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Seafloor Mapping Program Updates

This webpage contains periodic news and updates on the status of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM)/U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seafloor mapping projects, with the latest news and updates appearing at the top of the page. Program updates include the publication of mapping related products, status of ongoing projects and surveys, announcement of where and when products from this program are being presented (i.e., regional and national meetings, conferences, and workshops), as well as any other news-worthy information about this or other seafloor mapping projects.

May 2010 Update:
In June, CZM staff will be conducting an eight-day survey in Massachusetts Bay on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Ocean Survey Vessel Ocean Survey Vessel Bold—collecting samples of sediments and benthic organisms and shooting underwater videos of the seafloor and its marine life. The results will be used to groundtruth habitat maps of the seafloor created by CZM using a combination of surficial geology, bathymetry, and backscatter data. The survey will also act as a pilot project to test collection and analysis methods in support of a larger seafloor mapping partnership between CZM and the US Geological Survey across all Massachusetts marine waters. The final habitat maps will help CZM refine the resource maps used in the 2009 Massachusetts Management Ocean Plan and will assist CZM and other agencies in their siting and permitting of ocean uses. CZM's proposal was selected through a competitive process conducted by EPA Region 1, and the time and space provided by the OSV Bold represents a significant federal contribution to Massachusetts's ocean management efforts.

April 2010 Update:
To test new shallow-water mapping technologies where conventional vessels cannot easily navigate, USGS collected LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) data designed to penetrate the water column. LIDAR data are collected from an airplane that emits light beams that are returned to a sensor on the airplane. Much like conventional ship-based sonar, the time of the return can be uded to precisely measure elevation. The mission was flown in early spring for maximal water clarity. USGS will evaluate this emerging technology as one possible means on filling the gap between topography (elevation above sea level) and bathymetry (elevation above the sea bottom).

In addition, USGS will be seeking to hire a post-doctoral fellow in late 2010 to perform physiographic interpretations for all Commonwealth waters. The highly detailed work will use existing data and knowledge of regional oceanography to map geographic regions; broad-scale regions of similar terrain, rock, or sediment type; and geologic structure and history. These maps will be instrumental for CZM to further ongoing seafloor habitat mapping work.

March 2010 Update:
USGS is preparing to survey southwestern Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. Data collected will include bathymetry, bottom hardness, sediment thickness, and sediment grabs. Approximately 825 km² (320 mi²) of shallow seafloor are the focus of mapping to be completed in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound in water depths of up to 45 m (150 ft). These data will be released in a USGS Data Release in 2011. A full Open File Report including geologic maps and report text is expected to be released in 2012.

January 2010 Update:
The Duxbury to Hull Open File Report is now in review will be available both online and on DVD-ROMs in late 2010. Data processing is being completed for Northern Cape Cod Bay survey areas.

July 2009 Update:
CZM and USGS have published High-Resolution Geologic Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf: Cape Ann to Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. The report contains geographic information system data, maps, and technical explanations of data collection, processing, and geologic interpretation.

June 2009 Update:
The USGS/CZM geological mapping project completed a cruise aboard the R/V Megan Miller in Buzzards Bay and collected geophysical data along 3,350 km of trackline. Full coverage bathymetry and backscatter data encompass approximately 350 km², including 29 km² in eastern Vineyard Sound.

September 2008 Update:
CZM and USGS signed a funding agreement to conduct high-resolution mapping of the seafloor in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. Mapping will begin in Buzzards Bay in 2009, followed by mapping in Vineyard Sound in 2010.

July 2008 Update:
The Cape Ann to Salisbury Beach Open File Report is currently in review and will be available online and as DVD-ROMs in late 2008. Data processing is underway for the South Shore and Northern Cape Cod Bay survey areas. An Open File Report for the South Shore will be available in 2009.

June 2008 Update:
Two Open File Reports were recently released with seabed information from areas south of Cape Cod using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey data and USGS ground-truth and sampling data. The reports, including GIS data layers, can be accessed online at:

April 2008 Update:
The CZM-USGS Mapping Program was the topic of two presentations at the 2008 Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting in Boston. Dan Sampson (CZM) presented on Mapping Seafloor Surficial Geologic Habitat in Massachusetts State Waters and Brian Andrews (USGS) presented a paper on The Role of Marine Geophysical Mapping in Characterizing and Managing Marine Ecosystems: A Federal/State Partnership for Massachusetts Coastal Waters. The full abstracts along with additional information about the special session, "Marine Geomorphology as a Determinant for Essential Life Habitat: An Ecosystem Management Approach to Planning for Marine Reserve Networks," can be found at http://marinecoastalgis.net/aag08.

January 2008 Update:
CZM and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) continue the successful cooperative started in 2003 to map the seafloor throughout Massachusetts. From 2003-2007, this project has mapped more than 463 square miles (1,200 square kilometers) of seafloor, with additional mapping planned for spring 2008. Reports containing geographic information system (GIS) data, maps, and technical explanations of data collection, processing, and geologic interpretation were published in 2006 for the North Shore, Boston Harbor, and eastern Cape Cod; and in 2007 for Quicks Hole and Great Round Shoal. A report on the project from Cape Ann to Salisbury Beach is currently in the publication process. Data from two additional areas—Hull to Duxbury and Northern Cape Cod Bay—are currently being processed. For additional information and preliminary results from current mapping, see the project website or contact Seth Ackerman at sackerman@usgs.gov.


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