N PS ARCHIVE
1968
MORITZ, C.

A DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY OF THE HEAD OF
CARMEL SUBMARINE CANYON

by

Carl Arthur Moritz

DIDLEY KNOX LIBRARY

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

MOMTFRFY PA qmi-5101

UNITED STATES
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

THESIS

A DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY OF THE HEAD OF
CARMEL SUBMARINE CANYON

by

Carl Arthur Moritz, Jr,

December 1968

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LIBRARY

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

MONTEREY, CALIF. 93940

A DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY OF THE HEAD OF

CARMEL SUBMARINE CANYON

by

Carl Arthur Moritz, Jr.
Lieutenant, United States Navy
B.S., Naval Academy, 19 62

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCEANOGRAPHY

from the

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
December 1968

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ABSTRACT
Scuba dive observations made in Carmel Submarine Canyon
revealed the existence of rock outcrops of granodiorite on
both sides of the canyon head. Five distinct bottom tvpes
were found: (1) rock outcrops and boulders, (2) coarse
sand, (3) fine sand containing benthic organisms, (4) a silty
clay layer underlying coarse sand, and (5) an organic sedi-
ment mate Rocky bottomed terraces on both sides of the can-
yon head are at the same level and appear to have been eroded
at a previous lowered sea level. The coarse sand areas,
characterized by steep slopes, are considered to be areas of
active sand movement. The fine sand bottoms were found to
be relatively stationary although dead kelp material moves
over its surface. Thin silty clay deposits considered to
be of lagoonal or estuarine origin are found underlying sand
at the north side of the canyon head. An organic sediment
mat of undetermined thickness was found in a swale which
appeared to be a slump scar. Mechanical erosion of the rock
from both sand movement and the action of encrusting organ-
isms is evident.

LIBRARY

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

MONTEREY, CALIF. 93940

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 8

INTRODUCTION 9

A. Objective 9

B. Past Studies 9

C. Geomorphology of Carmel Canyon Area ... 14

1. Location 14

2. Topography and Rock Outcrops 14

3. Relation to Faults 18

4. Type of Canyon 18

FIELD WORK 19

A. Diving Schedule 19

B. Reference Stakes 19

C. Bottom Slope Measurements 25

D. Sand Sample Collection 26

E. Photography 26

F. Bathymetric Survey 27

DIVING OBSERVATIONS 29

A. Topography 29

B. Bottom Types 31

1. Rocky Bottoms 31

2. Sand Bottoms . 35

a. Coarse Sand 35

b. Fine Sand 4 3

PAGE

3. Minor Bottom Types 4 6

a. Silt Layer 46

b. Organic Sediment Mat 50

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 51

BIBLIOGRAPHY 52

APPENDIX I 53

Field Notes of Scuba Dives Into the Head of
Carmel Submarine Canyon.

APPENDIX II 74

List of Major References Reviewed Concerning
Submarine Canyons and Underwater Observations

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGE

I Sand Level and Slope Measurements at

Reference Stakes 40

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FIGURE PAGE

1. Map of Monterey Bay Region 11

2. Map of Carmel Bay 12

3. Physiographical and Geological Features

Near Carmel Canyon Head Area (Map) .... 13

4. Photograph of San Jose Creek Breakthrough. 17

5. Chart Showing Path of Dives 20

6. Chart Showing Bottom Topography and
Reference-Stake Positions 21

7. Photograph of Equipment Used 2 2

8. Chart Showing Rock Outcrops and Bottom

Types 30

9. Photograph of Rocks at 200 Feet 36

10. Photograph of Large Ripple Marks 37

11. Photograph of Coarse Sand Bottom With
Beach-Derived Material 38

12. Photograph of Contact Between Fine

Sand and Rock 44

13. Photograph of Fine Sand Bottom With
Beach-Derived Material 45

14. Photograph of Micaceous Silty Clay Between
Crests of Ripple Marks 48

15. Photograph of Well-Rounded Chunk of

Silty Clay Material. . 49

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to express appreciation for the advice
and encouragement of Professor Warren C. Thompson under whose
direction this study was carried out, and for photographic
and other materials provided by an Office of Naval Research
Foundation Grant to Professor Thompson.

In addition, the author is indebted to Lieutenant S. R.
Wallin, USN , who, while working on a related studv, was a
most able and enjoyable diving partner. Also especially
helpful was Commander D. R. Ferrin, USN (Ret) , whose diving
assistance and knowledge of the Carmel Canyon area was most
valuable. Other diving partners included Lieutenants B. R.
Googins and R. J. Lennox, USN, Major W. H. Bond, USMC, and
T. E. Maudlin.

Appreciation is also expressed to Mr. Charles Mehlert
and Mr. Donald Rich of the Monterey Office of the Califor-
nia Department of Natural Resources, Division of Beaches
and Parks, for their whole-hearted cooperation in this
study.

INTRODUCTION

A. OBJECTIVE

During the spring and summer of 1967, the author made
several recreational dives in and around the head of Carmel
Submarine Canyon and became fascinated by the great variety
of geological and biological features available in this
small underwater area. A literature survey revealed that
relatively little has been done by way of direct observa-
tion of Carmel Submarine Canyon. To date the only extensive
detailed underwater observation of Carmel Canyon was a bio-
logical exploration by McLean (1968). It was the author's
purpose to conduct a comprehensive underwater examination
of the canyon head. The picture derived of the underwater
canyon that is presented herein incorporates observations
and results from previous studies.

B. PAST STUDIES

Shepard and Emery (1941) made a detailed bathymetric
survey of the Carmel Canyon head and concluded that from
1934 to 1939 a net fill amounting to 18 feet had taken place
along the floor of the canyon in the inner section close to
the beach. They felt that deposition was so rapid that the
head would be largely filled within a few years unless a
slide occurred.

Martin (1964) , in a structural study of the Monterey Can-
yon system, pointed out that Carmel Canyon trends due west
in a straight line for 3 miles and then abruptly turns

northwest for 12 miles before intersecting Monterey Canyon
(Figure 1) . The nearshore reaches of Carmel Canyon are re-
ported as containing igneous rocks of granodioritic comnosi-
tion. Because of the proximity to the Santa Lucia grano-
diorite exposed in the area, the igneous rocks collected from
the seafloor are considered part of the same pluton. These
rocks are dated as late Cretaceous or about 81.6 million
years. Martin reported that Monastery Beach at the head of
Carmel Canyon (Figure 2) was comoosed of sands which are
apparently weathered from the granodiorites along the imme*
diate coast. Sediments from the canyon axis were also found
to consist principally of material derived from a grano-
diorite source. Martin goes on to propose the genesis of
Carmel Canyon in post-Late Cretaceous time and discusses its
relationship to Monterey Submarine Canyon.

Dill has made several dives into the head of Carmel Can-
yon and reported precipitous granite walls with several trib-
utaries entering as hanging valleys (Shepard and Dill, 1966).

McLean (1968), beginning in the fall of 1960, made some
50 to 60 biological collecting dives on the rock outcroD lo-
cated on the northern side of the canyon head. About one
acre of area was covered at depths ranging from 60 to 20 0
feet. He was able to identify approximately 500 species of
invertebrates and algae, including 122 species of mollusks.

10

FIGURE 1
Map of Monterey Bay Region
11

FIGURE 2

Map of Carmel Bay

12

0

I I I

SANTA LUCIA GRANODIORITE
VW.?. CARMELO CONGLOMERATE
%:};;*. BEACH SAND

FAULT

M I Hi OLD BEACH

FIGURE 3

Physiographical and Geological Features Near Carmel
Canvon Head Area (Mao)

13

C. GEOMORPHOLOGY OF CARMEL CANYON AREA

1 . Location

Carmel Canyon in Carmel Bay is located at the mouth of
San Jose Creek, about one-half mile south of the point where
Carmel River reaches the ocean (Figure 2) . The beach at the
head of the submarine canyon is known as Monastery Beach and
is located at latitude 36° 32' N and longitude 121° 56' W.

2 . Topography and Rock Outcrops

The southern edge of Carmel Bay between Granite Point
and Monastery Beach is a rocky sea cliff about 20 and 45 feet
in height. Landward of the sea cliff at a height of about 65
feet above sea level is evidence of an old beach (Figure 3) .
The area between the cliffs and the old beach is a marine
terrace, the upper layer of which is a thin stratum of uncon-
solidated sands and gravels. These terrace gravels were de-
posited probably during the last interglacial epoch when sea
level was higher than at present (Bowen, 1965). Shell frag-
ments are found in places on the terrace deposits and repre-
sent kitchen debris from abandoned Indian campsites. One of
the granodiorite exposures on this terrace contains several
Indian grain-grinding holes. Another higher marine terrace
at an approximate elevation of 300 feet may be seen on the
hillside behind the bay.

Beginning at Granite Point in Point Lobos State Park,
the cliffs are about 30 feet high and are composed of grano-
diorite of the Santa Lucia Formation of late Cretaceous age
(Bowen, 1965). To the east, near the boundarv of Point Lobos

14

State Park, is an outcrop about 100 yards wide of the Carmelo
Formation (Paleocene) which consists of conglomerate, sand-
stone, and mudstone in a steep fault contact with the grano-
diorite (Figure 3). Some graded bedding is evident in places.
The cobbles within the conglomerate are well rounded and of
various sizes. They are mostly of volcanic origin and are
composed mainly of rhyolite and dacite porphyry. The Carmelo
Formation is exposed in several parts of Point Lobos State
Park.

