The first round of water sample testing finished up last Friday. There were 6 different samples brought back from South Kuiu Island this past summer, and the initial results show plastic in every one. There will be a secondary round of analysis soon, and we’ll be able to see if the numbers hold up, but there is no reason to think they won’t.

The plastic was all fibers (almost), and went from 5 pieces per liter in the least affected sample up to 25 pieces per liter in the most. There’s a lot I could say about that, but I think for now I’ll just let it sit there.

This is ‘pristine’ water from one of the wildest places in North America. There is no plastic production for hundreds of miles, hardly anyone there at all and yet, the water is thick with polymers. It is sometimes difficult to maintain a sense of optimism.