Sound off on Puget Sound

The agency tasked with saving Puget Sound wants your input. Puget Sound Partnership will hold public forums throughout the region to glean citizen opinion on what is wrong with the Sound, and how to fix it. Says David Dicks, executive director of the Partnership, "It's important that the people who live and work on Puget Sound play a role in bringing it back to health."

Each forum is structured as two sessions: One for those inclined to participate in hands-on workshops, followed by a general public discussion.

Feedback from the public will help frame the Action Agenda, to be completed by September, that will guide the efforts to restore the Sound.

The forum schedule:

Feb. 25: Seattle
Focus: What is the status of Puget Sound's health, and what are the greatest threats to it?
The Mountaineers, 300 Third Ave. W. Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26: Tacoma
Pacific Lutheran University, University Center, Garfield Street South and Park Avenue South
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27: Friday Harbor
Mullis Community Senior Center, 589 Nash St.
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27: Everett
Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. S.E.
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28: Bremerton
Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside, 100 Washington Ave.
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 5: Port Hadlock
Inn at Port Hadlock, 310 Hadlock Bay Road Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 6: Bellingham
Port of Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave.
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 7: Olympia
The Evergreen State College, 2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W. Lecture Hall Building, Hall #3
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 7: Sequim
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Red Cedar Room, 1033 Old Blyn Highway
Workshop: 1 to 5 p.m.
Community conversation: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Officials appear to be doing the science first, as once suggested by Crosscut writer Daniel Jack Chasan. The information presented at the public forums will be peer-reviewed beforehand by a panel of scientists.

If you miss these, you'll have two more opportunities to weigh in during another round of forums scheduled for May and June.