Investigations

East Water Way (EWW), U.S. Coast Guard Station – Derelict Pier and Bottom Debris Removal Pre-Survey for Puget Sound Initiative

What: The Superfund Environmental Cleanup Office requested assistance from the EPA Region 10 Dive Team to assist in a survey of debris within the Duwamish East Waterway, which is part of the Harbor Island Superfund Site.

Why: Diver survey objectives were to: 1) inspect under the docks and nearby for debris and broken pilings, 2) look for an obvious signs of gross contamination, and 3) habitat potential. Removal of the pilings is part of a broader effort to restore Puget Sound by removing creosote from the ocean environment.

Where: East Water Way (EWW), U.S. Coast Guard Station – Derelict Pier and Bottom Debris Removal-
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Longitude/Latitude: N122.342623 W47.589088

When: Dive surveys were conducted on March 19, 2008.

How: Activities included 4 dives to record video and take still photos of the bottom, dock, broken pilings, and other debris.

Results: Divers found that nearshore, the bottom debris was covered in algae. Not many invertebrates were noted – a few star fish and crab, including Pisaster brevispinus - spiny pink star; Pycnopodia helianthoides - sun star, Cancer productus – rock crab, and kelp crab. A ling cod was also seen and captured on video. No clam siphons and no old shells were seen. The only growths on the pilings were mussels and barnacles in the upper intertidal level and a small amount of macroalgae. Many broken pilings were found and noted on the video. Several pilings were found to be laying on the bottom, downslope from the docks. A complete set of videos and photographs were provided to the Superfund project manager and Washington DNR for use in planning dock and debris removal as part of the Puget Sound Initiative.

More Details: See the EPA Harbor Island Superfund Site web page

Contact: Rob Pedersen (206) 553-1646, Pedersen.rob@epa.gov

View facing east of a recreational shore access area, just south of the south dock structure.	Multiple pilings that have broken off the dock and rolled down the slope east toward the channel.	Photo of concrete piling in the South dock area.
Photo of piling which has broken off and fallen into the remaining dock structure.	Close up view of a piling, broken off near the bottom.	Aerial view of the project area and approximate diver coverage of the bottom.

Columbia River Drum Site Assessment; Portland, OR

What: The Superfund Environmental Cleanup Office/Site Assessment Unit requested assistance from the EPA Region 10 Dive Team to collect samples for characterization of a drum dump site in the Columbia River.

Why: Diver survey objectives were to: 1) map out the area of drums on the river bottom and 2) collect core samples in and around the drums to determine their impact on the River relative to background chemical concentrations.

Where: Columbia River, south channel between Lemon Island and Marine Drive (near the Portland Airport).

When: Dive surveys were conducted April 24-26, 2007.

How: Due to river currents, divers were tethered and in constant communication with dive tenders. Divers swept an ‘arc’ search pattern behind the boat up to 50 meters downstream, and worked their way back to the dive platform. Divers took approximately 20 core samples as they encountered drums on the bottom.

Results: Divers found that the river bottom was covered with debris, likely rolled into the river off Marine Drive. More than two dozen drums/drum parts were encountered, all in an advanced state of deterioration. Many drums had holes in them, and appeared to be filled with sand and silt. Sample results may be found in the site investigation report - December 7, 2007 (PDF) (270 pp. 10.6MB).

Contact: Rob Pedersen (206) 553-1646, Pedersen.rob@epa.gov

Aerial photo of drum field.	Divemaster Sean Sheldrake dons diver Rob Pedersen’s AGA full face mask in preparation for drum sampling.	Diver preparing to enter the water with core tubes and caps in a ‘goody bag’
Tender/standby diver Tim Siwiec pulls the diver back towards the boat to continue the search pattern.	The diver is under constant tether tension to maintain their position in the water; for example during searching or taking a sample.

