Cleaning up the mess in our waters and beaches is emerging as a key strategy in bringing Puget Sound back to health. Many beaches are lined with carcinogenic, creosote-treated logs and lost railroad ties that have accumulated from decades of marine construction. Sunken vessels leach hydrocarbons into the marine waters around them. Meanwhile, fish, birds, shellfish and marine mammals are dying by the thousands in lost or snagged fishing nets and crab pots from commercial and recreational origin.
With rising public awareness of these problems, action to address them is shifting into high gear. In this session an expert panel will discuss the magnitude of the problem and what is being done.
Melissa Montgomery works for the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as coordinator for the Derelict Vessel Removal Program. She previously worked for DNR managing state-owned submerged lands in Puget Sound and Lake Union.
Lisa Kaufman has worked as the restoration manager with the Washington Department of Natural Resources since 2004. Prior to that she was with Whatcom County Public Works creating outreach information for the salmon recovery program as well as the Marine Resources Committee. She moved to Washington in 2002 from Breckenridge, Colorado, to live near the water.
Simon Geerlofs has worked as marine program coordinator for the Northwest Straits Commission since July, 2007. Before that he was a marine policy advisor for Senator Maria Cantwell in Washington, DC. He attended the University of Washington School of Marine Affairs, where he earned a Masters in Marine Affairs.
