Puget Sound Institute

False killer whales in the Salish Sea | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound OverviewThe false killer whale is a tropical to warm temperate species of dolphin that is not normally found in the Salish Sea. However, the species does occasionally appear in small numbers in Pacifi...

Here's the direct link! www.eopugetsound.org/article/fals...

A wild WA island’s seabirds reveal strange signs of change From puffins to auklets, the feathered creatures of Destruction Island reveal the impacts of climate change.

Our own Eric Wagner has a new book coming out in March! Read an excerpt from 'Seabirds as Sentinels' in The Seattle Times.

The seabirds of Destruction Island off WA reveal impacts of climate change

www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-m...

False killer whale breaching from ocean surface with mahi mahi fish in its mouth.

True or False?

False killer whales are large dolphins shaped like a cigar.
They can be acrobatic especially when feeding on fish.
They rarely visit the Salish Sea.

All true!

Learn more. Link in bio >Species >Marine mammals of the Salish Sea

Thx! @pspartnership @cascadiaresearch
#marinemammals

Group of eleven people outdoors at a wastewater treatment plant, under bluesky and puffy clouds.

A beaker of liquid in a lab with brown solids settle at the bottom and clear water at the top.

View of wastewater aeration in the foreground with water and land under blue sky and clouds in the distance.

Field trip! At Chambers Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant we learned loads about processing and treating urban waste. HUGE thanks to our @PierceCounty tour guides.

Stay tuned for more photos.

More on #pugetsound nutrient pollution at www.eopugetsound.org/hot-topics/n...

Is tyre pollution causing mass deaths in vulnerable salmon populations? A US judge will decide if, as research suggests, a chemical tyre additive is harming endangered fish species

The four tires on your car can produce enough of the chemical 6PPDQ to kill more than 11 million salmon. That was the testimony of PSI-affiliate Ed Kolodziej in a recent court case over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act by tire manufacturers. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New fact sheet on top research priorities for keeping shellfish safe. PSI experts developed a research agenda focusing on reducing fecal pathogen pollution and boosting harvestable acreage. Download under Latest Research Agenda Products: tinyurl.com/PSResearchAg... @wadepthealth.bsky.social

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

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...

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.

Forever and EVERYWHERE...PFAS in Cortina.

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 ...

"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...

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...

Social media graphic announcing new Encyclopedia of Puget Sound article on humpback whales with breaching whale photo

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...

The Stillaguamish Tribe gives its river north of Seattle room to roam

Scientists say it will take thousands of acres of restored habitat to help Puget Sound Chinook swim off the endangered-species list.

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...

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-...

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...

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 ...

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.

Killer whales, harbor seals, and a sea otter featured in a graphic announcing a new Salish Sea marine mammals species list.

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.

Two great blue herons. Text: The Grand Uncertainties Matrix (GUM) comprises 391 regionally relevant uncertainties, questions, and knowledge gaps identified by topical experts to drive Puget Sound recovery.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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, ...

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...

Salish Sea Science Roundtable 12.2.25 | səlilwətaɬ & DFO Collaboration in Burrard Inlet YouTube video by Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

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.

Cutting the Chain: Innovation to Destroy PFAS in Wastewater YouTube video by Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

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?...

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...

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 | Cascadia Daily News Study: Acidification in the Pacific foreshadows world's other waters

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

The Salish Sea’s Grizzly Connection (Salish Sea Wild) YouTube video by SeaDoc Society

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...

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

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 ...

Updated SKRW news.