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Pasley Breakwater Survey; Newport, OR

What: The Superfund Environmental Cleanup Office/Brownfields Unit requested assistance from the EPA Region 10 Dive Team to assist in a Brownfields Site Assessment with the Port of Newport.

Why: Diver survey objectives were to: 1) inspect under the breakwater for locations where erosion is occurring under the keel, 2) install sediment stakes to monitor under hull erosion over time, 3) look for any releases of oil or contaminants, and 4) inspect the hull/breakwater for features such as blast holes, scour holes.

Where: Yaquina Bay, Newport, OR.

When: Dive surveys were conducted on November 20, 2006.

How: Activities included 5 dives to install 6 sediment stakes (marked on the top rail) and 5 hull transects (vertical).

Results: Divers found that the main feature in the areas surveyed was a large crack that extends from the surface to the bottom, up to 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep (into the vessel). Rebar is exposed from the surface to the bottom. Scouring is taking place under the ship in all areas inspected, but due to low visibility, it was not possible to determine if sediment is being eroded from under the keel in places.

More Details: R10 Dive Team video of hull survey

(1:07 Minutes, Total Files Size 11.3MB, Quicktime format)
"They Went That-Away" , Newport News Times, November 24, 2006

Contact: Sean Sheldrake (206) 553-1220, Sheldrake.sean@epa.gov

Diver Rob Rau preparing to map the Pasley Hull talking with Chris Mochun-Collura of the ORD Newport Dive Team. Pasley on right, Highway 101 bridge in the background.

Diver Rob Rau with chest harness on for currents sweeping across the breakwater. Pasley breakwater visible at left.

Large crack on the Pasley. Divers found this crack expands and continues to the bottom, exposing rebar and extending inward several feet into the ship. The Pasley is gradually disintegrating from currents and wave action.

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Columbia Shuttle Recovery Winter-Spring 2003

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team was called upon by the EPA Region 7 dive team for assistance with in-water recovery of parts of the Columbia Space Shuttle, which disintegrated upon re-entry on Saturday, February 1, 2003. Also involved under the overall direction of the U.S. Navy were divers from EPA’s Environmental Response Team, EPA Region 3, FBI, and Texas police search and recovery teams. All diving operations were conducted to support a FEMA request.

Why: Divers were called upon to dive areas suspected of having shuttle debris as determined by sonar search previous to each day of diving. EPA divers have special expertise needed for the many hazardous materials that could be encountered and for the low-visibility diving environment.

Where: Toledo-Bend Reservoir, near Jasper, Texas on the Texas/Louisiana State border.

When: Diving was conducted starting immediately after the accident, and continued for several months.

How: Divers on tether and in constant communication with the surface were directed in search patterns around a DGPS buoy marked “target.” Divers searched the bottom in low or zero visibility conditions by sweeping the bottom with legs and arms to locate any suspicious objects. The reservoir contains a submerged forest, so divers had to beware of the constant threat of entanglement with trees, horizontal logs, and stumps.

More Details:

http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,78993,00.html

Contact: Sean Sheldrake at sheldrake.sean@epa.gov


Joe Davis/Divemaster/R7 and Steven Donohue/Working Diver/R3 prepare Sean Sheldrake to enter water and test surface to diver communication.	Tenders Bruce Duncan and Joe Goulet assist Lisa Macchio/Working Diver preparing to submerge.

Region 10 divers assisted in the search at the Toledo-Bend Reservoir at the end of the debris track in East Texas.	Dan Cooke/ERT prepares Rob Pedersen/UDO/Divemaster/R10 to enter water on surface supplied air.

Later into the project, sonar was used aboard each dive platform to assist the diver search around each "target."	Underwater profile view of a diver searching in shallow water.

The live sonar readout allowed tracking of the diver and selection of targets to search.	Bruce Duncan, Alternate UDO/Divemaster/R10 prepares to submerge using a helmet to protect his head against tree stumps encountered on the bottom.

