Eops 2016 05_02

Critter of the Month
Surface Conditions
Report, May 2, 2016
Eyes Over Puget Sound
Field log Climate Water column Aerial photos Continuous monitoring Streams
Publication No. 16-03-073
Up-to-date observations of visiblewater quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Start here
Sandra Weakland,MarineMonitoring,Ecology

Dr. Christopher
Krembs (Editor)
Personalimpressions p. 3
How’s the Water Quality in Puget Sound?
Climateconditions p. 5
Air temperatures andsunlight are above normal.
Precipitationis low,but snowmelt-fedrivers are running
very high.
Watercolumn p. 6
Temperatures are still high in Puget Sound. Recordwarm
water fromlast year persists inHoodCanal as of March.
Aerialphotography p. 10
Jellyfishare already occurringinhigh numbers in southern inlets.
The spring phytoplanktonbloomis in full swing creating
abundant organic material that is washingonto beaches.
Continuous monitoring p. 29
Chlorophyll concentrations have increasedthroughout Puget
Sound and more recently,inthe Strait of Juande Fuca between
Admiralty Inlet andVictoria Harbour.
Streams p. 31
InMay, the snowpack is dwindling fast as temperatures are
up to 7 °F warmer thannormal at higher elevations.
LONG-TERMMARINEMONITORINGUNIT
Skip Albertson
Julia Bos
Suzan Pool
Editorial assistanceprovided by: Laura Hermanson, Suzan Pool, CarolMaloy
Marine conditionsfrom 5-2-2016 at a glance
Don Watt
Mya Keyzers
Laura Hermanson

Critter of the Month
Dany Burgess & Angela Eagleston
Marine Sediment Monitoring Team
Luidia foliolata - The Sand Star
This month’s Critter is a familiar
face! If you haveever been to an
aquariumor explored tide pools,
you may have encountered this
creaturebefore.
Fun Sand Star Facts!
• One of the fastestsea stars in
the world, moving up to 9 feet
per minute due to its unique
adhesive systemin its tube feet.
• Can quickly shed their arms and
regeneratenew ones.
• Voracious predators, ingesting
sea cucumbers, smallclams,
brittle stars, and marine worms.
Photo by Jennifer
Vanderhoof,
courtesy ofKing
County Marine
Monitoring
Program
Learn more about sand starandothercritters on Ecology’s EcoConnectbloghere.
Personal Field Impression
Field log Weather Water column Aerial photos Continuous monitoring Streams
Eyes Under Puget Sound 5-2-2016

Personal Field Impression
Field log Weather Water column Aerial photos Continuous monitoring Streams
Personal Field Impression 5-2-2016
We get asked this question often when interacting with the public. But the question can mean many different
things. When you wonder about water quality in Puget Sound, what areyou really interested in?
How’s the Water Quality in Puget Sound?
Is it safe to go swimming?
To check the safetyof saltwater
and freshwaterswimming
locations, go to the Department
of Ecology’s BEACH Program
website forclosuresand
advisories. You’ll findfurther
informationaboutwater quality
standards and linksto related
information.
Is it safe to harvest
shellfish?
For recreational shellfishharvest
information,visitthe
Department of Health Shellfish
Safetywebsite. The interactive
map can helpyou to stay safe
and informedabout closuresdue
to biotoxinsandpollution.
Should I be worried
about pollutionand
toxins?
The Toxic StudiesUnit at the
Department of Ecology monitors
toxicchemicals in water,
sediment,andfishtissue inall
waterbodies,aswell as
children'sproducts and
consumer goods.
What is El Niñoand how
will it affect me?
In the PacificNorthwest, El Niño
has caused this spring to be
warmer and drier than usual. To
understandhow El Niñowill
influence yourvacationplans,
gardeningschedule,andchances
for an outdoor BBQ, check out the
El Niño Theme Page from NOAA’s
PacificMarine Environmental
Laboratory.
Photo Creditfromleftto right:mynorthwest.com,PMEL,Encyclopediaof PugetSound,KOMONews.
Readhere
Readhere
Readhere
Readhere

