Canada - U.S.
Cooperation
in the Salish
2021-2024 Action Plan
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Cat. No.: EN4-437/2021E-PDF
ISBN: 978-0-660-39152-6
EC21098
This publication is a jointly authored work of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Any questions pertaining to
the copyright of this work can be directed to:
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Public Inquiries Centre
12th Floor, Fontaine Building
200 Sacre-Coeur Boulevard
Gatineau QC K1A0H3
Telephone: 819-938-3860
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.qc.ca
Cover photo: © Getty images
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment
and Climate Change, 2021
Aussi disponible en frangais
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
Introduction: Building on Twenty Years
of International Cooperation
The Joint Statement of Cooperation on the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystem ("Statement of
Cooperation" or "SoC") was signed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)1 in January 2000. The SoC outlines
common goals for the health of the internationally-shared ecosystem and commits the two agencies to work
collaboratively to achieve these goals2.
ECCC and EPA maintain a Working Group under the SoC that develops and periodically updates Action
Plans to achieve SoC goals. The Working Group is currently advised by representatives from the Coast
Salish Gathering, British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy Washington State
Department of Ecology Puget Sound Partnership, the Northwest Straits Commission, and the Salish Sea
Institute at Western Washington University.
This document presents the joint Priority Action Items (PAIs) for 2021-2024. High-level results achieved
during the preceding 2017-2020 Action Plan are also presented. More detail on the SoC's twenty-year
history, and accomplishments under the 2017-2020 Action Plan can be found on EPA's Cooperation with
Canada webpaqe.
In addition to efforts under the SoC, ECCC and EPA collaborate in several program areas and with a wide
variety of partners, including on regional hazard response agreements and the International Airshed
Strategy Coordinating Committee.
The "Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystem" broadly refers to the inland marine waters of Washington
and British Columbia comprising Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia, as well
as the lands and watersheds draining into them3. More recently, the term "Salish Sea" has been adopted by
some geographical naming bodies in both Canada and the United States4.
The original SoC recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples of the Georgia Basin and of Puget Sound have
been stewards of the lands and resources in the region since time immemorial, honors their traditional
values and knowledge, and commits to working with their representatives in an atmosphere of mutual
respect to preserve and protect the region. With this Action Plan, we reaffirm and renew these intentions.
Today, more than 8.7 million people inhabit the geographic area referred to as the Salish Sea ecosystem and
projections envision an increase to over 10.5 million people by the year 20405.
1 In 2000, Environment and Climate Change Canada was known as Environment Canada.
2 The original signed SoC can be found at http://publications.qc.ca/site/enq/461828/publication.html
3 For the purpose of Puget Sound Geographic Program funding, EPA states that the 'greater Puget Sound basin is defined as all watersheds draining to
the U.S. waters of Puget Sound, southern Georgia Basin, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.' (https://beta.sam.gov/fal/f100cbe34f7f49dfa8720cde29cb1abe/
view). ECCC's former Georgia Basin Action Plan (https://ec.qc.ca/pabq-qbap/default.asp?lanq=En&n=82FEBD49-1) stated that the Georgia Basin is
comprised of the Strait of Georgia, part of an inland sea which encompasses Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca as well as the lands and
watersheds that surround and drain into the Strait.
4 See Geographical Names Board of Canada at http://www4.rncan.qc.ca/search-place-names/unique/JDCTI and U.S. Board on Geographic Names, as
cited by the U.S. Geological Survey at https://qeonames.usqs.qov/apex/f?p=138:3:::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:2573411,Salish%20Sea
5 ECCC calculations at time of writing based on data obtained from BC Statistics at https://www2.qov.bc.ca/qov/content/data/statistics/people-
population-community/population and Washington State Office of Financial Management at https://ofm.wa.gov/washinqton-data-research/population-
demoqraphics.
