San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/LIO 5-Year Ecosystem Recovery Plan First Elements. Submitted: October 8, 2015

Transcription

1 San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/LIO 5-Year Ecosystem Recovery Plan First Elements Submitted: October 8, 2015

2 Table of Contents Section 1. LIO Overview... 3 Section 2. Local Ecosystem Recovery Context Priority Vital Signs and Pressures... 6 LIO Priority Vital Signs... 6 LIO Priority Pressures... 7 LIO Decision Process... 9 Pressures:... 9 Vital Signs: Section 3. Local Ecosystem Recovery Approaches LIO Recovery Approach for Priority Vital Signs Vital Sign: Salmon Vital Sign: Water Vital Sign: Shoreline Armoring Vital Sign: Eelgrass Vital Sign: Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Vital Sign: LIO Recovery Approaches Aligned with 2016/17 Puget Sound Strategic Initiatives Habitat Strategic Initiative Shellfish Strategic Initiative Stormwater Strategic Initiative Tables and Figures Table 1. LIO Priority Vital Signs and Relevant 2020 Recovery Targets Table 2. Content considered in LIO selection of priority Vital Signs Figure 1. Conceptual model showing LIO priority pressures (sources and stressors), Vital Signs and priority relationships Table 3. LIO Priority Pressures and related LIO Priority Vital Signs Table 4. Content considered in selection of LIO Priority Pressures (Sources & Stressors). 23 Appendices Appendix 1. LIO NTAs Mapped to Puget Sound Recovery Prototype Results Chains Appendix 2. LIO Vital Signs Schematics San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 1

3 Authors: Linda Lyshall (San Juan Islands Conservation District), Betsy Daniels (San Juan LIO Coordination Team Triangle Associates), Megan Johnston (San Juan LIO Coordination Triangle Associates), Jennifer Thomas (Water and Land Natural Resource Consulting), San Juan LIO members, and Puget Sound Partnership staff. Review/Approval Status: List any LIO committees/groups/boards that have reviewed and/or approved the content in this document. Group Name Reviewed Approved San Juan LIO Accountability Oversight Committee San Juan LIO Implementation Committee San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 2

4 Section 1. LIO Overview San Juan Action Area encompasses the entirety of San Juan, which includes 428 separate islands at high tide, and 408 miles of marine shoreline, more than any other county in the contiguous United States. Located at the nexus of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Georgia Strait, and Puget Sound, the islands are considered by many to be the crown jewels of Puget Sound. The San Juan Islands have served as rich fishing grounds for the Coast Salish People for thousands of years. The Salish Peoples fishing activities were sustainable for generations, and traditional knowledge includes areas where salmon skirted the Island shoreline as vast runs returned to the Fraser and Skagit Rivers. The Coast Salish also knew where to find the best clam, mussel, and oyster beds near shore for ready harvest in season. San Juan Watershed provides excellent habitat for juvenile and adult salmon with over 5,000 acres of tidal wetlands, inter and subtidal flats, eelgrass meadows along the shorelines and in the bays, and kelp beds. Tidal wetlands are highly valued due to their relative scarcity. At least 80 miles of potential forage fish spawning beaches are present. Eelgrass is found on 20% of all shorelines, and the islands contain one third of all of the kelp in Puget Sound. Pacific surf smelt and sandlance have been documented on 11 miles of the islands shorelines. The location of the San Juan Islands makes them a way station for all 22 migrating populations of Puget Sound salmon as both juveniles and adults. Additionally, sockeye, pink, chum and coho salmon, Kokanee, steelhead, and rainbow and coastal cutthroat trout have been documented in the area. The San Juan Islands support out-migrating juvenile salmon including, coho, chum and pink, and stocks from the Fraser River, Puget Sound, east and west coast Vancouver Island, and the Strait of Georgia. Geologically, the San Juan Islands are distinctly different from mainland Washington and Vancouver Island, and are dominated by bedrock and thinner glacial deposits relative to other parts of Puget Sound. Their unique location in the crossroads of the Salish Sea gives the San Juan Islands a wide diversity of flora and fauna. The geology has created habitat conditions for rockfish that are not replicated anywhere else in Puget Sound. Approximately 74% of the shallow dominant rocky reef habitat in Puget Sound consisting of boulder fields, rocky ledges, and outcroppings is found in the San Juan Archipelago. High-energy tidal flows and turbulent mixing throughout the islands channels are dominated by the surface outflows from the Strait of Georgia and the deep-water inflow from offshore Pacific waters. The islands straits and channels link the Strait of Georgia to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and to a lesser extent to Puget Sound. These water sources mix and contribute to the distribution of nutrients, plankton, sediment, and pollutants throughout the islands, creating a marine environment unique to the San Juan Islands. This environment includes not only turbulent straits and channels but also some quiet and protected bays. Today, the San Juan Islands are an extremely popular summer destination, and the number of residents swells from 16,180 who live there year round to approximately double that in the San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 3

