Help the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) update regional Implementation Strategies by participating in an interactive workshop. 

Workshop Description 

The workshop will focus on how land use planning and land use decisions impact floodplains and will explore solutions for protecting floodplains. This virtual workshop will bring together land use planners, floodplain managers, and restoration professionals to identify the barriers and potential solutions to the continued risk to individuals and Puget Sound habitat recovery. 

Date/Time: October 27, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Click here to register. 

This workshop will inform the updates to the Floodplains and Estuaries and the Land Development and Cover Implementation Strategies. We want your input to help shape the revisions to the Implementation Strategies so that they accurately reflect the pathways toward our regional recovery goals and build on the spring Puget Sound Action Agenda workshops. 

Implementation Strategies (ISs) are the roadmaps to Puget Sound recovery. They work in tandem with the Puget Sound Action Agenda by providing more detail and context to help inform the related Action Agenda topics. Each IS focuses on a different aspect of Puget Sound recovery. The Floodplains and Estuaries IS focuses on supporting integrated floodplain management to advance the protection and restoration of Puget Sound's 17 largest rivers and associated river delta estuaries. Floodplains and estuaries provide important ecosystem services including flood conveyance, stormwater infiltration, economically valuable farmland, recreation, and vital habitat for wildlife. The Land Development and Cover IS focuses on reducing development pressure on important habitats and natural lands, including floodplains. Development is the biggest threat to all sorts of habitats and green space that provide water infiltration, recreation, shade, cultural connection, and food, among other things. 

Why is HSIL updating these Implementation Strategies? 

Updated strategies will build upon the progress over the last ten years and recent planning efforts, such as the spring Puget Sound Action Agenda workshops, to bring together the suite of approaches and sectors necessary to make progress on habitat recovery. Both Implementation Strategies were last updated in 2021, but much of the content has not been updated for ten years. In addition to outlining a map to recovery for specific habitats, Implementation Strategies are used by the region to guide recovery work and priorities. Updating the Implementation Strategies will help ensure these plans are better positioned to guide coordinated recovery planning in Puget Sound. 

Updates to the Implementation Strategies will focus on: 

• Adding new information and progress that has occurred in the last ten years. 
• Integrating climate change and human wellbeing. 
• Assessing current uncertainties, research needs, and cost information. 

In addition to updating the Land Development and Cover and Floodplains and Estuaries Implementation Strategies, HSIL will also be updating sections of the Shoreline Armoring Implementation Strategy, which identifies ways to reduce the pressure of shoreline armor in Puget Sound nearshore habitat, to better reflect information about climate change and sea level rise as it relates to nearshore habitat protection and restoration.  

Updates to the Implementation Strategies will be informed by input gathered during the Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda update, as well as lessons learned from the 2024 HSIL Fall Forum focused on sea level rise planning. 

Timeline

• June – September 2025: Initial outreach to tribes and partners; finalize scope of update.  
• October – December 2025: Tribal and partner engagement and input; host workshop focused on both Land Development and Cover and Floodplains and Estuaries Implementation Strategies.  
• January 2025 – April 2026: Update Implementation Strategy documents 
• May – June 2026: Public comment period.  
• June 2026: Final strategy published. 

Questions and How to be Involved 

To stay up to date on the Implementation Strategy updates, sign up for our SIL email list or visit our website. 

For questions, contact:

• Land Development and Cover: Rebecca Brown, rebecca.brown@dnr.wa.gov. 
• Floodplains and Estuaries: Rachel Latchford, rachel.latchford@dfw.wa.gov.  

Did you know?

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead accelerates Puget Sound recovery by improving the health of the rivers, forests, shorelines, estuaries, and marine vegetation through advancing Habitat Implementation Strategy outcomes.