Narration: With Green Acre Radio this is Martha Baskin. The workboat revs its motor and takes off from a Hood Canal marina near Hoodsport. “HOLD ON. WE’LL GET OURSELVES THROUGH SOME WAVES HERE.” Dan Hannafious and Renee Rose-Scherdnik with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group are at the helm. We circle around tribal gillnets set to capture salmon. Low oxygen levels have caused dead zones for many fish here, but not Coho. “WE DON’T FIND THEM AS PART OF THE FISH KILLS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY’RE SOMEHOW SURVIVING. BUT WE DON’T HOW WELL THEY’RE SURVIVING ONCE THEY GET INTO THE RIVERS.”

We’re headed to a solar powered monitoring device positioned in the canal’s main stem. Nicknamed ORCA, the device reads water chemistry. “IT’S HERE ALL THE TIME AND IT PROFILES ABOUT EVERY THREE HOURS. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS UP ON TOP WHICH IS ACTUALLY RADIO TELEMETRY.” One of four in Hood Canal, ORCA plays a key role in monitoring dead zones, or waters where oxygen is so low fish risk suffocation. Hood Canal has been subject to low oxygen conditions since the glaciers disappeared, say scientists. But pollution from humans is increasing the frequency. For most of the past decade The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, along with partners from the University of Washington, the Department of Wildlife and tribes, have been gathering scientific data.  Dead zones were recorded in 2002, 2003, 2006 and in September of this year. Severely low dissolved oxygen plague deep water in the southern half of the canal year-round.  

Our next stop is a spot near shore. Hannafious and Rose-Scherdnik collect water samples on a weekly basis. They use a device called a CTD which stands for conductivity, temperature and depth. Rose-Scherdnik pours samples into flasks. “SO NOW YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM SAMPLE IS KIND OF A LIGHT YELLOW COLOR AND THE SURFACE IS A PRETTY DARK ORANGE SO THIS IS SHOWING US THAT THE SURFACE HAS MORE OXYGEN THAN THE BOTTOM.” This particular sample is normal for the Fall season. But deep waters at another sampling station reveal very low oxygen levels, potentially lethal to fish. Over the weekend divers in Daybob Bay, an inlet in the Northern part of the Canal, saw fish struggling to breathe. Again Dan Hannafious: “THE FISH AND BIOTA ARE STRESSED. IT’S NOT A NORMAL PLACE TO BE LIVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE CONDITIONS THE WAY THEY ARE.”

Nitrogen is one of the culprits fueling dead zones. Deep ocean waters normally hold nitrogen from organic material that sinks to the bottom and decomposes. But excess nitrogen can tip the balance. 10 to 30% of the total nitrogen load in Hood Canal is pollution from humans according to scientists at the University of Washington. 90% comes from urine. Septic tanks aren’t designed to remove nitrogen. With most homes sitting directly on the canal’s bank, septic waste leeches into the ground and then into the canal. Jan Newton is University of Washington oceanographer. “THAT NITROGEN CAN MAKE A MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN THE OXYGEN AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS EVEN THOUGH IT’S MINOR IT JUST INCREASES THE RISK THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE THESE FISH KILL CONDITIONS DEVELOP.” 

Some have criticized the state’s slow response to Hood Canal’s deteriorating conditions. The Puget Sound Partnership, the governor appointed board charged with cleaning up Puget Sound by 2020, has moved from studying the science to working with governments, NGO’s and tribes to find solutions. Part of the strategy, says Duane Fagergren, is to remove high risk on site septic systems in densely populated areas. “WHERE WE CAN, WHERE IT’S LEGAL THROUGH GROWTH MANAGEMENT WE”RE IMPLEMENTING ADVANCED WASTE WATER SYSTEMS USING VERY HIGH TECHNOLOGY.” One is called membrane bioreactor technology. It has the ability to remove nitrogen. Again 90% of nitrogen from humans is from urine. Fagergren says Sweden and the Baltic states have been dealing with the nitrogen problem for a long time and have developed toilets that separate urine and fecal matter. “IT’S A MUCH EASIER THING TO THINK OF SEPARATING IT OUT AT THE SOURCE RATHER THAN PUTTING IT INTO A TANK AND INTO A DRAIN FIELD AND THEN TRYING TO RECOVER IT.”

Belfair, one of Hood Canal’s larger communities, is constructing a wastewater treatment plant that will employ the technology. The plant is slated to be completed by the end of next year. It won’t be cheap. $40 million is the estimated cost. “IT’S A REAL DEAL BREAKER IF A LOCAL COMMUNITY LIKE A POTLACH OR BELFAIR WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO FUND THIS WHOLE THING THEMSELVES.” Representative Norm Dicks helped obtain federal funding including $5.9 million in economic stimulus grants. State grants and other funding also made up the package. Other lower cost technologies are being used at a development being constructed by the Skokomish Tribe and for the town of Hoodsport.

