Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government

This map was printed on an electronic plotter directly from digital files. Dimensional calibration may vary between electronic plotters 

and between X and Y directions on the same plotter, and paper may change size due to atmospheric conditions; therefore, scale and 

proportions may not be true on plots of this map.

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3225/

Suggested Citation: Kvitek, R.G., Phillips, E.L., and Dartnell, P., 2012, Shaded-relief bathymetry, Hueneme Canyon and vicinity, 

California, sheet 2 in Johnson, S.Y., Dartnell, P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Kvitek, R.G., Greene, H.G., 

Krigsman, L.M., Endris, C.A., Clahan, K.B., Sliter, R.W., Wong, F.L., Yoklavich, M.M., and Normark, W.R. (S.Y. Johnson, ed.), California 

State Waters Map Series—Hueneme Canyon and vicinity, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3225, 

pamphlet 41 p., 12 sheets, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3225/.

US Army Corps

of Engineers

Figure 1. Map showing areas of multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan surveys (pink 

shading), bathymetric- and topographic-lidar surveys (orange diagonal lines), and publically available 

interferometric synthetic aperture radar (ifSAR) topography (yellow shading). Also shown are datacollecting agencies (CSUMB, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seafloor Mapping Lab; USACE, 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey) and dates of surveys if known.

CSUMB, 2006, 2007

USGS, 2006

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

USACE, 2009

34°5'

34°10'

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

100

DISCUSSION 

This shaded-relief bathymetry map of Hueneme Canyon and vicinity in southern California was generated from bathymetry data collected by California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), by the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS), and by Fugro Pelagos for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Joint Lidar 

Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (fig. 1). Most of the offshore area was mapped by CSUMB in the 

summers of 2006 and 2007, using a 244-kHz Reson 8101 multibeam echosounder. The far northern part of the 

offshore area was mapped by the USGS in 2006, using a 117-kHz SEA (AP) Ltd. SWATHplus-M phasedifferencing sidescan sonar. The nearshore bathymetry and coastal topography were mapped for USACE by 

Fugro Pelagos in 2009, using the SHOALS-1000T bathymetric-lidar and Leica ALS60 topographic-lidar 

systems. All these mapping missions combined to collect bathymetry from the 0-m isobath to beyond the 

3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters.

During the CSUMB mapping missions, an Applanix positioning and motion compensation system 

(POS/MV) was used to accurately position the vessel during data collection, and it also accounted for vessel 

motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy, ±2 m; pitch, roll, and heading accuracy, ±0.02°; heave 

accuracy, ±5%, or 5 cm). NavCom 2050 GPS receiver (CNAV) data were used to account for tidal-cycle 

fluctuations, and sound-velocity profiles were collected with an Applied Microsystems (AM) SVPlus sound 

velocimeter. Soundings were corrected for vessel motion using the Applanix POS/MV data, for variations in 

water-column sound velocity using the AM SVPlus data, and for variations in water height (tides) using 

vertical-position data from the CNAV receiver. Final XYZ soundings and bathymetric-surface models were 

referenced to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 1984) relative to the North American Vertical Datum 

of 1988 (NAVD 1988). 

During the USGS mapping mission, GPS data and measurements of vessel motion (heave, pitch, and roll) 

were combined in a CodaOctopus F180 attitude-and-position system to produce a high-precision vesselattitude packet. This packet was transmitted to the acquisition software in real time and combined with 

instantaneous sound-velocity measurements at the transducer head before each ping. The returned samples 

were projected to the seafloor using a ray-tracing algorithm that works with previously measured soundvelocity profiles. Statistical filters were applied to the raw samples that discriminate the seafloor returns 

(soundings) from unintended targets in the water column. The original soundings were referenced to the WGS 

1984 relative to the MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water) tidal datum, but, through postprocessing using NOAA’s 

VDatum tool, the soundings were transformed to NAVD 1988. Finally, the soundings were converted into 

2-m-resolution bathymetric-surface-model grids.

