Aerial image report of water quality and other observations of Puget Sound in Washington, from 2011 to 2023

1. Eyes Over Puget Sound
Up-to-date observations of visible water quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
2018 Review
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info
Publication No. 19-03-070
Sharing views of your own backyard
Dr. Christopher Krembs
7 years behind the
camera

2. The 2017 Puget Sound Marine Waters Report
Download here: http://www.psp.wa.gov/PSmarinewatersoverview.php

3. EOPS observations provide food for thought
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info
Could the future of climate change offer more opportunities than we tend to think?
In 2018, water temperatures were slightly warmer than normal, and aerial photos revealed an abundance of
spawning herring and baitfish. We saw abundant macroalgae across Puget Sound and a two-month-long Noctiluca
bloom in Central Sound. Countless blooms occurred in bays of South Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, Sequim, and
Bellingham Bay. Despite many visible eutrophication indicators, bait fish appeared to be abundant.

4. What influences Puget Sound water quality?
higher No data
lower
expected
*Upwelling/downwelling Anomalies
PDO = Pacific Decadal Oscillation
ENSO = El Niño Southern Oscillation
Climate conditions for 2018 were marked by a cool and wet spring followed by a warm, dry,
and sunny summer with lower river flows. The onset of a dry summer spell started in May,
one month earlier than in 2017. In the fall, conditions were sunnier and drier than the
previous year, which also led to lower river flows through October 2018.
Conditions Jan 2017 to Dec 2018:
Air temperatures were generally
slightly above normal since April
2018, repeating the pattern of
2017.
Precipitation was lower in
summer of 2018 and similar to
2017. Fall rain in 2018 was low.
Sunshine, the opposite of cloud
cover, was higher in the fall of
2018, also leading to drier
conditions.
River flows were noticeably lower
in the summer of 2018 than in
2017.
Upwelling and ENSO have been
positive.
All data are from public sources: UW GRAYSKIES; river flows from USGS and Environment Canada; indices from NOAA & UW (PDO).
Data not
available due
to federal
government
shutdown
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5. Near-normal temperatures for both states
(compared to 1981-2010)
WA: +0.8°F anomaly
OR: +0.9°F anomaly
Washington was not as dry as Oregon in 2018
Oregon was very dry in 2018
Average weather conditions for the year 2018
Differences in precipitation between WA and OR
WA: +1.90” anomaly
OR: 16th driest Water Year (since 1895)
Courtesy of Karin Bumbaco and Nick Bond
Office of the Washington State Climatologist
Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean
University of Washington
November, 2018
Washington State compared to Oregon State in 2018
Paired temperature and precipitation data for
Washington and Oregon
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6. Climateinfluences:HowwellisPugetSoundexchangingits water?
The Fraser River is the major driver of
estuarine circulation and water
exchange between the Salish Sea and
the ocean. Climate forecasts predict
earlier snowmelt and earlier delivery
of water to the Salish Sea. This affects
how well water renews and exchanges
with ocean water. Do we see four
years of climate impact since 2015?
NPGO
(x10)
PDO/Upwelling
Index
Large scale boundary conditions
are currently relatively neutral.
Past years’ warm water is gone (PDO) and
upwelling is more likely (Upwelling Index
anomaly). Unfortunately, reporting of the
NPGO, which reflects the surface
productivity along the coast, has been
temporarily discontinued.
Pacific Decadal Oscillation Index (PDO, temperature, explanation). Upwelling Index (anomalies) (Upwelling, low
oxygen, explanation). North Pacific Gyre Oscillation Index (NPGO, productivity, explanation).
Three-year running average of PDO, Upwelling, and NPGO Indices
-25
-15
-5
5
15
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
Historically, the peaks of coastal upwelling and the freshet are in sync. Climate shifts the relative timing of both processes.
1. 2. 3. 4.
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Upwelling
Index
(2-week-avg)
Fraser
River
discharge
(m
3
s
-1
)
higher, lower than normal and, expected flows
coastal upwelling

