"> Despite more than four decades of a Superfund cleanup along Tacoma’s industrial Tideflats, research suggests that large amounts of toxic chemicals like PCBs and PBDEs may still be entering the waterway. Our affiliates at the Center for Urban Waters are co-leading a new project to identify contaminant hotspots. When it was first designated in 1983, […]
September 24, 2025
"> Voices of experience: What collaborative leadership means for natural resources
The challenges facing Puget Sound—from salmon recovery to climate resilience—demand more than technical expertise. They require leaders who can navigate complex relationships, build trust across diverse communities, and find common ground where others see only conflict. But what does this kind of collaborative leadership actually look like in practice? In partnership with TVW, the Collaborative […]
September 16, 2025
"> October 7 roundtable about THORR, which maps river temperatures from space
The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, October 7 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. The University of Washington’s Thermal History of Regulated Rivers (THORR) tool transforms NASA’s Landsat satellite imagery into current and historical river temperature insights. Learn how advanced data-driven techniques enable accessible mapping of water temperatures across remote streams—vital for […]
September 2, 2025
"> September series: Motivating behavior to promote Puget Sound ecosystem recovery
Co-hosted by PSI, Industrial Economics, Inc. (IEc), and Oregon State University (OSU). Join us for a three-part, virtual Lunch & Learn series on motivating behavior through incentives and other programs, with a focus on advancing understanding of behavioral science applications in Puget Sound ecosystem recovery. Each session will feature brief presentations and a structured discussion […]
August 6, 2025
"> Microbial source tracking for Puget Sound
Friday, September 12 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm PT on Zoom Co-hosted with the Shellfish SIL Effective microbial source tracking is critical for safeguarding public health, restoring shellfish beds, and targeting pollution prevention efforts. Join leading researchers and fellow practitioners to explore emerging tools, regional efforts, and practical guidance to track and reduce fecal […]
August 6, 2025
"> August 15: Temperature-dependent oxygen supply and demand — a pilot on marine life vulnerability in Puget Sound
Friday, August 15 from 11 am – 1 pm We’re excited to continue the Science of Puget Sound Water Quality workshop series, which explores emerging science and insights to help protect water quality in Puget Sound. Not only does warmer water hold less oxygen, but it simultaneously increases how much oxygen marine species need, so […]
July 30, 2025
"> Around the Sound: Juvenile humpback whale ‘stronger and energetic’ after recent rescue
A juvenile humpback whale entangled in more than 200 feet of rope and then freed earlier this month has been spotted off Galiano Island in British Columbia, prompting cautious relief among biologists who are monitoring the whale’s recovery. The whale, named Starry Knight, was seen by whale watchers last Friday, and was breaching and appeared […]
July 16, 2025
"> Annual orca count grows by one, as the Puget Sound whales stay on the hunt for food
Although an official census report is not due until October, it appears that the population of our southern resident killer whales has increased by one over the past year. That slight increase is the net result of four births and three deaths, according to the Center for Whale Research, which is responsible for the annual […]
July 7, 2025
"> A photographic tour of the entire Puget Sound shoreline by watercraft and aircraft
Kayaker-scientist Brian Footen is back on the waters of Puget Sound this summer, paddling through inlets and circling islands on a 2,700-mile journey to photograph the shoreline and document natural and human-caused changes to the habitat. This state-funded project is Brian’s second photographic trip along the sinuous shoreline throughout the entirety of the Sound, from […]
July 3, 2025
"> August 4: Kelp & eelgrass risk assessment results workshop
Monday, August 4 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm PT UW Puget Sound Institute and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife are leading a spatially explicit risk assessment of the current and future threats to eelgrass and floating kelp habitats in Puget Sound that can be used to evaluate the distribution of burdens associated with […]