THE PUGET SOUND ESTUARY PROGRAM: MANAGING FOR 
ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS 
Catherine Krueger and John Underwood 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Office of Puget Sound 
Seattle, Washington 
Introduction 
Puget Sound, located in the northwestern part of the State of 
Washington, is one of the most biologically productive and 
recreationally important estuarine systems in the United 
States. The 2,200 square miles of bays and inlets, and over 
2,000 miles of shoreline, support a rich and diverse commercial 
and sport fishery for fish and shellfish. Economically, the 
Puget Sound basin is a focus for industrial and commercial 
activity, shipping and international commerce. It is a major 
recreational attraction and contributes significantly to 
growing tourism in the area. Puget Sound is more, however, 
it's blue waters, beautiful beaches, and marine life are a 
symbol of the quality of life so important to the people of the 
Pacific Northwest. 
The quality of Puget Sound is a gauge of our success in 
environmental protection. Programs to control and prevent 
water pollution, protect living resources, and minimize risks 
to public health have long been in place in the Puget Sound 
region. Over the past 20-30 years, significant environmental 
improvements have resulted from the control of many 
conventional pollutants, and today, much of the Sound remains 
relatively healthy and capable of supporting a broad range of 
beneficial uses. However, continuing growth and development of 
the region are imposing ever increasing demands upon the 
estuary. There is growing evidence that serious water quality 
problems remain. 
In 1985, a number of agencies and organizations joined forces 
to develop a coordinated strategy for investigating and 
correcting current Puget Sound environmental problems. The 
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