Think of
the Northwest and we think of water. Water dominates our landscape
and our history. Nearly three million of us live on dozens of
rivers and lakes, thousands of creeks, along the shorelines of
Puget Sound, and in the cities that have grown up along those
waterways. A healthy Sound provides recreation and supports industries.
It serves as our highways and feeds our families. We share the
region with a vast array of aquatic and wetland plants and animals
whose survival depends on the purity of the Sound’s waters.
The
water that finds its way into the Puget Sound drains from countless
parcels of property like yours in 12 counties. The need to be
concerned about the waters of Puget Sound is a relatively new
one. In most areas, damage from pollution and misuse of Puget
Sound has not been highly visible. Yet pollution poses a serious
threat to the Puget Sound and declines in the number and kinds
of fish and shellfish are cause for concern.
WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! That’s
the point of this guide — what we do every day makes a difference
for Puget Sound. Use the suggestions in this guide at home. Then
apply the same ideas at work and in your community. Now is the
time to act together to live a “Sound life-style.” Thank you for
reading and caring.
If
you live within the boundaries of this area, this book’s for you…
Perhaps you
don’t live on the shoreline of Puget Sound. You may be wondering
how this booklet applies to you. When we talk about Puget Sound,
we need to include more than the body of saltwater extending from
south of Olympia to north of Bellingham. From an ecological perspective,
“Puget Sound” is the entire watershed — everything that drains
west from the crest of the Cascades or east from the Olympic Mountains
can find its way into Puget Sound. If we aren’t careful clearing
land near the Duckabush River or don’t maintain our septic tank
in Carnation, the impact may be felt all along the water’s route
to the Sound. Our actions at home and on our land can extend hundreds
of miles beyond our fences.
