Ocean Bottom Seismometer Installation, Offshore San Luis Obispo, California
As part of a larger, multidisciplinary study of the offshore earthquake faults along central California, and in addition to environmental documentation and permitting services, PG&E retained Padre to conduct a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and diver survey of the seafloor habitats in water depths up to 300 feet within a corridor where a series of ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) were to be placed. Diver-biologists contracted to Padre completed a series of dives and recorded underwater video from the shallow subtidal to the 60 feet isobath. In deeper water, an ROV was used to collect video footage and still photographs of the various habitats and associated biota. Padre marine scientists were onboard the ROV survey vessel and directed the survey along the proposed route. A technical report, that described the habitats and biota, was prepared and the final OBS corridor was aligned to avoid rocky habitat and areas that supported sensitive biota, including rockfish and long-lived attached epitbiota.