The Port of Tacoma Commission has adopted a resolution supporting a strategic plan to protect and restore salmon habitats in the Puget Sound region, according to action taken during the Aug. 11 commission meeting.
The Shared Salmon Strategy is a collaborative effort designed to protect and restore salmon runs across Puget Sound. The coalition, which was established in 2002, engages local citizens, tribes, technical experts, and policy makers to build a practical, cost-effective recovery plan endorsed by the people living and working in the watersheds of Puget Sound.
The coalition hopes to submit its plan for final approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and federal funding in December.
Its a terribly important thing for the Port to show support, said Bill Ruckelshaus, Chair of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. The Ports involvement is very helpful in getting final approval by NOAA.
According to commission president R. Ted Bottiger, the Port has worked with local environmental stewards for years, creating, protecting and restoring more than 70 acres of productive aquatic habitat where juvenile salmon can find refuge and food. “Our commitment to the environment and salmon restoration spans more than two decades and has involved Port investments of more than $150 million,” he said.
For more information, visit http://www.sharedsalmonstrategy.org.
