How does this affect me?
Marine water quality, freshwater quality and the quality and
conditions of our lands are the touchstones to both our history
and legacy for the future. The quality of the marine environment
affects everything from the quality of the food you put on your
table, our economy, and the quality of our community life. Our
marine waters contain an abundant array of animals and plants
that are interconnected in almost limitless ways.
Marine water quality is affected by what humans do near the water,
such as wetlands, beaches and the general areas where our land
meets the water we love.
When stratification isolates the surface water from the deep
water, the following effects can be seen:
Fish Kills from Low Dissolved Oxygen
Strong
and persistent stratification can enhance or promote the depletion
of dissolved oxygen, causing fish kills. In addition, human additions
of nutrients (e.g. sewage input, agricultural and domestic fertilizers)
can cause increased algal growth that ultimately can result in
lower oxygen. Thus, human additions in strong-persistent waters
have consequences that are not realized in well-mixed waters.
See the Hood Canal
Dissolved Oxygen Program 
for detailed information about trends in low dissolved oxygen
in Hood Canal, Puget Sound.16
Concentration of Pollutants
Stratification can result in the retention of pollutants and
contaminants in surface waters, where much of the plankton (including
sensitive eggs and larvae) is concentrated, instead of mixing
and diluting these out and away from the surface zone.
Impairs Water as a Carbon Sink
By protecting marine habitat we also preserve the marine environment's
ability to serve human needs. Estuaries like the Puget Sound Georgia
Basin act as sinks, or sponges, for carbon dioxide formed by burning
petroleum (energy, vehicles, manufacturing). If temperatures rise
too dramatically, the ability of these waters to act as sponges
is greatly reduced and this, in turn, affects the production of
basic food sources in the marine environment. These primary producers
include phytoplankton, macroalgae, seaweeds, kelp, seagrasses
and tidal marshes. These producers are food sources for other
marine fish and animals.17
Loss of Watchable Wildlife Revenues
This region is one of the most popular in North America for Watchable
Wildlife. Where human-caused pollution contributes to areas with
strong-persistent stratification, this can contribute to negative
affects on the production and diversity of marine life. As a result,
particularly with respect to fish kills, tourism and licensing
revenues are affected. In Washington State alone over $980 million
is spent annually on viewing wildlife. Money is spent on lodging
and food, and on supplies such as boat rentals, cameras, binoculars,
spotting scopes, books/maps, tents, packs, and membership dues.
In Hood Canal, SCUBA divers are among the highest "viewing"
spenders – up to $3,000 in gear, $150 for lessons and $150
for other related expenses.
The revenue stream is simply astounding. On average, since 2001,
over $1.7 billion was spent on wildlife viewing activities, creating
21,000 jobs in the state, $426.9 million in job income and $56.9
million in state tax revenues each year.18
Failed
Legacy and Investment in our Children
In the face of a growing population, we have no choice but to
manage growth in the most sensible way that preserves species,
habitat and quality of life for the future.
What will we tell our children when we allow species to go extinct
or become severely depleted when we had economically viable options
to protect them?
Marine Water Quality