S-Z934-NRTST-23 Duluth Western Lake Superior NOAA NRT-Galveston H13807 1 NA Duluth, MN and Superior, WI Minnesota United States 10000 2023 Dan Jacobs Navigable Area 2023-07-06 2023-08-18 2023-09-10 Multibeam Echo Sounder 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 15N, IGLD. 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 The Port of Duluth is located at the westernmost tip of Lake Superior and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. 46.79085713888889 92.09293022222222 46.688834888888884 91.85339847222221 Assigned Survey Area, H13807. file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Survey_Area_Birdseys_from_PI.jpg Project time constraints (30 days, allotted) precluded NRTST Boat Team personnel from finishing the survey sheet H13807. The Port of Duluth is located at the westernmost tip of Lake Superior and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. Duluth provides significant economic and social value to this region. The U.S Army Corps of Engineers surveys and maintains the navigable waterways inside the breakwater, but the area just outside the breakwater also has significant vessel traffic and accurate updated charts are required. Two Harbors, MN supports the shipment of taconite by vessel and is also an area in need of updated bathymetric data. The data from this project will help support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s habitat mapping program. It will also be used to update NOAA National Ocean Service products, the navigational chart and hydro health model in this area. Survey data from this project is intended to supersede all prior survey data in the common area. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. Flier Finder was invoked via QC3 Tools of Pydro Explorer v22.1 (r10883). Note that 174 fliers still exist, mostly over the charted wreck near Duluth Harbor. These fliers are most likely legitimate soundings of railings and rigging atop the wreck. Edge fliers exist on the edges of coverage where 6 iterations of flier edits occurred. The edge fliers will continue regenerating into good coverage at this phase of cleaning. Least depths were designated over steep seabed features. NRT personnel believe they have cleaned the fliers as best as practical. QC3 Tools of Pydro Explorer v22.1 Holiday Finder discovered 2 holidays on the nearshore boundaries of coverage. Please reference the Supplemental Records folder for these Pydro-generated outputs. Two holidays exist (red numbers) file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/2_Holidays_exist.jpg H13807 Object Detection MBES coverage to the project's sheet limits were not achieved due to a 30 day project time limit. H13807 Survey Coverage (rainbow) vs Assigned Sheet Limits (black dashed polygon) file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Area_Surveyed_and_ENC.jpg H13807 Survey Coverage (rainbow) vs Assigned Sheet Limits (black dashed polygon) file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Area_Surveyed_and_ENC.jpg S3008 0.0 502.582 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 26.832 0.0 502.582 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 26.832 0.0 5.34 0 0 0 0 7.29 2023-08-18 2023-09-10 H13807 survey operations commenced on DN230 and concluded on DN253. Thirty days of travel were allotted for this project which included 6 days of travel from/to Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. 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 NRT Vessel file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/NRT4_Vessel.JPG NRT Vessels are 30 foot, aluminum hulled fire boats modified for NOAA hydrographic survey operations. S3005 and S3008 are 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 Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor SonTek CastAway-CTD Kongsberg EM2040C MBES used aboard S3008 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Kongsberg_EM2040C.png Edgetech 4125 Side Scan used aboard S3008 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Edgetech_4125_2.jpg Castaway Sound Speed Sensor used aboard S3008 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/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 5.3 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 a 99 percent pass rate implementing the Grid QA v6 utility in QC Tools v.3.10.6. See graphics, below. MS vs XL Surface Comparison file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/NRTS_S3008_EM2040C_MBES_2023_MS_50cm-NRTS_S3008_EM2040C_MBES_2023_XL_50cm_fracAllowErr_Freq.png TVU Pass in Grid QA file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/H13807_MB_50cm_IGLD.GQv6.tvu_qc.png Node Density Pass in Grid QA file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/H13807_MB_50cm_IGLD.GQv6.density.png ERS via VDATUM 0.04 0.04 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. No Junctions were prescribed per Project Instructions. Sonar system quality control checks were conducted as detailed in the quality control section of the DAPR. Vessel Hull Design is Noisy Bubble sweep artifacts did contribute to noisy MBES data on the outer beams of S3008. Hull design modifications are being investigated by NRB/HSTB to mitigate the issue. Noisy Hull Design, 2-3FT seas file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Noisy_Hull_Design.jpg None Exist There were no other factors that affected corrections to soundings. Sound Speed Cast Frequency: Sound Speed Cast Frequency: 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 data reduction procedures conform to those detailed in the DAPR included in the Project Folder. 