Jerame Novak conducted a study to determine if a recreational fish finder could be used to create survey maps of submerged landscapes. The study involved: 1) Surveying a submerged area near Elbowoods, ND using a fish finder to collect depth readings and sonar imagery; 2) Processing the data to create maps showing the topography and potential objects of interest; 3) Identifying several locations where sonar images, elevation spikes, and building footprints overlapped, warranting further archaeological study. The study demonstrated that recreational sonar equipment can effectively map large areas and locate potential artifacts beneath bodies of water.

1. FISHING FOR HISTORY
USE OF RECREATIONAL SONAR TO CREATE SURVEY MAPS
Jerame Novak
Department of Geographic Information Systems
Bismarck State College – Bismarck, ND

2. Project Overview
Can we use GIS software and a fish finder to create survey
maps?
Methodology
1. Find a site to survey
2. Scan site with a fish finder
3. Map the area
4. Use map and data to locate points of interest

3. Inspiration
Grand Forks Herald Article from
December 7, 2017
• Images from the Red River
• Buildings, vehicles, etc.
Grand Forks Herald, December 7, 2017

4. North Dakota: Then and Now
1949 Highway Map
Credit: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection Cartography Associates, licensed under
Creative Commons License. Source.
Credit: North Dakota Department of Transportation. Source.
2019 Highway Map

5. Before the Lake
Credit: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection Cartography Associates, licensed under Creative Commons
License. Source.

6. The Plan
Conduct a technological feasibility study to determine if a
recreational fish finder can be used to create survey maps.
• Not an archaeological study
• A study to determine if the technology works
Project Phases
1. Research historical maps to find Elbowoods
2. Create a survey pattern
3. Survey the area with a boat and fish finder
4. Process data and analyze results

7. The Story of Elbowoods
• Established in 1891
• Named after a bend in the Missouri River and the
thick trees in the area
• Agency headquarters for Fort Berthold Reservation
• Home to a high school, Catholic mission, post office,
and other amenities
• Location of original Four Bears Bridge, completed in
1933
• Population: Approximately 150 (McLean County, 440)
Credit: Marilyn Hudson
Credit: Marilyn Hudson

8. The Garrison Dam
Part of the Pick-Sloan Plan, which
established a series of dams along the
Missouri River.
Would eventually create a large reservoir
– Lake Sakakawea – that would fill the
valley and inundate several
communities, including Elbowoods.
The dam’s purpose would be to provide
flood control, irrigation, electric power,
and recreation. (Myer, 239-240)
Credit: Marilyn Hudson

9. Relocation
Construction of the dam began in
1947. The people who lived in the
river valley would have to move to
higher ground. This relocation
significantly impacted members of
the Three Affiliated Tribes. At the
time, 85% of the tribe’s population
lived in the river valley.
Most relocation efforts took place
in the early 1950s. (Myer, 233, 275,
284)
Credit: Marilyn Hudson

10. Relocation
Some residents moved their homes,
others packed up and moved to a new
place.
Many moved to newly established
communities on higher ground, such as
White Shield and New Town. (Myer, 284,
288-289) (McLean County, 618) Credit: Marilyn Hudson
Credit: Calvin Grinnell
Credit: USACE

11. Relocation
April 1953: Garrison Dam completed
Spring 1953: Final class graduates from EHS
June 1953: Four Bears Bridge dismantled and relocated to New Town, ND
December 1953: Reservoir begins filling
Late 1954: Evacuation of Elbowoods is completed
August 1955: Lake Sakakawea reaches minimum capacity for power generation.
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District)
Credit: Marilyn Hudson Credit: Marilyn HudsonCredit: Calvin Grinnell

12. Elbowoods Slips Beneath the Waves
Credit: NDSWC
Elbowoods
Current shoreline

13. Recreational fish finders utilize SONAR to gather information
about what is underneath the boat.
Mapping With Sound
Using the SONAR data, the
fish finder can not only record
depth, but also create imagery
of the bottom. This imagery
can come from a Down Scan,
or a picture right beneath the
boat or a Side Scan, a picture
off the side of the boat.

