1. 2015

   No accomplishments to report with this year funding since the incremental funding was awarded in late FFY2015. See below for a few of the FFY2014-15 accomplishments under these Lead Organization Grants.

   Puget Sound is a leader in estuary recovery.

   IC2 Alternatives Assessment Guide. Seven states collaborated to produce the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) Alternatives Assessment Guide, a methodology to identify harmful toxins in the manufacturing process and replace them with less harmful alternatives. (Toxics and nutrients prevention, reduction and control)

   NW Green Chemistry - Northwest Green Chemistry, established in large part through National Estuary Program funding, offers technical assistance to Washington companies interested in participating in the Safer Choice Program. The program helps consumers and businesses find products that are safer for families, workplaces, communities and the environment. In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

   named the Washington State Department of Ecology and Northwest Green Chemistry as a Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award winner. (Toxics and nutrients prevention, reduction and control)

   The Puget Sound program has made real and systemic changes that support sustainable efforts towards recovery.

   ■ Integrated zoning and development mapping. To provide a common foundation for land use planning decisions and facilitate cross-jurisdictional planning, the Washington State Department of Commerce developed an integrated map of zoning and development across Puget Sound. This map includes permitting data which could be valuable for counties required to complete Building Lands Reports. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   ■ Shoreline armoring removal. Shoreline armoring is an important indicator of ecological conditions in Puget Sound. By 2020, the goal is to remove more armoring than is added between 2011 and 2020. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is working with local governments, non-governmental organizations and landowners to remove seawalls, bulkheads and other artificial barriers between the water and the land, helping restore Puget Sound shorelines and make beaches easier to access for all. National Estuary Program funds are used to address armoring systemically, combining direct work with homeowners with scientific advancements that address armoring and on-the-ground armor removal and restoration. It is because of this systemic approach that in 2014, for the first time, more armor was removed from Puget Sound than was installed – a hopeful sign of things to come. (Marine and nearshore protection and restoration; Watershed protection and restoration)

   ■ No Discharge Zone. Fecal coliform in shellfish can cause illness in humans. One source of fecal coliform in the Puget Sound is sewage discharge from vessels. In order to protect public health, the Washington State Department of Ecology researched a federal “No Discharge Zone” (NDZ) designation for priority areas of Puget Sound. A draft NDZ agreement and petition were developed; over 26,000 public comments were received on the draft petition. If approved by the EPA, this would be the first NDZ in Washington State. (Pathogen prevention, reduction and control)

   ■ Onsite Regional Funding Program. There are more than a half million on-site sewage systems (OSS) in the Puget Sound Region. These systems are a valuable part of the region’s wastewater treatment infrastructure. Like municipal wastewater treatment plants, OSS must be properly built, operated and maintained to effectively treat sewage, thereby protecting public health and water quality. Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in the 12 Puget Sound counties implement comprehensive OSS management plans and enhanced operation and maintenance (O&M) programs to help accomplish this. Steering and Advisory Committees, made up of Washington Department of Health staff and representatives from the 12 Puget Sound counties evaluated the funding needs, key issues and optional funding mechanisms to develop strategic proposals to successfully establish and fund the two OSS programs in the Puget Sound region. (Pathogen prevention, reduction and control)

   Floodplains by Design. The Nature Conservancy’s multi-benefit floodplain restoration program, Floodplains by Design, has leveraged $50 in capital projects for every National Estuary Program dollar invested. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   ■ Floodplains by Design. The Nature Conservancy’s multi-benefit floodplain restoration program, Floodplains by Design, has leveraged $50 in capital projects for every National Estuary Program

   dollar invested. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   National Estuary Program projects are a smart investment, enabling Puget Sound communities to leverage resources wisely and support critical work few others will fund.

   ■ Progressive comprehensive plan updates. The City of Duvall used National Estuary Program funds to complete a comprehensive plan update. As a small city, the funding made it possible for the city to pursue a more progressive update than is typical. They created watershed overlays to help communicate resource needs to elected officials and the general public, which encouraged development of regulations and incentive-based programs to address those needs. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   Innovation is innate to the Pacific Northwest, and Puget Sound recovery is no exception.

