The second-generation Environmental Sample Processor (2G-ESP) is a sophisticated autonomous sensor platform and a key component of offshore observing efforts designed to mitigate the societal impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed as part of a moored observatory, the 2G-ESP generates near real-time data on HAB organisms and the biotoxin domoic acid, providing critical HAB early warning and directly informing HAB forecasts and fisheries management decisions. In addition, the platform’s capacity to archive environmental DNA enables retrospective analyses of biodiversity and ecosystem change. These capabilities facilitate interdisciplinary scientific collaboration and information sharing, ultimately enhancing our collective understanding of HAB dynamics and broader ecosystem health.

This document details the standard operating procedures (SOP) for planning and conducting in-water ESP deployments on moored and bottom lander platforms. It is primarily based on the ESP operations that are routinely conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), but is widely applicable to other ESP users. The SOP provides an overview of the mooring platforms and subsystems required to support ESP operations during deployments, maintenance and calibrations, chemical reagent requirements, standard curve development and image processing, quality control testing, data reporting, and mooring deployment and recovery.

This work developed a new method for the burial of surrogate UXO targets in marine sediments based on sediment fluidization. Laboratory tests showed that fine and medium grained sands can be fluidized by jetting water from above, and that broad-sided targets can easily be buried in the fluidized sediment. The combination of higher hydraulic conductivity and increased minimum fluidization velocity in larger grained sediments make fluidization of coarse-grained sands impractical. Field tests were conducted at three sites ranging from medium grained sand to mud. The system was successfully able to fluidize sediments and bury targets into the fluidized sediments up to 0.65 m deep. Sediment core data at field test sites showed no significant change to the bulk grain size distribution due to fluidization and burial. This burial method can be developed into a surface operated bottom lander with low technical risk. Such a bottom lander would have minimal operational limitations compared to dive teams, be able to bury targets quickly, and provide accurate target burial position, depth, and orientation to test site operators.