Timothy Elfers
I coordinate technical staff, vessels, warehouse, vehicles, and data-gathering equipment for the USGS Pacific Coastal Marine Science Center field activities. I coordinate with technical and scientific staff to plan near- and long-term, multi-faceted field operations and identify, procure, fabricate, install, repair, modify and test all new and existing data collection equipment.
I'm a northern California native, growing up in the small coastal/college town of Arcata, CA in the heart of Humboldt County. I studied oceanography and geology and started my career volunteering for a number of research cruises collecting sediment from the shelf and slope of the Eel River littoral zone. After graduation, I held various scientific support positions and have now been with the USGS for 18 years, starting as a marine technician and machinist before landing in my current role.
Science and Products
USGS Research Vessel Williams
USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's Research Vessel Williams.
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
USGS vessel Fast Eddy
USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's vessel Fast Eddy
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac.
Piston coring rig
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Marine Facility recently acquired this floating coring rig that features a motorized piston coring unit and is capable of collecting 20-meter sediment cores in calm waters.
MarFac Dive Team
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, maintains a certified scientific dive team.
PCMSC vessel San Lorenzo
Above, the view through the windshield of San Lorenzo reveals a perfect work day on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Rio Vista, California.
PCMSC research vessel Parke Snavely
Information about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel Parke Snavely, acquired in November 2007.
PCMSC MarFac Team
Below is the list of our fieldwork specialists at PCMSC's Marine Facility, or MarFac.
PCMSC MarFac Vessels
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center uses a wide variety of vessels, from kayaks to open-ocean ships, to conduct fieldwork. Most vessels are managed by our Marine Facility, or MarFac.
PCMSC vessel Jewell
Above, Jewell is prepared for a day of sampling on Grizzly Bay
Science and Products
USGS Research Vessel Williams
USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's Research Vessel Williams.
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
USGS vessel Fast Eddy
USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's vessel Fast Eddy
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac.
Piston coring rig
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Marine Facility recently acquired this floating coring rig that features a motorized piston coring unit and is capable of collecting 20-meter sediment cores in calm waters.
MarFac Dive Team
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, maintains a certified scientific dive team.
PCMSC vessel San Lorenzo
Above, the view through the windshield of San Lorenzo reveals a perfect work day on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Rio Vista, California.
PCMSC research vessel Parke Snavely
Information about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel Parke Snavely, acquired in November 2007.
PCMSC MarFac Team
Below is the list of our fieldwork specialists at PCMSC's Marine Facility, or MarFac.
PCMSC MarFac Vessels
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center uses a wide variety of vessels, from kayaks to open-ocean ships, to conduct fieldwork. Most vessels are managed by our Marine Facility, or MarFac.
PCMSC vessel Jewell
Above, Jewell is prepared for a day of sampling on Grizzly Bay