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Oct 05, 2011

9. Tables - Defining ecosystem reference levels

Table 30. Species indicators for which targets have been established in Puget Sound and/or Washington state. Species Indicator Target Achieved Reference Bald eagle Equilibrium population abundance is ~6,000 individuals in WA state Yes ...
Aug 02, 2016

Invasive stowaways threaten Puget Sound ecosystem

Gaps in regulations could allow invasive species to hitch a ride on ships and boats. We report on some of the potential impacts, and how state and federal agencies are trying to solve the problem. 
By Christopher Dunagan
Apr 06, 2026

Gray whales of the Salish Sea

OverviewGray whales are among the more commonly sighted large whale species in the Salish Sea and along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, but a clearer understanding of the multiple ways they use our waters has only come into focus in recent years. Gray whales were historically mostly known for their annual migrations past the Washington Coast including the entrance to the Salish Se...
By John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research Collective
Sep 09, 2014

No salmon left behind: The importance of early growth and freshwater restoration

The growth and survival of young salmon in streams, river deltas and floodplains are seen as crucial pieces of the salmon recovery puzzle. In part two of this two-part series, researchers at the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Seattle say the complexities of the salmon life cycle require new coordination among scientists.
By Emily Davis
Dec 07, 2016

Implementation Strategies will target Puget Sound ‘Vital Signs’

New EPA-funded Implementation Strategies are designed to target Puget Sound recovery in the most direct and coordinated way ever conducted by state and federal agencies. We report on how these strategies will affect Puget Sound’s Vital Signs for years to come, and why you should care (a lot).
By Christopher Dunagan
Sep 14, 2011

Driver: Climate Change in the Salish Sea Ecosystem

[Editor's note: Updated information related to this chapter is available in the 2015 report State of Knowledge: Climate Change in Puget Sound.]We all experience the weather with its day to day changes, and we are all familiar with the regular seasonal changes in climate where our weather transitions between spring, summer, winter and fall. Human caused climate change refers to sustain...
Aug 02, 2023

Salish Sea Model tracks pollution, currents and climate change

This article is the latest in a series about computer models and their uses within the Puget Sound ecosystem. Today, we look at the Salish Sea Model, one of several models in the region helping to predict water circulation, water quality and food-web relationships.
By Christopher Dunagan
Sep 14, 2011

A: Introduction

The health of the Salish Sea ecosystem is directly influenced by both human activities and natural events (Ruckelshaus and McClure 2007). The mechanisms through which these actions lead to ecosystem changes are complex. Yet, the identification of threats and their myriad impacts is necessary to strategically and effectively manage their causes and their impacts on the Salish Sea (st...