5 summer. In addition, over 750,000 visitors camp, moor, or stay in area lodging. Most of the area is rural, with 75% of the population living outside the urban areas of Friday Harbor, Eastsound, and Lopez Village. From , human population in the islands grew by 6.6%. There are 5,700 shoreline parcels in the area, of which approximately 50% have already been developed. Some islands have no public access and few accommodate automobiles. Public access to the shoreline and waters is extremely limited on many islands. The current economy is driven by ecotourism, residential and commercial construction, government, and youth education. Tourism is highly dependent on the clean marine and fresh waters, spectacular views, rural agricultural landscape, and opportunities for boating, bird watching, whale watching, and cycling. These characteristics are also highly valued by the residents and second home owners that make the San Juan Islands their home. There is significant marine-oriented commerce including marinas, fishing, and boat building and repair. Representative marine education and research organizations include the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs, the Whale Museum, and the SeaDoc Society. High quality shellfish farming occurs in the area as well as a growing sustainable agricultural movement. The islands are important to the cultural heritage of the coastal Salish tribes that retain treatyreserved rights to hunt, fish, and gather, and are attached to many cultural heritage sites. Residents of San Juan Watershed value the opportunities for involvement in stewardship of the islands ecosystem made available through numerous, long-standing efforts and organizations. Many government and non governmental efforts are devoted to protecting this important natural resource. In 2007, the San Juan Council adopted the San Juan Stewardship Area Plan, the culmination of 3 years of effort by the San Juan Resources Committee, with contributions from numerous scientists, technical advisors, resource managers, community leaders, business owners, and citizens. Many of these groups remain active in the San Juan Local Integrating Organization (LIO) today. Example assets include sustainable tourism; commercial and recreational fisheries for clams, crab, and spot prawns; and clean beaches and waters. Currently, no beaches in the San Juan Islands are closed to swimming, however, public beaches are periodically closed to shellfish harvest due to a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Protected upland areas are located throughout the islands with land in conservation easement or owned by the Land Bank, San Juan Preservation Trust, and National, State, and Parks. The Bureau of Land Management recently created the San Juan Islands National Monument which encompasses approximately 1,000 acres in a patchwork of ownership throughout the islands archipelago. Other significant public ownership areas include Moran State Park, San Juan Historical National Park, Turtleback Mountain, Lopez Hill, University of Washington Preserves at Friday Harbor Labs and on Shaw Island, and the National Wildlife Refuge. Yellow Island, protected by the Nature Conservancy, contains an intact prairie, a unique ecological feature on a small island. resource protection areas include the Preserve, National Wildlife Refuge, Bottomfish Recovery Zone, Whalewatch Exclusion Zone, and Sensitive Eelgrass Area. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 4

6 With respect to salmon recovery planning local implementation process, the San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group is the local integrating organization (LIO) for the San Juan Watershed. It was officially recognized by the Puget Sound Partnership s Leadership Council in June The San Juan LIO operates with two committees: Accountability Oversight and Implementation. The Accountability Oversight Committee serves as the executive body for the LIO. The committee includes representatives from the following entities. Lummi Nation Swinomish Tribe Tulalip Tribes San Juan Council Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council (ex-officio) The Implementation Committee provides recommendations to the Accountability Oversight Committee. The Implementation Committee consists of staff and volunteers from the following entities. San Juan Resources Committee WRIA 2 Salmon Recovery Lead Entity San Juan Department of Community Development and Planning San Juan Public Works San Juan Health and Community Services San Juan Water Resources Committee (community representative) San Juan Islands Conservation District University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs San Juan Stewardship Network/ECO Net Town of Friday Harbor Lummi Natural Resources Department Tulalip Tribes Swinomish Tribe San Juan Economic Development Council San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 5

7 Section 2. Local Ecosystem Recovery Context Priority Vital Signs and Pressures This section provides a description of the parts of the ecosystem that the LIO is most interested in protecting and recovering, the key pressures threatening those ecosystem and human wellbeing components, and their relationship to Vital Signs and associated 2020 recovery targets. LIO Priority Vital Signs The LIO priority Vital Signs are summarized in Table 1 and the information used to inform the selection of LIO Vital Signs is summarized in Table 2. The pressures affecting priority Vital Signs are shown in Figure 1 and are also discussed further in the next section. San Juan LIO Priority Vital Signs include the following. Salmon: The location of the San Juan Islands makes them a way station for all 22 migrating populations of Puget Sound salmon as both juveniles and adults. The San Juan Islands support out-migrating juvenile salmon including, coho, chum and pink, and stocks from the Fraser River, Puget Sound, east and west coast Vancouver Island, and the Strait of Georgia. Water : Water is a critical component of a healthy ecosystem. water quality in the San Juans is affected by a variety of inputs from both the terrestrial environment, and the marine environment, as well as temperature, seasonality, ocean conditions, and circulation patterns within the region. The San Juan LIO is interested in addressing areas of concern with low dissolved oxygen and understanding how the complex pattern of natural variability is affected by human-induced changes such as stormwater runoff and pollution. The LIO has also identified documenting baseline marine water quality conditions as a priority. Establishing a baseline is important both to protect existing water quality, as well as to establish a benchmark against which conditions can be measured in the event of an oil spill. The focus of the San Juan LIO is on protecting and restoring marine water quality as a measure of ecosystem health. Shoreline Armoring: Shorelines are among the most valuable and fragile of our natural resources. More than 25% of the shoreline has been armored to protect public and private property, ports and marinas, roads, and other uses. Shoreline armoring, the practice of constructing bulkheads (also known as seawalls) and rock revetments, disrupts the natural process of erosion, which supplies much of the sand and gravel that forms and maintains our beaches and creates habitat for many other species. In the San Juans, over 50% of shoreline properties have been developed. There is a focus on public outreach and education to increase the use of soft armoring, bulkhead removal, and shoreline restoration, and to restore and protect existing natural shorelines within San Juan. Eelgrass: San Juan Watershed provides excellent habitat for juvenile and adult salmon with over 5,000 acres of tidal wetlands, inter and subtidal flats, eelgrass meadows along the San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 6

8 shorelines and in the bays, and kelp beds. Tidal wetlands are highly valued due to their relative scarcity. At least 80 miles of potential forage fish spawning beaches are present. Eelgrass is found on 20% of all shorelines, and the islands contain one third of all of the kelp in Puget Sound. Pacific Herring (Forage Fish): Pacific surf smelt and sandlance have been documented on 11 miles of the San Juan Islands shorelines. At least 80 miles of potential forage fish spawning beaches are present. In addition, eelgrass, which supports herring spawning, is present on 20% of all shorelines. : are an iconic species of the Salish Sea and are federally recognized as an endangered species. J, K, and L pods make up the southern resident population and currently number 83. They are struggling to recover from population reductions in the 60s and 70s from captures and killings for marine parks. Current stressors include prey reduction, noise from marine vessel traffic, and oil spills. The southern resident killer whales are at the top of the marine food chain, and their primary prey is salmon. Monitoring the population of the southern resident killer whales is an important indicator of ecosystem health. LIO Priority Pressures The LIO priority pressures (including Sources of pressure and associated Stressors) are summarized in Table 3 and the information used to inform the selection of LIO priority pressures is summarized in Table 4. The LIO priority Vital Signs most affected by priority pressures are shown in Figure 1. The San Juan LIO priority pressure sources are as follows: Residential and commercial development Housing and urban areas Commercial and industrial areas including ports Tourism and recreation Livestock farming and ranching Roads and culverts (originally roads and railroads) Shipping lanes and dredged waterways Military exercises the main concern is jet fuel being dumped in marine waters before landing off of Whidbey Naval Air Station, and the effects of dumping on marine water quality. Abstraction of ground water Abstraction of surface water shoreline infrastructure Sewer domestic and municipal wastewater OSS domestic and commercial wastewater Oil spills This source continues to be a high priority for the San Juan LIO, in particular in the face of the increased risk due to a significant increase in shipping traffic through the San Juan archipelago and proposed construction of the Gateway Pacific Coal Terminal, San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 7

