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Department of Ecology News Release - November 9, 2006
06-231
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is introducing a new series of brochures, designed to provide environmental education in an easy to access format. Entitled Issue Up Close, the series debuts with two new brochures: Managing Our Water Successfully and Mitigation That Works. Both brochures are available on Ecology's Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/priorities.html.
"Shrinking snow pack, increasing drought years, population growth and development all combine dramatically to reduce water availability," explains Ecology Director Jay Manning in the brochure Managing Our Water Successfully. "Education on this vital issue is a statewide priority." Managing Our Water successfully looks at the issues affecting water availability and what communities and citizens can do to make a difference."
Also part of the Issues Up Close series, Mitigation That Works: Sustaining our remaining wetlands for people, fish and wildlife takes a close look at the critical role wetlands play in habitat preservation and how we can restore, preserve and protect the wetlands we have in our state.
Washington has lost more than 31 percent of its wetlands in the last two centuries, and has added the equivalent of 10 new cities the size of Tacoma or Spokane since 1982. This growth inevitably affects wetland resources. Mitigation That Works describes various options available to assist planners, landowners and developers in successfully fulfilling mitigation obligations and averting a net loss of wetlands within a watershed.
Habitat is essential to life. People, fish and wildlife all need places to live - food, water, shelter and space. Wetlands are among the habitats that are especially critical for fish, wildlife and communities.
The Ecology Internet Web site is designed to highlight more information about our environment and help citizens make sustainable choices to protect our air, land and water. The site features user-friendly navigation, a "How do I?" section that directs users to some of our most popular pages, and "clickable" photographic sections of Puget Sound, Columbia River and Hanford.
Both the Managing our Water Successfully and Mitigation That Works brochures may be found on Ecology's Web site at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/priorities.html.
Managing our water successfully and sustaining critical habitats through mitigation that works are two of Ecology's four priorities in the agency's four-year action plan. The other priorities are: reducing toxic threats and protecting and restoring Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
Contacts:
Nelsa Brodie, Water Resources Public Information Officer,
360-407-7139, nebr461@ecy.wa.gov
Nancy Jackson, Web Communications Manager, 360-407-6928,
njac461@ecy.wa.gov
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Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
