Fieldwork begins at the restoration site (7/1)

Under the Fidalgo Bay trestle

     Today marked the beginning of fieldwork at the native oyster restoration site that we will be monitoring, the trestle in Fidalgo Bay.  Dr Dinnel and I were joined by two volunteers .  We started at the 30^th piling from the shore and worked from the middle out investigated ½ meter squares, called a quadrat, for native oysters and shell content of both clam and oyster shells. 

 

Tools: quadrat, bucket, measuring stick.  Fancy Fancy science.

     After a sample plot was complete we moved 3 meters north and sampled 3 additional plots at 3-meter distances from each other.  We then switched to the south side and sampled as far as we could into the waterline, usually 2 and occasionally 3 lengths of 3 meters from the middle of the trestle.  We found a nice amount of native oysters both attached to shells and free from attachment.  We got about 15 pilings done between the 3 of us before the tide came in to far to continue. 

The first sample north of center.

     I was surprised by the amount of oil leaking from the creosote pilings which Dr. Dinnel said are about 100 years old.  

Normal rotting piling sea life abounds.

A nearby piling still leaching oil.

      At one point I went deep into the mud on the north side of the trestle while counting and not paying attention.  Then I got halfway turned around and couldn’t budge my boot nor could I pull it out of the mud balanced on one foot while digging and pulling.  I eventually called Dr. Dinnel over who first asked where the camera was but it was safely in my pocket and not available for embarrassing photos.  He then came over and dug my boot out, it was so stuck that after digging it ¾ of the way out both of us pulling wouldn’t free it.  I ended up balanced on one foot while he dug out my boot for me.  I learned my lesson and only got fairly muddy not completely muddy, pay attention to how far you are sinking in the mud and keep shifting if needed.  

     We found an oyster probably the safest place it could be.  It had settled on the shell of an oyster drill.

Olympia oyster living on an oyster drill.

     After I came back to Shannon Point I showered the mud off,  napped and puttered and enjoyed my Sunday afternoon and most of us students headed out for Thai food.  We returned to watch Hairspray and I am making coconut sticky rice for everyone.