Video of Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery (King 5 News)

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Dive Surveys of Contaminated Sediment Capping
Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team assisted the Superfund program by 1) installing and checking sediment traps equipment to monitor the success of placing a layer of clean riverine sediments over contaminated sediments (largely creosote), 2) conducting surveys during and after capping contaminated sediments, and 3) placing and monitoring “no anchor buoys” to ensure ongoing protection of the cap. Click here for more information regarding the Superfund program.

Why: Diver survey objectives were 1) assess the nature of the cap during and after capping including evidence of recontamination, 2) evaluate recovery by benthic macrofauna and algae after cap placement, 3) assess movement of cap sediments (due to resuspension), and 4) maintain “no anchor zone” buoys as they are an important institutional control for the sediment cap.

Where: Eagle Harbor near Bainbridge, Washington. Eastern end of the harbor, between the ferry terminal and the green channel buoy.

When: The caps were placed in several phases through 2001. Dive surveys were conducted several times during and after placement. Diver surveys continue in support of EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) work to study long-term cap effectiveness in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Work on “no anchor zone” buoys has taken place in 2006 and 2007.

How: Diver investigations included photographing and videotaping biota and sediment type along transects; measuring cap thickness atop settlement plates; measuring any increases in sedimentation in a nearby marina, and surveys of nearby eelgrass beds. Divers also helped place and retrieve sediment traps. Using handtools, divers also install and monitor “no anchor zone” buoys.

Equipment Used: Support vessel with GPS; transect lines; scooters, sediment traps, Nikonos V camera, video camera, transect quadrats.

Results: The cap was smooth in the south part of the harbor and “hummocky” in the north. A lot of woody debris was present. Creosote "marbles" were observed in the south on two occasions (see pictures below). Some settlement plates were lost (tipped over, broken, dragged, buried). Divers could feel the difference in substrate type (sand placed over mud). Recovery by macrofauna was rapid. Anemones pulled up through the cap and crab, flatfish, and drift algae were common. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in samples from the sediment traps (see photo below) at times. Only minor accumulations of sediment occurred around stakes in a nearby marina. Nearby eelgrass beds were probably not affected. A survey was conducted in December, 2003 of areas that formerly seeped or pooled creosote (Area 4 within figure below) which was capped in 2000-2001. Life on the cap included various types of anenomes including the frilled anenome (Metridium senile), seastars including the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) sea lettuce (Ulva), unidentified bivalves, unidentified tube worms, and sporadic eel grass (Zostera marina). Several fish including unidentified sole, ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei), and other unidentified small fish were seen on the bottom or above the cap in addition to various crab- including dungeness (Cancer magister). “No anchor zone” buoys were placed in 2006 and replaced in 2007.

More Details: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/webpage/Wyckoff-Eagle+Harbor

Read more on ORD work with Region 10 (23 pp, 2 MB pdf) to study long-term cap effectiveness; 2006 status (25 pp, 3 MB pdf).


Diver removing lines used to lower sediment trap.	Creosote "marbles" on the Harbor bottom.	Map of Eagle Harbor cleanup site	Sediment stakes used to track sediment movement.

Sediment cap being placed	Diver placing sediment trap.	Sea Lettuce on Harbor bottom

Video: Creosote marbles and pools on the bottom of Eagle Harbor
(2 minutes, Total file size: 18 MB, Quicktime format)

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Wyckoff Pre-capping Debris Survey; Bainbridge Island, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team conducted a survey technique for underwater digital photography integrated with GPS location data as part of a pre-capping debris survey for the EPA Superfund cleanup program, Bainbridge Island, WA.

Why: Debris locations, photos, and video footage were necessary to inform bidding contractors of the size and location of debris, should some require removal, or additional overcapping allowance for cap placement at this Superfund Site.

Where: Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, WA.