9 as well as numerous other projects in the region to expand oil-related marine shipping facilities. The threat of increased risk of oil spill is a regional issue that is of very high concern to the San Juan LIO. Agricultural and forestry effluents Climate change (originally air-borne pollutants) climate change is an important regional issue that is likely to have local effects on the ecosystems, habitats, and species within San Juan LIO. While local actions can be taken to address some of the anticipated effects of climate change, this issue deserves broad regional focus. Release of excess energy (light, heat, sound) the main concern for San Juan LIO is the effects of sonar on marine mammals. The San Juan LIO priority pressure stressors are as follows: Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial and industrial use Shoreline hardening Culverts and other fish passage barriers (many surface waters on the islands are impounded) Species disturbance marine Altered peak flows from land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Altered low flows from withdrawals (not currently tied to a Vital Sign) Displacement by non-natives (not currently tied to a Vital Sign) Spread of disease and parasites to native species Point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source, non-persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source conventional water pollutants (the three non-point pollution sources were grouped as they have similar effects and are all link to the Water Vital Sign) Large spills Harmful algal blooms Sea level rise (not currently tied to a Vital Sign) Changing ocean conditions While the last four pressure stressors listed above are deemed important by the San Juan LIO, they are also broad regional issues that will have effects beyond the San Juan LIO. The San Juan LIO continues to focus its actions on reducing priority pressures and stressors that directly affect its focal Vital Signs:, eelgrass,, forage fish, marine water quality and shoreline hardening. It s worth noting that five out of the six Vital Signs are subject to regional pressures and stressors beyond the control of the San Juan LIO. The San Juan LIO is an ecologically important migratory zone for regionally significant species and the habitats on which they rely to complete their life histories. It is critically important to protect existing functioning habitat related to Vital Sign recovery; habitat protection is therefore a primary focus of the LIO. While the LIO continues to take actions to reduce pressure stressors and San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 8

10 sources within its focal area, it may be difficult to interpret the effect of the LIO s actions on Vital Sign recovery where the Vital Sign is of regional significance. Furthermore, baseline monitoring remains a high priority within the San Juan LIO, to document change over time and establish benchmark conditions, but programmatic monitoring remains challenging to fund. Even if funding were available, it may be difficult to measure the contribution of the LIO to a particular portion of Vital Sign recovery. In addition to protecting existing habitat, the increased threat of an oil spill due to increased shipping traffic in marine waters remains a very high priority pressure for the San Juan LIO. LIO Decision Process In 2011, the San Juan LIO developed a prioritization framework to guide the update to the local actions in the Action Agenda. The framework formed the basis of work on the 2012/2013 and 2014/2015 Action Agenda updates. In 2011, the San Juan LIO identified key gaps in its original Action Agenda profile, and held workshops to identify and link pressures on the ecosystem to local ecosystem benefits. Local ecosystem benefits included most, but not all, of the recovery targets. The LIO identified key local pressures thought to significantly impact the health and recovery of the San Juan Islands ecosystem using a threat rating process based on Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation. Three key pressures identified through this process include: major oil spills, runoff from the built environment (including septic systems); and shoreline development (including shoreline armoring). These pressures were rated as highly significant based on their scope, severity, and irreversibility. The San Juan LIO has since developed Near-Term Actions (NTAs) to direct funding and actions towards reducing the impacts of these pressures on the San Juan Islands ecosystem. In 2015, the San Juan LIO went through a process to re-assess priority ecosystem pressures and identify key ecosystem Vital Signs that the LIO cares most about protecting and/or restoring for the purpose of developing a new 5-Year Ecosystem Recovery Plan. Outlined below is a summary of the process used by the LIO to identify priority pressures and Vital Signs. Pressures: In July 2015, Implementation Committee members rated 48 pressure-stressors 1 based on their impacts to the local ecosystem. Similar to the 2011 Action Agenda planning process and using an Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation approach, pressure-stressors were rated based on scope, severity, and irreversibility. Responses from Committee members were compiled. Based on the Open Standards practice, the ratings for scope and severity were double-weighted, and scores were summed across each pressure-stressor. Once summed, scores were normalized based on the number of responses. The pressure-stressors were then divided equally into thirds based on the 1 The San Juan LIO used the Puget Sound taxonomy of stressors in the Lists of Lists, which is current as of January This taxonomy was originally developed in 2012 and revised as part of the Puget Sound Pressures Assessment (PSPA, 2014). San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 9