The granodiorite continues eastward around the shoreline
of the bay and ends abruptly at the southern edge of Monastery
Beach. At this point there is another small outcrop of Car-
melo conglomerates and sandstones (Figure 3) in a steeo fault
contact with the granodiorite.

Monastery Beach lies along the front of the alluviated
lower course of San Jose Creek. The beach is about 700 yards
long and is composed of coarse-grained quartz-feldspar sand
of principally granodioritic origin and secondary amounts of
metamorphic constituents, mainly quartzite. Pebbles of da-
cite and rhyolite prophyry are found in small amounts and
presumably come from the Carmelo conglomerate in the area. A
few pebbles of siliceous shale were also found and presumably
are from the Monterey Formation (middle Miocene) that out-
crops in the hills behind the bay.

The entire beach face is very steep varying between 10°
and 35° . The crest of the beach is about 15 feet above the
MLLW tide level and acts as a barrier which normally prevents

15

San Jose Creek from emptying into the ocean. The beach face
is crescent shaped and is usually marked over its entire length
by pronounced cusps.

San Jose Creek enters the backshore area near the center
of the beach (Figure 2) . The creek bed turns north and runs
parallel to the beach crest to the north end of the beach
where it is blocked most of the time by the beach crest. San
Jose Creek breaks through the bar on rare occasions when the
runoff is sufficient (Figure 4) . The entire creek bed behind
the beach crest is normally dry except after heavy rains or
during periods of heavy surf causing overwash into the back-
shore area.

At the northern end of the beach is a small outcrop of
sandstone and conglomerate, which may be a part of the Cham-
isal Formation (middle Miocene) which is found on a ridge be-
hind the Carmelite Monastery. The pebbles and boulders with-
in the conglomerate are very angular indicating local origin,
and display graded bedding. They are composed of granodio-
rite and shale. Lying directly on this formation is a thin
layer of clayey black humus covered by rounded pebbles and
boulders within a matrix of sandy soil. The pebbles and
boulders are probably the remains of an old beach terrace
(W. C. Thompson, personal communication).

Extending upcoast from the north end of Monastery Beach
is a low seacliff composed of granodiorite. It extends sev-
eral hundred yards to Carmel River Beach and is interrupted
in several places by small pocket beaches.

16

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3. Relation to Faults

Martin (1964) reported that the head of Carmel Sub-
marine Canyon is fault controlled and quotes Bowen as stat-
ing that a fault exists which runs east-west along the San
Jose Creek Canyon. Bowen calls this the Carmel Vallev Fault
and reports a difference in Miocene foraminiferal fauna ex-
isting in strata on opposing sides of the valley.

Martin suggests that erosion of Carmel Submarine Canyon
may have been facilitated by a zone of weakness along this
fault. He further suggests that the northern side of the
canyon may be the scarp of an up-thrown block. As evidence
indicating this, he cites scuba dives into the head which
show a steep north wall composed of granodiorite and a south
wall covered by sloping sand deposits.

4 . Type of Canyon

Shepard and Dill (1966) describe Carmel Submarine
Canyon as a drowned river valley with a dendritic tributarv
system of several arms extending into bays along the shore.
They further state that the canyon appears to be a seaward
extension of San Jose Creek Canyon, the mouth of which has
been filled with alluvium by San Jose Creek. Both the land
canyon and submarine canyon are cut in granodiorite at their
juncture at the coast, and both are steep walled. Measure-
ments by Shepard and Dill show that the average gradient of
the land canyon to the coast is one-fifth that of the submar-
ine canyon.

18

FIELD WORK

A. DIVING SCHEDULE

The observations reported in this thesis are largely vis-
ual and a result of numerous scuba dives into and around the
head of Carmel Canyon. General exploratory dives began in
January 1968. These dives were made with the objective of
exploring as much area as possible and to become familiar
with its underwater topography. These dives were mostly made
on weekends and were unrecorded for the purposes of this the-
sis. The total area covered by these initial dives and the
subsequent recorded dives was about 20 acres (Figure 5) . A
series of 16 diving surveys were later made from July through
November 1968. The logs of these dives are presented in
Appendix I.

All dives were conducted as a joint operation with Lieu-
tenant S. R. Wallin, USN , who was conducting a study of the
sediments in and around the head of Carmel Submarine Canyon.

B. REFERENCE STAKES

The first task undertaken underwater was to plant refer-
ence stakes along the 10 0- foot contour and to measure the
sand level and slope angle at the stakes. The 100-foot level
was chosen in order to minimize the effect of sand movement
by surface swell and yet be shallow enough to allow sufficient
bottom time for diving. It was hoped that areas of sediment
transport into the canyon could be determined from changes in

19

0IVE3 8,10,11, AND \%
DUPLICATE THE PATH6
OF DIVES I AND 2

FIGURE 5
Chart Showing Path of Dives
20

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DEPTHS IN FEET

SITE I

FIGURE 6

Chart Showing Bottom Topography
and Reference-Stake Positions

21

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22

these measurements. Results obtained however, were inconclu-
sive. The location of the stakes is shown in Figure 6.

The reference stakes were made by the Naval Postgraduate
School (NPGS) Machine Facility and consisted of 1-inch alu-
minum I rods , 7 feet in length and marked with a narrow paint
strip every 0.1 feet (Figure 7). The stakes were driven into
the bottom by means of a tool made of a 3-inch diameter pipe
welded shut at one end. The tool was slipped over the top
of the stake and by means of handles welded to the sides was
used in the manner of a jack-hammer. Stakes were driven
along the 100-foot contour at 20-yard intervals. Once the
stakes were in place, small aluminum numbering tags were
attached to the top with wire clips for identification.
Every fifth stake was marked with a small buoy cut from sty-
rofoam, and its position was fixed by means of two transits
set up at either end of the beach.

The stake planting operation was accomplished by using
four divers and two transit men. The divers positioned a
small boat near the point where the first stake was to be
planted (adjacent to the rock outcrop on the north wall).
The first pair of divers entered the water and found the 100-
foot contour using an oil-filled depth gauge. The team of
divers remaining in the boat lowered a package of stakes over
the side which were retrieved by the submerged team. Stakes
had been pre-packaged in groups of five in a manner such that
they could be removed individually with the first stake con-
taining a styrofoam buoy. The stake positions were marked by

23

placing the boat above the underwater position as determined
both by the attached buoy and bubbles released by the divers,
and calling for a transit fix via walkie-talkie. The distance
between stakes was measured by means of a pre-cut line 20
yards in length with metal rings spliced into each end. While
one diver held a ring at the just-installed stake, the second
diver (with oil-filled depth gauge) would take the other end
of the line and swim along the 100- foot contour until the line
was taut. Tug signals on the line indicated the arrival at
the next position.

The operation proceeded smoothly but was limited by the
small amount of underwater time available to complete the
work. On the first dive, using single 72 cubic-inch tanks,
the bottom time before depleting the air supply for the two
pair of divers was 13 minutes and 10 minutes respectively.
This was a result of the fact that any work underwater re-
quires much more effort than on land and, consequently, a
diver doing work has a higher than normal breathing rate.
As a result, both teams of divers planted only a total of
seven stakes the first day. At this point it was decided
that any future dives requiring work would be done with dou-
ble tanks to increase bottom time. Regardless of the number
of tanks used on a dive, however, the limit of bottom time at
100 feet for a dive not requiring decompression is 25 minutes.
In order to be safe, we elected to limit ourselves to dives
not requiring decompression. One additional dive completed
what we believed at that time to be a sufficient number of

24

stake installations to satisfy our requirements - a total of
16 stakes covering a linear distance of 320 yards. Three more
stakes were later added along the southern wall of the canyon
head (Figure 6) P The stakes were left in place following com-
pletion of this study.

C. BOTTOM SLOPE MEASUREMENTS

Measurements of the slope of the seafloor were taken at
each stake position. This was accomplished by means of a
navigation board (Figure 7) . The board was made locally by
the NPGS Machine Facility and consisted of a 12 x 15-inch
sheet of 1/8-inch plexiglas engraved with inches along one
edge and an arc of angles from 0° to 90° marked every 5°.
The bottom slope was measured by means of a plumb line at-
tached to the board, and angles could be estimated to an ac-
curacy of ±2° .

Mounted on the board was an oil- filled depth gauge and an
underwater compass. Also engraved on the board was a table
for recording camera settings. Notes were taken and measure-
ments recorded by writing on the board with a grease pencil.
The navigation board proved to be a most useful piece of equip-
ment. The original board and gauges were later lost in heavy
surf and had to be replaced. Slope measurements were taken
three times and are presented as Table 1. Slope measurements
were affected by kelp pieces and other material lying on the
bottom and are therefore only estimates of the sand slope in
some areas.

25

D. SAND SAMPLE COLLECTION

A total of 70 bottom samples for the sediment study under-
taken by Wallin (1968) were collected at two separate times.
The first group of samples was taken from a small boat by
means of a clamshell grab. The boat's position was marked
by transit angles from the beach. The clamshell grab proved
to be only moderately successful in that the closing mech-
anism sometimes jammed with the result that no sample was re-
trieved.

A second set of samples was taken by a more direct means.
Two divers were towed by a small boat to areas where the
original sampling effort had not been satisfactory. In these
areas, a dive to the bottom was made and a sample secured in
a small glass jar. Position marking during this sample col-
lection was by sextant angle from the two previously estab-
lished transit positions on the beach and from two other sur-
vey points.

