Freshwater

Freshwater is vital to people, fish, and wildlife populations. The Freshwater Vital Sign tells us about the quality of water in Puget Sound’s streams and rivers and whether efforts to reduce excessive nutrients and restore and protect stream conditions are working. Freshwater quality is affected by many different factors including weather and climate patterns, water withdrawals and diversions, erosion and stormwater runoff, discharges from wastewater treatment plants and industries, nutrient input, and other sources of pollution.

VITAL SIGN INDICATOR INDICATOR PROGRESS TARGET STATUS
VITAL SIGN INDICATOR INDICATOR PROGRESS TARGET STATUS

Key Vital Sign Messages

  • The Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) indicator uses the diversity and abundance of invertebrates – the insects, snails, and worms that live in the stream bed – to measure stream health. The B-IBI is correlated with land use conversion and urbanization. Scores tend to be lower in areas with more urban development and less tree canopy cover in the watershed.
  • The Interdisciplinary Team of regional experts leading development of the B-IBI Implementation Strategy identified four priority strategies likely to improve stream condition. The strategies focus on 1) increasing capacity of local stormwater management programs, 2) coordinating watershed planning across jurisdictions, 3) encouraging restoration through education and incentives, and 4) preserving land for forestry and farming.
  • Stormwater runoff from urban and urbanizing areas is one of the biggest threats to streams, lakes, and Puget Sound. The Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) program is a collaborative, regional monitoring program that measures stormwater quality throughout Puget Sound watersheds with the goal to improve stormwater management.

Contributing Partners