11 total score. The top third of scores received a rating of high, the middle third medium, and the bottom third low. During the August 2015 Implementation Committee meeting, the Implementation Committee reviewed and discussed the ranked list of pressure-stressor ratings and reordered the list based on shared knowledge of local conditions. Based on its discussion, the Committee identified a preliminary list of 17 priority pressure-stressors and supporting information sources for each priority pressure-stressor. Pressure-sources for each of the priority stressors were selected by identifying relationships between priority stressors and sources. 2 The list of sources was then further refined by rating each source to stressor relationship (high/medium/low impact). Sources rated high were carried forward, for a total of 16 priority sources. Several sources were re-named to take into account the local context (for example, Roads and Railroads was renamed to Roads and Culverts, since the San Juan LIO area does not contain railroads). The Accountability Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the priority pressurestressors in September Vital Signs: Once priority pressure-stressors were selected, the San Juan LIO identified the Puget Sound Partnership Vital Signs associated with the 17 priority pressure-stressors. 3 In September 2015 the Implementation Committee reviewed the list of 16 Vital Signs associated with the priority pressures, and from that list identified 7 key Vital Signs to focus recovery efforts on based on technical knowledge and experience of the San Juan Islands ecosystem. This list was further refined to 6 key Vital Signs (outlined above). The Accountability Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the priority Vital Signs in September The San Juan LIO used the Puget Sound Partnership Lists of Lists to identify relationships between priority pressure-stressors and pressure-sources. 3 The San Juan LIO used the Puget Sound Partnership Lists of Lists to identify relationships between priority pressure-stressors, sub-strategies (only those included in the three Strategic Initiatives), and Vital Signs. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 10

12 Section 3. Local Ecosystem Recovery Approaches This section describes the LIO s approach to reducing priority pressures and addressing each of the LIO s priority Vital Signs. Information is first presented by Vital Sign (also shown in the Schematics in Appendix 2) and then by Strategic Initiative (also shown in the Prototype Results Chains in Appendix 1). LIO Recovery Approach for Priority Vital Signs For all Vital Signs, the San Juan LIO recovery approach is focused first on protecting intact ecosystems and habitats in the region. While some habitat restoration is needed, the overall focus is on habitat and species protection through a combination of regulatory and nonregulatory approaches, educational outreach, and technical assistance. Related to this focus on protection is a heightened concern regarding the increased risk of oil spills within the San Juan LIO area tied to an increase in shipping traffic due to a proposed coal terminal, as well as the proposed expansion of several oil facilities in the region. Shipping traffic through the San Juan archipelago has increased significantly over the last several years, and is projected to continue to increase. San Juan LIO approaches and Near-Term Actions (NTAs) related to Vital Sign recovery will be adjusted as new information becomes available. Vital Sign: Salmon The LIO approaches to recovering this Vital Sign are summarized in Figure A2.1 salmon recovery is a priority for the San Juan LIO. salmon juveniles and adults use the marine shorelines of the San Juan Islands both as out-migrants and returning adults. are also the primary prey species for the southern resident killer whales. Historically abundant, populations have declined significantly over the last several decades. The San Juan LIO has undertaken a wide variety of NTAs focused on recovery, from shoreline acquisition and protection of existing high quality habitat (both via acquisitions as well as conservation easements), to shoreline armoring removal and nearshore habitat restoration. The focus is protection of existing habitat, and habitat restoration as needed. In addition to project specific actions, the San Juan LIO is active at the policy and planning level, and includes both regulatory and non-regulatory incentives-based approaches. Technical assistance and outreach has been provided to shoreline property owners and technical support is available to reduce point and non-point source pollutants from entering freshwater and marine waters. The San Juan Islands Conservation District has developed and implemented water quality best management practices (BMPs) and provided financial assistance to property owners to implement those BMPs. The threat of oil spills, and its potential effect on,, and other Vital Signs, remains a high concern, particularly given that vessel traffic through the San Juan Islands is increasing and will increase significantly if the Pacific Gateway Terminal is constructed. Vital Sign: Water The LIO approaches to recovering this Vital Sign are summarized in Figure A2.2 San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 11

13 water quality is affected by a variety of pressure-sources related to nutrient and effluent inputs, changes in baseflow, and changes in delivery of contaminants due to land conversion (changes in peak flow). Low dissolved oxygen in two areas is currently a concern identified by the Department of Ecology. Pressures are attributable to both point and non-point sources and contaminants may include pathogens, disease and parasites to native species. Large spills are a particular threat to the health of marine water quality in the San Juan LIO. Pressure sources include a wide variety of development activities in the upland, as well as increased ship traffic, dredged waterways, and the associated risk of increased oil spills that accompanies increased oil-related shipping traffic. On-site septic and associated contaminants are also a concern. NTAs to address this Vital Sign include San Juan s OSS Program, to effectively manage and control pollution from OSS. Other NTAs are related to providing technical and financial assistance, outreach, incentives, education and natural resource planning on a voluntary basis to interested residents to improve stormwater management and reduce polluted runoff and nutrient loading into the marine shoreline. Also important to protecting marine water quality are efforts related to oil spill prevention and preparedness. Salmon recovery efforts are also tied to protection of this Vital Sign. All of these activities are on-going. Programmatic approaches to monitoring remain a priority. Lack of funding remains a concern. Vital Sign: Shoreline Armoring The LIO approaches to recovering this Vital Sign are summarized in Figure A2.3 Shoreline armoring is both a priority pressure stressor as well as a Vital Sign for the San Juan LIO. The San Juan LIO is active in both regulatory and non-regulatory approaches and incentives to reducing shoreline armoring and providing education and outreach regarding soft-armoring alternatives to shoreline property owners. Actions are aimed at reducing marine shoreline infrastructure. Education and outreach is focused on providing technical information on marine shoreline habitat processes and functions, and on acquisition and protection of marine shoreline, and restoring marine shoreline as a secondary approach. Shoreline restoration projects have been identified and implemented using the Salmon Recovery 3-Year Work Plan. Vital Sign: Eelgrass The LIO approaches to recovering this Vital Sign are summarized in Figure A2.4 Eelgrass habitat function and abundance can be affected by conversion of land cover and land use, shoreline hardening, oil spills, and changing ocean conditions. Because eelgrass is a critical habitat for forage fish and other marine species, efforts to protect intact eelgrass beds are related to both regulatory and non-regulatory shoreline protection technical assistance. The focus remains on protecting existing intact shorelines that provide ecological processes that support eelgrass beds, while removing marine infrastructure where it adversely affects eelgrass beds. Oil spill prevention and preparedness are also linked to protecting intact eelgrass beds. As with all of San Juan LIO Vital Signs, there is a high level of concern regarding the potential impact of oil spills to existing eelgrass beds, and the species that they support. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 12