E. PHOTOGRAPHY

During most dives, underwater photographs were taken of
both biological and geological features. The camera used was
a Rolleiflex model 3.5F in a Rolleimarin underwater housing
(Figure 7). The film used throughout was 120 Ektachrome X,
ASA 64, using both clear and blue flashbulbs (General Elec-
tric 5 and 5B) , depending on the subject distance. Initial
efforts with the camera were only moderately successful due

26

to problems with the flash mechanism. When scheduled survey
dives began in July, photographs were taken on all dives ex-
cept those associated with stake installation.

F. BATHYMETRIC SURVEY

The latest published bathymetric charts available for the
area around Carmel Canyon are a Coast and Geodetic Survey
smooth sheet completed in 1933 (H-5453) and a chart constructed
by Shepard and Emery (1941) . Both are small-scale charts and
do not show the canyon head in sufficient detail for the pur-
poses of this study. Our diving observations indicated both
charts to be in error in the area near the rock outcrop on
the north wall and also near a rocky area on the south wall
of the canyon head. It was therefore considered necessary to
conduct a detailed bathymetric survey of the limited area of
the canyon head covered by the diving survey. The major re-
sponsibility for this work was undertaken by Lieutenant C. L.
Kiethly, USN , a graduate student at the Naval Postgraduate
School. The survey, in which this writer participated, was
conducted using a small boat carrying a battery-operated
Apelco Portable Depth Recorder Model MR-201B with the trans-
ducer mounted over the side by a specially made clamp device
(Figure 7) . The boat slowly criss-crossed the area many
times in various directions and its position was fixed at 10
to 15 second intervals by two transits located at either end
of a base line laid out on Monastery Beach, to which commands
were given via walkie-talkie. The fathogram was marked at the
moment each position fix was taken. More than 500 fixes were

obtained in this manner.

27

The portable depth recorder is advertised as being capable
of recording depths to 240 feet but the maximum depth attained
by this instrument was 160 feet. This necessitated another
survey of the deeper parts of the canyon head. The deeper
survey was performed using the 6 3- foot NPGS Hydrographic Re-
search Vessel with a Bendix precision depth recorder. Again,
transit angle positioning was used.

The area covered by the bathymetric survey is shown in
Figure 6. The bottom contours in the figure are at an irreg-
ular interval, and were selected so as to display the impor-
tant topographic features of the seafloor.

28

DIVING OBSERVATIONS

A. TOPOGRAPHY

The general underwater topography of the area included
in our diving survey was quite remarkable in its variation
from near-vertical rocky cliffs to almost featureless sand
flats. The head of the canyon near Monastery Beach is a
sandy bowl-shaped structure with slopes varying from 20° to
30° that is rimmed by the crescent-shaped beach (Figure 8) .

The north wall of the canyon head is a steep granodiorite
cliff composed mainly of large boulders and rounded country
rock (Figure 8). The cliff begins at depths between 20 and
60 feet and continues downward to depths varying between 90
feet and in excess of 200 feet on the canyon wall. At the
bottom of the cliff is a sand slope which extends downward
at an angle of about 35°. The southern edge of this outcrop
extends landward in a direction nearly parallel to the can-
yon axis (Figure 8) . At the southern edge of the sandy bowl
at the head of the canyon lies another rock outcrop in the
form of a small, narrow ridge at depths ranging from 90 to
100 feet. This ridge is about 12 yards wide and 20 yards
long, oriented in a northwesterly direction, and appears to
control sand movement locally. It emerges from the sandy
slope in an area where the bottom contour contains an adja-
cent swale which appears to be a slump scar.

At this point, the 100-foot contour turns more toward the
west (or seaward) and continues as a sandy slooe in a westerly
direction for about 12 0 yards to where two other rock outcrops

29

FIGURE 8
Chart Showing Rock Outcrops and Bottom Tvoes

30

occur adjacent to each other. The shallowest of these expo-
sures extends in a northwesterly direction from 40 feet of
water to about 12 0 feet and appears to control sand movement
locally (Figure 8) .

About 15 yards in a northeasterly direction from the shal-
lower outcrop occurs a prominent rock mass in the shape of a
pinnacle. This outcrop juts out from the steep sand slope at
a depth of about 115 feet and rises sharply to a depth of
about 9 0 feet where it levels off for a short distance then
drops almost vertically to a depth in excess of 130 feet.
This particular outcrop is made up of a single mass of grano-
diorite. The size of this mass is about 40 yards in an east-
west direction and 15 yards in a north-south direction.

Surrounding the canyon head is a broad terrace conraosed
of either rock or coarse sand lying at a general depth of 20
to 30 feet. The canyon axis to the maximum depth of observa-
tion is a trough-shaped sand floor.

B. BOTTOM TYPES

1. Rocky Bottoms

Two extensive areas of rocky bottom exist in addition
to the rock outcrops previously mentioned. The area between
the north rim of the canyon and the shoreline is a granodio-
rite bottom consisting of boulders from a few feet to several
yards in diameter with sand between them. In addition, sev-
eral granodiorite masses of varying size are exposed in this
area. One mass is a rock that is awash (referred to locally
as the "wash rock") near the edge of the canyon about 150

31

yards off shore. This area from the shore to the edge of the
canyon is an extension of the granodiorite exposure in the
seacliff on the north end of the beach. The entire area is
covered by a dense canopy of Macrocystis pyrifera.

On the southern .side of the canyon is another area
of rock bottom extending outward about 60 to 100 yards along
the seacliff (Figure 8) . This area is similar in appearance
and physical characteristics to the rocky area on the northern
side of the canyon head. The entire area is covered by a
dense canopy of kelp. This rock-bottom ends abruptly in about
30 feet of water where it disappears beneath a sand bottom.

Rock samples were taken in several places on both
the northern and southern sides of the canyon at various
depths. The samples were obtained, sometimes with great dif-
ficulty, using a geologist's pick. All samples were grano-
diorite. When first taken, the rock was very hard and some
samples appeared to be fresh rock. After a couple of weeks
of drying in the air, however, the rock lost its cohesion and
pieces several inches in diameter were easily crumbled be-
tween the fingers.

All of the rock exposures seen on the seafloor,
with two possible exceptions, are composed of granodiorite.
During one dive on the rocky terrace at the northern side of
the canyon, one boulder of what was thought to be conglom-
erate was found and a few yards away a boulder of shale (or
possibly fine sandstone) was seen. It is not known if these
were in fact boulders or rounded country rock. These two rocks

32

were about 40 yards offshore from the small sandstone and con-
glomerate outcrop at the northern end of the beach. They pos-
sibly originated from or are a part of this formation although
large boulders of shale were not found either in the formation
or loose on the beach. Subsequent dives to find these rocks
for sampling purposes were unsuccessful so that the identifi-
cation has not been verified.

All exposed rock at depths of less than about 70
feet supports holdfasts of kelp. In shallower depths the
rocks are rich in encrusting organisms and various species of
kelp which is so thick that swimming is generally difficult.
Kelp holdfasts of Macrocystis and Nereocystis torn loose by
storms have been found on the bottom and on the beach which
contain angular rock fragments and cobbles. On the southern
rocky bottom area, Phylospadix (surf grass) was found growing
on rocks at depths between the surface and about 15 feet.
When a sample of surf grass was pulled from the rock, it was
found to be rooted in a 3/4-inch thick mass of encrusting
material including sponges, tunicates, and numerous worms of
various species. In addition, some of the rock surface in
the form of large angular grains was removed along with the
encrusting organisms. This suggests that the encrusting or-
ganisms play an important role in the submarine weathering of
rock.

In some places, the erosion or undercutting of
rock was easily observable. This was especially true in
areas where the wave surge between the rocks was strong. Much

33

kelp detritis was observed to be carried back and forth in
some of the surge areas. This served to grind up the kelo
more finely as well as being a possible aid toward submarine
erosion of rocks.

The sand level between the rocks shows evidence
of not remaining at a constant depth. Some of the rocks on
the southern terrace contain numerous barnacles at a depth of
25 feet. After one period of particularly heavy surf action,
the sand level was found to be about 6 inches above the level
of the lowest barnacle growth. In addition, a good number of
the barnacles had been broken off as much as a foot above the
sand level. In this same area, fresh, grey-colored, un-
encrusted granodiorite was not found without digging at least
6 inches below the sand level. On most dives, however, fresh
rock could be found at or an inch or two below the sand
level, indicating a relatively stable sand level.

On the rocky parts of the submerged terrace on
both sides of the canyon were many well-rounded boulder-like
masses extending only a few inches above the sand level. It
was not possible to determine whether these were indeed boul-
ders or whether they were weathered or abraided masses of
country rock such as is found exposed on the coast. In addi-
tion, rock was found in several places within this area by
digging a few inches into the sand.

During a deep dive to 200 feet down the rocky
cliff along the northern side of the canyon head, the rocks
were found to be covered with encrusting organisms. The lack

34

of allowable time at this depth precluded any sampling of or-
ganisms although a photograph taken at 200 feet shows sponges,
tunicates, and tube worms (Figure 9). Most of the rocks at
this depth were covered by a thin layer of silt. The slight-
est turbulence created by swimming would cause a small silt
cloud to emanate from the surface of the rocks.
2 . Sand Bottoms

a. Coarse Sand

The areas of extensive sand bottom only are
treated here; sand patches and filling around rocks in the
areas of rock bottom are not. Two distinctly different types
of sand bottoms were found, areas of coarse sand and of fine
sand.

