Puget Sound

Puget Sound, the nation’s second largest marine estuary, faces a number of challenges related to population growth and development, habitat loss, and pollution. We work with local and tribal governments, state and federal agencies, non-profits, and private sector partners to protect and restore the Sound.
Puget Sound, the nation’s second largest marine estuary, faces a number of challenges related to population growth and development, habitat loss, and pollution. We work with local and tribal governments, state and federal agencies, non-profits, and private sector partners to protect and restore the Sound.

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Oak Harbor has Puget Sound's future in mind
The city of Oak Harbor is about to bring Puget Sound's newest wastewater treatment plant online.
Monitoring is essential to Puget Sound

We recently adapted our sediment monitoring program to collect data that will help better understand the effects of climate change and of nutrient pollution flowing into the Sound.

Bad to the bone: The skeleton shrimps are drop-dead cool
If you can put aside their alien appearance, skeleton shrimp are fascinating creatures.
Think pink: bloodworms rule the beaches of South Sound
Bloodworms are a type of polychaete, or marine segmented worm, in the family Glyceridae.
Ecology researchers study climate effects on Puget Sound food web

Unusual phytoplankton blooms caused by warm ocean water give scientists a glimpse into the future of marine life, from shellfish to whales.

Beach poop is everyone's business

Swimming in fecal bacteria is not only gross but can make you sick.

Size matters — What can we learn from biomass and size classification?
We're studying benthic invertebrate biomass (critter size) for the first time on a large scale in Puget Sound.
Hitting the brakes on copper pollution

June is Orca Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to become aware of the impacts pollution coming from things like vehicle brakes can have.

The "unicorn" shrimp is pure magic
Nebalia pugettensis is a tiny crustacean that lives on the sea floor, with a horn-like rostrum and leg-like appendages that function as lungs.
Puget Sound Nutrient Watch: Algal Blooms

Excess nutrients can cause an explosion of algae growth called algal blooms, we discuss more about these blooms.