When: March 2007

How: A survey procedure was conducted where a two person dive team surveys the underwater environment in search of submerged debris by documenting the seafloor with digital photos at debris locations along a contour of the shore covering approximately one thousand feet per transect. An inexpensive recreational Global Positioning System (GPS) device is towed in a raft directly above the divers which records positions throughout the dive. Commercial software is later used to relate the GPS information to the digital photos resulting in geo-located digital photos that can be viewed on a map or Geographic Information System (GIS) for later analysis of the seafloor environment.

Equipment Used: EPA Vessel Monitor, GPS device attached to diver-towed GPS raft, Underwater Digital Camera (Sony HC1 video camera, using still photo capability while simultaneously recording bottom video), GIS software & Laptop.

Results: Geo-located photo documentation of the underwater shoreline environment.

More Details: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/webpage/Wyckoff-Eagle+Harbor

Contact: Chad Schulze, schulze.chad@epa.gov, Tim Siwiec, siwiec.tim@epa.gov


		Debris found on the seafloor in area to be capped.

Location of Submerged Objects Map (1 pg. 3.88MB, About PDF)

Video: Pre-capping debris survey, March 8, 2007 (20 minutes, 158 MB, Quicktime format)

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Criminal Investigation of Illegal Harvesting of a Submerged
Old Growth Forest in Lake Washington

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team collected evidence and provided documentation to criminal investigators in late 1994 for a case involving the illegal harvesting of trees owned by the State of Washington.

Why: Approximately 1000 years ago, a major seismic event caused landslides that carried trees into Lake Washington adjacent to Mercer Island. Some of the still-standing trees are well preserved. The lake bottom and its resources are property of the State of Washington, Department of Natural Resources. Consequently, criminal investigations were initiated by the State of Washington after a salvage barge was observed removing large trees from the lake.

Where: The salvager, suspected of removing submerged trees and logs from several sites in the lake, was actually observed harvesting submerged trees off the southeast side of Mercer Island by ancient tree researchers who were working in the area. The Region 10 Dive Team survey was centered in this area, but the southwest side of the island was also surveyed with underwater scooters.

When: November 1994.

How: Several bottom transects, 100 to 230 m in length, were laid on the lake bottom in the area where the ancient tree researchers observed the illegal harvesting operations. Freshly cut tree stumps (root balls) and tops were counted along the transects. The bottom along some of the transects was documented by underwater video and 35 mm photographs. Due to the extended bottom times and water depths, Nitrox II was used by the divers.

Results: Nearly 60 cut stumps and tree parts were documented.

Product: Video and 35 mm camera photos, and a detailed report were provided to the criminal investigators. An EPA diver consulted with Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys for King County, Washington; the county prosecuted the case for the state. After a six-week trial which included testimony from the EPA diver, a jury found the salvager guilty on multiple counts including profiteering, theft and trafficking in stolen property.

Contact: Rob Pedersen at pedersen.rob@epa.gov

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Survey of recently dredged areas at Lockheed Shipyard, Harbor Island Superfund Site, Seattle, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team assisted the Superfund program in providing a video survey of recently dredged areas at the facility that were failing to meet environmental concentration-based goals, post dredging.

Why: Diver survey objectives were to: 1) describe the physical nature of the bottom, 2) document any obstacles found, and 3) evaluate the depth of unconsolidated material.

Where: Lockheed site on Harbor Island, approximately N. 47° 35.1' W. 122° 21.6'

When: Dredging in the area surveyed was completed in early 2004. Dive surveys were conducted on February 10, 2004.

How: Diver investigations included videotaping 250' feet from 5 known locations on compass headings. Due to contaminants in sediment and the water column, diver decon was necessary to accomplish the scientific diving mission. See the safety / sop page for more details on diver decon and polluted water scientific diving.

