Mike Kaill sent in this report from the Spring Street Aquarium in Friday Harbour, Washington State:
”Last winter we had a major die-off in the Spring Street Aquarium. Virually all of the animals that lived on the bottom died - a large, candy-striped anemone that has been with us since we started, other anemones, giant barnacles, sea cucumbers and bottom fishes such as flounder, cling fish and gunnels. I suspected water quality problems and did some preliminary tests. We found high levels of detergents.
People need to look at their use of cleaning products, as well as lawn care and weed-killer products. - anything that might go down the storm drain. They need to consider how it’s affecting the water quality for all creatures. I don’t think people make the connection that when they hold car wash events, for example, that the detergents they use are deadly.
Storm drains go directly to lakes, streams and oceans without any treatment. I am concerned that runoff from the streets and parking lots goes directly into the harbor (and my aquarium). The best way to protect the nearshore environment is to keep cleaners out of the storm drains altogether.”
