ML102380326

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary for July 2009

ML102380326
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	08/14/2009
From:	Bresette M Florida Power & Light Co, Inwater Research Group
To:	Koperski M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, State of FL, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
References
Download: ML102380326 (6)

Text

Balsam, Briana From: Michael_Bresette@fpl.com Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:26 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:

July captures Attachments: July09.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 July 2009

Dear Meghan,

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

In July, we captured twenty three (23) Caretta caretta, three (3) Chelonia mydas, and one (1) Eretmochelys imbricata at the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on South Hutchinson Island. In July, two loggerheads were sent to rehabilitation facilities for treatment after consultation with FFWCC personnel. Both were lethargic and underweight and one had possible shark bite wounds on the carapace. These events were not causal to power plant operation. All other turtles captured in July were released on the same day of capture.

During July 23,24, 25 and 28 heavy amounts of drift algae were entrained into the canal. Divers were deployed to clean the primary barrier net on three days in July in order to maintain its integrity. During July, the primary barrier net performed as designed and effectively kept turtles from moving further down the canal.

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.

Sincerely, Michael J. Bresette Sr. Environmental Specialist 1

Inwater Research Group, Inc.

(See attached file: July09.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 Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Captures 23 159 3 100 1 2 0 1 0 0 27 262 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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Sent to rehab 2 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 11 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date Jul-09 Date None 1 18 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 23 Minor 11 94 0 63 0 1 0 0 0 0 11 158 Moderate 10 44 3 30 1 1 0 1 0 0 14 76 Severe 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 47.8% 29.6% 100.0% 32.0% 100.0% 50.0% #DIV/0! 100.0% #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 55.6% 30.9%