Central Coast GIS Products Metadata Compiled by Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay This document provides a general metadata summary of marine habitat mapping ("legacy") data for the Central Coast region - from Monterey Bay through Big Sur - provided in support of the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP). Detailed metadata are provided in xml format with each individual data file. Marine data offered here represent the efforts of a comprehensive state waters mapping program for California launched by the California State Coastal Conservancy, Ocean Protection Council, Department of Fish and Game, and the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program. The ultimate goal being the creation of a high-resolution 1:24,000 scale geologic and habitat base map series covering all of California's 14,500 km2 state waters out to the 3 mile limit, and support of the state's Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPA) goal to create a statewide network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This statewide project requires, involves and leverages expertise from industry, resource management agencies and academia. The tiered mapping campaign involves the use of state-of-the-art sonar, LIDAR (aerial laser) and video seafloor mapping technologies; computer aided classification and visualization; expert geologic and habitat interpretations codified into strip maps spanning California's land/sea boundary; and the creation of an online, publicly accessible data repository for the dissemination of all mapping products. ------------------------------------------ Big Creek State Marine Reserve & Lopez Point Reference Site (2010) Surveys were conducted on: Big Creek North May 14-16, 18, 2010; August 19-20, 2009 Big Creek South May 16 & 18, 2010; August 20-21, 2009 Lopez Point May 16-17, 2010; August 21, 2009 MBES and side scan data for the South Central Coast nearshore regions (Big Creek State Marine Reserve and Lopez Point Reference area) were acquired using a combination of sonars (200 KHz/ 400 KHz Reson 7125, 100 KHz Reson 7111, 468 KHz SEA SWATHplus) collected aboard the R/V VenTresca by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay. Prior to data collection, a series of planned survey lines were created using the survey navigation and planning software Hypack 2008 from Hypack, Inc. An Applanix POS/MV 320 v4 system was used to provide position and attitude data during data collection and accounted for vessel motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy ± 2m, pitch, roll and heading accuracy ±0.02°, heave accuracy ± 5% or 5cm) with input from a NAVCON 2050 GPS. KGPS altitude data were used to account for tide cycle fluctuations and sound velocity profiles were collected with an Applied Microsystems SVPlus sound velocimeter. Data acquisition, post-processing, and final products derived from multibeam bathymetry data were handled by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB. Base surfaces and derived data were extracted to MPA boundaries. ------------------------------------------ Big Sur Surveys were conducted on: Yankee Point April 15,20,24, 2004 Soberanes Point April 27 & 30, 2004 Kasler Point May 5 & 25, 2004 Hurricane Point May 26-27, 2004 & February 12, 2005 Point Sur February 13 to April 1, 2005 & June 29, 2006 Cooper Point April 1,6,22-24,29, 2005 Grimes Point April 29 - May 7, 2005 & June 28, 2006 Slate Rock September 12,25-26, 2006 Bathymetric and backscatter (sidescan) data were collected aboard the R/V VenTresca using a Reson 8101 multibeam echosounder. Prior to data collection a series of survey lines were created using Hypack Max v02.12a GOLD from Hypack Inc. An Applanix POS/MV was used to position the vessel during data collection and accounted for vessel motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy ± 2m, pitch, roll and heading accuracy ±0.02°, heave accuracy ± 5% or 5cm). ------------------------------------------ Monterey Peninsula Surveys were conducted on: PtPinos_to_Shalebeds May 9 & June 6-7,23, 2000; March 23, 2001; April 23-24, 2003; April 9, 2004 CypressPt_to_PtPinos June 7 & 15, 2000; April 23-24, 2003; April 10, 2004; June 20, 2006 Monastery_to_CypressPt June 21-22,26, 2000; March 20-23, 2001; April 23, 2003; April 9-10,14, 2004; March 13, 2005; August 31, 2006 Point Lobos June 22,26, 2000; March 20-22, 2001; March 13, 2005; August 31, 2006 Bathymetric and backscatter (sidescan) data were collected aboard the R/V VenTresca and R/V MacGinite using a Reson 8101 multibeam echosounder. Prior to data collection a series of survey lines were created using Hypack Max from Hypack Inc. An Applanix POS/MV was used to position the vessel during data collection and accounted for vessel motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy ± 2m, pitch, roll and heading accuracy ±0.02°, heave accuracy ± 5% or 5cm). ------------------------------------------ Monterey Bay Surveys were conducted on: Central MB North September 3, 5-11, 2009; October 21-23, 2009; November 1, 3, 5-6, 8-12, 2009 Central MB South September 3, 5-11, 2009; October 21-23, 2009; November 1, 3, 5-6, 8-12, 2009 Asilomar June 14, 2008 Portuguese Ledge June 14 & 16, 2008 Soquel June 15-16, 25, 2008 MBES and side scan data for the South Monterey Bay region were acquired using a 200 