ML13267A067

NRR E-mail Capture - August 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML13267A067
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	09/08/2013
From:	Weege S - No Known Affiliation
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML13267A067 (10)

Text

NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From: Stephen Weege [steveweege@yahoo.com]

Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2013 11:52 AM To: Meghan Koperski Cc: Dave Niebch; Mike Bresette; MTP@MyFWC.com; SCO@dep.state.fl.us; Vince Munne; Audra

- NOAA Federal; John Jones; Dave Clark; Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; Ken Frehafer; Shelley Norton; EndangeredSpecies Resource

Subject:

August 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments: August 2013 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf; Monthly Report Notes 2013.xls; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2013.xls; Power Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta , FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary August 2013

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for August 2013. This month, we captured thirty-nine (39) Caretta caretta, five (5) Chelonia mydas and one (1) Dermochelys coriacea in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. Two sea turtle was sent for rehabilitation during the month of August and there were no mortalities.

On August 5th, an adult female loggerhead sea turtle was captured through the daily netting efforts of Inwater Research Group (IRG) biologists. A general health assessment and inspection revealed a 3cm x 3.5cm circular puncture wound which penetrated through the carapace. After consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), this injury was deemed a severe fresh scrape causal to power plant operations. The turtle was then transported by IRG biologists to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. "Big Mama" was promptly treated and was released on the beach adjacent to the rehab facility on August 14th.

On August 14th, a subadult loggerhead sea turtle was hand captured at the waters surface immediately after entrainment into the power plants intake canal system. The debilitated animal was underweight and lethargic.

There were no other wounds or abnormalities other than minor healed carapace damage and poor body condition. FWC was notified and the stranding coordinator picked up and transported the turtle to LMC the same day. This incident was not considered causal to power plant operations.

Throughout the month, the 5-inch barrier net has experienced severe loads of both algae and jellyfish that entered into the intake canal system. On August 18th, the temporary 5-inch barrier net began to sag under the weight of accumulating biota. Underwater Engineering Services (UESI) was immediately dispatched to clean the 5-inch net and remained on site on a 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> basis until August 24th. UESI also cleaned the 8-inch A-1-A net as a precautionary measure and continues to inspect/clean the 5-inch net during daylight hours as needed.

Since August 19th, IRG biologists have also been monitoring the intake canal and temporary 5-inch barrier net around the clock with regular reporting to power plant personnel. In spite of the heavy influx of debris, the temporary barrier net has performed as designed and no turtles have been observed beyond the 5-inch net. To date, Florida Power & Light continues to work towards the installation of a permanent 5-inch barrier net.

1

The tag numbers and morphometric data for all turtles captured during the month have been included with this report (see attachments/addendums). Also included is a spreadsheet for all captures, mortalities, injuries, and causal events delineated by species and by month for the year 2013. In addition, this spreadsheet also tracks fresh scrapes incurred on captured turtles for the current month, as well as the entire year. An additional Excel spreadsheet was added this year that tracks all causal injuries and mortalities incurred by sea turtles at the St.

Lucie Plant since 2001.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely, Steve Steve Weege Sr. Environmental Specialist Inwater Research Group, Inc.

4160 NE Hyline Dr.

Jensen Beach, FL 34957 sweege@inwater.org (772) 349-7252 2

Hearing Identifier: NRR_PMDA Email Number: 852 Mail Envelope Properties (1378655523.32755.YahooMailNeo)

Subject:

August 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 9/8/2013 11:52:03 AM Received Date: 9/8/2013 11:52:22 AM From: Stephen Weege Created By: steveweege@yahoo.com Recipients:

"Dave Niebch" <david_niebch@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "Mike Bresette" <mbresette@inwater.org>

Tracking Status: None "MTP@MyFWC.com" <MTP@MyFWC.com>

Tracking Status: None "SCO@dep.state.fl.us" <SCO@dep.state.fl.us>

Tracking Status: None "Vince Munne" <vince.munne@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "Audra - NOAA Federal" <audra.livergood@noaa.gov>

Tracking Status: None "John Jones" <John.Jones@FPL.com>

Tracking Status: None "Dave Clark" <dclark@inwater.org>

Tracking Status: None "Ed Hollowell" <Ed_Hollowell@FPL.com>

Tracking Status: None "Jodie Gless" <Jodie_Gless@FPL.com>

Tracking Status: None "Ken Frehafer" <Ken_Frehafer@FPL.com>

Tracking Status: None "Shelley Norton" <Shelley.Norton@NOAA.gov>

Tracking Status: None "EndangeredSpecies Resource" <EndangeredSpecies.Resource@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Meghan Koperski" <Meghan.Koperski@MyFWC.com>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: web122602.mail.ne1.yahoo.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3595 9/8/2013 11:52:22 AM August 2013 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf 149625 Monthly Report Notes 2013.xls 170048 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2013.xls 186432 Power Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx 14160 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No

Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received:

MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL AUGUST 2013 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 8/2/2013 Chelonia mydas 982000167776947 28.9 29.3 31.3 26.2 23.0 24.4 3.1 Barrier net 8/4/2013 Caretta caretta EEL908/EEL909 67.8 69.0 74.8 74.0 60.6 53.4 45.2 Hand capture 8/4/2013 Caretta caretta EEL910/EEL911 64.3 65.3 70.6 66.5 54.1 50.5 40.0 Hand capture 8/4/2013 Caretta caretta EEL914/EEL915 79.1 80.1 85.5 81.9 63.4 61.8 71.0 Hand capture 8/4/2013 Caretta caretta 1 SSR377/EEL912/EEL 83.1 84.7 90.7 82.4 64.4 65.5 81.8 Hand capture 913 8/5/2013 Caretta caretta 2 EEL916/EEL917 104.8 104.9 110.7 98.2 75.6 81.5 158.5 North net 8/5/2013 Caretta caretta 3 EEL918/EEL919 85.8 86.1 92.6 87.6 68.7 68.8 102.2 North net 8/6/2013 Caretta caretta 4 EEL920/EEL921 90.6 92.1 97.2 96.4 74.1 75.0 North net 8/7/2013 Caretta caretta 5 EEL922/EEL923 92.5 94.8 102.0 91.4 70.2 69.2 South net 8/11/2013 Caretta caretta EEL924/EEL925 70.9 72.2 78.5 70.5 57.8 55.5 48.5 South net 8/12/2013 Caretta caretta 6 EEL926/EEL927 93.7 94.1 99.0 91.5 75.8 74.5 121.0 South net 8/12/2013 Caretta caretta 7 EEL928/EEL929 90.9 93.3 99.5 93.5 74.1 71.5 106.6 North net 8/12/2013 Caretta caretta EEL930/EEL931 68.6 69.3 73.6 70.5 57.9 53.6 47.5 South net 8/13/2013 Caretta caretta EEL932/EEL933 69.3 70.8 76.8 73.0 58.0 54.1 49.3 Hand capture 8/13/2013 Caretta caretta EEL934/EEL935 69.0 70.1 74.4 74.2 57.6 53.6 44.1 Hand capture

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 8/13/2013 Caretta caretta EEL936/EEL937 71.2 72.8 77.2 77.0 58.6 51.6 48.2 Hand capture 8/13/2013 Caretta caretta EEL938/EEL939 52.7 53.0 58.8 56.9 47.1 39.4 21.6 Hand capture 8/13/2013 Chelonia mydas 8 EEL940/EEL941 94.0 95.3 101.1 87.6 71.8 75.9 101.5 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Caretta caretta 9 EEL942/EEL943 96.9 97.3 103.0 96.0 74.4 73.4 126.2 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Chelonia mydas 10 EEL944/EEL945 92.5 93.5 100.9 95.0 69.6 79.3 110.8 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Caretta caretta EEL946/EEL947 59.8 61.3 66.9 66.1 54.7 48.4 34.0 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Caretta caretta 11 EEL948/EEL949 83.8 85.2 92.4 82.6 65.1 66.7 79.8 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Caretta caretta 12 EEL950/EEL951 91.0 92.8 100.3 93.9 68.9 70.2 114.4 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Caretta caretta EEL952/EEL953 69.3 70.0 76.3 74.5 59.9 55.6 50.9 Hand capture 8/14/2013 Caretta caretta 13 RCW130814-01 65.4 66.4 71.1 69.0 54.7 50.8 37.2 Hand capture 8/16/2013 Caretta caretta EEL954/EEL955 51.8 52.8 57.5 54.0 46.0 41.0 22.5 Hand capture 8/18/2013 Caretta caretta 14 EEA319/EEA320 54.7 55.8 61.0 59.6 48.1 42.7 25.9 North net 8/19/2013 Chelonia mydas 15 EEA125/EEA126 56.8 57.0 61.2 57.5 46.2 46.3 25.8 North net 8/19/2013 Caretta caretta 16 EEL956/EEL957 91.9 93.7 100.5 94.8 69.8 75.5 120.2 Hand capture 8/19/2013 Caretta caretta EEL958/EEL959 65.7 67.0 70.8 68.4 57.4 51.4 41.1 Hand capture 8/19/2013 Caretta caretta EEL960/EEL961 62.3 63.0 67.6 62.3 51.9 49.1 35.2 Hand capture 8/19/2013 Caretta caretta EEL962/EEL963 70.9 72.3 79.0 74.6 59.7 56.4 50.4 Hand capture 8/23/2013 Caretta caretta 17 EEL964/EEL965 87.3 89.2 94.8 83.7 66.8 67.2 94.5 North net 8/28/2013 Caretta caretta EEL966/EEL967 57.6 59.6 62.6 62.7 49.4 46.5 29.8 North net 8/28/2013 Caretta caretta EEL968/EEL969 68.5 69.6 75.4 72.7 57.3 55.9 48.1 North net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 8/30/2013 Dermochelys 18 EEL970/EEL971 140.3 145.6 101.9 73.1 Hand capture coriacea 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta 19 BBP224/EEL972 60.7 61.7 66.0 59.6 50.1 48.2 28.9 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta EEL973/EEL974 61.0 62.0 67.1 67.2 55.6 48.4 36.5 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta EEL975/EEL976 56.8 57.8 63.1 63.6 51.1 45.4 30.8 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta EEL977/EEL978 60.0 61.0 65.9 66.9 51.1 47.4 34.4 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta EEL979/EEL980 81.4 83.0 90.4 76.5 63.2 64.6 75.3 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta EEL981/EEL982 74.9 76.7 84.5 77.0 61.9 56.8 64.1 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta EEL983/EEL984 78.1 79.7 86.2 77.8 62.6 60.5 66.1 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Chelonia mydas 20 EEL985/EEL986 54.3 54.6 58.3 51.9 42.6 45.6 22.7 Hand capture 8/31/2013 Caretta caretta 21 YYR246/YYR247 65.0 67.3 72.2 68.0 54.1 48.6 40.8 Hand capture