Bottoms consisting of coarse-grained quartz-
feldspar sand having few or no benthic organisms form the
most extensive areas around the canyon head (Figure 8) . Most
of the south side of the canyon head between the canyon rim
and the rocky bottom area and extending hundreds of yards
westward from the large rock outcrop near Stakes #17 to #19
is a shallow-sloped broad terrace of coarse sand. The sand
bottom begins in about 30 feet of water and continues toward
the canyon to a depth of about 6 0 feet where an abrupt change
in slope occurs from less than 5° to 35°. The sand terrace
is characterized by large ripple marks 18 to 20 inches between
crests and 4 to 6 inches deep (Figure 10) . Their crests are
oriented perpendicular to the edge of the steep sand slope but
parallel to the dominant wave crests in this area. The steep

35

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36

37

38

sand slope in the canyon has a vertically oriented pattern of
fine lines on its surface, similar in appearance to rill marks,
which are readily visible. These lines are probably caused by
local downslope movement of sand grains by saltation and by
abrasion by kelp pieces. This type of bottom appears to be
an area of downslope sediment transport although the extent
of any mass movement is unknown.

The area between the canyon rim and Monastery
beach is also composed of coarse sand. The depth increases
rapidly offshore to about 15 feet and then becomes a broad
shallow sloped terrace to the edge of the canyon rim in about
60 feet of water. An extension of this coarse sand bottom to
the 100-foot level was found between Stakes #3 and #5 follow-
ing a period of heavy storm swell (Figure 8) . The area had a
strikingly clean appearance after the storm which it lacked
prior to the storm.

The coarse-grained sand normally has small amounts
of kelp pieces mixed in with it. Many beer cans, wine bot-
tles, and other beach-derived material was found here (Figure
11) . After a period of particularly heavy surf action in
October, however, the areas of coarse sand were found to be
devoid of beach-derived trash. In addition, some stakes
driven into the bottom in these areas were canted downslope.
Sand levels and slope angles measured at several stakes were
found to be changed (Table 1) .

39

TABLE I

BOTTOM SLOPE AND SAND LEVEL MEASUREMENTS
AT REFERENCE STAKES
(Location of Stakes Shown in Figure 6)

2 0 August

1968

STAKE

SAND LEVEL

ANGLE

NUMBER

(feet)
1.3

(degrees
38

! ) REMARKS

1

canted sideways

2

2.4

34

3

3.1

32

4

2. 8

25

coarse gravel & pebbles

5

1.0

28

much dead kelp

6

XXX

XX

missed (poor visibility)

7

XXX

XX

missed (poor visibility)

8

XXX

XX

missed (poor visibility)

9

1.6

20

10

XXX

XX

missed (poor visibility)

11

1.5

24

at foot of outcrop

12

2.0

35

13

1.8

25

14

—

out of air

15

—

out of air

16

—

out of air

*The sand level reading is relative to a zero mark at the
base of each stake.

40

TABLE I
(Continued)

10 September 1968

STAKE

SAND LEVEL

ANGLE

NUMBER

(feet)

(degrees)

13

1.8

30

14

1.8

20

15

2.7

30

16

2.4

30

17

1.7

40

18

3.0

32

19

2.2

45

REMARKS

in kelp mat
in kelp mat
in kelp mat

2 November 1968

STAKE

SAND LEVEL

ANGLE

NUMBER

(feet)

(degrees)

1

Stake down

32

2

2.6

32

3

3.1

32

4

2.9

35

5

1.2

32

6

1.5

20

7

1.3

22

8

2.5

15

9

1.7

14

10

1.8

20

11

1.6

34

REMARKS

tube worm & fine sand

coarse sand & pebbles

coarse sand & pebbles

coarse sand & pebbles

tube worms & dead kelD

tube worms & dead kelp

dead kelp

dead kelp & 3-1/2' bundle

fine sand

dead kelp

rocks

41

TABLE I
(Continued)

2 November 1968
(Continued)

STAKE

SAND LEVEL

ANGLE

NUMBER

(feet)

(degrees)
32

REMARKS

12

2,0

fine sand

13

1.8

29

slump position - dead kelD

14

1.8

13

dead kelp

15

2. 7

37

dead kelD

16

2. 3

29

dead kelp

17

1.8

38

medium sand - canted

18

3.0

37

medium sand - canted

19

1.6

35

medium sand

42

Another extensive area of coarse sand bottom is
located to the northwest of the wash rock on the northern can-
yon wall and terrace. A sandfall into the canyon at the
southern edge of this area was observed several .years ago by
divers (D. F. Ferrin, personal communication) .
b. Fine Sand

The fine sand bottoms are distinauished by con-
taining numerous benthic organisms , Darticularlv the burrow-
ing tube worm Diopatra ornata. It is not known how long it
takes for these worms to establish themselves, but their ex-
istence in such large numbers indicates that these areas are
probably very stable with little or no mass sediment movement
The tube worms extend about 6 inches below the surface of the
sand. In addition to tube worms there are a number of other
sedentary creatures including burrowing anemones, clams, sea
pens, etc. The sand in these areas is very fine and easily
stirred up by swimming.

A small area of fine sand bottom is located imme-
diately adjacent to the granodiorite exposure on the northern
edge of the bowl-shaped canyon head (Figure 8) . This area is
30 to 40 yards wide (between Stakes #1 and #3) at 100 feet.
The contact between this find sand bottom and the rock out-
crop is shown in Figure 12.

A larger area of the same type of sand and with
the same benthic organisms is located along the bowl-shaoed
region of the canyon between Stakes #5 and #10. This area is

43

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45

located in the uppermost part of the canyon head nearest the
beach and is about 100 yards wide. It appears to be inactive
as far as mass sediment movement is concerned.

During an early dive into the canyon in the summer
of 1967, a large real estate "FOR SALE" sign was observed in
the latter area. The sign was still there in August 1968 and
apparently unmoved, more than a year later (Figure 13) . Occa-
sional beer cans, swim masks, and other recent land-related
objects were also found in this area. In addition, observa-
tions at 100 feet in this area during periods of heavy swell
have shown movement of kelp detritus and saltation of fine
sand grains downslope. The presence of tube worms and other
organisms, however, is considered to indicate that slumping or
rapid mass movement is not common here.

After a period of particularly heavy surf in Octo-
ber 1968, this area was found to be covered in most parts by a
layer of kelp fragments from a few inches to a foot or more in
thickness. The tubeworms and fine sand, however, were found
intact beneath the layer. On another dive, detached kelp mov-
ing down the slope was found entangled on Stake #8 and formed
a bundle about 3.5 feet high around the stake.
3 . Minor Bottom Types
a. Silt Layer

Immediately adjacent to and extending into parts
of the rocky bottomed area along the north side of the canyon
was found a slightly indirated, unstratif ied, black micaceous
silty clay underlying the sand in about 25 feet of water.

46

This was first found exposed in the trouqhs of sandy ripple
marks following a period of particularly heavy surf (Figure
14) . The silty clay was observed to cover a large area and
varied in composition. That found nearest to the beach (about
20 yards offshore) contained much fibrous plant material iden-
tified as root fragments of a member of the grass family (E.C.
Haderlie, personal communication). A few small calcareous
marine worm tubes were found intertwined with the fibrous
material. About 50 yards offshore the same type of siltv
clay was found underlying the sand except that it lacked all
traces of plant material. The thickness of the silty clav
layer varied between 3/4 of an inch to a foot or more.

Following a heavy storm, a few pieces of this mate-
rial were found to have been broken loose and became partiallv
buried in the sand. The largest piece found contained fibrous
plant material and was about 1 by 2 feet in area and 5 inches
thick with well-rounded edges (Figure 15) .

The origin of this material is unknown at this
time. The high concentration of root material suggests that
it is possibly of lagoonal or estuarine origin deposited near
the mouth of San Jose Creek during a previous period of lower
sea level. It is possible that it was formed under conditions
similar to the present salt marsh conditions at Carmel River
lagoon (Figure 2). It may also represent an old bed of surf
grass that accumulated locally on the sea floor and which en-
trapped fine sediment particles in suspension that settled
into it.

47

FIGURE 14

Photograph of Micaceous Silty Clay Between Crests
of Ripple Marks

48

FIGURE 15

Photograph of Well-Rounded Chunk
of Silty Clay Material
49

b. Organic Sediment Mat

One other bottom type occurred in a small area be-
tween Stakes #12 and #14. In this area was concentrated thick
kelp detritus which is referred to here as an organic sediment
mat. The mat lies in a swale adjacent to the rock outcrop
previously referred to as a ridge. The swale appeared to be
the result of a previous underwater sediment slump. The thick-
ness of the sediment mat could not be readily determined. The
mat did not appear to be in an advanced state of decay, and
no gas bubbles were seen coming from it. There was no evi-
dence of any movement of the mat. The slope of its surface
was about 15° , which is less than the inclination of the sand
slopes on either side. The term sediment mat is used here
since this phenomenon was similar in appearance and charac-
teristics to the sediment mat described by Dill (1964).

50

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The head of Carmel Submarine Canyon aopears to be an ex-
tension of San Jose Creek, the land canyon that leads into its
head. Granodiorite outcrops on both sides of the canyon head,
and is an extension of the rock outcropping on the shore.

