Research on Hood Canal Marine Life

A team of students and professors from the University of Puget Sound is studying marine life conditions in Hood Canal and I thought you might be interested in their research. Their recent work has focused on the large bacterial mats that have formed at the bottom of Hood Canal and seem to be affecting marine life. Here is an underwater photo of the mat covering the Canal floor (right) and a 40x magnified image (below left). Click on the images to enlarge them.

Click Here to visit the research website. Here is a description of the project taken from the website:

Hood Canal is experiencing low dissolved oxygen levels (see the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program website) and recently there have been reports of fish kills and dead zones. The Skokomish tribe has also reported that the bottom of some areas of Hood Canal are covered with bacterial mats (see Tacoma News Tribune article). To compare the bacterial mats in Hood Canal with those that we have observed in Commencement Bay, we are conducting a collaborative study with the Skokomish tribe and the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program. We are using underwater videography techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the distribution and abundance of bacterial mats in relation to water depth, sediment type, and water quality variables.

We are working with Dr. Mark Martin and his Microbiology students to identify the microbial community that make up the bacterial mats. We will be using microscopy and genetic sequencing methods to identify the bacteria. At this point we have tentatively identified the dominant bacterial type as the sulfide-oxidizing bacterium Beggiatoa spp. These bacteria are some of the largest known, and visible surface mats of Beggiatoa spp. have been observed in areas with low oxygen levels in the water column. The mats have also been regarded as an indicator of organic enrichment from either natural or anthropogenic sources.

The UPS team, under the direction of Biology professor Joel Elliott, has sent a research submarine down at several sites on Hood Canal to survey the bottom and assess the marine life conditions. Interestingly, one of the research sites seems to be just a few hundred yards from the Shorehill dock, so it gives some indication of what's happening in our part of the Canal.

You can see recent video taken at this and other research sites on Hood Canal. Click here and you will be taken to a large map of Hood Canal with the research sites indicated. The red star closest to the center of your screen is the "Shorehill" site (as I have decided to name it). Click on the star and you'll see video taken of the bottom of the Canal, showing starfish, crab and so on. You can compare our area to other parts of the Canal by clicking on the stars representing the other research sites.

-- Mike Veseth

P.S. The Shorehill Blog was visited more than 2500 times over the last three months! Happy New Year to all our Shorehill friends.

Merry Christmas from Ron and Gayle!

Tonight as we continue our family tradition of making tamales on Christmas Eve, we take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the best of everything in the New Year.

Happy Holidays!

May everyone's holidays be warm, dry and free of mud. Mike and Sue took this photo of the canal from their porch at sunset on the solstice, Friday, December 21.

Thanks and Gratitude!

Wow!! What has happened is beyond words. And the pictures are almost indescribable. Our thanks and gratitude to everyone who has been working so hard to keep up with the damage and repair and restore so much already. We know that's many long hours of hard work. We are sorry we are not there to help, but we won't be back until sometime in June, but will sure pitch in then. Shorehills and everyone of you are in our hearts and prayers. Karl & Judy

Northwest Water Notifies Community of Possible Water Leak

Yikes! Another water problem!!! Today we received notice from Northwest Water Systems indicating our meter readings show excessive water usage. Typically when that happens it is an indication of a leak in the system. For those of you who have not been here for a while it would be appreciated if you would either check your residence or ask someone to do it for you who might be familiar with your shut offs, water lines etc etc. The thing to look for is excessive water standing on the property, soft spots, the obvious stuff like running water outside or the sound of water running inside. If anyone should discover they have a leak and needs assistance please feel free to send an email to Shorehill@gmail.com and we will make arrangements to get it taken care of as soon as possible. If you are unable to check your property yourself or get a neighbor to do it for you also please send us an email. The more people who check themselves the easier it will be to isolate the problem and remedy it. If you do discover a leak please let us know so we will be aware the problem has been found. Thanks everyone!

More Clean-Up Progress

A small but mighty work party last weekend made significant, visible progress on cleaning up at Shorehill. Sandy took these photos that show just how much work was done. The entry, for example, looks terrific.

