Increasing Pollutants and Toxins in 2020

Along with all the other challenges to all of us this year, our unique and beautiful underwater world and wildlife has also had its own challenges. During my regular weekly explorations below the surface of Puget Sound, from Burrows Pass to Commencement Bay, I have been seeing, photographing and personally experiencing a great disturbing increase in pollutants and toxins.

Gorgeous Red Irish Lord Sculpin (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus)

Mosshead Warbonnet (Chirolophis nugator)

Juvenile Wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus)

We are blessed with some of the most amazing and diverse life found anywhere in the world. I am constantly telling people locally and around the world what life is living and thriving just below the surface of our cold frigid waters. 

Unfortunately our waters are under great and ever increasing stress. From local streams and creeks, to our rivers, lakes and finally the Sound. Pollutants and toxins are leaching and flowing into our waters. Our population is growing at an alarming rate. Nearly 1000 people are moving in and around the Puget Sound region every week. Increasing cars and trucks on the roads and highways are leading to growing storm drain runoff. Industrial growth is also contributing to more and more pollutants making its way into our waters. 

All are negatively affecting acidification, warming waters and many other problems. As an example, within just the past seven or eight years, I have seen a temperature increase of Puget Sound of nearly ten degrees. Wildlife cannot withstand an increase like this over long periods of time.

My organization is continually working to educate the residents and businesses in our area to work to limit, control and hopefully reduce these growing problems. I will continue to post more blogs and information about Puget Sound Underwater.

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