Eops 2014 10_29

October 29, 2014
Surface Conditions Report
Eyes Over Puget Sound
Fieldlog Climate Water column Aerial photos Ferry andSatellite Moorings
Publication No. 14-03-078
Start here
Up-to-date observations of visiblewater quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Guest: Gabriela Hannach

Personalfieldlog p.4
Today is Halloween. Are phytoplanktonscary?
Climateconditions p.6
Continuedwarmtemperatures withincreasedprecipitation. The
Fraser River flow is still below normal. PDO andupwelling are
above normal.
Watercolumn p.7
At the end of summer, temperatures are highin South
Sound, salinities anddissolvedoxygenare low in
Central Sound. Do remains highinHoodCanal.
Moorings p.38
During October, the near-bottommooring at our Mukilteo
stationmeasuredsalinity andoxygenhigher thanpast few
years, despite increasedriver discharges.
Aerialphotography p.11
Very dense andlarge patches of jellyfishseenin finger inlets of
SouthSound. It must be “Jelloween”! Red-brownblooms
remainstrong insmaller bays inside Puget Sound, particularly
SouthSound. Suspended sediment are increasingly visible.
Ferryand satellite p.40
Cooler temperatures andanincreasedfreshwater at the triple
junctionin Central Soundare seen in the salinity and color
characteristics ofthe water (CDOM).
LONG-TERMMARINEMONITORINGUNIT
Mya Keyzers
Laura Hermanson
Joe Leatherman
Skip Albertson
Dr. Christopher
Krembs
Guest:
Dr. Brandon
Sackmann,
Integral
Julia Bos
Suzan Pool
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/Previous Eyes Over Puget Sound reports:
Marine conditionsfrom 10-29-2014 at a glance
Please give us feedback

http://www.eopugetsound.org/Early Fall: Phytoplankton are still in full swing!
October diatom bloom at Pt. Jefferson
(north centralbasin), dominated by
Chaetocerosdebilis(curly chains).
FlowCAMcompoundimages
Thedinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea,
blooming in Quartermaster Harbor since late
September. 
AnalysisofphytoplanktonusingFlowCAM
This instrument combines a microscope witha fast, highresolution
camera andimage analysis software. This technology allows for
detailedimaging of the complex mixture of particles that comprises
a marine planktonsample.
Data generatedby FlowCAMinclude abundance, biovolume, size
distribution, andtaxonomic identity of all biological particles withan
average diameter of 5 to 300 micrometers.
1. Mostly diatoms - some dinoflagellates – still forming blooms.
2. Noctiluca populations have declined since August.
Gabriela Hannach,
King County
Environmental Lab
This year’sunusually mild
fallweather meant an
extended growth season
for phytoplankton.

Are Algal Blooms Harmful?
Themajority of algal blooms are not harmful. However, there are
severalspecies of phytoplankton thatcause HarmfulAlgal Blooms
(HABs). HABs can negatively impact the health of humans and animals
thatconsume shellfish (such as clams, mussels, and oysters) that are
exposed to these blooms.
Bloomof the HAB species
Dinophysis
Photo taken by Laura Hermanson
All About Phytoplankton: Part 2
HABspecies are harmfulbecause they contain certain toxins. Since
shellfish are filter feeders, they consume these harmfulspecies in
largequantities and accumulate the toxins in their tissues. These
toxinsdo not affectthe shellfish, but they can affect anyonewho
eats the shellfish.
All About Phytoplankton: Part 2
Personal flight impression 10-29-2014

What Causes Harmful Algal Blooms?
Illness caused by eating shellfish that contain HAB toxins can
causegastric distress, short-term memory loss, loss of motor
control, and in extreme cases, death due to respiratory arrest.
Itsoundsscary, but there are waysto protect yourself.
How can you stay safe?
Know beforeyou dig! The Department of Health
makes it easy to locate areas that aresafe for
recreationalharvest. They also monitor commercial
growing areas. Visit their website for shellfish
safety information and beach closure status. The
Departmentof Ecology is now partnering with DOH
to help monitor for HABs.
Alexandrium is a dinoflagellate
that causes Paralytic Shellfish
Poisoning (PSP).
Toxin Produced:Saxitoxin
Dinophysis is a dinoflagellate that
causes Diarrhetic Shellfish
Poisoning (DSP).
Toxin Produced:Okadaic Acid
Pseudo-nitzschia is a diatom
that causes Amnesic Shellfish
Poisoning (ASP).
Toxin Produced:Domoic Acid
Personal Field Impression
PhytoplanktonphotosfromKingCounty Marine Monitoring Program:
http://green.kingcounty.gov/marine/Photos.aspx
ShellfishSafetyWebsite:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/eh/maps/biotoxin/biotoxin.html
Fieldlog Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry andSatellite Moorings
Personal flight impression 10-29-2014

