California Seafloor Mapping Program
Science Center Objects
The California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP) is a cooperative program to create a comprehensive coastal/marine geologic and habitat base map series for all of California's State waters. The California Ocean Protection Council (COPC) authorized funds to establish the CSMP in 2007 and assembled a team of experts from state and federal agencies, academia, and private industry to develop the best approach to mapping and classifying coastal and marine geologic habitats, while at the same time updating all nautical charts. Initiated in 2008, the CSMP has collected bathymetry (underwater topography) and backscatter data (providing insight into the geologic makeup of the seafloor) that are being turned into habitat and geologic base maps for all of California's State Waters (mean high water line out to three nautical miles).
Although the CSMP was originally developed to support the design and monitoring of marine reserves through the Marine Life Protection Act [California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), 2007], accurate statewide mapping of the seafloor has also contributed significantly to these efforts:
- Definition of habitats for ecosystem-based management
- Establishing baselines for long-term monitoring of coastal evolution related to climate change, large storms, and anthropogenic influences
- Enabling modeling of coastal flooding from sea-level rise and large storms
- Identifying offshore active faults and submarine landslides, providing the basis for earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments and hazard mitigation
- Providing a database of sediment distribution and thickness, important input for regional sediment management
- Enabling more effective regulation of offshore development
- Improving maritime safety
- Providing a framework for scientific research
- Facilitating outreach to heighten public education and awareness of coastal ecosystems, resources, and issues
Data collected during this project reveal the seafloor offshore of the California coast in unprecedented detail (for example, see the movie below) and provide an ecosystem context for the effective management of this precious marine resource.
Overview
Objective — create a comprehensive coastal/marine bathymetric, geologic, and habitat base map series for all state waters (MHHW - 3nm).
State Funding — 2006 Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84).
Federal Funding — NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Surveys; U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program; and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Basic Components
Bathymetry and Backscatter Data Collection — ship-based, high-resolution sonar data collection for all parts of the coast unmapped as of 2008, about 80% of California’s mainland waters. Visit progress page.
Data ground-truthing — video, still photography, or physical sampling of the seafloor. Visit progress page.
Subbottom profiling — high-resolution, seismic-reflection profiling to determine thickness and distribution of sediment and other geologic units, locations of active faults and folds, submarine landslides, and other features. Visit progress page.
GIS Data and Map Production — creation of GIS databases and multi-sheet folio map sets (1:24,000 scale), which will include bathymetry, geologic and habitat interpretation maps spanning the entire California land/sea margin. Visit map sheets page.
Data Management and Dissemination — creation of an online data repository for the public dissemination of all digital data and map products covering the California state waters. Visit GIS data and metadata page.
Acronyms
CDFW — California Department of Fish and Wildlife (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov)
CMSP — Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
COPC — California Ocean Protection Council (http://www.opc.ca.gov)
CSMP — California Seafloor Mapping Program
CSUMB — SFML — California State University at Monterey Bay Seafloor Mapping Lab (http://seafloor.otterlabs.org)
GIS — geograpic information system
MHHW — mean higher high water
MLML — Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (https://www.mlml.calstate.edu)
MLPA — California Marine Life Protection Act
MPA — Marine Protected Area
NAMSS — USGS National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (https://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/namss/)
NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (https://www.noaa.gov/)
PCMSC — Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc)
USGS — U.S. Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov)
Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats
Seafloor resource managers and modelers need seafloor maps that can be combined in GIS, modeling, and statistical analysis environments and related successfully to biologic and oceanographic data. The Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats Project encompasses mapping activities and the development of new mapping systems and methodologies. The emphasis is on the role of geologic...
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Date published: December 31, 2019Status: ActiveCalifornia Seafloor Mapping Program mapping progress
Table shows USGS California Seafloor Mapping Program progress by block number, as of August 2019.
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Date published: October 30, 2018Status: ActiveCalifornia Seafloor Mapping Program data collection
Here we describe the data collection methods and techniques of the California Seaflor Mapping Program: mapping, video and photography ground-truthing, and seismic profiling data collection.
Contacts: Guy R Cochrane, PhD, Samuel Y Johnson -
Date published: October 30, 2018Status: ActiveCalifornia Seafloor Mapping Program map-set production
USGS and the California Ocean Protection Council (COPC) are supporting development of peer-reviewed map sets for California’s mainland State Waters.
