It’s time for thought and action
I’ve heard it said many times that Puget Sound is at “crossroads,” the notion being that good things had better start happening soon or the waterway will spiral into an environmental disaster.
The trouble is, I’ve been hearing this analogy for 25 years, and we’re always at the same crossroads.
It is within this context that I’m starting a new blog, which I hope will inspire discussions about the human and natural environment in the Puget Sound region.
I have been covering the environment for most of my 30 years as a reporter.
I have always been fascinated by interactions among a wide variety of creatures, from killer whales to plankton. I would love to share my observations and hear about the experiences of others.
At the same time, we all know that both environmental restoration and degradation are taking place on many fronts. Does the “crossroads” analogy stand up to scrutiny? Are we talking about an environmental “tug of war” or a “grand battle”? Do you have a better analogy to describe the social and economic struggles we’re going through?
Perhaps, in the complex world of ecosystems, such simple descriptions never hold up, which is one reason I’d like to promote a new level of social and scientific discourse.
Although it’s my job as an environmental reporter to keep track of restoration projects and scientific studies, it’s nearly an impossible task. It’s equally tough to monitor all the development projects affecting our waterways directly and indirectly.
Meanwhile, there are many regulatory agencies trying to mitigate the ultimate effects of population growth.
Issues that I explore in newspaper stories are a small fraction of the information that comes to me daily. I’m hoping, with your help, that we can broaden our perceptions of Puget Sound through discussions on this new blog.
The time is right. Things are beginning to move quickly as the new Puget Sound Partnership finds itself in the midst of key issues facing our waterways.
Major news is breaking regarding the health of Hood Canal.
Local governments are being put on the spot to protect threatened salmon species.
Researchers are intensively studying what it will take to save killer whales from extinction.
Who knows what’s around the corner for Puget Sound?
I would like you to do three things:
1) Please send me an e-mail when you hear about something water-related. If I can use the idea as a main entry, I will give you credit, unless you wish otherwise.
2) Subscribe to this blog. You will receive e-mail advisories (generally one per day) about stories I write, including personal notes. I’ll offer other information from a variety of sources, including other journalists. To subscribe, type your e-mail into the “notify me” box near the top of the right-hand column of this blog page.
3) Contribute to this blog directly by commenting on those entries that catch your attention, particularly if you have expertise on the subject.
I value the relationships I have with folks in the local community and throughout the state. I will strive to keep our discussion on this blog constructive.
Please share this e-mail with friends and colleagues who may be interested in discussing our water ways. Thanks to all.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
November 28th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Hi Chris,
I am the new communications director for the Puget Sound Partnership. Your blog is great, and much needed forum to discuss important issues facing the Sound. Feel free to contact me if you ever need anything.
November 28th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Chris, thanks for setting up this blog. I live in Port Townsend, am on the Shoreline Master Program (SMP), am on the Board for People for Puget Sound, and, with full disclosure, run an environmental blog where I atttempt to compile environmental news of the Olympic Peninsula. I often include news from the Kitsap Sun and link readers back to you.
Having lived here in Sound country since the mid 70s, I would disagree with your assessment on “at the crossroads”. The Sound, both from my perspective, and others, is worse off now than then. Having dived Hood Canal gives me some perspective. Also, it appears to me, and apparently to researchers, that the amount of aquatic birds is down dramatically. These are just a few issues that bring us “to the crossroads”.
Anyway, my ask of you is about the recent die off of about 200 birds (apparently scoters?) in Indianola bay about a month ago. I have not heard back as to whether there was a true cause of death found, or not. There have been die offs due to starvation off the Oregon coast, but not here, that I’m aware of. Or was it man made?
Did any “autoposies” take place from Fish and Wildlife?
Good luck, I’ll try and keep up on this.
Al
http://www.olyopen.net
November 29th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Good Idea Chris,
It should work well if the posts come up quickly enough. A dialogue has a way of disappearing if too much time goes by for answering and even seeing the answers.
December 2nd, 2007 at 6:32 am
Chris,
Read about your blog in todays Sun. You asked for comments.
It seems to me that if your going to get anything done scientifically (to the point of pleasing all citizens concerned), you must have some control subjects. Watching the waves of salmon flow up Dickerson Creek this last month makes me wonder whatever happended to efforts in the Chico Creek Basin? I’ve heard second hand there was to be a renewed push and I was wondering if you knew anything. Looking forward to this new scource of information.