Researchers zero in on low-oxygen areas of concern in Puget Sound

Coupeville Wharf at Penn Cove, Whidbey Island. Penn Cove is one of the most productive shellfish-growing locations on the U.S. West Coast. Scientists are monitoring oxygen levels here as the climate warms and pressures from human development continue. Photo: Jason Walsh (CC BY 2.0)

Low dissolved oxygen levels put aquatic life in Puget Sound at risk – but not everywhere. A combination of careful monitoring efforts and powerful computer models are now enabling scientists to identify which areas of our regional waters are most prone to low oxygen levels, when, and why. This article is part of a series of reports funded by King County about the quest to define healthy oxygen levels in Puget Sound.

Salish Sea Currents Magazine | April 21, 2025
By Sarah DeWeerdt