   ■ Transfer of Development Rights: King County’s Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program is only possible because of National Estuary Program funding. The program prevents urban sprawl by transferring development rights away from rural and resource lands to the county’s Urban Areas. The Cities of Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Tukwila and Tacoma are now completing feasibility studies for TDR and may soon negotiate an interlocal agreement with their respective counties. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   ■ New ecosystem services markets: Ecosystem services markets are still a relatively new idea. The development of some markets has fallen short because outside organizations were not ready to approve a grant recipient’s work. The Nisqually Tribe and City of Olympia continue to work collaboratively to develop an ecosystem services market to purchase development rights and build a community forest to protect part of Olympia’s aquifer. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   ■ New scientific tools to inform decisions: The innovative High Resolution Change Detection project uses interactive aerial maps to show site-level changes in land cover over time. The map’s analytics provide information about why the land cover changed and measure the rate of change relative to Puget Sound Vital Signs, both of which can be used to track Action Agenda progress. (Watershed protection and restoration)

   Future success will be amplified by the capacity and social capital being built today.

   ■ Hood Canal Regional PIC Program: In Hood Canal, shellfish beds are hard-hit by multiple sources of pollution. Kitsap County has an exemplary record of addressing Pollution Identification and Control (PIC) issues, and is now partnered with (and helping mentor) Mason and Jefferson Counties and the Port Gamble S’Klallam and Skokomish Tribes to reduce pollution inputs to Hood Canal’s shellfish beds. This effort is part of the Department of Health’s PIC program, which is active in all 12 counties around Puget Sound and promotes collaborative efforts to identify and reduce the amount of pollution reaching shellfish beds. (Pathogen prevention, reduction and control)

   ■ Facilitating the use of best practices: Several Lead Organizations have provided technical assistance and mentorship around the region, and developed resources to expand the reach of this support:

   The Marine Shoreline Design Guidelines help identify the shoreline type that best suits conditions at a site

   A Pollution Identification and Correction Program Guidance to find, correct and prevent pollutants from entering Puget Sound

   IC2 Alternatives Assessment Guide to replace harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process

   A K-12 curriculum on ocean acidification

   The Northwest Straits Foundation held workshops for landowners, trained volunteers and provided free technical assistance to reduce shoreline armoring

   The Department of Ecology certified over 50 landscape professionals in best management practices to reduce toxic and nutrient loading from pesticides and fertilizers

2. 2016

   No accomplishments to report with this year funding since the incremental funding was awarded in late FFY2015.

3. 2017

   Nearly 1,000 acres of harvestable shellfish beds have been reopened since January 2017. 760 acres of commercial shellfish beds have been upgraded in Liberty Bay. Kitsap County teamed up with local stakeholders to apply progressive pollution identification and correction strategies. 129 acres of Birth Bay in Whatcom County have been upgraded to allow year-round shellfish harvest by both recreational and commercial fishers. From 2007 through January 2018 a total of 11, 318 acres were upgraded and 6,298 acres were downgraded for a net total of 5,020 acres of improvement. Pollution and Identification and Correction (PIC) programs help counties respond to downgrades by forming shellfish protection districts and developing closure response plans to identify and correct pollution sources in areas with declining water quality. The counties’ Local Health jurisdictions have been able to change landowner behavior using incentives like rebates for inspections, pump outs, and installation of risers. Farm incentives are being used to install best management practices such as fencing, gutters, and covered manure storage. 2,578 acres of habitat have been restored or permanently protected. In Snohomish county 27 shoreline restoration program are completed – helping to restore 2,200 linear feet of shoreline. Also, many lake landowners have participated in the LakeWise program (lawn or septic care workshop and/or site visit). This program can reduce nutrient pollution at threatened lakes through actions of the residents, Starter package content for the Toxics in Fish report is complete and delivered. Since 2017 the program has made significant progress in implementing a new and improved funding model, finalizing four additional implementation strategies for the Floodplains, Land Development and Cover, Chinook Salmon, and Shoreline Armoring vital signs. A template for Implementation Strategy fact sheets was developed. A Draft Implementation Strategy Communication Strategy was completed and updated as a living document. Update of economic vital sign indicators. The 2017 State of the Sound report was completed and published online in November 2017, on schedule. The substantially redesigned 2017 State of the Sound report, was recently nominated for the National Conference of State Legislatures’ 2018 Notable Document Award

