We have experience performing NPDES and environmental monitoring and reporting for several agencies since 1994.

Environmental Monitoring Services

Water

  • Collection of samples for chemistry, heavy metal or bacteria analysis
  • Water quality profiling (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, transmissivity, and conductivity using a Sea-Bird SEACAT SBE 19plusV2)
  • Construction and deployment of moorings and oceanographic equipment

Sediment

  • Collection of samples using Van Veen grab or diver cores
  • Infaunal and benthic invertebrate sorting and taxonomy
  • Sediment grain size analyses (phi size)
  • Sediment toxicity testing (bioassay)

Geophysical

  • High-resolution side scan sonar
  • Swath bathymetry to depths < 150ft
  • Deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismometers
  • GIS mapping and spatial analysis

Diver and Biological Surveys

  • Invasive species surveys (Caulerpa spp., Sargassum spp.)
  • Visual SCUBA including fish, algae, and invertebrate identification
  • Sensitive species surveys and monitoring (eelgrass, abalone)
  • Underwater videography and photography (standard and 360°)  
  • Marine Mammal Monitoring
  • Shorebird surveys

Fisheries Studies

  • Beam Trawls
  • Otter Trawls
  • Beach Seines
  • Purse Seines
  • Lamparas
  • Otolith Analyses

Plankton

  • Zooplankton & Phytoplankton Collection (bongo nets, 1m ring nets, benthic sled)
  • Zooplankton & Phytoplankton sorting, staging, and taxonomy

Clients

  • Chevron Products Company
  • Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
  • Unified Port Districts of San Diego
  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • The Port of Long Beach
  • The Port of Los Angeles
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Southern California Edison
  • Poseidon Water
  • SCCWRP
  • US Army Corps of Engineers
  • US Navy
  • Ocean Rainforest, Inc.
Contact Vantuna Research Group
Anderson Center for Environmental Sciences

1600 Campus Road 
Los Angeles, CA 90041