Priority science to support Puget Sound recovery: A Science work plan for 2020-2024

Summary

Priority Science to Support Recovery of the Puget Sound Ecosystem: A Science Work Plan for 2020-2024 (SWP for 2020-2024) describes the information, learning, and interaction needed to support the coordinated efforts to recover, protect, and improve the resilience of the Puget Sound ecosystem. The Puget Sound Partnership’s Science Panel (Panel) is guided by the principles that ecosystem recovery actions should proceed in the face of uncertainty and that generating and sharing information to address and reduce uncertainties will improve the likelihood that recovery efforts will accomplish the region’s six recovery goals as measured through the Puget Sound Vital Signs.  

These recovery goals are a healthy human population, vibrant quality of life, thriving species and food web, protected and restored habitat, abundant water quantity, and healthy water quality.  Through identifying 15 Priority Science Work Actions, The Panel highlights science that adds value by filling critical gaps, supports science innovation, supports continuity, links socio-ecological resilience, or changes the policy landscape.  These Science Work Actions and the broader recommendations to improve ongoing science identify important initiatives that will sustain the robust ongoing research, modeling, and monitoring programs that deliver essential, management-relevant information to decision situations and to improve public and partner understanding and awareness. These Science Work Actions and broader recommendations are rooted in the needs identified by partners and decision makers.  The Panel encourages the Puget Sound Partnership (“Partnership”) to continue to strengthen its role as a backbone organization through advancing science and supporting the robust existing network of recovery including tracking Vital Signs and their indicators, utilizing the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP), employing the Action Agenda and Implementation Strategies, and collective work towards adaptive management.  The Panel appreciates that over 760 organizations work on Puget Sound recovery in one way or another and the public has a high interest in Puget Sound recovery.  The Panel encourages the broader recovery community to look to the complete list of Science Work Actions and broader recommendations for areas of inquiry where multiple sources are identifying similar knowledge gaps and needs.    

Objectives for Science Work Actions

The Panel identified five objectives to guide the selection of priority Science Work Actions for 2020-2024. These objectives reflect the unique role and perspectives of the Science Panel to provide recommendations on the knowledge most needed to advance the socio-ecological goals of ecosystem recovery in the Puget Sound.  Science Work Actions within the SWP prioritize scientific research that can:

• Add value by filling critical gaps,
• Support science innovation,
• Support continuity,
• Link socio-ecological resilience, or
• Change the policy landscape.

The Panel evaluated and discussed 106 Science Work Actions, which were informed by over 500 articulated needs from the recovery community, to identify 15 Priority Science Work Actions.  They are grouped thematically, but not listed in order of importance. The Panel will directly support—financially, in legislature, and otherwise—the implementation of the Priority Science Work Actions.

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