PubTalk 10/2009 — Paddling for a Purpose in a Troubled Sea

Sampling the Salish Sea During Tribal Canoe Journeys

by Eric Grossman, USGS Tribal Journey Science Advisor

• Deteriorating water quality in Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia is causing population declines in valued species such as salmon, orcas, and a number of sea birds
• USGS scientists and the Coast Salish Peoples are blending science and tradition to sample water quality in ancestral waters along canoe routes during annual Tribal Journeys
• Water sampling will identify the extent and likely causes of poor water quality, possibly related to changes in land use and changing climate conditions
• Studying Puget Sound water quality is crucial for making informed decisions about balancing the needs of coastal ecosystems and human livelihood