Staff from the RACE Habitat Research Group (HRG) supported the Naval Undersea Warfare Center-Keyport Range Systems with a navigable area hydrographic survey in August 2011 on the free-flowing Hanford Reach of the Columbia River in Washington State. This 8-day survey conducted on the research vessel Kvichak Surveyor was designed and conducted to address specific concerns of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and additionally served to deliver accurate hydrographic quality survey data for updating the nautical charts in the assigned area. The work exemplified HRG expertise in mobilizing vessels of opportunity for conducting high quality ellipsoid-referenced hydrographic surveys and for delivering International Hydrographic Organization-compliant bathymetric data products. The project further illustrated the utility and benefit of an existing Memorandum of Understanding between NOAA and the U.S. Navy, thereby providing a seamless mechanism for interagency collaboration and the transfer of funds.
Figure 3. Columbia River hydrographic survey extent near the Tri-Cities region of Washington State. Data are shown with nautical charts 18542 and 18543.