"> It appears that a decade-long battle to establish allowable levels of toxic chemicals in Washington state’s waterways may finally be over. Strict toxic standards, first imposed on the state in 2016 by the Environmental Protection Agency, seem to have prevailed. Primary chemicals of concern in the long battle over human health criteria include polychlorinated biphenyls, […]
April 14, 2025
"> The winner of Grand Uncertainties Madness!
After five rounds of voting, the winner of the Grand Uncertainties Madness tournament bracket is: What type of protection and restoration actions have the largest and most lasting impact on floodplain function and which types of actions are cost effective? This research need (from the rivers group) won in a close but decisive victory over […]
April 8, 2025
"> May 13 roundtable will delve into transboundary threats from European green crab in the Salish Sea
Co-hosted with the University of Washington, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, May 13 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Drs. P. Sean McDonald (University of Washington) and Thomas Therriault (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) bring nearly 50 years of combined expertise in the […]
April 7, 2025
"> Research and whale watching enhanced with artificial intelligence to identify individual orcas
When out on Puget Sound with killer whale experts, I’m often impressed by how quickly such folks can identify individual whales by name or number, even when a group of orcas is swimming a fair distance away. I can’t begin to do that, because I have never studied the catalogs of dorsal fins and markings […]
April 2, 2025
"> Unpacking uncertainty: How experts recommend improving Puget Sound modeling
An external scientific review by independent experts is a common and valuable practice, particularly when the models have significant management implications. This ethos is why peer review is foundational to science in general. By providing an objective assessment, external reviewers can help ensure the models are robust and appropriate for the management decisions they’re being […]
March 28, 2025
"> PSI’s Andy James receives grant to track PCBs and PBDEs in the Hylebos waterway
The Hylebos waterway, located in White/Puyallup river watershed, is a hotspot for PCBs and PBDEs. PSI senior research scientist Andy James has received a federally supported grant for $858,000 to track the sources of PCBs and PBDEs in the Hylebos waterway in Tacoma. The waterway is a hotspot for PCBs and PBDEs, and despite ongoing […]
March 28, 2025
"> Grand Uncertainties Madness
Join PSI’s bracket tournament––March 28 through April 9! What are the most important scientific research questions about Puget Sound ecosystem recovery? You decide! We are pitting 32 research questions head-to-head so that YOU can vote for the top research need for Puget Sound recovery! Is it a question about chemical pollution? Solutions to hard shoreline […]
March 27, 2025
"> EoPS has a new look!
You might have noticed that the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound looks especially awesome these days. We just released EoPS 2.0 with more vibrant colors, improved navigation and more modern features under the hood. You’ll still find the same great articles, but they will load a little faster and will play well with new browsers and smartphones. Take […]
March 14, 2025
"> April 8 roundtable will explore offshore renewable energy in the Pacific & potential benthic impacts
Co-hosted with the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, April 8 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Dr. Sarah Henkel is a benthic ecologist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center and Associate Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center at OSU. She will present […]
February 3, 2025
"> February 4 roundtable: A Tale of Three Auks
Co-hosted with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, February 4 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. The Tufted Puffin, Marbled Murrelet and Rhinoceros Auklet are all in the same family (Alcidae), but show different seasonal dependencies on the Salish Sea. In addition, their nesting strategies […]