14 Vital Sign: Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) The LIO approaches to recovering this Vital Sign are summarized in Figure A2.5 Forage fish are affected by priority pressure sources from marine species disturbance as well as the threat of oil spills. species disturbance can be caused by a wide variety of priority pressure sources from development in the nearshore, to tourism and recreation (boat and increased shipping traffic), to marine shoreline infrastructure, to military exercises, including the dumping of jet fuel prior to landing, as well as the effects of sonar. These priority sources and stressors are addressed by the San Juan LIO through a combination of regulatory and nonregulatory technical assistance to reduce shoreline armoring, and increase education and outreach regarding shoreline ecological processes, and the value of protecting and restoring those ecological processes where they support forage fish species and habitat. Vital Sign: The LIO approaches to recovering this Vital Sign are summarized in Figure A2.6 Approaches to recovering range from increased regulatory protection of the marine shoreline, to education and outreach regarding shoreline ecological processes and functions. Actions are also related to salmon recovery in that salmon are the primary prey species for the southern resident killer whale population native to the region. Habitat protection and restoration are also linked to Orca recovery. The increased threat of oil spills due to increased shipping traffic is of concern to the San Juan LIO. LIO Recovery Approaches Aligned with 2016/17 Puget Sound Strategic Initiatives Habitat Strategic Initiative The LIO approaches to recovering Vital Signs and reducing pressures under this Strategic Initiative are summarized in Figure A1.1 Focal Vital Signs for San Juan LIO Habitat Strategic Initiative include shoreline hardening,, eelgrass,, and forage fish. NTAs reflect this broad diversity of focal Vital Signs, and range from improving and strengthening nearshore and marine shoreline regulatory protection and technical assistance to identifying and acquiring high priority habitats, to salmon recovery actions based on the 3-Year Habitat Work Plan, to implementing adaptive management and monitoring in compliance with regional guidance, to a host of actions intended to increase habitat protection and restoration at the local level. Many of these actions focus on providing technical assistance and support to local landowners as they implement BMPs with respect to farm, forestry, or land development activity. Again, the focus is on maintaining and protecting existing functioning habitat and the ecological processes that support it, and restoring specific sites as needed and identified in salmon recovery planning work as well as other regional planning work. Unique to the San Juan LIO is the increasing threat of oil spills as a priority pressure on all the biologically-based Vital Signs under this strategic initiative. San Juan LIO members continue to participate in regional and international/trans-boundary conversations regarding oil spill preparedness and response. While NTAs tied to reducing the threat of oil spills continues to be San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 13

15 a priority for the San Juan LIO, this issue is much broader than just the LIO, and should be a priority regional issue. Shellfish Strategic Initiative The LIO approaches to recovering Vital Signs and reducing pressures under this Strategic Initiative are summarized in Figure A1.2 The focus of the Shellfish Strategic Initiative is tied to maintaining and protecting the San Juan LIO Water Vital Sign. While marine water quality is a regional issue, important actions to maintain and protect this Vital Sign are being implemented by the San Juan LIO by updating regulations, providing technical assistance and support for land management practices that may adversely affect marine water quality (any type of land disturbing activity, including but not limited to housing and urban development, on-site septic system design and maintenance, livestock, farming, ranching and agricultural activities) as well as marine off-shore activities including shipping lanes, increased vessel traffic, waterway dredging and the increased threat of oil spills associated with increased vessel traffic. To address all of these pressures the San Juan LIO is improving outreach education and coordination of technical assistance related to OSS, and ensuring compliance with on-site septic inspections. Salmon recovery actions related to coordinated ecosystem monitoring are important to establish baseline conditions for marine water quality and are identified as an on-going NTA. Technical assistance is also provided via farm management plans and BMP implementation, as well as targeted outreach and education to manage point and non-point pollutant sources in both the terrestrial and marine environments. Oil spills remain a concern as a pressure to marine water quality, and a host of NTAs are focused on ensuring adequate oil spill response and preparedness. Stormwater Strategic Initiative The LIO approaches to recovering Vital Signs and reducing pressures under this Strategic Initiative are summarized in Figure A1.3 All biologically-based San Juan LIO Vital Signs become the focus of recovery actions under the Stormwater Strategic Initiative (, eelgrass,, forage fish, marine water quality). Priority pressure sources and stressors are those activities which directly contribute to stormwater inputs and include housing and urban development as well as commercial and industrial development, including ports. In addition, activities associated with land disturbance and development such as agriculture, forestry, roads and culverts, and runoff from residential and commercial development, as well as OSS, all provide sources of stormwater input to the system. NTAs are therefore concentrated on controlling the pollutant sources by preventing new problems from developing, improving stormwater permit review, implementing stormwater BMPs, increasing stormwater monitoring, providing stormwater-related education and outreach and technical assistance to land owners and land developers. In addition NTAs are targeted at controlling both point and non-point pollutant inputs, coordinating on regional BMPs, and providing on-going stormwater monitoring to establish baseline conditions within the LIO. Technical assistance, education and outreach are also important NTAs to effectively reduce stormwater pollutants within the LIO. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 14

16 Tables and Figures Table 1. LIO Priority Vital Signs and Relevant 2020 Recovery Targets. Related ecosystem or human Priority LIO wellbeing components; or related Vital Signs pressures (sources or stressors) Ecosystem Component: salmon, including nearshore habitat 2020 recovery targets that LIO ecosystem recovery will contribute to directly Salmon Water Pressures (stressors): Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Shoreline hardening Culverts and other fish passage barriers Species disturbance-marine Altered peak flows from land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Large spills Spread of disease and parasites to native species Point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source pollutants Changing ocean conditions Pressures (stressors) Altered peak flows from land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Large spills Spread of disease and parasites to native species Point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source pollutants Changing ocean conditions Stop the overall decline and start seeing improvements in wild abundance in two to four populations in each biogeographic region. Keep dissolved oxygen levels from declining more than 0.2 milligrams per liter in any part of Puget Sound as a result of human input. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 15