Climateand natural influencesbefore 10-29-2014
Summary:
Air temperatures have generally
been above normal continuing the
trend of the past seven months.
Precipitation levels are increasing.
The remnants of Hurricane Ana affect
the PNW, aided by warmer-than-
normal sea surface temperatures.
Cloud Cover has been lower than
normal. Conversely sunshine has
been above normal.
River flows are below normal for the
Fraser River, but normal to above
normal elsewhere.
PDO remains in the warm phase, and
upwelling is below normal. Oceanic
intrusions of low DO water were not
predicted.
lowerhigher expected No data
New section! Climate and natural influences are conditions that influence our marine waters,
including weather, rivers, and the adjacent ocean (previously called Weather). For an explanation of
the figure, see: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/weather.html, page 26.

We use a chartered float
plane to access our
monthly monitoring
stations most cost
effectively.
We communicate data and
environmentalmarine
conditions using:
1. MarineWater
ConditionIndex
(MWCI)
2. EyesOverPuget
Sound (EOPS)
3. Anomaliesand
sourcedata
Ourlong-termmarinemonitoringstationsinWashington
Starthere
Isl.
.

Salinity low inside P. Sound Oxygen lowerSeptember,2014: Temperature
warmer
Physical conditionstracked in statistically historic context
PugetSound was warmer in 2013 than 2014. Early 2014 started colder and saltier with lower oxygen, then became
fresher and warmer. Atthe end of summer, temperatures are high in South Sound and salinities and dissolved
oxygen arelow in Central Sound. DO remains high in Hood Canal.

a) PacificDecadalOscillationIndex(PDO,temperature) (explanation)
b) UpwellingIndex(anomalies)(Upwelling,lowoxygen) (explanation)
c) NorthPacificGyreOscillationIndex(NPGO,productivity) (explanation)
NPGO(x10)
PDO/UpwellingIndex
Three-year running average of PDO, Upwelling, and NPGO indices scores
Ocean boundaryconditions have been favorable for water qualityin Puget Sound: (a)colder water (PDO),
(b)less upwelled lowoxygen and high nutrient ocean water reachingPuget Sound (UpwellingIndex),and
(c) higher surface productivityalongthe coast (NPGO). Where are we headingnext?
.
Theoceanaffectswaterquality: OceanClimateIndices
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Is the food web changing in Puget Sound?
Follow the experts
WebEx
Hypothesis!
Increasesin
nitrate
concentrations
couldbe caused
by a top-down
controlon
phytoplankton
biomass.
Noctiluca
a visible
harbingerof a
food web
change?
Hypothesis for combining a series of recent observations
affecting energy and material transfer to higher trophic levels
Arechangesin highertropic levelspart of a story of the low food web?

Summary: Aerial photography10-29-2014
Very dense and large patches of jellyfish seen in finger inlets of South Sound. Red-brown
bloomsremain strong in smaller bays inside Puget Sound, particularly South Sound.
Suspended sediment increasingly visible.
Start here
Mixing andFronts:
Developed frontsand mixing visible by colored surface water.
Very pronounced in Dabob Bay, Hood Canal, and Samish Bay.
Debris:
Organic debrisstill numerousin Whidbey Basin and finger
inlets of South Sound.
Visible blooms:
Green-brown: Oakland Bay, Saratoga Passage.
Red-brown: Southern finger inlets of South Sound, Sinclair
Inlet.
Jellyfish:
Jellyfish patches very large, dense, and numerous in southern
inlets of South Sound (Totten, Eld, and Budd Inlets).
BloomDebrisFront
Suspendedsediment:
Suspended sediments near shore due to wind and wavesor
rivers. PortSusan, Skagitand Samish Bays rich with sediment.
Plume
Moonjelly smack next to plane, BuddInlet
Moonjelly smack next to plane, BuddInlet
1 2 4 15 16 17 201918
1 2 7 9 13 14
15 16 17 201918
1 5 6 8 9
12
1 2 3 8 13 16 17

Straitof
Juan de Fuca
San Juan Islands
Padilla Bay
Main Basin
Hood Canal
South Sound
Observation Maps:
Afternoonflight,photos 9-20:
Overcast,hazy,cloudy,wind
Flight Information:
Morningflight,photos 1-8
Overcast low visibility,rain wind
8
11
10
15
Aerial photography
and navigation guide
20
6
Centraland NorthSound
SouthSound
SeattleTides:H.tide:10:10AM8:53PM,,L.tide:2:58AM,4:01PM
7
12
Whidbey Basin
5
Flight route and fuelingstop
17
16
9
18
3
2
1
4
13
14
19

Debris
Tidal mixingof sediment-richwater with green-brown bloom bordered with lines of organic debris.
Location: OffBell Road,Oakland Bay(South Sound),10:55 AM.
1 Aerial photography 10-29-2014 Navigate
sediment
Debris
cloud reflections
Bloom
Plume

