Jet skis loaded on a trailer on a survey trip of the Oregon Coast
Author: Jeff Wood, Faculty Research Assistant, CEOAS (College of Earth, Oceanic and Atmospheric Science)
As part of Peter Ruggiero’s research at OSU, we perform a Nearshore Bathymetry Survey on the Outer Coast of Oregon and Southern Washington, taking depth readings to map the seafloor from the surf zone to offshore about 2 kilometers.
In Oregon, our data collection goes into updating FEMA Tsunami Hazard mapping, mapping a different county in Oregon each summer for the past three years. In Southern Washington, and the northern extent of Clatsop County, Oregon, our group has a 15 year annual data set that is used to assess morphological changes along the beaches surrounding the Mouth of the Columbia River, used to determine beach erosion/ progration rates within the study areas.
We launch and land the Jet Skis on the beach using dollies (shown strapped to the boats in the pictures) when boat-ramps are not readily available in the vicinity of our study area. Our safety crew follows the survey vessels along the beach in the truck, spotting them and ready to assist if the operator is knocked off the boat while within the breaking zone of the surf.
We work in collaboration with the US Geological Survey (USGS), Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI).
Photo Authors vary from Heather Baron, Diana Di Leonardo, and Jeff Wood.
Jet Skis on a survey trip of the Oregon/Washington
Jet Skis on a survey trip of the Oregon/Washington
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