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
Supporting the Salish Sea
Ecosystem Conference and Health
of the Salish Sea Report
Promoting information exchange across the border is a foundational goal of the SoC, as it helps to identify
priorities and opportunities for effective coordination and cooperation.
Two ongoing commitments under this shared goal include supporting the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference
and maintenance and dissemination of the Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report.
The biennial Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference was proposed in the original SoC and has become one
of the largest, most comprehensive transboundary ecosystem conferences in the region, with more than
1,500 participants attending recent conferences. Proceedings of recent and past conferences are archived,
and selected themes are captured in a series of articles in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound's Salish Sea
Currents magazine, synthesizing ecosystem research and management approaches in the Salish Sea.
Although the 2020 Conference program shifted to a free, online, and reduced-program format due to the
coronavirus pandemic, registration markedly increased to 3,700 attendees.
SoC Working Group members support the Conference by participating in the Executive and Program
Committees as well as convening special sessions within the Conference to explore and foster progress
across all PAIs. Examples of SoC member-led sessions from 2018 include: "Federal Initiatives I: Puget Sound
Federal Task Force" and "Federal Initiatives II: Oceans Protection Plan."
The transboundary Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report describes trends in indicators that can help
identify priorities for future action across the entire Salish Sea ecosystem. The current suite of indicators are:
air quality (fine particulates), marine species at risk, Chinook salmon, southern resident killer whales, toxics
in the food web, freshwater quality, marine water quality, stream flow, shellfish harvesting, and swimming
beaches. These indicators help show progress in sustainably managing the Salish Sea ecosystem and
its valuable resources, where conditions are declining, and where course corrections are needed. Each
indicator was updated in 2020 and published online in 2021 in the report mentioned above.
For 2021-2024 we reaffirm our commitment to strengthen these two key regional cross-border information
sharing mechanisms. We will continue supporting the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference and the Health of
the Salish Sea report. Our engagement in the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference will be directly linked to
the other priorities identified in this Action Plan.
Our Priorities for 2021-2024 are to:
• Support the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (SSEC).
• Maintain and further develop the transboundary Salish Sea ecosystem health indicators.
Promoting Targeted Transboundary
Information Exchange
In addition to the conference and ecosystem indicators reporting, regular meetings and communication
with the SoC Working Group are key information-sharing opportunities. We convene focused discussions
with members and guests to explore and highlight issues related to the PAIs.
For example, in recent years we have brought special presentations to the SoC Working Group on topics
including U.S. federal storm surge and coastal ocean modelling, marine plastics, and the response to the
Big Bar landslide.
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
For 2021-2024 we reaffirm our commitment to informing the SoC Working Group and other ecosystem
partners of federal initiatives in the Salish Sea such as the Oceans Protection Plan, the U.S. Federal Task
Force for Puget Sound, and relevant climate change and environmental initiatives. Further, we will continue
work to increase awareness and understanding of developments in environmental and impact review and
notification processes.
Our Priorities for 2021-2024 are to:
• Promote and foster coordination and information sharing activities on Salish Sea-related federal
initiatives, and identify opportunities where U.S. and Canadian federal interests and mechanisms
may intersect.
• Support information-sharing activities on environmental and impact assessment and notification
processes for projects in the Salish Sea ecosystem.
Strengthening Transboundary
Coordination Mechanisms
The SoC recognizes the many existing cross-border and other coordination and information-sharing mechanisms
and states the intention to "work through these cooperative mechanisms to the fullest extent possible."
Cross-border mechanisms within the Salish Sea region have evolved greatly since the SoC was signed in
2000. Several major developments bear note. First, the Coast Salish Gathering has emerged as a unique
environmental policy forum where Coast Salish Tribal and First Nations governments, state, provincial and
federal governments build mutual understanding and discuss strategies to address environmental issues
facing our shared Salish Sea region.
Second, salmon and estuary recovery and protection efforts by local, tribal, federal, and state actors in the
Puget Sound basin have converged into a strong, coordinated Puget Sound ecosystem protection and
restoration effort, coordinated by the Puget Sound Partnership, a state agency.
