I. INTRODUCTION

This document constitutes the eighth in a series of coral monitoring reports required by the U.S. Corps of Engineers (USCOE) permit, which was issued to IOTA Partners for the archeological excavation of the Santa Margarita, a Spanish galleon which sank on Rota's fringing reef in 1601.

Special Condition 3 required the establishment of a monitoring plan to examine the health of adjacent corals at two permanent sites throughout the duration of the project. As discussed in previous monitoring reports, four permanent coral reference sites were identified and marked with rebar for easy identification by divers: two sites were positioned up-current from the "project site area" while two sites were situated down-current. These two sites were further delineated into shallow and deep water (left photo). Coral colonies at each reference site are photo-documented for use by the regulatory agencies in determining their general health. The purpose of this condition was to be able to identify early on, impacts to reference corals and thus provide the opportunity for specific data collection to determine whether the impacts were originating from project related activities. If further research correlates coral impacts to project activities, then additional mitigative measures would be developed and implemented.

This report will focus on coral monitoring issues associated with USCOE permit conditions while the water quality aspect of this permit condition are fully addressed by the Section 401 Water Quality Certification issued by the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on 5 February 1999. IOTA Partners continues to follow the required procedure for water sampling as set forth by DEQ. An ambient (i.e. before dredging) set of water samples (one 2-feet below the water surface and one 2-feet above the bottom) is obtained a minimum of 100-meters up-current from the excavation area prior to the day’s excavation. A second compliance set of water samples are obtained four hours after excavation commences approximately 100-feet down-current from the excavation area. If excavation activities exceed an 8-hour period on any given day, then a second set of water samples are obtained from the compliance site. The resulting turbidity measurements from the days water samples are then FAXed to the DEQ that evening. IOTA obtains water samples and turbidity readings on any day excavation occur in addition to other practical times diving occurs. Field personnel who obtain water samples and a HACH 2100N Turbidimeter used to measure water quality have all been previously approved by the DEQ. Calibration of the Turbidimeter is done at the beginning of each dive season. In 2004, the unit was calibrated in the beginning of June using 2004 Stabilized Formazin Standards obtained from HACH. Compliance with the Section 401 WQC is assumed to cover the turbidity related requirements identified in the USCOE permit conditions.

II. MITIGATION MEASURES IMPLEMENTED

A. SEDIMENT PLUME CONTROL:

IOTA continued to use a sediment tent system to minimize the effects of any sediment plume generated by project related activities. A new tent material approximately 60 feet by 30 feet was deployed on July 9, prior to the 2004 work season. By its shear size and the awkwardness of working with it underwater, the sediment tent took approximately one day to assembled and one or two more days to adjust and readjust for optimum sediment capture. The structure, semi-enclosed on three sides with one open end to receive the discharge, was secured onto a rope frame and tied off. The tent itself sat over a part of the sand pit extending slightly above the sand substrate. The two discharge pipes, positioned at the entrance, were directed along the length of the semi-enclosure. The 2004 sediment tent being assembled and in use, taken on July 9 and July 17, can be seen below.

B. OTHER MEASURES:

The 2004 dive season was plagued with numerous problems such as record setting storms passing through the area (figure 1), limited divers and equipment failures. Consequently, no hydraulic units were even in operation during the short excavation year. There were only two water pumps in use and not both were running full time.

III. ASSESSMENT OF REFERENCE CORALS

Due to record setting storms passing through the Northern Marianas this year, coral health on the North shores of Rota including the Santa Margarita site has been severely damaged. Typhoon Tingting, passing through the last few days in June and typhoon Chaba, passing through August 21st (figure 2.01 and 2.02) damaged surrounding north facing reefs at IOTA’s underwater archeological site. On-land debris that has washed out onto the reef as well as the surrounding sand pits can be seen in photographs 3.01 through 3.10 (taken on October 12, November 2, and November 7, 2004). Although most of the debris consist of timber other foreign matters such as tin roofing and aluminum cans were also observed.

Various coral species showing degrees of damage can be observed in photographs 4.01 through 4.10. These photos were taken Down-current along the reef at various depths on October 12, November 2, and November 7, 2004.

Photographs 5.01 through 5.14 were taken Up-current along various depths of the reef on the same dates mentioned above. Evident from many Stylophora sp. were broken and dead branches (5.03) and heavy algae growth (5.01 and 5.10), indicative of abnormally heavy silt and debris in the water for continuously long period of time. Porites sp. and Favia sp. showed similar ailments.

Photographs of corals from the four reference sites were taken also taken on October 12, November 2, and November 7, 2004. Representative corals found at each reference site are shown in photographs 6.01 through 6.06, 7.01 through 7.06, 8.01 through 8.06 and 9.01 through 9.06. Observations and qualitative assessment can be made as follows: Because of two recent typhoons (Tingting and Chaba) a broad number of coral species including but not limited to species of Stylophora, Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites and Favia monitored and mentioned in previous reports showed various stages of distress and or death. This year’s devastating events were evident all around the Santa Margarita site. It is unfortunate, but predictable, given the unusually large volume of silt and debris that has washed out onto the coral reefs (photographs 11.01 through 11.06). Verification of these observations can probably be found from the CNMI’s Coral Monitoring Team’s reports. The team was on Rota conducting their surveys sometime after typhoon Chaba. IOTA welcomes any inputs and recommendations from the Coral Monitoring Team.

Photographs 10.01 through 10.04 were taken on November 7, 2004 showing an IOTA diver adding rebars to the four coral monitoring sites. Some of the rebar have rusted off and or have too much algae growth, making it very difficult to see, especially during rough seas and poor visibility.