14. Lowrance HDS 12
• Commercially available fish finder and chart plotter
• Can record the path of the boat via GPS
• Record sonar data
• Record other data such as speed, water temperature, etc.
• Records down and side scan imagery
• Mounted on a 2017 Ranger boat
Equipment Used

15. Reefmaster 2.0
• Processing of data from the
HDS 12
• View imagery from the HDS 12
• Prepared data for export into
ArcMap
ArcMap 10.6
• Creation of maps
• Pre and post GIS processing
Software Used

16. Survey and Data Collection
• Using maps and georeferenced historical
imagery from the North Dakota State
Water Commission (NDSWC) a project
area was established and survey lines
were created.
• Survey lines and waypoints were
exported to the HDS 12
• Survey and data collection was
conducted on July 2, 2018
Methodology
Background image: NDSWC

17. Data Processing
• Data workflow was established to
prepare the raw data for analysis
• Reefmaster was used to correct depth
readings
Methodology
Before correction After correction

18. Using depth readings from the HDS 12, an inverse
distance weighted interpolation was created. Elevation
was established by subtracting the depth from the
elevation of the lake on that day (1852.86 ft).
• Minimum recorded depth: 96.94 ft
• Maximum recorded depth: 124.83 ft
• Elevation range: 1728 ft to 1755 ft
• Highest areas in the center, lowest areas on the
southern section.
• Contour lines show bumps in the landscape
• 1941 survey shows elevation of Elbowoods at 1741 ft
Topography

19. Using the Reefmaster, the down and side scan imagery
recorded by the HDS 12 was analyzed. If an image
showed something that appeared to be not part of the flat
lake bottom (sudden rises, square-shaped objects, etc.)
or that appeared to be a tree, a waypoint was created.
These waypoints were displayed over a georeferenced
aerial photo of Elbowoods.
Down scan – Locations from down scan imagery.
Side scan – Locations from side scan imagery.
Trees – Locations that appear to be trees (mostly from
down scan imagery).
SONAR Imagery
Background image: NDSWC

20. Trees

21. Trees

22. Down Scan Images

23. Down Scan Images

24. Down Scan Images

25. Side Scan Images

26. Side Scan Images

27. USACE Building Footprints
Credit: NDSWC

28. Putting It All Together
These three sets of data (topography, down scan
image locations, and building footprints) were
combined into one map.
Areas where down scan points, spikes in elevation,
and building footprints were all present were
identified as locations that warrant further study
(circled in blue).

29. Conclusions
Can we use GIS software and a fish finder to create survey maps?
• YES!
• Approximately 132 acres in a few hours
• Collect depth readings
• Record down and side scan images
Suggestions for improvement
• Lower lake levels
• Auto steer
• Tow fish setup
• North-south pattern

30. Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following for their assistance in this project.
• Richard Strand, research assistant, owner and operator of the boat and HDS 12 unit.
• Ann Fritz, Bismarck State College GIS adjunct instructor, project mentor.
• Angie Milakovic, Bismarck State College Associate Professor and GIS Program Chair.
• Rod Bassler, GIS Coordinator, North Dakota State Water Commission.
• Matt Gartner, United States Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate Office.
• Marilyn Hudson, former Elbowoods resident. Member of final graduating class of Elbowoods
High School.
• Scarlet and gold color scheme used in this presentation honors Elbowoods High School.
• Calvin Grinnell, Historian, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation.
• Lindsey Novak, wife and project supporter.
Credit: Marilyn Hudson

31. Works Cited
Dokken, Brad. “From sunken garages to trucks, side-imaging technology brings bottom of the Red River
into focus.” The Grand Forks Herald, December 7, 2017.
Donovan, Lauren. “Low Levels on Lake Sakakawea Revealing Several Flooded Towns.” The Bismarck
Tribune, August 24, 2004.
“Garrison Project Statistics.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District, August 6, 2012,
https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Media/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-Article-
View/Article/487634/garrison-project-statistics/
Kaeser, Adam and Thom Litts. "An Illustrated Guide to Low-Cost Side Scan Sonar Habitat Mapping." April,
2013.
Lowrance. HDS Gen3 Operator Manual. Navico Holding AS. 2017.
McLean County Historical Society. McLean County Heritage. Tylor Publishing Company, 1978
Meyer, Roy W. “Fort Berthold and the Garrison Dam.” North Dakota History, Summer/Fall 1968, pp. 221–
291.
Peshin, Akash. "What is SONAR?" Science ABC, https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/what-is-sonar-
definition-active-passive-uses-examples.html. Last Accessed April 7, 2019.