Hood%20Canal%20at%20Risk

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Hood Canal at Risk
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Hood Canal A Unique Home

• Understanding the Issue of Low Dissolved Oxygen
• What can you do?

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Puget Sound Watershed

• Puget Sound has 2100 miles of shorelines

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Hood Canal Origins

• The region was carved out by the most recent
  glacial retreat nearly 13,000 years ago.
• The glacial activity created a long, L-shaped,
  fjord-like body of water
• Hood Canal is about 60 miles long with nearly
  200 miles of shoreline

• The canal is shallow at the entrance
  very deep along the long arm.
  and becomes considerably shallow again
  within the short arm

Puget Sound Glaciation Source www.ecy.wa.gov
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• Hood Canal Watershed
• 5 Major Rivers
• 3 Counties
• 54,000 Residents
• 24,800 Homes

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Wildlife abounds
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Habitat is critical

• Nearly continuous band of eelgrass around Hood
  Canal
• Provides habitat for juvenile salmon
• Provides spawning grounds for herring
• Provides a food source for migrating geese

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Recreation opportunities are plentiful
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The natural resources have great economic,
recreational, commercial, and cultural value

• 65-75 of the states Spot Shrimp are harvested
  from Hood Canal
• 500,000-600,000 pounds of Dungeness Crab are
  harvested annually in Hood Canal
• The 2002 Geoduck quota was over 500,000 pounds
  valued between 3-5 million

Source WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
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Trouble Brewing Below the Surface?
Hood Canal
Puget Sound
Hood Canal is a much different place than Puget
Sound
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Average Dissolved Oxygen Measurements (below 20m)
1950s - 2004
Southern Hood Canal (Dabob Bay to Great Bend)
Low oxygen conditions appear to be getting worse.
The 2004 inventory of the oxygen is the lowest
on record.
Source M. Warner (UW) analysis UW Collias
PRISM data
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Concern Grows As Fisheries Are Closed
Tuesday, September 16, 2003 Hood Canal marine
life struggling for oxygen
By LISA STIFFLERSEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
REPORTER
Yesterday, the state Department of Fish and
Wildlife indefinitely closed commercial and
recreational fishing throughout the canal for all
finfish except salmon and trout the first time
ever due to water quality
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U.S. Coastal Dead Zones Associated with Human
Activity
National attention in 2003
Date of Hypoxic event
Source Americas Oceans Charting a Course for
the Sea Change.
Pew Ocean Commission report
June, 2003
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Where is Dissolved Oxygen a Problem?
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The lower portion of the canal suffers from low
DO levels for most of the year.
real bad
throughout year
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Are we seeing long-term change?

• Area of low oxygen may be spreading north and
  occupying greater volume.
• Low oxygen present year-round.
• Hypoxia developing earlier in year.
• Biological effects may be worsening.

Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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Hood Canal Attributes

• Strong stratification, distinct layers maintained
  with different characteristics.
• Deep waters with low oxygen dont get mixed.
• Slow circulation, long residence time.
• Bulk of waters are old with no recent air
  contact.
• High productivity, high organic load.
• Oxygen is respired away during decomposition of
  this matter.

? RESULT Hood Canal is naturally predisposed to
low dissolved oxygen, much more so than Puget
Sound which is better flushed and less
stratified.
Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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Stratification persistent
temperature
salinity determine density

FRESH
WARM
less dense
more dense
SALTY
COLD
Stratification gets even stronger in the summer
and fall
Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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High production and respiration
Organic (primary) production
Low nutrient High oxygen
Phytoplankton Grows
(growth uses up nutrients and creates oxygen)
sunlight nutrients
Phytoplankton Sinks And Decays (decay uses
up oxygen and leaves nutrients)
Respiration
CO2 H2O ?? C(H2O) O2
High nutrient Low oxygen
Photosynthesis
Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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More Humans More Nutrients
Additional nutrients (plant food)
Phytoplankton Grows More Rapidly
(uses additional nutrients and creates oxygen)
More organic material to sink and decompose
Low oxygen
can get lower
Nutrient additions from human activity can make
the low dissolved oxygen problem worse.
Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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Slow Circulation Poor Flushing
N
River Inputs
Hood Canal bridge area
Big Bend area
Ocean Input
Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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To what degree each of these processes is driving
the oxygen variation in Hood Canal is not known
Change light availability more sun

Change nutrient availability septics, forest,
runoff loads




Change organic biomass/prodn better growing
conditions, carcass loads
Change river input flushing, stratification
Change ocean input O2, density
Source J. Newton (UW), HCDOP
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The Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program (HCDOP)
is a collaborative effort between many parties to
study and model the canal in order to recommend
corrective actions and, in parallel, to direct
effort towards education and early potential
corrective actions.
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HCDOP Integrated Assessment and Modeling
Science Plan
A multi-disciplined science plan (IAM) has
been formed by multiple stakeholders to better
understand Hood Canal oxygen variation.

