Woolpert Contracted by NOAA for Hydrographic Survey and Bathymetric Data in Tangier Sound
Summary
The data will update National Ocean Service nautical charting products, which are used for improving the safety of maritime traffic and commerce, and will support commercial fishing, shipping channels, coastal resilience, scientific research, and Seabed 2030. Last year, NOAA tasked Woolpert with collecting data in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which included portions of the Potomac, Rappahannock, James, and York Rivers. Under this contract in Maryland, Woolpert will collect data over 116 square nautical miles in Tangier Sound located in the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America. Cross said the high-resolution multibeam and side-scan sonar data also will be used to detect and map seabed features and archaeological sites beneficial for fisheries and cultural resource management. "The data will benefit the USACE Oyster Habitat Preservation and Restoration working group as well as contribute to ongoing underwater archaeological exploration and investigation," Cross said.