17 Shoreline Armoring Eelgrass Pacific Herring (labeled as Forage Fish for the San Juan LIO) Ecosystem Component: Shoreline health Pressures (stressors) Shoreline hardening Ecosystem Components: Eelgrass and kelp Pressures (stressors) Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Shoreline hardening Large spills Changing ocean conditions Pressures (stressors) Species disturbance-marine Large spills Point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Changing ocean conditions Ecosystem Component: Forage Fish Pressures (stressors) Shoreline hardening Species disturbance-marine Large spills Sea level rise From 2011 to 2020, the total amount of armoring removed should be greater than the total amount of new armoring in Puget Sound (total miles removed is greater than the total miles added). A 20% increase in the area of eelgrass in Puget Sound relative to the baseline reference by the year Achieve an end-of-year census of 95 individual Southern Resident Killer Whales, which would represent a 1% annual average growth rate from 2010 to Increase the overall amount of spawning herring throughout Puget Sound to about 19,000 tons. For each stock, the targets are: Cherry Point: 5000 tons; Squaxin Pass: 880 tons; all other stocks: 13,500 tons. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 16

18 Table 2. Content considered in LIO selection of priority Vital Signs. LIO Ecosystem Component or Pressure Information Source(s): related elements Related Vital Signs: relevant Indicators/ Targets Included in 2- year plan (Y/N/Under ) Salmon (including nearshore habitat) LIO priority pressures Salmon 2020 Target: Stop the overall decline and start seeing improvements in wild abundance in two to four populations in each biogeographic region. Yes Reason for including/not including LIO priority LIO priority pressures Water Yes LIO priority Water Shoreline Health LIO priority pressures 2020 Target: Keep dissolved oxygen levels from declining more than 0.2 milligrams per liter in any part of Puget Sound as a result of human input. Shoreline Armoring 2020 Target: From 2011 to 2020, the total amount of armoring removed should be greater than the total amount of new armoring in Puget Sound (total miles removed is greater than the total miles added). San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 17 Yes LIO priority Eelgrass and LIO priority Eelgrass Yes LIO priority

19 kelp pressures LIO priority pressures LIO priority pressures 2020 Target: A 20% increase in the area of eelgrass in Puget Sound relative to the baseline reference by the year Target: Achieve an end-ofyear census of 95 individual Southern Resident Killer Whales, which would represent a 1% annual average growth rate from 2010 to Pacific Herring (labeled as Forage Fish for the San Juan LIO) Yes Yes LIO priority LIO priority Forage Fish 2020 Target: Increase the overall amount of spawning herring throughout Puget Sound to about 19,000 tons. For each stock, the targets are: Cherry Point: 5000 tons; Squaxin Pass: 880 tons; all other stocks: 13,500 tons. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 18

20 Figure 1. Conceptual model showing LIO priority pressures (sources and stressors), Vital Signs and priority relationships. Relationships among the elements are shown with arrows. Vital Signs are either shown as ecosystem and human wellbeing components (green and brown ovals) or identified with green text boxes for pressure-related Vital Signs. For the San Juan LIO shoreline hardening is a pressure-related Vital Sign. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 19

21 Table 3. LIO Priority Pressures and related LIO Priority Vital Signs. * Priority pressures that are also included as one of the LIO s Priority Vital Signs are identified in the last column and in bold text. LIO Priority Sources Runoff from Residential and Commercial Lands Housing & Urban Areas Commercial & Industrial Areas (including ports) Tourism & Recreation Areas Shoreline Infrastructure Release of Energy (light, heat, sound) Related Stressors that are a priority for the LIO* Spread of disease and parasites to native species Non-point source conventional water pollutants Non-point source, non-persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point sources, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Species disturbance-marine Altered peak flows from land cover change Displacement by non-natives Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Species disturbance-marine Altered peak flows from land cover change Displacement by non-natives Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Species disturbance-marine Shoreline hardening Culverts and other fish passage barriers Species disturbance-marine Species disturbance-marine Priority Vital Signs* San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 20 Salmon Water Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Water Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Water Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Shoreline hardening Salmon Pacific Herring (Forage Fish)

22 LIO Priority Sources Livestock Farming & Ranching Related Stressors that are a priority for the LIO* Altered peak flows from land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Spread of disease and parasites to native species Displacement by non-natives Spread of disease and parasites to native species Priority Vital Signs* Salmon Water Agricultural & Forestry Effluents Roads & Culverts (roads & railroads) Shipping Lanes & Dredged Waterways Military Exercises (war, civil unrest, and military exercises) Abstraction of Surface Water Non-point source conventional water pollutants Non-point source, non-persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point sources, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Culverts and other fish passage barriers Species disturbance-marine Altered peak flows from land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Spread of disease and parasites to native species Displacement by non-natives Salmon Water Salmon Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Water Species disturbance-marine Salmon Pacific Herring Large Spills (Forage Fish) Eelgrass Spread of disease and parasites to native species Water Displacement by non-natives Species disturbance-marine Salmon Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Displacement by non-natives Altered low flows from land cover change Salmon Water Altered low flows from withdrawals Abstraction of Altered low flows from land cover change Salmon San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 21

23 LIO Priority Sources Ground Water Related Stressors that are a priority for the LIO* Altered low flows from withdrawals Priority Vital Signs* Water OSS-Domestic & Commercial Wastewater to OSS Sewer- Domestic & Municipal Wastewater to Sewer Oil Spills Climate Change (air-borne pollutants) Spread of disease and parasites to native species Non-point source, non-persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point sources, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Salmon Water Spread of disease and parasites to native species Water Point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Salmon Large spills Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Water Sea level rise Eelgrass Changing ocean condition Water San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 22

