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Greg Cotten

Greg Cotten
Senior Scientist

Greg Cotten

Senior Scientist

As a project manager, Mr. Cotten has more than 25 years of experience in the environmental field. He manages field efforts for dry- and wet-weather water quality, oceanographic research, and aquatic biological surveys, and he is responsible for data submittals and other reporting tasks. He designs and oversees protected species and marine mammal monitoring programs. Mr. Cotten also directs the development, fabrication, and maintenance of instrument assemblies and has participated heavily in sediment quality investigations. He also holds a current scientific collecting permit for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Environmental Monitoring

Central Coast Long-Term Environmental Assessment Network (CCLEAN), Monterey Bay, California Currently manages this automated, high-volume passive water sampling program for persistent organic pollution (POPs) in multiple environments, including the open ocean, rivers, and publicly owned treatment works throughout the Monterey Bay region. Also manages the collection and low-temperature processing of mussels (Mytilus californicanus) in this region for the bioaccumulation of POPs and ensures sample integrity and quality control for ultra-low-level detection limits. Throughout the years, helped develop and maintain state-of-the-art sampling and analytical flow-based sampling methods. Regularly ensures sample integrity and quality control for ultra-low-level detection limits, prepares reports, and maintains permit communications with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the U.S. Coast Guard for the project’s ocean components.
Calleguas Creek Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Water Quality Program, Ventura County, California Helped design and manage the sampling program for a multiteam TMDL water quality investigation with a focus on safety, sample integrity, and efficiency. Developed technologies and techniques to increase data accuracy and sampling efficiency. Successfully executed more than 100 multiteam, multiday programs for dry weather and wet weather events, resulting in nearly 40,000 individual samples. Has been accountable for over 8,000 hours of field researcher time without injury. Also manages budgets and is responsible for planning and executing sampling events that encompass the entire Calleguas Creek watershed and various hydrological considerations. Prepared more than 100 data and observation reports after sampling events.
High-Volume Sampling Program, Nitro, West Virginia Designed and executed overwater high-volume, passive water sampling program tailored to the client’s needs. Samples included precise water column sample points, sample rates, and volumes. Each sample volume was 240 L collected over a minimum of 4 hours. Sample events occurred during both high and low river flows. Ultra-low detection limit data were used to calculate contamination loads for 15–80 thousands of cubic feet per second (kcfs) river flows.

Marine Biological Science

Research Diver for Coral Reef Community Impact from Sediment Runoff, Lahaina, Hawaii Installed underwater transects, conducted underwater fish survey, operated photo quadrat sampler, and photo documented reef. Contributed to report.
Underwater Bacteria Study, San Pedro, California Developed underwater techniques using scuba to accurately sample the water column, epibenthic water interface, benthic porewater, eelgrass bed components, and other materials to investigate sources of bacteria in a public beach swimming area and in the control area.
Plankton Surveyor for Desalination Environmental Impact Report, Santa Cruz, California Conducted monthly plankton net tows in the morning and evening for a quantitative and qualitative study to measure organism entrainment potential on desalination intake screens. Simultaneously deployed and operated water quality sondes and handled derived data. Planktonic specimens were preserved for identification and potential DNA analysis.
Field Support, Shellfish Assessment Newport Bay, California Provided field support for a quantitative and qualitative shellfish investigation program in Upper Newport Bay Marine Conservation Area and lower Newport Bay. Project objectives included the collection of 24 bivalve species comprising more than 1300 individuals. Contributed to the project sampling and field operations plan, small boat operations, sampling, and logging.
Deepwater Research Diver for Fisheries Impact Study of Explosives Used to Sever Oil Platforms, Gulf of Mexico Executed deepwater Nitrox dive operations and fish collection tag and release. Installed and surveyed deepwater transects, including executing radial collections and quadrate use, at depths of 33 meters.

Oceanography

Southwest Ocean Outfall, San Francisco, California Assisted in the design, building, and operation of two state-of-the-art telemetered oceanographic moorings. Moorings transmitted real-time acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data and multiple conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) sensor data through inductive cabling. Successfully directed the 1.5-year repair and maintenance field operations with a deepwater commercial dive team. Responsible for instrument and data acquisition, troubleshooting, instrument maintenance, and deployment.
Multifaceted Offshore Research for Desalination Plant Environmental Impact Report, Santa Cruz, California Responsible for monitoring and training the geophysical survey crew in monitoring and avoiding acoustic and collision impacts to protected marine wildlife. Developed a field training guide to facilitate a better understanding of the species of concern and required mitigations if impacts to marine wildlife were to occur. Also responsible for yearlong dive operations maintaining a shallow water moored instrument array consisting of water quality sondes and ADCP.

Wildlife Monitoring

Protected Species Monitoring in a Submarine Cable Subfloor Mapping Project, Channel Islands, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California Successfully designed and managed a 2‑month offshore protected species monitoring program during seafloor and subfloor mapping activities. Responsible for ensuring that no marine mammal or reptile was within various ranges of operating acoustic instruments and monitored to avoid ship collision with protected species. Work included monitoring various acoustic instrument operations, measuring animal ranges from those instruments, shutting operations down when protected species were in range, and confirming animals were clear before approving a soft restart of the acoustic instruments. Also maintained records and assisted in final reporting.
Protected Species Monitoring for Various Film Industry Projects, Big Sur, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California Responsible for ensuring that no marine mammal or protected bird was within various ranges of drone and helicopter operations while filming movies, television shows, and corporate photography shoots. Responsible for observing and tracking various protected species movements as well as the film drones and helicopters, measuring animals’ ranges from those vehicles, stopping or shifting flight paths when protected species were in range, confirming animals were clear before giving approval to restart flights and flight paths, and maintaining records and assisting with final reporting.
Marine Mammal Monitoring for Seafloor and Subfloor Mapping Project, Malibu, California Responsible for identifying protected marine species, measuring their distance from acoustic devices, and, when appropriate, shutting down transmissions until all animals were at a safe distance before giving approval to restart. Also kept thorough records and assisted in final reporting.
Marine Mammal Monitoring during Electrical Distribution Upgrades at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Monterey, California Primarily responsible for determining the best methods for deterring California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) from the construction zone while minimizing animal stress. In addition to this work and onsite monitoring, held primary reporting responsibilities for this marine mammal monitoring program.

Stormwater Treatment

Pleasure Point Road Improvement Project for the County of Santa Cruz, California This project was an assessment of engineered storm drain filtration mechanisms (continuous deflection separators) effectiveness to remove vehicle and urban pollutants that flow to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Responsibilities include field sampling coordination, interpretation of data, and reporting.

Chemistry

Environmental Laboratory Analysis, San Jose, California Maintained sample integrity by monitoring hold times, executing precise analytical protocols, and performing careful sample handling, processing, and organization. Conducted analysis on water and sediment samples for volatile organic compounds, pesticides, and PCBs.
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