Mussel Watch
The Whatcom MRC has participated in the large-scale mussel monitoring project led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Mussel Watch. This study supports the Washington Department of Ecology's (DOE) Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) program efforts to measure stormwater impacts on the environment and evaluate the effectiveness of stormwater management actions.
Using mussels as the study organism, WDFW assesses toxic contaminants appearing in key nearshore habitats throughout Puget Sound. The monitoring for toxins started in 2015/2016 after earlier pilot studies, and is conducted every two years. WDFW reports on the status and trends of nearshore contaminants using a study design that groups sites within marine areas and urban embayments.
Mussel cage attached to cinder block
Results from previous studies:
- 2012/13 (report available here)
- 2015/16 (report available here)
- 2017/18 (report available here)
- 2019/20 (report available here).
- 2021/22 (report available here)
To learn more about the development of this study design and ongoing work see this recorded presentation available on YouTube.