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Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are an important estuarine species found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.  Not only are they important filter feeders but they also create reefs referred to as “biogenic reefs” that provide habitat for numerous species.  Some species associated with these reefs are other bivalves, crustaceans, fish and [...]

Mute swans (Cygnus olor) were introduced to North America from Eurasia during the late 1800s and have since increased to over 14,000 birds in the Atlantic Flyway.   Unlike the native tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus), mute swans inhabit the Chesapeake Bay year round.   Grazing by the swans on the underwater grasses during their growing season negatively [...]

About 16 species of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) inhabit the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  Salinity is the determining factor in the distribution of these species throughout the bay.  SAV provide numerous benefits to the ecosystem.  The presence of an SAV bed slows down wave energy allowing suspended sediment to be trapped within an SAV [...]

Wetlands can provide flood protection.   An acre of wetlands can store about one million gallons of water!   Wetlands slow the speed of flood waters and the water storage that they provide lowers flood heights. Wetlands come in many forms consisting of herbaceous plants, bushes and small trees or a forest of trees. Viewer Tip: Find [...]

Water conservation puts less strain on our drinking water supplies, while also reducing wastewater discharges that pollute streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.  Conserving water puts less strain on a community during drought and dry weather. Viewer Tip: Divert water from roof and air conditioning runoff directly into planters or rain barrels for use in [...]

A large adult oyster can filter up to two gallons of water an hour.  Scientists speculate that the oyster population prior to the mid-19th century decline could filter the entire volume of water in the Chesapeake Bay in under a week!  At the present severely depleted population, this task has increased to about a year. [...]

Eelgrass beds are important habitat in marine and estuarine waters. They are home to many small creatures, protective nursery areas for commercial fish such as salmon and herring and a site for molting in Dungeness crab.  Eelgrass beds also supply organic material to nearshore areas and their roots stabilize the sediments.  There are two species [...]

What do coastal wetlands do for you?  If you’ve been clamming, crabbing, or enjoy eating salmon, you have reaped the benefits of wetland ecosystems. Wetland areas improve water quality, provide flood protection and support tons of fish, wildlife and plants.  Their economic importance to commercial fisheries and recreational uses is tremendous.  Despite their recognized value, [...]

Whether it’s clam chowder or raw oysters, many people enjoy eating shellfish.  Shellfish feed by filtering their food from the waters they live in.  Unfortunately,shellfish can become contaminated when the waters they live in are not clean. One source of water contamination is pet waste.  When it rains, un-scooped dog poop is washed into waters [...]

Spartina, an aquatic grass that is native to the East Coast of the United States is invasive on the West Coast.  On the East coast, this grass is part of the natural ecosystem, preventing erosion and providing essential habitat to animals like juvenile fishes.  On the West Coast,  Spartina is an invasive species.  It spreads [...]

A pod of Orca whales that visits Washington State’s Puget Sound every summer, the Southern Resident killer whales, was listed as an endangered species in 2005.  This pod continues to be put at risk from boat traffic, water pollution and limited availability of their favorite food, salmon. Viewer Tip: On the water, protect marine wildlife [...]

Did you know that both resident and transient orca whales can be found in Washington state?  Resident Orca whales rely on salmon for food, while transients eat marine mammals.  Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family – males usually live to be 40 years old; females live to about 60. Viewer Tip: You [...]

Wetlands in Puget Sound provide breeding and feeding grounds for over 175 species. Over the entire state of Washington, more than 315 species nest, breed, feed and/or find shelter in wetlands. Since the arrival of settlers, 70 percent of tidally influenced wetlands in Puget Sound have been lost. One-third of Washington state’s threatened or endangered [...]

The Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is the largest of the octopus species, with an average width of 16 feet, weight of 110 pounds, and lifespan of three to five years. The Giant Pacific Octopus range includes southern California to Alaska and west to Japan, with sightings in Puget Sound, Washington. They feed primarily on [...]

Eight different species of salmon – Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye, Pink, Cutthroat trout, Bull trout and Steelhead – live or spawn in the Puget Sound region of northwestern Washington. Five of these species are considered threatened or endangered. The Puget Sound is an estuary that provides habitat for anadromous salmon to acclimate from freshwater to [...]

The Puget Sound, located in northwestern Washington, is the second largest estuary in the U.S.  An estuary is formed when freshwater from rivers, lakes and streams meet salt water from the ocean. Puget Sound is home to over 200 fish species, 26 marine mammal species and thousands of marine invertebrate species.  Ten thousand rivers and [...]

The Puget Sound, located in northwestern Washington, is the second largest estuary in the U.S. after the Chesapeake Bay. An estuary is formed when freshwater from rivers, lakes and streams meets salt water from the ocean. Estuaries provide a buffer for salmon to transition from salt water to freshwater and vice versa. Over 200 fish [...]

What’s a geoduck? Geoduck (pronounced “gooey duck”) is the worlds largest burrowing clam. Approximately 109 million adult geoducks are packed into the sediment of Puget Sound. Geoducks live in the sandy mud 10-80 feet below the mean low tide mark and can live up to 168 years. Viewer Tip: The geoduck habitat is greatly affected [...]

The largest fish in the world is the whale shark, a huge fish that can reach over 50 feet in lengh and can weigh several tons. Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (Source: Woods Hole Science Aquarium: Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/faq/fishfaq1.html#q4.)

Did you know that the largest geological feature on the planet is actually under the water? It is a 40,000 mile continuous string of submerged volcanic submarine mountains and valleys circling around the globe called the mid-oceanic ridge system. If these volcanoes rise high enough, they can form new islands such as Iceland. The Mid-Atlantic [...]