LAND TO LAKE: A HYDROGRAPHIC AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CLAYTOR LAKE USING SONAR TECHNOLOGY

In the New River Valley, there is a gravity dam lake called Claytor lake that was built in 1939; however, before it was commissioned, the area had not been mapped at the standard 1:24,000 scale. Since there is no existing model of the topography before the New River was dammed to create this lake, a bathymetric profile must be made to study the geomorphological features, such as the thalweg, point bars, cut banks, levees, and floodplains. Using a Humminbird Model 998c SI Combo Side Imaging Sonar and External GPS combo attached to a pontoon boat, we created grid lines crossing the lake horizontally at a speed averaging 3.8mph. Our data met the international standards set in place by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) of five sonar pings per meter to ensure a compliant model. Data collected is uploaded into AutoChart Zero Line Map North America to create both a 2D and 3D model of the submerged topography. These models can then be uploaded to Google Earth and ArcGIS to be compared to the surrounding landscape. The final data set is to be distributed to Friends of Claytor Lake, Claytor Lake State Park, and Boat Rental shops on the lake to inform anyone who wishes to use the information presented.