• Marine Water Monitoring
• Utilize profiling moorings and nearshore
  transects to measure circulation and water
  quality
• Fresh Water Flow Nutrient Loading
• Monitor flow and water quality in rivers,
  streams, groundwater and map associated land use
• Marine Life Studies
• Assess DO effect on biota and biota effect on
  DO
• Modeling and Analysis
• Develop and verify computer models of marine and
  terrestrial system, run scenarios and corrective
  action analysis
• Rapid Response Diver Program
• Respond to fish kills and algal blooms, maintain
  diver observation records

http//www.hoodcanal.washington.edu
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Early Action Steps
Addressing Human Impacts
Simple Solutions
Multiple Benefits
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Organic Matter

• Common sources yard waste and sewage from
  failing septic systems
• Organic matter consumes oxygen in two ways
• In chemical reactions it seeks out oxygen and
  bonds to it
• In the process being decomposed by bacteria

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Increased Nutrients Nitrogen

• Essential for life
• But can be harmful at high levels
• Increased human development

Increased levels of nitrogen enter Hood Canal
watershed
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Dont yet know how much or which reduction in
nitrogen input may restore the DO levels
many sources and not all may affect algae and
resulting DO levels the same HCDOP-IAM models
will provide this information.
Atmosphere
?
?
Watershed
Surface
?
Ocean
Rivers
?
?
Groundwater
?
Upward flux to photic zone
?
?
Storage
Benthic
?
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Algal Blooms
Phytoplankton and other algae respond to nitrogen
with rapid growth

• Initially increases surface oxygen
• Algae die and sink to the bottom
• Its decomposition uses up oxygen in deeper waters

Algae Blooms in Hood Canal Photo courtesy Rick
Haley www.psat.wa.gov
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Major Human Sources of Nitrogen

• Human Sewage
• Septic systems
• Stormwater Runoff
• Landscaping
• Commercial Fishing By-product (carcass disposal)
• Agricultural Practices
• Source Hood Canal Low Dissolved Oxygen
  Preliminary Assessment and Corrective Action
  Plan, PSAT, 2004

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What You Can Do
Simple Solutions
Multiple benefits
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ShoreWatch

• On-going neighborhood stewardship program

• We provide
• Naturalists
• Experts
• Fun social activities

Contact Jim Dawson People for Puget Sound
360-754-9177
Jdawson_at_pugetsound.org
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Hood Canal Shore Stewards Program

• People who live on shoreline or streamside
  property within the Hood Canal watershed, have
  special responsibilities in caring for their home
  and property.
• Their proximity to the water means that they can
  have a considerable impact on the water quality
  as well as the surrounding habitat.

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10 Guidelines for Shoreline Living

1. Use water wisely
2. Know and practice all the elements of septic
   maintenance
3. Control pests safely
4. Manage water runoff
5. Encourage native plants and trees
6. Know the permit procedures for shoreline
   development
7. Develop on bluffs with care
8. Use soft armoring techniques when appropriate
9. Respect intertidal life while on the beach and
   boating
10. Preserve eelgrass beds for forage fish spawning
    habitats

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Benefits of Becoming a Shore Steward

• Receive a manual for shoreline living
• Post a sign to display on property
• Get invitations to workshops and receive in depth
  information
• Read regular newsletters of upcoming events and
  current conditions in Hood Canal

• To join your neighbors in caring for Hood Canal
  contact Cammy Mills at cammymills_at_jefferson.wsu.ed
  u or for voicemail call 360-275-3575

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Inspect and Maintain Your Septic System

• All types of septic systems should be inspected
  every 1-3 years (depending on system)
• A regular pumping schedule should be developed
  (based on usage)
• Benefits
• Reducing nitrogen and organic loads in Hood Canal
• Protecting public health
• Saving you money in the long term

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Host a Septic Social

• Gather your friends and neighbors for an intimate
  tour of the ins and outs of your home septic
  system.
• Contact Washington Sea Grant Program at
  360.432.3054 to schedule yours today.
• Theyre fun, entertaining and you learn about
  your neighbors dirt

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Add a screen over your drains

• A micromesh screen traps food particles so that
  they dont enter your septic system adding to
  its nitrogen level.
• Contact the Washington Sea Grant Program at
  360.432.3054 to get your free screen today.

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Be a Gunk Gatherer

• Be one of over 50 homes to gather the gunk from
  their kitchen sink screens for one week.
• The gunk will be analyzed to help us determine
  how much nitrogen we are screening out with this
  simple technique.
• Contact Washington Sea Grant Program
• 360.432.3054 for more information.

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Replace Your Garbage Disposal

• A septic tank is an expensive garbage can to
  empty and adds unnecessary nutrients into our
  water system. By not using your garbage
  disposal, you will reduce your maintenance
  frequency.
• We can swap your disposal for a free compost bin
  or worm box.
• Contact the Washington Sea Grant Program at
  360.432.3054 for more information.

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Lawn and Garden Practices

• Plant native plant buffers along the shoreline
• Reduce or eliminate use of fertilizers
• Switch to slow release organic fertilizers
• Dont throw yard waste into Hood Canal

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Pick Up Animal Waste
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Problem Livestock waste from paddocks and
heavy use areas becomes contaminated and washes
into streams and marine water
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Solution Install Heavy Use Area Protection
measures that increase drainage capability of
soil and prevent livestock waste contaminants
from leaving site.
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Your Local Conservation Districts Can Help!

• Kitsap Conservation District [phone]
• Jefferson Conservation District [phone]
• Mason Conservation District [phone]

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If you see something unusual

• If you see dead fish or big algal blooms, call
  
• 1-800-OILS-911
• For other unusual sightings call Washington Sea
  Grant in Shelton at 360.432.3054

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The Next Step is Yours