Our Living Shorelines > Education, Outreach and Stewardship

Education, Outreach and Stewardship

Shorelines are a valuable resource in Washington. Protecting, preserving, and enhancing our 28,000 miles of river, stream, wetland and marine shorelines is everyone’s responsibility.

Education and outreach are important to helping people understand the economic and environmental importance of our living shorelines, and knowing how to make positive changes.

• Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Provides school and public interpretation and education about estuaries. The Reserve's Coastal Training Program provides practical, science-based training for professionals who make decisions about coastal management.
• Washington Waters – Ours to Protect - Information about human actions that prevent pollution in lakes, rivers, wetlands and marine waters. Citizens can take small actions to protect our water and keep shorelines healthy. Also includes a "tool kit" for local governments, organizations and citizens.
• Shoreline Master Programs Citizen Guide - Essential information to help citizens get involved in long-range planning for public access, development and environmental protection of shorelines. Includes links to outreach materials, hearings and public involvement options.
• Statewide Shoreline Education, Outreach, and Stewardship Strategy - A collaborative community-based marketing strategy being developed to identify topical areas needing attention, partners, and services. Results will be posted here when available. Contact: Cedar Bouta at 360-407-6406.
• Shoreline Values Survey Summary, March 2011 - a survey of 635 educators and service providers regarding shoreline words and phrases that resonate with them, how they interact with shorelines, and why they value shorelines. This survey asks some questions from earlier public opinion surveys conducted in 1983 and 1996.
• Market Analysis Summary: Shoreline Education, Outreach and Stewardship Survey, April 2011 - an inventory of existing shoreline education and outreach programs in Washington State, identifying topics that are being well-addressed, topics that need more attention, locations, approaches, and target audiences.

Resources

Statewide Partners:

• Conservation Commission
• Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Department of Health
• Department of Natural Resources
• Puget Sound Partnership

Locate a program near you:

• E3 Washington
• Puget Sound ECONets
• WSU Extension