KHz/ 400 KHz Reson 7125 sonar aboard the R/V VenTresca by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay. Prior to data collection, a series of planned survey lines were created using the survey navigation and planning software Hypack 2008 from Hypack, Inc. An Applanix POS/MV 320 v4 system was used to provide position and attitude data during data collection and accounted for vessel motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy ± 2m, pitch, roll and heading accuracy ±0.02°, heave accuracy ± 5% or 5cm) with input from a Cnav® enabled NAVCON 2050 GPS. KGPS altitude data were used to account for tide cycle fluctuations and sound velocity profiles were collected with an Applied Microsystems SVPlus sound velocimeter. Data acquisition, post-processing, and final products derived from multibeam bathymetry data were handled by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB. ------------------------------------------ Elkhorn Slough Surveys were conducted on: Elkhorn Slough 2003 March 19-20,31, 2003 & September 29-30, 2003 Elkhorn Slough 2005 August 12-15, 2005 Elkhorn Slough 2011 September 18-22, 27-29, 2011 & November 23, 2011 Elkhorn Slough 2005 Elkhorn Slough, one of the largest remaining coastal wetlands in California, has been directly subjected to tidal scour since the opening of Moss Landing Harbor in 1946. This erosion endangers the habitat of several rare and endangered species and disrupts the wetland ecosystem as a whole. In 2003, the Seafloor Mapping Lab of California State University, Monterey Bay created the most detailed bathymetry model of the Slough to date using a combination of multi-beam sonar, single-beam sonar and aerial photography. This project was conducted to determine changes in the pattern of erosion and deposition in Elkhorn Slough since surveys conducted in 1993, 2001 and 2003. Elkhorn Slough 2011 Post-Sill Construction baseline bathymetric-topographic survey of Elkhorn Slough. The goal of the project was to produce a seamless digital elevation model (DEM) of the Elkhorn Slough main channel, Parsons Slough, and South Marsh tributaries habitats at <1m horizontal resolution, and a vertical resolution of <0.1m. These data will serve as a suitable baseline for quantification of changes in the rates and spatial distribution of sedimentation/erosion following subsequent surveys of similar quality and coverage in the future. Mapping surveys were conducted using interferometric bathymetric sidescan sonar and mobile topographic vessel-based LiDAR. Several different vehicles acted as the platform for deploying the laser scanner, including the ultra-shallow water Kelpfly (modified JetSki/air boat), TeraScanner ATV, and SFML survey vessel R/V VenTresca. The role of the SFML as a subcontractor on the ESF NOAA Habitat Restoration ARRA grant was to create the map products required by Elkhorn Slough Wetland Project Technical Advisory Committee and contractors to evaluate the effectiveness of the sill constructed at the mouth of Parsons Slough as a measure for reducing tidal scour and erosion. ------------------------------------------ Moss Landing Harbor Surveys were conducted on: March 14, 2003 ------------------------------------------ Monterey Bay Canyon (2008) Surveys were conducted on: March 19-20, 2008 The head of the Monterey Submarine Canyon experiences seasonal flushing events that are hypothesized to cause large amounts of sediment settled in axis along the bottom to be moved downslope. It is believed that these dams of sediment formed along the axes of the canyon head create a habitat for a unique benthic community endemic to the sediment and debris. Information provided by this project contributes to quantitatively analyzing the magnitude of sediment transported from the head of the canyon into the deep canyon. The goals of the project proposed here are to: 1) characterize the geomorphology of the headward portion of the Monterey Submarine Canyon, 2) look for evidence consistent with the hypothesis that natural dams form before and are then lost during the winter storm season, and 3) quantify the magnitude of geomorphic changes in the canyon head between pre- and post-storm season periods. Multibeam bathymetry data was used to create pre- and post-storm, high-resolution (2-4 m horizontal posting) digital elevation models (DEMs) to detect and quantify the magnitude of these predicted sediment movement patterns. Information regarding the occurrence and quantitative effects of seasonal flushing events is needed to assess the risks and benefits associated with dumping dredge material into the Monterey Bay Canyon. The purpose of the project was to identify the overall change in the morphology of the head of Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon from 10m to 300m in depth between pre- and post-winter storm activity. Specific goals were to find evidence of sediment "dams" forming across the canyon axis and to quantify how the morphology of the canyon changes following the first storms of winter, which are believed to trigger flushing events and removal of the hypothesized dams. By determining how much sediment is transported from the canyon head into the deep canyon via seasonal flushing events, questions pertaining to the ecosystem of the canyon can be answered with increased certainty by the scientific community.