A catalyst for ecosystem recovery

The University of Washington Puget Sound Institute provides analysis, research and communication to inform and connect the science of ecosystem protection.

The big picture: Our comprehensive approach

Ecosystem management in Puget Sound has become increasingly complex. Scientists now recognize that what happens on the land is intricately tied to the health of the water. We face climate change and unprecedented population growth, and researchers have identified thousands of different human-caused pressures on the ecosystem. Given limited resources, how can managers and policymakers make informed decisions about where to focus their recovery efforts?

The Puget Sound Institute provides expertise across three major areas:

1. Science for policy

Technical assistance to resource managers and policymakers
PSI and our partners receive major funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to support and enhance new strategies for improving the health of Puget Sound.

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Puget Sound Partnership

human wellbeing indicator wheel
The human wellbeing indicator wheel was developed to provide a social science perspective on ecosystem management.

2. Research

Scientific studies
Our expertise is strongly grounded in original research. Since 2010, PSI scientists along with our collaborators at the Center for Urban Waters have published on a range of topics, including the ecology of forage fish, stormwater, microplastics, social science and emerging contaminants.

3. Communication

Trusted, decision-critical information
We bring together scientific findings from around the region through synthesis, study panels, technical peer-reviews and publications such as the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound and Salish Sea Currents.

A collection of Salish Sea Currents printed flyers.
Salish Sea Currents stories are published online in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound and as printed materials.


Recent blog posts


Browse posts by keyword

CATEGORIES

TAGS

Center for Whale Research Chinook Climate change Coho salmon Disease eelgrass Emerging contaminants Encyclopedia of Puget Sound Food-web forage fish Grants Green crab harbor seals Implementation Strategies Invasive species Jobs Killer whales microplastics Modeling Monitoring Nutrient pollution Nutrients Ocean Acidification Oil spills orcas Pacific Herring PCBs Puget Sound Puget Sound Partnership Puget Sound Vital Signs Salish Sea Currents Salmon sea lions Shellfish Shoreline armoring Social science Southern Resident Killer Whales Steelhead Stormwater Toxic pollution Toxics in fish Tribes Washington Department of Ecology Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Water quality