7. South Sound (black line = baseline 1999 – 2018) generally offers prolonged periods near the herring growth optimum.
In winter, Hood Canal generally offers the warmest overwintering temperatures (8 – 9 °C water kills anchovies). This
year, surface water temperatures (0 – 30 m) were consistently above normal (red dots). Phytoplankton supporting the
food chain were consistently higher (green) than normal (dashed line) in adjacent basins of Puget Sound and north.
(Chlorophyll a is used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass).
Temperature and food can affect fish growth
Herring growth optimum temp.
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phytoplankton
above normal 2018
below normal 2018
normal 1999-2017
anchovy
Minimal survival temperature
herring
Herring growth optimum temperature
water temperature
above normal
below normal
normal
South Sound Central Sound North Sound
Whidbey Basin Hood Canal Strait of Juan de Fuca
Anchovy survival temp.
Chlorophyll
a
conc.
(µg/l)
Chlorophyll
a
conc.
(µg/l)
Temperature
(°C)
Temperature
(°C)

8. Instantaneous
herring larval
growth rates
(Gi/d)
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
Color legend
Fish need optimal water temperatures (red) and food to grow.
Assuming that phytoplankton biomass is a reflection of the amount of
zooplankton that fish eat, South Sound and Hood Canal in 2018 stand out
for having had prolonged good growth conditions for juvenile fish in
terms of both food and water temperatures. Whidbey Basin provided
high but inconsistent phytoplankton biomass in summer, and water
temperatures took longer to reach optimal growth conditions.
Paulsen et al. Helgol Mar Res (2016) 70:17DOI 10.1186/s10152-016-0470-y
=Month Optimal growth
Temperature and food can affect herring growth
region of
optimal herring
growth
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South
Sound
Central Sound North Sound
Whidbey
Basin
Hood Canal Strait of Juan de Fuca
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
7 9 11 13 15 17 19
Instantanious
growth
Gi
Temperature (°C)
Herring larvae

9. Jan. – Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Jun.
Jul.
Sep.
Nov.
Oil sheens on the water remained a recurring sight in Salmon Bay.
Milky water caused by spawning herring occurred more abundantly than usual.
Some red-brown blooms appeared very early this year in Sinclair Inlet. We documented brown blooms that we
have not seen before near Padilla Bay.
Strong blooms developed with lots of organic material drifting at the surface. Unusually numerous schools of
baitfish were seen from the air at many shallow terminal bays.
A strong Noctiluca bloom extended across southern portions of Central Puget Sound and a large coccolithophore
bloom in Hood Canal. Large rafts of macroalgae developed on beaches and started to drift across Puget Sound.
Macroalgae were extremely abundant on the water especially in South and Central Sound. An intense red bloom
engulfed Bellingham Bay and adjacent regions. Many smaller bays showed red or yellow-green blooms.
Number of red blooms had intensified in bays of the Kitsap Peninsula, Marrowstone Island, and Sequim Bay. Jelly
fish patches became distinctly visible from the air in terminal inlets of smaller bays.
Large schools of baitfish and jellyfish were still present in South Sound, as were red-brown algal blooms.
In 2018, water temperatures were still slightly above normal, and aerial photos revealed an
abundance of spawning herring and baitfish. We saw abundant macroalgae across Puget Sound
and a two-month long Noctiluca bloom in Central Sound. Countless blooms occurred in bays of
South Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, Sequim and Bellingham Bay. We reported incidents of failing
effluent diffusers (Port Townsend) and oil sheens in waterways of Seattle (Salmon Bay).
2018 Year in Review: Aerial photography
The year 2018 stood out as a biologically highly productive year.
Christopher Krembs
Start here
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10. Strait of
Juan de Fuca
San Juan Islands
Padilla Bay
Main Basin
Hood Canal
South Sound
Whidbey Basin
1
4
2
3
8
9
13
14
11
7
6
Aerial photography
& navigation guide
30
17
16
15
19
18
20
21
22
24
23
25
26
27
28
29
The map is a navigation guide to
quickly find areal pictures in a region.
The numbers depict locations in
chronological order of when they were
taken in 2018.
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5 12
10

