Small bays like Gig Harbor may seem like little more than a safe anchor for sailboats and powerboats alike. Yet beneath the docks and pilings lies a hidden place filled with Pacific salmon, shrimp, geoducks, seaweeds, river otters, even small sharks and the very large Pacific octopus. In the air above, birds such as bald eagles feed on the fruits of the water beneath them. So don't be folled by the calm surface of the protected bay; there are amazing things stirring above and below.

SOUND RESPONSIBILITY

Visitors and residents alike affect the health and beauty of the Puget Sound. Whether enjoying the surrounding waters for a day or a lifetime, here are some simple things you can do to make it better in years to come.

Take care of your vehicle. Oil, grease, and metals from cars and trucks pollute the Sound as they wash from the land to rivers and bays during periods of rain. Fixing oil leaks and checking vehicle emissions on older cars ensures less pollution on streets, and therefore less pollution in the water.

Wash your car on grass or gravel. By washing your car on grass or gravel instead of pavement, pollutants are soaked up and naturally filtered by the soil instead of running off into the water.

Protect natural shorelines. If yo live on or near the water, preserve trees that already exist and plant new trees and shrubs that allow rainwater to be filtered by the soil. this also helps prevent shoreline erosion.

Pick up after your pets and keep animals out of streams. Scoop your dog's poop and properly dispose of it. Also, make sure fences and other structures are keeping cows, horses and other animals out of streams.

View wildlife from a distance. Not all marine animals can be handled or approached with harming or endangering them. Keep your distance to allow birds, mammals, and other wildlife to exist in their natural habitats. the Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits people from approaching any marine mammal within 100 yards; use this distance as a rule for other animals as well.

Be careful where you step! When walking along a beach, look out for critters that have been left stranded at low tides. You can harm animals by stepping on them or in the case of clams, kill them by deliberately breaking their shells.