The technology can’t come soon enough. More dead zones in Hood Canal could be triggered as soon as this weekend. Stormy weather is forecast. Again Jan Newton, UW oceanographer. “IF WE GET SOME SUDDEN AND STRONG WINDS LIKE 20 KNOTS OR SO, THAT CAN CAUSE THIS PHENOMENON TO HAPPEN AGAIN.” Or maybe not, she says. That’s what makes it so unpredictable. -0-

Narration: With Green Acre Radio this is Martha Baskin. The workboat revs its motor and takes off from a Hood Canal marina near Hoodsport. “HOLD ON. WE’LL GET OURSELVES THROUGH SOME WAVES HERE.” Dan Hannafious and Renee Rose-Scherdnik with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group are at the helm. We circle around tribal gillnets set to capture salmon. Low oxygen levels have caused dead zones for many fish here, but not Coho. “WE DON’T FIND THEM AS PART OF THE FISH KILLS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY’RE SOMEHOW SURVIVING. BUT WE DON’T HOW WELL THEY’RE SURVIVING ONCE THEY GET INTO THE RIVERS.”

We’re headed to a solar powered monitoring device positioned in the canal’s main stem. Nicknamed ORCA, the device reads water chemistry. “IT’S HERE ALL THE TIME AND IT PROFILES ABOUT EVERY THREE HOURS. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS UP ON TOP WHICH IS ACTUALLY RADIO TELEMETRY.” One of four in Hood Canal, ORCA plays a key role in monitoring dead zones, or waters where oxygen is so low fish risk suffocation. Hood Canal has been subject to low oxygen conditions since the glaciers disappeared, say scientists. But pollution from humans is increasing the frequency. For most of the past decade The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, along with partners from the University of Washington, the Department of Wildlife and tribes, have been gathering scientific data.  Dead zones were recorded in 2002, 2003, 2006 and in September of this year. Severely low dissolved oxygen plague deep water in the southern half of the canal year-round.  

Our next stop is a spot near shore. Hannafious and Rose-Scherdnik collect water samples on a weekly basis. They use a device called a CTD which stands for conductivity, temperature and depth. Rose-Scherdnik pours samples into flasks. “SO NOW YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM SAMPLE IS KIND OF A LIGHT YELLOW COLOR AND THE SURFACE IS A PRETTY DARK ORANGE SO THIS IS SHOWING US THAT THE SURFACE HAS MORE OXYGEN THAN THE BOTTOM.” This particular sample is normal for the Fall season. But deep waters at another sampling station reveal very low oxygen levels, potentially lethal to fish. Over the weekend divers in Daybob Bay, an inlet in the Northern part of the Canal, saw fish struggling to breathe. Again Dan Hannafious: “THE FISH AND BIOTA ARE STRESSED. IT’S NOT A NORMAL PLACE TO BE LIVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE CONDITIONS THE WAY THEY ARE.”

Nitrogen is one of the culprits fueling dead zones. Deep ocean waters normally hold nitrogen from organic material that sinks to the bottom and decomposes. But excess nitrogen can tip the balance. 10 to 30% of the total nitrogen load in Hood Canal is pollution from humans according to scientists at the University of Washington. 90% comes from urine. Septic tanks aren’t designed to remove nitrogen. With most homes sitting directly on the canal’s bank, septic waste leeches into the ground and then into the canal. Jan Newton is University of Washington oceanographer. “THAT NITROGEN CAN MAKE A MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN THE OXYGEN AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS EVEN THOUGH IT’S MINOR IT JUST INCREASES THE RISK THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE THESE FISH KILL CONDITIONS DEVELOP.” 

Some have criticized the state’s slow response to Hood Canal’s deteriorating conditions. The Puget Sound Partnership, the governor appointed board charged with cleaning up Puget Sound by 2020, has moved from studying the science to working with governments, NGO’s and tribes to find solutions. Part of the strategy, says Duane Fagergren, is to remove high risk on site septic systems in densely populated areas. “WHERE WE CAN, WHERE IT’S LEGAL THROUGH GROWTH MANAGEMENT WE”RE IMPLEMENTING ADVANCED WASTE WATER SYSTEMS USING VERY HIGH TECHNOLOGY.” One is called membrane bioreactor technology. It has the ability to remove nitrogen. Again 90% of nitrogen from humans is from urine. Fagergren says Sweden and the Baltic states have been dealing with the nitrogen problem for a long time and have developed toilets that separate urine and fecal matter. “IT’S A MUCH EASIER THING TO THINK OF SEPARATING IT OUT AT THE SOURCE RATHER THAN PUTTING IT INTO A TANK AND INTO A DRAIN FIELD AND THEN TRYING TO RECOVER IT.”

Belfair, one of Hood Canal’s larger communities, is constructing a wastewater treatment plant that will employ the technology. The plant is slated to be completed by the end of next year. It won’t be cheap. $40 million is the estimated cost. “IT’S A REAL DEAL BREAKER IF A LOCAL COMMUNITY LIKE A POTLACH OR BELFAIR WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO FUND THIS WHOLE THING THEMSELVES.” Representative Norm Dicks helped obtain federal funding including $5.9 million in economic stimulus grants. State grants and other funding also made up the package. Other lower cost technologies are being used at a development being constructed by the Skokomish Tribe and for the town of Hoodsport.

The technology can’t come soon enough. More dead zones in Hood Canal could be triggered as soon as this weekend. Stormy weather is forecast. Again Jan Newton, UW oceanographer. “IF WE GET SOME SUDDEN AND STRONG WINDS LIKE 20 KNOTS OR SO, THAT CAN CAUSE THIS PHENOMENON TO HAPPEN AGAIN.” Or maybe not, she says. That’s what makes it so unpredictable. -0-