Puget Sound federal task force: federal coordination and collaboration to protect and restore Puget Sound shorelines

It is well recognized by scientists and natural resource agencies, that restoration and protection of Puget Sound marine shorelines, will help move the needle toward Puget Sound recovery and the multitude of species that rely on nearshore and estuarine habitat. Under the Nearshore and Estuaries section of the Action Plan, federal agency workgroups have been formed to evaluate approaches for improving marine nearshore regulatory and restoration/protection processes, which were identified as a priority early on. The involvement of the Federal Task Force has enabled the active participation of relevant staff to motivate and reach toward beneficial, achievable outcomes. Since some of the actions in the section could not be realized without involvement by state and tribal input, multi-level government approaches have been developed, and these partnerships continue to be enhanced. Coordination and sharing of shoreline protection mechanisms with our Canadian partners could further innovation and increase more consistent education and outreach on both sides of the border. Some of the key actions in the section and specifics of the workgroups’ progress will be presented in this talk