LA Underwater Explorers - Ghostfishing.org - "Ghost Net" clean-up dive - wreck of the M/V Infidel - Catalina Island, California

Forming New Millennium Dive Expeditions (NMDE) back in 1999, a scientific entity allowing members to participate in meaningful, community minded and environmentally focused activities, is one of the proudest accomplishments we have achieved.  Our initial mission, focused solely upon Lake Tahoe, took 100% of our efforts early on; we…did not get out much…so to speak.  As our efforts on the SS Tahoe began to end, we became involved with Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) Project Baseline in order to maintain our involvement with Tahoe's underwater environmental issues.  Our vision then began to diversify and being a part of this global endeavor we are beginning to meet other passionate organizations and people that are also focused and dedicated towards their environmental causes.  Now they are sharing their missions with us.  This has given us the opportunity to expand and broaden our awareness and understanding of other environments; learning that will help us better our work in Tahoe; a win/win for all.

 

On Memorial Day, 2015, NMDE divers Martin M. and Todd K. traveled to Southern California to join the Los Angeles Underwater Explorers (LAUE) on an environmental dive like no other we have ever participated.  LAUE is managing Ghostfishing.org.  The latter organization was formed to eliminate these "ghost fishing nets" from the ocean environments where “net” fishing methods have been employed.  These abandoned nets that have become snagged upon underwater obstacles need to go!  We can write 10,000 words but two pictures I think will explain:

PHOTO from 2012

The above photo is from 2012 (the beginning of this project), on the wreck of the Infidel, southern end of Catalina Island off the southern California coast.  It rests in 150 feet of water and is covered in squid nets.  Nets that are “ghost” fishing and killing helpless sea creatures.  It is important to note in this image, all the netting hanging from the mast. 

PHOTO from 2015

The above photo from 2015 is the same mast, after hundreds of man hours of effort and the removal of over 5000 pounds of nets since 2012; same wrecksite, same mast, no nets!  A very powerful statement of the work they have done. 

These photos demonstrate the perfect example of  Project Baseline's mission.  A hugely dedicated group of volunteer divers that have observed and recorded “change” that they personally brought about as a result of their passion for the oceans.  They have removed this 5000 pounds of net during the past 3 years and our involvement allowed us to realize that they have 80% of the work remaining in order to remove the final 20% of the net that remains.  

Our journey from Reno began at 4 am on 24 May, 2015 as we departed for Los Angeles, California.   Arriving at the home of our Hosts, Karim and Heather H. around 1pm, we were treated to an incredible lunch and by 3 pm we began the 4 hour task of setting up our equipment for the following days dive adventure.  Finishing around 7 pm and being extremely tired, we all turned in with a 4 am wake-up call coming up quickly!

Memorial Day came fast, especially when it begins so early.  We tossed down some grub and hit the road for Long Beach Harbor where the boat, Asante (click to see all about the Asante), was awaiting our arrival.  After loading and about a 90 minute boat ride, we were ready to enter the water directly above the wrecksite of the Infidel (click for complete explanation of why the Infidel is here).  There were 3 dive teams this day consisting of 7 divers, 4 top side support and 2 crew - The following 4 minute video is the visual story of the work we did (pause it at the end to see the credits - those that volunteered their time and their duties are listed):

Todd and I did a 3 hour profile and enjoyed decompression watching a bunch of animal life pass by and enjoyed a very cool treat in that about 5 sea lions swam with us and played with us for about 60 minutes -  never getting too close but curious for sure. We then climbed back aboard the Asante, gathered all our divers and equipment and headed back to the harbor to unload...

The Team taking pause with our catch and our gear soon to be loaded and taken home

Today's quantity of net recovered was not very big.  The reason is because the remaining net is in very difficult locations, covered in heavy rope and pieces of wreckage and remember it is at 150 feet of water where breathing gas goes fast and decompression time accumulates even faster.  There is much more work to be done.  We hope that you will support this effort we share with you so you can do your part to insure the Infidel becomes a healthy artificial reef environment for all the critters of Catalina Island, California. 

An exciting aspect of this adventure is that there were representatives from New Millennium Dive Expeditons, Project Baseline, Global Underwater Explorers, Project Baseline: Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles Underwater Explorers, Las Vegas Underwater Explorers and Ghostfishing.org.  It is powerful how protecting and caring for the environment can bring so many great people and organizations together.  It was great to meet so many outstanding divers, their family and friends. 

To learn more on the destructive force that these nets possess, visit our Affiliate Page at www.nmde.org and view the "Fact Sheet" we have put there next to the Ghostfishing.org link. 

  

University of Nevada, Reno - Nearshore Monitoring Project - 2 meter plant bed survey

Today, New Millennium (NMDE) divers, Martin M. and Marc B., in support of Project Baseline: Lake Tahoe joined forces with research scientist, Annie Caires of the University of Nevada Reno to help gather further plant species and plant bed data in Lake Tahoe.  Last year, NMDE was asked by UNR’s Principal Investigator, Sudeep Chandra, to participate in UNR’s College of Sciences, Lake Tahoe Nearshore Community Structure Pilot Monitoring Project.  What we were asked to do was to circumnavigate Tahoe at a depth of 5 meters (16 feet) - Press Release - Newspaper Article.  

