Following on this progress, the newly-elected governor, many legislators, and 
environmental groups felt that a more formal and comprehensive governmental 
response was necessary to address increasingly alarming reports regarding the 
health of Puget Sound. In May of 1985 the Washington State Legislature 
transformed the advisory Puget Sound Water Quality Authority into a full-fledged 
agency charged with the mission of developing and overseeing the implementation 
of a comprehensive plan for the cleanup and management of Puget Sound. This 
plan is to be carried out by existing state and local agencies. The Authority is 
governed by a seven-member board appointed by the governor (including one full¬ 
time chair), joined by two non-voting members-the heads of the state Departments 
of Ecology and Natural Resources. 
Planning Process 
As a new agency, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority faced the tasks of 
establishing itself as a focal point for Puget Sound activities and developing a 
planning program that could build the consensus needed for a successful plan. The 
planning effort was two-pronged. The Authority’s technical staff focused on 
compiling and analyzing available information on Puget Sound’s problems; the public 
outreach staff worked on newsletters, mailing lists, brochures, slide shows, media 
relations, and getting out to the 12 counties surrounding the Sound to listen to 
people’s concerns about water quality. An advisory committee and panel of 
scientists were formed to assist the Authority in developing the plan. 
The conclusions from the technical analyses were that the primary problems in 
Puget Sound result from (1) contamination of bottom sediments by organic and 
inorganic chemicals, and (2) bacterial pollution. The sources of these contaminants 
are many and varied. Major sources include industrial and municipal discharges; 
runoff from highways, urban, and agricultural areas; dredging and spoils disposal; 
failing septic systems; forestry practices; spills; combined sewer overflows (CSOs); 
and recreational boating. 
Documented effects include fin erosion and liver tumors in bottom-dwelling fish in 
urban bays (Malins et al., 1982); closure of several prime commercial shellfish beds 
due to bacterial pollution (PSWQA, 1986); changes in structure and abundances in 
benthic communities (Tetra Tech, 1985); and elevated levels of PCBs and some 
metals in certain species of fish, shellfish, birds, and marine mammals (Dexter et 
al., 1981). The bottom sediments, particularly in urbanized areas, appear to be 
highly toxic to some organisms (Long, 1985, PSWQA, 1986). As a result of the 
presence of highly contaminated bottom sediments. Commencement Bay is a 
designated Superfund site, and Eagle Harbor is proposed for such designation. 
More recently, laboratory studies of the sea surface microlayer (an extremely thin 
layer of mainly organic substances that float on the surface) have shown high 
toxicity to fish eggs and oyster larvae (Hardy and Kiesser, 1986). In addition to 
problems of contamination, Puget Sound has lost over half of its wetlands to 
human activity (PSWQA, 1986). 
There also have been improvements in the Sound over the years with changes in 
land use, improvements in technology, and tightening of regulations. For example, 
secondary treatment of pulp mill effluents has largely reversed severe degradation 
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