What constitutes indicators of a healthy Puget Sound and Straits? From the Puget Sound Partnership’s efforts, a partial list. No particular order. Just a list.
- Swimmable beaches
- Marine Water Quality
- Water availability
- In stream flows are important for humans and species.
- Freshwater Quality
- Salmon Abundance
- Orca population
- Commercial Fisheries harvested
- Recreational fishing permits sold
- Likely to be higher if fish stocks are plentiful!
- Jellyfish
- Can be indicators of an unhealthy environment
- Terrestrial bird species numbers.
- Eel Grass extent
- Shoreline Armoring
- Less is better, but unlikely to get to zero.
- Toxics in fish
- Toxics in sediment
- Land use vs. Land Cover
- Included impervious surface indicators.
- Personal Vehicle Miles Traveled:
- Less is more for the health of the Sound until all electric vehicles arrive
