Beaufort Sea Monitoring Program

Document is a product of a NOAA contract with Dames & Moore to: summarize the workshop proceedings; statistically analyze monitoring approaches suggested by the workshop to optimize the statistical sampling design applied; detail optimum approaches to Beaufort Sea monitoring that meet the prescribed goals for assessing the potential areawide or cumulative effects of anticipated oil and gas development.

A detailed set of wave, current, suspended sediment and pore water pressure measurements was made from August 18 to September 24, 1986 at 2 locations offshore of North Head on Richards Island. Because pack ice remained between 100 and 200 km offshore, 1986 was an excellent year for program and two storms with wave heights up to 2.5 m were monitored in shallow water. The objective was to measure changes in pore water pressure and near-bed suspended sediment concentrations in response to storm generated waves and near bottom currents. Ultimately data are to be used to examine liquefaction potential of surficial soils, expected sediment transport rates and mechanics of wave energy attenuation.

The research and monitoring program recommended by this projectis structured around a set of hypothesized environmental impacts. For each of these nineteen hypotheses, the report diagrams anddetails the environmental linkages that need to be examined, describes how work should proceed and provides references on thetopic. The project draws conclusions as to the validity, testability and likelihood of each of the hypothesized effects.

Chemical analyses of sediments studied to identify meth ods that would simplify analysis of this data. Statistical analysis restricted to observations with grain size results. Relationships between grain size & contaminant concentrations determined. Intra- and inter-laboratory variances noted

The object of this study is to develop and describe a systematic framework within which programs to monitor environmental effects of industrial activity in the Beaufort Sea area, can be designed to produce sound and relevant results of greater long term value.