Puget Sound Institute senior writer Christopher Dunagan discusses the challenges of protecting Puget Sound and all things water-related. As the very first environmental reporter for the Kitsap Sun, he has been a respected voice in the region for more than 25 years. He has been covering science-related stories for the Puget Sound Institute since 2015.
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Archive of past posts
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
- Prey and predators create varying life-or-death conditions for salmon, as shown with Atlantis model
- Southeast Alaska troll fishing restored for this year by court of appeals pending full legal review
- Quantitative models, including Ecopath, take food web studies to a higher level of analysis
- Health of killer whales examined through Bayesian network modeling and informed predictions
- Researchers use a qualitative network model to test ways to boost production at shellfish farms
May 2023
- Before supercomputers, a structural model helped scientists predict currents in Puget Sound
- Shutdown looms for Alaska summer troll fishery; court order aims to provide more salmon for orcas
March 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
- Low rainfall leads to an odd and changing year for salmon, killer whales and people
- Lawsuit seeks to block Southeast Alaska troll fishing to increase salmon for orcas
October 2022
September 2022
- Killer whale census shows another down year, with three deaths and two births
- Add-on structure will begin to address steelhead crisis at the Hood Canal Bridge
August 2022
July 2022
- New orca calf confirmed amid serious health concerns and actions to protect the whales
- Green crabs in Hood Canal raise questions about invasion; further response is coming
June 2022
May 2022
February 2022
- Governor’s renewed salmon strategy faces decisive period in the current Legislature
- North Pacific expedition gets underway aboard four ocean-going research ships
January 2022
December 2021
- Ecology, EPA now under the gun to adopt new water quality criteria for aquatic creatures
- Understanding the cold-water needs of salmon and helping them to survive
November 2021
- Recovery of Puget Sound species could hinge on better understanding of ecosystems
- Puget Sound fish and wildlife populations fall short of 10-year recovery goals
October 2021
September 2021
- Orca census shows some improvement, but many whales still die before their time
- Plunging into a jungle of weather statistics to find the footprints of climate change
August 2021
July 2021
- Can biologists estimate the massive loss of shellfish caused by low tides, high temps?
- Young orcas appear to develop friendships, not unlike primates — including humans
June 2021
- Puget Sound Partnership takes closer look at human well-being and environmental justice
- Voluntary removal of BPA from food cans leaves state regulators with a key decision
May 2021
- Mercer Island student honored in national art contest for her painting of Arctic char
- As in a pandemic, the battle against invasive species may well depend on early actions
- A mile of shellfish beach near Hoodsport has been declared safe for harvesting
April 2021
- Rep. Derek Kilmer expresses optimism about future funding for Puget Sound recovery
- State agencies will focus on improving environmental justice under new law
- Environmental justice on the move: a few personal observations about change
- Washington’s Water Quality Assessment offers insights into status of pollution
March 2021
- Invasive mussel triggers widespread talks, increased coordination with pet stores
- Low-interest loans could help shoreline property owners finance improvements
- Salmon experts predict more wild coho but fewer Chinook in Puget Sound this year
February 2021
- Winding down Puget Sound’s 2020 targets, as approved shellfish acreage keeps going up
- New sewage-treatment permit would be a step to curbing nitrogen in Puget Sound
- Settlement agreement tackles water pollution caused by farming practices
January 2021
- Puget Sound Partnership proposing ‘Desired Outcomes’ for ongoing ecosystem recovery
- Repairs of bulkheads, docks and other structures now involve habitat assessment
December 2020
- Hotly debated national permit for shellfish farms could be passed to Biden administration
- New video focuses on salmon lifestyles in an ongoing series called “Tales of the Sound”
- Sunflower sea stars certified as ‘critically endangered’ by international organization
- Discovery of toxic chemical in tires spurs scientific and regulatory interest
November 2020
- Young orca calves take part in fall excursions into South Puget Sound with their mothers
- New online magazine focuses on the stories behind Puget Sound recovery efforts
- Copper is being phased out of brake pads to reduce harm to salmon, other creatures
October 2020
- Puget Sound Restoration Fund meets 10-year, 100-acre goal for restoring native oyster beds
- Controversy flares up over proposed policy revisions for state salmon hatcheries
- Minor bridge modifications could help young steelhead escape from Hood Canal
- Do we know enough to do anything about all the seals and sea lions in Puget Sound?
September 2020
- Orca census: One death in January, but no births were reported until September
- Western Washington avoids community-leveling conflagration — for now
- A look at future ocean conditions and how they could affect coastal communities
August 2020
- Does the public have a right to walk across a private beach? The answer is still unresolved
- Art contests help to carry the clean-water message to people around Puget Sound
- Safe hiking and other outdoors activities could improve mental health in pandemic
July 2020
- BPA debate rages, while state program seeks safer chemicals for many common products
- ‘Outdoors Act’ would repair national parks, protect land and address recreation needs
- Absent orcas: Most of the whales simply are not around to be counted at this time
June 2020
- State officials scramble to protect streams and wetlands in wake of federal rule
- Everything counts when helping young salmon survive their risky journey to the sea
- Funding for Puget Sound projects envisioned as part of a national stimulus package
- Hornets, crabs and rodents: setting traps to locate and contain invasive species
May 2020
- ‘Days on the Hill’ will go online this year, widening audience for Puget Sound talks
- Western Washington wildfire: What are we facing this year and beyond?
- New steelhead strategy would include increased fishing and more hatcheries
- Young artists show creativity in a plea to reduce harmful trash in the ocean
- Washington has received big money from federal wetlands grants program
April 2020
- Warm-water ‘blobs’ significantly diminish salmon, other fish populations, study says
- Earth Day events go online because of virus
- Salmon expeditions challenge old beliefs
- Time to spare? Why not conduct some real online research to advance science
March 2020
- Sewer operators worry that toilet paper shortage will lead to more nasty clogs
- Second Pacific salmon expedition gets a chance to see the effects of cooler water
- Virus related to measles could push Puget Sound orcas to extinction, study says
- Harvest managers setting this year’s salmon seasons struggle to find ways to help orcas
February 2020
- Shoreline armoring in Puget Sound gets new scrutiny from the Army Corps of Engineers
- New fishing rules increase limits on warm-water fish to indirectly help orcas
- New report describes anticipated climate-change effects in Washington state
January 2020
- Missing orca named ‘Mega’ lived a long, productive life, says Ken Balcomb
- How air pollution becomes water pollution with long-term effects on Puget Sound
- Partnership explores revised measures of Puget Sound health, as 2020 deadline arrives
- Sharing info, as changes in ocean chemistry affect Northwest waters at alarming pace
- Welcome to ‘Our Water Ways,’ a blog about Puget Sound and all things water-related