PRIMRE/Databases/Projects Database/Test Sites/Cal Poly Pier
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Cal Poly Pier
The Cal Poly Pier allows users to test equipment from an easily accessible, shore-based facility, without the expense and complications of ship time. The Pier extends 1 km into San Luis Obispo Bay, in 12 m/40 ft of water, providing ample depth for deploying and testing a range of equipment. There is also an 100-gallon/min flow through seawater system for aquaculture and organismal studies. It is a secured facility, with restricted access and loading capacities sufficient to transport large equipment out onto the Pier. The area around the pier is semi-protected by the Port San Luis Breakwater (~1.8 km to the SW), with moderate wave and wind fields relative to the open coast. As such, it provides an excellent location to deploy and test equipment in semi-exposed conditions from a fixed platform. The Pier is in a commercial harbor not associated with any special regulatory zones, with access to port infrastructure.
==Cal Poly Pier details:==
Area available • Total deck space: 90 ft x 150 ft (13,500 sq ft total) • 2,000 sq ft, 2-story main building (classroom, conference room, shop, storage) • 1,700 sq ft Flowing Seawater Facility (indoor and outdoor aquaria support) • 160 sq ft Scientific Diving support container (compressor and fill station) • 160 sq ft storage container • 450 sq ft lower landing platform located +3 feet above mean high water. • Supports vessel loading operations, equipment deployments and dive ladder. Roadway (single lane) • American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials HS-20 rated (8,000 lbs. per front axle, 32,000 lbs. per rear axle 40,000 lbs. max per vehicle) Flowing Seawater System • Continuous ~100 gallons/minute flow rate. Both Filtered Seawater (5–10-micron filtration pass) and Raw Seawater are supplied via overhead supply piping. Other Capacity • Jib Crane. 2-ton load rated with motorized trolley and boom (west side of platform) • Davits. Two 500 lb. capacity pier deck mounted (east and south sides of platform) Permitting • Regional Water Quality Control Board Discharge permit. Allows discharge of flow through seawater in San Luis Obispo Bay. Limited to discharge of food and nitrogenous waste associated with animal husbandry practices.
- Wave
- Tidal
- Open Ocean: Main body of ocean, not enclosed or partially enclosed by land
- Coastal: Open water near the coast, spanning between land and shelf boundary
- Enclosed Bay: water that is partially surrounded by land, with a mouth open to larger water
- Constricted Channel: A channel where water flows quickly due to narrowing by the land
- River: Water flowing from land towards a larger body of water
Citation Formats
“Cal Poly Pier.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/Cal_Poly_Pier. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.
Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites. <year>. "Cal Poly Pier." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/Cal_Poly_Pier.
