OPR-K356-KR-22 Louisiana Approaches to Calcasieu David Evans and Associates H13644 1 Calcasieu Pass Entrance Louisiana United States 10000 2022 Jonathan L. Dasler, PE, PLS, CH Navigable Area 2022-08-11 2022-06-03 2022-06-22 Multibeam Echo Sounder Multibeam Echo Sounder Backscatter meters UTC Atlantic 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 15N, 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 Contractors) CC0-1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode These data were produced under contract with NOAA and any potential copyright was assigned to NOAA. NOAA waives any potential copyright and related rights in these data worldwide through the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0). Contractor David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA) conducted a hydrographic survey of the assigned area in the vicinity of Calcasieu Pass and Cameron, LA. Survey H13644 was conducted in accordance with the Statement of Work and Hydrographic Survey Project Instructions dated August 11, 2022. The Hydrographic Survey Project Instructions reference the National Ocean Service (NOS) Hydrographic Survey Specifications and Deliverables Manual (HSSD) (March 2022) as the technical requirements for this project. 29.700731805555556 93.3696876111111 29.566769 93.2317393888889 Survey limits were surveyed in accordance with the requirements in the Project Instructions and the HSSD. The assigned survey areas are outlined in Figure 1. OPR-K356-KR-22 Assigned Survey Areas SupportFiles\OPR-K356-KR-22_Survey_Area.png The purpose of this survey, defined in the Project Instructions, is as follows: "Since 2020, the Louisiana Coast has been hit by six hurricanes and two named tropical storms, several of which caused serious damage to the Port of Lake Charles. The Port of Lake Charles is ranked in the top 15 US ports based on annual cargo Tonnage. This cargo includes petroleum products, rice, flour, other food products, as well as a variety of bulk cargoes utilized in manufacturing (1). The proposed survey area was identified in NOAA's Hydrographic Health Model as an area of significant need, and correspondence with the Lake Charles Pilot's Association revealed a critical need for updated hydrographic data and charting products in the approaches and anchorages to the Port of Lake Charles. In addition to undiscovered hazards to navigation from hurricanes that still may exist in the survey area, new LNG terminals are proposed for the Port of Lake Charles which will benefit from updated charts of the channels and surrounding waters. This survey will provide contemporary data to update National Ocean Service (NOS) nautical charting products and services, improving the safety of maritime traffic and services available to the Port of Lake Charles by reducing the current risk that is present due to outdated bathymetry. Survey data from this project is intended to supersede all prior survey data in the common area." (1) https://www.bts.gov/content/tonnage-top-50-us-water-ports-ranked-total-tons The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. All waters in survey area Acquire backscatter data during all multibeam data acquisition (refer to HSSD Section 6.2). All waters in survey area Object Detection Coverage (refer to HSSD Section 5.2.2.2). Object Detection using 100% multibeam echosounder (MBES) coverage was obtained over the entire survey area. Backscatter was logged during all multibeam acquisition. This coverage type follows Option A of the Object Detection Coverage requirement specified in Section 5.2.2.2 of the 2022 HSSD. In all cases, the inshore limit of hydrography was the Navigable Area Limit Line (NALL) as defined in Section 1.3.2 of the HSSD; however, for this survey, the inshore limit was not encountered and the full extent of the assigned boundary was met. Survey coverage for feature disprovals followed disproval radii as depicted in the Project Reference File (PRF). Figure 2 shows the H13644 survey outline in relation to the assigned survey area. H13644 Survey Outline SupportFiles\H13644_Outline.png S/V Blake 0.0 1764.79 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 80.97 0.0 0.0 1764.79 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 80.97 0.0 4.59 0 0 0 0 30.5 2022-06-03 2022-06-04 2022-06-05 2022-06-06 2022-06-08 2022-06-09 2022-06-10 2022-06-11 2022-06-12 2022-06-13 2022-06-14 2022-06-15 2022-06-16 2022-06-17 2022-06-18 2022-06-19 2022-06-20 2022-06-21 2022-06-22 The OPR-K356-KR-22 Data Acquisition and Processing Report (DAPR), submitted with this survey, details equipment and vessel information as well as data acquisition and processing procedures. There were no vessel or equipment configurations used during data acquisition that deviated from those described in the DAPR. The S/V Blake is an 82-foot aluminum catamaran with a 27-foot beam and a draft of 4.5 feet (Figure 3). S/V Blake 82.0 4.5 S/V Blake SupportFiles\OPR-K356-KR-22_SV_Blake.jpg MBES Teledyne RESON SeaBat T50-R Positioning and Attitude System Applanix POS MV 320 v5 Sound Speed System AML Oceanographic MicroX SV Sound Speed System AML Oceanographic MVP30-350 Sound Speed System AML Oceanographic SmartX Multibeam crosslines were run across 4.59% of the entire survey area to provide a varied spatial and temporal distribution for analysis of internal consistency within the survey data. Crossline analysis was performed using the CARIS Hydrographic Information Processing System (HIPS) Quality Control (QC) Report