The canyon head is in the shape of a round, sandy bowl
with a rock wall on the north side and a steep sand slope on
most parts of the south wall. Surrounding the canyon rim is
a submarine terrace. The terrace is rocky bottomed on both
sides of the canyon head and is at the same level, which sug-
gests wave erosion during a previous sea level. The canyon
axis is a trough-shaped sand bottom to the maximum depth of
observation.

Five distinct types of bottom were found: (1) rock out-
crops and boulders, (2) coarse sand, (3) fine sand containing
benthic organisms, (4) a silty clay laver underlying coarse
sand, and (5) an organic sediment mate

Downslope movement of sand grains and kelp pieces has
been observed on the steep slopes of the canyon head. Sub-
marine erosion is slowly occurring in the rocky areas as a
result of mechanical abrasion by the sand. Also effective is
the weathering caused by attached or encrusting organisms.

51

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bowen, 0. E., 19 65. Point Lobos , Crown Jewel of the State
Parks, A Geologic Guide. Mineral Information Service,
. April.

Dill, R. F. , 1964. Contemporary Submarine Erosion in Scripps
Submarine Canyon, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of
California, San Diego, 268 pp.

Martin, B. D., 1964. Monterey Submarine Canyon, California:
Genesis and Relationship to Continental Geology,
Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Southern California.
249 pp.

McLean, J. H., 1968. Biological Exploration at the Head of
Carmel Submarine Canyon, Unpublished Manuscript (Personal
Communication) .

Shepard, F. P., and R. F. Dill, 1966. Submarine Canyons and
Other Sea Valleys. Rand McNally and Company, 381 pp.

Shepard, F. P., and K. 0. Emery, 1941. Submarine Topograohy
off the California Coast: Canyons and Tectonic interpre-
tation. Geological Society of America, Special Paper
Number 31, 171 pp.

Wallin, S. R. , 1968. The Sediments in the Head of Carmel

Submarine Canyon. M.S. Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School,
Monterey, California.

52

APPENDIX I

FIELD NOTES OF SCUBA DIVES INTO THE HEAD OF
CARMEL SUBMARINE CANYON

Early exploratory dives are not described.
The location of each dive is shown in Figure 5

53

DIVE NO. 1

13 July 1968, 0930-1030 PDT , clear, very calm, tide

+2.4 ft.

Divers: Team 1, FERRIN , MORITZ

Team 2 , GOOGINS , WALLIN

First team planted four stakes on 100-foot depth contour
at 20 yard intervals. Air ran out in 13 minutes. Bottom has
steep gradient beginning at rock outcroo. Beginning with
Stake #1, bottom is composed of fine sand with a large number
of tube worms. At about Stake #2, the bottom is covered by
dead kelp debris. Visibility about 60 feet.

Second team planted three more stakes for a total of
seven. Bottom still has a steep gradient covered by dead
kelp.

DIVE NO. 2

16 July 1968, 1000-1100 PDT, clear, moderate surf,

tide +2. 6 ft.

Divers: Team 1, FERRIN, MORITZ
Team 2, MAUDLIN, WALLIN

First team using double tanks began at Stake #7 and
planted seven more. Second team continued with two more
stakes until encountering a rock outcrop.

The bottom between Stake #7 and #14 is still covered with
dead kelp. Between Stake #14 and #16 is an area of fine sand
held by tube worms.

54

The rock outcrop appears as a northwesterly oriented groin
with a few boulders on the western side. Visibility is about
15 feet.

Several dead kelp holdfasts were found in the kelp debris
as well as beach derived material such as beer cans and a real
estate "FOR SALE" sign. No gas bubbles were seen to be rising
from the dead kelp.

DIVE NO. 3

20 July 1968, 0945-1030 PDT , overcast, heaw surf (8 foot

breakers) , tide +2.9 ft.

Divers: FERRIN , WALL IN , MORITZ

Heavy surf action has thrown much kelp up on the beach,
including holdfasts still attached to rocks about the size of
volleyballs .

Entered water with double tanks through the surf-line at
which time the navigation board carried by Lt. Wallin was
ripped away by the surf action. The nylon line used to clip
the board to his weight belt had parted. Lt. Wallin was tum-
bled severely by the surf and was unable to continue the dive.

The loss of the navigation board negated efforts to take
sand slope and stake depth measurements.

Dive continued by Ferrin and Moritz. Reached approximate
location of Stake #1. Could not find the buoy from that stake
and submerged where we thought it should be located. Pound #1
immediately. Later discovered that all buovs had broken their
lines during the previous week's heavy surf action.

55

Began attaching numbered aluminum tags to each stake.
Between Stakes #3 and #5, the bottom was clean with coarse
sand. After Stake #5, the bottom was covered with fine pieces
of kelp and trash from the beach. The angle of repose between
Stakes #5 and #14, although not measured exactly, was somewhat
shallower than that between #1 and #5. At Stake #15 was a
rock ridge of as yet undetermined type.

I lost tags #15 and #16, so these stakes were not tagged.
After Stake #16, we continued on along the 100-foot contour.
Immediately adjacent to the rock ridge is a small area of
small boulders with much kelp detritus. This area lasted for
about 20 yards. We soon came upon a sand ridge. This area
was of coarse sand with a very steep angle estimated about
35° to 40°. Its horizontal dimension is as yet undetermined.
Its vertical extent is from about 60 feet on down past 100
feet. This area had an odd appearance in that it had vertical
surface marks evident in it. I feel this is an indication of
recent or perhaps even continuous sand movement into the can-
yon. We attempted to set off a sand slide but were unsuc-
cessful. At this point we ran out of air and surfaced.

A few of the stakes were canted over at an angle — not
necessarily pointing down canyon. Reason unknown at this time
Could be due to action of the surf tearing awav the buoys,
other divers being curious, or sand movement.

56

DIVE NO. 4

3 August 1968, 1030-1145 PDT , fog, light surf, tide

+3.5 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Entered water on South side of beach. Submerged in about
30 feet of water. Visibility about 60 feet. Noticed ripple
marks run perpendicular to cliffs along the south side of the
bay. The sand is medium to coarse grained. On the seaward
side of ripples were dark "shadows" which I believe to be
finely ground kelp (about 40 feet) . Further out in about 60
feet of water the "shadow" material was of a lighter color
grey. I believe the darker material was fresher than the grev
material.

The ripples were large, about 16 to 20 inches between
crests and about 4 to 6 inches deep.

We found beer cans , snorkels , and other beach derived
material in this area indicating bottom movement. However,
the "shadow" material indicates that the area has been rela-
tively stagnant recently.

There was a distinct drop off toward the canyon at about
60 feet. The angle changed rapidly. Unfortunately, we couldn't
measure it but estimate a change from about 5° to about 25°.
We saw a rock outcrop between 80 and 100 feet. The rocks were
covered with growth but appeared to be granodiorite. Most of
the steeper slope appeared to be relatively stable. Dead kelo
was strewn on the bottom, but we were unable to find the verv
steep area found on the previous dive.

57

I have the impression that sand moves along the bottom
parallel to the cliffs and then dumps at some point into the
canyon. The sand found in the ripple area was much the same
as that found on the beach.

DIVE NO. 5

6 August 1968, 0900-1000 PDT , clear, light surf, tide

+3.9 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Noticed a detached kelp patch on the southern side of the
canyon which was sitting alone and farther out than the rest.
We reasoned that this must be the rock outcrop seen on the
previous dive and its relation to the rest of the known under-
water topography suggested it might act as a barrier to sand
transport. There was an open area between the detached kelp
patch and the large shoreward kelp bed. Submerged at the
shoreward edge of the open space and swam northward toward
the lone kelp patch. This open space was about 20 yards in
width with a coarse sand bottom containing ripple marks 18 to
20 inches between crests and 4 to 6 inches deep. The bottom
in this area (about 40 feet) was being slightly disturbed by
the swell as some of the finer sand grains were being moved.
The ripple marks were also "shadowed" on the seaward side with
finely ground dark colored kelp which indicated an early state
of deterioration.

We found an outcrop of granodiorite boulders and masses
at about 60 feet rising to 40 feet in some spots and then drop-
ping downslope to past 100 feet. The rock surfaces were

58

DIVE NO. 4

3 August 1968, 1030-1145 PDT, fog, light surf, tide

+3.5 ft.

Divers : WALLIN , MORITZ

Entered water on South side of beach. Submerged in about
30 feet of water. Visibility about 60 feet. Noticed ripple
marks run perpendicular to cliffs along the south side of the
bay. The sand is medium to coarse grained. On the seaward
side of ripples were dark "shadows" which I believe to be
finely ground kelp (about 40 feet) . Further out in about 60
feet of water the "shadow" material was of a lighter color
grey. I believe the darker material was fresher than the grev
material .

The ripples were large, about 16 to 20 inches between
crests and about 4 to 6 inches deep.

We found beer cans, snorkels, and other beach derived
material in this area indicating bottom movement. However,
the "shadow" material indicates that the area has been rela-
tively stagnant recently.

There was a distinct drop off toward the canyon at about
60 feet. The angle changed rapidly. Unfortunately, we couldn't
measure it but estimate a change from about 5° to about 25°.
We saw a rock outcrop between 80 and 100 feet. The rocks were
covered with growth but appeared to be granodiorite. Most of
the steeper slope appeared to be relatively stable. Dead kelD
was strewn on the bottom, but we were unable to find the very
steep area found on the previous dive.

57

I have the impression that sand moves along the bottom
parallel to the cliffs and then dumps at some point into the
canyon. The sand found in the ripple area was much the same
as that found on the beach.

