Orcas Island’s Jonathan White is among a growing roster of islanders taking the reigns of a decade-long, federally-funded and locally-driven effort to restore and protect the health of north Puget Sound.

A builder, an author, a marine educator, and an islander of 15 years, White last week was elected chairman of the Northwest Straits Commission, a panel of volunteers and gubernatorial appointees that help guide programs, spending and the direction of the Northwest Straits Initiative.

Created in 1998, the Initiative has been a leading source of funding and support for the marine resources committees of the seven north Sound counties, of which San Juans’ was the prototype. White joined the San Juan MRC three years ago and has been its representative on the NWSC.

“I have huge respect for the accomplishments of the Northwest Straits Initiative,” White said in a prepared statement. “With over 45 marine conservation projects underway—all driven by countless professionals, and volunteers—this is truly a roll-up-the-sleeves, can-do organization. It’s my privilege to serve as chair.”

White joins a long list of islanders with NWSC connections, including Tom Cowan of Lopez Island, a former county commissioner, the initiative’s first-ever director. During his eight-year tenure at the top, the initiative met a series of prescribed benchmarks to earn congressional reauthorization in 2004. Dr. Joe Gaydos of SeaDoc Society is a gubernatorial appointee, and a member of its scientific team, and marine biologist Dr. Terrie Klinger of the U.W. and San Juan Island is a member of the commission as well.

Born amid controversy, the Initiative was sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray and former U.S. Representative Jack Metcalf, and conceived of as a bottom-up, citizen-led, scientifically-based approach to resurrecting the health of the north Sound. Such an approach drew support from Murray and Metcalf, as an alternative, following a failed attempt to established a federally-managed marine sanctuary.

In addition to its role as a conduit for federal funding, the Initiative also operates its own conservation projects. It’s derelict gear removal project has been widely-heralded as both innovative and successful.

In its first five years, the Initiative funneled a total of $250,000 in grants, for projects and administration, to the San Juan MRC alone. The MRC is banking on $240,000 in Initiative grants over the next two years.