During the Fugro Pelagos mapping mission that was completed as part of the National Coastal Mapping 

Program of USACE, the Leica ALS60 topographic-lidar and the SHOALS-1000T bathymetric-lidar systems 

were mounted on an aircraft that flew survey lines at an altitude of 300 to 400 m (bathymetry) and 300 to 

1,200 m (topography), at speeds of between 135 and 185 knots. The ALS60 system collected data at a maximum pulse rate of 200 kHz, and the SHOALS system collected data at 1 kHz. Information on aircraft position, 

velocity, and acceleration were collected using the Novatel and POS A/V 410 systems (SHOALS) and the 

onboard GPS/IMU system (ALS60). Aircraft-position data were processed using POSPac software, and the 

results were combined with the lidar data to produce 3-D positions for each lidar shot. Various commercial and 

proprietary software packages were used to clean the data, to convert all valid data from ellipsoid to orthometric heights, and to export the data as a series of first-return topography and bathymetry ASCII files. Final grids 

were provided in geographic coordinates referenced to the NAVD 1988.

Once all the bathymetric-surface models were transformed to a common projection and datum, the files 

were merged into one overall 2-m-resolution bathymetric-surface model. An illumination having an azimuth of 

300° and from 45° above the horizon was then applied to the surface to create this shaded-relief map. Bathymetric contours were generated from a modified 10-m-resolution bathymetric surface where a smooth arithmetic mean convolution function applying a weight of one-ninth to each cell in a 3-pixel by 3-pixel matrix was 

applied iteratively to the surface ten times.

The onshore-area image was generated by applying the same illumination to the topographic-lidar data, 

as well as to publicly available, 3-m-resolution, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (ifSAR) data, available 

from NOAA Coastal Service Center’s Digital Coast, at http://csc-s-maps-q.csc.noaa.gov/dataviewer/viewer.html 

(last accessed April 5, 2011).

EXPLANATION

Amount of illumination

Illuminated (facing false sun)

In shadow (facing away from false sun)

Direction of illumination from false sun—Position of false sun is at 300° azimuth, 45° above 

horizon [arrow included in explanation for illustration purposes only; not shown on map]

Area of “no data”—Areas from shoreline (defined as Mean Higher High Water) out to 10-m water 

depth not mapped owing to lack of reliable sounding returns to airborne-lidar system caused 

by sea state (for example, breaking waves or turbidity); areas beyond 3-nautical-mile limit of 

California’s State Waters were not mapped as part of California Seafloor Mapping Program

3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters—Line in southwest corner of map area is limit 

surrounding Anacapa Island (outside of map area)

Bathymetric contour (in meters)—Derived from modified 10-m-resolution bathymetry grids. 

Contour intervals: 1–100 m water depth, 10 m; >100 m water depth, 50 m

CALIF.

0 4 8 Nautical Miles

Kilometers 0 5 10

120° 119°40' 119°20' 119°

34°

34°20'

MAP LOCATION

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Anacapa

Island

Santa Cruz Island Santa Rosa Island

Area of

Map

Santa Barbara Channel

Limit of California’s

State Waters

1

California State University Monterey Bay, Seafloor Mapping Lab;

2

U.S. Geological Survey

Shaded-Relief Bathymetry, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California

By

Rikk G. Kvitek,1 Eleyne L. Phillips,2 and Peter Dartnell2

2012

1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 FEET

1 .5 0 1 KILOMETER

SCALE 1:24 000

BATHYMETRIC CONTOUR INTERVALS 10 METERS AND 50 METERS

1 1/2 0 1 MILE

ONE MILE = 0.869 NAUTICAL MILES

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2012

13°

MAGNETIC NORTH

TRUE NORTH

Onshore elevation data from NOAA Coastal Services Center (data collected by 

EarthData International in 2002-2003) and from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(data collected by Fugro Pelagos in 2009). California's State Waters limit from 

NOAA Office of Coast Survey

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 11N

NOT INTENDED FOR NAVIGATIONAL USE

Shaded-relief bathymetry by Peter Dartnell, 2011 (data collected by U.S. Geological Survey in 2006, by 

California State University, Monterey Bay, Seafloor Mapping Lab in 2006-2007, and by Fugro Pelagos 

for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2009). Bathymetric contours by Andrew C. Ritchie, 2011

GIS database and digital cartography by Nadine E. Golden and Eleyne L. Phillips

Edited by Taryn A. Lindquist

Manuscript approved for publication July 25, 2012

250

10

100 200

20

40

80

150

50

30

60

70

90

300

350

H u e n e m e C a n y o n

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

34°5'

34°10'

34°5'

34°10'

Scientific Investigations Map 3225

Sheet 2 of 12

Pamphlet accompanies map

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey