Puget Sound Institute
@pugetsoundinstitute.org
The University of Washington Puget Sound Institute provides analysis, research and communication to advance the science of ecosystem protection.
Happy Valentine's from nature's power couples!
Biologists sex beavers by smell (males = motor oil, females = rotten cheese) then matchmake pairs for WA watershed restoration.
367 beavers relocated, 12 dams built, salmon returned.
View slides and video: www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/salish-sea-s...
Biologists sex beavers by smell (males = motor oil, females = rotten cheese) then matchmake pairs for WA watershed restoration.
367 beavers relocated, 12 dams built, salmon returned.
View slides and video: www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/salish-sea-s...
Beavers as partners in restoration: A look inside the Tulalip Beaver Project
February 10, 2026 Salish Sea Science Roundtable. Twelve years ago, the Tulalip Beaver Project started with a bold idea: maybe we can partner with beavers—nature’s original engineers—to help restore salmon habitat. Today, the project is known across the country for showing how people and wildlife can work together to heal our watersheds. In this presentation, we’ll look at why beavers matter, how the Tulalip Beaver Project safely captures and relocates them, and the lessons we’ve learned from years of on‑the‑ground restoration and outreach. View the slides and learn more at: https://www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/salish-sea-science-roundtables/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 1:12 Beavers as Partners in Restoration 33:28 Q&A
tinyurl.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Happy Valentine's from nature's power couples!
Biologists sex beavers by smell (males = motor oil, females = rotten cheese) then matchmake pairs for WA watershed restoration.
367 beavers relocated, 12 dams built, salmon returned.
View slides and video: www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/salish-sea-s...
Biologists sex beavers by smell (males = motor oil, females = rotten cheese) then matchmake pairs for WA watershed restoration.
367 beavers relocated, 12 dams built, salmon returned.
View slides and video: www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/salish-sea-s...
Forever and EVERYWHERE...PFAS in Cortina.
The Olympics just saw its first 'forever chemical' disqualifications
Waxes containing PFAS are banned at the Milan-Cortina Games. Three athletes already have been disqualified for using them.
grist.org
February 13, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Forever and EVERYWHERE...PFAS in Cortina.
Reposted by Puget Sound Institute
"You are what you eat. Well, this is the corollary" -- I report on PFAS in wastewater biosolids and what they say about modern lifestyles for Salish Sea Currents, published by @pugetsoundinstitute.org:
www.eopugetsound.org/article/conc...
www.eopugetsound.org/article/conc...
Concerns over "forever chemicals" pose biosolids challenge for treatment plants | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Increasing concerns surround PFAS in products from wastewater treatment plants. How great a risk do they pose, and are there feasible approaches to removing them? We continue our occasional series on ...
www.eopugetsound.org
February 11, 2026 at 8:44 PM
"You are what you eat. Well, this is the corollary" -- I report on PFAS in wastewater biosolids and what they say about modern lifestyles for Salish Sea Currents, published by @pugetsoundinstitute.org:
www.eopugetsound.org/article/conc...
www.eopugetsound.org/article/conc...
Almost a quarter of humpback whales along the U.S. West Coast show scars from having survived an entanglement, according to a new overview published in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. www.eopugetsound.org/article/hump...
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Almost a quarter of humpback whales along the U.S. West Coast show scars from having survived an entanglement, according to a new overview published in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. www.eopugetsound.org/article/hump...
Humpback whales, absent for 100 years due to commercial whaling, have made a comeback. A new overview from @cascadiaresearch.bsky.social documents the whales' status and trends in the Salish Sea where groups of 100+ can sometimes be found in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
tinyurl.com/humpback-wha...
tinyurl.com/humpback-wha...
February 11, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Humpback whales, absent for 100 years due to commercial whaling, have made a comeback. A new overview from @cascadiaresearch.bsky.social documents the whales' status and trends in the Salish Sea where groups of 100+ can sometimes be found in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
tinyurl.com/humpback-wha...
tinyurl.com/humpback-wha...
Reposted by Puget Sound Institute
Scientists say it will take thousands of acres of restored habitat to help Puget Sound Chinook swim off the endangered-species list.
The Stillaguamish Tribe gives its river north of Seattle room to roam
www.kuow.org
February 9, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Scientists say it will take thousands of acres of restored habitat to help Puget Sound Chinook swim off the endangered-species list.
Partnering with beavers to restore salmon habitat: Tuesday, February 10 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Don't miss tomorrow's science roundtable about the Tulip Beaver Project.
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/february-10-...
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/february-10-...
February 10 roundtable explores beavers as partners in restoration: A look inside the Tulalip Beaver Project | Puget Sound Institute
The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, February 10 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Twelve years ago, the Tulalip Beaver Project started with a bold idea: maybe we can part...
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org
February 9, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Partnering with beavers to restore salmon habitat: Tuesday, February 10 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Don't miss tomorrow's science roundtable about the Tulip Beaver Project.
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/february-10-...
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/february-10-...