4. 2018

   Habitat Strategic Initiative • 1,500 feet of shoreline armor removed including 630.8 tons of large angular rock and 263.87 tons of concrete bags removed • Two key guidance documents: Sea Level Rise Considerations for Nearshore Restoration Projects in Puget Sound and Guidelines for Mapping Sea Level Rise Inundation in Washington State (Planning for Sea Level Rise in Puget Sound, • Action Agenda Near Term Action (NTA) review: planned and executed “NTA camp” for the review of 635 NTAs with 70-volunteer technical reviewers • Leading the Incentivizing Healthy Shorelines workshop & supporting the development of Ecosystem Coordination Board policy recommendations Shellfish Strategic Initiative • Since April 2017, The Kitsap Conservation District has written 5 farm plans, provided technical assistance to 65 landowners, and implemented 41 BMPs- all using EPA Puget Sound funds. • The Washington Department of Health recently announced it is reclassifying 236 acres from Prohibited to Approved for shellfish harvest in Miller Bay Kitsap County, Washington. • The Kitsap Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) program finds and fixes sources of fecal pollution. • In Skagit County, 87% of the OSS in the Marine Recovery Area are now current on their inspections. Since 2016, Skagit Public Health has mailed out onsite sewage system reminder letters to property owners every year. Generally, more frequent inspections mean that minor problems are fixed earlier, preventing failure. • Skagit’s Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) program runs a fun and informative “PoopSmart” social marketing campaign. Comparing the pre-years of April 2016-2017 to post-years of April 2018-2019, OSS maintenance is up a whopping 48%. (274 in 2016-2017, 407 in 2018-2019). • Skagit’s Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) program also uses innovative methods to find and fix sources of fecal pollution, such as “Crush” the sewage sniffing dog, and a new EPA-funded chemical tracer study. • In Samish Bay, which at 4,000 acres is the largest commercial shellfish growing area in Washington state, and is critical to reaching the Puget Sound target of 10,800 acres net improvement. • Water quality has improved enough that Department of Health has removed the spring critical period as the period of evaluation for an upgrade. • Bacteria levels in the Samish River watershed have been reduced by 60% since 2011. Bay View State Park’s swim beach, which was closed for a third of the swimming season due to bacterial pollution in 2015, was open and clean all summer last year. • The number of days that commercial shellfish beds are closed in spring due to pollution have been reduced by 60% since 2014. • The Washington Department of Health (DOH) completed the evaluation of water quality data from the 800-acre Portage Bay Shellfish Growing Area and Nooksack River and determined that the spring closure for the area can be removed. (Data indicates that water quality issues continue to persist during the fall closure period.) • While water quality is not quite good enough to upgrade the overall classification of the growing area, Lummi tribal members will now be able to harvest from Portage Bay during the spring and the removal of the spring closure period shows the success of the watershed-wide pollution identification and correction programs. DOH will continue to work with Whatcom County, the Lummi Nation, and other area stakeholders to find and fix pollution sources. • The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that portions of commercial shellfish areas around 20 Puget Sound marinas would no longer be classified as prohibited. • Improved vessel sewage management has allowed DOH to remove shellfish harvest restrictions on nearly 700 acres of commercial shellfish beds in 8 Puget Sound counties. • Over the past 20 years, progress has been made to reduce the potential for sewage discharge from boats, and this includes better waste-holding capacity in most boats, increased boat waste pump out stations, and the implementation of a No Discharge Zone throughout the Puget Sound. The improvements have led to better water quality, a lowered illness risk to people who eat shellfish, and greater protection of public health. EPA Puget Sound funding has contributed to outreach and education for vessel owners. • Stormwater Strategic Initiative • The University of Washington Tacoma’s “Stormwater Chemical Characterization and Watershed Prioritization” surveyed stormwater in Puget Sound creeks to identify sources, watersheds, and time periods that are responsible for disproportionate water quality degradation and should be prioritized for restoration or stormwater treatment efforts. UW Center for Urban Waters researchers collected >140 water samples in 15 Puget Sound creeks during storm events in Fall 2017 – Spring 2019. Using advanced chemical analyses, they: 1) prioritized regional watersheds most impacted by urban runoff, 2) identified chemical indicators for urbanization and biological degradation, and 3) characterized “pollutographs” relative to storm hydrographs, to measure and prioritize contaminant flows in urban creeks affected by stormwater pollution. In collaboration with Miller Creek Basin (Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; Port of Seattle; King County) partners, they sampled along the watershed to identify key contaminant inputs and polluted reaches of the creek. Findings will guide efforts to treat urban stormwater and improve water quality for coho salmon based on these findings. Several recent journal publications were informed by this NEP-funded research, including “Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry to Identify Organic Contaminants Linked to Urban Stormwater Mortality Syndrome in Coho Salmon” in Environmental Science and Technology. This publication indicated that tire wear particle leachates contribute to coho pre-spawn mortality. • A major deliverable under the Stormwater Strategic Initiative is an implementation strategy to reduce toxics in Puget Sound fish, including Chinook salmon. This grant’s Toxics in Fish/ Southern Resident Killer Whale work played a significant role in Washington Department of Ecology state budget development processes, and has catalyzed several legislative changes–including the passage of new legislation giving the Department of Ecology new authority to manage toxics identified through the Toxics in Fish / Southern Resident Killer Whale process. It has also led to significant new proposed investments in areas critical to Toxics in Fish and Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery. It has also created impetus to solve some Toxics in Fish challenges, such as prioritizing contaminants of emerging concern–a key critical process step identified in the strategy. Even though this Toxics in Fish implementation strategy is still a ‘draft’ product and short of full completion, Department of Ecology has already been able to use it to great effect. Base+ Award 1. To promote financial management and financial sustainability the Partnership initiated a project management process to more effectively manage program, project and staffing resources. 