11. Repeated oil sheen on water near Seattle Fire Station, Dock 3.
Location: Salmon Bay, Seattle (Central Sound), 2:25 PM
oil sheen
oil sheen
1 Navigate
Aerial photography 2-13-2018
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12. White cloudy water stretching from Point Partridge past Perego’s Lagoon. Spawning herring?
Location: Admiralty Reach (North Sound), 1:52 PM
2 Aerial photography 3-16-2018
Perego’s
Lagoon
Perego’s
Lagoon
Looking north Looking south
spawn
spawn
spawn
spawn
Navigate
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13. A. B.
A. Bright brown water leaving Joe Leary Slough. B. Is this a brown bloom following the tidal channel?
Location: Padilla Bay (North Sound), 12:54 PM
3 Aerial photography 4-19-2018
Joe Leary Slough
Navigate
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14. Bright red-brown-purple bloom with an occasional jellyfish patch.
Location: Sinclair Inlet (Central Sound), 1:49 PM
4 Aerial photography 4-19-2018
jellyfish
boat
Bloom
Navigate
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15. A. Noctiluca bloom surfacing near Priest Point Park, low altitude. B. At higher altitude.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound), 12:12 PM
Priest Point
A.
B.
5 Aerial photography 5-22-2018
Priest Point
Bloom
Debris
Bloom
Debris
Navigate
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16. Many patches of schooling fish.
Location: A. Near Allen Point. B. Near Purdy Sand Spit (South Sound), 12:00 PM
Purdy Sand Spit
Allen Point
A. B.
6 Aerial photography 5-22-2018
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
Navigate
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17. A. Large ribbons of organic material, likely Noctiluca. B. Algal bloom extending north.
Location: Saratoga Passage (Whidbey Basin), 1:44 PM
A. B.
7 Aerial photography 5-22-2018
East Point
Camano Island
Bloom
Debris
Front
Navigate
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18. A & B. Strong algal bloom and tidal fronts in Main Basin contrasted against Colvos Passage blue water.
Location: Blake Island (Central Basin), 2:40 PM
A. B.
8 Aerial photography 5-22-2018
Blake Island
Blake Island
Bloom
Front
Bloom
ferry
ferry
Navigate
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19. Noctiluca bloom surfacing and accumulating along tidal fronts.
Location: North of Commencement Bay (Central Sound), 10:16 AM
9 Aerial photography 6-5-2018
Dash Point
Debris
Front
Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

20. Duckabush River delta at very low tide exposing macroalgae. Turquoise coccolithophore bloom
Location: Duckabush River (Hood Canal), 12:18 PM
Bloom
macroalgae
Aerial photography 6-28-2018
10 Navigate
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21. Large ribbons of Noctiluca and macroalgae accumulating at the surface.
Location: Poverty Bay (Central Sound), 1:34 PM
11 Aerial photography 6-28-2018
Poverty Bay
Debris
Debris
Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

22. A. Mudflats during ebb tide and (B.) low tide. C. Temperatures vary considerably across the estuary.
Location: Nisqually River Delta (South Sound), 3:28 PM
Nisqually R.
16.5 °C
18.1 °C
A. B. C.
Aerial photography 7-16-2018
12:58 PM 3:28 PM
McAllister C.
McAllister C.
12 Navigate
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23. A. Large mats of macroalgae accumulating at front, red-brown bloom, and schools of fish. B. From altitude.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound), 12:36 PM
fish
A. B.
Aerial photography 7-16-2018
Gull Harbor
Big Tykle
Cove
fish
fish
fish
boat
macroalgae
macroalgae
Bloom
13 Navigate
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24. Large mats of macroalgae accumulating off beaches in southwestern portions of Carr Inlet.
Location: Carr Inlet (South Sound), 1:03 PM
Aerial photography 7-16-2018
macroalgae
boat
Bloom
14 Navigate
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25. Red-brown bloom extending in long ribbons from Samish Bay into Padilla Bay.
Location: Samish Island (North Sound), 2:01 PM
15 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
17.0 °C
16.1 °C
Samish Island
ship
Bloom
Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

26. Large and very patchy red-brown bloom.
Location: Samish Island (North Sound), 2:03 PM
16 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
ship
Samish R.
Bloom
DOH Expert Jerry Borchert:
Bloom consisting of Gonyaulax
digitale and Scrippsiella trochoidea
Navigate
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27. Red-brown bloom of two colors entering Bellingham Bay via Hale Passage.
Location: Lummi Island (North Sound), 2:14 PM
17 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
15.5 °C
16.2 °C
Portage Island
Lummi Island
boat
Bloom
Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

28. Red-brown and yellow-green blooms in Barlow Bay.
Location: Mackaye Harbor, Lopez Island (North Sound), 2:28 PM
18 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
Lopez Island
Bloom
Navigate
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29. Large mats of macroalgae accumulating along tidal fronts.
Location: Port Madison (Central Sound), 2:56 PM
19 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
Bainbridge Island
Suquamish
boat
Bloom
macroalgae
Navigate
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30. Large mats of macroalgae accumulating along edges of Puyallup River plume.
Location: Commencement Bay (Central Sound), 3:12 PM
20 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
Vashon Island
boat
boat
macroalgae
Plume
Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

