2022-2026 ACTION AGENDA EXPLORER
Fully implement and enforce available protections for submerged aquatic vegetation through existing regulations, programs, and policies. (ID #26)
Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:
Accelerate recolonization and expansion of eelgrass and kelp bed at sites shown to possess suitable ecological conditions using transplants, propagation, outplanting, and other effective methods. (ID #58)
Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:
Target public outreach and education to foster community stewardship, individual responsibility, and collective action to benefit eelgrass and kelp conservation and recovery. (ID #59)
Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:
Implement targeted research initiatives to understand the short-and long-term factors driving localized changes in eelgrass and kelp. (ID #60)
Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:
Key opportunities for 2022-2026 to integrate human wellbeing considerations and climate change responses into efforts include:
Human Wellbeing
Climate Change
Ongoing programs provide regulatory oversight, technical support, implementation resources, funding, or guidance and serve as the critical foundation for Puget Sound recovery. The following is a list of example state and federal ongoing programs that help to implement this strategy. Many more local, tribal nations, and nongovernmental programs exist that support this strategy.
We achieve our recovery goals for healthy human populations and increasing functioning habitat by reducing the physical disturbance of eelgrass, kelp, and other vegetation from boats, vessels, anchors, and mooring infrastructure; reducing the shading of shallow water habitat by in- and over-water structures; and improving water quality (decreasing eutrophication and turbidity). Indicators of success include:
<p>Soundwide eelgrass area is a metric for the overall health of native seagrass beds in greater Puget Sound. Seagrass is an important component of nearshore habitats and is sensitive to human disturbance and declines in water quality.</p>
<p>This indicator assesses long-term trends in the extent of canopy-forming kelp forests at sampling locations throughout Washington State by tracking the area of kelp beds on the water surface. Results at each location are synthesized with other information into an overall assessment of floating kelp status within 11 sub-basins defined by oceanography.</p>
<p>This indicator measures the number of eelgrass sites that are increasing, decreasing, stable, or absent. We calculate the change in eelgrass area at a site over two time periods: short-term (6 years), and long-term (all years monitored). This indicator complements <a href="https://vitalsigns.pugetsoundinfo.wa.gov/VitalSignIndicator/Detail/10" target="_blank">soundwide area</a> reporting by identifying change on smaller scales.</p>