2. To promote alignment of local and regional priorities and actions over 600 Near Term Actions (NTA) were evaluated for alignment with the Leadership Council adopted slate of regional priorities at a successful NTA review “camp”; an excellent example of collaboration across the Puget Sound recovery system with over 80 participants. 3. To document the status of recovery in Puget Sound the Partnership published the 2017 State of the Sound Report. The report combines a response to statutory questions about the management and funding of Puget Sound recovery, with information on ecosystem status and trends. Unlike previous reports, the 2017 report provides a summary of the progress on the Vital Sign indicators with more detailed indicator information available on an updated Vital Signs website. The Vital Signs website was updated with Vital Sign-level reports and messaging from PSEMP workgroups for 12 of 25 Vital Signs as of October 2017. Over 1,500 reports (and a larger number of executive summary 2-pagers) have been distributed to partners, significantly more than for previous reports. Also notable in the 2017 report are four locally based recovery stories about seawalls, shellfish, floodplains and stormwater pollution. The stories are designed to be visually engaging with extensive use of graphics to help tell the story. The report also contains a list of 17 recommendations (also included in the Executive Summary) that indicate the increased commitment needed from partners to advance recovery. The Partnership has also communicated the report’s findings to multiple audiences around Puget Sound through presentations and webinars. The redesigned Vital Signs Design report was nominated for the national conference of State Legislatures’ 2018 Notable Document Award. The Vital Signs design was called out as a best practice by the Indian River Lagoon Council and the National Estuary Program. 4. To provide professional development opportunities Partnership staff engaged in the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference that was successfully convened in Seattle. The theme of the conference was “Ecosystem Recovery in an International Transboundary System” with presentations spanning a range of topics. The Partnership’s Science and Evaluation Director was co-chair of the 2018 conference. Thirty staff participated in the event with four serving as session presenters and/or facilitators. 5. To promote strategic regional engagements the Partnership continued forging connections with entities such as the Northwest Seaport Alliance and the Boeing Company. An outcome of meeting with the former is support for state legislative priorities of the Partnership. 6. To promote engagement and involvement in ecosystem recovery, six of the seven Marine Resources Committees (MRC) affiliated with the Northwest Straits Commission engage volunteers in a variety of stewardship and training events. For example, through Salish Sea Stewards, 61 Skagit county residents received citizen science training. The Clallam County MRC cooperates with the city of Port Angeles to provide oil spill preparedness training. During this reporting period 33 volunteers received the HAZWOPER certification. MRCs host symposiums as well. Over 100 people attended a symposium hosted by the San Juan MRC on the plight of the southern resident killer whales, while the Whatcom MRC co-hosted a water supply symposium with over 130 participants. Implementation Strategies/Science Award 1. To improve awareness and understanding, the Puget Sound Institute publishes newsletters and magazine articles and covers special events like the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 2. To enhance Implementation Strategies (IS) through social science Effectiveness and Social Science Protocols have either been drafted and are ready for incorporation or have enough content to be considered well-formed enough to be included as Guidance for future IS development. Additional Social Science concepts and information are being integrated into the Toxics in Fish and Marine Water Quality implementation strategy process as content is being created by the interdisciplinary team (IDTs). 3. To support the Science Panel’s role in Implementation Strategies, guidelines and terms of reference for external review of shoreline armoring were prepared for review of the Shoreline Armoring Implementation Strategy. The Guidelines and TOR for Shoreline Armoring IS was developed to be applicable to other ISs with minimal change. 4. To bridge between the Puget Sound scientific community and the Management Conference, staff presented as follows: July 2018 meetings: discussion of nutrient forum and marine water quality IS at SP meeting; discussion of Shore Armoring at ECB meeting. Convened science-policy workshop on December 12, 2017 - science panel invited all leadership council members, leaders of ECB and salmon recovery council and others (e.g., SI Lead staff) to discuss resilience framing of Puget Sound ecosystem recovery. 5. Staff have participated in the national coastal and estuaries meeting (CERF) in November 2017. Staff presented a session on What’s Working to Restore Puget Sound? Making Decisions Based on Outcomes. Partnership, participated in the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, presented on framework for Puget Sound ecosystem recovery framework at conference of National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP), and staff were part of a panel presentation on Puget Sound at the National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration.

