[PSUBS-MAILIST] 2019 Flathead Lake Expedtion

[Cliff Redus via Personal_Submersibles]

2019 Flathead Lake Expedition

Since David mentioned his goal in getting his boat ready for dive next year
in Montana, I thought I would update the Psub community on the expedition.  On
August 5-9, 2019, the 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition is planned.  This is a
joint effort between InnerSpace.Org https://www.innerspacescience.org/ and
the Flathead Bio Station https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs . FLBS is operated by
the University of Montana.  I am the point person for this Expedition from
the Innerspace Science/PSub side and Jim Craft,
https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs/about-flbs/people/page-elements/flbs-people/people/jim-craft/
 from the FLBS, UM science side. Tom Bansak,
http://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs/about-flbs/people/page-elements/flbs-people/people/tom-bansak/
, the assistant director at FLBS, is also working closely with Jim Craft on
the Expedition.  Organizationally, this Expedition will be structured much
like the 2018 Lake Tahoe Expedition.  The base station for the dive is
going to be the FHBS facility at Yellow Bay on the west side of the lake.  At
this time two psubs are committed to come.  Hank Pronk is bringing Nekton
Gamma and I am bringing the R300.  If David is able to finish fabrication
and testing by then, then he is welcome to bring SeaQuester.  Jim Craft is
working with his FLBS colleges to develop the science objectives which will
primarily be completed with Nekton Gamma as she can take a passenger.  Gamma
will be fitted with an instrumentation package, the Hydrolab DS5 -
Multiparameter Data Sonde
https://www.ott.com/en-uk/products/water-quality-2/hydrolab-ds5-multiparameter-data-sonde-56/
.  FLBS has two of these data sondes but they may have one of these
committed on an existing research project.  If it is available, it will be
mounted on the R300.  These data sondes log Temperature, Conductivity,
Depth, pH, Oxygen Reduction Potential (ORP), Dissolved Oxygen (LDO),
Dissolved Oxygen (Clark Cell), Turbidity, Chlorophyll a, Blue-Green Algae,
Rhodamine WT, Ammonium, Nitrate, Chloride, Total Dissolved Gas (TDG), and
Ambient Light.

One of the planned science missions is for Gamma to do a submerged transect
from the mouth of the Flathead river at the north of the lake to Big Arm
Bay logging with the DS5 and capturing bottom samples along the path.  Hank
is in the process of adding the capability to Gamma to take these samples.  A
bathymetric map of the lake can be found at
http://flatheadlakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bathymap.pdf

Dr. Josef Crepeau, Associate Prof. Mathematics, University of Montana has
agreed to provide dive support with his 19ft Boston Whaler. The plan is for
Josef to use his vessel to tender the R300 and FLBS’s 30 foot research
vessel will be tendering Nekton Gamma.  We have a number of psubbers that
are tentatively involved:
Cliff Redus
Rick Maxwell
Hank Pronk and wife
Jon Wallace
Doug Suhr Jr.
Doug Suhr Sr.
Alec Symth (Provisional depending on his son’s racing schedule)
David Colombo and wife

Limited sleeping accommodation for some of the psub contingent has been
provided at FLBS base station using their faculty cabins but these cabins
now are fully committed.  There are a number of hotels in Polson but be
aware that reservation would need to be made early for these as they tend
to fill up fast for the summer.  We have a local contact, Masson Niblack,
who lives in Polson working with us as well for local info.

Along with the long submerged transect that Hank is going to make, we will
also be doing a joint night dive to see the difference in the marine
community between day and night.  There are several wall dives that are
also planned.  As we get closer to the date, we will get a better picture
of the planned dives.

On Friday afternoon August 9th, FLBS is hosting an open house for the
public and has asked Innerspace Science to have the subs available for
400-500 students.
Flathead Lake is one of the largest clearest lakes in the US.  The 2019
Flathead Lake Expedition should be a hoot!
Cliff
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