DIVE NO. 5

6 August 1968, 0900-1000 PDT , clear, light surf, tide

+3.9 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Noticed a detached kelp patch on the southern side of the
canyon which was sitting alone and farther out than the rest.
We reasoned that this must be the rock outcrop seen on the
previous dive and its relation to the rest of the known under-
water topography suggested it might act as a barrier to sand
transport. There was an open area between the detached kelp
patch and the large shoreward kelp bed. Submerged at the
shoreward edge of the open space and swam northward toward
the lone kelp patch. This open space was about 20 yards in
width with a coarse sand bottom containing ripple marks 18 to
20 inches between crests and 4 to 6 inches deep. The bottom
in this area (about 40 feet) was being slightly disturbed by
the swell as some of the finer sand grains were being moved.
The ripple marks were also "shadowed" on the seaward side with
finely ground dark colored kelp which indicated an earlv state
of deterioration.

We found an outcrop of granodiorite boulders and masses
at about 60 feet rising to 40 feet in some spots and then droo-
ping downslope to past 100 feet. The rock surfaces were

58

covered by sponges, tunicates , bryozoa, and anemones. A samole
of rock was taken with a geologist's pick. The sample was in-
deed granodiorite similar to that on the cliff with a high
biotite content and containing phenocrysts of quartz.

Some dead kelp was found imbedded in the sand next to and
between the rocks. This kelp was in an advanced state of de-
cay which had discolored the sand to grey for several inches
around it. This indicated that there was little or no sand
movement between or among the rocks .

The flash mechanism of the camera failed to operate on
this dive so we were unable to record several of the interest-
ing observations.

We swam around the outcrop on the seaward side and then
back toward the beach at about 80 feet. Immediately adjacent
to the rock outcrop on the shoreward side was a sharp dropoff
running in an almost east-west direction. (Also the bottom
appeared to deepen rapidly on the Northern and Western sides
of the outcrop.) This sharp dropoff began in about 60 feet
and continued downward past 100 feet. The angle of repose
varied between 30 and 40 degrees. There was no sign of any
bottom growth in this area. We did find a beer can and a few
pieces of kelp fronds several inches long. These kelp fronds
could actually be seen moving downslope at 80 feet. We could
also see some of the finer sand grains being moved by the
action of the swells. The swell would pitch up a few grains
and deposit them about 4 inches further down the slope.

59

At 60 feet where the slope begins there are large ripple
marks perpendicular to the edge of the slope. These ripple
marks stop just over the edge of the crest of the slope. This
area of apparent activity is estimated to be about 40 yards
wide and bordered to the east by an area of slightly smaller
slope and different type bottom. This area was covered with
much dead kelp in varying states of decay. We also came upon
a small rock outcrop extending from 80 to 100 feet. We found
Stakes #13, 14, 15, and 16 in this area but discovered that
we had stopped our stake planting operation prior to encoun-
tering the active area. In this small outcrop was a crevass
filled with dead kelp of undetermined thickness.

DIVE NO. 6

10 August 1968, 0915-1000 PDT , overcast, very light surf,

tide +4.8 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Submerged on top of rock outcrop explored during last
dive. Visibility 15 to 20 feet due to plankton bloom. Began
working to seaward (westward) from rock outcrop in about 40
feet of water. Slope gradually increased as we advanced sea-
ward. The bottom was composed of fresh sand of medium to
coarse size. Not much kelp mixed in with sand. Occasionally
small pieces of kelp were found partially covered with sand.

Eventually a sharp ledge was found in about 60 feet of
water. The angle beyond this ledge varied as we went seaward
from 25° to about 45°. Again, pieces of kelp were observed

60

moving down the slope of the canyon. A few starfish were found
on the slope — some visually moving up the slope.

Occasionally a small mound of fresh sand could be found
indicating the presence of a burrowing organism. No bottom
attached vegetation or organism was found in this area.

The ledge and slope continued seaward with some anomalies
in direction. We swam for several hundred yards along the
slope with no marked variation in appearance. The sand all
appeared to be of the same type and size. Notably absent were
land derived items such as beer cans, etc.

The anomalies in direction were compared with charts
after the dive and appear to be as indicated on the chart.
Also notably absent today was anv sand movement caused bv
swell or waves but then the swell was unusually small today.

DIVE NO. 7

13 August 1968, 0910-1000 PDT, overcast, light surf,

tide +3.2 ft.

Divers: WALLIN , MORITZ

Submerged almost directly to Stake #1 in 100 feet of water,
No visible sign of activity regarding sand movement at #1.
Swam seaward (west and northwest) along the rock outcrop at
depths between 60 and 100 feet. This rock outcrop consists of
large boulders and masses of granodiorite with the smallest
boulders about 4 feet across and of unknown depth below the
surface. Did not notice any preferred direction of faulting.

All the rocks were covered with growths of sponge, brv-
ozoa, algae, anemones, and other types of plants and animals.

61

A large rock awash is associated with this outcrop and the
rock type can be seen to continue onto the beach. Sand was
found in the crevasses between the rocks.

There was a plateau at about 60 feet with much sand and
not too much rock protruding. There was bottom qrowth here
and rotting pieces of kelp indicating little or no activity.
This area is probably a hanging valley.

The rock at times dropped off from depths of 60 to greater
than 120 feet.

We followed the outcrop westward and northward until we
came to another sand area at the Northwestern extremitv of the
rock outcrop. This area was a relatively flat terrace area at
about 60-foot depth and then dropping down into the canyon
with an angle of about 35° . This sand was coarse and did not
have heavy bottom growth nor did it have large ripple marks.
At this point we ran out of air and surfaced.

FIELD TRIP

17 August 1968

Surf was too rough to enter water with any degree of
safety. Breakers were 6 to 8 feet high with a period of about
12 seconds. It appeared as though the beach profile was steep-
ening and receding.

We walked along the south edge of the bav and climbed the
rocky cliffs. The rocks were granodiorite with a thin 1 to 2
foot veneer of soil and gravel along most of the uoper edge of
the cliffs. The rock was weathered with no fresh rock evident
anywhere .

62

We then went around the northern end of the beach and
found the rock outcrop to also be granodiorite. Conglomerate
on the north end was also found in one place. Some of the
rock, along the northern end was selectively weathered. Again
no fresh rock was found. The granodiorite was also exposed
along the top of a knoll. Boulders along the beach below
this knoll were about the same size as that found along the
slopes of the underwater outcrops. It appears that the rock
structures on either side of the canyon are continuations of
one another.

DIVE NO. 8

20 August 1968, 0905-0945 PDT , clear, moderate surf,

tide +3.7 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Submerged at Stake #1. Visibility was less than 10 feet
above a depth of 6 0 feet and about 10 to 15 feet below a depth
of 60 feet. Found Stake #1 with no problem and began taking
stake readings.

Between Stakes #3 and #5 there was no bottom growth at
all and the sand was of a very coarse consistency with some
small gravel. This is a definite change from before. There
were lines or patterns in the sand which indicated that it had
been moving directly down the slope. From #5 on we found tube
worms and other growth on a very fine sand bottom. The onlv
change in this area was that less dead kelp was found lying on
the bottom than previously observed. This consisted mostly of
frond parts and some of these pieces could be seen being moved

63

down the slope by the action of the swell. The swell also
caused a slight movement in some fine sand particles. The
abundance of tube worms however, kept any significant sand
movement from occurring. Some areas were more heavily covered
with kelp.

I believe last week's heavy weather caused some sand
movement off the beach and down the slope between Stakes #3
and #5. There were no other areas of active sand transport
found on this dive. We ran out of air at Stake #12 and sur-
faced (measurements presented in Table I) .

DIVE NO. 9

24 August 1968, 0930-1015 PDT , overcast, moderate surf,

tide + 4.7 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, LENNOX

(Due to illness I could not make this dive. These notes
are from Lt. Wallin.)

Launched the boat from Whaler's Cove and proceeded to the
detached kelp patch. Both divers donned a set of doubles and
descended. Bottom was contacted at 60 feet.

Swam along canyon rim trying to locate the kelp stipe
previously placed in the sand. It has apparently been swept
away. Descended the slope and found Stake #14. Continued to
swim south and tagged Stakes #15 and #16.

Surfaced to get stake driving equipment. Descended with
stakes and driving equipment and missed the slope. Overshot
to a depth of 125 feet and had to swim hard to avoid being
swept into the canyon.

64

Approximately 20 feet from the location of Stake #16 is
the beginning of a rock (granodiorite) ridge. This ridge is
in such a position as to disturb the slope and any down-canyon
flow of sediment along this section of slope. This area re-
quires much more investigation.

Placed Stakes #17, #18 and #19 along sand slope on in-
board side of ridge. Stake #19 is at the foot of an outcrop
presumed to be the outcrop which hosts the kelp patch.

The bottom of the area of #17, #18, and #19 is sand with
appreciable growth or sediment mat. It can possibly be infer-
red that the sediment is in motion.

DIVE NO. 10

7 September 1968, 0915-1000 PDT , clear, light surf,

tide +5.2 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Diving for sand samples in various parts of the canyon
head. We were towed by a boat from area to area, then dived
to obtain samples in a small jar. Location was marked by
transit angles from the boat operator. Sixteen samples were
taken in this manner.