24 Table 4. Content considered in selection of LIO Priority Pressures (Sources and Stressors) * LIO pressure names are presented first. If a different name for the same pressure is used regionally, the Puget Sound name is included in italics. LIO Priority Source* Runoff from Residential and Commercial Lands Housing & Urban Areas Priority Stressor Spread of disease and parasites to native species Non-point source conventional water pollutants Non-point source, nonpersistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Salmon Water Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under Evidence of seastar wasting, eelgrass wasting, canine giardia to seals PSPA M&AM San Juan Stewardship Area Plan (2007) San Juan Department of Public Works Technical Memo, Sept PSPA M&AM San Juan Under Under Reason for including, not including Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan 4 Information sources for stressors and/or sources. San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 23

25 LIO Priority Source* Commercial & Industrial Areas (including ports) Tourism & Recreation Areas Shoreline Infrastructur e Priority Stressor Species disturbancemarine Altered peak flows from land cover change Displacement by non-natives Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Species disturbancemarine Altered peak flows from land cover change Displacement by non-natives Conversion of land cover for residential, commercial, and industrial use Species disturbancemarine Shoreline hardening Culverts and other fish passage Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Fish) Water Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Water Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under Reason for including, not including San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 24 Stewardship Area Plan (2007) San Juan Noxious Weed Control Board PSPA M&AM San Juan Stewardship Area Plan (2007) San Juan Noxious Weed Control Board PSPA M&AM San Juan Stewardship Area Plan (2007) PSPA San Juan, WRIA 2 Salmon Under Under Under Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Have not yet identified actions for 2-year

26 LIO Priority Source* Release of Energy (light, heat, sound) Livestock Farming & Ranching Priority Stressor barriers Species disturbancemarine Species disturbancemarine Altered peak flows from land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Spread of disease and parasites to native species Displacement by non-natives Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor (Forage Fish) Shorelin e hardeni ng Salmon Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Salmon Water Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under Recovery Chapter PSPA Under Reason for including, not including plan Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 25 PSPA San Juan Stormwater Basin Planning (2014) Evidence of seastar wasting, eelgrass wasting, canine giardia to seals San Juan Noxious Weed Control Board M&AM San Juan Under Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan

27 LIO Priority Source* Agricultural & Forestry Effluents Priority Stressor Spread of disease and parasites to native species Non-point source conventional water pollutants Non-point source, nonpersistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point source, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Salmon Water Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under Stewardship Area Plan (2007) Evidence of seastar wasting, eelgrass wasting, canine giardia to seals PSPA M&AM San Juan Stewardship Area Plan San Juan Department of Public Works Technical Memo, Sept Under Reason for including, not including Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Culverts and PSPA Under Have not other fish Salmon San Juan yet passage Pacific, identified Roads & barriers Herring WRIA 2 actions Culverts Species (Forage Salmon for 2-year (roads & disturbancemarine Chapter Fish) Recovery plan railroads) Altered peak San Juan flows from Water San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 26

28 LIO Priority Source* Priority Stressor land cover change Altered low flows from land cover change Spread of disease and parasites to native species Displacement by non-natives Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under Stormwater Basin Planning (2014) Evidence of seastar wasting, eelgrass wasting, canine giardia to seals San Juan Noxious Weed Control Board M&AM San Juan Stewardship Area Plan (2007) Reason for including, not including Shipping Lanes & Dredged Waterways Species disturbancemarine Large Spills Spread of disease and parasites to native species Displacement by non-natives Salmon Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Eelgrass Water PSPA Evidence of seastar wasting, eelgrass wasting, canine giardia to seals San Juan Under Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 27

29 LIO Priority Source* Priority Stressor Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under Noxious Weed Control Board M&AM San Juan Stewardship Area Plan (2007) Reason for including, not including PSPA Under Have not San Juan yet identified Noxious actions Military Weed for 2-year Species Salmon Exercises Control plan disturbancemarine Herring Pacific (war, civil Board unrest, and Displacement (Forage military M&AM by non-natives Fish) exercises) San Juan Stewardship Area Plan San Juan Under Have not yet Stormwater identified Altered low Basin actions flows from Planning for 2-year Abstraction land cover Salmon (2014) plan of Surface change False Bay Water Altered low Water Watershed flows from Flow and withdrawals Habitat Assessment (Washingto San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 28

30 LIO Priority Source* Abstraction of Ground Water OSS- Domestic & Commercial Wastewater to OSS Priority Stressor Altered low flows from land cover change Altered low flows from withdrawals Spread of disease and parasites to native species Non-point source, nonpersistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Non-point sources, persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Salmon Water Salmon Water Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under n Water Trust, 2012) San Juan Stormwater Basin Planning (2014) False Bay Watershed Flow and Habitat Assessment (Washingto n Water Trust, 2012) PSPA Evidence of seastar wasting, eelgrass wasting, canine giardia to seals San Juan Department of Public Works Technical Memo (Sept. 2015) Under Under Reason for including, not including Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Sewer- Spread of LIO priority Under Have not Domestic & disease and Water Evidence of yet Municipal parasites to seastar identified Wastewater native species wasting, actions to Sewer Point source, eelgrass for 2-year San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 29

31 LIO Priority Source* Priority Stressor persistent toxic chemicals in aquatic systems Vital Sign(s) affected by Source or Stressor Salmon Information Included in 2- Source(s) 4 year plan: Y/N/Under wasting, canine giardia to seals Reason for including, not including plan Oil Spills Large spills Climate Change (airborne pollutants) Sea level rise Changing ocean condition Salmon Eelgrass Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Water Eelgrass Water PSPA San Juan Stewardship Area Plan (2007) M&AM UW Ocean Acidification Center 5 Sea Level Rise Vulnerabilit y in San Juan (2013) 6 Under Under Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan Have not yet identified actions for 2-year plan See full report: San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 30

32 Appendices Appendix 1. LIO NTAs Mapped to Puget Sound Recovery Prototype Results Chains Appendix 2. LIO Vital Signs Schematics San Juan Action Agenda Oversight Group/Local Integrating Organization 31