NOTES

1. STRANGE TAG (Inconel Tag #SSR317 in left rear flipper). Tagging information sent to Peter Eliazar at the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (UF). Back of tag stated "NMFS LAB. VIR. KEY, Miami, FL." New PIT and inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

2. REHAB (CAUSAL). Adult female. Tail length = 290 mm. Stranding #CRM130805-01. This turtle had a 3cm x 3.5cm circular puncture through the carapace. The injury was deemed causal to power plant operations after consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The animal was transported by Inwater Research Group (IRG) biologists to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. The turtle was promptly treated and has already been released.

3. Adult female. Tail length = 195 mm. Turtle missing 40% of right front flipper (healed).

4. Adult female. Tail length = 202 mm. Deep moderate fresh scrape on head. Scale inoperable (estimated at 125kg).

5. Adult female. Tail length = 202 mm. Scale inoperable - weight estimated at 115.0kg. Turtle had partially healed damage to both front flippers and an old cut across the carapace. Injuries were consistent with a boat strike.

Animal was in good condition and was released.

6. Adult female. Tail length = 260 mm.

7. Adult female. Tail length = 200 mm.

8. Adult female. Tail length = 240 mm. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 2 {moderate}). Mating wound in shoulder.

9. Adult female. Tail length = 316 mm.

10. Adult female. Tail length = 200 mm. Deep moderate fresh scrapes in anterior carapace and dorsal surface of head (skull exposed).

11. Adult female. Tail length = 212 mm.

12. Adult female. Tail length = 217 mm.

13. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding #RCW130814-01. Turtle was hand captured at the surface immediately after entrainment. Animal was underweight and lethargic. Turtle had a large healed notch in the right posterior carapace.

The stranding was picked up by the FWC stranding coordinator and transported to LMC in Juno Beach the same day.

14. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/20/13 and 8/18/13.

15. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 3/1/04, 11/3/04, 11/21/04, 7/8/05, 8/12/05, 9/13/05, 4/24/06, 9/29/06, 11/19/06, 12/4/06, 12/9/07, 2/10/08, 4/3/08, 9/14/08, 11/26/08, 12/18/08, 12/14/09, 1/11/10, 9/21/10, 7/25/11, 10/13/11, 7/12/12, 12/16/12 and 8/19/13. Turtle missing 10% of right rear flipper and 50% of left rear flipper (both healed).

16. Adult female. Tail length = 255 mm.

17. Adult female. Tail length = 230 mm.

18. Adult male. Tail length = 520 mm. Penis distended during transport. Curved length over the keel was 147.8cm (145.6cm to the left of keel). Tail length was 48cm from top of tail to tip (22cm past end of carapace). Tail length of 52cm taken along the side of tail while turtle crawled back to the ocean. