Nearly seven out of ten of Washington’s more than 8 million residents live in our 15 coastal counties. Direct and indirect pressures from development place stress on local coastal ecosystems. For example, as estuarine wetlands and shorelines are paved or otherwise armored, key ecosystem services – such as habitat, carbon capture, and sediment filtering – are interrupted. Armoring, deforestation, and habitat conversion and fragmentation result in higher pollution and lower water quality, impacting sensitive marine species.
WSG specialists support planners in making science-based decisions about shoreline management, help communities consider sustainable, low-impact development approaches, and educate residents on best practices for stewarding local water resources.
Topic areas
- Coastal community planning
- Green crab monitoring
- Stewarding healthy shorelines
- Restoration monitoring
What we do
- Kitsap Stewardship Programs
- Coastal Training Program
- Shoreline & Coastal Planners Group
- WSG Crab Team
- Shore Friendly Program
- Shoreline publications