Government Management Accountability & Performance Program

Natural Resources Cabinet Presentation

October 6th, 2010

A Healthy Puget SoundBy 2020

GAO Recommendations• Create and implement a scientifically based plan

• Educate the public about the problem and viable solutions

• Secure funding for the effort

• Hold implementers accountable for results and money spent

• Build a lead organization capable of achieving success

1. Create and Implement a Scientifically Based Plan• The Action Agenda is based on solid science

– Is strategic

– Contains priorities

– Ties management actions to specific environmental outcomes

– Generally viewed as the best ecosystem recovery plan in the nation

• Solid progress has been made on implementation during the first 2 years– Over 90% of the top ranked actions have had solid progress made on

implementation

– Over 60% of all actions have had solid progress made on implementation

2. Public Education & Outreach• Polls show that people are willing to pay for recovery efforts

when they understand that there is a problem

• Puget Sound Starts Here – 57 cities and counties, PSP, and ECY, 3M people reached, 6K broadcasts, 50K storm drain markers, 12K posters, 15K bumper stickers

• EcoNet – 400+ agencies across Sound

• Sound Behavior Index – 2011

• $6M EPA Grant – over 5 years

3. Secure Needed Funding• Significant Increases in federal funding

– Direct Appropriations– Federal stimulus funding has directed $158m to projects in

Puget Sound• Elwha Dam removal (NPS) - $54.7 Million• Shelton wastewater treatment (USDA) - $35 million• Habitat restoration (NOAA) - $16.4 million

– Leveraging existing money to address priorities in the Action Agenda through coordination with federal partner

• Maintained state funding in difficult times– Shoreline updates, salmon recovery, stormwater

• Supporting efforts to maximize local fund sources

EPA Puget Sound Funding Increasing

4. Accountability• All Action Agenda tasks are linked to specific

environmental outcomes

• Assigned responsibility for implementation of each Action Agenda task

• Developing a tracking and monitoring system to measure success of implementation efforts

• Adopted indicators that will allow us to measure success in achieving our goals

• Working on 2020 targets

Natural Dimension Human Dimension Program Dimension

Marine Water Quality Index - ECY

Sound Behavior Index (under constr.) - PSP

Funding for Action Agenda - PSP

Freshwater Quality Index - ECY

Puget Sound Quality of Life Index (under constr.) - PSP

Percent of Action Agenda Items Addressed - PSP

Stream Flows Below Critical Levels - ECY

Tribal/Non-Tribal Commercial Harvest - NWIF

Wild Chinook Salmon - RITT

Swimming Beaches - ECY

Orcas/ South Resident Killer Whales – Center for Whale Research

Recreational Fishing Permit Sales - DFW

Pacific Herring - DFW Shellfish Beds Restored – DOH

Birds - DFW

Shoreline Armoring – DFW

Eelgrass - DNR

Toxics in Fish - DFW

Toxics in Sediments - ECY

Land Use/Land Cover - DFW

Puget Sound Dashboard Indicators

5. Build a Capable Organization• Organized staff to achieve priority outcomes

• Leveraged additional capacity from tribal, federal, state and local partners to fill gaps in key areas

• Committed significant resources to developing systems needed to achieve long-term success in performance management and other key areas

• Organized boards to leverage experience, expertise, and influence