Make no mistake: State Rep. John McCoy is no stranger to water wrangles.
McCoy is already vice chair of the House Environment Committee and he’s dealt with all of the water-related kerfuffle that job entails. For many years, his voice has sounded out loud and clear whenever the conversation has turned to water and other natural-resource issues. And now, the veteran water-access and water-quality champion is taking on still additional responsibilities with his recent appointment to a seat on Washington’s Ecosystem Coordination Board.
“This appointment to the Ecosystem Coordination Board is a great honor, and I’m excited to dive into its important work,” McCoy said. “The board is tasked with strengthening the mission of the Puget Sound Partnership, which is no small assignment.
I’m looking forward to working with the 26 other Coordination Board members who speak from varying perspectives and who represent diverse communities around the Sound.”
The Puget Sound Partnership was established in 2007, states the organization’s website. The Partnership unites citizens, governments, tribes, scientists and businesses in striving toward common goals sought by “no other organization in Washington.” Its three-pronged mission is wrapped up in:
· Creating science-based regional priorities for Puget Sound.
· Accelerating the implementation of these priority actions.
· Ensuring accountability of the results.
Partnership sights are trained on “geographic action areas of Puget Sound, which collectively encompass all of the Puget Sound basin and include the areas draining to the marine waters in these action areas.” Specifically, the action areas take in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, north-central Puget Sound, south-central Puget Sound, south Puget Sound, and Hood Canal.