Sector Sault Ste. Marie
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: September 22, 2006

Contact: LTJG Kenny Pepper, USCGC Alder
(218) 529-3131

U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER CONDUCTS SIDE-SCAN SONAR SURVEY OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR

The Volpe National Transportation Center, under the Department of Transportation, awarded a contract in August 2006 to CH2M Hill and Habitat Solutions to conduct the surveys.  Scientists Brent Brown of CH2M Hill and Dr. Scudder Mackey of Habitat Solutions were aboard ALDER for the operation.

The surveys were conducted as part of a preliminary environmental study establishing baseline data that will be used for selection of initial target areas for future research related to the impacts of Dry Cargo Sweeping.  Dry Cargo Sweeping is when a vessel sweeps their decks in preparation for a cross-lake transit. The surveys could also be used to establish future regulations.

ALDER's modern global positioning navigation systems and dynamic positioning capabilities enabled the scientists to conduct systematic, multi-leg side-scan surveys of the lake bottom. The automated station-keeping capabilities of ALDER provided the scientists with the ability to precisely position the ship over key features for the recovery of samples from the lake bottom.

ALDER scanned 302 nautical miles (approximately 350 statute miles), imaging nearly 70,000 acres of lake bottom in the western portion of Lake Superior.   In addition to collecting data related to the bottom environment and habitat characterization, the scientists collected new and interesting data related to bottom deposits, lake bed geographical features, and ship wrecks.

Coast Guard Cutters in Lake Michigan and Lake Erie are scheduled to conduct similar studies.

Images and files will be available upon request on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006.

For more information, contact Lt. j.g. Kenny Pepper, USCGC Alder, at (218) 529-3131.