Contacts: Guy R Cochrane, PhD, Samuel Y Johnson -
Date published: October 30, 2018Status: ActiveCalifornia State Waters Map Series: Map sheets and accompanying pamphlet
The map sheets display seafloor morphology and character, identify potential marine benthic habitats, and illustrate both the surficial seafloor geology and shallow (to about 100 m) subsurface geology. The total number of sheets varies by area but always includes a core of the same 10 sheets and may include specialty sheets depending on the region. The available sheet sets are listed by study...
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Date published: October 30, 2018Status: ActiveCalifornia Seafloor Mapping Program applications
California Seafloor Mapping Program data and map publications have and will be used for a large range of applications in coastal zone management and research.
Contacts: Guy R Cochrane, PhD, Samuel Y Johnson
Controls on sediment distribution in the coastal zone of the central California transform continental margin, USA
We use >10,000 km of high-resolution seismic-reflection data together with multibeam bathymetry to document complex and highly variable post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) sediment distribution and thickness in the coastal zone (~10 m isobath to 5.6 km offshore) along a ~800 km section of central California's transform...
Johnson, Samuel; Beeson, Jeffrey W.; Watt, Janet; Sliter, Ray; Papesh, Antoinette
Offshore shallow structure and sediment distribution, Punta Gorda to Point Arena, Northern California
This publication consists of two map sheets that display shallow geologic structure, along with sediment distribution and thickness, for an approximately 150-km-long offshore section of the northern California coast between Punta Gorda and Point Arena. Each map sheet includes three maps at scales of either 1:100,000 or 1:200,000, and together the...
Beeson, Jeffrey W.; Johnson, Samuel Y.
Offshore shallow structure and sediment distribution, Point Sur to Point Arguello, central California
This publication consists of three map sheets that display shallow geologic structure, along with sediment distribution and thickness, for an about 225-km-long offshore section of the central California coast between Point Sur and Point Arguello. Each map sheet includes three maps, at scales of either 1:150,000 or 1:200,000, as well as a set of...
Johnson, Samuel Y.; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Watt, Janet T.; Beeson, Jeffrey W.; Dartnell, Peter Shallow structure and geomorphology along the offshore northern San Andreas Fault, Tomales Point to Fort Ross, California
We mapped a poorly documented 35-km-long section of the northern San Andreas fault zone (NSAF) between Tomales Point and Fort Ross, California. Mapping is largely based on high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles (38 fault crossings), multibeam bathymetry, and onshore geology. NSAF strike in this section is nearly parallel to plate motion,...
Johnson, Samuel; Beeson Jeffrey W.
California State Waters Map Series — Offshore of Point Conception, California
IntroductionIn 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed...
Johnson, Samuel Y.; Cochran, Susan A.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Dartnell, Peter; Cochrane, Guy R.; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Golden, Nadine E.; Kvitek, Rikk G.; Davenport, Clifton W.
California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Gaviota, California
IntroductionIn 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed...
Johnson, Samuel Y.; Cochran, Susan A.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Dartnell, Peter; Cochrane, Guy R.; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Golden, Nadine E.; Kvitek, Rikk G.; Davenport, Clifton W. The transtensional offshore portion of the northern San Andreas fault: Fault zone geometry, late Pleistocene to Holocene sediment deposition, shallow deformation patterns, and asymmetric basin growth
We mapped an ~120 km offshore portion of the northern San Andreas fault (SAF) between Point Arena and Point Delgada using closely spaced seismic reflection profiles (1605 km), high-resolution multibeam bathymetry (~1600 km2), and marine magnetic data. This new data set documents SAF location and continuity, associated tectonic...
Beeson, Jeffrey W.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Goldfinger, Chris The California Seafloor and Coastal Mapping Program – Providing science and geospatial data for California's State Waters
The California Seafloor and Coastal Mapping Program (CSCMP) is a collaborative effort to develop comprehensive bathymetric, geologic, and habitat maps and data for California's State Waters. CSCMP began in 2007 when the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) allocated funding for...
Johnson, Samuel Y.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Golden, Nadine; Dartnell, Peter; Hartwell, Stephen; Cochran, Susan A.; Watt, Janet
High-resolution seismic-reflection data from offshore northern California — Bolinas to Sea Ranch
The U.S. Geological Survey collected high-resolution seismic-reflection data in September 2009, on survey S-8-09-NC, offshore of northern California between Bolinas and Sea Ranch.The survey area spans about 125 km of California’s coast and extends around Point Reyes. Data were collected aboard the U.S. Geological Survey R/V Parke Snavely....