Sand, dirt, gravel and other debris were removed from grates and drainage was restored.

On Brook Drive, slag was burned, trees were removed and Brooke's cabin was shored up. Brook Drive actually looks like a road again!

Tom Bunyan shows us how a real lumberjack gets ’er done.

After the holidays, the board will meet to identify what still needs to be done and the best approach for tackling those tasks.

Community Involvement Requested In Clean Up Efforts

Clean up efforts within our community will take significant time and commitment by all of us. All community members are encouraged to assist in the clean up efforts as they are able to. This Sunday, (12/16) from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (as weather permits) we invite you to join us at the beach as another crew of members begins to tackle some of the clean up projects. We realize this is a busy time of year for everyone. If you are unable to come work on Sunday, we have made a list below of work that needs to be done. Any time you are at the canal and are able to make progess on any of these projects please do so. All efforts will help restore the beauty and stability of our community. The list below is only a beginning. As you see other areas which need attention, or if you have questions, please send an email to shorehill@gmail.com. We will keep you aprised of the progess, scheduled work days, meetings and areas needing attention via this blog.

Thank you to everyone who has already started working on projects or contributed in some way to the community.

Progess which has already been made:

1. Ravine on Brook Drive has been filled in - Road is now accessible


2. Brooke's cabin has been stabilized with fill being replaced under cabin - Mud and debris cleaned from inside and around cabin


3. Tom and Sally's cabin has been stabilized for now - until ground settles and dries


4. Restrooms and picnic area has been been worked on as set out in previous blog


5. Large ecology blocks have been placed to support home on beach which suffered major bulkhead damage


6. Some of the rocks from roadways have been removed
   

Work to be done:

1. Continual clean up of dirt and debris - Some of the areas which need to be worked on: beach area, boat ramp, basketball court, roadways on both side of North Shore Road, below Shorehill Estate signs


2. Culvert/grates at base of Brook Drive and at base of Alta Vista (which crosses road leading up to Bob and Millie's and Chrystal and Paul's) need to have rocks and debris removed and grates cleaned


3. All community roads need to have rocks removed off driving surfaces and along both sides


4. Debris from fallen tree on Brook Drive which has been pilled up across from Brooke's needs further burning


5. Area behind and beneath mailboxes needs to be cleaned


6. Brook Drive will need to be grated as it settles and dries


7. Additional work will be needed on Brook Drive past Tom and Sally's cabin and in area of watershed - Board will be meeting to discuss plan


8. Further work will be needed on damaged bulkheads (At present the bulkhead at the community beach appears to be holding up)

Watch for additional workdays to be scheduled over next few months.

Comments may be added at the end of this blog by clicking on COMMENTS or may be sent to the email address above.

Again, continued thanks to everyone for working together for the good of our community.

Small Work Parties Tackle Big Jobs

The bathrooms in the community center took a big hit in this month's storms. While Crystal and Paul did a back-breaking amount of work cleaning up the picnic area on the beach, Chris, Sandy and Pete tackled the bathroom. Many thanks to Sandy for sharing the photos and the report.

"Hey! Pete and Sandy," Chris said. "Wanna help me get to the bathrooms?" Being a good neighbor and all, Pete and Sandy said yes. It only took seven hours of digging. (Annika and Rebecka did their part by picking up wood on the beach and putting it in the fire pit — great job, girls!)

Perspective: the wheelbarrow sits about 32 inches high. Pete is standing on the top of the washed-in dirt. You can see the waterline on the bathroom door.

You had to watch your step before going into the women's bathroom.

How much Comet does it take to clean up this mess?

Dennis G. stopped by to help finish the clean-up.

A beautiful sunset at the end of a long day.

Do you have photos or clean-up reports and stories to share? Send them to Mike and Sue, or Gayle at the e-mail address in the left-side column of this page.

Shorehill Visit

Mike and Sue visited Shorehill today and we were impressed with the amount of work that's been done so far. And equally impressed by the amount of work that still needs to be done.