Results: Divers found the bottom to have at least one foot of unconsolidated material in most areas (likely non-native material). Debris encountered included concrete, pipes, rebar, and other miscellaneous material. Material was mounded several feet high between many of the holes created by the dredge bucket. Much of the bottom material was white and had a cake-like consistency. The dive video was used by the responsible party and the Agency to determine what follow-on actions were necessary in the area.

More Details: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/webpage/Harbor+Island+(Lead)

Contact: Sean Sheldrake at sheldrake.sean@epa.gov.


Looking N/NW from dive area	Looking N/NE to dredge barge

Tenders Lyn Frandsen and Joe Goulet deploying gps located buoy start points.	Rob Pedersen and Sean Sheldrake preparing to conduct transects and getting video footage of dive entry location.

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Survey of recently dredged and capped areas at Harbor Island Superfund Site, East Waterway, Seattle, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team assisted the Superfund program in providing a video survey of dredged areas in the Harbor Island East Waterway. Later, Dive Team support was requested to survey the cap that was placed in the area.

Why: Diver survey objectives [post dredging] were to: 1) describe the physical nature of the bottom, 2) document any obstacles found, and 3) note the approximate type and quantity of organisms found. Once the area had been capped, divers were asked to determine cap depth in various locations, the degree of mixing with native material, and to note the occurrence of any cap sloughing in sloped areas, such as near the “mound.”

Where: Harbor Island Superfund Site, East Waterway, approximately N47 34.791 W122 20.571

When: Dive surveys were conducted on April 15, 2004, July 15, 2004, June 15, 2005, and December 2006.

How: Diver investigations included videotaping two 1000’ transects from East to West across the waterway near pier 27 and 28 (start) to Berths 4, 5, and 6 (end) and searches for submerged objects. Post capping work included 4 transects in various locations across the cap up to 500 feet in length. Due to contaminants in the water column and in sediments, diver decon was required. See the safety / sop page for more information on diver decon and polluted water scientific diving.

Results: Divers found “bucket holes” in several areas approximately 3’ deep and more than 6’ across. Divers found an abundance of life on the “mound” near pier 27, such as anenomes particularly on substrate such as partial pilings and algal growth on the bottom. Mid-channel, bivalve siphons were observed in addition to some species of flatfish. Object locations were determined. A narrated video was produced from the dives for the Superfund Project Manager and Aquatic Resource Unit staff.

Post capping work included a narrated video of 4 transects conducted with observations made every 50 to 100 feet. Generally, the cap was found to be 3-4 inches thick in many places with a high degree of variability (some areas no cap seemed present, in other areas, the cap was 12 inches thick). Armoring of the mound area did not seem to have any evidence of sloughing.

More Details: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/webpage/Harbor+Island+(Lead)

Contact: Sean Sheldrake, sheldrake.sean@epa.gov.


Divers after exiting water from Transect number 1.	View from dive site; looking north to Space Needle.

Map of 6/15/2005 Transects	These flags, in addition to bridge to bridge communication with tug traffic and a notice to mariners, were necessary due to the need to cross the busy harbor waterway on each transect.

Aerial of dive site location courtesy of USGS

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Portland Harbor Survey

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team with assistance from divers with the EPA Environmental Response Team (ERT) out of Edison, NJ performed a survey near the McCormick and Baxter site (creosote seeping into the Willamette River, in Portland Harbor) to support hydrogeological field investigations by the Region 10 Superfund program and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Why: The survey was performed to assess the sediment, ground water, and surface water quality to compare to previous data from the site, and to have a comprehensive set of data (together with on-site ground water monitoring well sampling, shore sampling with mini-piezometers and seepage meters, and sampling with semi-permeable membrane samplers) just prior to installation of a barrier wall at the site and prior to final design of the sediment cap (both expected in early 2003).

Where: Off-shore of the McCormick and Baxter Superfund site in the Willamette River, Portland, Oregon.

When: Surveys were conducted in July 2001 and September, 2002.

