Geographic boundaries of Puget Sound and the Salish Sea

Use our interactive map to determine if a geographic feature is within the boundaries of the Puget Sound or Salish Sea watersheds. The Puget Sound region includes the area within the United States while the Salish Sea region* encompasses the entire shaded area. Areas that influence circulation in the Salish Sea or eventually drain into the estuary are marked by broader boundaries.

The Puget Sound Fact Book brings together statistics and other information about the health and makeup of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Areas of focus include climate change, geography, water quality, habitats, human dimensions and regional species. The fact book was prepared for the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Puget Sound Partnership.

The Salish Sea extends across the U.S.-Canada border, and includes the combined waters of the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound Basin and the San Juan Islands (see map).

The name Salish Sea was proposed by Bert Webber in 1989 to reflect the entire cross-border ecosystem. Both Washington State and British Columbia voted to officially recognize the name in late 2009. The name honors the Coast Salish people, who were the first to live in the region.

There are many ways of defining the boundaries of the Puget Sound watershed. Hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) are nationally standardized divisions that are often used by conservation agencies and national organizations.

The Washington State Department of Ecology and other state natural resources agencies have divided the Washington into 62 "Water Resource Inventory Areas" or "WRIAs" to delineate the state's major watersheds.

Can restoring the natural balance of the Nooksack River also reduce flood risks? Officials on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border are taking note as climate change raises the stakes. 

Scientists are using computer models to address complex issues in the Salish Sea like the rise of harmful algal blooms and the movement of toxic PCBs. LiveOcean, Atlantis and the Salish Sea Model are three systems that are changing the game for ecologists and other researchers.

The Puget Sound River History Project at the University of Washington features historical topographic data for Puget Sound's river systems.  

The Puget Sound ecosystem is shaped by its physical environment. This article looks at Puget Sound's geologic history as well as dynamic factors such as the flow of its rivers and currents.

Puget Sound is the second largest estuary in the contiguous United States. Today, we understand that estuaries — where freshwater and saltwater merge — are among the most productive places for life to exist.

The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest brings together more than 230 extraordinary images of the Salish Sea. But don't call it a coffee table book. Its lush photos are backed by a serious scientific perspective on this complex and fragile ecosystem.

The Puget Sound Model was designed and built by the University of Washington School of Oceanography in the early 1950s to simulate the tides and currents of Puget Sound. A series of videos produced by the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound describes its construction and operation.

The Puget Sound Model was designed and built in the early 1950s at the University of Washington School of Oceanography as a research and teaching tool for understanding Puget Sound circulation patterns.

The Floristic Atlas of the San Juan Islands was created by the University of Washington Herbarium and provides a tool for mapping and comparing the distributions of vascular plant species within the San Juan Islands of Washington. 

Protection Island, a National Wildlife Refuge in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, provides important habitat for seabirds and marine mammals.

Learn more about demographics in Whatcom County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Thurston County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Snohomish County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Skagit County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in San Juan County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Pierce County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Mason County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Lewis County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Kitsap County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in King County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Jefferson County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Island County, Washington.  The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.

Learn more about demographics in Clallam County, Washington. The U.S. Census Bureau published the following quick facts.