OPR-J315-NRTST-23 Mississippi Sound ICW Bay St. Louis, MS - Mississippi Sound NOAA NRT-Stennis H13540 1 Intracoastal Waterway Dog Keys Pass to Waveland Mississippi United States 20000 2023 Dan Jacobs Navigable Area 2023-07-13 2023-07-13 2023-11-06 Multibeam Echo Sounder Side Scan Sonar Multibeam Echo Sounder Backscatter meters UTC Pacific Hydrographic Branch Any 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. CC0-1.0 (NOAA Field Units) CC0-1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode These data were produced by NOAA and are in the public domain within the United States. NOAA waives any potential copyright and related rights in these data worldwide through the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0). NOAA Mississippi Sound, MS at the North Section of Merrill Coquille to St Joe Pass. 30.242840944444445 89.40936361111112 30.176208666666668 89.25537825 North Section of Merrill Coquille to St Joe Pass. OPR-J315-NRTST-23, H13540 SupportFiles\H13540_Sheet.png H13540 Complete MBES Coverage, ENC US5LA36M and US5MS11M SupportFiles\H13540_MBES_Coverage_Grapic.jpg H13540 Complete SSS Coverage, ENC US5LA36M and US5MS11M SupportFiles\H13540_SSS_Coverage_Grapic.jpg H13540 UCF SSS 200 Percent Coverage 1 of 2 SupportFiles\H13540_UCF_1of2.jpg H13540 UCF SSS 200 Percent Coverage 2 of 2 SupportFiles\H13540_UCF_2of2.jpg The Intercostal Waterway (ICW) in the Mississippi Sound, between Cat Island and St Joe Pass, is in need of modern hydrographic survey to update the nautical charts in the area. NRTST is assigned to investigate 95 charted discrepancy features in the Mississippi Sound by confirming or disproving these assigned features. The area has been affect by storms recently and may potentially changed the seafloor. This project has been split into 5 different sheets. This DR is only for H13540. Survey data from this project is intended to supersede all prior survey data in the common area. Two (2) UCFs were also assigned within the bounds of H13540 where 200 percent SSS occurred to meet NOAA specifications. Current Sheet / Survey is H13540 SupportFiles\H13540_Sheet.png The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. 0-20 meters Complete Coverage; MBES soundings concurrent with 100 percent Side Scan Coverage. Survey coverage was in accordance with the requirements listed above and in the HSSD. H13540 Complete MBES Coverage, ENC US5LA36M and US5MS11M SupportFiles\H13540_MBES_Coverage_Grapic.jpg H13540 Complete SSS Coverage, ENC US5LA36M and US5MS11M SupportFiles\H13540_SSS_Coverage_Grapic.jpg S3008 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 290.557 0.0 17.888 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 290.557 0.0 17.888 0.0 6.16 4 0 0 0 12.289 2023-07-13 2023-07-18 2023-07-20 2023-07-25 2023-07-26 2023-07-31 2023-08-01 2023-08-02 2023-08-03 2023-08-04 2023-10-30 2023-11-06 Survey Day Number(s): 194 - 310 This project was started after our Texas project. We took a hiatus from this project to go to Duluth (S-Z934-NRTST-23) after getting our trailer was back from the repair shop. [The reasoning for the long gap between day numbers]. Visual Cross Line Statistics SupportFiles\XL_CALC.JPG Refer 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. S3008 10.0 0.5 S3008 SupportFiles\NRT4_Vessel.JPG NRT Vessels are 30 foot, aluminum hulled fire boats modified for NOAA hydrographic survey operations. S3008 is powered by dual 225 horsepower Honda outboard engines. A Honda 3000 watt generator supplies AC power for two workstations, 5 monitors, one POS system, one multibeam echosounder system, and one side scan sonar system. MBES Kongsberg Maritime EM 2040C SSS EdgeTech 4125 Positioning and Attitude System Applanix POS MV 320 v5 Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor SonTek CastAway-CTD Kongsberg EM2040C Multibeam \SupportFiles\Kongsberg_EM2040C.png EdgeTech Side Scan Sonar SupportFiles\Edgetech_4125_2.jpg Applanix POS MV5 SupportFiles\Pos_MV.jpg Castaway Sound Speed Sensor SupportFiles\SonTek_CastAway.jpeg Please reference NRT-Stennis (S3005) and (S3008) DAPRs, accompanying this project for a complete listing of equipment and specifications. Note that S3005 was not used for this project. A crossline percentage of 6.16 percent met the minimum percentage requirements as specified in the HSSD,Section 5.2.4.2. Uncertainty standards between a 1m Mainscheme grid versus a 1m Crossline grid passed NOAA IHO TVU requirements. See graphic below. Surface Node Uncertainty Standards and Surface Node Density Standards (HSSD 5.2.2.2) were achieved at 95 percent level or higher implementing Grid QA v6 utility in QC Tools v.3.10.6. See graphics, below. Mainscheme vs XLs - Pass in Grid QA SupportFiles\H13540_Mainsceme_1m_MLLW-H13540_Crosslines_1m_MLLW_fracAllowErr_Freq.png Uncertainty Standards - Pass in Grid QA SupportFiles\H13540_MB_1m_MLLW.GQv6.tvu_qc.png Node Density - Pass in Grid QA SupportFiles\H13540_MB_1m_MLLW.GQv6.density.png ERS via VDATUM 17.1 17.1 S3008 4 0 0 0.2 Per HSSD, Section 5.2.3.3 the above sound speed uncertainty values were implemented and lie within conservative range estimates. MLLW V Datum Model Separation Uncertainty was taken from OPR-J315-NRTST-23 Project Instructions. No junctions assigned to this project intersected Sheet H13540. Sonar system quality control checks were conducted as detailed in the quality control section of the DAPR. Noisy edge fliers Noisy edge fliers (Bubble-Sweep artifacts) were evident in much of the MBES coverage. A hull design modification is being explored for S3008. The noise is most pronounced when sea direction is athwartships and waves are 2 feet or higher. 30,000 fliers - mostly edge fliers - were identified and cleaned invoking the Flier Finder Pydro Tool. Several side scan lines over the eastern UCF were discarded on DN303 and reacquired on DN310. Noisy MBES Edge Fliers SupportFiles\Noisy_Hull_Design.jpg SSS Lines Deleted on DN303 - Too noisy SupportFiles\DN303_SSS_Lines_Deleted.jpg Some fish and/or marine mammals were seen moving about in the multibeam's profile view and side scan. Some large fish and/or marine mammals were seen moving about in the multi beam's profile view and side scan, particularly on 13JUL2023 and occasionally (once or twice) on most other days. The MBES Cube Surface did not honor any of the interference. Fish or Marine Mammals evident in SSS imagery. SupportFiles\Fish_or_Marine_Mammals_DN194_Line_1928.jpg Sound speed cast frequency for H13807 was not less than one cast per every four hours of survey. Cast frequency met or exceeded 1 cast per every 4 hours of survey. All equipment and survey methods were used as detailed in the DAPR. All sounding systems were calibrated as detailed in the DAPR. All sounding systems were calibrated as detailed in the DAPR. Backscatter data was processed using FMGT and Caris softwares - a departure from standard backscatter processing using only CARIS. The new SOP is included in the DAPR's Appendices Folder. CARIS HIPS and SIPS 11.4.25 NOAA Pydro 22.1 Applanix POSPac 8.9 CARIS HIPS and SIPS 11.4.25 NOAA Profile Version 2023 NOAA Profile Version 2023 was utilized by the Caris Object Catalogue, Caris HIPS and SIPS, version 11.4.25. H13540_MB_1m_MLLW CARIS Raster Surface (CUBE) 1 1.99 5.72 NOAA_1m Complete MBES H13540_MB_1m_MLLW_Final CARIS Raster Surface (CUBE) 1 1.99 5.72 NOAA_1m Complete MBES H13540_SSSAB_1m_400kHz_1of2 SSS Mosaic 1 1.0 20.0 NOAA_1m 100% SSS H13540_SSSAB_1m_400kHz_2of2 SSS Mosaic 1.0 20.0 NOAA_1m 200% SSS H13540_MBAB_2m_S3008_300kHz_1of1 MB Backscatter Mosaic 1.99 5.72 NOAA_2m Complete MBES H13540 is a Complete MBES/SSS survey per the Project Instructions and conform to the coverage requirements cited in the 2022 HSSD, Section 5.2.2.2. The project consists of a 1 meter MBES Surface, a 1 meter Finalized surface, a 100 percent (1 meter) Side Scan Mosaic and a 200 percent (1 meter) Side Scan Mosaic. (NOTE: The 200 percent Side Scan Mosaic satisfies the