Natural Influence leadingto 5-2-2016
Climate and naturalinfluences,includingweather,rivers,and the adjacent ocean,canaffect our
marine waters. Graphics are basedonprovisional data andare subject to change.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/weather.html,page 26.
Putting the puzzle piecesof influencing factorstogether…
lowerhigher expected No data
*UpwellingAnomalies(PFEL)
ENSO = El Niño SouthernOscillation
*
Summary for April 2016:
Air temperatures remain above
normal in the Puget Sound
lowlands.
Precipitationlevels werebelow
normal during April, after five
months of abovenormal rain.
Sunshine levels weremuch
abovenormal (low cloud cover).
River flows areslightly above
normal, except for the Fraser
River (very high) and Chehalis
River (low), which is mostly fed
by precipitation.
Downwelling eased off in April
and ENSO and PDO remain in
their warmphase(El Niño).

We usea boatand a
chartered float plane to
access our monthly
monitoring stations.
We communicate data
and environmental
marine conditions using:
1. Marine Water
Condition Index
(MWCI)
2. Eyes OverPuget
Sound (EOPS)
3. Anomaliesand
sourcedata
Ourlong-termmarinemonitoringstationsinWashington
Starthere
Isl.
.

0
2000
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12000
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Jun-15
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Sep-15
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Feb-16
Mar-16
Apr-16
Discharge(m3s-1)
ArePugetSoundconditionsnormalizing?
Year 2016 is continuingrecordbreakingglobal temperatures. NOAAprovides updates onthe pages below. Inour
region, the Fraser River has not been flowingas high as last year,though it has picked up. A better snow base lets us
hope that summer flows andestuarine circulationwill be closer to normal,contrastinglast year’s drought. Estuarine
circulation is important because watertemperatures in Puget Soundare still warmerthan what they should be!
The Fraser River is the largestfreshwater sourcefor the Salish Sea, significantly affecting estuarine circulation.
If rivers continue to improve water exchange duringsummer, we
have anopportunity to bring in cooler oceanwater.
Inwinter andspring 2015, the Fraser
River and other rivers dischargedprematurely. Very
low summer flows followedandinhibited the
renewal of water inPuget Sound. Rivers are now
normal or running higher, but not like last year.
Estuarine circulationis presently as expected.
Source: http://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/index_e.html
Higher than normal
Lower than normal
Expected
Credit: Christopher Krembs
Readhere

Region
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3
201620152016 201620142015 2015
Whidbey Basin
Hood Canal
Central Sound
South Sound
20142014
Grays Harbor
Willapa Bay
North Sound
San Juan
Physical conditionstracked in historicalcontext
Explore profiles
at all stations
Still higher temperature in P. Sound ExpectedOxygenSalinity below normal
Temperatures fromMarchremainhighin Puget Soundand recordwarmwater fromlast year persists much
longer in HoodCanal. OxygeninPuget Sound is generally expected. Conditions are comparable,but less
pronouncedat the Coast.

a) PacificDecadalOscillationIndex(PDO,temperature) (explanation)
b) UpwellingIndex(anomalies)(Upwelling,low oxygen) (explanation)
c) NorthPacificGyreOscillationIndex(NPGO, productivity) (explanation)
Theoceanaffectswaterquality: OceanClimateIndices
NPGO(x10)
PDO/UpwellingIndex
Three-year running average of PDO, Upwelling, and NPGO indices scores
.
Ocean boundaryconditions are in transition: (a)water is still warm (PDO), (b) upwellingoflow oxygen
and high nutrient ocean water are normal (UpwellingIndex anomaly),and (c)surface productivityalong
the coast is normalizing(NPGO).
-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

