Colin Levings

Environmental Threats

I believe a key threat to the Salish Sea is the possible changes in patterns of freshwater and estuarine flows because of reduced rainfall/snow packs or climate change as well as modifications in flow directions and patterns because of landscape changes such as diversions and dikes. An  important idea for people living around the Salish Sea is the concept that water flowing to sea connects our landscape features  – river to estuary to ocean. The ecosystems that support our iconic salmon work because of these flows. It is perhaps  human flaw that sometimes we cannot see the connections as we are rooted in our “place”-we emphasize our local areas but sometimes overlook the fact that they are connected to others upstream and downstream. 

Another important threat is habitat loss, especially in estuaries and the coastal zone. I have always thought that an intact shoreline with vegetation and natural substrates is important for maintaining populations of our valued fish and invertebrates. It is also important to realize that there are physical processes such as currents that move gravel and sand along the shores that are key to maintaining our beaches – some of our structures such as breakwaters can affect those currents. Sometimes the things we can’t see easily such as currents are very important.

These are just a few of the threats that are important in the Salish Sea. There are many others and they all add up. In the words of renowned ecologist William E. Odum it is the insidious alteration of the estuarine environment that we should be considered about. If planners and ecosystem managers around the Salish Sea factor this idea in their work and as well push for restoration of habitat and ecological processes then I think nature will benefit with dividends to ourselves as well. After all, we are part of natural systems.