Sediment Core Sampling in Morro Bay Wetlands

During November 2002, Sea Surveyor collected 18 sediment core samples of nominal 10’ length at eighteen (18) locations in the salt marsh and wetlands of
Morro Bay, California. The sediment samples were collected from a shallow-draft 20’ x 40’ barge using a pneumatic vibratory corer (vibracore) and a portable Macro Core GeoProbe Sampler. The barge, propelled by a 22’ boat with twin outboard motors, is capable of floating in as little as 0.5 meters of water. The sediment sampling was conducted during the highest annual
tides of 2002 to enable the shallow-draft barge to access the salt marsh
and upland sampling sites using the natural meandering channels of
Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek.

Sea Surveyor collected the sediment samples for the LA District, Corps of
Engineers. Sea Surveyor was responsible for providing the barge, push
boat, vibracore/GeoProbe and an experienced crew. Sea Surveyor
collected the cores, removed the sediment samples from the liners, took
digital photographs of the cores, maintained penetration/location logs, and
assisted the Corps with physical and chemical subsampling.