June 22, 2021
By Kathleen McKeegan, WSG Science Communications Fellow
It’s not a matter of if, but when. New tsunami hazard maps published by the Washington Geological Survey and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) show that a large earthquake on the Cascadia subduction zone (CSZ) off ...
April 28, 2021
“Our coast Salish people had methods of cultivating the natural environment to support the ecosystems but also to feed the people,” says Alana Quintasket, senator for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. “And a clam garden is one example of that.” However, clam gardens have been dormant for hundreds of years in many of places that they used to exist. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is currently working toward reviving the ancient mariculture practice in modern-day Washington.
Not only does this ...
Read MoreMarch 31, 2021
We are thrilled to announce the release of Planet Ocean, a nonfiction book for middle-grade readers (ages 8 and up) written with an underwater perspective about how climate change and pollution affect the sustainability of our sea. In addition to some cool science, Planet Ocean readers discover our unbreakable connection to the sea. Writer Patricia Newman and diver/photographer Annie Crawley give voice to stories from inspirational scientists, Indigenous peoples, and kids and teens impacted by ocean changes and working to combat them.
Meg Chadsey, ...
Read MoreMarch 11, 2021
By Carrie Garrison-Laney, WSG Tsunami Hazards Specialist and PMEL Liaison
On March 11, 2011 the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan — the 4th largest ever recorded worldwide — and the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Sendai, and Fukushima in eastern Japan. The tsunami attained a maximum height of 133 feet (40 meters) — the height of a 12-story building. Some communities were completely washed away. The tsunami also caused a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi when ...
Read MoreJanuary 12, 2020
In case you missed it, here’s the recording for Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline Virtual Opening Celebration from the Burke Museum, a special exhibit opening sponsored by Washington Sea Grant. Learn how artist Ray Troll and curator Dr. Kirk Johnson created a lifelong friendship and partnership that over the past decades has led to a brand new exhibit on view at the Burke Museum.
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By MaryAnn Wagner, WSG Assistant Director for Communications
Owen Beach, located in Point Defiance Park, is a popular area for many communities in Tacoma, providing beach access for boaters, swimmers and ...
Read MoreDecember 14, 2020
In a typical year, we would invite the public to join us at a king tides viewing party this week to learn about the highest tides of the year, and what they can teach us about sea level rise. We all know that this is not a typical year. Instead, we invite you to learn about king tides from Bridget Trosin, WSG coastal policy specialist, in the video below.
Learn more and see the calendar of when king tides ...
Read MoreDecember 10, 2020
WSG awarded grants for Green Shores for Homes, Sea Level Rise Exposure, Shoreline Monitoring Toolbox, and Green Crab Projects for a total of $1.15 million.
The National Estuary Program (NEP) is a place-based initiative to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Earlier this year, the Puget Sound NEP Habitat Strategic Initiative
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DEC
December 9, 2020
A new report details the effects of a changing climate on Puget Sound in 2019, and documents how these changes moved through the ecosystem to affect marine life and seafood consumers.
Scientists observed unusually warm water temperatures in 2019, though not as warm as during the years of “the Blob” marine heatwave of 2014-2016. Salinity was generally higher than normal throughout the Puget ...
Read MoreNovember 23, 2020
King tides, the annual extreme-high tides that occur whenever the moon is closest to Earth, are a dramatic feature of Washington winters – and offer a glimpse of what our future in Western Washington may look like as sea levels rise. This holiday season provides a great opportunity for people to capture these extreme tides and help scientists assemble a preview of shorelines to come. ...
Read MoreJuly 27, 2020
Washington Sea Grant (WSG) is excited that William Walker is part of our team this summer as an intern with the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of Washington.
William is a junior studying sustainability, urban planning, and a French minor at Arizona State University. He is interested in environmental justice, institutional ...
Read MoreJuly 20, 2020
By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow
As Washington State slowly reopens, the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact people in nearly every line of work. Washington Sea Grant has been responding with support to communities and industries around the state. But what about the community of researchers whose ...
Read MoreJuly 9, 2020
IN BRIEF:
The Washington Coastal Resilience Project team – a collaboration between the state’s Department of Ecology, the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and Washington Sea Grant – are releasing How to Choose, a guide to support the use of available sea level rise data in coastal planning and decision making.June 17, 2020
Kelp absorbs carbon dioxide and other nutrients from seawater as it grows, potentially improving conditions for shellfish and other species. Can we harness this power of kelp by farming kelp and oysters together? In partnership with Washington Sea Grant, a team of leading researchers set out to find the answer to that question. Watch the video below to learn more about the project.
Learn more about Washington Sea Grant’s work in kelp aquaculture Read More