Sliter, Ray W.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Chin, John L.; Allwardt, Parker; Beeson, Jeffrey; Triezenberg, Peter J.
California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Monterey, California
IntroductionIn 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed...
Johnson, Samuel Y.; Cochran, Susan A.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Dartnell, Peter; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Golden, Nadine E.; Watt, Janet T.; Davenport, Clifton W.; Kvitek, Rikk G.; Erdey, Mercedes D.; Krigsman, Lisa M.; Sliter, Ray W.; Maier, Katherine L.
California State Waters Map Series—Monterey Canyon and vicinity, California
IntroductionIn 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed...
Dartnell, Peter; Cochran, Susan A.; Dartnell, Peter; Maier, Katherine L.; Erdey, Mercedes D.; Dieter, Bryan E.; Golden, Nadine E.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Ritchie, Andrew C.; Finlayson, David P.; Kvitek, Rikk G.; Sliter, Ray W.; Greene, H. Gary; Davenport, Clifton W.; Endris, Charles A.; Krigsman, Lisa M.
California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Santa Cruz, California
IntroductionIn 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the limit of California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed seafloor maps...
Cochrane, Guy R.; Cochran, Susan A.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Dartnell, Peter; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Erdey, Mercedes D.; Golden, Nadine E.; Greene, H. Gary; Dieter, Bryan E.; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Ritchie, Andrew C.; Finlayson, David P.; Endris, Charles A.; Watt, Janet T.; Davenport, Clifton W.; Sliter, Ray W.; Maier, Katherine L.; Krigsman, Lisa M.
California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog
This data catalog contains much of the data used to prepare the OFRs, SIRs, and SIMs in the California State Waters Map Series. Other data that were used to prepare the maps were compiled from previously published sources (for example, onshore geology) and, thus, are not included herein. GIS data files for map areas offshore of California are listed with a brief description, a small image, and...
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Date published: April 30, 2020Quaternary faults offshore of California
A comprehensive map of Quaternary faults has been generated for offshore of California. The Quaternary fault map includes mapped geometries and attribute information for offshore fault systems located in California State and Federal waters. The polyline shapefile has been compiled from previously published mapping where relatively dense, high-resolution marine geophysical data exist. The data...
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Date published: October 31, 2018California Seafloor Mapping Program video and photograph portal
The USGS presents video and photographs of seafloor segments off California, from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Oregon State line. The USGS collected this imagery as part of the California Seafloor Mapping Program, a large collaborative effort supported by the ...
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Date published: August 3, 2020A Research Retrospective: Offshore Fault Mapping of the San Andreas
Study of New Offshore Fault Mapping Related to the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: In 2019, for the first time ever, scientists comprehensively mapped a previously overlooked offshore section of the San Andreas Fault system which may provide insight on how the fault could rupture in the future.
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Date published: April 26, 2019Signs of 1906 Earthquake in Offshore Map of Northern San Andreas
Attribution: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center -
Date published: May 17, 2018USGS scientist visits Korea Institute of Geology and Mineral Industries
USGS research geologist Sam Johnson of the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) made an invited visit to the Korea Institute of Geology and Mineral Industries (KIGAM) in Daejon, South Korea, on April 24–26.
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Date published: April 18, 2016Gifts from the Sea
The USGS has completed the second phase of releasing thousands of photos and videos of the seafloor and coastline through their Coastal and Marine Video and Photography Portal.
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Date published: March 29, 2016New Maps Illuminate Monterey Bay Area Seafloor
Six new sets of maps reveal the diverse and complex range of seafloor habitats along 130 kilometers (80 miles) of the central California coast from the Monterey Peninsula north to Pigeon Point. The publicly available maps can be used by a large stakeholder community to understand and manage California’s vast and valuable marine resources.
Attribution: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center -
Date published: May 21, 2015New Maps Reveal Seafloor off San Francisco Area
Three new sets of maps detail the offshore bathymetry, habitats, geology and submarine environment of the seafloor off the coast of San Francisco, Drakes Bay, and Tomales Point.
Attribution: Water Resources