17 research priorities vetted by toxics experts will tackle chemical pollution in Puget Sound. New agenda focuses on Vital Sign contaminants, 6PPD-Q, and microplastics. Fact sheets under Latest Research Agenda Products: tinyurl.com/PSResearchAg...
February 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
17 research priorities vetted by toxics experts will tackle chemical pollution in Puget Sound. New agenda focuses on Vital Sign contaminants, 6PPD-Q, and microplastics. Fact sheets under Latest Research Agenda Products: tinyurl.com/PSResearchAg...
A new study by @thewdfw researchers explores how salmon create a "sense of place" and regional identity among Puget Sound residents. 87% surveyed named salmon as defining the region—more than any other species.
Understanding these connections could help conservation engage communities.
Understanding these connections could help conservation engage communities.
How salmon shape regional identity and conservation in Puget Sound | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
A 2026 paper in the journal Environmental Management explores how salmon contribute to "sense of place" and regional identity among Puget Sound residents. The paper was produced by researchers at the ...
tinyurl.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:23 PM
A new study by @thewdfw researchers explores how salmon create a "sense of place" and regional identity among Puget Sound residents. 87% surveyed named salmon as defining the region—more than any other species.
Understanding these connections could help conservation engage communities.
Understanding these connections could help conservation engage communities.
Marine mammals of the Salish Sea compiled in one place: 32 species from killer whales to sea otters.
Check out the new species list on the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound: www.eopugetsound.org/species/mari...
Special thanks to @pspartnership.bsky.social and @cascadiaresearch.bsky.social.
Check out the new species list on the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound: www.eopugetsound.org/species/mari...
Special thanks to @pspartnership.bsky.social and @cascadiaresearch.bsky.social.
February 3, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Marine mammals of the Salish Sea compiled in one place: 32 species from killer whales to sea otters.
Check out the new species list on the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound: www.eopugetsound.org/species/mari...
Special thanks to @pspartnership.bsky.social and @cascadiaresearch.bsky.social.
Check out the new species list on the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound: www.eopugetsound.org/species/mari...
Special thanks to @pspartnership.bsky.social and @cascadiaresearch.bsky.social.
How do Puget Sound researchers decide what to study next? The Grand Uncertainties Matrix identifies critical knowledge gaps to guide EPA funding and recovery work. This process has real impact—clarifying management needs and creating new restoration programs. Learn more: tinyurl.com/PSResearchAg...
February 2, 2026 at 5:01 PM
How do Puget Sound researchers decide what to study next? The Grand Uncertainties Matrix identifies critical knowledge gaps to guide EPA funding and recovery work. This process has real impact—clarifying management needs and creating new restoration programs. Learn more: tinyurl.com/PSResearchAg...
A trial in California concerning the deadly tire chemical 6PPD is now underway. Will it have implications for the Puget Sound region? PSI-affiliate Ed Kołodziej testified as a witness.
courthousenews.com/trial-begins...
courthousenews.com/trial-begins...
Trial begins in chemical runoff case against tire manufacturers
Conservationists say that a chemical used by car tire manufacturers in the U.S. is leaching into waterways and killing protected fish species.
courthousenews.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:51 PM
A trial in California concerning the deadly tire chemical 6PPD is now underway. Will it have implications for the Puget Sound region? PSI-affiliate Ed Kołodziej testified as a witness.
courthousenews.com/trial-begins...
courthousenews.com/trial-begins...
Washington lawmakers to decide whether to ban a tire chemical shown to be toxic to salmon. Christopher Dunagan reports for the PSI blog: www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/washington-l...
January 13, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Washington lawmakers to decide whether to ban a tire chemical shown to be toxic to salmon. Christopher Dunagan reports for the PSI blog: www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/washington-l...
A new study finds juvenile coho salmon at risk from the deadly tire chemical 6PPDQ. Untold numbers of hatchery fish may be dying from exposure to tire-contaminated runoff. www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/juvenile-coh...
January 13, 2026 at 12:07 AM
A new study finds juvenile coho salmon at risk from the deadly tire chemical 6PPDQ. Untold numbers of hatchery fish may be dying from exposure to tire-contaminated runoff. www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/juvenile-coh...
A recent paper in the journal Ecological Applications found that male cougars prefer to hunt in habitats where they are more likely to encounter humans. Could the findings be used to better understand and potentially minimize human-cougar conflicts? www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/where-mounta...
Where mountain lions and people do or do not mix | Puget Sound Institute
Occasionally, this space includes reports and essays from guest writers on the subject of Puget Sound ecosystem recovery. Today we look inland at our mountains and forests where top predators like cou...
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org
January 5, 2026 at 11:42 PM
A recent paper in the journal Ecological Applications found that male cougars prefer to hunt in habitats where they are more likely to encounter humans. Could the findings be used to better understand and potentially minimize human-cougar conflicts? www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/where-mounta...
New in our magazine Salish Sea Currents: The year 2025 has been fairly mystifying to experts who make their living studying natural systems in the Puget Sound region. Christopher Dunagan reports on how unusual marine conditions might have affected wildlife. www.eopugetsound.org/article/look...