Summary: Aerial photography5-2-2016
Jellyfish are already occurring in high numbers in southern inlets. The spring phytoplankton
bloom is in full swing creating abundantorganic material at the surfacethat is washing onto
beaches.
Start here
Mixing and Fronts:
Occasionalfronts in Central Sound, Dyes Inlet, and Colvos
Passagedelineating water of different coloration.
Debris:
Abundantorganic debris fromdecaying blooms in Colvos
Passage, Dyes Inlet, PortMadison, Sinclair Inlet, and Central
Sound.
Visible blooms:
Spring phytoplankton bloom in full swing in all places and
staining water dark green and brown. In someplaces, blooms
are colored red-brown.
Jellyfish:
Numerous jellyfish patches in Budd, Eld, and Henderson Inlets.
BloomDebrisFront
Suspendedsediment:
Very little suspended sediment.
Plume
Salmon Bay withno oil sheen– that is good.
Lake Union, a busy place to land!

Strait of
Juan de Fuca
San Juan Islands
Padilla Bay
Main Basin
Hood Canal
South Sound
Whidbey Basin
Sunny,broken ceilingnear
Bremerton
Flight Information:
Aerial photography
and navigation guide
7
Flight route
9
3
2
8
Tide data (Seattle):
Time Height(ft.) High/Low
01:52 AM 11.1 H
08:24 AM 3.88 L
01:56 PM 8.56 H
08:00 PM 2.03 L
6
10
11
14
13
4
5
1
Observation Maps:
Central Sound
South Sound
15
12

Jellyfishpatches in Budd Inlet and spring bloom conditions coloring the water green-brown.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound),4:44 PM.
1 Aerial photography 5-2-2016 Navigate
boat
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish

A. B.
2 NavigateAerial photography 5-2-2016
A. Organic material washing onto beaches and decaying. B. Very strong spring blooming conditions.
Location: West side of Budd Inlet (South Sound),4:44 PM.
Bloom
boat
marker
Public submission of picture, by Laura Uhis

Bloom
boat
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
boat
A. B.
Numerous Jellyfish patches in Eld Inlet occurring unusually early. A. Looking north, B. Looking south.
Location: Eld Inlet (South Sound),4:47 PM.

4 Navigate
Aerial photography 5-2-2016
Water rich in phytoplankton of different species coloring the water green-brown or red-brown.
Location: Totten Inlet (South Sound),4:51 PM.
Bloom
Debris

Large patches of organic debris accumulating at the surface.
Location: Steamboat Island,Totten Inlet (South Sound),4:52 PM.
Debris
Debris
Debris
Debris
Debris

Intense green bloom in Horsehead Bay.
Location: Forest Beach, Carr Inlet (South Sound),5:00 PM.
Bloom

Brown water different from colors in the adjacent Tacoma Narrows suggesting different phytoplankton
species. Location: GigHarbor (Central Sound),5:03 PM.

Water rich in phytoplankton and organic material floating at the surface and enteringColvos Passage from
South Sound on an ebb tide. Location: Southern entrance ofColvos Passage (Central Sound),5:05 PM.
Debris
Bloom

Large rafts of organic material floating at the surface through Colvos Passage.
Location: Colvos Passage (CentralSound),5:08 PM.
Debris

Spring bloom in colors of green (hint of red), organic debris, but no jellyfish, unlike South Sound.
Location: Sinclair Inlet (Central Sound),5:14PM.
Bloom
Debris

Bloom
Bloom
boat
Debris
boat
A. B.
NavigateAerial photography 5-2-2016
A. Large accumulations of organic material. B. Spring bloom in colors of green (hint of red).
Location: Sinclair Inlet (Central Sound),5:15PM.
11

Large and numerous accumulations of organic material at the surface. Phytoplankton bloom.
Location: Dyes Inlet (Central Sound),5:19 PM.
12
boat
Debris
Bloom
boat

Large and numerous accumulations of organic material at the surface. Phytoplankton bloom.
Location: Port Madison (CentralSound),5:26 PM.
13
Debris
Debris

A.
A. Large and numerous accumulations of organic material. B. Phytoplankton bloom in red-brown and green
visible near a tidal front. Location: Port Madison (Central Sound),5:26 PM.
14
boat
Bloom
Bloom
Bloom
boat
ship
Debris
B.

