The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, is the only oyster native to Washington. Its historical range stretches from the coasts of British Columbia down to Southern California. Before the arrival of white settlers in Washington, there may have been 20,000 acres of Olympia oysters living throughout the bays and inlets of Puget Sound.

Zooplankton are a diverse group of small organisms that drift in marine and freshwater and feed on phytoplankton (plant plankton) and other zooplankton. This group includes jellyfish and comb-jellies, small crustaceans like copepods and krill, the larval forms of crabs and oysters, the larval or juvenile forms of some fish, and many other organisms.

Last year, Pierce Conservation District became the first of its kind in the nation to create a carbon credit program. As one of 45 conservation districts in Washington State and approximately 3,000 nationwide, this is a big win in the fight against climate change for the state.

Born and raised in Virginia, Amy Eberling’s love of the ocean began on family trips to the Assateague and Chincoteague Islands. Although she may not have realized it at the time, those experiences planted a seed that would later bloom into The Salish Sea School.

For the last six years, the Puget Sound Partnership and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission have held an event that draws attendees from around the Puget Sound region and across

Laura Blackmore, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, speaks with Anji Moraes, senior program officer at Vulcan Inc. They discuss salmon recovery, the removal of obsolete dams in the Pacific Northwest, and how infrastructure can help with salmon recovery and climate change adaptation. This interview was recorded on March 23, 2021.

Laura Blackmore, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, speaks with Governor Jay Inslee. In their conversation, they discuss the important connections between climate change, Puget Sound recovery, and environmental justice. This interview was recorded on March 8, 2021.

Laura Blackmore, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, speaks with David Troutt, natural resources director for the Nisqually Indian Tribe. In their conversation, they discuss salmon recovery, climate change, and moving I-5 off the Nisqually Delta. This interview was recorded on February 25, 2021.

The Southern Resident orcas that call Puget Sound home are critically endangered. For the last few years, Washington Conservation Districts—along with dozens of non-profit and agency partners—have provided folks the

Did you know that some kelp species are among the largest of all seaweeds? And did you know Washington state is home to 22 species of kelp, which means there

https://youtu.be/nPrN8GY-W00 In 2017, the Northwest Straits Foundation, Skagit Marine Resources Committee, Washington State Parks, and Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group completed a restoration project at the beach at Bowman Bay in

Puget Sound is a unique place. It’s one of the largest estuaries in the nation, a mix of freshwater from rivers and streams and saltwater from the Pacific. Iconic wildlife