Gov. Christine Gregoire and the Legislature have set a high priority on water quality
improvement in Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Washington State Parks received $22.2 million
to make improvements on storm water and wastewater treatment systems in 26 state parks on
these two bodies of water. The allocation is part of a multi-million dollar, multi-agency
protection and restoration effort. Project work in parks began in the summer of 2006, with
several projects using higher quality treatment techniques and connection to municipal
systems when possible.
Puget Sound and Hood Canal are ecosystems in trouble. When toxic pollutants get into
the water, they settle to the bottom, working their way into the food chain and accumulating,
ultimately threatening the entire ecosystem. According to the Washington Department of
Ecology, more than 5,700 acres of underwater lands in Puget Sound and Hood Canal exceed
safe toxic levels. The governor’s cleanup initiative seeks a quick solution to
the problem with the outcome of restoring these waters.
The Puget Sound-Hood Canal cleanup effort seeks to speed cleanups at toxic sites, help
homeowners repair failing septic systems, pre-position spill-response equipment and reduce
storm water runoff. The governor and Legislature chose state parks sites, with the intention
of getting projects completed quickly. Funds allocated for the work will help State Parks
in its mission of natural resources stewardship and will move the Commission toward its
Centennial 2013 goal of taking better care of existing parks.
Cleanup projects are planned in the following 26 state parks: Bay View, Belfair, Birch Bay, Blake
Island, Camano Island, Deception Pass, Dosewallips, Fay Bainbridge, Fort Casey, Fort Ebey,
Fort Flagler, Fort Worden, Illahee, Kitsap Memorial, Kopachuck, Larrabee, Penrose Point, Pleasant
Harbor, Possession Point, Potlatch, Scenic Beach, Saltwater, Sequim Bay, Shine Tidelands, Triton Cove and
Twanoh.
Clean-water initiative partners: