"> Today, we look inland at our mountains and forests where top predators like cougars remind us that nature is still wild and — often — unpredictable. PSI staff writer Eric Wagner has this look at a new paper with insights into when, where and why cougars may be more likely to cross paths with humans […]
December 16, 2025
"> Looking back on a year of Puget Sound surprises: rare birds, gray whales, water
The year 2025 has been fairly mystifying to experts who make their living studying natural systems in the Puget Sound region. Unusual observations this year include record-low dissolved oxygen levels, unexpected gray whale visitations, and the sudden arrival of an astounding number of short-tailed shearwaters — a seabird almost never seen in Puget Sound. Cold […]
November 7, 2025
"> December 2 roundtable shares the səlilwətaɬ / Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Fisheries & Oceans Canada collaborations in Burrard Inlet
The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, December 2 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Signed in 2021, the Burrard Inlet Environmental Science and Stewardship Agreement (BIESSA) is a Nation-to-Nation Reconciliation agreement between Canada and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation; TWN) aiming to strengthen coordination and collaboration of science and stewardship activities in Burrard Inlet, […]
October 27, 2025
"> Experts expect the recent arrival of chum salmon to bring orcas back to Puget Sound
UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 3 Whales return to Central Puget Sound without youngest calf All three pods of southern resident killer whales traveled into Central Puget Sound Sunday, making it as far south as the southern end of Vashon Island, if not farther. The past few days, various whales have been spotted in the San Juan […]
September 30, 2025
"> What is driving ongoing contamination in Commencement Bay?
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 […]