Completing the circumnavigation dives in 2014 and uncovering several plant beds in the South Lake Tahoe area, it was decided to do another survey at a shallower depth.  This time at 2 meters (6 feet) and start from Baldwin Beach, the location of our first plant bed found from last year’s survey, all the way to Ski Run Marina where we located our last plant bed.

The GPS track of today's 2 meter plant bed survey.

Our day began at 7:30am at the Cave Rock boat launch (the only boat launch open on the Nevada side of the lake due to the extremely low lake levels as a result of our 4 year drought!)  The crew from UNR, Annie and Robert hauled up our water transportation, the Limnos Lady, we loaded and departed for the west end of Baldwin Beach.  Our plan for the day was to utilize our tow-sled and drag one diver along the surface switching every hour or so.  Along the way, when the diver in the water spotted plants, we would stop the boat, take a GPS reading, delineate the extent of that plant bed and then take some samples.

 

Marc being towed -
Look for the white just behind the red/yellow float

We were not surprised by what we saw but we did uncover one invasive plant species bed, Curlyleaf Pondweed, due north of the eastern entrance to the Tahoe Keys Marina.  Mostly what we found was native Chara and Milfoil beds but nothing of any notable size; not like the plant beds found deeper with the largest bed found off Camp Richardson.  The Camp Richardson plant bed, we delineated in 2013, extends from 24 meters (80 feet) out to 46 meters (150 feet) and is over three quarters of a mile in area.

We covered about 5.5 miles and completed a very thorough evaluation of bottom plants from Baldwin Beach all the way to Ski Run Marina. 

The Pea Green water off Tahoe Keys -
This is not Lake Tahoe?

Of note, seems the Tahoe Keys is doing some dredging which just destroyed the visibility and as you will see in the photos, made the water look a pea green.  We also found an old barge that sunk and was resting in about 3 meters (10 feet), a petrified tree stump (this one grew during the 100 year drought a long time ago), counted over 10 engine blocks in the Camp Richardson area and retrieved one bottle and a golf ball!  

To see more photos and to be more efficiently notified of NMDE and PBLT events, join us on Facebook and put our New Millennium Dive Expeditions page onto your list of "LIKES".   Thanks!  

NMDE/Project Baseline: Tahoe, 14 May 2014 - Patton Beach, CA

New Millennium Divers Parker and Martin M. were able to take an early out from work on this Wednesday afternoon and assess the Patton Beach station.  Conditions were superb, flat water, minimal boat activity, sunny and in the mid 70's.  Previous weather patterns have been calm.

The animal life was scarce with the exception of crayfish feeding on recently discarded fish carcasses from the local sport fishing operations at the nearby marina.  The presence of Diaptomus and Mysis Shrimp were non existant - a stark contrast from our January 1, 2014 dive.  The lake was very calm and clear.

Project Baseline Statistics
Depth: 35' per benchmark gauge - 30' and 32' per digital gauges on divers
Visibility:  50-60 feet on the near side of 50
Temperature:  50F on all gauges

NMDE/Project Baseline: Tahoe, 2 February 2014 - Sand Harbor State Park, Nevada

New Millennium Divers Todd K and Martin M took advantage of a cold and snowy day (that was not forecast) to enjoy a Project Baseline: Tahoe dive to the Sand Harbor station.  It was a great dive out to the outer wall structure and ran 70 minutes at a max depth of 101 feet with an average depth of 49 feet but the most significant visual of this day was the water level never before seen by either divers in over 30 years of diving Lake Tahoe.  Please watch this 24 second video, it tells the entire story...

The level of Tahoe is now below its natural rim and to put some perspective to this image, in 31 months, July 2011 to February 2014 the lake has dropped some 5 feet as calculated from the data gathered by the Project Baseline conservation initiative presently underway in Tahoe.  In July, 2011 our Project Baseline depth benchmark read 25/26 feet and on Sunday February 2, 2014 it read 20 feet.  In a lake with 191 square miles of surface area this 5 foot drop equates to approximately 200 billion gallons of water!  

The divers did not observe any Diaptomus (zooplankton) or Mysis Shrimp on this dive.  Unlike the New Years day dive at the Patton Beach station where they were quite populace.  

Project Baseline Statistics

Depth: 20' per benchmark gauge/17' per digital gauge (FFW)

Visibility: 40-50 feet approaching 50'

Temperature: 44f per benchmark gauge/44f per digital gauge
Photo: Taken 5 October 2013 ( Just to the left of the depth benchmark )

NMDE's Project Baseline and Scientific Research begin 2014 with an incredible New Years Day dive!

On January 1, 2014, New Millennium divers, Michael S. and Martin M. planned a dive to see how the recent massive high pressure sitting over Northern Nevada since December 3rd,  would affect Tahoe's visibility and water conditions.  Also knowing that the Limnologists from Wright State University in Ohio are still needing rock/algae samples from 20, 25 & 30 meters, NMDE felt that a solid mission could be formed and executed. 

