Center for Urban Waters Grand Opening - Thursday, September 9
The future of Tacoma depends on the responsible use and stewardship of Commencement Bay. The recognition of this symbiosis is made manifest by the new Center for Urban Waters on the Foss Waterway (326 East D Street). It represents a significant step in addressing the critical and complicated issues of population, commerce and ecosystems. Grand Opening ceremonies for the center will take place tomorrow (Thursday, September 9, 2010). The festivities will begin at 1:30pm, and will feature Gov. Gregoire, Rep. Dicks and Mayor Strickland. For more details, see the Tacoma Daily Index
The Center for Urban Waters will house City of Tacoma engineers, scientists and environmental inspectors. It will also be home to University of Washington laboratories and water research facilities. The State of Washington has already moved Puget Sound Partnership operations (a state agency charged with the task of innovating and fostering efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound) from Olympia to the Center (Tacoma News Tribune coverage here). The new Puget Sound Institute will foster collaboration between scientists and researchers.
Awareness of the effects of urban population on Puget Sound is increasing, largely due to projects like the Center for Urban Waters and the Puget Sound Partnership. Counties, cities and the State must deal with a legacy of pollution and constrain ongoing hazards while preparing guidelines for a cleaner future. The real and urgent need for logistic coordination, dialog, research and regulation driven by this awareness underscores the importance of a Center for Urban Waters. Additionally, millions of dollars in federal Recovery Act funds were directed towards projects identified by the Partnership and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) aimed at restoring or protecting the health of the Sound. The Partnership is also working with the University of Washington and local leaders to implement Low Impact Development standards in the region.
As the name suggests, research done at the Center for Urban Waters will have impacts and applications outside the Sound region, in the general study of urban impact management. It is exciting to have such a facility in Tacoma,.
FOR ADDITIONAL READING
For more on LID Link
For a brief history of Commencement Bay pollution Link
Filed under: General
6 comments
D dolly varden September 8, 2010
Another reason to fix the Murray Morgan bridge.
S Squid September 9, 2010
Those Urban H2Os workers will want to be eating at Matador, not with the unwashed at Sam’s. Mayor, Fix That Bridge.
C crenshaw sepulveda September 9, 2010
Eating at Matador, those Urban Waters workers must be getting some pretty cushy salaries in this economy. I guess if your dad is Norm Dicks and you are running the Puget Sound Partnership the money in the form of ear marks must roll in pretty good. I think those Puget Sound Partnership people should keep a low profile for a while and just brown bag their lunches.
C crenshaw sepulveda September 9, 2010
Maybe Norm Dicks will get them some money to build a covered bridge from the Urban Waters to Matador so they can walk there without getting wet. If walking is too hard maybe the homeless can carry them on their backs so they can enjoy their lunches at Matador and not break a sweat.
A Altered Chords September 11, 2010
Research devoted to protecting Puget Souns…sounds good to me. Why does Crenshaw hate Puget Sound?
C crenshaw sepulveda September 11, 2010
I’m all for protecting the Puget Sound. I am not so thrilled by the Puget Sound Partnership gravy train.