33 Figure A1.1: Habitat Strategic Initiative

34 Figure A1.2: Shellfish Strategic Initiative

35 Figure A1.3: Stormwater Strategic Initiative

36 Figure A2.1: Salmon Permit agencies B1.3 work together to 8 provide technical assistance, permit applicants understand requirements B1.3 Utilize soft shoreline 9 techniques more extensively, mitigate impacts to species & habitat C2.2 Prevent problems from new development (control and mitigate stormwater) 3 5 C2.5 7 Provide stormwater related education and training C8.1 C8.3 1 Oil spill response and prevention B2.1 Identify information 10 to protect priority nearshore processes B2.3 Remove armoring, use soft armoring replacement or landward setbacks 11 C8.2 C2.4 D A6.1 Control sources of pollutants through coordinated best practices and monitoring Implement a coordinated, integrated ecosystem monitoring program High priority projects in 3-year work plans Strengthen and integrate spill response readiness of the State, tribes, and local government Agricultural and forestry effluents reduced Reduce abstraction of surface and groundwater Reduce impacts of roads and culverts Reduce runoff from residential and commercial lands Reduce impacts from development (residential, commercial, industrial, tourism) Reduction of marine shoreline infrastructure Reduce impacts of livestock, farming, and ranching Improve domestic and municipal wastewater to sewer Reduce impacts of climate change Reduce risk of oil spills and improve oil spill response Reduce impacts of shipping lanes and dredge waterways Vital Sign: Pacific Herring Salmon Target: Stop the overall decline and start seeing improvements in wild abundance in 2-4 populations in each biogeographic region. Vital Sign: Shoreline Armoring Vital Sign: Eelgrass Vital Sign:

37 Figure A2.2: Water C5.1 Effectively manage & control pollution of small OSS 4 C5.1 6 Properly operate and maintain OSS C2.2 C2.5 Prevent problems from new development (control and mitigate stormwater) Provide stormwater related education and training to improve stormwater management Improve domestic and commercial wastewater to OSS Reduce impacts from development Reduce impacts of shipping lanes and dredge waterways Reduce risk of oil spills and improve oil sill response Reduce runoff from residential and commercial lands Water Target: Keep dissolved oxygen levels from declining more than 0.2 milligrams/liter in any part of Puget Sound as a result of human impact. C2.4 Control sources of 5 pollutants through coordinated best practices and monitoring 6 C8.2 Strengthen and integrate spill response readiness of the State, tribes, and local government 1 2 C3.1 Update BMPs and provide technical assistance to reduce the release of pollutants 7 Agricultural and forestry effluents reduced Reduce impacts of livestock, farming, and ranching Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Eelgrass

38 Figure A2.3: Shoreline Armoring Permit agencies B1.3 work together to 8 provide technical assistance, permit applicants understand requirements B1.3 Utilize soft shoreline 9 techniques more extensively, mitigate impacts to species & habitat B2.3 Provide guidance and training on armoring 11 Reduction of marine shoreline infrastructure Shoreline Armoring Target: Net reduction of shoreline armoring. A6.1 Implement high priority projects in 3- year work plans (including shoreline restoration projects) 9 10 Reduce impacts of marine levees, floodgates, tidegates Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Eelgrass D4.2 3 Implement habitat protection and restoration plans 8

39 Figure A2.4: Eelgrass Permit agencies B1.3 work together to 8 provide technical assistance, permit applicants understand B1.3 requirements Utilize soft shoreline techniques more extensively, mitigate impacts to species & habitat 9 Reduce impacts from development (residential, commercial, industrial, tourism) Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Forage Fish Vital Sign: Water B2.1 Identify information to protect priority nearshore processes 10 C2.2 Prevent problems from 3 new development (control and mitigate 5 stormwater) C2.5 B2.3 Provide stormwater related education and training Remove shoreline armoring and use alternatives when appropriate 7 11 C8.1 C8.3 Reduce the amount of shoreline armoring Oil spill response and prevention Reduce risk of oil spills and improve oil spill response Reduce impacts of shipping lanes and dredge waterways Impacts of climate change addressed A6.1 Reduce impacts of climate through habitat change restoration and protection Eelgrass Target: Increase in eelgrass area in Puget Sound

40 Figure A2.5: Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) C2.2 C2.5 Prevent problems from new development (control and mitigate stormwater) Provide stormwater related education and training to improve stormwater management 3 5 B1.3 Permit agencies work together to provide technical assistance, permit applicants understand requirements 8 B1.3 Utilize soft shoreline 9 techniques more extensively, mitigate impacts to species & habitat B2.3 Provide guidance and training on armoring 11 7 A6.1 C8.1 C8.3 Implement high priority projects in 3- year work plans (including shoreline restoration projects) 1 Oil spill response and prevention 2 D Implement habitat protection and restoration plans 13 4 B2.1 Identify information 10 to protect priority nearshore processes 18 Reduce impacts from development Reduce impacts from roads and culverts Reduction of marine shoreline infrastructure Reduce impacts of marine levees, floodgates, tidegates C8.2 Reduce risk of oil spills Strengthen and and improve oil spill integrate spill response response readiness of the State, tribes, and local government Pacific Herring (Forage Fish) Target: Increase the overall amount of spawning herring throughout Puget Sound to 19,380 tons. Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Water

41 Figure A2.6: A6.1 High priority projects in 3-year work plans (habitat restoration and protection) 9 10 Reduce impacts of climate change Improve domestic and municipal wastewater to sewer B2.3 Remove armoring, use soft armoring replacement or landward setbacks 11 Permit agencies B1.3 work together to 8 provide technical assistance, permit applicants understand requirements B2.1 Identify information 10 to protect priority nearshore processes B1.3 Utilize soft shoreline 9 techniques more extensively, mitigate impacts to species & habitat C2.2 C2.5 Prevent problems from new development (control and mitigate stormwater) Provide stormwater related education and training Reduction of marine shoreline infrastructure C8.1 C8.3 Release of excess energy addressed Military exercises avoid species of concern 1 Reduce impacts from development Oil spill response and prevention 2 3 Species disturbance minimized or eliminated 4 C8.2 Reduce risk of oil spills and improve oil spill response Strengthen and integrate spill response readiness of the State, tribes, and local government Target: Achieve an endof-year census of 95 individual Southern Resident Killer Whales, which would represent a 1% annual average growth rate from 2010 to Vital Sign: Vital Sign: Eelgrass