SoundHAB: South Puget Sound fish kill and increasing phytoplanktonabundance in the usual areas of Puget Sound

Thu May 19 21:22:47 EDT 2011

Jack,

Here is a MERIS image from 17 May that shows the extent of the bloom in
Southern Puget Sound; likely related to the widespread Phaeocystis bloom
that is being reported by the Squaxin Island Tribe.  Yesterday's image
(18 May) had some contamination by high-thin clouds in South Sound, but
still showed indications that the bloom was present.  Imagery from last
week (12 May) showed a less intense bloom in northern Case Inlet and
little activity in the smaller bays and inlets (although clouds are a
complicating factor).  Links to Ecology's standard MERIS products are
attached.

I will continue to process MERIS imagery over the next several days and
hope to send out a short condition report early next week.  While our
ferry observations do not extend into South Sound, we are using this
information to ground-truth our satellite observations when possible.

I will be in touch with additional details as I get things pulled
together.

Brandon

-------------------------------------- 
Brandon Sackmann, Ph.D.
Washington State Department of Ecology 
Environmental Assessment Program 
Modeling and Information Support Unit 
300 Desmond Drive  | P.O. Box 47600 
Lacey, WA  98503   | Olympia, WA  98504-7600 
Tel:     (360) 407-6684
Fax:     (360) 407-6884
Email:   brandon.sackmann at ecy.wa.gov
Station: C2D-60 
Web:     http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/ 

Additional Puget Sound Information

MERIS Ocean Color & In-Situ Ferry Data

(data have not yet been QAQC'd)

18 May 2011

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/eops/meris/MER_FRS_C2R_20110518_
182635.pdf

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/eops/clipper/2011-05-18_clipper.
pdf

17 May 2011

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/eops/meris/MER_FRS_C2R_20110517_
190318.pdf

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/eops/clipper/2011-05-17_clipper.
pdf

12 May 2011

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/eops/meris/MER_FRS_C2R_20110512_
184631.pdf

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/eops/clipper/2011-05-12_clipper.
pdf

Contact:  Brandon Sackmann, Washington State Department of Ecology (
bsac461 at ecy.wa.gov)

From: soundhab-bounces at whoi.edu [mailto:soundhab-bounces at whoi.edu] On
Behalf Of Rensel
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 10:52 AM
To: SoundHAB at whoi.edu
Subject: SoundHAB: South Puget Sound fish kill and increasing
phytoplanktonabundance in the usual areas of Puget Sound

A minor fish kill of yearling coho salmon has occurred at the Squaxin
Island Tribal net pens in Southern Puget Sound commencing from 2 days
ago, possibly associated with a bloom of Phaeocystic sp., a harmful or
noxious species not usually associated with fish kills and not
previously reported from Puget Sound fish kills in the past.   Fish are
reared for a short term in these pens before release to enhance
fisheries in the South Puget Sound an elsewhere in cooperation with the
Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.  Managers are assessing the
situation and may release the fish in the near future. 

This reportedly was not a major fish kill and Northwest Indian Fish
Commission fish pathologists have inspected the fish, observed gill
damage and made management recommendations.     If more information
becomes available, we will pass it on.  

Meanwhile many of the usual suspect areas are experiencing increased
phytoplankton biomass concurrent with the first sunny and relatively
warm weather of our year.  NWFSC NOAA workers and fish farmers in North
Puget Sound report that species composition is mainly diatoms where it
has been sampled.  However this is based on limited sampling and not the
US/Canada border areas or Samish and Padilla Bay areas that are often
bloom inittition areas for Heterosigma. 

Tides are relatively large this week which tends to reduce the risks of
major blooms in our mixed channel areas.  Vertical stratification near
river mouths and throughout all north Puget Sound north and east of
Orcas Island and the South Strait of Georgia is in some cases less
influenced by tidal induced mixing.  The plot below shows what may be an
early peaking discharge of the Fraser River are factors of concern for
fish killing Heterosigma blooms, as occurred in May 2007 and was
associated with the extremely poor return of Fraser River sockeye in
2009.  Historically, Heterosigma blooms often first occurred around July
4th, but in recent years blooms have occurred much earlier.
Unfortunately, no sampling is being conducted in the open waters of
South Strait of Georgia at this time to the best of our knowledge
although typically sockeye smolts by the millions are flooding out of
the river into the South Strait of Georgia.   

Thank you to Jeff Dickison of the Squaxin Island Tribe for reporting
this event. We invite all participants to report harmful blooms using
SoundHAB list serv and especially fish kills to please report such
events as soon as possible so that other researchers can cooperate and
contribute.  This is especially important for species of harmful algae
that previously have not been implicated in nusiance or toxic blooms in
our area in the past. 

Yesterday's Modis Satellite chlorophyll a image from an afternoon time
period.  MODIS NPP, 0.0125 degrees, West US, EXPERIMENTAL

(mg m^-3) 2011-05-18  (not adjusted for river plume effects). 

Fraser River Discharge (solid line), Mean historical flow (dashed) and
upper quartile of historical flow (dashed-dotted)

J.E. Jack Rensel Ph.D.

Rensel Associates Aquatic Sciences

4209 234th St. N.E.

Arlington WA 98223

360-631-6538

Jackrensel at att.net

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