Sally Lawrence, Washington Department of Ecology’s TMDL coordinator updated the attendees on the process and connection from landscape to water of the implementation plan.

The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), the Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Suquamish Tribe, and other technical stakeholders are cooperating in an ENVironmental inVESTment (ENVVEST) project to develop and demonstrate alternative strategies for protecting and improving the ecological integrity of Sinclair and Dyes Inlets and their surrounding watershed in Puget Sound, Washington.

Dr. Bob Johnston, Marine Environmental Support Office — NW Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, presented the community update and “navigational tour” of a disk published by the group this month. For more information or to obtain a copy, contact the Public Affairs office at 360-476-7111 or email pao@psns.navy.mil.

Project ENVVEST has been developing and demonstrating alternative, long-term, cost-effective strategies for protecting and improving the health of Sinclair and Dyes Inlets and the adjacent watershed. It provides a process to work with local stakeholders to evaluate the conditions, identify the appropriate actions to improve environmental quality, and then propose ways to make it happen. The project will allow pollution prevention and cleanup strategies to be focused on the pollutants that have the highest potential to adversely affect the health of the watershed. A key element is the development of a unified monitoring program and electronic database.

This study was initiated to increase understanding of how salmonids use shoreline environments in Puget Sound and how shoreline development may impact these species, information that is needed to help management agencies develop effective recovery strategies now required under the Endangered Species Act.

Investigators studied the distribution, abundance, size, and trophic relationships of juvenile salmonids in the marine nearshore environment of Sinclair Inlet, Washington.

Tow net samples were collected monthly from May to August 2002 during day and night hours along both shorelines and offshore. Inshore tows generally followed the 5 m contour line while offshore tows were made in the deepest sections.

A major source of both naturally produced and hatchery Chinook salmon in the study area was Gorst Creek, at the terminus of Sinclair Inlet. In addition, juvenile Chinook salmon originated from a large number of sources outside the study area.

Juvenile Chinook salmon recovered from Sinclair Inlet in 2002 originated from 14 different watersheds and from as far away as the Fraser River in Canada. A total of 77 percent of the total recoveries originated from the Gorst Creek hatchery. Fish released into the Green River were recovered in Sinclair Inlet within 11 days of release, while fish released at Grovers Creek (approximately 25 km swimming distance) were recovered within 48 hours of their release.

The findings of this study indicate that Sinclair Inlet is used by three major groups of juvenile Chinook salmon.

The first group consists of hatchery origin fish released into Gorst Creek, typically in late May through the end of June. The fish disperse throughout the Inlet with most of the fish rapidly leaving the Inlet.

Third, wild juvenile Chinook salmon use the Inlet. These fish could be naturally spawning fish from Gorst Creek or nearby local systems, or move into the Inlet from other river systems. The only way to identify wild fish was by a lack of marks or tags identifying them as hatchery fish. The investigators did not detect different patterns of distribution, growth patterns, or diet composition between hatchery and “wild” Chinook. However, this may be due to the unmarked hatchery component of the “wild” group or the low numbers captured of “wild” fish overall. Alternatively, the two groups may behave similarly during their early life history in Sinclair Inlet.

The focus of these studies was on juvenile Chinook because of their classification as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Juvenile Chinook salmon are present in Sinclair Inlet littoral habitats from early spring through early fall, at a minimum.

It was clear that Sinclair Inlet shorelines are host to juvenile Chinook salmon from throughout the Puget Sound during late spring and summer, and likely include both hatchery and natural origin. Therefore, proper management of nearshore habitats is important not only for local origin fish, but also for those that come from a considerable distance.

The study can be downloaded from the WDFW website at: http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/papers/ps_salmon/index.htm

This fall the Hood Canal experienced a change in weather accompanied by low dissolved oxygen levels at depths that have an effect on the southern Hood Canal.

“Stressed and dead critters were reported at Sund Rock. If you dive the southern Hood Canal please keep the Salmon Enhancement group informed about any unusual things such as dead fish, lethargic fish, critters that normally hide that you find out in the open during the day and so on.  You may find deep water critters and everything else that’s mobile in the top of the water column,” wrote Don Coleman of Pacific Adventure (www.pacadventure.com) in a broadcast email to divers on September 19.

“That’s the importance of getting the word out to divers and the KBJ article last summer was very timely,” said Dan Hannafious, Assistant Executive Director of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) and Dissolved Oxygen Program Coordinator.

Anyone who observes a change in fish behavior, algae bloom or dead fish in or near Hood Canal is asked to call the emergency oil-spill hotline, (800) OILS-911. Here’s a link to report any unusual sightings or unusual to www.hoodcanal.washington.edu/observations/diver_observations.jsp. Or send Teresa an e-mail with your observations to teresa@hcseg.org.

For the latest monitoring information from the canal, visit the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program website at www.hoodcanal.washington.edu. The site is continually updated and provides news and background on the science and state of the hood canal.

Pacific Northwest Fish and Invertebrate Identification classes were presented free of charge in Belfair on October 13 and 14 by the Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT), the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG), and the SeaDoc Society (www.seadocsociety.org). These classes were designed for SCUBA divers and others who appreciate our marine ecosystem to teach them more about the wildlife in the water.  The adult-level classes also prepared divers and snorkelers to conduct Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) marine life identification surveys in the Pacific Northwest and how to identify up to 45 fish and 45 invertebrates. Look for future classes or more info here: www.pnwscuba.com/critterwatchers/classes.htm. To see a photo collection of Northwest critters, visit www.pnwscuba.com/critterwatchers/janscreations.htm for the many creative works by Jan Kocian, a resident of Whidbey Island, who has been capturing Pacific NW marine life in his photos and artwork.

The Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) has been seeking nominations for its Environmental Achievement Awards. Nominees include individual community members, non-profit organizations, businesses, government, students, classes, teachers and/or schools. Award winners will be honored on Nov. 17 at the 18th annual HCCC Environmental Achievement Awards and Conference, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Alderbrook Resort and Spa in Union. Contact Robin Lawlis, 360-394-0046 or rlawlis@hccc.wa.gov (www.hccc.wa.gov).