5. 2019

   Habitat Strategic Initiative • 1,500 feet of shoreline armor removed including 630.8 tons of large angular rock and 263.87 tons of concrete bags removed • Two key guidance documents: Sea Level Rise Considerations for Nearshore Restoration Projects in Puget Sound and Guidelines for Mapping Sea Level Rise Inundation in Washington State (Planning for Sea Level Rise in Puget Sound, • Action Agenda Near Term Action (NTA) review: planned and executed “NTA camp” for the review of 635 NTAs with 70-volunteer technical reviewers • Leading the Incentivizing Healthy Shorelines workshop & supporting the development of Ecosystem Coordination Board policy recommendations Shellfish Strategic Initiative • Since April 2017, The Kitsap Conservation District has written 5 farm plans, provided technical assistance to 65 landowners, and implemented 41 BMPs- all using EPA Puget Sound funds. • The Washington Department of Health recently announced it is reclassifying 236 acres from Prohibited to Approved for shellfish harvest in Miller Bay Kitsap County, Washington. • In Samish Bay, which at 4,000 acres is the largest commercial shellfish growing area in Washington state, and is critical to reaching the Puget Sound target of 10,800 acres net improvement. • Water quality has improved enough that Department of Health has removed the spring critical period as the period of evaluation for an upgrade. • Bacteria levels in the Samish River watershed have been reduced by 60% since 2011. Bay View State Park’s swim beach, which was closed for a third of the swimming season due to bacterial pollution in 2015, was open and clean all summer last year. • The number of days that commercial shellfish beds are closed in spring due to pollution have been reduced by 60% since 2014. • The Washington Department of Health (DOH) completed the evaluation of water quality data from the 800-acre Portage Bay Shellfish Growing Area and Nooksack River and determined that the spring closure for the area can be removed. (Data indicates that water quality issues continue to persist during the fall closure period.) • While water quality is not quite good enough to upgrade the overall classification of the growing area, Lummi tribal members will now be able to harvest from Portage Bay during the spring and the removal of the spring closure period shows the success of the watershed-wide pollution identification and correction programs. DOH will continue to work with Whatcom County, the Lummi Nation, and other area stakeholders to find and fix pollution sources. • The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that portions of commercial shellfish areas around 20 Puget Sound marinas would no longer be classified as prohibited. • Improved vessel sewage management has allowed DOH to remove shellfish harvest restrictions on nearly 700 acres of commercial shellfish beds in 8 Puget Sound counties. • Over the past 20 years, progress has been made to reduce the potential for sewage discharge from boats, and this includes better waste-holding capacity in most boats, increased boat waste pump out stations, and the implementation of a No Discharge Zone throughout the Puget Sound. The improvements have led to better water quality, a lowered illness risk to people who eat shellfish, and greater protection of public health. EPA Puget Sound funding has contributed to outreach and education for vessel owners. • Stormwater Strategic Initiative • The University of Washington Tacoma’s “Stormwater Chemical Characterization and Watershed Prioritization” surveyed stormwater in Puget Sound creeks to identify sources, watersheds, and time periods that are responsible for disproportionate water quality degradation and should be prioritized for restoration or stormwater treatment efforts. UW Center for Urban Waters researchers collected >140 water samples in 15 Puget Sound creeks during storm events in Fall 2017 – Spring 2019. Using advanced chemical analyses, they: 1) prioritized regional watersheds most impacted by urban runoff, 2) identified chemical indicators for urbanization and biological degradation, and 3) characterized “pollutographs” relative to storm hydrographs, to measure and prioritize contaminant flows in urban creeks affected by stormwater pollution. In collaboration with Miller Creek Basin (Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; Port of Seattle; King County) partners, they sampled along the watershed to identify key contaminant inputs and polluted reaches of the creek. Findings will guide efforts to treat urban stormwater and improve water quality for coho salmon based on these findings. Several recent journal publications were informed by this NEP-funded research, including “Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry to Identify Organic Contaminants Linked to Urban Stormwater Mortality Syndrome in Coho Salmon” in Environmental Science and Technology. This publication indicated that tire wear particle leachates contribute to coho pre-spawn mortality. • A major deliverable under the Stormwater Strategic Initiative is an implementation strategy to reduce toxics in Puget Sound fish, including Chinook salmon. This grant’s Toxics in Fish/ Southern Resident Killer Whale work played a significant role in Washington Department of Ecology state budget development processes, and has catalyzed several legislative changes–including the passage of new legislation giving the Department of Ecology new authority to manage toxics identified through the Toxics in Fish / Southern Resident Killer Whale process. It has also led to significant new proposed investments in areas critical to Toxics in Fish and Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery. It has also created impetus to solve some Toxics in Fish challenges, such as prioritizing contaminants of emerging concern–a key critical process step identified in the strategy. Even though this Toxics in Fish implementation strategy is still a ‘draft’ product and short of full completion, Department of Ecology has already been able to use it to great effect. Base+ Award 1. To promote financial management and financial sustainability the Partnership initiated a project management process to more effectively manage program, project and staffing resources. 