OPR-J359-KR-19Offshore Apalachicola, FLNorthwest Gulf of MexicoFugro PelagosH132811Complete 10,593 Linear Nautical Miles of survey acquisition. 17 miles South of Indian PassFloridaUnited States200002019Dean R MoylesNavigable Area2019-06-202019-07-172019-10-21Multibeam Echo SounderMultibeam Echo Sounder BackscattermetersUTC NAD83 Zone 16NAtlantic Hydrographic BranchAny revisions to the Descriptive Report (DR) applied during office processing are shown in red italic text. The DR is maintained as a field unit product, therefore all information and recommendations within this report are considered preliminary unless otherwise noted. The final disposition of survey data is represented in the NOAA nautical chart products. All pertinent records for this survey are archived at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and can be retrieved via https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/. Products created during office processing were generated in NAD83 UTM 16N, MLLW. All references to other horizontal or vertical datums in this report are applicable to the processed hydrographic data provided by the field unit.ContractorSurvey H13281 (Table 1) is located 17 miles South of Indian Pass (Figure 1). The M/V Go Liberty acquired complete coverage multibeam echosounder (MBES) and multibeam echosounder acoustic backscatter (MBAB) within the assigned survey limits from 17 July 2019 to 21 October 2019 (Tables 3 and 4).29.510880555685.500761111129.340158333385.2079972222Survey H13281 relative to overall sheet limits of OPR-J359-KR-19file:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_overview.jpgAn additional area of 0.5 square linear nautical miles of data were acquired as a feature investigation for the charted check in the vicinity of 29-19-00.534N 085-12-47.724W (Figure 2). The charted feature was not located in this survey. Reference the Final Feature File associated with this survey for further details.Additional coverage acquired for feature assigned for investigationfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_AdditionalInvestigation.jpgThe Vicinity of Apalachicola project will provide contemporary surveys to update National Ocean Service (NOS) nautical charting products. The survey areas are offshore of Apalachicola Bay and Joseph Bay, FL. The survey will provide updated bathymetry and feature data to address concerns of migrating shoals, thus reducing the risk to navigation within the project area. The Apalachicola Surveys delineate the western extent to the Big Bend Mapping project, a Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP) priority. This multi-year, multi-agency mapping project will fill in an area in which only 2% of the seafloor is mapped to modern standards. Improving the understanding of the bathymetry, geomorphology, bio-diversity and distribution of habitats in this region will support Floridian fisheries, coastal modeling, and resource management. The project will cover approximately 323 square nautical miles of high priority survey area identified in the latest iteration of NOAA HSD's risk based prioritization model. Data from this project will supersede all prior survey data providing modern hydrographic survey data for this area and updating the local charting products. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data.Full coverage MBES and MBAB (Table 2, Figures 3 and 4) were achieved within the survey limits of H13281. All waters in survey areaComplete coverage (HSSD 2019 5.2.2.3)Survey coverage was in accordance with the requirements listed above and in the HSSD.Survey H13281 complete coverage MBESfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_Coverage.jpgSurvey H13281 2m complete coverage MBES density QCfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_MB_2m_MLLW_Final.QAv5.density.pngM/V Go Liberty01489.450000067.57001489.450000067.5704.51200060.592019-07-172019-07-182019-07-192019-07-202019-07-212019-07-222019-07-232019-07-242019-07-252019-07-262019-07-272019-08-142019-08-312019-09-012019-09-022019-09-032019-10-022019-10-202019-10-21Refer to the Data Acquisition and Processing Report (DAPR) for a complete description of data acquisition and processing systems, survey vessels, quality control procedures and data processing methods. Additional information to supplement sounding and survey data, and any deviations from the DAPR are discussed in the following sections.M/V Go Liberty15010M/V Go Libertyfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/MV_GOLiberty.jpgM/V Go Liberty (Table 5 and Figure 5) acquired MBES, MBAB, surface sound velocity, sound velocity profiles, attitude and positioning data within the survey limits of H13281 (Table 6). For a detailed listing of equipment used to acquire survey data, refer to the DAPR submitted with this report under Project Reports. Teledyne RESONSeaBat 7125 SV2MBESTeledyne RESONSVP 70Sound Speed SystemAML OceanographicSmart SVPConductivity, Temperature, and Depth SensorTeledyne OceanscienceCastAway-CTDConductivity, Temperature, and Depth SensorApplanixPOS MV 320 v5Positioning and Attitude SystemFor a detailed listing of equipment, refer to the DAPR submitted with this report. Crosslines for survey H13281 were acquired in accordance with section 5.2.4.2 of the HSSD 2019 (Figure 6). Of the 5,092,296 nodes compared between H13281 mainscheme MBES and MBES crosslines, 100% were within 1m difference . The mean difference is 0.02m, with a standard deviation of 0.07m (Figure 7). H13281 MBES mainscheme and MBES crossline distributionfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_XL_dist.jpgH13281 MBES mainscheme differenced from MBES crosslines statistical outputfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_XL_diff.jpgERS via VDATUM0.10.101M/V Go Liberty0.989N/AN/A0.25Survey H13281 uncertainty values (Tables 7 and 8) were evaluated both in CARIS HIPS 9.1 and via Pydro QC Tools v3.0.19. The finalized 2m bathymetric grid meets uncertainty standards with 100% of nodes passing (Figure 8). H13281 2m finalized grid TPU QCfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_MB_2m_MLLW_Final.QAv5.tvu_qc.pngA total of 4 contemporary surveys are available to compare to H13281: H13159, H13155, H13282 and H13285 (Table 9). H13159400002019Fugro Pelagos, Inc.WSurvey H13159 was the final priority area acquired by Fugro Pelagos in 2019 as a part of OPR-J359-KR-18. Of the 1,817,888 grid nodes compared between H13281 and H13159, 100% agree within 50cm (Figure 9). Survey H13281 junction with Survey H13159file:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/JNX_H13259.jpgH13155400002019Fugro Pelagos, Inc.WSurvey H13155 was the third priority area acquired by Fugro Pelagos in 2019 as a part of OPR-J359-KR-18. Of the 223,720 grid nodes compared between H13281 and H13155, 99.6% agree within 50cm (Figure 10). Survey H13281 junction with Survey H13155file:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/JNX_H13155.jpgH13282200002019Fugro Pelagos, Inc.ESurvey H13282 was acquired by Fugro Pelagos in 2019 as a part of OPR-J359-KR-19. Of the 352,875 grid nodes compared between H13281 and H13282, 100% agree within 50cm (Figure 11). Survey H13281 junction with Survey H13282file:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/JNX_H13252.jpgH13285200002019Fugro Pelagos, Inc.NSurvey H13285 was acquired by Fugro Pelagos in 2019 as a part of OPR-J359-KR-19. Of the 1,017,305 grid nodes compared between H13281 and H13285, 100% agree within 50cm (Figure 12). Survey H13281 junction with Survey H13185file:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/JNX_H13285.jpgSonar system quality control checks were conducted as detailed in the quality control section of the DAPR.None ExistThere were no conditions or deficiencies that affected equipment operational effectiveness.None ExistThere were no other factors that affected corrections to soundings.Sound velocity profiles were acquired every two hours from the M/V Go Liberty using either an AML SV&P or a Teledyne Oceanscience UCTD SV&P (Figure 13).Refer to the DAPR for additional information. Temporal and geographic distribution of SVP casts within survey H13281file:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_SV.jpgAll equipment and survey methods were used as detailed in the DAPR.All data reduction procedures conform to those detailed in the DAPR.All sounding systems were calibrated as detailed in the DAPR.All equipment and survey methods utilized in the acquisition and processing of Survey H13281 backscatter (Figure 14) are detailed in the DAPR.Survey H13281 backscatter coveragefile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_Backscatter_cov.jpgNOAA Profile Version 2019H13281_MB_2m_MLLWCARIS Raster Surface (CUBE)221.1134.18CMC_2mComplete MBESH13281_MB_2m_MLLW_FinalCARIS Raster Surface (CUBE)221.1134.18CMC_2mComplete MBESH13281_MBAB_2m_GoLiberty_400kHzMB Backscatter Mosaic2N/AComplete MBESAdditional information discussing the vertical