tool, which compares crossline data to a gridded surface and reports results by beam number. Crosslines were compared to a 50-centimeter Combined Uncertainty and Bathymetry Estimator (CUBE) surface encompassing mainscheme, fill, and investigation data for the entire survey area. DEA performed an additional crossline analysis using the NOAA Pydro Compare Grids tool to analyze the differences between gridded mainscheme depths and gridded crossline depths. Input grids were 50-centimeter resolution CUBE surfaces of mainscheme and crossline depths. Results from the crossline-to-mainscheme difference analysis are depicted in Figure 4, with units represented in meters. H13644 Crossline Difference SupportFiles\H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW_XL-H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW_MS_depth_delta.png ERS via VDATUM 0.05 0.13 S/V Blake n/a 1.0 n/a 0.5 The datum separation (Zoning) uncertainty value of 13.0 centimeters used to compute Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU) listed in Table 7 corresponds to the value included in the original Project Instructions for the survey. Modifications to the task order issued after the start of survey operations, which expanded the survey area, included new Project Instructions listing a datum separation uncertainty of 12.0 centimeters. DEA received permission from the NOAA HSD Project Manager to continue to use the original value during processing for the survey. Related correspondence is included in Appendix II. The change in datum separation uncertainty resulted from a separation model revision issued during the survey and prior to the task order modification. The revised model resolved errors in the original model that were discovered by DEA and reported to NOAA. The OPR-K356-KR-22 DAPR includes more information on the model update. Additional discussion of these parameters is included in the DAPR. The S/V Blake used an AML MVP30-350 with integrated Micro SVP&T to acquire sound speed measurements. The measurement uncertainty for these sensors is listed in the Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) column in Table 8. During surface finalization in HIPS, the "Greater of the two values" option was selected, where the calculated uncertainty from Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU) is compared to the standard deviation of the soundings influencing the node, and where the greater value is assigned as the final uncertainty of the node. The uncertainty of the finalized surface increased for nodes that had a standard deviation greater than TPU. To determine if the surface grid nodes met the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Order 1a specification, a ratio of the final node uncertainty to the allowable uncertainty at that depth was determined. As a percentage, this value represents the amount of error budget utilized by the Total Vertical Uncertainty (TVU) at each node. Values greater than 100% indicate nodes exceeding the allowable IHO uncertainty. The resulting calculated TVU values of all nodes in the submitted finalized surface is shown in Figure 5. Node TVU Statistics - 50 centimeter, Finalized SupportFiles\H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW_Final.QAv6.tvu_qc.png Survey H13644 junctions with current surveys H13645, H13648, H13649, and H13650, and prior survey H11831. Figure 6 depicts H13644 and the junctioning surveys. Survey Junctions with Registry Number H13644 SupportFiles\H13644_Jxns.png H13645 10000 2022 David Evans and Associates, Inc. S At the time of writing, data from survey H13645 was still being processed. The Descriptive Report (DR) for H13645 will include the junction analysis with H13644. H13648 10000 2022 David Evans and Associates, Inc. W At the time of writing, data from survey H13648 was still being processed. The DR for H13648 will include the junction analysis with H13644. H13649 20000 2022 David Evans and Associates, Inc. E At the time of writing, data from survey H13649 was still being processed. The DR for H13649 will include the junction analysis with H13644. H13650 20000 2022 David Evans and Associates, Inc. E At the time of writing, data from survey H13650 was still being processed. The DR for H13650 will include the junction analysis with H13644. H11831 10000 2008 C&C Technologies N The mean difference between H13644 and H11831 is 2 centimeters (H13644 shoaler than H11831), shown in Figure 7. Distribution Summary Plot of Survey H13644 50-centimeter vs. H11831 2-meter SupportFiles\H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW_Final-H11831_MB__2m_combined_depth_delta.png Quality control is discussed in detail in Section B of the DAPR. Multibeam data were reviewed at multiple levels of data processing, including CARIS HIPS conversion, subset editing, and analysis of anomalies revealed in CUBE surfaces. None Exist There were no conditions or deficiencies that affected equipment operational effectiveness. Fluid Mud Fluid mud (fluff) impacted the quality of the multibeam return in data acquired in the northern end of the Calcasieu River Ship Channel. Misalignments of up to 15 centimeters were observed between some adjacent multibeam swaths in data collected in this area. Impacts to the gridded bathymetric surface were minimized due to the CUBE algorithm, but are apparent when viewing the processed sounding data or reviewing the standard deviation child layer of the bathymetric surfaces. No additional data cleaning was performed to try to improve