EOPS_December_31_2016, The year 2016 in pictures: After two years of very warm air and record high water temperatures starting with the Blob (2015) and followed by El Nino (2016), temperatures have fallen and remain slightly warmer than normal in Puget Sound. Very low summer river flows (e.g., Fraser River) reflect climatic predictions for the NW. Record temperatures and low salinities occurred alongside observations of abundant jellyfish, floating macro-algae, and Noctiluca blooms. Surprisingly, only South Sound developed very low summer oxygen levels in 2016. In the fall, La Niña came with a punch, rain increased, and air temperatures dropped. Will this be an unusual La Niña? Publication No. 16-03-079

1. Eyes Over Puget Sound
Up-to-date observations of visiblewater quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Publication No. 16-03-079
2016
Review
La Niña, September 2016El Niño, January 2016
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/september-2016-tropical-pacific-update
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

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Thanks to interested viewers,we are providing
information for a diverse audience
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/Previous Eyes Over Puget Sound reports:
2016 – The EOPS team thanks all our viewers
Mya Keyzers
Laura Hermanson
Skip
Albertson
Dr. Christopher
Krembs
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos
GOV
29%
COM + NET
22%
EDU
25%
ORG
14%
US
8%
MIL
2%
outside US
0%
Tyler Burks
Don Watt
User demographics based on best guesses per e-mail extensions
Carol Maloy
Julianne Ruffner
Jim Shedd
Markus von Prause
Marine
Rivers andStreams Suzan Pool
Julia Bos

3. Climate and naturalinfluences,includingweather,rivers,and the adjacent ocean,can
affect our marine waters. Graphics are basedonprovisional dataandare subject to
change. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/weather.html,page 26.
Summary:
Air temperatures have dropped
sharply. The end of 2016 looks
like La Niña conditions.
Precipitation levels droppedfrom
November to December,whichis
atypical for La Niña.
Sunshine inDecember is close to
normal.
Riverflows in December are
fallingagainbelow normal in
response to low precipitation,
except for the Fraser River.
Downwelling (opposite of
upwelling) is weak in December,
followingtwo strongdownwelling
months (Oct and Nov). higher No datalowerexpected*Upwelling Anomalies (PFEL)
2016 – Weather in review for the last years
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos
20162015

4. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ens
o_advisory/ensodisc.html
El Niño
Blob
http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/northwest:
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Nov-16
Discharge(m3s-1)
Higher than normal
Lower thannormal
Expected
FraserRiver flow(example)
Observation
Observation
Reduced
summer flows in
snow-fed rivers
affect water
renewal and
water quality in
Puget Sound in
2015-16, a
glimpse into the
future
Prediction
Global Climate affects Salish Sea Water Quality
Washington
drought
British Columbia
drought
Predicted50% reducedsummer flow by 2040
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

5. Where do all the macro-algae endup after July? A lot of the material ends up on beaches.
2016 – Species indicating eutrophication
Algae washed up on beaches in thick layers and rotting.
Location:Edmonds Underwater Park, SnohomishCounty,July2016.
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

6. Jellyfish and red-browndinoflagellate blooms thriving in warm, stagnantwaterin late summer.
2016 – Species indicating eutrophication
Two differently colored red-brown blooms and abundant jellyfishpatches.
Location:Budd Inlet (South Sound),September 2016.
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

7. Noctiluca and organic material accumulating near Boston Harbor
Entrance to BuddInlet (South Sound),.
Noctilucathriving in eutrophic, stagnatingwaterin many places, May-August2016.
2016 – Species indicating at eutrophication
Noctiluca bloom, marine in Budd Inlet
Noctiluca bloom Pickering Passage,Case Inlet
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

8. We usea boatand
chartered float plane to
access our monthly
monitoring stations most
costeffectively.
We communicate data and
environmentalmarine
conditions using:
1. Marine Water
Condition Index
(MWCI)
2. Eyes OverPuget
Sound (EOPS)
3. Anomaliesand
sourcedata
Ourlong-termmarinemonitoringstations
Starthere
San Juan Island
.
Stationsare sampled byregion.Both float
plane and boat are equippedwithsensors
and samplinggear (CTD)
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