Third, the Washington State-British Columbia Environmental Cooperation Council utilizes working or task
groups as needed to target topical transboundary issues.
The SoC Working Group continues to support and engage with these mechanisms. For example, as advisory
members of the Working Group, staff coordinators of the Coast Salish Gathering have represented and
conveyed perspectives arising from this forum. Working Group members also support ongoing activities
of a BC-WA Nooksack River Transboundary Technical Collaboration Group. In May 2017, the Working
Group convened a special webinar on EPA technical initiatives relevant to the BC/WA Nooksack River
Transboundary Task Group. WA and BC continue to lead this work, to which EPA and ECCC contribute as
observers to this new forum.
We are also working to solidify transboundary representation within the Puget Sound "Management
Conference"6; a Canadian scientist now serves on the Puget Sound Science Panel, and there is opportunity
for increased Canadian participation as ex officio members of the Puget Sound Ecosystem Coordination Board.
For 2021-2024, we will continue to support existing and emerging transboundary coordination mechanisms.
Our Priorities for 2021-2024 are to:
• Support State/Provincial and local transboundary coordination and information sharing mechanisms.
• Support Tribal-First Nation transboundary coordination and information sharing mechanisms.
6 The Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) coordinates the Puget Sound region's collective effort to protect and restore Puget Sound. PSP, its boards, and the
decision-making structure are also known as the Puget Sound Management Conference.
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
Working Group Administration
ECCC and EPA share in the administration of the SoC Working Group that includes:
• Planning, convening, facilitating, and reporting on semi-annual Working Group meetings;
• Leading the development and implementation of Action Plans;
• Convening special meetings and information-sharing sessions to spotlight topics of priority
transboundary interest;
• Identifying and pursuing opportunities to further advance SoC goals and Action Plan PAIs, including
as raised by Working Group Advisory Members, Working Group meeting guests, and SoC Action Plan
evaluation and review processes;
• Keeping ECCC and EPA senior leadership informed of key SoC-related developments and supporting
their engagement in SoC-related transboundary forums; and
• Sharing information about each agency's relevant activities and protocols.
In addition to these activities, during the 2017-2020 Action Plan period, the Working Group co-chairs
established a "Sharing Information" email series to inform Working Group members of developments and
opportunities relevant to the PAIs. Since the first email in 2018, more than 50 updates have been shared
on major policy and funding initiatives, environmental review processes, and other projects on both sides
of the border.
ECCC and EPA intend to continue to support these Working Group Administration activities in the 2021-24
Action Plan period.
Finally, ECCC and EPA commit to adaptively manage the Working Group Terms of Reference, Working
Group structure and function, and Priority Action Item commitments, consistent with Tribal trust and treaty,
reconciliation with First Nations, and other related mandates, responsibilities, and priorities.
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
Environment and Climate Change Canada - Environmental Protection Agency
Joint Statement of Cooperation on the Salish Sea Ecosystem
2021-2024 Commitments
Priority Action
Item (PAI)
Outcome
Proposed Outputs
Primary
Responsibility
1. Support for the Salish
Sea Ecosystem
Conference (SSEC)
• 2021-2024 Action Plan
PAIs advanced
• Sustained support for the Salish
Sea Ecosystem Conference.
• WG member participation in the Executive and Program Committees
• Content advancing 2021-2024 Action Plan PAIs.
• Approaches for supporting the long-term organizational and financial
sustainability of the conference are explored and resulting WG
member commitments upheld and implemented.
All members
2. Maintain and
further develop the
transboundary Salish
Sea ecosystem health
Indicators.
• Continued web presence for
decision support and for the
public.
• Continued information
sharing and collaboration with
transboundary partners and
subject matter experts to facilitate
integrated understanding of
transboundary ecosystem health
and inform ecosystem-based
approaches in Salish Sea.
