Water Resources

Marine Services

Pyramid Lake Sediment Study

From 1944-1946, the U.S. Navy leased submerged land from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT) of Nevada to use as a practice torpedo and bombing range. Under the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program, the PLPT reported to the U.S. Department of Defense that remains of the Navy's use still existed on the reservation.

DEA was contracted to advise on methodologies, draft a work plan for agency review, and execute a survey to identify man-made objects on the lake bottom in the vicinity of the bombing range.

DEA's team completed a multibeam bathymetric survey of an area greater than 150 square miles to obtain a lake-bottom sediment characterization, and a detailed cultural debris investigation using side scan sonar and a magnetometer over a specific portion of the lake.

Project Awards

2005 Grand Award, ACEC Oregon
2005 Secretary of the Army Environmental Remediation Award

Testimonial

"Over the past three years, with support of the United States Corp of Engineers, the Tribe worked to address past military use on the Reservation. In achieving success, the Tribe partnered with many different entities, including the US Navy, David Evans and Associates, Pyramid Lake Fisheries, and EM Assist. The unique conditions at Pyramid Lake presented challenges and opportunities for innovation. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe is proud of the accomplishments of so many dedicated individuals to overcome the challenges posed by deep water, high elevation, turbulent weather, and the logistics of such a large undertaking."
--Norman Harry, Tribal Chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, July 13, 2005

Search the Site:

Learn more about our other services and offerings:

Geographic Information Systems
Hydrographic Surveying