Introduction

An integrated, coordinated monitoring and assessment program for Puget Sound is needed to provide credible and useful information about the Puget Sound ecosystem and guide the Puget Sound Partnership’s, Ecology’s, and others’ monitoring efforts and improve our policy and management decisions.

The Puget Sound Partnership is creating a coordinated ecosystem monitoring and assessment program. Ken Dzinbal is the new monitoring program coordinator. The Steering Committee held its first meeting on June 6, 2011, adopted a charter and bylaws, and is developing a work plan for formally establishing the program.

As part of the new program, Ecology provides staff and support to the Stormwater Work Group (SWG). The SWG was formed in 2008 to set priorities and fill key gaps in knowledge and understanding of stormwater impacts and effectiveness of stormwater management programs and approaches in Puget Sound. The SWG will coordinate with other “topical work groups” as the new coordinated ecosystem monitoring program structure develops and other monitoring efforts are formally acknowledged as part of the program.

Contents:

• Background
  
• Exploratory Committee
  
• Governance Committee
  
• Stormwater Work Group
  
• Technical Advisory Committee