The field of decision analysis studies and develops rigorous and practical methods for improving how we make decisions. Over the past three years, the Puget Sound Partnership has invested in decision science expertise in its ongoing role of supporting effective Puget Sound recovery. A new paper in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound describes some of these efforts […]
December 11, 2014
The ecosystem is delicious
The shellfish industry is an economic cornerstone in Puget Sound, but the region’s famed mollusks provide more than just money and jobs. They offer what are called ecosystem services—a wide variety of benefits that humans derive from an ecosystem. Read Eric Wagner’s story in today’s Salish Sea Currents.
December 11, 2014
Leadership Council approves 2014-2016 plan for priority science
The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council has adopted the 2014-16 Biennial Science Work Plan, a technical document identifying and recommending priority science for Puget Sound recovery. Nick Georgiadis of the Puget Sound Institute led the drafting of the document in cooperation with the Puget Sound Partnership Science Panel. Download the full document.
December 10, 2014
Paper says spawning herring show little preference for vegetation
Pacific herring are known to lay their eggs on a wide variety of submerged vegetation, from algae to seagrass. A new study in the Marine Ecology Progress Series reports that Puget Sound herring show little preference when it comes to these types of spawning vegetation. The paper, co-authored by Puget Sound Institute Lead Ecologist Tessa Francis, analyzes […]
December 2, 2014
EPA releases final Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund cleanup plan
The new EPA cleanup plan for the Lower Duwamish Waterway seeks to remove 90% of the river’s pollution over a period of 17 years. The EPA issued the following press release today.
November 21, 2014
Nature inspires new approach to flood control
Every year, winter rains bring the threat of millions of dollars in property damage, or even the loss of life, from floods. Rivers have historically been channeled and tamed to protect towns and farms in low-lying floodplains, but research shows that this approach may actually be making flooding worse while at the same time threatening […]
November 18, 2014
New research identifies ‘time of emergence’ of climate change impacts in Puget Sound
When can we expect to see the full impacts of climate change in Puget Sound, and what will those be? UW Climate Impacts Group Director Amy Snover will present new research in a talk tomorrow (November 19th) at the University of Washington Tacoma. Her presentation is from 2-3:30 at the UWT Research Commons, 3rd Floor […]
November 6, 2014
PSI is hiring a research scientist
The Puget Sound Institute is seeking a highly-motivated full-time research scientist to analyze and synthesize, and help design a communication plan for, the results of 30–35 research projects conducted over the last 4 years focused on recovery and protection of the nearshore and marine environments of Puget Sound. This is an 8-month project, and we […]
October 31, 2014
Brighter future for salmon at downtown seawall
The decaying seawall along Seattle’s waterfront is providing scientists with an opportunity to improve long-lost habitat for migrating salmon. It could also show the way for habitat enhancements to crumbling infrastructure worldwide. One University of Washington researcher describes the project. Read more about the Seattle seawall in Salish Sea Currents.
October 22, 2014
Shifting plankton communities in Lake Washington
Puget Sound Institute Research Scientist Tessa Francis is the lead author on a new paper in PLOS One describing changes in Lake Washington plankton communities from 1962 to 1994.