object detection coverage requirement for the 4 assigned UCFs per Project Instructions.) Additional information discussing the vertical or horizontal control for this survey can be found in the accompanying HVCR. Mean Lower Low Water ERS via VDATUM OPR-J315-NRTST-22_VDatum_100m_NAD83-MLLW_geoid12b The vertical datum file for this project reduces all measurements to MLLW using the Ellipsoid to Chart Datum Separation File "OPR-J315-NRTST-22_VDatum_100m_NAD83-MLLW_geoid12b." North American Datum 1983 Projected UTM 16 Trimble CenterPoint RTX is the preferred method where horizontal accuracies of 2cm or less may be achieved without the use of reference stations. CenterPoint RTX service was accessed via an internet connection within one hour after field operations had concluded. Applanix POSPac MMS 8.8 software was used to access Trimble RTX servers to produce a Smoothed Best Estimate of Trajectory (SBET) file implementing the Applanix proprietary "SmartBase" algorithm. The SBET file consisted of GPS position and attitude data corrected and integrated with inertial measurements and correctors which were then exported to the reference ellipsoid. These SBET navigation and attitude files were applied to all lines in CARIS and supersede initial positioning and attitude data. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) was used for real-time horizontal control during data acquisition. A chart comparison for US5MS11M and US5LA36M was performed with Pydro's CA Tool. The S57 sounding layer and results for this comparison can be found in the Supplemental Records folder of the Descriptive Report. Additionally, a comparison between Charted and Surveyed contours occurred for H13540. A deepening trend is occurring in the central areas of H13540 where survey soundings deviated by 0.20-0.80 meters. See graphics below for specific information. Although 35 DtoN candidates were flagged in the Louisiana section, none were deemed dangerous based on their proximity to an adjacent spoil area outside of the barge channel. US5LA36M 3.6m contour (yellow) vs H13540 Soundings (blue) SupportFiles\US5LA36M_3.6m_Contour.jpg US5MS11M 3.6m contour (yellow) vs H13540 Soundings (blue) SupportFiles\US5MS11M_3.6M_Contour.jpg US5MS11M 1.8m contour (yellow) vs H13540 Soundings (blue) SupportFiles\US5MS11M_1.8M_Contour.jpg US5LA36M Chart Comparison Tool Output Graphic SupportFiles\Chart_Comparison_1.png US5MS11M Chart Comparison Tool Output Graphic SupportFiles\Chart_Comparison_2.png DTON Candidates in Pydro CA deemed Non-dangerous. SupportFiles\Pydro_CA_NOT_DTONS.jpg US5MS11M 40000 67 2023-10-27 2023-10-27 US5LA36M 40000 55 2023-08-31 2023-08-31 No shoals or potentially hazardous features exist for this survey. Charted features exist for this survey, but were not investigated. No uncharted features exist for this survey. The Grand Island Channel (US5LA36M) bisects H13540's lower western corner. The US Coast Pilot 5, Chapter 12 dated 17MAR2024 notes the natural depths exceeding 12 feet in this area. No survey depths were found to be shoaler than 12 feet. The Grand Island Channel (US5LA36M) and H13540 1m Surface SupportFiles\H13540_Channel.jpg All ATON(s) are serving intended purpose. No Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey. Four (4) Bottom Samples where collected. In addition to the samples, we acquired multi beam over the sample location. This way the back scatter mosaic will have decibel (db) readings over where the sample what taken. Sample One (1 of 4): SupportFiles\H13540_SBDARE_1587121.jpg Sample Two (2 of 4): SupportFiles\H13540_SBDARE_1587122.jpg Sample Three (3 of 4): SupportFiles\H13540_SBDARE_1587123.jpg Sample Four (4 of 4) : SupportFiles\H13540_SBDARE_1587124.jpg 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 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 ENC scales 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. Dan Jacobs Chief of Party 2024-03-27 Brennan Perkins, CWP Sheet Manager 2024-03-27