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Conversations on Washington's Future
Protecting Our Quality of Life for the 21st Century

Message from the Director
Ted Sturdevant, Ecology Director

(01/27/2012)

These times are unlike any I’ve seen. Chances are good that when historians look back at this time, they will say it marked a turning point in our society.

If that’s true, the big question is “where are we going?” Now more than ever, it is up to us, collectively, to answer this question. If quality of life is our yardstick, then the question is what kind of quality of life do we want in the future?

However you answer that question, I bet most of us agree that the quality of life we want will depend on a strong economy in which we can all prosper, vital communities to live and work in, and a healthy environment that satisfies our aesthetic, cultural, recreational and natural resource needs.

Though many of us sort ourselves into ideological camps that tend to separate and pit us against one another — “I support the environment!” or “I support business!” or “I’m for local communities!” — the reality is that the vast majority of us want all three to thrive, for the sake of our quality of life.

Fostering these three interests sounds right and is right — but it is also incredibly challenging. Not because it is impossible, but because we’re not used to doing things this way. And because much of today’s political rhetoric perpetuates the myth that we can have a strong economy or a clean environment, but not both. Also, as the world gets more interconnected and complex, solutions are getting more complex too. This new approach of working for the economy, communities and the environment demands some new thinking, including:

• Respect for others’ interests, not just your own.
• A broader awareness of how our actions are interconnected and what impacts they cause.
• A willingness to deal with those impacts.
• Complex solutions that address multiple interests.

Some of our thorniest issues, such as regulatory reform, polluted runoff, toxic waste reduction and climate change, have been locked into an ‘us’ against ‘them’ mindset. This way of looking at things can blind us to solutions that are achievable and can work for all.

The old way of thinking asks: Can I or can I not take an action that harms the environment?

The path to a new future calls for a new paradigm: How can I get my needs met without harming people and the environment?

And how can government help businesses be even more successful and productive and still leave our air, water and land cleaner and more usable than ever before?

How do we adapt to the reality of finite resources and a growing population and still maintain our quality of life? How can we work together to ensure enough water for farms, businesses, homeowners and fish? How do we keep our streams from drying out?

How can we support the environment, our communities, and the economy in ways that strengthen all three?

We can do this — we’ve already seen solutions that work

If we ask the right questions, we can find the right answers. I know there are solutions out there. I have been fortunate to be at the table with people from across the state - from government, the private sector and many other interests – who crafted those solutions.

A great example of this is our work in the Yakima Basin. Agriculture — and irrigation — is extremely important to Washington’s economy. So are fish, like federally protected salmon. Where water is short and needs are great, finding solutions can be extremely challenging. Ecology brought to the table people of all interests in the Yakima Basin to solve their local water challenges. Though individually they had different interests, all agreed to work together finding lasting, sustainable solutions – and they accomplished a breakthrough. The plan they developed supports environmental, economic and community values and promises a bright future for the Yakima Basin. As the Chair of the Yakama Nation recently said, “The time for conflict is over.”

I’ve seen technical experts from Ecology help businesses conserve more water and energy, get better use out of raw materials, and reduce wastes — saving them millions of dollars in the process.

Our work to clean up contaminated areas around the state protects human health and has helped return contaminated land to productive use, spurring economic development.

To forge a path to a new future, we have to engage our neighbors, colleagues and policy makers — especially those holding different points of view — in a thoughtful, open discussion about our state’s problems and challenges, how best to adapt to new realities, and how to create solutions that truly work for everyone.

Over the next several months, I’ll share my thoughts with you periodically about specific issues seen through this lens, with the hope that it will trigger a larger conversation and new solutions.

Our future will be defined by how well we navigate our challenges and opportunities together.

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