the tie between survey lines in this area. These misalignments are well within the allowable uncertainty for the survey. Fluid mud contributed to larger disagreements between mainscheme and crossline data collected in the northern end of the Calcasieu River Ship Channel with swath-to-swath disagreements approaching 70 centimeters. Crossline data, which were acquired approximately 10 days after mainscheme survey lines, were found to be significantly deeper than mainscheme data in the bottom of the channel, but matched well along the channel slopes and in areas outside of the channel. The bottom change was likely caused by deep-draft shipping traffic stirring up the bottom. The hydrographer frequently observed sediment plumes trailing ships as they transited through this stretch of the channel, which is the shallowest portion of the channel within the survey area. To resolve the mainscheme-to-crossline disagreement, improve the crossline analysis reported in Section B.2.1, and preserve the most conservative survey depths, crossline data acquired along the bottom of the channel in this area were rejected during data processing. The NOAA HSD project manager was made aware of these issues during survey operations and approved the data processing plan. Correspondence related to this issue is included in Appendix II. Approximately 20-minute intervals For H13644 survey operations, casts were distributed both temporally and spatially based on observed changes in sound speed profiles. Sound speed readings were applied in CARIS HIPS using the "nearest in distance within time" with a two-hour interval. All sound speed profiles were acquired within 500 meters of the survey limits. During H13644 survey operations, the S/V Blake acquired the first cast of the day after starting multibeam data acquisition on June 21, 2022 (DN172). The first cast of the day was acquired within one minute of the first sonar ping of the day. Survey speeds were maintained to meet or exceed along-track sounding density requirements. Multibeam data were thoroughly reviewed for holidays and areas of poor-quality coverage due to biomass, vessel wakes, or other factors. Feature investigations were performed with multibeam sonar to obtain a least depth, meeting the survey’s coverage requirements. Survey coverage for feature disprovals was acquired inside disproval radii to meet the coverage requirement for the area. Additional discussion of coverage methods can be found in the DAPR. Density The sounding density requirement of 95% of all nodes, populated with at least five soundings per node, was verified by analyzing the density layer of the finalized surface. Surface results are stated in Figure 8. Node Density Statistics - 50 centimeter, Finalized SupportFiles\H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW_Final.QAv6.density.png Data reduction procedures for survey H13644 are detailed in the DAPR. All sounding systems were calibrated as detailed in the DAPR. Multibeam time series backscatter data (RESON 7058 normalized backscatter datagram) were logged in HYPACK 7K format and are included with the H13644 raw digital deliverables. Backscatter data were referenced to processed multibeam bathymetric data and processed in QPS FMGT. A 2-meter backscatter mosaic is included with the H13644 processed deliverables. For data management purposes, the names of multibeam crosslines have been appended with the suffix _XL. This change was made to HIPS files only. The original file names of raw data files (HYPACK HSX and 7K) have been retained. A GSF export containing the final bathymetry and backscatter with edits retains the original file names of the raw data files but with the postfix "_merged." Three areas of low backscatter intensity (raw values) were observed along the channel edge in the northern portion of the sheet. These areas coincide with depth returns from fluid mud (fluff). Applying corrections to raw intensity during backscatter processing resulted in negative values in the mosaic for these areas. The depths associated with these low intensity returns were not rejected during processing as they did not affect the final CUBE surface and were well within vertical uncertainty allowances. CARIS HIPS/SIPS 11.4.8, After DN192: 11.4.13, GSF export only: 11.4.16 beta QPS FMGT 7.10.1 NOAA Profile Version 2022 A detailed listing of all data processing software is included in the OPR-K356-KR-22 DAPR. H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW.csar CARIS Raster Surface (CUBE) 0.5 7.378 14.581 NOAA_0.5m Object Detection H13644_MB_50cm_MLLW_Final.csar Finalized CARIS Raster Surface (CUBE) 0.5 4.319 14.581 NOAA_0.5m Object Detection H13644_MBAB_2m_BL_350kHz_1of1 MB Backscatter Mosaic 2 0.0 0.0 N/A Object Detection Bathymetric grids were created relative to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) in CUBE format using Object Detection resolution requirements as specified in the HSSD. Grid resolution for the backscatter mosaic was determined by the HSSD frequency-dependent resolution requirement. A summary of the horizontal and vertical control for survey H13644 follows. Mean Lower Low Water ERS via VDATUM OPR-K356_KR-22_VDatum+_NAD83(2011)-MLLW_Geoid09.csar GPS tides for seven lines acquired on June 19, 2022, (DN170) were interpolated to smooth through GPS height errors present in the Real Time Extended (RTX) Smoothed Best Estimate of Trajectory (SBET) solution. TPU was computed for these lines using the a priori uncertainty stored in the vessel file