Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed May as “Puget Sound Starts Here” Month and encourages all who live in the region to take action to improve the health of Puget Sound.

A healthy Puget Sound grows our economy and creates jobs. Tourism, working waterfronts, fishing and shellfish industries, and world-class businesses connected to Puget Sound generate billions of dollars in economic activity.

“I want my grandchildren and their grandchildren to be able to swim in Puget Sound, catch a salmon to roast over the campfire, and enjoy shellfish grown right here in Washington. I want them to inherit an economy that is thriving. When it comes to a sustainable environment or a sustainable economy, it’s not one or the other,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “Join me in creating a Puget Sound legacy we can be proud of.”

Puget Sound struggles with the effects of pollution. Every year, millions of pounds of pollutants enter Puget Sound through rainwater runoff. Rainwater flows over hard surfaces, like parking lots, driveways and streets, and picks up pollution along the way. This polluted water flows through ditches or storm drains and into local waterways. Individuals contribute a significant portion of the pollution by not fixing car leaks and drips. Regularly maintaining your vehicle keeps motor oil from washing into Puget Sound.

Simple actions you can take:

• Volunteer to help with local organizations working to restore habitat.

• Take your car to a commercial car wash instead of washing it in your driveway.

• Fix auto leaks right away and take any used fluids to a recycling center.

• Pick up pet waste and place it in the trash.

• Maintain your septic system.

• Never dump anything – liquid or solid – into a storm drain or drainage ditch.

• Use natural yard products like compost and mulch.

• Store and dispose of household chemicals according to the instructions on the label.

• Landscape your yard with native plants and trees that soak up rain and slow the flow of runoff.

Simple actions boaters can take to protect valuable habitat:

Use pump-out stations for their sewage.

• Anchor away from eelgrass areas.

• Be cautious when fueling and cleaning their vessel to prevent pollutant spills.

About Puget Sound Starts Here

Puget Sound Starts Here is a campaign supported by a consortium of more than 750 organizations across Puget Sound’s 12 counties, including state agencies, local governments, tribes, and non-governmental organizations working to clean up and protect Puget Sound and our region’s local waterways. The goal of Puget Sound Starts Here Month is to raise awareness that Puget Sound is in trouble due to a variety of pollution sources, and empower residents to make a difference through simple actions and local volunteer opportunities.

Learn more about the bounty of Puget Sound and how you can help protect it at www.PugetSoundStartsHere.org.

About the Puget Sound Partnership

The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency formed to lead the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with more than 750 governments, tribes, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits, the Partnership coordinates and catalyzes partner action around a common agenda, mobilizes Sound investments, and tracks progress to optimize recovery.

To learn more about the regional effort to restore and protect Puget Sound, visit the Puget Sound Partnership’s website at www.psp.wa.gov.