How: Divers performed a survey of the area to describe biota and bottom conditions and used three techniques to collect and evaluate ground water discharge through the river bottom to the surface water. In addition, sediment cores were collected and bottom water samples were collected by carrying a Niskin-type sampler to the bottom without disturbing the surface layer, then triggering the device by hand. Due to contaminants in the water column from frequent CSO and in the sediment, diver decon was required. See the safety / sop page for more information on diver decon and polluted water diving.

Ground-water Sampling Techniques: One of the sampling techniques employed was a “push probe," essentially a large syringe. This sampling technique allows the diver to collect a sample of sediment pore water at various depths to determine a realistic exposure point concentration to benthic organisms from contaminants from upland seeps and bottom sediments. Another technique tested was the use of “seepage meters.” These are used to measure relative flux of groundwater through the sediment. Using buckets with calibrated bags connected to them, estimates can be made of the flux of groundwater through the bottom. The third technique was installation of minipiezometers. These thin tubes with a screened section at the lower end are pushed into the sediment (generally deeper than the push probe described above), tubing is connected to the surface via the vessel's anchor chain and pore water is pumped up to collection bottles for analysis.

Equipment Used: Support vessel with GPS; down lines, seepage meters, push probes, minipiezometers, hand-held Niskin-type water samplers, sediment corers, field analytical kit for pH, conductivity, etc., sample collection jars.

Contact: Bruce Duncan at duncan.bruce@epa.gov


Diver decontamination	Diver with sediment cores	Diver with mini-piezometer

Diver holding seepage meter	Diver preparing to enter water

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ADCM recovery, Oakland Bay/Hammersley Inlet, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team assisted the Washington State Department of Ecology in deployment, recovery, and maintenance of current meters, including one acoustic doppler current meter (ADCM) being used to develop water quality limits, or total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for the area. Washington is delegated responsibility for implementation of the Clean Water Act.

Why: Diver objectives were ADCM deployment, recovery, and checking of other current meters. Information on currents will be used to develop and calibrate a hydrodynamic model for the inlet. The model is being used to determine the maximum amount of bacteria and nutrients that can be discharged to the waterbody and still meet environmental and human health standards. This and other bacteria can lead to problems for shellfish and recreation in the Bay. Diver deployment of the meters ensures their proper placement for data collection and that anchoring is in place to ensure instrument/data recovery. See the Ecology website below for more details.

When: Dives were conducted in April and October 2005, December 2005, and February 2006.

How: Divers were deployed using tethered SCUBA off the Ecology vessel Skookum. Deployment: Diver descended the winch cable to the inlet bottom, then anchor the instrument in with stakes hammered into the bottom; a dgps location is simultaneously noted. Recovery: After locating instruments via sonar and GPS deployment coordinates, one diver deploys with winch hooks to attach to the instrument, removes anchor stakes, then returns to the surface.

Results: Current meters were successfully deployed/recovered/checked.

Where: Oakland Bay/Hammersley Inlet, WA.

More Details: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/oakland_bay/
Human waste partly to blame for Oakland Bay problem, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 9, 2007.

Contact: Rob Pedersen, pedersen.rob@epa.gov


S4 current meter ADCM current meter

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Yakima River Eutrophication Study, near Prosser, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team assisted US Geological Survey (USGS), South Yakima Conservation District, and Benton Conservation District in a joint eutrophication study on the Yakima River.

Why: The study’s major focus is the substantial increase in plant growth in the lower river in recent years which has lead to extremely low dissolved oxygen levels (3-6 mg/L) and extreme pH swings (e.g., 7.4 to 9.5). WDOE intends to use the information from this study to begin developing a TMDL for dissolved oxygen and pH in the lower river.

Where: 1) Two reaches along the Lower Yakima River; the Kiona Reach, river miles (RMs) 18 to 30 (down stream of Benton City), and Mabton/ Prosser Pool Reach, RMs 47 to 55 (upstream of Prosser Dam). 2) Grandview WWTP Outfall, RM 55 (400 meters downstream of Euclid Bridge).

