Conditions have remained pretty much the same the last couple of
days, although the intrusion of dense higher-oxygen water from the
ocean is beginning to create a thicker layer at the bottom of Hood
Canal. The middle layer of low-oxygen water remains fairly thick,
but the upper layer with higher oxygen concentrations is still
providing fish some relief. South winds remain a threat, as I’ve
explained for the last few weeks.
One can observe the three layers in the upper graph. The lower
graph shows changes over the past week or so. Notice how oxygen
concentrations are rising in the deep layer. Continue reading →
Low-oxygen conditions grew worse overnight. Lots of Hood Canal
residents are reporting dead fish and spot prawns on beaches in
southern Hood Canal. I’ve posted an update on the
Kitsap Sun’s website.
Here are some graphics of the oxycline and time changes,
courtesy of Jan Newton. Continue reading →
I hate to be the voice of doom, but low-oxygen conditions in
Hood Canal have never been worse — if you can believe the data
gathered since the 1950s, alongside more intense monitoring the
past several years.
In the southern portion of Hood Canal, you only need to go down
about 30 feet to begin to see stressful oxygen levels in the range
of 2 milligrams per liter. For current conditions at Hoodsport, go
directly to the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program’s website,
which lists data sent back from the Ocean Remote
Chemical Analyzer (ORCA).
Sea creatures are beginning to show signs of stress, according
to scuba diver Janna Nichols, who described her findings to me
Wednesday after a dive in Hood Canal. She talked about fish
“panting” as their gills moved in and out rapidly. Some fish,
shrimp and other sealife had moved into shallower water. Watch
Janna’s
video of a wolf eel and other visuals she captured on the
dive.
When low-oxygen conditions are that close to the surface, the
danger is that a south wind will blow away the surface layer and
bring low-oxygen water right to the surface, leaving fish with no
place to go.
Of course, I have no desire to see a massive fish kill, but we
already know that fish are probably dying in deep water due to the
stressful conditions. I collect this information and offer these
reports so that people can alert researchers when something
happens. Being on the scene when fish are dying could provide
important information about the nature of the low-oxygen problem.
For details, please check out my stories in the Kitsap Sun
Sept. 7 and
Sept. 15 as well as the more technical report
from Jan Newton on Sept. 7 (PDF 320 kb).
The phone number to report fish kills or oil spills is (800)
258-5990 or (800) OILS-911
If you haven’t heard, the worst low oxygen conditions normally
occur in the fall after a summer of burgeoning numbers of plankton,
encouraged by nitrogen and sunlight. By fall, much of the plankton
has died and dropped to the bottom, where decay consumes the
available of oxygen.
While there are plenty of natural sources of nitrogen in Hood
Canal, computer models have demonstrated that human inputs from
septic systems and stormwater can push things over the edge in the
fall.
Officials are hoping that a new sewage-treatment plant in
Belfair will begin to reduce the inputs of nitrogen into Lynch
Cove. Another treatment plant is being planned in Potlatch.
Stormwater upgrades also are being proposed for Belfair and other
areas.
The orange triangles represent
this year's composite oxygen levels for the south half of Hood
Canal. The latest reading, near the end of August, is the lowest
ever seen.
Folks concerned about wild salmon in North Kitsap are
celebrating the Legislature’s funding of $2.8 million for the
long-awaited bridge at the mouth of Carpenter Creek near
Kingston.
The project has been on and off for a decade, as I explained in
story I wrote for the
Kitsap Sun in December. The lobbying effort by bridge
supporters, including the Kitsap County commissioners, was intense.
That and continued support from Kitsap’s legislators are credited
with getting the bridge funded.
It seems unlikely that bids for the bridge project can be
advertised and contracts approved in time for this summer’s
construction season, given the need to work around salmon
migration. But we’ll wait and see how things are scheduled.
Leaders of the state’s environmental groups were disappointed
that the Legislature failed to raise a tax on toxic chemicals,
which would have set aside $100 million a year for stormwater
projects. Addressing stormwater is considered the top priority for
improving the water quality of Puget Sound and other waterways. Continue reading →
Skokomish Indian Tribal Enterprises is developing a plan for a
marina near Potlatch in southern Hood Canal and would like to know
what boaters and residents think of the idea. Check out my story in
today’s Kitsap Sun.
Possible marina location near
Cushman power plan
SITE map (Click to enlarge)
The project is undergoing a feasibility study, but it could
include slips for 25 to 35 boats and various amenities including a
restaurant, fuel dock, fish-cleaning station, sewage-pumpout
facility and restrooms.
Ed Binder of SITE said the tribe recognizes the sensitivity of
Hood Canal but hopes to work through the various issues. Water
coming out of the Cushman power plant could help stir the waters
and reduce environmental impacts, he said.
Boaters and area residents are encouraged to express their
opinions about the project in an
online survey. If the project moves forward, it would take
several years before the project would be built, Binder said.
