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The NEW Saltwater State Park Artificial Reef - Feb 19th, 2009

To use photos in publications, please email me at pnwfishlady@comcast.net. All photos ©2009 Janna Nichols
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Shiner perch schooling.
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Shiner perch schooling.

  • Four buoys mark the edges of the new marine reserve. Buoys 1 and 4 are closest to shore, with 4 marking the northernmost edge. The swim took about 15 min, but we were fighting big waves and a bit of current.
  • The sign is still there marking the construction, but the map showing the proposed park is very incorrect. Instead of two lines of reef rock, there are three, and no reef balls as shown. The book, Shore Diving near Seattle is also incorrect with their map. (I think they took it off this sign)
  • After descending the buoy line, we swam West until we found this rock on the bottom. This small rock makes a path that leads to the large rock.
  • A red rock crab explores the new rock.
  • An orange plumose anemone has already moved in. The rock has been down now for only about a week.
  • Here are some of the old tires that we saw that are still in place, north of the rock reef. You can see how yucky tire reefs are. Not sure why these were not removed. Maybe they still will be at a later date.
  • Another view of the old leftover tire reef. Ugh.
  • Georgia inspects a plumose anemone on the old tire reef.
  • Georgia approaches the big rock reef with the giant pilings.
  • Closer view of some of the pilings. These are huge structures, and very long.
  • Some of the new rock that was placed. Piling is shown behind it.
  • At the base of the reef on the north side, this cluster of plumose anemones has already set up residence in the rock.
  • One of the large pilings - still with markings on it!
  • Georgia approaches one of the pilings
  • Down around 70 feet we saw a big tangled mass of measuring tape that perhaps fell off the barge as the rock was placed?
  • Sunflower stars were found here and there on the reef rock.
  • Georgia checks out the measuring tape.
  • A juvenile Great Sculpin that Georgia spotted. Very well camouflaged in the white/gray rock.
  • Here and there we found small groups of Shiner Perch hanging around the rock and in hidey holes.
  • Shiner perch schooling.
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