Hood Canal


[Main] [Introduction] [Methods] [Results & Discussion ] [Data Repository]

Introduction

Hood Canal, located on the Kitsap Peninsula, spans over 60 miles. With breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and an abundance of bald eagles, it is one of the most beautiful locations in Washington State. One can find wildlife such as salmon, great blue herons, hawks, and the occasional pod of killer whales. Naturally carved out by a glacier, Hood Canal is the deepest of the four basins in Puget Sound. Depths in Hood Canal reach up to 180 meters in some locations. Flushing rates are the lowest out of the four basins (HCDOP, 2005). It takes from six months to a year for water to exchange. This has resulted in low dissolved oxygen levels in the Hood Canal basin. Studies dating back to the 1940s show that dissolved oxygen was low in Lynch Cove. Subsequent studies, dating back to the 1950s, have shown that low dissolved oxygen levels began in the south end of the canal and are now moving north (Long, 2007). Low dissolved oxygen levels are due to both natural and anthropogenic causes such as excess nutrients from non-point sources, low circulation and flushing, total nutrient load, and seawater stratification (HCDOP, 2005). The purpose of our study was to sample locations throughout Hood Canal. On May 11th & 12th, 2012, we surveyed Hood Canal for temperature, salinity, density, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence (Chlorophyll), transmissivity, secchi depth, nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, plastics, and sediments. On this website, you will find our results.

Station Information

Station Number	Station Name	Latitude (N)	Longitude (W)	Depth (m)
1	Sill	47.800333	-122.69913	56.2
2	Bangor West	47.74015	-122.768633	15.5
3	Bangor Center	47.73163	-122.758867	106
5	Hazel Point	47.68255	-122.763466	80
6	Calibration Point	47.658333	-122.8679	137
7	North Holly	47.618666	-122.936833	174
9	Hama Hama Center	47.547433	-123.0081	146
10	East Hama Hama	47.539166	-123.00206	13
11	North Dewatto	47.476583	-123.074333	164
13	Bam Ban Center	47.4219	-123.112533	126
16	Potlatch Center	47.371183	-123.131933	85
18	Potlatch South	47.3625	-123.1011	30
20	Sister Center	47.3567	-123.0233	53.8
23	Lynch Center	47.3983	-122.9283	19.8
25	Orca Buoy	47.385	-122.98	37.5
31	NE Hama Hama Seds	47.579883	-123.003833	16.5
32	Orca Buoy 1	47.375	-123.0083	63.4

References
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program (HCDOP). 2005. [internet] Accessed May 21, 2012. Available from: http://hoodcanal.washington.edu/
Long, Edward et al. 2007. Relationships between the Composition of the Benthos and Sediment and Water Quality Parameters in Hood Canal. Department of Ecology. [internet] Accessed May 20, 2012. Available from: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0703040.pdf

[Main] [Introduction] [Methods] [Results & Discussion ] [Data Repository]

This page created by Caitlin Olive and Tina Houck