ML102380274

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary for April 2009

ML102380274
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	05/06/2009
From:	Bresette M Florida Power & Light Co, Quantum Resources
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML102380274 (7)

Text

Balsam, Briana From: Michael_Bresette@fpl.com Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 3:08 PM To: Meghan.Koperski@MyFWC.com Cc: Logan, Dennis; Ed_Hollowell@fpl.com; Shelley.Norton@noaa.gov; Vince_Munne@fpl.com; Winifred.Perkins@fpl.com; Bob.Hoffman@noaa.gov; Stacy.Foster@fpl.com; David.Niebch@fpl.com; Jodie.Gless@fpl.com

Subject:

April sea turtle Attachments: April 09.pdf; St. Lucie caps 2009.xls Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary April 2009

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for April 2009.

In April, we captured twenty (20) Caretta caretta and sixteen (16) Chelonia mydas at the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on South Hutchinson Island. On April 3, a loggerhead was captured and had monofilament line around the neck and right front flipper causing swelling and exposed muscle tissue. This turtle was transported to the Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation after consultation with personnel from FWCC. On April 8, a lethargic and underweight loggerhead was found at the top of the primary barrier net and was transported to the Marinelife Center in Juno Beach after consultation with personnel from FWCC. On April 16, another lethargic and underweight loggerhead was transported to the Marinelife Center in Juno Beach after consultation with personnel from FWCC. All of these incidents were not considered causal to power plant operation. All other turtles that were captured in April were released on the same day of capture.

From April 1 to April 14 the primary barrier net experienced heavy loads of algae that threatened its integrity. Divers were deployed to clean the nets during eleven days in April to restore the net to original design specifications.

Tag numbers and morphmetric data for all turtles are attached. Also, attached is a spreadsheet of all captures, mortalities, injuries and causal events delineated by species and month for 2009. This spreadsheet tracks fresh scrapes and will be helpful in determining the success of the intake pipe cleaning project. If you have any questions or comments about the enclosed data please contact me at your convenience.

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Sincerely, Michael J. Bresette Sr. Environmental Specialist Quantum Resources, Inc.

(See attached file: April 09.pdf)(See attached file: St. Lucie caps 2009.xls) 2

Loggerheads Green turtles Hawksbills Leatherbacks Kemp's ridley (Eretmochelys (Dermochelys (Lepidochelys (Caretta caretta) (Chelonia mydas) imbricata) coriacea) kempii) Overall Totals Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Captures 20 86 16 77 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 163 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Non-causal Mortalities 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Causal Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Sent to rehab 3 7 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 9 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date Apr-08 Date None 2 6 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 9 Minor 13 55 8 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 104 Moderate 5 23 6 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 46 Severe 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 25.0% 29.1% 43.8% 32.5% 0.0% #DIV/0! 0.0% 0.0% #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 33.3% 30.7%