2 NavigateAerial photography 10-29-2014
Red-brown bloom and green-brown bloom separated by tidal fronts that accumulate organic debris.
Location: OffEagle Point,Oakland Bay(South Sound),10:56 AM.
Debris
Debris
Debris
Bloom
Bloom
boat
boat

Long organic debris line and boggy freshwater entering into cove from Union River.
Location: Lynch Cove (Hood Canal),11:08 AM.
Debris

4 Navigate
Aerial photography 10-29-2014
Red-brown bloom in inner Inlet.
Location: Sinclair Inlet (Central Sound),11:18AM.
Bloom
boat
sediment

Suspended sediments detaching from shoreline due to currents.
Location: OffFay Bainbridge Park,Bainbridge Island,Port Madison (Central Sound),11:25 AM.
fishingboat
sediment
sediment
sediment

Suspended sediments from river and/or shore erosion being transported northward.
Location: OffGlendale Road,south WhidbeyIsland(WhidbeyBasin),11:33AM.
sediment sediment
sediment
sediment
sedimentsediment

Northerly winds pushing back Whidbey Basin water. Strong front delineatingsediment-richwater.
Location: Mukilteo (WhidbeyBasin),11:33AM.
barge
ferry

Black surface debris and sediment-richwater.
Location: Near Triangle Cove,Port Susan (WhidbeyBasin),12:35 PM.
Debris
Debris
sediment

Sediment-richwater originating in Samish Bay flowing front. Water upwells and mixes near island.
Location: Vendovi Island,Samish Bay(North Sound),1:38 PM.
Plume
boat
boat
boat
ship
sediment

Sediment-richwater mixes into Rosario Strait.
Location: West of Lummi Island (North Sound),2:05 PM.
sediment
mixing

Turquoise water of Lopez Sound with shadows from clouds.
Location: Frost Island,Lopez Sound (San Juan Islands),2:41 PM.
boat
ferry
boat

Red-brown bloom in distinct patches in bay.
Location: Mud Bay,Lopez Sound (San Juan Islands),2:45 PM.
12 Navigate
Bloom
Bloom
Bloom
Bloom
boat

A. B.
Beach erosion due to waves; kelp beds and debris lines.
Location: A.Smith Island,B.Cape George,Discovery Bay (Strait of Juan de Fuca), 1:22 PM.
2:50PM 2:58PM
Debris
house
sediment
sediment

A. B.
C. D.
Complex surface water patterns outlining water structure and transport. Location: A. Quilcene Bay,B.
Dosewallips State Park,C.Tskutsko Point,D.Quadsap Point,Dabob Bay(Hood Canal),3:11, 3:16. 3:17 PM.
14 Navigate
3:11PM
3:16PM
3:17PM
3:17PM
boat
boat
Debris

15 Navigate
Strong red-brown bloom, suspended sediment,turquoise water, and jellyfishpatches.
Location: Off Baron Point,Totten Inlet (South Sound),3:41 PM.
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfishjellyfish
jellyfish
Bloom
Plume
boat

16 Navigate
Location: Hudson Cove,Totten Inlet (South Sound),3:42 PM.
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
Debris
Bloom
shellfishpen
Boat

17 Navigate
Location: Burns Point,Totten Inlet (South Sound),3:44 PM.
jellyfish
jellyfish
Debris
Bloom
Plume
boat

18 Navigate
Red-brown bloom and patches of jellyfish.
Location: OffShell Point,Eld Inlet (South Sound),3:46 PM.
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
Bloom
Bloom
boat

A. B.
19 Navigate
Red-brown bloom and extensive smacks of moon jellies both in size and density.
Location: A.Outer bay,B. Inner bayof Budd Inlet (South Sound),3:50 PM.
Bloom
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish jellyfish
jellyfishjellyfish
jellyfish

A.
20 Navigate
Extensive smacks of moon jellies both in size and density with pinkish tint.
Location: A.On the water,B. From air showinglocation on the water,Budd Inlet (South Sound), 3:50 PM.
B.
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
Bloom

NorthSound/SanJuan Islands
Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial reference
Date: 10-29-2014
CentralSound
Aerial photography observations in Central SoundObservations in Central and North Sound Navigate
5
6 10
911
12
4
3
7
8
13
14

Date: 10-29-2014
Observations in Hood Canal and South Sound
Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial reference
Navigate
SouthSound
17
18
19
20
1
2
15
16

