coordinating the regional effort to clean up Puget Sound.
The Hood Canal Coordinating Council is one of 10 watershed-based councils of governments coordinating with the partnership to advance regional recovery of Puget Sound.
PIC Program
The PIC Program addresses water-quality issues critical for protecting and enhancing human and ecological health and shellfish industry resources.
Keith Grellner, Kitsap County environmental health director, accepted the award on the group’s behalf.
“In order to restore Puget Sound, we need to know what’s polluting it and where the pollution comes from,” said state Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, who represents the 24th District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
“The establishment of the Hood Canal PIC Program will have a positive impact on cleanup efforts and brings together various jurisdictions who all share the same objective. I fully support their efforts,” Tharinger said.
Kitsap coalition
The more than 30 members of the Kitsap Forest & Bay Coalition are working to conserve nearly 7,000 acres of forest and 1.8 miles of shoreline on the Kitsap Peninsula for wildlife habitat, public recreation and cultural sustenance.
Key leaders of the coalition include Kitsap County, Pope Resources, Port Gamble S’Klallam tribe, the Suquamish tribe, Great Peninsula Conservancy and Forterra.
Sandra Staples-Bortner, chairwoman of the Kitsap Forest and Bay coalition and executive director of the Great Peninsula Conservancy, accepted the award on behalf of the coalition.
“Our focus is on protecting critical wildlife habitats, ensuring continued public access to forest trails and preserving the vital shellfish, fisheries and water birds of Port Gamble Bay,” Staples-Bortner said.
Skokomish Estuary
The Skokomish tribe and the Mason Conservation District have worked together to remove 3 miles of dikes and restore thousands of feet of tidal channels near the mouth of the Skokomish River and about 500 acres of estuary.
“This project represents the single most important habitat restoration project in Hood Canal,” the Puget Sound Partnership said in a statement.
The estuary provides rearing habitat of the federally listed summer chum and chinook salmon, bulltrout and steelhead.
Alex Gouley, habitat manager for the Skokomish tribe, and John Bolender, district manager for the Mason Conservation District, accepted the award for the Skokomish Estuary Restoration project.
“We value our partnership with the Hood Canal Coordinating Council,” O’Keefe said.
“Your innovation and determination has helped us integrate planning efforts, focus mitigation funding on the highest priorities, prevent pollution at the source and evaluate progress through regional monitoring.
“Thank you for implementing the action agenda and being leader in Puget Sound recovery.”
