NOAA Coastal Storms Program

Ecological Impacts

Case Study: Introduction

About This Case Study

NOAA’s nationwide Coastal Storms Program and the NOAA Coastal Services Center recently sponsored stormwater research in the Pacific Northwest, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Seattle Public Utilities. From this research, a case study was developed to assess the impacts of urban runoff on salmon (particularly coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch) returning to spawn in restored streams in the Puget Sound basin. This investigation was initiated in response to widespread observation of die-offs in spawning adult salmon following storm events.

Proceed to the case study: Stormwater and Salmon – Pre-spawn Mortality of Coho Salmon in Restored Urban Streams in the Pacific Northwest.

Image of NW Fisheries Science Center logo Image of Wild Fish Conservancy logo
Image of the Seattle Public Utilities logo Image of Coastal Storms Program logo  Image of US Fish and Wildlife Service logo