Projects

Citizen Science

Are your local marine waters safe to swim? PTMSC volunteers take weekly water samples from Memorial Day to Labor Day at Fort Worden State Park for the BEACH Program (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication & Health). The program is led by the Department of Ecology and Washington State Department of Health and works with county and local agencies like PTMSC.

Learn about Orcasound and the PTMSC hydrophones at Fort Worden State Park.

Volunteers collect salt water samples using a plankton net. They measure water temperature and salinity, ID phytoplankton, and preserve samples for further analysis. It’s part of a Sound-wide study of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Data is entered into an online database accessible by state health officials for real-time public safety appraisal.

If you found a harbor seal, sea lion, porpoise or whale on the beach what would you do? First, give the animal space and then, call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline! In east Jefferson County, WA, we are the local stranding responders.