Commission-Public-Records

From: Betsy Peabody <betsy@restorationfund.org>

Sent:

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 12:18 PM

To:

Commission-Public-Records

Cc:

Felleman, Fred

Subject:

[EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for March 24, 2020

Categories:

Public Comment

WARNING:Thisisanexternalemail.Donotclickonlinksoropenattachmentsunlessyourecognizethesenderandexpectthe

contentofthisemailtobesafe.



DearPortofSeattleCommissioners:

MynameisBetsyPeabody.IamExecutiveDirectorofanonprofitorganizationcalledPugetSoundRestoration

Fund.Thankyoufortheopportunitytoprovidepubliccomment.

IstronglyencouragethePortofSeattletoapproveInterlocalAgreementswiththeWashingtonDepartmentofEcology

and

WashingtonStateDepartmentofNaturalResourcestosupportathree‐yearevaluationofcarbonsequestration,

waterqualityimprovement,andecologicalproductivityassociated withtheSmithCoveBlueCarbonPilotProject.Thisis

importantwork.ThePorthasshowngreatleadershipintestingoutinventivewaystobolsternearshoremarine

habitats,such

aseelgrassandkelpbeds,inordertomaintainavibrantSeattlewaterfrontandalivingmarine

system.Theefficacyofnature‐basedsolutionsdependsonmonitoringtodeter minewhetherornottheintended

benefitsareactuallyachieved.ThePortpropertyisagreatplacetotestoutinnovativeactions

andconductongoing

monitoringoftheSmithCoveBlueCarbonProject.

PugetSoundRestorationFundis involve dinmultiplekelp‐relatedefforts,includingdevelopingbullkelprestoration

techniques,assessingtheeffectofkelpcultivationonseawaterconditionsandshellfish,andpartneringwithNOAA,

DNR,andotherstodevelopaKelpConservation

andRecoveryPlan.Kelpisacriticalcomponentofahealthy,

functioning,resilientmarineecosystem.Restoringorenhancingkelpalongourwaterfrontscanhelprecoversalmon,

rockfish,andnumerousotherspecies.

IapplaudthePortforengaginginnearshorerestorationandmonitoringefforts.Thankyouforthisopportunityto

provide

publiccomment.

Sincerely,

BetsyPeabody