UPDATE: high tide photos posted below

Sunday 20 February 2011, at about 2pm: East Bay in Olympia Washington just after the days higher low tide.

Once again shortly after the full Moon, we are at the time of extreme tidal fluctuations. According to tide predictions, the higher high tide for tomorrow morning will register over 16.5 feet, and be one of the years highest.

In order to keep on eye on the effects of global warming induced climate change, the State Department of Ecology is soliciting photographic documentation of the high water, more information: King Tides in Washington State | Impacts, Preparation, Adaption | Climate Change | Washington State Department of Ecology.

Last month's higher high tides prompted some conversations about rising water, and about water quality in the Budd inlet. I talked with one person about the prospect of erecting a berm around the downtown shoreline in order to protect downtown. The person I talked with suggested the alternative of building a seawall further North, perhaps around Priest Point Park, which seems to have some advantages.

I have also talked with a number of people who think, given the potential for sea-level rise and encroaching higher high tides, that it might be better to abandon the downtown area — to let nature run its course. Maybe it makes more sense for human societies to let go—to stop trying to be such a boss over the natural environment. Maybe it would be better to ask how we can live more in harmony, and less in adversity.

Another conversation I had was about water quality in the waterway. A friend was telling me about the diversity of animal life around Boston Harbor. And I have visited Friday Harbor, where the marine life is remarkable and astounding, with what seems like animals of every color under the rainbow, pink, red, purple, etc. attached to the docks. I wonder if Budd Inlet used to be like this. Or maybe the diversity and colorfulness of the marine life in other areas is more due to water circulation, than pollution related to industrialization. Does anyone know how marine life in the Budd waterway has been affected since the advent of industrialization? Was Budd waterway once home to more plants and animals? If so, then how can the health of the waterway be restored?

Berd

Freshwater creek escaping from an underground pipe on Sunday the 20th of February, 2011.

High Tide + some other miscellaneous photos from Monday 21 February 2011:

From Around Olympia Monday Morning, 21 February 2011