Summer in Seattle is a season worth celebrating—sunny skies, long evenings, and a city alive with energy. At the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, we’ve had a few celebrations of our own lately, marking the retirements of several longtime colleagues. We’re deeply grateful to those who have dedicated decades of service to this Center. Their work helped shape the science, culture, and integrity that define WFRC today, and we thank them for the value they’ve added to this institution and to aquatic science across the West. 

With the arrival of summer, we also find ourselves in the thick of field season. Across the region—from California’s watersheds to Washington’s coastlines—our scientists are wading streams, tagging fish, analyzing samples, and working side-by-side with partners to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our ecosystems. 

In this issue of Something Fishy, we’re proud to share stories that reflect the depth and variety of work being done at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center. In California, our teams are helping address complex water and fisheries management issues, supporting state and tribal partners as they navigate changes in critical river systems. We also highlight research into gas bubble trauma in Washington state, a condition increasingly understood thanks to decades of collaborative effort across our agency.  

And while the African clawed frog might be small, its threat to native ecosystems is anything but. Our work to understand the distribution and ecological impacts of this invasive species—done in partnership with other scientists across the western U.S.—is part of a broader commitment to ecosystem health and biological resilience. 

Finally, in this issue we highlight groundbreaking research about 6PPD, a tire wear chemical impacting coho salmon and, as new WFRC research shows, coastal cutthroat trout as well. Our findings inform our work with the tire industry to find alternatives to 6PPD and local and national stormwater management efforts to better protect aquatic life. 

All this work reflects what we do best: rigorous, impartial science, conducted in close collaboration with our partners.