What's going on in
Puget Sound

A changing face of the Puget Sound affects those visitors and residents who utilize its resources. Some quick facts:

Boat Use - In the year 2000, the Department of Natural Resources estimated that Washington State has approximately 1,200 boat ramps, 3,600 piers and docks, and 30,000 recreational boat slips. Washington also has the most boats per-capita in the United States.

Commercial and Recreational Shellfishing - The shellfish industry in Washington waters produces millions of pounds of shellfish each year. Furthermore, in 2001, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife observed almost 190,000 recreational shellfish harvesters on Public Purget Sound beaches.

Development of Shorelines - About one-third of Puget Sound's shorelines have been modified with homes, bulkheads, boat ramps, or other form of development. These modifications provide water access to boaters, fishers, and private home owners.

Population Development - The waters of Puget Sound do not end at the northern border of Washington State; rather, they extend into Canada's Georgia Basin, and together these shared waters form a vast inland sea. Two hundred years ago, nearly 10,000 people lived along these waters. By 2010, seven million people are expected to live near or along the inland waters of Canada and Washinton.