HomeMy WebLinkAboutPiskula Eelgrass Delineation 2018
WESTWARD ECOLOGY 1
Westward Ecology
PO Box 701
Port Townsend WA 98368
978-877-1210
emily@westwardecology.com
Applicant:
Jon Piskula
360-301-1786
Application reference number: NWS-2018-262 Piskula, Jon (Mooring Buoy Mystery Bay)
Mystery Bay Piskula Mooring Buoy Eelgrass Delineation
A non-quantitative Preliminary Survey was conducted on June 3rd, 2018 between approximately 0900 and
0930. Weather was overcast, the tide was +3.9ft MLLW and ebbing. Visibility was fairly poor (5ft) at the
proposed mooring buoy location (48.0580 N, -122.6977 W). At the maximum depth of 23ft, a 25ft
piece of line clipped to the temporary screw anchor provided a guide to swim in clockwise concentric
circles, extending to the full radius of 25ft.
Randomly selected photo points are included below and referenced on the attached map. Sediment within
the 25ft radius was very fine silt. No eelgrass, or any submerged aquatic vegetation, was present within
the survey area. Instead, a fine filamentous algae covered the bottom (see photo points) and two
Dungeness crabs along with several anemones were present. Aerial photos from 2016 and 2006 are also
attached, with stars indicating the location of the proposed buoy.
During the surface swim back to the Mystery Bay State Park dock, it was clear that visibility increases
towards the center of the bay where water flows more directly to and from Kilisut Harbor . Due to the
sediment conditions and turbidity within the 25ft radius of the propos ed mooring buoy, I do not believe
eelgrass can be supported within the survey area.
WESTWARD ECOLOGY 2
WESTWARD ECOLOGY 3
Photo Point 1. Photo Point 2.
48.05802, -122.69773 48.05805, -122.69767
Photo Point 3. Photo Point 4.
48.0580 N, -122.6977 W 48.05794, -122.69769
WESTWARD ECOLOGY 4
Washington State Department of Ecology
Shoreline Photo Marrowstone Island-Kilisut Harbor
7/25/2016
6/23/2006