9. Much Warmer! Fresher to SaltierShifts. LowerDO.
Explore profiles
at all stations
Blob and El Niño affect Temperature Oxygen lower in summerSalinity follows rivers & rainfall
In2016 temperatures were stillremarkablyhigh in Puget Sound due to ElNiño conditions following
effects of the 2015 Blob event. Warmer temperatures bothyears forcedshifts inhydrology withmore
winter rainfall creatingfresher conditions while drought effects insummer led to higher than normal
salinity levels. In2016,oxygenlevels were lower thannormal,particularly in SouthSound.
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

10. Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
June
Jul.
Aug.
Sept.
Nov.
Snowpack declines in response to warm air from El Niño. Jellyfish patches prevail through
winter.
Rivers are flowing high, salinities are low, and water temperatures remain at record levels. First blooms appear and
jellyfish patches prevail. Strong rain brings sediment into Puget Sound.
Water is warm and fresher, the spring phytoplankton bloom spreads across Central and South Sound. Jellyfish
patches are very numerous. Herring are spawning.
Jellyfish occur in high numbers. The spring phytoplankton bloom is in full swing extending into the Straits. Organic
material is floating at the surface in large quantities, including Noctiluca. Record warm water continues.
Salinity is much lower than usual and temperatures are still at record highs. Oxygen is lower while drifting organic
material and Noctiluca appear at the surface on a large scale in unusual places.
River flows decrease. Macro-algae and other organic debris proliferate in large quantities at the surface where
water temperatures climb above 15°C. Conditions are ripe for HABS.
Red-brown blooms spread, jellyfish and Noctiluca thrive. July precipitation improves stream flows, while a drought
in B.C. impacts the Fraser River in the north, resulting in slower water renewal in the Salish Sea system.
Jellyfish patches reach very high densities. Red-brown blooms are abundant in South Sound and oxygen levels are
much lower. In contrast, algal abundance in Central Sound is low.
El Niño fades as wet and warm weather conditions prevail. Water temperatures finally return to normal after two
years. Salinities, oxygen, and stream flows are normalizing. Yet, jellyfish are abundant in South Sound.
Jellyfish patches persisted with continued record warmtemperatures. Noctiluca, jellyfish, and
macro-algaeoccurred in high numbers. The Fraser River dropped to very low flows, slowing
summertime water renewalin the Salish Sea. South Sound had unusually low oxygen.
2016 Year in Review: Aerial photography
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EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

11. Strait of
Juan de Fuca
San Juan Islands
Padilla Bay
Main Basin
Hood Canal
South Sound
Whidbey Basin
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10
9
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Aerial photography
& navigation guide
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Willapa Bay
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EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

12. Brown-colored water of Duck Lake stained by humus (soil/organic material)flowing intocoastal bays.
Location: Ocean Shores (Grays Harbor), 10:46 AM.
Plume
suspendedsediments
suspendedsediment
Large number of seals hauled out on a
sand bank in the middle of the bay.
Aerial photography 2-8-20161 Navigate
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

13. Incoming tide at the entrance to Grays Harbor. Colors indicate three different water masses.
Location: Westhaven State Park(Westport),10:48 AM.
Aerial photography 2-8-2016
2
1
3
2 Navigate
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

14. Aerial photography 3-16-2016
Jellyfishpatches in green water, colored by a spring bloom.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound),3:16 PM.
cloud reflection
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
3 Navigate
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

15. Aerial photography 3-16-2016
Suspended fine sediments lining all beaches around Discovery Park.
Location: Seattle (Central Sound),2:42 PM.
sediment
sediment
4 Navigate
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

16. Water rich in phytoplankton from Peale Passage flowing past Boston Harbor.
Location: Off Dover Point, near Dana Passage (South Sound),12:33 PM.
boat
boat
Bloom
Debris
Debris
5 NavigateAerial photography 4-6-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

