Freshwater Bay

Port Angeles area
(all subtidal)

Bivalves
Clinocardium nuttallii
Cyclocardia sp.
Entodesma navicula
Leukoma staminea
Modiolus modiolus
Mya truncata
Panomya ampla
Panopea generosa
Pododesmus macrochisma
Saxidomus gigantea
Tresus capax
Zirfaea pilsbryi

Gastropods
Calliostoma ligatum
Calyptraea fastigiata
Ceratostoma foliatum
Fusitriton oregonensis
Granulina margaritula
Lacuna vincta
Lottia instabilis
Neverita lewisii
Paciocinebrina lurida

Nudibranchs
Acanthodoris hudsoni
Acanthodoris nanaimoensis
Cadlina luteomarginata
Coryphella verrucosa
Diaulula odonoghuei
Dirona albolineata
Doris montereyensis
Doris odhneri
Geitodoris heathi
Hermissenda crassicornis
Limacia cockerelli
Triopha catalinae

Chitons
Lepidozona interstincta
Tonicella insignis
Tonicella lineata

Freshwater Bay to Port Angeles

Clallam Co., WA

Site Description:

This site is on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula and faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Most of the beach is sand with some gravel and a few large boulders. The west side of the bay is all rocky and is also covered in algae and seaweed. The point at the northwest edge of the bay consists of large rock outcroppings. The following species list also includes subtidal species found within the bay. The population numbers within the bay, including some of the intertidal area, has been shifting due to the effects of the removal of the Elwha Dams. Silt accumulation has altered some of the habitat. It is a dynamic situation and changes each year.
We also include subtidal data for the Port Angeles area, provided by divers who frequent the area. Our Port Angeles area includes the bay just to the west of the Port Angeles Spit to Green Point, which is just east of Port Angeles.

Google Map

west side of Freshwater Bay

Species List:

Following is a list of mollusk species observed at this location by members and associates of the club. This is by no means a complete list of the species which may occur at this site. Revisions and additions to the data are made as we acquire new information. When a site contains more than one very distinctive type of habitat or if multiple sites were included in a single location, then a species list for each is included.
We indicate frequency of occurrence based on our observations. This is an indicator of how likely it is that you may be able to find this species yourself and is not a formal population survey.

Frequency Code: (Based on the assumption that you are looking in the appropriate location where the species
likes to live - on rocks, in sand, etc. Some populations fluctuate seasonally. Ours are based
on the spring/summer seasons.)
[4] - Rare - very difficult to find, maybe only a couple found after repeated visits to the site
[3] - Uncommon - difficult to find, may not see on every trip but dedicated searching may turn up a few
[2] - Common - easy to find, should locate a number of them on any given day
[1] - Abundant - very easy to find, large numbers should be seen on every trip

The frequency rating only applies to the intertidal data. The subtidal list is incomplete and due to the nature of the data, is not rated for frequency.

Intertidal - I
Subtidal - S

Freshwater Bay

Bivalves
Adula californiensis S
Chlamys hastata I,S [4]
Clinocardium nuttallii I,S [3]
Crassadoma gigantea I,S [3]
Crassostrea gigas I [3]
Gari californica S
Humilaria kennerleyi I,S [4]
Leukoma staminea I [2]
Macoma balthica I [4]
Macoma inquinata I [3]
Macoma nasuta I [3]
Macoma secta I [3]
Mya truncata S
Mytilus californianus I [2]
Mytilus complex I,S [1]
Panopea generosa S
Pododesmus macrochisma I,S [3]
Saxidomus gigantea I,S [3]
Semele rubropicta S
Solen sicarius I,S [4]
Tellina modesta I [3]
Tresus capax I,S [3]
Tresus nuttallii I [4]
Zirfaea pilsbryi I,S [4]

Gastropods
Acmaea mitra I,S [3]
Alia carinata I [2]
Amphissa columbiana I,S [2]
Boreotrophon multicostatus S
Calliostoma ligatum I,S [2]
Calyptraea fastigiata S
Ceratostoma foliatum I,S [3]
Diodora aspera I [3]
Fusitriton oregonensis I,S [4]
Granulina margaritula I,S [3]
Lacuna vincta I,S [3]
Lirabuccinum dirum I [1]
Lirularia succincta I [4]
Littorina scutulata I [1]
Littorina sitkana I [1]
Lottia digitalis I [3]
Lottia fenestrata I [3]
Lottia instabilis I,S [4]
Lottia pelta I [2]
Lottia persona I [1]
Lottia scutum I [2]
Margarites pupillus I [4]
Marsenina sp. S
Melanella sp. S
Nassarius fossatus S
Neostylidium eschrichtii I,S [3]
Neverita lewisii S
Nucella canaliculata I [2]
Nucella lamellosa I,S [2]
Nucella ostrina I [1]
Paciocinebrina interfossa I [4]
Paciocinebrina lurida I,S [4]
Paciocinebrina sclera S
Olivella baetica S
Olivella biplicata S
Opalia wroblewskyi S
Ophiodermella inermis S
Tegula funebralis I [3]
Trichotropis cancellata S

Nudibranchs
Acanthodoris hudsoni S
Acanthodoris lutea S
Acanthodoris nanaimoensis S
Aeolidia sp. I [4]
Berthella californica S
Cadlina luteomarginata S
Coryphella trophina S
Dendronotus albus S
Dirona albolineata I,S [4]
Doris montereyensis I,S [4]
Doris odhneri S
Doto kya S
Gastropteron pacificum S
Geitodoris heathi S
Hermissenda crassicornis S
Limacia cockerelli I,S [4]
Melibe leonina S
Onchidoris muricata S
Orienthella trilineata S
Peltodoris nobilis S
Rostanga pulchra S
Triopha catalinae S

Chitons
Cryptochiton stelleri I,S [4]
Cyanoplax dentiens I [4]
Dendrochiton flectens S
Katharina tunicata I [1]
Lepidozona mertensii I,S [4]
Leptochiton cf. rugatus S
Mopalia lignosa I,S [3]
Mopalia muscosa I [3]
Mopalia swanii I [4]
Placiphorella velata I [4]
Tonicella insignis S
Tonicella lineata I,S [3]
Tonicella undocaerulea I,S [4]

Cephalopods
Loligo opalescens S
Octopus rubescens S
Rossia pacifica S