Kagley, A., Marcell, J., Fresh, K. and Beamer, E., 2007. Juvenile salmon and nearshore fish use in shallow intertidal habitat associated with Harrington Lagoon. Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA. pp. 22.

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Studies of fish use in pocket estuaries throughout the Whidbey Basin began in 2002. At first, research was limited to understanding juvenile Chinook salmon use of sites within Skagit Bay (Beamer et al. 2003). In 2004, studies were expanded to sites throughout the Whidbey Basin, Fidalgo Bay and Samish Bay via a cooperative effort that was partially funded by the Northwest Straits Commission1. The focus of the expanded research is to understand landscape scale patterns of fish usage including what species and life history types use these systems, how connectivity or position within the larger landscape affects this use, and how patterns of use can relate to protection and restoration of these systems. Use of Island County WSU Beach Watchers volunteers helped expand this research effort from 2005 through 2007 and included sampling in Harrington Lagoon. The focus of this report is on fish abundance and size in Harrington Lagoon during 2006, a similar report using 2005 data was published in June, 2006 (Beamer et al. 2006). Although we primarily report only fish abundance and size in this one system, we will also briefly consider results within the context of the larger Whidbey Basin study of pocket estuaries. The results of this study can be used to inform local citizens about fish populations currently using the Harrington Lagoon area. The results are useful to Island County, and other agencies and groups interested in Puget Sound salmon recovery and nearshore ecology.
STUDY AREA
Harrington Lagoon is located on the eastern shoreline of Whidbey Island, in Saratoga Passage (Figure 1). This approximately 8.5 acre longshore coastal lagoon is located behind the leeward side of a spit beach formed by accreting sediments that originate from bluff-backed beaches south of the lagoon. Historically Harrington Lagoon was connected to Saratoga Passage via an outlet channel located near its northwest end. Under contemporary conditions, the Harrington Lagoon outlet channel is located roughly along the middle of the lagoon’s outer margin. The northwest end of the historic lagoon is mostly developed with homes and the old outlet channel is no longer present.

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