31. Red-brown bloom in southern portions of Nisqually Reach.
Location: Nisqually Reach (South Sound), 3:29 PM
Bloom
21 Aerial photography 7-16-2018
Anderson Island
boat
Navigate
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32. A. Likely jellyfish, but not confirmed. B. Large red-brown bloom near Port Orchard.
Location: Sinclair Inlet (Central Sound), 12:48 PM
jellyfish
Gorst
Bloom
A. B.
Port Orchard
boat
Aerial photography 9-17-2018
boat
22 Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

33. Red-brown bloom and organic surface debris in various places in Dyes Inlet.
Location: Dyes Inlet (Central Sound), 12:50 PM
Aerial photography 9-17-2018
Oyster Bay
Bloom
Silverdale
Bloom
Tracyton
Rocky Point
Front
Bloom
Debris
23 Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

34. B.
A. Red-brown bloom with white milky patch, likely jellyfish. B. Bloom extending north into Kilisut Harbor.
Location: A. Scow Bay. B. Marrowstone Island (North Sound), 1:15 PM
A.
Indian Island
Bloom
Bloom
Aerial photography 9-17-2018
Marrowstone Island
jellyfish
24 Navigate
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35. Aerial photography 9-17-2018
Water with surfacing turbidity, likely from an underwater diffuser.
Location: Port Townsend Bay (North Sound), 1:25 PM
outfall
barge
Glen Cove
Indian Island
Port Townsend State Park
25 Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

36. Vivid red-brown bloom covering large portions of Sequim Bay north to Pitship Point.
Location: Sequim Bay (Strait of Juan de Fuca), 1:26 PM
Aerial photography 9-17-2018
Pitship
Point
Bloom
boat
26 Navigate
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37. Red-brown bloom and river plume revealing interesting flow pattern in surface water.
Location: Quartermaster Harbor (Central Sound), 2:48 PM
27 Aerial photography 9-17-2018
Bloom
Hand
Portage
Plume
Bloom
Navigate
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38. Internal waves traveling through a red-brown bloom reveal that the bloom is at the water surface.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound), 3:08 PM
28 Aerial photography 9-17-2018
cloud reflections
boat
Bloom
boat
internal waves
Navigate
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39. Numerous schools of fish.
Location: Totten Inlet (South Sound), 12:41 PM
Aerial photography 11-6-2018
Windy Point
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
fish
29 Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

40. Long ribbons of jellyfish stretched along the direction of tidal flow.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound), 1:00 PM
30 Aerial photography 11-6-2018
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
Navigate
Food for thought Climate and streams Fish and food Aerial photos Info

41. Find past editions of EOPS on the next pages
We have published 79 editions!
Recommended Citation (example, September 2018):
Washington State Department of Ecology. 2018. Eyes Over Puget Sound: Surface Conditions
Report, September 17, 2018. Ecology Publication No. 18-03-075.
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/1803075.pdf.
Find all previous Eyes Over Puget Sound editions at the end of this document.
Contact:
Dr. Christopher Krembs
Christopher.Krembs@ecy.wa.gov
Marine Monitoring Unit
Environmental Assessment Program
Washington State
Department of Ecology
Subscribe to the Eyes Over
Puget Sound email listserv.
Many thanks to our business partners:
Shannon Point Marine Lab (WWU), Swantown
Marina, and Kenmore Air.
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42. Month_date_year,
Publication No. 20-03-07X
Month_date_year,
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Month_date_year,
Publication No. 20-03-07X
Month_date_year,
Publication No. 20-03-07X
March_16_2020,
Publication No. 20-03-071
Jan_10_2020,
Publication No. 20-03-070
October_30_2019,
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September_12_2019,
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July_29_2019
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June_4_2019,
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March_26_2019,
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February_21_2019,
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January_10_2019,
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November_6_2018,
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September_17_2018,
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June_28_2018,
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43. October_31_2017,
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August_28_2017,
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July_24_2017,
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December_31_2016,
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September_26_2016,
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April_6_2016,
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December_30_2015,
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44. June_8_2015,
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45. August_21_2013,
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46. December_5_2011,
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November_15_2011,
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October_17_2011,
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Publication No. 11-03-078
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