Then went to look at the south rock outcrop. It begins
in about 40 feet of water and continues to about 110 feet of
water. It consists of boulders and masses with sand between.
At 110 feet it appears to drop off sharply as sand at an angle
of about 2 5 degrees. A few yards to the northeast at 110 feet
begins another outcrop which rises sharply to a depth of about
90 feet. This is a large outcrop consisting of a single rock

65

mass (i.e., not boulders), about 40 yards in length, and 15
yards in width. On the canyon side of this rock is a steep
cliff extending nearly vertically past 130 feet to an unknown
depth. At this point we ran out of air and surfaced.

DIVE NO. 11

10 September 1968, 0845-0930 PDT, clear, light surf,

tide +4.2 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Submerged at southern rock outcrop in 60 feet of water.
Swam to Stake #19 , tagged it with a numbered aluminum tag and
took measurements. This stake is immediately adjacent to the
rock outcrop. From this stake I could see the deeper outcroD
about 15 yards to the northeast. Visibility about 60 feet.
Swan to Stake #18, and took measurements. The gully formed
between the deeper outcrop and the steep sand slope contained
gravel, shells, beer cans, a dive mask, and very coarse sand.
There was also a large amount of dead kelp. Continued taking
measurements up to Stake #13. The bottom appears to have
changed slightly in this area. Much kelp had moved down the
slope as was evidenced by kelp stipes being draped around and
hung up on the stakes. Between #17 and #14 there was much kelp
on the bottom. I could not determine the thickness.

The visibility was so good that I could determine that the
bottom did not have a uniform slope between #14 and #17. There
are also some rock boulders in the area which were not seen
today (Measurements listed in Table I).

66

DIVE NO. 12

14 September 1968, 0850-0940 PDT , overcast, moderate surf,

tide +3. 6 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

Entered the water in the kelp bed on the northern side of
the beach and swam toward the wash rock. The bottom is rocky
with sand between boulders in most places. A heavy qrowth of
many types if kelp and other encrusting organic material cov-
ers these rocks. We found no fresh rock in the central area.
The lead in the kelp where we swam out seemed to be an intru-
sion of sand between two rows of boulders. These boulders
ranged in size from cobble to 10 by 10 yards with no apparent
dominant size. Several places had cobble bottoms or exposed
rock bed, generally at a depth of 25 feet.

The edge of the rocky bottom is distinct. Most of the
area near the edge appears to be a rock table at a depth of
25 feet. We found fresh rock on vertical faces in this area
in contact with the sand level. There is also some exposed
fresh rock of sedimentary origin. One barely exposed rock
appeared to be shale or fine sandstone while another was con-
glomerate. Both were well rounded.

DIVE NO 13

12 October 1968, 0910-1000 PDT, overcast, moderate surf,

tide +4.1 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

67

Due to the high surf which precluded diving on 8 October,
the beach face was noticeably chewed back. The foreshore
seemed to be flattened with a very steep backshore.

We entered the water on the south end of the beach and
submerged at the near edge of the kelp bed in 2 2 feet of water.
Rock masses and boulders were found immediately.

There was much detritus on the bottom being moved bv the
surface swell. The sand level on the rocks was about 6 to 8
inches higher than would be expected in that marine growth ex-
tended 6 to 8 inches below the present sand level at which
point fresh rock was found. Barnacles on some rocks had been
broken off near the sand level as though the sand might have
scoured them off.

There was a heavy surge between outcrops which visibly
moved large amounts of detritus. In most heavy surge areas,
the bottom consisted of well-rounded granodiorite cobbles.

As on the northern side, there seems to be a rock table
at a depth of 22 to 30 feet with a thin veneer of sand in
some areas between outcrops. Vegetation on the rocks and gen-
eral geological characteristics appeared to be the same as the
northern rocky bottomed area except that surf grass was found
growing on one rock in this southern area. I pulled loose
some surf grass and found that the roots were anchored in about
3/4 inches of sponge and other growth. Some rock grains came
with the undergrowth. Numerous worms were found within the
roots .

68

DIVE NO 14

26 October 1968, 0915-1040 PDT , overcast, moderate surf,

tide +4.9 ft.

Divers: FERRIN, MORITZ

Attempted today to dive on an area where Cdr. Ferrin has
witnessed a sand fall. This area is about 60 yards northwest
of the wash rock on the northern side. In addition we planned
on following the slope down to a depth of 200 feet.

Submerged at suspected sand fall point. Reached bottom
at about 70 feet on a precipitous rocky cliff. These rocks
were of large boulder size or could have been part of the out-
crop mass. The angle was very steep at about 50 to 60 degrees.
This continued downward for an undetermined distance. We stop-
ped the descent at 200 feet. The light attenuation was great
at this depth and we were unable to see without the aid of a
light. The rocks at this depth were covered by a fine silt
very much like dust. The slightest turbulence created by
swimming would stir up the silt like a dust cloud. The en-
crusting organisms could not be identified, but the rocks were
definitely covered with growth.

The time allowed for a 200-foot dive is limited to 5 min-
utes counted from the surface. For this reason the dive was
a "bounce dive" or a rapid descent to 200 feet and then an
immediate ascent.

A sand contact with the rocky cliff was not found. Cdr.
Ferrin believes we were about 50 yards south of where the sand
fall had been seen.

69

On the swim back to the beach, I submerged again at the
edge of the kelp bed about 50 yards from shore in about 25
feet of water to look for the shale and conglomerate boulders
found on a previous dive. These boulders were not found. In
this location, however, at the edge of the rocky bottom area,
a black sedimentary substance was found in the bottom between
the crests of ripple marks. It appeared as though the ripple
marks were formed over a bed of this black substance. The
substance was about the consistency of molding clay. I dug
up a piece of it and found that as I moved it through the
water, it disintegrated due to the turbulence of the water.
I feel certain that it consisted almost entirely of black
mica flakes although I was unable to bring back a piece for
analysis .

About 15 yards in closer to the beach, another area was
found which appeared to have the same type of substratum.
This again was in 2 5 feet of water at the edge of the rocky-
bottomed area. Another sample was dug up and disintegration
occurred as before. There was a difference, however, in com-
position. The deposit nearest shore contained a considerable
amount of fine vegetable material homogeneously distributed
within the mica.

DIVE NO. 15

31 October 1968, 0845-0945 PST, overcast, moderate surf,

tide +4.4 ft.

Divers: WALLIN, MORITZ

70

Submerged at edge of kelp bed on north side about 20 yards
off-shore in 25 feet of water. Looking for clav-like material
found on last dive and shale and conglomerate boulders found
on earlier dives. At 25 feet found a piece of clay-like mate-
rial about 6 by 6 inches which appeared to have been broken
loose and was well rounded on the edges. This particular
piece had much vegetable matter intertwined. Don't know at
this point if the vegetable matter is of land or marine origin.

A little further out found more of the same material cov-
ered with a thin layer of sand. This material did not have as
much vegetable matter in it. Unable to determine the size or
extent of the clay-like material.

All along the edge of the kelp, I could dig a few inches
down into the sand and find either very fine dirty sand or
clay-like material. The covering sand, however, was cruite
coarse and clean.

About 50 yards from shore, the clay-like material was
entirely without vegetable matter. Some broken off pieces
were found to be about 1 to 2 inches thick and well rounded.
This material washes away quickly in any turbulence if bro-
ken. The same is true for the material with vegetable matter.
Samples of both types were obtained in jars.

The conglomerate or shale boulders were not found.

71

DIVE NO. 16

2 November 1968, 0925-0948 PST, overcast, light surf,

tide +4.9 ft.

Divers: BOND, WALLIN

(Due to illness I could not make this dive. These notes
are from Lt. Wallin.)

Launched the Boston Whaler at Whaler's Cove and proceeded
to a point 20 yards south of the wash rock. Entered the water
with double 72 's and contacted the bottom at 65 foot depth.
Swam downslope to location of Stake #1. Stake #1 was found
at the correct location but lying on the bottom. No portion
of the stake was penetrating the bottom and the buoy line
which was on this stake at last sighting was gone. The stake
was probably pulled up by another diver. The bottom in this
area and to a point halfway between Stakes #4 and #5 is very
coarse sand with considerable pebble content. There is a
very sharp transition at this point from coarse sand to fines
held by worm tubes. By the time we got to Stake #5 the bot-
tom was covered by broken kelp and fine sand. This bottom
condition continued until shortly before Stake #16. Stake
#16 was placed in fine sand held by worm tubes. Halfway be-
tween Stake #16 and #17 there was another sharp transition to
medium sand which continued to the end of the stake array at
#19. The detritus collection area just downslope from Stake
#17, as previously noted, was completely clean with nothing
but medium sand in the entire area. Noted readings from Stake
#19 at 20 minutes elapsed time since submergence. Ascended

72

canyon slope between the rock outcrops to the canyon rim at
70 foot depth. Surfaced after 23 minutes. All stakes were
found and recorded. Upslope from Stake #13 there appears to
be an old slump or slide scar which extends upward to the rim,
The "FOR SALE" sign seen in previous dives was not seen on
this dive — possibly covered by kelp.

73

APPENDIX II

LIST OF MAJOR REFERENCES REVIEWED CONCERNING SUBMARINE
CANYONS AND UNDERWATER OBSERVATIONS

74

Buffington, E. C, 1964. Structural Control and Precision
Bathymetry of La Jolla Submarine Canyon, California.
Marine Geology! Vol, 1, pp. 44-56.

Chamberlain, T. K. , 1964. Mass Transport of Sediment in the

Heads of Scripps Submarine Canyon, California. Papers

in Marine Geology, Shepard Commemorative Volume, Edited

by R. L. Miller, MacMillan and Company, pp. 42-64.