• EPA website updated with current information for existing and new
indicators relevant to the goals and objectives of the SoC.
• Targeted information-sharing activities to support indicator updates.
• EPA & ECCC engagement to identify opportunities to expand the
suite of indicators, to better represent Indigenous knowledge, and to
link to related regional initiatives.
• Processes explored for applying indicators to inform adaptive
management of SoC Action Plan and other Salish Sea work.
EPA & ECCC
Technical Leads
3. Support information
sharing activities on
environmental and
impact assessment
and notification
processes for projects
in the Salish Sea
ecosystem.
• Increased WG understanding of
developments in transboundary
environmental and impact and
notification processes
• Periodic updates to WG on US and Canadian Federal environmental
and impact assessment review processes State-Provincial,
Indigenous, or other review processes or mechanisms (e.g., BC-WA
MOU on environmental review).
• WG members share information about project EA processes,
including a standing agenda item at WG meetings.
EPA & ECCC
All members
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
Environment and Climate Change Canada - Environmental Protection Agency
Joint Statement of Cooperation on the Salish Sea Ecosystem
2021-2024 Commitments
Priority Action
Item (PAI)
Outcome Proposed Outputs
Primary
Responsibility
4. Support Tribal-First
Nation transboundary
coordination and
information sharing
mechanisms.
5. Support State/
Provincial and local
transboundary
coordination and
information sharing
mechanisms
6. Promote and foster
coordination and
information sharing
activities on Salish
Sea-related federal
Initiatives; identify
opportunities where
US and Canadian
federal interests
and mechanisms
may intersect.
Tribal and First Nation
transboundary coordination and
connection on Salish Sea health
are supported, consistent with
Tribal trust and First Nations treaty
and reconciliation mandates,
responsibilities, and priorities.
WG has greater awareness of
Tribal and First Nation Salish Sea
ecosystem interests and priorities,
and activities of WG reflect this
greater awareness.
EPA and ECCC coordinate with,
state/provincial/local needs and
initiatives relating to water quality
issues and ecosystem health in
border watersheds, including
data-sharing.
WG members and their
stakeholders are well informed
of federal Salish Sea protection
initiatives.
Potential areas for transboundary
collaboration are identified.
Explore options to improve support for tribal and First Nation
transboundary coordination and engagement, including in the
SOC Working Group.
Continued active engagement by Coast Salish Gathering
Steering Committee
WG members participate and engage as invited in the annual Coast
Salish Gathering and other key Tribal-First Nation coordination and
information sharing forums.
EPA & ECCC
Coast Salish
Gathering advisory
members
All members
Continued support of the BC/WA Nooksack River Technical
Collaboration Group (TCG).
Continued updates by relevant WG members on the Swift Creek/
Sumas Mountain Sediment Management Project and include a
standing agenda item at WG meetings.
Explore engagement with other local and State/Provincial
transboundary mechanisms including the Puget Sound Management
Conference on shared interests and opportunities
for cooperation.
Webinar(s) or other information sharing activities on key federal
initiatives (e.g. Ocean Protection Plan, Salish Sea Initiative, Puget
Sound Federal Action Plan) involving appropriate coordinating
bodies (e.g., the BC Federal Council; or the U.S. Federal Task Force
for Puget Sound).
Explore transboundary meetings of federal partners to review shared
interests and progress, including on ecosystem science, climate
change, and other environmental issues.
Continued engagement in and tracking of transboundary ecosystem
governance initiatives as they relate to current SoC and federal roles.
EPA & ECCC
All members
WG Co-chairs
All members
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Canada - U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2021-2024 Action Plan
MICHELLE Digitally signed by
PIRZADEH
MICHELLE PIRZADEH
Date: 2021.07.07
12:56:16 -07'00'
Anna Classen
Regional Director General
Environment and Climate Change Canada
West and North
Michelle Pirzadeh
Deputy Regional Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
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