Teacher at Sea: May 20, 2004 Log

Onshore in Sitka

Curtis Watkins, NOAA Teacher at Sea

Low tide in Sitka, Alaska. The difference between high and low tide in southeast Alaska is significant. Knowing the tidal range is vital for charting minimum depths to help mariners avoid groundings. During the summer 2004 Alaska hydrographic survey field season, NOAA's Teacher at Sea will work with scientists and technicians who maintain and install tide gauges.

Jennifer and I went into Sitka to take care of on shore business. We stopped in the NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service enforcement office and talked with Special Agent Ron Antaya and Officer Wynn Carney who offered assistance with a truck to transport the recovered equipment when the RAINIER docks on the 28th. We explored parts of the Island and learned of the rich history Sitka. During a visit to Totem Park we met Tasha Kaiser, a ranger/ interpreter with the Sitka National Historical Park who agreed to talk about the plant and animal life endemic to this area and the tidal zone. We also got the phone number of Geaff Smith, a biologist, who might be available to do a presentation of the intertidal plant and animal life this weekend. John (I didn't get his last name but he is from Texas) gave us of tour of the Russian Bishop's House. When we returned to the Cascade Inn, we met Ken Fuhs and Mark Bailey who will be doing the annual maintenance and calibration to the tide level gauge over next two days.