DOT Safety Kayaker

Jason’s Global Adventure Guides services were recently requested to act as “Safety Kayaker” for the WA State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) SR 520 Bathymetric Surveying Team. The Survey crew was tasked with collecting Global Positioning System (GPS) Bathymetric soundings of the Seattle Arboretum and Portage Bay area. My task: simple, work up a safety plan for three days work, and shadow them via kayak during their on-the-water field work. Initiate rescues and medical aid in the event of emergencies, and assist with lugging equipment, and logistics. Two simple rules were not to be broken: first don’t drown yourself!, second don’t drown your safety kayaker!
THE WORK:
The WSDOT SR 520 Bridge Replacement Project is a major undertaking. With over 160,000 people each day crossing the aging 1960’s span linking Seattle with Bellevue, its age is showing and the structure is vulnerable to storm, wind, and earthquake damage. A new 4+2 lane bridge is in the works, but first an accurate 3.D. topographic & bathymetric computer Aided Design (CAD) map is needed for layout and design. Our task is bathymetry (depth measurements of elevation below the water line and position fixes in eastings and northings), in the wetlands and adjacent to the bridge where a larger vessel is incapable of maneuvering. A larger sonar & GPS equipped boat will tackle the deeper water later.
To reduce environmental effects non motorized craft were selected for use in the sensitive near shore habitat. An inflatable one person oar raft made an excellent survey platform to take depth measurements, and recorded real time network RTN GPS locations. We worked as a two person team, surveyor and safety kayaker. Thankfully a rescue was not needed but on the second day an unidentified object was thrown at us from passing motorists – we hope accidentally as it landed and sank close by! A good reason to have another person on the water for safety.
THE ENVIRONMENT:
The area despite its close proximity to a congested 520 highway bridge is a beautiful wetland and part of the Seattle Park System. It’s internationally famous for its woody plant collections on shore and the wetlands are home to lilies, reeds, many wading birds, Herons, and Beavers – three large beaver lodges are within the survey area. On the first survey day I noticed a slight oily petroleum sheen coated a good portion of the waterway within the arboretum, probably originating from two marinas very close by. It’s not an immediate spill but a sad reminder of the reality of wetlands surrounded by a busy boating community.
PICK UP TRACE:
The coined phrase “leave no trace” is a well known wilderness outdoors ethic, but what is one to do if most of the population lies within the urban fringe? For urban paddlers I’m coining a new phrase “Pick Up Trace!” I had 3 days of safety kayak work with plenty of time to also save the planet! Well maybe not the planet but perhaps prevent a Heron or Cormorant from swallowing some Styrofoam of chocking on some plastic. Just think if every kayaker (and many I know do) picked up a kayak deck load of trash on every trip the world over, it would have a huge impact! So “Leave No Trace” of your trip and “Pick Up Trace” from others! There is no excuse not to. Seattle Parks have many trash cans close to the shoreline in this area. So give it a try on your next outing! For more photos click here for the DOT Safety Kayaker Gallery I enjoyed the company of the hard working WSDOT HQ Survey Crew, and look forward to working with them on future projects. Essex Explorer Jason Goldstein.