2. To promote alignment of local and regional priorities and actions over 600 Near Term Actions (NTA) were evaluated for alignment with the Leadership Council adopted slate of regional priorities at a successful NTA review “camp”; an excellent example of collaboration across the Puget Sound recovery system with over 80 participants. 3. To document the status of recovery in Puget Sound the Partnership published the 2017 State of the Sound Report. The report combines a response to statutory questions about the management and funding of Puget Sound recovery, with information on ecosystem status and trends. Unlike previous reports, the 2017 report provides a summary of the progress on the Vital Sign indicators with more detailed indicator information available on an updated Vital Signs website. The Vital Signs website was updated with Vital Sign-level reports and messaging from PSEMP workgroups for 12 of 25 Vital Signs as of October 2017. Over 1,500 reports (and a larger number of executive summary 2-pagers) have been distributed to partners, significantly more than for previous reports. Also notable in the 2017 report are four locally based recovery stories about seawalls, shellfish, floodplains and stormwater pollution. The stories are designed to be visually engaging with extensive use of graphics to help tell the story. The report also contains a list of 17 recommendations (also included in the Executive Summary) that indicate the increased commitment needed from partners to advance recovery. The Partnership has also communicated the report’s findings to multiple audiences around Puget Sound through presentations and webinars. The redesigned Vital Signs Design report was nominated for the national conference of State Legislatures’ 2018 Notable Document Award. The Vital Signs design was called out as a best practice by the Indian River Lagoon Council and the National Estuary Program. 4. To provide professional development opportunities Partnership staff engaged in the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference that was successfully convened in Seattle. The theme of the conference was “Ecosystem Recovery in an International Transboundary System” with presentations spanning a range of topics. The Partnership’s Science and Evaluation Director was co-chair of the 2018 conference. Thirty staff participated in the event with four serving as session presenters and/or facilitators. 5. To promote strategic regional engagements the Partnership continued forging connections with entities such as the Northwest Seaport Alliance and the Boeing Company. An outcome of meeting with the former is support for state legislative priorities of the Partnership. 6. To promote engagement and involvement in ecosystem recovery, six of the seven Marine Resources Committees (MRC) affiliated with the Northwest Straits Commission engage volunteers in a variety of stewardship and training events. For example, through Salish Sea Stewards, 61 Skagit county residents received citizen science training. The Clallam County MRC cooperates with the city of Port Angeles to provide oil spill preparedness training. During this reporting period 33 volunteers received the HAZWOPER certification. MRCs host symposiums as well. Over 100 people attended a symposium hosted by the San Juan MRC on the plight of the southern resident killer whales, while the Whatcom MRC co-hosted a water supply symposium with over 130 participants. Implementation Strategies/Science Award 1. To improve awareness and understanding, the Puget Sound Institute publishes newsletters and magazine articles and covers special events like the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 2. To enhance Implementation Strategies (IS) through social science Effectiveness and Social Science Protocols have either been drafted and are ready for incorporation or have enough content to be considered well-formed enough to be included as Guidance for future IS development. Additional Social Science concepts and information are being integrated into the Toxics in Fish and Marine Water Quality implementation strategy process as content is being created by the interdisciplinary team (IDTs). 3. To support the Science Panel’s role in Implementation Strategies, guidelines and terms of reference for external review of shoreline armoring were prepared for review of the Shoreline Armoring Implementation Strategy. The Guidelines and TOR for Shoreline Armoring IS was developed to be applicable to other ISs with minimal change. 4. To bridge between the Puget Sound scientific community and the Management Conference, staff presented as follows: July 2018 meetings: discussion of nutrient forum and marine water quality IS at SP meeting; discussion of Shore Armoring at ECB meeting.

