EMEA Letter of Support

To:  National Coastal Resilience Fund

 From: Edmonds Marsh Estuary Advocates

 This local advocacy group was formed to support the city of Edmonds in work to preserve, restore, and expand the Edmonds saltwater marsh and estuary.  We are committed to using the best available science in all decisions and to collaborating with other stakeholders to achieve the best result for Puget Sound and the community of Edmonds. We are working together to improve water quality, support fish and wildlife populations, and provide a source of education and enjoyment for all who visit the Edmonds Marsh Estuary.

 One aspect of our mission is to work with the city of Edmonds to pursue funding from government and other organizations that support the health of Puget Sound. These funds would supplement other funds committed by the city and raised through community action.

 Our group has contributed the volunteer time and expertise of highly qualified professionals in assisting with the current proposal: The proposal was drafted by a stormwater planner with decades of project management experience, and a civil engineer with decades of experience with salmon restoration projects. They worked in consultation with a Tribal biologist, a retired NOAA biologist, staff at Mid-Sound and Sound Salmon Solutions, a Golder associates environmental scientist, and several Herrera engineers, environmental scientists and planners.

 The Edmonds Marsh/Estuary Advocates fully support this grant application, as the goals of this grant proposal match the goals of our organization. Defining the tasks required to support the restoration planning process is a necessary step in the process of restoring this valuable habitat for salmon and other wildlife.

 We strongly urge that this grant proposal be funded.