Mission: Our goals include shoreline habitat protection and restoration, pollution prevention, and putting our region's economy and environment on a sustainable course. We accomplish these goals through public education and involvement programs, policy analysis and advocacy, and partnerships with a wide range of organizations, agencies and businesses.
Results: • Protection of a full mile of unspoiled Maury Island shoreline, saved from a destructive gravel mine and loading dock
• Protection of 60,000 acres of marine habitat near Protection and Whidbey Islands in two aquatic reserves
• Permanent year-round tug stationed at Neah Bay to prevent oils spills, paid for by the oil and shipping industries
• 1,200 miles of Puget Sound shoreline protected through improved local ordinances
• 48 miles of shoreline restored, working with over 2,000 volunteers
• Low-impact development standards in storm water permits
• State phase-out of copper brake pads
• 300-foot buffer between vessels and orcas
• Goal to achieve a healthy Sound by 2020 in state law
• Toxic free toys legislation
• Phase-out of toxic flame retardants
• Seattle Styrofoam container ban
Target demographics: The 12 counties and shorelines surrounding Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits.
Programs: Sound Stewardship
Our Sound Stewardship Program uses community-based restoration to contribute to the long-term success of restored shoreline habitat while engaging citizens.
Safeguarding Shorelines
We collaborate with state and local community groups to influence the updates of Critical Areas Ordinances (CAOs) and Shoreline Master Plans (SMPs).
Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines
People For Puget Sound is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land in a groundbreaking new partnership, the Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines.
The Puget Sound 2020 Action Agenda
The Gregoire Administration's Puget Sound Partnership is the best chance we have seen in many years to make meaningful progress in saving Puget Sound.
Preventing Oil Spills
Since 1999 the rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca has made over 40 'saves' of vessels in distress. We're working to keep the tug there, year-round.
Managing Stormwater and Restoring Our Urban Bays
Seattle, Bellingham, and Olympia provide opportunities for environmental improvements in the redevelopment of their waterfronts.
Toxics in Puget Sound
Our major focus on toxics in Puget Sound includes 1) prevention of pollution entering the Sound; 2) accelerated cleanup of contaminated sites; and 3) expanded source controls.
Eliminating polluting septic systems
This program is the next step in our efforts to restore dissolved oxygen levels in Hood Canal. Our focus will be on working with local jurisdictions as they develop on-site management plans covering septic systems.
Education and Involvement
We are significantly increasing our education program throughout the Puget Sound region through Kids for Puget Sound, beach walks, boat trips, conferences, our website and print publications, a monthly lecture series, and extensive outreach through speaking engagements.
People for Puget Sound is now defunct.
Sad but true.
Expenses exceeded contributions.
New CEO not able to keep the organization afloat.
Went down with all hands on board.
My experience with People for Puget Sound has been excellent. They gave me the chance to learn how to be politically active for causes that I care about. The individuals involved with the organization are committed to the mission of protecting Puget Sound and work hard to accomplish their goals.
I too am a board member and have been a member since quite a few years before I joined the board. People For Puget Sound has one of the most well respected environmental leaders in Washington n Kathy Fletcher, the staff she has hired is excellent, and the work they actually get done on behalf of protecting and restoring the Sound is really amazing. I consider my membership dollars to be well spent, and everyone, including the board, is an activist on behalf of the Sound.
OK, as a board member, I'm admittedly biased. But there are some great reasons I support PFPS, and I hope others will join their voices to our efforts to save - and restore - Puget Sound.
First: the marine life in Puget Sound is unbelievable. As a boater, just seeing the Orcas, porposises, jellyfish - and everything else I can't name, is pretty darn fantastic. I can't imagine the Sound without it's marine life.
Second: everywhere you go, whether it's a waterfront home, a park, a river - you get this awareness that we're all part of one ecosystem - everything somehow winds up connecting with the Sound. Advocating for the Sound is a big job - and we all benefit from an independent voice, like PFPS, providing good solid policy and science.
Third: My buck makes a difference. Right here in the Sound, my donations impact how our region manages the Sound. I can't support every great environmental cause (though I sure would like to), so I have to select the organizations that I want to be sure are on the radar screen with elected officials, land managers/developers and everyone who uses our marine resources.
I could go on and on - but thanks for reading this far. Rest assured the Board, staff and everyone involved are committed to keeping PFPS a leader in our region's envionrmental movement!