rather than using the post-processed uncertainty associated with the SBET. This is applicable to the following lines: 2022BL1700234 2022BL1700419 2022BL1701022 2022BL1701045 2022BL1700845 2022BL1702056 2022BL1702255 North American Datum 1983 (2011) Projected UTM 15 RTX The separation model listed in Table 13 was provided with the Project Instructions and used for sounding correction within the assigned survey area. Real-time navigation for all MBES survey lines were overwritten with post-processed navigation solutions in SBET format. Additional discussion on post-processing methods and survey control is included in the DAPR. The chart comparison was performed by comparing H13644 survey depths to a digital surface generated from the Band 5 electronic navigational chart (ENC) covering the survey area. A 5-meter product surface was generated from a triangular irregular network (TIN) created from the ENC’s soundings, depth contours, and depth features. An additional 5-meter HIPS product surface was generated from the survey's 50-centimeter CUBE surface. The chart comparison was conducted by creating and reviewing a difference surface using the ENC surface and survey surface as inputs. The chart comparison also included a review of all assigned charted features within the survey area. The results of the comparison are detailed below. The chart used during the comparison was reviewed to check that all United States Coast Guard (USCG) Local Notice to Mariners issued during survey acquisition, and impacting the survey area, were applied and addressed by this survey. The ENC used in the chart comparison is listed in Table 14. Figure 9 shows the magnitude of differences along the comparison area. Depth Difference between H13644 and US5LA16M SupportFiles\H44-US5_Chart_Comp.png US5LA16M 50000 19 2022-05-09 2022-07-01 Two Danger to Navigation (DtoN) reports were submitted for this survey: - H13644 DtoN 01, submitted June 6, 2022, reported an uncharted obstruction located within Pilot Boarding Area 1. - H13644 DtoN 02, submitted June 20, 2022, reported an uncharted obstruction located approximately 25 meters west of the Calcasieu Bar Channel. The DtoNs have been added to the ENCs using preliminary survey data. The hydrographer recommends updating the charts to depict the DtoN as portrayed in the Final Feature File (FFF). All assigned features included in the project Composite Source File (CSF) have been addressed by the survey and are included in the FFF. All disproved features have been included in the FFF with a description of "Delete." All new features have been included in the FFF with the surveyed feature depicted and a description of "New." All uncharted features are portrayed in the FFF as surveyed and attributed with the description of "New." Refer to the FFF for additional information. The Calcasieu River Ship Channel passes through the survey area. A channel report was submitted to the NOAA HSD project manager on July 27, 2022 reporting surveyed depths that were found to be shoaler than charted controlling depths. A copy of this report and associated correspondence are included in Appendix II. There are no charted precautionary areas or traffic separation schemes within the survey limits. Pilot Boarding Areas 1 and 2 are located at the northern and southern ends of the survey area, respectively, along the Calcasieu River Ship Channel. The survey area encompasses portions of the Calcasieu Pass Safety Fairway and Aransas Pass to Calcasieu Pass Safety Fairway (33 CFR 166.200). The hydrographer recommends encoding the name of safety fairways in the ENCs. Safety fairways are included in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). All Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) charted within the survey area were found to be on-station and serving their intended purpose. No Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey. No bottom samples were required for this survey. No overhead features exist for this survey. There are five submerged pipelines charted in the survey area. One section of exposed pipeline was reported to Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on July 20, 2022. Correspondence related to this reporting is included in Appendix II. The CSF included one offshore platform point feature, which is addressed in the FFF. No ferry routes or terminals exist for this survey. Fluid mud (fluff) was encountered within the Calcasieu River Ship Channel during survey operations. Impacts to multibeam data are discussed in Section B.2.6. The United Stated Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) routinely encounters fluff during their single beam surveys of the federal channel and mitigates impacts to data by acquiring dual-frequency single beam echosounder data. Low-frequency data are used for bottom detection, and-high frequency data are used to map the presence and thickness of a fluff layer. No construction or dredging activities were observed during survey operations. 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 and Specifications 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. Jonathan L. Dasler, PE, PLS, CH NSPS-THSOA Certified Hydrographer, Chief of Party 2022-11-18 Jason Creech, CH NSPS-THSOA Certified Hydrographer, Charting Manager / Project Manager 2022-11-18 James Guilford IHO Cat-A Hydrographer, Lead Hydrographer 2022-11-18 Jason Dorfman Lead Hydrographer 2022-11-18 Sam Werner Data Processing Manager 2022-11-18 Data Acquisition and Processing Report 2022-11-18