WSU News Archive

By Darin Watkins, WSU News

PUYALLUP, Wash. – Washington lawmakers have provided $800,000 to expand Washington State University’s Salmon Toxicology Lab to look at stormwater and pollution effects on other critical species.

 

With a population increase of 1.5 million expected in the Puget Sound region by 2025, there is an immediate challenge to develop new and more effective stormwater management techniques for protecting our fresh and marine water systems.

 

"Water pollution and the protection of endangered Pacific salmon have become extremely important issues to the State of Washington,” said WSU Salmon Toxicology Lab Director John Stark. "The funding received by WSU Puyallup will enable us to expand the scope of our existing salmon toxicology laboratory and allow us to study the effects of pollution on other fish species and aquatic invertebrates.”

 

The presence of multiple pollutants and disease organisms in our surface water systems appears to be a problem for the health of salmon, but there is a lack of good scientific information on the effects of pollution on other fish species and other aquatic organisms. The primary goal of the WSU expansion is to house researchers, fisheries, and private businesses collaborating, testing and solving critical questions for Washington’s multibillion dollar commercial and tribal fishing and shellfish industry.

 

"These new capabilities will result in an expansion of our partnerships with various businesses, government agencies, and other academic institutions with the goal of developing clean water solutions for our region and the rest of the world,” said Stark.

 

The WSU Puyallup Salmon Toxicology Laboratory was established in 2005 to study the effects of common mixtures of pollutants on salmon health. However, species other than salmon are affected not only by toxicants, but also by disease, specifically with other fish species, aquatic insects, and bivalves. The project will evaluate new technologies from the TAPE program of the Washington Stormwater Center for their ability to reduce harm to aquatic organisms. This lab will also be linked to the UW-T Clean Water Innovation Development and Technology Transfer Laboratory.

Contact:
John D. Stark, Director, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center, (253) 445-4568

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