The Puget Sound

Introduction

The Puget Sound is located primarily along the northwestern coast of Washington. It is essentially a large estuary that spans roughly 100 miles of land; this inlet stretches from Deception Pass in the north to Olympia, Washington, in the south. In addition, the Puget Sound serves as a habitat to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including over 200 different species of fish.

 

(source: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2013/02/images/f31a-HoodCanalMap3.jpg) 

History

The Puget Sound was originally formed millions of years ago by the collision of tectonic plates in the Northern Pacific Ocean. The region has consistently experienced the retreat and advancement of ice sheets due to its high latitude.

The sound was originally claimed in 1792 by George Vancouver, an English officer of the British Navy. He named the location after his lieutenant, Peter Puget. 

The area experienced a large increase in population during the Industrial Revolution of the mid-1850s. Ever since more and more people have come to reside here, unfortunately, the surrounding environment has become degraded and threatened. Below is a picture of the Puget Sound at the turn of the 19th century.

 

 (source: https://www.climate.gov/sites/default/files/Waterfront-and-Tidal-Flats-ca.-1898_0.jpg)

From the middle of the 19th century and onward, the environment has been exploited for its natural resources. In particular, this includes logging, fishing, and hunting animals for their fur. 

Ecosystem

 

(source: http://www.marlimillerphoto.com/images/110226-24.jpg)

The Puget Sound of today, pictured above, is composed of several saltwater estuaries. More specifically, the ecosystem can be split into four basins: Hood Canal, Main Basin, South Sound, and Whidbey Basin.

Human Impact

Overall, the human impact on the Puget Sound is nothing less than UGLY. There have been several activities that have wreaked havoc on the environment, which is struggling to rehabilitate. A couple of these main problems are listed below.

Fishing 

A very common practice anywhere along the Northern Pacific coast is fishing. Due to the economic viability of this activity, both the Puget Sound and the aquatic species within have been negatively impacted.

 
(source: http://www.derelictgear.org/uploads/Maps/NetsRemainAsOfFeb28%202014.jpg)

As shown above, a major issue caused by fishing is derelict net targets. When large fishing groups leave behind their equipment, the effect is similar to when debris enters the ocean. Native species can get caught in the targets and die, and the habitats that form naturally within the water, like log jams, are obstructed.

In particular, one species that has been impacted the most is salmon. This is specifically due to the destruction of log jams in bodies of water for boats to traverse safely. As log jams provide protection to salmon, their young (fry), and their eggs, it is no surprise that the population of salmon is declining in the Puget Sound.

Industry and Property

As the region is primarily coastal, it is extremely attractive for both housing and corporations. Unfortunately, this leads to a lot of pollution in the nearby waters. 

 

(source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRMOaPKbkqbMHCWTyeohMgChvXwu-mMgwrV4yy__WL118yS3Pfs-fDemE2ZHk4xMtkbiVFlstXAVEOgeo_Cw_yFTCsxnWptkGMq4f65jFQKlTZ9uO5z0MTCJQIAhnwSSHqVnrUcol4PKM/s1600/puget-sound-pollution-tracker.png) 

Specifically within the area, one of the worst results of the pollution is hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen in the water. In the chemicals being dumped into the water, there are a lot of nitrates and other compounds that serve as nutrients for algae. After the algae grow and "bloom", they die, which leads to a large number of decomposers breaking down the algae and using oxygen in the water in the process. This deprives other species of oxygen and leads to their demise.

(source: http://www2.epa.gov/salish-sea/marine-water-quality)

Protective Measures

Fortunately, many are aware of the plight of the Puget Sound and have been proactive in restoring the Puget Sound to its former glory. For example, the government of Washington has established Marine Protected Areas throughout all of the sound, as shown below. The protected locations are in much better shape than before, when marine birds and fish were sharply dropping in population and water quality was rather poor.

 

(source: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/mpa/)

Future Prospects and Improvements

Currently, there is a lot of energy and effort being invested into protecting and restoring the environment of the Puget Sound. One movement is the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan. This project outlines quantitative and qualitative goals for the number of fish in particular areas of the sound as well as the quality of water and habitats. This is being accomplished by intense monitoring of watersheds and also restoring stream habitats that were degraded or destroyed by urbanization.

(source: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/)

Another current mission is the FRAP, or Future Risk Assessment Project. Presently, it is mapping out all possible outcomes of urbanization in the Puget Sound relative to the stringency of the laws being enforced on new construction. As it is predicted for the area's population to increase by 2 million within the next twenty years, the members of FRAP have emphasized the necessity of limiting expansion into wild domains for the sake of the quality of both human and animal life.

In addition to the measures above that are being taken, it is necessary to ensure that there is reasonable government regulation of pollution and construction in the Puget Sound. It would be beneficial to impose heavy fines on improper disposal of waste in order to deter companies from carelessly dumping into the sound. Also, there should be encouragement to rework currently existing buildings and houses rather than trying to create frameworks on currently uninhabited land. As the Puget Sound is a unique and diverse environment, it is crucial to ensure its preservation.

With regards to the plans that are being made now for the Puget Sound's future, it appears that the region will likely be able to be restored to prior conditions. Considering how proactive the organizers of these objectives are, it would not be surprising to see the Puget Sound make a full ecological recovery within the next forty to fifty years. Fortunately, there seems to be a general awareness about the sensitivity of the environment, which is the first step in diminishing negligent activities in the area. This will enable people to work toward the changes that are needed to see the Puget Sound flourish in the foreseeable future.

References

"Effects of Mid-twenty-first Century Climate and Land Cover Change on the Hydrology of the Puget Sound Basin, Washington." - Cuo. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hyp.7932/full>.

"Marine Protected Areas within Puget Sound | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife." Marine Protected Areas within Puget Sound | Washington Department of Fish &amp; Wildlife. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/mpa/>.

"Marine Water Conditions Index (MWCI) | Marine Water Quality Monitoring | Environmental Assessment Program | Washington State Department of Ecology." Marine Water Conditions Index (MWCI) | Marine Water Quality Monitoring | Environmental Assessment Program | Washington State Department of Ecology. 7 July 2011. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/mwci.html>.

"Puget Sound - National Wildlife Federation." Puget Sound - National Wildlife Federation. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wild-places/puget-sound.aspx>.

"Puget Sound Future Scenarios." University of Washington Urban Ecology Research Lab. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://urbaneco.washington.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/scenarios_report.pdf>.

"Section 2. The Future of Puget Sound: Where Are We Going?" Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/section-2-future-puget-sound-where-are-we-going>.

"Welcome to the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program." Welcome to the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.hoodcanal.washington.edu/>.

"West Coast Region Home :: NOAA Fisheries." West Coast Region Home :: NOAA Fisheries. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/>.