17. A.
A. Schooling fish or eelgrass,keeping them apart remains a guessing game! B. Internal waves in bay.
Location:A. Battle Point,B. Manzanita Bay,Bainbridge Island(CentralSound),1:01 PM.
eelgrass
B.
fish?
Debris
internal waves
6 NavigateAerial photography 4-6-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

18. A. B.
A. Organic material washing onto beaches and decaying. B. Very strong spring bloom conditions.
Location: West side of Budd Inlet (South Sound),4:44 PM.
Bloom
boat
marker
Public submission of picture, by Laura Uhis
7 NavigateAerial photography 5-2-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

19. Large and numerous accumulations of organic material at the surface. Phytoplankton bloom.
Location: Dyes Inlet (Central Sound),5:19 PM.
boat
Debris
Bloom
boat
8 NavigateAerial photography 5-2-2016
Debris
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

20. Organic material accumulating in large ribbons along tidal front at the entrance to Budd Inlet.
Location: Across from Boston Harbor,Budd Inlet (South Sound),12:51 PM.
boat
Debris
Debris
Debris
9 NavigateAerial photography 6-27-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

21. Large patches of jellyfish,sediment-richriver plume,and red-brown bloom near easternshore.
Location: Totten Inlet (South Sound),12:59 PM.
Bloom
jellyfish
boat
boat
jellyfish
jellyfish
mussel rafts
Plume
10 NavigateAerial photography 6-27-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

22. Red-brown bloom and large patches of jellyfish. Turquoise water is likely freshwater.
Location: Across from YoungCove,Eld Inlet (South Sound),3:08 PM.
boat
Bloom
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
boat
jellyfish
turquoise
11 NavigateAerial photography 7-20-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

23. Very large mats of organic material drifting in Port Madison and adjacent parts of Central Basin.
Location: Point Monroe,Bainbridge Island(CentralSound),3:58 PM.
12 NavigateAerial photography 7-20-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

24. Strong red-brown bloom, abundant jellyfishpatches and organic debris at surface.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound),2:25 PM.
Bloom
boat
jellyfish
logs
Debris
Debris
Debris
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
Bloom
Debris
13 NavigateAerial photography 8-24-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

25. Strong red-brown bloom and abundant jellyfishpatches.
Location: Eld Inlet (South Sound),2:28 PM.
boat
Bloom
boat
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
14 NavigateAerial photography 8-24-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

26. Large accumulations of a Noctiluca bloom at an unusual time of the year.
Location: Entrance to Pickering Passage,Case Inlet (South Sound),2:48 PM.
boat
Debris
Debris
Bloom
boat
Debris
Pickering Passage
15 NavigateAerial photography 8-24-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

27. Strong red-brown bloom, jellyfishpatches, and organic debris at surface.
Location: Near Big Tykel Cove, Budd Inlet (South Sound),12:28 PM.
boat
Bloom
Bloom
jellyfish jellyfish
Debris
boat
boat
boat
16 NavigateAerial photography 9-26-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

28. Large tidal eddy and water with different colored blooms.
Location: LibertyBay (Central Sound), 1:01 PM.
Bloom
Bloomv
Bloom
eddy
17 NavigateAerial photography 9-26-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

29. Red-brown bloom and flood tide settingoff eddy. River plume with suspended sediment on easternshore.
Location: Port Gamble (Hood Canal),1:06 PM.
barge
barge
Bloom
eddy
mussel raft
Plume
boat
18 NavigateAerial photography 9-26-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

30. ship
Abundant jellyfishpatches.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound),12:18 PM.
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
jellyfish
19 NavigateAerial photography 11-22-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

31. Large quantities of suspended sediment and eddies off easternshores of Steamboat Island.
Location: SquaxinPassage (South Sound),12:31 PM.
eddy
sediment
sediment
eddy
eddy
eddy
Steamboat Island
20 NavigateAerial photography 11-22-2016
EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos

32. Marine Waters Program Marine Sediment Program BeachProgram
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EOPS Weather Climate Species Respond Water column Aerial photos