Large and numerous accumulations of organic material. Phytoplankton bloom around Bainbridge Island.
Location: East of Bainbridge Island (Central Sound),5:30 PM.
15
Debris
Debris
Bloom
ship

n.a.
Hood Canal Central Sound
Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial reference
Date: 5-2-2016
Qualitative aerial observer map during transit Navigate
11
12
10
15
14
9
8
13
7

Date: 5-2-2016
Qualitative aerial observer map during transit
Navigate
South Sound
12
3
4
5
6 7

Summary of Victoria Clipper IVferry data:
The near-surface water startedmakinga seasonal transition. Temperature has increased
over the last few days. Chlorophyll concentrations increasedthroughout Puget Soundand
more recently,in the Strait of Juande Fuca betweenAdmiralty Inlet and Victoria Harbour.
Turbidity and CDOMremainlow.
The Victoria
Clipper IV carries
sensorsin its sea
chest. The
sensorsallow us
to plot overtime
transects of:
A. Temperature
B. Chlorophyll
C. Turbidity
D. CDOM
Over time,we
see the
dynamics of
these variables
in surface water
betweenSeattle
and Victoria,BC.
C.
B.A.
D.
Continuousmonitoring 5-2-2016

Figures show daily sensor data
installedonthe ferry which
measure near-surface water at
5-sec intervals while the Victoria
Clipper IV transits between
Seattle andVictoria,BC.
A. Sea Surface Temperature:
Water is becomingwarmer in
Central Basin.
B. Chlorophyll: Concentrations
were low inthe Strait and clearly
increasedin Puget Sound.
C. Turbidity: Turbidity was low
onentire route.
D. Colored Dissolved Organic
Matter(CDOM): Humics inthe
water are low inCentral Basin
and nearly absent in the Strait of
Juande Fuca.
A. B.
C.
Victoria
Olympic
Peninsula
Seattle
Victoria
Olympic
Peninsula
Seattle
Victoria
Olympic
Peninsula
Seattle
Victoria
Olympic
Peninsula
Seattle
D.
Continuousmonitoring 5-2-2016

Warm and dry weather, losing the snow fast
At first, warmer air temperatures in April did not affect snow water equivalencies.
However, continued warmer temperatures into May havereduced the snowpack
quickly in Washington. Precipitation has dropped to less than normal. What can we
expect for the summer to come?
Don Watt,
Ecology
Over the last month, weatherin the Puget Sound Regionwas
verywarm and dry. Mean temperatureswere 3 to 6 °F above
normal for the PugetSound basinand 6 to 7 °F above normal
along the Cascade Crest and on the higherpeaks inthe
Olympics.
Alongwith the exceptionallywarmtemperaturesinApril came
much lower than normal precipitationformuch of the Puget
Sound Basin.

Warm and dry weather, losing the snow fast
The combinedeffectof the very warm and dry weather inApril
has beena rapid lossof snowpack across much of the region.
Snowpack had beennear or above normal across the regionin
earlyApril.
But by early May, snowpack in the mountainseast of PugetSound
had dwindledtobetween56 and 83% of seasonal normal.
Snowpack in the Olympicsremainsin the near-normal category.
April May

Accessmooring
data:
ftp://www.ecy.wa.gov/ea
p/Mooring_Raw/Puget_S
ound/
Continuous monitoring :
Suzan.Pool@ecy.wa.gov
Get data from Ecology’sMarine MonitoringPrograms
Long–Term
MonitoringNetwork
Real–Time
Sensor Network
Accesscore
monitoringdata:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ec
y/eap/marinewq/mwdata
set.asp
christopher.krembs@ecy.w
a.gov
Ecology’s long-termmarine
monitoring stations
Continuous track
Riverand Stream WaterQuality
Monitoring
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/fw_riv
/rv_main.html
Discontinued (fundingcuts)

You may subscribe 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 Navigation,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

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