6. 2021

   The list of accomplishments under this assistance listing include, but are not limited to, the following: The Puget Sound Leadership Council approving the 2022-2026 Action Agenda. The 2022-2026 Action Agenda charts the course for Puget Sound recovery as our community’s shared plan for advancing protection and restoration efforts across the region. The 2022-2026 Action Agenda is informed by science and guides effective investment in Puget Sound protection and restoration. This Action Agenda update improves over past versions by increasing the focus on what is needed to recover Puget Sound, based on an assessment of Puget Sound Vital Signs with partners. The Habitat Implementation Strategies (HSIL) Update Workplan for 2020-2021 was successfully developed and includes an update of each Implementation Strategy narrative. The HSIL Communications Lead continues to provide leadership to the SIL communication subcommittee and oversaw the roll-out of the HSIL Implementation Strategy Landing pages and continues to coordinate the overall website update. Several subawardees are successfully engaging in the Management Conference. A mapping product has been developed focusing on Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and is now being shared with Local Integrating Organizations. The MART grant was successfully closed out and lessons learned will be shared through the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference and other forums. HSIL staff provided leadership and technical website expertise to the Cross-SIL communications group. They have led a major update of the SIL website which will improve our ability to communicate outcomes of HSIL 1.0 investments in the context of the Implementation Strategies. PSI work is underway on the HSIL 1.0 synthesis which will be an important component of adaptive management and synthesis from HSIL 1.0. From wastewater management, pollution identification and correction program support, agricultural best management practices, marine water and shoreline monitoring, policy and addressing climate change, the shellfish strategic initiative lead (SIL) brings together a diverse range of knowledge and expertise- all working together towards the shared goal of protecting public health and a healthy Puget Sound. The program coordinates with partners at different state agencies and is supported by the Shellfish Strategic Initiative Advisory Team (SIAT). The SIAT has advised the SIL since 2016, lending their expertise and advice on which projects and programs to fund, important shellfish recovery questions to address, and input on the Shellfish Beds Implementation Strategy, the roadmap to addressing harvestable shellfish bed recovery. Serving as the Shellfish Implementation Strategy Lead and working to operationalize the Shellfish IS and work towards achieving the Shellfish Vital Sign Target. See https://pugetsoundestuary.wa.gov/shellfish-beds/ for a summary of that work. Subawards funded by the Shellfish SIL listed at https://pugetsoundestuary.wa.gov/shellfish-strategic-initiative/. Fact Sheets for Shellfish SIL funded subawards are available at: https://pugetsoundestuary.wa.gov/funded-projects/ The Stormwater Team funds diverse projects—research, green infrastructure, decision support tools, and collaborative approach pilots, among others, and uses its water quality Implementation Strategies - the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity, Toxics in Fish and Marine Water Quality - to identify opportunities, strategic invention points and communities of practice for implementation. https://pugetsoundestuary.wa.gov/stormwater-strategic-initiative/ . Fact Sheets for Stormwater SIL funded subawards are available at: https://pugetsoundestuary.wa.gov/funded-projects/. For additional information on the accomplishments under this assistance listing, please visit the following website: https://www.epa.gov/puget-sound.

7. 2022

   Skagit County has been reducing pollution in Samish Bay since 2010. The county has addressed all large sources of pollution; it’s now working to find and fix smaller sources. This project supports pollution-source identification work using a combination of lab testing, cheaper and faster Coliscan testing (which detects fecal pollution), and water-level loggers to identify illegal discharges.

   Skagit County will also collect storm data in the Samish River watershed and in Samish Bay. Storm data from the watershed tells the county where it should focus its efforts.

