Mark Mertz

Senior Science Advisor

Bio
Relevant Experience
Education & Credentials

Bio

Mr. Mark Mertz has more than 40 years of experience in the field of marine sediment toxicology and environmental monitoring. He has extensive experience performing marine surveys as well as designing and applying various sediment sampling systems using “clean chemistry” protocols for hazardous materials sites, dredge disposal testing, and marine geochemical and minerals exploration.

Mr. Mertz has been primarily responsible for the conception and development of several specialized systems designed to collect both surficial and deep core sediment samples to meet the specific requirements of various clients. Among these systems are TEG’s pneumatic and electric vibracore systems, the Vibrolift R/C (reverse circulation) drill, and the marine Stratoprobe rotary/percussive dual head drill system. Under Mr. Mertz’s direction, these sampling systems have performed hundreds of sediment sampling investigations along the U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and numerous countries overseas.

Relevant Experience

Site Investigation

Vessel Support Services for Multiple Department of Water Resources Sites, Northern California — Provide suitable vessels to support commercial diving operations for California Department of Water Resources reservoirs, dams, and delta sites.

Watsonville Offshore Wastewater Ocean Outfall Inspection Surveys, 1999–2022, California — Provided annual diving inspection surveys and minor repairs for an offshore pipe and outfall to comply with NPDES permit requirements.

Sampling

Multiyear San Francisco Department of Public Works/San Francisco Port Team Sediment and Water Sampling, Vessel Services, San Francisco, California — Manages vibracore sampling, grab sampling, and water sampling services for ongoing port dredge projects and contaminated site investigations.

City San Clemente Offshore Sand Borrow Site Investigation, California — Managed heavy-duty pneumatic offshore vibracoring services to identify potential sand deposits suitable for beach replenishment. Led offshore investigations to identify suitable borrow sites and directed field operations, ensuring efficient execution, data integrity, and strict health and safety compliance.

Multiyear U.S. Navy Projects Team, San Diego, California — Managed offshore piezometer well installations and servicing, vibracore sampling, grab sampling, and water sampling to monitor subsurface groundwater contamination from Naval Air Station North Island around Pier Bravo weapons dock.

Offshore Oil Platform Holly Decommissioning Project Goleta, California — Managed offshore vibracore services to determine the presence of contaminated sediments in shell mounds deposits. The objective was to delineate the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination in sediments surrounding the former oil platform.

Buena Vista Lagoon Enhancement Project, Carlsbad, California — Provided vessel and managed overwater rotary drilling for deep sediment sampling, standard penetration testing, and vibracore sampling services to determine the extent of contamination and identify a suitable location for a burial pit to dispose of contaminated material.

Watsonville Offshore Wastewater Ocean Outfall Inspection Surveys, 1999–2022, California — Provided annual diving inspection surveys and minor repairs of an offshore treated sewage pipe and outfall.

United Heckathorne Superfund Site Richmond Harbor, California — Managed multiyear projects providing bathymetry surveys, diver coring, vibracore collection, and monitoring sensor installations to support the cleanup of DDT-laden sediments.

Arctic Operations

Oceanographic Studies, Alaskan Arctic Ocean — For more than 30 years, supported scientists in both oil industry and government run marine studies in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, including 12 years as contract skipper for the government-owned 38-ft arctic coastal research vessel R/V 1273. Examples studies included the deployment of current maters and water quality sensors; whale tagging; sediment and water quality sampling; and fish, benthic, and planktonic biological surveys.

Education & Credentials

B.A., Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 1979

Continuing Education

OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER

OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher

First Aid/CPR/AED Certified

U.S. Transportation Security TWIC ID Card (valid until 2028)

YMCA Basic Scuba Diving Certification

NAUI Assistant Instructor Scuba Certification

University of California Research Diving Certification

Professional Affiliations

Marine Technology Society

Western Dredging Association Pacific Chapter

Clear Filter