The Puget Sound is a complex waterway spanning over 100 miles throughout the northwestern part of Washington state. The Puget Sound is a part of the Salish Sea and has a major connection to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, which directly flow into the Pacific Ocean. Hundreds of different species of fish and marine animals inhabit the sound, relying on the natural resources and safe waters for their survival. Across the last few decades, the sound has become increasingly polluted, and the ecosystem has been completely contaminated. The fish and marine animal populations have dwindled, and this has paved the way for irreversible damage unless something is done to reduce the pollution intake of Puget Sound.

Plastic water bottles, balloons, straws, and food wrappers are among the most common pollutants found in our local waterways. These items are often poorly discarded and can easily be swept into storm drains or carried by wind and rain into the sound. “My family and I see soda can plastic, abandoned buoys, and all sorts of trash,” Peyton Bleich (9) states. Storm drains are the biggest contributors to the pollution in the sound, as they collect rain, snow, sleet, and anything that comes with them. This includes everything on the roads, lawns, cars, and homes, all flowing directly into the sound without filtration. As a result, harmful toxins such as lead, mercury, copper, zinc, and petroleum make their way into the water. These toxins originate in everyday products such as oil, auto fluids, yard fertilizers, pesticides, and building materials, often without people realizing the environmental impact. During the industrial boom of the 1800s and the 1900s, the lumber industry flourished, and sawmills along the Puget Sound started opening their doors. These businesses left behind wood chips, shavings, and pulp. While wood is a naturally occurring material, excessive amounts in saltwater can lead to toxic conditions for marine life. Today, the cumulative effect of these pollutants has led to a gradual acidification of the water in Puget Sound, further threatening its delicate ecosystem.

The effects of the pollution cannot be underestimated; native fish, birds, and marine animals are suffering. Out of the hundreds of fish species that live in the sound, most of them have experienced a decrease in population in the past few decades. Pacific herring populations have decreased by 20%, copper and quillback rockfish have experienced a 75% decline, and groundfish have seen a 60% drop. The salmon populations have also been steadily decreasing for the past few decades, leading to two species of salmon becoming endangered, including chinook salmon, whose population has decreased by 60%. The effects of the decline in fish can be felt throughout the whole sound; orca numbers have increasingly plummeted, causing them to become endangered. One of the direct causes of this is a lack of food; orcas feed on salmon, squid, and seabirds, all of which are suffering from the pollution in the sound. Wildlife isn’t the only thing that’s affected by pollution; humans have also been suffering from the pollution in the sound. Seafood is very popular in northwestern Washington state, with most of what we consume coming straight from the sound or the ocean. We are consuming the same chemicals as the fish. As longtime fisherman and Washington resident Andy Philley stated, “I see it most in the degradation of shellfish and the inability to harvest shellfish from beaches where they are plentiful. But due to pollution, we can’t eat them, and that is sad.” Swimming, boating, or having fun on the water is becoming a high-risk activity. Sophia Robertson (12) states, “I love going on my dad’s boat; it breaks my heart to see the trash floating in the water.” The same chemicals found in the sound are known to impair development, affect reproduction, disrupt body chemistry, and even cause cancer. If nothing is done to prevent the spread of pollution in our sound, marine life won’t be the only thing to suffer.

The Puget Sound has become the center point in northwestern Washington state; the sound offers food, activities, and beautiful views. It is very disheartening to see what has become of this beautiful waterway due to the rise in pollution, but thankfully there are things everyday people can do to prevent the spread of pollution. You can help by reducing your use of single-use plastics, things like straws, soda can connector plastic, plastic water bottles, and food wrappers. If you can’t cut them out, make sure you dispose of them correctly. Reduce your use of chemical cleaners, soaps, fertilizers, and pesticides. Reduce the amount of driving you do; walking, biking, and carpooling are great options! Finally, volunteering at a Puget Sound cleanup or organizing one is a great way to help. If we all work together, we can reduce the amount of pollution in the sound and help the marine life that is suffering because of our negligence.