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2019
Blind Channel
The first ADCP was deployed in Blind Channel in October 2019. The ADCP was deployed at slack tide using two divers to ensure the frame and instrument was sitting flat and secure. The ADCP was left at 50˚25.048, -125˚29.928 and a depth of 7.6m.
2020
Blind Channel
After the first deployment, the ADCP was intended on being on station for 3 months; however, due to the global COVID pandemic the recovery was postponed 8 months. The first attempt of the recovery occurred on June 3rd, 2020. Upon arriving at the station, the crew was unable to find a float or line. They attempted using a winch and grapple but were unsuccessful. On June 18th 2020, the Allpen Divers returned to the station and attached the line and floats to the frame. The PRIMED crew returned to station the following day, June 19th, for the second ADCP recovery attempt. Despite having a few issues with the winch and the davit arm, they had a successful recovery.
2021
Blind Channel
In 2021, three fieldwork trips were made to Blind Channel. The first was in February, it composed of a quick day trip to monitor the electrical load system and take an inventory of all possible energy draws on the property. In April, the second trip was made and an ADCP was deployed. Allpen divers were used to ensure the ADCP legs were secured between rocks, to detach the lowering line and to collect footage of the turbine. The ADCP was left at 50°25’01.7″N, 125°29’54.4″W and a depth of 8.1m. The ADCP was recovered by Allpen Diving Limited on August 25th, 2021 on behalf of PRIMED. The third trip was made to collect the ADCP in Campbell River from Allpen.
Trial Island
The FLiDAR is a floating device that measures a slew of metocean parameters, offshore wind, waves, and currents. In November 2021, Salish Sea Industrial Services (SSIS) was contracted to execute the FLiDAR deployment using a crane barge and two tug boats. The deployment required a team composed of SSIS, AXYS and PRIMED staff. Once arriving on station, the deployment took approximately 30 minutes. The FLiDAR was left at 48°23.635’N, 123°18.5117’W and a depth of 25m.
Yuquot
In August 2021, the CoastScout and the TRIAXYS were deployed on the south side of Nootka Island. The CoastScout was intended on being recovered shortly after in November but wasn’t retrieved until February 2022, whereas the TRIAXYS was to be moored for one year before recovery. The CoastScout was left at 49°34.7459’N 126°40.8312’W and a depth of 18.5m. The TRIAXYS was left at 49°32.764’N 126°41.677’W and a depth of 46m.
2022
Haida Gwaii
Three trips were made to Haida Gwaii in 2022. The first was the end of March 2022 where two ADCP were deployed in Masset Inlet; one from Luna Sea Solutions and the other from PRIMED. The Luna Sea ADCP was deployed for 72 hours, whereas PRIMED’s ADCP for 3 months. In addition to the ADCP deployments, a drone and drifters survey was preformed with the drone capturing video footage at multiple altitudes. In July 2022, the PRIMED team returned to recover the ADCP in Masset Inlet and deployed an additional ADCP in Skidegate Inlet. The final trip to Haida Gwaii was in September of the same year, The ADCP in Skidegate was recovered and a TRIAXYS buoy was deployed on the East Coast for Moresby Island (see below).
In September 2022, the PRIMED team made a trip up to Haida Gwaii to deploy a TRIAXYS buoy off the East Coast of Moresby Island. It had been deployed for 9 months before it was recovered at the end of June in 2023. Jackie and Riley spent 4 days in Daajing Giids organizing and coordinating with the vessel operator of the Haida Spirit which resulted in a sucessful buoy recovery. The buoy was shipped back to Victoria for its annual maintenance.
Trial Island
The FLiDAR buoy was deployed for 8 months prior to being recovered on July 26th, 2022. Similar to the deployment, Salish Sea Industrial Services (SSIS) was contracted for the recovery. The FLiDAR buoy was recovered smoothly and took approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes included travel times to and from the dock and the station. On November 2nd, 2022 the FLiDAR buoy was deployed again using SSIS at a slightly different location, 48°23.648’N, 123°18.5233’W, and a depth of 25m.
Yuquot
The CoastScout was intended on being recovered in November 2021; however, due to the rough winters the west coast experiences and scheduling conflicts with vessels and PRIMED personnel, the trip was postponed until February 2022. Chloe and Justin (from Fisheries) searched for 4 hours attempting to locate the CoastScout but were unfortunately unsuccessful. In September 2022, the TRIAXYS was successfully recovered and brought back to Victoria.
2023
Amphitrite Bank
The first field work trip of 2023 was to Tofino in May to recover and deploy a WatchMate buoy at Amphitrite Bank. The PRIMED team successfully deployed a new WatchMate 6km off the west coast of Ucluelet. Unfortunately, due to a malfunction with the vessel’s crane, the old WatchMate that was intended on being recovered remains at Amphitrite Bank.
Trial Island
The FLiDAR at Trial Island was deployed for 7-months before being recovered on June 6th, 2023. The buoy was recovered by the Salish Sea Industry crew, two AXYS technicians, and one PRIMED staff. While the buoy was on the dry dock, the diesel generator was replaced with a new one, a new Superwind turbine replaced the older one, and two additional solar panels were installed on the starboard and stern sides of the buoy. The FLiDAR was redeployed on July 14th, 2023. During its current deployment, the buoy is intended for collecting data and ironing out any kinks for approximately 6-months before it is shipped to Haida Gwaii for deployment in Spring 2024.
Haida Gwaii
On June 26th, 2023, PRIMED staff Jackie and Riley traveled to Haida Gwaii to recover a Triaxys buoy in the Hecate Strait. As PRIMED has worked with the Haida Spirit crabbing vessel for previous deployments, they decided to use it again. A weather window opened up before Jackie and Riley arrived so the captain and his crew recover the buoy without the PRIMED crew since Haida Gwaii’s weather can be unpredictable. The recovery went smoothly. The buoy was picked up in Masset the following day. The PRIMED team was able to sneak in a hike after work up the Sleeping Beauty trail. The views were absolutely incredible!
2024
Quatsino Narrows
A successful field deployment took place early November at Quatsino Narrows to collect data for improving hydrodynamic models of the area’s water flows. Led by Jeremy Lawrence and Emily Wordley of PRIMED, the team deployed an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to record water speed, turbulence, and levels. The mission, carried out in mild weather with light rain and winds, began on November 6 with travel to Port Hardy and continued on November 7 at Coal Harbour, where the ADCP and anchor weights were deployed. The team completed the fieldwork by 11:00 and traveled to Campbell River for an overnight stay, with the operation concluding on November 8 with the return of personnel and equipment to the MTC. The data collected will help refine hydrodynamic models and support further research in the region.