   EPA’s Puget Sound Geographic Program’s Stormwater Strategic Initiative funding resulted in a Journal of Environmental Management Publication: “Biochar and fungi as bioretention amendments for bacteria and PAH removal from stormwater.” These findings suggest that PAHs in stormwater can be remediated with bioretention, are unlikely to accumulate in bioretention media, and that biochar amendments can improve the treatment of E. coli. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479722024884

   The implementation strategies for BIBI and Toxics in Fish are complete and finalized.

   The Stormwater SIL was successful in creating valuable planning strategies that have been successfully operationalized for developing Action Agenda priorities, funding recommendations, Ecosystem Coordination Board priorities, Southern Resident Killer Whale Recommendations, enacted legislation, and the Washington State Stormwater Strategy. These have also given them a strategic approach to reacting to emerging threats like the acutely toxic constituents of tires–recently identified by partners. The team also designed the approach to updating the Action Agenda that utilizes the Implementation Strategies and their key priorities as the basis for recovery community engagement and the development of the next Action Agenda

8. 2024

   Strategic Initiative Leads Release Habitat, Shellfish and Stormwater Chapters of 2023 Investment Plan - The Plan details the investment priorities that the Strategic Initiative Advisory Teams have been working on. The Investment Priorities will be the focus of competitive Request for Proposals (RFPs) to award EPA Puget Sound Geographic Program Funds for investments across Puget Sound.

   A $100,000 Puget Sound Habitat Strategic Initiative subaward “Stillaguamish Floodplain Acquisitions and Restoration” with the Tribe provided partial funding to acquire 158 acres and 380-acre feet of water rights along the North Fork Stillaguamish River. The EPA funds were leveraged with other state and federal grants to make the $1.8 million acquisition. The parcels are adjacent to a Snohomish County Park meaning that over two miles of the North Fork Stillaguamish are protected.

   Puget Sound Stormwater Subaward: Rain gardens installed on private properties - A $362,000 Puget Sound Stormwater Strategic Initiative subaward “Targeted Stormwater Retrofits in WRIA 8 and 9 Salmon Habitat” with a local agency has closed. This subaward worked with partners in WRIA 8 and 9 to identify target areas for green stormwater infrastructure retrofit projects on private property, then install stormwater retrofits using local contractors. 25 green stormwater infrastructure projects were successfully installed on private property, mainly rain gardens, cisterns, and native plant habitat installations.

   A key initiative was the successful Adopt-a-Downspout (AAD) system in partnership with Washington State Department of Transportation that has been proven to reduce the chemical 6PPD-Q and other toxic chemicals in stormwater runoff from the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle. Preliminary results show 96% 6PPD-Q removal from their pilot project under the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge. The subaward will expand the scope of this effort by installing and monitoring additional Adopt-a-Downspout Systems and will provide regional and national organizations with an affordable modular nonproprietary turnkey Best Management Practice (BMP) for reducing 6PPD-Q toxicity in our waterways.

   The Implementation Strategies for BIBI and Toxics in Fish are complete and finalized. Over the last 4 years, the team has expended tremendous effort, engaged myriad experts, and relied upon the team to work as a unit in completing these strategies. They have been successful in creating valuable planning strategies that have been successfully operationalized for developing Action Agenda priorities, funding recommendations, Ecosystem Coordination Board priorities, Southern Resident Killer Whale Recommendations, enacted legislation, and the Washington State Stormwater Strategy. These have also given them a strategic approach to reacting to emerging threats like the acutely toxic constituents of tires–recently identified by partners. Their team also designed the approach to updating the Action Agenda that utilizes the Implementation Strategies and their key priorities as the basis for recovery community engagement and the development of the next Action Agenda.

   Climate Resiliency BIL Funded Grant - this large grant just awarded will establish criteria for evaluating potential riverbank restoration projects throughout Puget Sound. The department will invest some of the funding to help ensure an adequate supply of native trees and bushes is available to be planted at project sites. Ecology and its partners will work with farmers and landowners, Tribes, cities and counties, land trusts, conservation districts, salmon recovery groups, and other groups to identify suitable projects. Some funding might be used to pay for conservation easements and other measures to protect land from future development.

Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):

For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.

For grants and cooperative agreements with local governments, tribal governments and special purpose districts, the procedures and requirements should be in conformance with 2 CFR 200 and 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart P (Financial Assistance for the National Estuary Program).

1. Clean Water Act, 104(b)(3).
2. Clean Water Act, Section 320 & Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Pub. L. 117, 58.