Transcript Lecture #4, Status of the Puget Sound Ecosystem, October 6

Ocean/Envir 260
Lecture #4:
Status of the Puget Sound
Ecosystem
Videos to begin class:
http://www.psp.wa.gov/shiftingbaselines.php
http://www.psp.wa.gov/aa_action_agenda_video.php
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Status of Puget Sound
• Depends on standard of comparison
– 1950s? (coffee, puffins, human population)
– When we first personally experienced it?
– 1850s? (decimated native populations)
– Other ecosystems?
– What we want (which is?)
• Historically defined informed?
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Ecological “drivers”
• Thoughtful answers to
Writing Assignment #1
– Population growth
12-County PS Population, 20thC
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1900
1950
– Values
– Climate change
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
1975
2000
PS Action Team
report
• July 2007:
– Overall “fair” condition
– Based on water quality,
sediment quality,
benthic condition, fish
tissue contaminants
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Water quality
• Early 1900s: industry,
canneries
• 1920s: mills
• 1951: PS 6th most polluted
area in country
• 1972: Clean Water Act
adopted, to great effect
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Endangered Species
• Federally listed species
– 18 total (includes migratory
visitors to region)
– Non-marine listings stalled
by lawsuits, budget
limitations
– Driven by petitions, not
comprehensive inventory
Chinook salmon
Northern spotted owl
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Endangered Species
• Center for Biological
Diversity study:
– 957 “imperiled” species
(14% of all)
Fungi in NW forest
• Includes all “species of
concern,” “vulnerable”
– 285 “critically imperiled”
species more accurate?
• Includes algae, fungi
Sea lettuce on PS beach
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Stressors
• Easier to measure,
systemic impacts
– Pollution levels
– Water withdrawals
– Habitat losses
Clearing for rural development
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Overall goal
• “Healthy” ecosystem?
– Meaning today?
• Or 1850? 1950?
– For whom?
• Us?
• Ratfish?
Puget Sound ratfish: growing
population?
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Overall goal
• Sustainable ecosystem?
– “Meet needs of present
without compromising the
needs of the future”
• Ecosystem services
–
–
–
–
Clean water
Harvestable salmon, timber
Flood protection
Pollination
Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
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Overall goal
• What “needs” should we
sustain?
– Just utilitarian?
• Goals for other species
involve value choices
– Aesthetic, ethical, spiritual
– Definition of home
– Wonder at power greater
than ourselves
Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
Puget Sound resident orca
© 2010 University of Washington
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“Saving” Puget Sound
• Puget Sound Partnership Goal:
“Save Puget Sound by 2020”
– What does that mean?
– Governor: “Fishable,
swimmable, diggable”
• But across much of region,
it is now
Fishing for some of the 1.2 million pink salmon that
returned to the Skagit River last year (Photo credit:
Matt Wallis, Skagit Valley Herald, August 30, 2009)
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Indicators
• PSP identifying key variables to track
– 20 “dashboard” indicators
– Reduced from 100+ in
Action Agenda (pp.13-16)
– Still must decide:
• How to measure
• What is “benchmark”
or goal?
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington
Recap: Status of Puget
Sound ecosystem
• No absolute standard of comparison
• Very challenging to choose the “right”
indicators
– Complicated system, mixed signals
– Value choices blend with science
• Historical context important
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Ocean/ENVIR 260 Autumn 2010
Lecture 4
© 2010 University of Washington