A lot of clean-up has been done on North Shore Road. We saw where mud and debris had been cleared in many places, and experienced short waits at a few spots for on-going clean-up operations.

The Shorehill entrance looked pretty good.

Brook Drive, not so much.

We don't know if this area at the top of Marine View was damaged during the storm or if this is earlier damage.

The beach will definitely need some landscaping attention.

Mason County Makes Great Headway!

Wednesday morning's plan was to have my brother-in-law come out and begin some of the work putting the community back together. He loaded up his equipment and headed this way. I went to work and Ron to the doctor. When Ron got home Mason County had started moving the dirt pilled in front of the community back into the ravine on Brook Drive. He quickly called my brother-in-law and stopped him from coming over until the County completes what they will. He will come over Friday or Saturday and assess where we are at that point and what further will need to be done. Mason County has done an amazing job moving much of the debris off North Shore Road to allow drainage, access and help communities and homeowners start restoring things back to normal. It's been impressive to see how responsive they have been.

Today Chrystle Gray and Paul Black came down and told Ron they were going to work on cleaning up the bathrooms at the beach. Sally surveyed the beach homes and reported that she did not see any major damage there. Trina and Ron surveyed up Marine View Drive again. They reported all looked well.

Keith took some great pictures yesterday which I have added below. We will try to get some more pictures tomorrow which will show how much work has been done. The collaboration of everyone to help in anyway they can has been great.

Continued thanks to everyone! Several people have talked about coming out within the next few days. Access is no problem. I am back to work but will try to update Blog in the evenings. You of course are welcome to call with any questions which haven't been answered for you here. Gayle and Ron (360) 275-4038.

Note: To view pictures in larger format simply click on picture. When done viewing picture click your Back Arrow (top left corner of your browser window) to return to blog.

Flood Damage Update

Note: To view pictures in a larger format simply double click on picture

The rains have ceased, the culvert has now been cleared, water is no longer rushing down the road and the county has moved the mud and rocks off to the side of the North Shore Road and cleared a path into the community.

We've taken a look around the community and all seems okay except the damage you see in the pictures.

Brooke Scheib said it so well in an email she sent me, "my heart is heavy, but we will all pull through and make our community pretty again." That is definitely true. That's the kind of community we are all blessed to be a part of.

Thanks to those here who have done whatever could be done to help, to include surveying the neighborhood, taking pictures, digging in the rocks and mud to uncover culverts, making calls, sending emails or posting information on the blog. Thanks also to those of you not here who have offered your support via emails and calls.

The Shorehill sign used to be taller than Andy. Hopefully this gives you a perspective of how deep the mud was in the entrance to the community.

You cannot currently get to our mailboxes as the dirt and mud have been piled even higher than these pictures show. This picture was before they moved the piles of mud and rock off the road. The piles are as high as the mailboxes.

As you can see from the pictures, the beach will also need alot of clean up.

This was taken from Ron and Gayle's deck. You can see the water and debris running across North Shore Road and at the top of the picture how brown the canal was with mud.

Taken from the back side of Brooke's cabin. You can see how deep the revene is that was created from the force of the water and it's path down to the entrance.

Water, rocks and mud rushing down the entrance to the community.

Pictures don't truly portray the event nor the damage. This picture shows how wide the revene became on Brook Drive.

We have contacted Pat at North Shore Nursery and we are on his waiting list. I also have a call into my brother-in-law who is an excavator to see if he would be available for the job. We have also talked about the possibility of renting a piece of equipment and doing some of the work ourselves. My thought is that there will be plenty for us to do but that it would be best to have someone come in and do the earth moving for us and lead us as to the best approach for tackling the project. Once we have a definite plan I will post it on the blog. We will need to have all the help we can get putting things back together but one of the first things will be moving the mud and dirt and rock back into the revene created on Brook Drive.

Your thoughts and comments are welcomed.

Brook Drive Suffers Major Damage

Ron took these pictures at approximately 12:00 noon today. Damage continues to increase. It is now almost 1:00 pm and things seem a little calmer for the moment. Hopefully it will continue to improve.