Washington State Department of Ecology

Related Links

The following are ocean-related efforts at the local, federal, tribal, regional and international level. For links to relevant state programs and agencies, please visit the State Ocean Caucus page.

Local efforts in Washington
Federally managed areas on Washington's outer coast
West Coast, interstate and international efforts
Other federal programs

Local efforts in Washington

Coastal Marine Resource Committees - Citizen-based Marine Resource Committees (MRCs) are an effective mechanism to harness the dedication, creativity, and wisdom of coastal residents to compliment ongoing efforts to restore, protect, and manage coastal marine resources. The MRC program on Washington’s outer coast is administered by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Northwest Straits Initiative - a federally funded program established in 1998, supports citizen-based Marine Resource Committees in seven northern Puget Sound counties.
Olympic Harmful Algal Bloom Partnership (ORHAB)- a partnership dedicated to improving knowledge, management, and mitigation of harmful algal bloom (HAB) impacts on coastal fishery resources on the Olympic Peninsula.
Olympic Coast Intergovernmental Policy Council – a council comprised of four coastal treaty tribes and Washington state that acts as a collaborative forum for exchanging information and providing policy recommendations for management of marine resources on the Olympic Coast and in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
Olympic Natural Resource Center (ONRC)– a University of Washington research center based in Forks that focuses on research about forestry and marine resources.
Washington Clean Coast Alliance – a group comprised of nonprofits, community groups, and government agencies all working together to support the CoastSavers program, which seeks to empower concerned citizens to combat marine debris in a variety of ways.

Federally managed areas on Washington's outer coast

US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuges

West Coast, interstate and international efforts

Pacific Ballast Water Work Group – a regional group of state, federal, and international agencies that promote development and implementation of safe, economical, effective management of aquatic nuisance species associated with West Coast shipping.
Pacific Coast Collaborative – an agreement among the jurisdictions of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska, which contains joint activities on ocean issues.
Pacific States-British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership – one of 28 programs in the National Estuary Program is a two-state, public-private initiative that implements the conservation and management plan for the Lower Columbia River.
Lower Columbia Solutions Group - a bi-state partnership convened in 2002 by the governors of Oregon and Washington as a collaborative forum for sediment management solutions.
West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health – a proactive, regional collaboration launched by the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington to protect and manage the ocean and coastal resources along the entire West Coast.