Pierce County is diving into eelgrass conservation with the help of a half-million-dollar grant aimed at protecting these vital underwater meadows. The Pierce County Planning & Public Works (PPW) will spearhead a project this summer, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), to monitor the plant known scientifically as Zostera marina—a crucial component of the Puget Sound's marine ecosystems. The partners plan to use underwater videography to map out eelgrass populations at roughly 180 sites along the county's shorelines.

The significance of eelgrass cannot be overstated: sustaining diverse food webs, and offering homes to fish and wildlife, it is sensitive to impacts from human activity which makes it an excellent barometer of environmental health. These underwater grasslands are also champions in sequestering carbon and provide nursery grounds for forage fish, integral to the diets of native salmon species.

The effort aligns with a broader strategy to update Pierce County's Shoreline Master Program by 2029, as eelgrass mapping will provide key data for managing the state's shoreline areas, which boast abundant ecological, cultural, and economic value, as well as offering recreational spaces. This initiative also supports the Sustainability 2030 Plan, which outlines ambitious goals for the county to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 45% within the next five years compared to 2015 levels, aiming to mitigate the area's contribution to climate change.

Funding for this initiative stems from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, part of the Puget Sound National Estuary Program's Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead, to improve shoreline and estuary health across Puget Sound, the data is expected not only to aid the DNR's efforts in eelgrass monitoring but also to empower local tribes and organizations vested in recovering salmon and shellfish populations, ensuring that marine diversity and vulnerable habitats in South Puget Sound remain protected and can continue to flourish.