Arriving at the lake, the water was mirror flat. There was no wind, blue skies and upon  arrival the air temperature was 24f at waters edge.  A perfect day.  Upon departure at noon, the conditions were the same and the temperature was 48f.  The high for the day was 51f.  Incredible for January 1st!

There were two objectives for this dive.  First to evaluate the conditions at the Project Baseline station and second to retrieve rock/algae samples from 20, 25, & 30 meters.  A secondary objective was to make sure the line to the FISH was still intact after its reestablishment during a previous dive.

The plan was to enter water, doubles and scooter, head to the line leading to the "FISH", evaluate the station then take a 150degree bearing and scooter out to 90 feet -  US divers are not very good with the metric system...90 feet is close enough to 30 meters, right?  Once at depth, rock samples would be collected then a bearing change to 240 degrees for 2 minutes and then another bearing change to 330 degree back toward the beach collecting rock samples along the way at 75 feet and 60 feet.

Entry was at 9:50am and exit was 11:20am with a total runtime of 71 minutes at a maximum depth of 96 feet (average depth was 54 feet). Scooter speed at approximately 125feet/min.

Upon entry and descent the line was completely intact all the way to the PBTahoe station located at the FISH.  Descent was at 5 feet and it took 12 minutes to scooter to the FISH.  Evaluations were made and recorded in the wetnotes.  The "high pressure" system seems to have no benefit upon the visibility as we could see 30 feet and make out the 40 foot marker but could not see clearly the "4". This is consistent with the past 2 dives.

Continuing it took another 15 minutes to reach the planned depth of 90 feet.  The biggest realization was the thickness and volume of Mysis Shrimp at 45 feet on the way out.  From the beach to 45 feet they were not being looked for,  however it was obviously recognized that as the depth increased, there was still a high concentration of Mysis Shrimp but diminishing all the way to 90 feet.  As a result, the divers turned their evaluation to the water column to determine the concentration of Diaptomus (Zooplankton) which was also incredibly high.  Higher than remembered for this time of year.  A heightened awareness began and it was again observed that from depth back to 45 feet the concentrations of Mysis Shrimp increased and then decreased as the divers continued shallower.  At about 15 feet, the Mysis Shrimp were very scarce as well as the Diaptomus.  At 45 feet the bottom was completely covered.  It was an unreal site and extremely difficult to photograph - Mike tried.  Diagram of Lake Tahoe animal species. With the exception of crayfish, no other animal species were seen.

Here is a 44 second video clip of the Patton Beach, Project Baseline Tahoe, station.  This will provide a very clear understanding of how the scientifically consistent baseline data is obtained for each site:

PBTahoe Stats:
Depth: 34 feet (30ffw per a digital gauge)
Temp: 50f (46f per a digital gauge)
Visibility: 20-30 feet
Photo: (A standard photo was not taken due to the last dive being so recent, 15 November, 2013.)

NMDE site evaluation dive for Hurricane Bay - November 28, 2013 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Over the past several weeks, the NMDE team divers have endeavored to reach all of our PBTahoe sites.  Today we planned to visit the Hurricane Bay Site.  NMDE divers Martin M. and Marc B.  conducted a dive to the PBTahoe depth benchmark located up-slope from the wreck of the Alley Cat.  This benchmark was set in October of 2012 (see blog post below).  The benchmark should have read well below 60' as the lake is some 3 feet lower based upon the Lake Tahoe Watermaster data but it read 72' so we will need to re-establish a better and more accurate depth gauge.  We are not sure if the gauge simply has broken but will do a follow-up dive to assess in the coming months.  The temperature was a brisk 52F based upon the benchmark gauge and the visibility was simply crappy - at best 30 feet but 25' was the distance we could see on the visibility markers.  We could see the 3 marker but could not make out the #3 upon it.  As we delved deeper into the dive (pardon the pun) we began to notice a possible reason for the low visibility; Zooplankton - Diaptomus specifically!  These little guys are red in color.   Normally, this time of year as the lake temperatures are dropping the Diaptomus populations diminish.  This condition usually happens towards end of August early September but here we are in November and the populations in the 30-40-50 and 60 foot water columns were thicker than we have ever seen them.  We also encountered some dense populations of Mysis Shrimp but the populations were scattered and inconsistent along our 3000' path.  We did notice lots of juveniles.

Dive time was 65 minutes at a maximum depth of 63 feet with an average depth of 45 feet.

Project Baseline Stats
Depth: 72' (per benchmark gauge - under evaluation) 57' per digital FFW depth gauge
Temperature: 52f
Visibility: 20-30 feet (maybe 25-28feet) Could see the 2 and the third marker but not the #3
Photo:

Recreational Divers visit the Patton Beach Project Baseline: Tahoe site

Divers Brian P. and Mike S. continue their day at Tahoe with a second dive at Patton Beach. 

PBTahoe Stats:
Depth: N/A feet
Temp: 49f
Visibility: 30-40 feet
Photo:



Visibility markers extending east from the Depth Benchmark directly in front of the "Fish" (image below).  Benchmark seen in the lower left corner of photo below. 

Photos Courtesy of Michael Soldwisch - Member NMDE