Bathymetric and acoustic-backscatter mapping of Lake Sammamish, Washington, during USGS field activity 2021-656-FA
September 26, 2025
In 2021, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) acquired bathymetric and acoustic-backscatter data within Lake Sammamish, Washington. Mapping was completed to find evidence of past earthquakes such as underwater landslides and is part of a larger USGS project to understand the overall geologic hazards history of the Cascadia Margin region. The survey was conducted using the USGS research vessel Parke Snavely outfitted with an interferometric sidescan-sonar system for swath mapping. Three estimates of bathymetric uncertainty were calculated from the post-processed bathymetric data. This report provides a summary of the mapping mission.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Title | Bathymetric and acoustic-backscatter mapping of Lake Sammamish, Washington, during USGS field activity 2021-656-FA |
| DOI | 10.3133/dr1207 |
| Authors | Peter Dartnell, Daniel S. Brothers, Brian Sherrod, Gerry Hatcher, Daniel Powers, Jenna Hill, Jackson Currie, Peter Dal Ferro |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Data Report |
| Series Number | 1207 |
| Index ID | dr1207 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
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Bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data for Lake Sammamish, Washington collected during USGS field activity 2021-656-FA Bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data for Lake Sammamish, Washington collected during USGS field activity 2021-656-FA
The Pacific Northwest is home to numerous faults that cut through the surrounding crust including the Seattle fault. Over time, frictional stresses accumulate along these faults, building slowly until they exceed the fault's strength, resulting in an earthquake. Evidence of these earthquakes may be found in Pacific Northwest lakes. Past underwater landslides caused by the earthquakes...
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Jenna C Hill
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Bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data for Lake Sammamish, Washington collected during USGS field activity 2021-656-FA Bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data for Lake Sammamish, Washington collected during USGS field activity 2021-656-FA
The Pacific Northwest is home to numerous faults that cut through the surrounding crust including the Seattle fault. Over time, frictional stresses accumulate along these faults, building slowly until they exceed the fault's strength, resulting in an earthquake. Evidence of these earthquakes may be found in Pacific Northwest lakes. Past underwater landslides caused by the earthquakes...
Peter Dartnell (Former Employee)
Physical Scientist
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Danny Brothers
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Email
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Jenna C Hill
Research Geologist
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Email
Phone
Jackson Currie
Physical Scientist
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Email
Phone