Hood Canal Dead Zone Persists

[hatrack]

A persistent "dead zone" seems to have settled into southern Hood Canal, where oxygen levels remain so low that many bottom-dwelling creatures have probably perished. State officials continue to add fishing restrictions in Hood Canal, and nobody seems to know when the nightmare will end.

Normally, by this time of year, dissolved oxygen in deep water has recovered to safe levels due to mixing from winter weather and inflow from ocean waters. Last year, the canal never fully regained its health. And this year, something terrible seems to be at work.

The amount of oxygen in southern Hood Canal is 25 percent less than it has ever been during winter months. "It is very disturbing that it is staying so low for so long," said Jan Newton, an oceanographer with the state Department of Ecology.

In Lynch Cove at the tip of the canal, dissolved oxygen levels remain at or below 1 part per million. Generally, levels below 5 are considered stressful, and those below 3 may be deadly."

EDIT

http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2004-03-13/local/424140.shtml

[mmm]

1. No sea cucumbers on the Hamma Hamma River!

I had to say that.

[Mrs. Overall]

2. I'm surprised this article doesn't mention

that Bangor Submarine Base is on the Southern Hood Canal. Bangor hosts the nuclear trident submarines. To me, it seems that there might be some sort of link, since I have heard long time residents near Hood Canal talk about the rising cancer rates in people.

[Submariner]

3. Nukes are not the cause for the low DO

Anything but that. Some sort of oxygen scavenger, maybe wastewater constituents, are making it's way to the depths and depleting the O2. If there was nuke leakage, the O2 scavengers would be dead and the O2 would probably be at normal levels.