Eight indicators show a continuing decline in Puget Sound, while seven other indicators show evidence of improvement, suggesting that on balance there's a slippage in the health of the waterway that sustains orcas, salmon and people, according to our interpretation of the findings in the first new biennial report by Puget Sound Partnership. The Olympian calls it "a mixed bag of improvement and continued decline."

However, Partnership executive director David Dicks sees it another way -- "we are making progress."

Meanwhile, President Obama's proposed budget slashes money for Sound cleanup from this fiscal year's $50 million to just $20 million -- a 60 percent drop.

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