The Western Environmental Law Center released a report today, Agricultural Pollution in Puget Sound: Inspiration to Change Washington’s Reliance on Voluntary Incentive Programs to Save Salmon.

As part of their sustainable agriculture work, the Center analyzed policies and practices that have led to declining salmon populations and surrounding issues in Puget Sound. The report makes recommendations for how to reduce agricultural pollution in Puget Sound to improve salmon populations, water quality, ecosystem resilience, and public health for present and future generations.

According to communications director Brian Sweeney, the Western Environmental Law Center considers their analysis “an eye-opening recording of the history of state and federal regulation of agricultural pollution as well as the legal framework designed to prevent pollution in Washington state.” The report also provides science-based solutions, including best management practices regulatory agencies should adopt and enforce, to reduce pollution coming from the agricultural sector.

A copy of the report may be viewed here.