Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is the ONLY organization working actively on the water every week throughout the year.

Sometimes Puget Sound needs a watchdog, and we can't rely on government to always be there.

• The Washington State Department of Ecology is failing to reduce permitted pollution and failing to pursue violators.
• In the last permit cycle, Ecology actually increased pollution discharges in 32% of the permits instead of reducing discharges to zero as required by the Clean Water Act.

So we conduct regular on-the-water pollution patrols using our Soundkeeper boat and a network of trained Soundkeeper Volunteers, looking for illegal discharges and other evidence of pollution.

Our goal is to stop pollution before it enters the Sound.

The Puget Soundkeeper

Waterkeepers are full-time, privately-funded, non-governmental advocates for an identified river, lake, bay, or sound. They are recognized by their community, local government, and media as the voice for that particular body of water. They advocate compliance with environmental laws, respond to citizen complaints, identify problems which affect their identified bodies of water and devise appropriate remedies to address these problems.

The Puget Soundkeeper acts as the eyes and ears of the public out on the water, monitoring Puget Sound waterways several times a week.

Puget Soundkeeper Patrols (Learn more...)

Soundkeeper Volunteers

We also have a Soundkeeper Volunteer Program for interested and motivated volunteers.

Soundkeeper Volunteer opportunities: (Learn more...)

We report illegal pollution on 30 percent of our patrols.

Violations are documented and reported to the Washington State Department of Ecology and US Coast Guard. 

PSA'S POLLUTION HOTLINE: 1-800-42-PUGET 

We are affiliated with (but not funded by)
the National Waterkeeper Alliance.

Pollution Reporting

 
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance assists in reporting pollution wherever it is found.  There are many agencies with responsibility for controlling and regulating pollution.

Pollution Reporting: (Learn More)