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. Applanix POSPac 8.9 CARIS HIPS and SIPS 11.4.25 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 H13807_MB_50cm_IGLD CARIS Raster Surface (CUBE) 0.5 3.06 22.76 NOAA_0.5m Object Detection H13807_MB_50cm_IGLD_Final CARIS Raster Surface (CUBE) 0.5 3.06 22.76 NOAA_0.5m Object Detection H13807 is an Object Detection Coverage 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 50 centimeter MBES Surface and a 50 centimeter Finalized Surface. Additional information discussing the vertical or horizontal control for this survey can be found in the accompanying HVCR. Low Water Datum 601.1 ft IGLD-1985 Lake Superior ERS via VDATUM S-Z934_VDatum_100m_NAD83_2011-LWD_IGLD85_geoid18 The vertical datum for this project is IGLD85. North American Datum 1983 Projected UTM 15 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 horizontal datum for this project is North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). The projection used for this project is Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 15N. Horizontal and vertical positioning were achieved in accordance with practices outlined in the DAPR. Processing and products for Survey H13807 were conducted and completed in NAD 83 per HSSD specification. Refer to the DAPR for a complete description of horizontal control procedures. RTX Precise Positioning-Real Time Extended (PP-RTX) processing methods were used in Applanix POSPac MMS software to produce Smoothed Best Estimate of Trajectory (SBET) files and their associated uncertainty for post-processing horizontal correction. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) was used for real-time horizontal control during data acquisition. A chart comparison for US4WI1PB was performed with Pydro's CA Tool. The S57 sounding layer and comprehensive 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 H13807. A deepening trend is occurring in the nearshore areas of H13807 where survey soundings deviated by 0.20-1.50 meters. See graphics below for specific information. Although 35 DtoN candidates were flagged, none were deemed dangerous due to commercial ship drafts of 10.2 meters or less. H13807 Soundings (orange color) deviating from US4WI1PB Soundings (back color). file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/CA_Compare_Discrepancy_Areas.jpg H13807 DtoN Candidates (red color) vs US4WI1PB Soundings (back color). file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/CA_Compare_Possible_Dtons.jpg US4WI1PB contours vs H13807 contours_5 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_5.jpg US4WI1PB contours vs H13807 contours_4 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_4.jpg US4WI1PB contours vs H13807 contours_3 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_3.jpg US4WI1PB contours vs H13807 contours_2 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_2.jpg US4WI1PB contours vs H13807 contours_1 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_1.jpg US5WI11M contours vs H13807 contours_1 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_6.jpg US5WI11M contours vs H13807 contours_2 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_7.jpg US5WI11M contours vs H13807 contours_3 file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Contours_8.jpg US4WI1PB 80000 4 2022-12-08 2022-12-08 US5WI11M 15000 32 2023-08-16 2023-08-16 No shoals or potentially hazardous features exist for this survey. See Final Features File for Assigned/Charted/Investigated Features. No uncharted features exist for this survey. No channels exist within the survey limits. No Aids to navigation (ATONs) exist for this survey. No Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey. No bottom samples were required for this survey. No overhead features exist for this survey. A charted pipeline (drinking water) appears to be incorrectly positioned 216 meters west of its surveyed location. A faint trace of the pipeline is evident in object detection MBES coverage. Charted (US4WI1PB) Drinking Water Pipeline file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Charted%20Pipe%20overview.jpg Charted (US4WI1PB) Pipeline vs H13807 Coverage. file:///M:/SZ934NRTST23/Surveys/H13807/01_HDR/Working/DR/Field/SupportFiles/SupportFiles/Pipeline_readjust.jpg 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. Note 174 fliers still exist, mostly over the charted wreck near Duluth Harbor. These fliers are most likely legitimate soundings of railings and rigging atop the wreck. Other edge fliers exist on the edges of coverage where 6 iterations of flier edits occurred. The edge fliers will keep regenerating into good coverage. Least depths were designated over steep seabed features. NRT - Stennis personnel believe they have cleaned the fliers as best as possible. Dan Jacobs Chief of Party 2023-12-13 Brennan Perkins Sheet Manager 2023-12-13