If you want to know the kind of organization that Puget Soundkeeper is, looking no further than their mission statement:
"Our mission is to protect and enhance the waters of Puget Sound for the health and restoration of our aquatic ecosystems and the communities that depend on them."
We're so excited to be able to support the incredible work that Puget Soundkeeper does. They're currently working on two projects that they're incredibly excited about.
The Lost Urban Creeks Project is an initiative that trains and pays South King County youth interns to "monitor water quality, lead marine debris cleanups and conduct outreach." Puget Soundkeeper is passionate about supporting the next generation of environmental leaders. Check out this video presentation they made to share their water quality monitor findings with local city councils!
Puget Soundkeeper also coordinates Microplastics Pollution Prevention. Did you know that every year, Puget Soundkeeper volunteers remove over 10,000 pounds of marine debris from our waterways and shorelines? According to the organization, "most of the trash found is microplastics which enters the food web, impacting fish, birds and humans." You can check out some of the findings in their 2019-2020 Microplastics in Puget Sound Waterways Report. Their 2020 Trash Report also shows findings from Puget Soundkeeper's International Coastal Cleanup.
Photo credit: Puget Soundkeeper
Of course, there are many things that are extraordinarily rewarding about this work. For Teresa Nelson, Puget Soundkeeper's Development Director, one of the most powerful effects of the organization's work is:
Photo credit: Puget Soundkeeper
There are so many ways to show your love for Puget Sound and all the animals and humans that call it home - supporting Puget Soundkeeper is a great way to start! Here are a couple ways of standing up for clean water!
- Become a Puget Soundkeeper member with a one-time or monthly gift
- Follow them on their blog at www.pugetsoundkeeper.org or socials Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
- Volunteer with them.
- Advocate for clean water, sign up for their e-newsletter and action alerts, go www.pugetsoundkeeper and scroll to form at bottom of the page!
Everything we're able to do as individuals, a family, and as a small business depends on the health and vitality of our ecosystems. And here on the shores of the Salish Sea and Puget Sound, clean water and thriving wildlife is at the heart of all the work we do. Let's create a world where humans and nature can co-exist and flourish!