OLYMPIA – Pollution in the Puget Sound is such a problem that a group trying to protect the ecosystem spent $27,000 in state money to make a catchy video, complete with dance steps, telling people how they can do something about it.

Pick up dog poop.

The 2 1/2 minute “Dog Doogity” video, which features rhythm and blues singer Martin Luther delivering the musical message of bag your doggie's dooties, is a parody of the late ‘90s hit “No Diggity” by Blackstreet. Released June 30, it is getting very positive responses, said Janet Geer of the City of Bothell and spokeswoman for a 60 community coalition in the “Puget Sound Starts Here” campaign.

The video is featured on the state-sponsored Puget Sound Partnership web site, and was made with $27,000 out of a $500,000 grant the state Department of Ecology gave the coalition. Designed for young, hip, urban adults, the video logged 30,000 hits on YouTube in just under two weeks with a 19-1 ratio of likes to dislikes.

“The response I've heard is, ‘This is great,’” Geer said.

Not everyone agrees. Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center, which keeps a close eye on budget issues, questioned whether state money should be going for a video to tell people to pick up dog poop.

“In this economic climate, it raises a question of priorities,” Mercier said. “It seems a questionable way of marketing the idea.”
  

Ted Sturdevant was named this morning the new director of the state Department of Ecology.

Gov. Chris Gregoire announced the appointment to replace Jay Manning, who moved from head of DoE to be her chief of staff.

Sturdevant has been with DoE for 7 years as director of external affairs, and before that worked for Gov. Gary Locke.

He starts today, at an annual salary of $141,549.