Encyclopedia of Puget Sound Homepage

Explore the Encyclopedia

Latest Articles

An adult and a juvenile killer whale swimming next to each other
The news of two new southern resident orca calves this year marks the 50th anniversary of whale counts from the Center for Whale Research.
Diptych of cinchona bark and tire tread, overlaid with chemical structures of 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone.
The tire chemical 6PPD is known worldwide for its deadly effect on salmon, but it also has a complex history. We look at how this history connects to important breakthroughs in modern transportation and medicine and how the unique chemical structure of 6PPD makes it an environmental hazard.
Four beach photographs: 1) people learnng about beach processes from a geologist, 2) homes on top of a feeder bluff, 3) dunegrass and woody debris with a home in the background, 4) excavator placing beach nourishment material. Shore Friendly logo in the center.
This report describes and analyzes the first six years (2019-2025) of Shore Friendly as an established program within the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
2026-2030 Action Agenda report cover
The 2026-2030 Action Agenda was approved by the Puget Sound Partnership's Leadership Council on June 3rd, 2026. After adopting the plan, the Leadership Council submitted it to the EPA and requested that the Action Agenda be approved as the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for the Puget Sound National Estuary Program.
Artistic rendering of a shoreline from report cover
Shoreline modification is pervasive in the Puget Sound region and the use of physical structures to curtail erosion, known as armoring, degrades ecosystems and reduces salmonid forage opportunities. Shore Friendly, a program of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, supports waterfront stewardship on private lands through technical
Three northern right whale dolphins surfacing partially out of water.

Overview

The northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) is one of the most unusual marine mammals of the North Pacific Ocean. It is the only dolphin species in the Northern Hemisphere with no hint of a dorsal fin, and it is very slender and streamlined, making it appear almost eel-like. Northern right whale dolphins are found only in cool