GPS makes locating your sensors fairly simple.

Dr. Dinnel and I got started on fieldwork today.  We collected temperature sensors from three locations and a salinity sensor from one location all of which Dr. Dinnel placed last year.  Sensors are placed at the substrate level attached to rebar sunk into the ground so they don't move, the locations were tagged on a GPS when they were planted.  We get to the general area where the sensor is known to be and the GPS theoretically takes us right to the sensor.  We will download and review the data to evaluate the locations for future native oyster bed seeding.   

Padilla Bay

Temperature Sensor

We started in Padilla Bay and the GPS was a bit tricky at first but after about 30 minutes of slogging around on the mud flats we were able to located the sensor.  The substrate had changed significantly since Dr. Dinnel placed the sensor.  Initially it was in a waterway with sand and gravel with a few shells, we found it buried about 6 inches under silty muddy deposits.   

Lone Tree Point on Skagit Bay

 Next we headed out to the Swinomish Reservation (to the Thousand Trails campground) and retrieved the temperature and salinity sensors from Lone Tree Point.  It was kind of strange driving up to the gate of a Thousand Trails campground but Dr. Dinnel said we were biologists working with the tribe and they let us right in.  That was the first time I have been referred to as a biologist, it felt good.  The GPS was right on and it took more tie to get to the lagoon fro, the car than to locate the sensor.

Kiket Island in Kukutali Reserve

Last we went across the way to Kiket Island on the Kukutali Reserve which is jointly managed by the Swinomish Tribe and the State and is technically a part of Deception Pass State Park but is closed to the public.   We collected the final temperature sensor we were able to retrieve today.  

There are I believe two more sensors, one in Fidalgo Bay that we will retrieve during fieldwork and another that needs a kayak to access. Dr Dinnel will attempt to collect these sensors later.  I will work with Nate Schwarck to download and interpret the data.