Puget Sound Chinook salmon, a threatened species, also remain at “historic lows.” The report noted that there were only 74 whales in Puget Sound as of the latest count, which is merely three-quarters of the 2020 target of 95 whales. However, according to the 2021 State of the Sound report, which was funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Puget Sound is “not doing well” but showing signs of progress. He's been in the Olympia area this week.Īlthough there are varying definitions of Puget Sound’s boundaries, the Washington State Legislature says the estuary includes “all salt waters of the state of Washington inside the international boundary line between Washington and British Columbia, and lying east of the junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the rivers and streams draining to Puget Sound.”Ī critical estuary, Puget Sound houses a complex ecosystem that both humans and animals rely on for healthy food and clean water. “But don’t just take our word for it, go see it first-hand.”Įxplore the Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map here.A waterway mapping project led by a man aboard a kayak has made its way to the South Puget Sound nearshore as part of a bid to aid in the conservation and restoration of estuarie in this region.īrian Footen, president of Seattle-based startup EarthViews, has been cruising through Puget Sound with the aim of using several mobile mapping technologies strapped to his kayak to map all 1,200 miles of the nearshore. “This new tool is an opportunity to inspire learning and showcase the beauty and breadth of this Lake,” said Berry. The organization works to improve lake clarity through funding initiatives like the 72-mile scuba clean up of Lake Tahoe and the Taylor-Tallac aquatic invasive species removal project. The Tahoe Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports environmental improvement projects around the Tahoe Basin, provided the funding for the Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map. Recently, he presented his findings from the Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map to the Tahoe Science Advisory Council to help inform on-going research and data collection in Lake Tahoe. This information was then published online as a “street view” like experience letting the user explore the shoreline from their desktop or mobile device.įor the past year, Footen has been conducting several conservation-minded waterway mapping projects for EarthViews Conservation Society, most notably the Puget Sound in Washington and the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Using mobile mapping technology, Footen was able to capture synchronized imagery and data every ten seconds as he navigated along the nearshore. To create this map, Footen spent seven days circumnavigating the Lake in a kayak, with cameras and water quality measurement tools strapped to the vessel. “Scientists will be able to look back 5, 10, or 50 years from now and understand how water quality and the physical shoreline have changed over time.” “This comprehensive look at today’s conditions will serve as a significant historical marker,” explained Brian Footen, president and co-founder of EarthViews Conservation Society. With these factors impacting water quality and the Lake’s iconic clarity, it’s critical to closely monitor the conditions on the shoreline. Best of all, this new tool is bringing a wealth of data and information to scientists and conservation organizations working to improve the health of the Lake.”Īccording to UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, conditions differ widely around the Lake’s nearshore - or the area ranging about 350 feet from the shoreline - due to variations in temperature, stormwater flow and runoff, aquatic invasive species, the effects of recreation, and fluctuation in lake levels. “You can tour Emerald Bay, ‘paddle’ through the iconic rocks of Sand Harbor, or explore the hidden beaches along the East Shore with just the click of a button. “This map allows people to see Tahoe like never before,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. This new, interactive Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map offers a 360-degree view of the shoreline, as well as underwater views and water quality data. Today, the Tahoe Fund and EarthViews Conservation Society released the first-ever “Street View” style map of all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. Interactive Map Offers 360-degree Views and Underwater Images of Lake Tahoe
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