Cohee , G. V., 1938. Sediments of the Submarine Canyons off

the California Coast. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology,
Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 19-32.

Crowell, J. C, 1952. Submarine Canyons Bordering Central

and Southern California. Journal of Geology. Vol. 60,
pp. 58-83.

Daly, R. A., 1936. Origin of Submarine Canyons. American
Journal of Science, 5th Series, Vol. 31, pp. 401-420.

Dill, R. F. , 1963. Contemporary Erosion in the Heads of
Submarine Canyons. Proceedings of the Geological
Society of America, Abstract, 1963 Annual Meeting, New
York, New York, pp. 45A.

, 1966. Sand Flows and Sand Falls. Reinholt

Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences, Vol. 1, R. W. Fairbridge,
Editor, pp. 763-765.

, 1964. Sedimentation and Erosion in Scripps

Submarine Canyon Head. Papers in Marine Geology,
Shepard Commemorative Volume, Edited by R. L. Miller,
MacMillan and Company, pp. 2 3-41.

and G. A. Shumway, 1954. Geologic Use of Self-

Contained Diving Apparatus. American Association of
Petroleum Geologists , Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 148-
157.

Dott, R. H. Jr., 1963. Dynamics of Sub-Aqueous Gravity
Depositional Processes. American Association of
Petroleum Geologists , Bulletin, Vo. 47, pp. 105-128.

Emery, K. 0., and R. H. Tschudy, 1941. Transportation of

Rock by Kelp. Geological Society of America, Bulletin,
Vol. 52, pp. 855-862.

Ericson, D. B., M. Ewing , and B. C. Heezen, 1951. Deeo-Sea
Sands and Submarine Canyons. Geological Society of
America, Bulletin, Vol. 62, pp. 961-965.

75

Gilluly, Waters, Woodford, 1959c Principals of Geology.
Second Edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, 534 pp.

Gorsline, D. S. and H. D. Palmer, 1965. Annual Summary
Report of Geologic Studies of Southern California
Canyons. Report Number USC Geol. 65-4, Office of Naval
Research, 90 pp.

Hartman, Olga, 1963, Submarine Canyons of Southern Califor-
nia, Part II, Biology. University of Southern Califor-
nia Press, Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions, Vol. 27,
410 pp„

Hersey, J. B. , 1967. Deep Sea Photography. Johns Hopkins
Oceanographic Studies Number 3, Johns Hopkins Press,
309 pp.

Inman, D. L., and G. A. Rusnak , 1956. Changes in Sand Level
on the Beach and Shelf at La Jolla, California. Beach
Erosion Board, Technical Memorandum Number 82, Corps
of Engineers, Washington, D. C.

Kuenen, Phillip H. , 1950. Marine Geology. John Wiley and
Sons, Inc. , 568 pp.

, 1953. Origin and Classification of Submarine Canyons.

Geological Society of America, Bulletin. Vol 64,
pp. 1295-1314.

Martin, Bruce D. , and K. 0. Emery, 1967. Geology of Monterey
Canyon, California. The American Association of
Petroleum Geologists, Bulletin, Vol. 51, No. 11,
pp. 2281-2304, November.

McLean, J. H., and V. 0. Peckham, 1961. Biological Explora-
tion at the Head of Carmel Submarine Canyon (Abstract) .
Annual Report of the American Malacological Union, pp. 48.

Menard, H. W. , 1964. Marine Geology of the Pacific. McGraw-
Hill Company, 271 pp.

Shepard, F. P., 1951. Composite Origin of Submarine Canyons.
Journal of Geology, Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 84-96.

, 1934. Detailed Surveys of Submarine Canyons. Science,

Vol. 80, No. 2079, pp. 410-411.

, 1954. The Earth Beneath the Sea. Johns Hopkins

Press, 275 pp.
, 1948. Investigation of the Head of Monterey Submarine

Canyon. Hudrographic Office of Naval Research, Contract
N60RI-111, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 15 pp.

76

Shepard, F. P., 1932. Landside Modifications of Submarine
Valleys. Transactions of the American Geophysical
Union, Vol. 13, pp. 226-230.

, 1951. Mass Movements in Submarine Canyon Heads.

Transactions of the American Geophysical Union,
Vol. 32, pp. 405-418.

, 1937. Shifting Bottom in Submarine Canyon Heads.

Science, Vol. 86, No. 2240, pp. 522-523.

, 19 53. Submarine Canyons. Comptes Rendus de 19th

Congress Geologique International, Alger, 1952.
pp. 127-149.

, 1951. Submarine Canyons: A Joint Product of Rivers

and Submarine Processes. Science, Vol. 114, No. 2949,
pp. 7-9.

, 1963. Submarine Geology. Second Edition, Harper

and Row, 557 pp.

f 1949. Terrestrial Topography of Submarine Canyons

Revealed by Diving. Geological Society of America,
Bulletin, Vol. 60, pp. 1597-1612.

, 1951. Transportation of Sand Into Deep Water.

Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists,
Special Publication Number 2, pp. 53-65.

, 1936. The Underlying Causes of Submarine Canyons.

National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings, 1, Vol. 22,
No. 8, pp. 496-502.

, 1964. J. R. Curry, D. L. Inman, E. A. Murray, E. L.

Winterer, R. F. Dill. Submarine Geology by Diving
Saucer. Science, Vol.145. No. 3636, pp. 1042-1046.

, and D. L. Inman, 1951. Nearshore Circulation.

Proceedings of First Conference on Coastal Engineering,
Long Beach, California, October 1950, Chapter 5.

, and D. L. Inman, 1950, Nearshore Water Circulation

Related to Bottom Topography and Wave Refraction.
Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, Vol. 31,
No. 2, Part I, pp. 196-212.

, and D. L. Inman, 1951. Sand Movement on the Shallow

Inter-Canyon Shelf at La Jolla, California. Technical
Memorandum Number 26, Beach Erosion Board, Corps of
Engineers, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 29 pp.

11

Shepard, F, P., and C. Limbaugh, 1957. Submarine Canyons.
Marine Ecology, Joel Hedgepeth, Editor, Geological
Society of America, Memoir 67, Vol. I, pp. 633-639.

Starke, G. W. , 1956. Genesis and Geologic Antiquity of
Monterey Submarine Canyon (Abstract) . Geological
Society, of America, Bulletin, Vol. 67, No. 2, Part 2,
pp . 17 8 3.

, and A. D. Howard, 1968. Polygenetic Origin of

Monterey Submarine Canyon. Geological Society of
America, Bulletin, Vol. 19, pp. 813-826.

Terzaghi, K. , 1956, Varieties of Submarine Slope Failures.
Proceedings of Conference on Soil Mechanics and
Foundation Engineering, 8th, Texas, September 14 and 15.

Von Engeln, 0. D., 1950, Submarine Canyons and the Ice Age:
A Discussion. Journal of Geology, Vol. 58, No. 2,
pp. 161-163.

Yegorov, Ye. N., and L, G. Galanov, 1966. Loss of Near Shore
Deposits Into Submarine Canyons. Academy of Sciences
of the USSR, Oceanology, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 95-98f
Translated for the American Geophysical Union.

California State Division of Beaches and Parks, 1968.

Beach Data, Carmel River State Beach 1967-68. State
of California, Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Beaches and Parks.

California Division of Mines, 1959. Geologic Map of

California, Santa Cruz Sheet. Scale 1:250,000, State
of California, Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Mines.

78

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3 REPORT TITLE

A DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY OF THE HEAD OF CARMEL SUBMARINE CANYON

4 DESCRIPTIVE NOTES (Type of report and, inclusive dates)

Thesis

5 AU THORlS) (First name, middle initial, last name)

MORITZ, Carl Arthur, Jr., Lieutenant, USN

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December 1968

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13 ABSTRACT

Scuba dive observations made in Carmel Submarine Canyon
revealed the existence of rock outcrops of granodiorite on
both sides of the canyon head. Five distinct bottom types
were found: (1) rock outcrops and boulders, (2) coarse sand,
(3) fine sand containing benthic organisms, (4) a silty clay
layer underlying coarse sand, and (5) an organic sediment
mat. Rocky bottomed terraces on both sides of the canyon
head are at the same level and appear to have been eroded at
a previous lowered sea level. The coarse sand areas, char-
acterized by steep slopes, are considered to be areas of
active sand movement. The fine sand bottoms were found to
be relatively stationary although dead kelp material moves
over its surface. Thin silty clay deposits considered to be
of lagoonal or estuarine origin are found underlving sand at
the north side of the canvon head. An organic sediment mat
of undetermined thickness was found in a swale which appeared
to be a slump scar. Mechanical erosion of the rock from both
sand movement and the action of encrusting organisms is
evident.

DD ,F°R»"„1473

S/N 01 01 -807-681 1

(PAGE 1 )

UNCLASSIFIED

81

Security Classification

A-31408

UNCLASSIFIED

Security Classification

KEY WORDS

LINK A

ROLE W T

LINK B

SUBMARINE CANYONS
CARMEL SUBMARINE CANYON
UNDERWATER CANYONS

DD F°1M473

IOt i

BACK

UNCLASSIFIED

82

Security Classification

a

ay lord ^=
SHELF BINDER

SZ Syracuse, N. Y.
^3 Stockton, Calif.

thesM82274

A descriptive survey of the head of Carm

3 2768 001 91691 9

DUDLEY KNOX LIBRARY