Legendto map annotations
Comments:
Maps are producedby observers during and
after flights. They are intendedto give an
approximate reconstructionofthe surface
conditions onscales that connect to and
overlapwithsatellite images inthe sectionthat
follows.
Debris:
Debris canbe distinguished into natural and
anthropogenic debris floating at the surface
sensu Moore andAllen(2000). The majority of
organic debris inPuget Soundis natural and
mixedwithdiscardedman-made pieces of
plastic, wood,etc. Fromthe plane, we cannot
differentiatethe quality of debris at the surface
andtherefore, call it for reasons of practicality
just “debris”.
S.L. Moore,M. J. Allen. 2000. Distribution of
Anthropogenicand Natural Debris on the
Mainland Shelf of the Southern California Bight.
Marine Pollution Bulletin,40(1): 83–88.
Navigate

Current Conditions:
Cooler temperatures and an increased fresh
water at the triple junction in Central Sound are
seen in the salinityand color characteristics of
the water (CDOM).
Brandon Sackmann
Contact: bsackmann@integral-corp.com
Hardware upgrades onthe Victoria Clipper IV
successfully restorednear real-time data collectionas of
July 23, 2014; we are back online!
Ferry and satelliteobservations10-29-2014
Starthere
27 October 2014

Thedata logging upgradethat wasdone in July continues to be very successful!
Data areuploaded daily to: http://107.170.217.21/VictoriaClipper30/level0/.
Ferry and satellite observations10-29-2014
When we serviced our fluorometer on Tuesday, we found plastic pieces in
the sea chest and aquatic plant on the sensor. We have also found
feathers, small fish, sea grass, etc.
One optical lens onthe
fluorometer has UV rays,
so we wear safety glasses
withUV protection.
Tools and gear are set up for
easy access.
Removing bolts from the sea chest
to access the fluorometer.

Mooring observationsand trends
10-17-2014 to 10-30-2014
AtMukilteo, recent rains increased river flows and broughtfresh water to our moorings during outgoing
tides. In the upper mooring, tidal influences can be seen in the upper left plot. The deeper mooring
measured high salinity and increased oxygen. For the entire month of October, temporal trends of
temperaturefollowed somewhat similarly to the tidal cycle (see next slide).
2-6 m depth
Dissolvedoxygennot
measured
12-16 m depth
These plots show the
probability of
observationsover the
pasttwo-week period.
High probability shown in
warmcolors.
Left Panels: Density is
defined by salinity and
temperature.
Right Panel: Dissolved
oxygen concentration in
relation to salinity.

9-29-2014to 10-29-2014
Click on icon to view real-
time data of the moorings
Our mooring station in Mukilteo is located in
Whidbey Basin near Everett. Itis also
located at the transition between Possession
and Central Soundsat a depth that is
influenced by the Skagitand Snohomish river
discharges, prevailing winds, and tidal
mixing.
Asthe largest regional contributor of
freshwater to Puget Sound, understanding
the timing and magnitude of the Skagit river
flow is important.
We present data of daily means for the past
31 days. Data are plotted in Pacific Standard
Time. Wind data arefrom Paine Field in
Everett. River flow data arefrom USGS.

Mukilteo2010 to 2014
Pleasenote that data are provisional. Data are in GMT.
Atthe Mukilteo mooring, weuse the near-bottom
sensor (12-16 mdeep) to measure significant inter-
annualvariability in temperature, salinity, and dissolved
oxygen.
Inter-annualvariability is shown over an almost
5-year period. All three variables show strong
seasonality.
Through 2014, trendsin salinity and dissolved oxygen
appear to decline whereas trends in temperatureare
similar to 2013. For October, temperatureand oxygen
arehigher than the past four years.
September 2014 data for salinity and oxygen are invalid
after we found the sensor sitting on sediment. Our bath
verificationsindicated the dissolved oxygen sensor
failed in early July and thus, dissolved oxygen data for
July 2014 is fromlatter half of the month.

Accessmooring
data:
ftp://www.ecy.wa.gov/ea
p/Mooring_Raw/Puget_S
ound/
Ferryand satellite :
Suzan.Pool@ecy.wa.gov
Get data from Ecology’sMarine MonitoringPrograms
Long–Term
MonitoringNetwork
Real–Time
SensorNetwork
Accesscore
monitoringdata:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/a
pps/eap/marinewq/mwda
taset.asp
christopher.krembs@ecy.w
a.gov
Ecology’s long-termmarine
monitoring stations
Ferrytrack
Riverand Stream WaterQuality
Monitoring
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/fw_riv
/rv_main.html
Discontinued (fundingcuts)

You maysubscribe or unsubscribe to the Eyes Over Puget Sound email listservby going to:
http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=ECOLOGY-EYES-OVER-PUGET-SOUND
Many thanks to our business partners: Clipper Navigations, SwantownMarina,andKenmore Air.
We are looking forfeedbackto improve ourproducts.
Dr. ChristopherKrembs
christopher.krembs@ecy.wa.gov
Marine Monitoring Unit
EnvironmentalAssessment Program
WA Department of Ecology

Eops 2014 10_29

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Eops 2014 10_29