Presentation Abstract
Outfalls that discharge residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater as well as upland stormwater are abundant throughout Puget Sound, WA (USA). However, there are limited data or few regulatory guidelines related to the management of outfalls, and practically no oversight on the impacts outfall infrastructure and discharge have on critical nearshore habitats (e.g., eelgrass and macroalgae). Research has demonstrated seagrasses uptake nutrients, metals and organic contaminants with varied physiological effects, but little is known about the concentration of these substances in eelgrass in the Pacific Northwest and more specifically, in greater Puget Sound. Basic nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, are known to be abundant in the Sound, but whether these substances or other contaminants are at levels that cause adverse effects and/or toxicity to eelgrass is unknown. In an effort to meet its land stewardship responsibilities and to support the Puget Sound Partnership’s goal to increase eelgrass area by 20% by 2020, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has identified a need to improve its understanding of key seagrass stressors in greater Puget Sound. The current project conducted a baseline assessment of nutrients, metals, and organic contaminants in eelgrass at 15 sites across Puget Sound and at one additional site where modifications in an outfall are anticipated. The overview of the project components, sample sites, methods, and preliminary results will be presented.
Session Title
Session S-02B: Toxics in the Nearshore
Conference Track
Toxics
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
30-4-2014 1:30 PM
End Date
30-4-2014 3:00 PM
Location
Room 608-609
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Zostera marina--Effect of water pollution on--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Coastal zone management--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
The assessment of nutrient, metal, and organic contaminant concentrations in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in Puget Sound, WA (USA): A project overview
Room 608-609
Outfalls that discharge residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater as well as upland stormwater are abundant throughout Puget Sound, WA (USA). However, there are limited data or few regulatory guidelines related to the management of outfalls, and practically no oversight on the impacts outfall infrastructure and discharge have on critical nearshore habitats (e.g., eelgrass and macroalgae). Research has demonstrated seagrasses uptake nutrients, metals and organic contaminants with varied physiological effects, but little is known about the concentration of these substances in eelgrass in the Pacific Northwest and more specifically, in greater Puget Sound. Basic nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, are known to be abundant in the Sound, but whether these substances or other contaminants are at levels that cause adverse effects and/or toxicity to eelgrass is unknown. In an effort to meet its land stewardship responsibilities and to support the Puget Sound Partnership’s goal to increase eelgrass area by 20% by 2020, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has identified a need to improve its understanding of key seagrass stressors in greater Puget Sound. The current project conducted a baseline assessment of nutrients, metals, and organic contaminants in eelgrass at 15 sites across Puget Sound and at one additional site where modifications in an outfall are anticipated. The overview of the project components, sample sites, methods, and preliminary results will be presented.