or horizontal control for this survey can be found in the accompanying HVCR.Mean Lower Low WaterERS via VDATUMEC_Apalachicola_xyNAD83-MLLW_geoid12b.csarGeneralArea_Apalachicola_100m_NAD83-MLLW_geoid12bAll data within OPR-J359-KR-19 were reduced to MLLW using "EC_Apalachicola_xyNAD83-MLLW_geoid12b.csar" with the exception of the additional feature investigation assigned outside the sheet limits of H13281. In order to reduce those data to MLLW, the VDATUM file "GeneralArea_Apalachicola_100m_NAD83-MLLW_geoid12b" was utilized. North American Datum 1983Projected UTM 16All positioning and attitude data associated with OPR-J359-KR-19 was post-processed in POSPac MMS using PP-RTX methods. For further discussion, reference the HVCR and or DAPR submitted with this report. A chart comparison was conducted using the Triangle Rule script within the Chart Review Tool of Pydro QC Tools. A combined s57 file of charted soundings extracted from ENCs listed in the project instructions and an s57 file of surveyed soundings were compared with the following results (Figure 15): Survey H13281 surveyed soundings show variance to charted soundings due to shifting areas of shoaling (Figure 16). Of the 1909 soundings flagged by the triangle rule in QC Tools, 74 survey soundings exceed 3ft in difference. The maximum difference found between surveyed soundings and charted soundings is 8ft in the vicinity of 29-22-13.57N 085-21-18.74W due to sand wave migration (Figure 17). Pydro QC Tools chart review output of surveyed sounding shoal to charted soundingsfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_HeatMap.jpgPydro QC Tools output of areas of shoaling greater than 1ftfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_greaterthan1ft.jpgHighlighted area in the vicinity of 29-22-13.57N 085-21-18.74W of greatest difference between surveyed and charted soundingsfile:///T:/Survey/H13281_J359_KR_19/AHB_H13281/01_SAR/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/SupportFiles/H13281_greatest_chart_review_diff.jpgUS4FL68M80000152019-02-152019-02-15falseUS3GC06M456394262019-09-272019-10-21falseNo Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey.A charted wreck was assigned for investigation outside the survey limits of H13281 in the vicinity of 29-19-00.5397N 085-14-47.7284 was investigated but not located. Reference the Final Feature File associated with this survey for further details.No uncharted features exist for this survey.No shoals or potentially hazardous features exist for this survey.No channels exist for this survey. There are no designated anchorages, precautionary areas, safety fairways, traffic separation schemes, pilot boarding areas, or channel and range lines within the survey limits.A total of 12 bottom samples were acquired in a association with survey H13281. 7 samples were acquired within the assigned sheet limits of H13281, with an additional 5 samples collected within the sheet limits of H13159 OPR-J359-KR-2018. Reference the Final Feature File associated with this survey for further details.Shoreline was not assigned in the Hydrographic Survey Project Instructions or Statement of Work.No Aids to Navigation (ATONs) exist for this survey.No overhead features exist for this survey.No submarine features exist for this survey.No platforms exist for this survey.No ferry routes or terminals exist for this survey.No abnormal seafloor and/or environmental conditions exist for this survey.No present or planned construction or dredging exist within the survey limits.No new surveys or further investigations are recommended for this area.No new insets are recommended for this area.As Chief of Party, field operations for this hydrographic survey were conducted under my direct supervision, with frequent personal checks of progress and adequacy. I have reviewed the attached survey data and reports.All field sheets, this Descriptive Report, and all accompanying records and data are approved. All records are forwarded for final review and processing to the Processing Branch.The survey data meets or exceeds requirements as set forth in the NOS Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and Deliverables, Field Procedures Manual, Letter Instructions, and all HSD Technical Directives. These data are adequate to supersede charted data in their common areas. This survey is complete and no additional work is required with the exception of deficiencies noted in the Descriptive Report.Dean R MoylesChief of Party2020-01-17