Looking back on a year of Puget Sound surprises: rare birds, gray whales, water | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
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, ...
www.eopugetsound.org
December 17, 2025 at 11:26 PM
New in our magazine Salish Sea Currents: The year 2025 has been fairly mystifying to experts who make their living studying natural systems in the Puget Sound region. Christopher Dunagan reports on how unusual marine conditions might have affected wildlife. www.eopugetsound.org/article/look...
Tsleil-Waututh Nation & Fisheries Canada shared preliminary research tracking Burrard Inlet ecosystem changes: crab movement patterns, native vs invasive clam distributions, and drought-related oxygen drops in the Indian River. Watch the Salish Sea Science Roundtable video.
Salish Sea Science Roundtable 12.2.25 | səlilwətaɬ & DFO Collaboration in Burrard Inlet
YouTube video by Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Tsleil-Waututh Nation & Fisheries Canada shared preliminary research tracking Burrard Inlet ecosystem changes: crab movement patterns, native vs invasive clam distributions, and drought-related oxygen drops in the Indian River. Watch the Salish Sea Science Roundtable video.
Most wastewater treatment for PFAS only traps the forever chemicals in filters. In a pilot study at Tacoma's plant, researchers destroyed >99% of PFAS using a two-step process. UWT, City of Tacoma, Aquaga & ECT2 shared results in Nov. Watch the recording to see how:
youtu.be/Oq4wjDR0ID0?...
youtu.be/Oq4wjDR0ID0?...
Cutting the Chain: Innovation to Destroy PFAS in Wastewater
YouTube video by Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Most wastewater treatment for PFAS only traps the forever chemicals in filters. In a pilot study at Tacoma's plant, researchers destroyed >99% of PFAS using a two-step process. UWT, City of Tacoma, Aquaga & ECT2 shared results in Nov. Watch the recording to see how:
youtu.be/Oq4wjDR0ID0?...
youtu.be/Oq4wjDR0ID0?...
Counting salmon is a breeze with airborne eDNA www.washington.edu/news/2025/11...
Counting salmon is a breeze with airborne eDNA
In a new study, University of Washington researchers collected salmon DNA in air filters near a stream, showing that eDNA can move between air and water, a possibility scientists hadn’t accounted...
www.washington.edu
December 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Counting salmon is a breeze with airborne eDNA www.washington.edu/news/2025/11...
Cold water corals in Salish Sea unlock new insights into ocean health
Study: Acidification in the Pacific foreshadows world's other waters www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/nov/13/...
Via Cascadia Daily and @uwnews.uw.edu
Study: Acidification in the Pacific foreshadows world's other waters www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/nov/13/...
Via Cascadia Daily and @uwnews.uw.edu
Cold water corals in Salish Sea unlock new insights into ocean health | Cascadia Daily News
Study: Acidification in the Pacific foreshadows world's other waters
www.cascadiadaily.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Cold water corals in Salish Sea unlock new insights into ocean health
Study: Acidification in the Pacific foreshadows world's other waters www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/nov/13/...
Via Cascadia Daily and @uwnews.uw.edu
Study: Acidification in the Pacific foreshadows world's other waters www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/nov/13/...
Via Cascadia Daily and @uwnews.uw.edu
They aren't technically marine mammals, but for the 40 grizzlies that roam B.C.'s Glendale Cove, the connection to the Salish Sea and its salmon is profound. There's some incredible footage of these bears in the latest Salish Sea Wild from @seadocsociety.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZZ...
The Salish Sea’s Grizzly Connection (Salish Sea Wild)
YouTube video by SeaDoc Society
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
They aren't technically marine mammals, but for the 40 grizzlies that roam B.C.'s Glendale Cove, the connection to the Salish Sea and its salmon is profound. There's some incredible footage of these bears in the latest Salish Sea Wild from @seadocsociety.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZZ...
The next Salish Sea Science Roundtable is Tuesday, Dec 2 | 12:30 - 1:30. Hear from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada on salmon, clam, and crab research projects in Burrard Inlet. Register at: washington.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
November 7, 2025 at 8:31 PM
The next Salish Sea Science Roundtable is Tuesday, Dec 2 | 12:30 - 1:30. Hear from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada on salmon, clam, and crab research projects in Burrard Inlet. Register at: washington.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
How is Puget Sound doing? The 2025 State of the Sound report from the Puget Sound Partnership takes a candid look at the progress and challenges driving Puget Sound recovery. Among the takeaways: "When we do invest in recovery, we see results." stateofthesound.wa.gov
November 6, 2025 at 4:03 AM
How is Puget Sound doing? The 2025 State of the Sound report from the Puget Sound Partnership takes a candid look at the progress and challenges driving Puget Sound recovery. Among the takeaways: "When we do invest in recovery, we see results." stateofthesound.wa.gov
Updated SKRW news.
Experts expect the recent arrival of chum salmon to bring orcas back to Puget Sound | Puget Sound Institute
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 ...
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org
November 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Updated SKRW news.