When: Dives were conducted on August 30 and 31, 2005.

How: Divers would pendulum from the anchored dive platform out to as many as 5 sites per transect to collect aquatic plant biomass for identification on the surface and later analysis at the University of Idaho. Diving was used as a number of surface collection methods were found to be unsuccessful for the types of plants found. Due to the persistent low levels of pesticides in the water column, divers wore drysuits and conducted abbreviated decontamination. See the safety / sop page for more information regarding polluted water scientific diving and diver decon.

Results: Divers found substantial plant biomass in the Kiona reach, but little to no plant life in the Prosser Pool reach. Samples are being analyzed now in this ongoing study. While in the area, divers also conducted an outfall inspection for the Grandview waste water treatment plant. This inspection found no physical defects in the outfall.

More Details: http://or.water.usgs.gov/projs_dir/yakima_nutrients/

Contact: Chad Schulze, schulze.chad@epa.gov


Diver standing on the bottom conveys samples to SYCD and WDOE staff		Diver approaches a sampling station on a transect tethered to the boat

Diver undergoing a simple freshwater rinse decon before doffing personal protective gear.

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Criminal Investigation of Illegal Boat Dumping Site, “Crow’s Nest” Marina, Commencement Bay

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team collected evidence and provided documentation to criminal investigators in 2004 of boats illegally sunk in Commencement Bay.

Why: Witnesses reported suspicious towing and sinking of vessels in the vicinity of the marina. Several oil sheens that were reported near the marina were suspected to have originated on vessels sunken without removal of diesel/gasoline/other hazardous materials.

Where: Crow’s Nest Marina, Commencement Bay (near Tacoma, Washington). Approximately Lat N 47 deg 17’62” W 122 deg 25’14”

When: March, May, November, and December, 2004.

How: Over 20 dives were conducted by EPA Region 10 and Environmental Response Team (ERT) divers. A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and sector scan were also deployed by ERT to aid in identification of wrecks for further diver investigation to “optimize” the use of diver time. NOAA Nitrox I (32% oxygen) was used on some deeper dives to enhance diver safety and prolong safe dive times, provided courtesy of the NOAA Dive Center. Due to the presence of contamination in the water column from sunken vessels, diver decontamination was undertaken. See the safety / sop page for more information on diver decon and polluted water scientific diving.

Results: Dozens of sunken vessels were documented in video, still footage, and sector scan imaging. Many of the vessel observations included evidence of purposeful sinking, such as concrete block filled holds, and holes deliberately punched in the side of vessels. Many vessels were piled one on top of another, with riggings still attached, which presented a hazardous dive environment.

Product: Video, digital, and sector scan images were taken and a detailed report was provided to the criminal investigators.

Contact: Sean Sheldrake, sheldrake.sean@epa.gov


ERT diver Scott Grossman operates the ROV, recording images taken on miniDV. Sector scan imaging to the right in photo.		Decaying vessel propeller just above the mudline.

Deck mounted equipment		Close up of ROV

Diver descending a marker buoy placed on one of the dozens of sonar targets recorded to get a closer look.

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Survey of Terminal 117 Early Action Area, Duwamish Superfund Site, Seattle, WA

What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team assisted the Superfund program in providing a survey of an area to be dredged in the Duwamish Waterway

Why: Diver survey objectives were to: 1) describe the physical nature of the bottom, and 2) document any obstacles found.

Where: Duwamish Superfund Site, N47 31.720 W122 18.756 near the Southpark Marina.

When: Dive surveys were conducted on April 13, 2006.

How: Diver investigations included surveying transects pictured below.

Results: Divers found very little debris except at the toe of the bank slope in the marina.

More Details: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/LDW/Terminal+117

Contact: Sean Sheldrake, (206) 553-1220, sheldrake.sean@epa.gov.

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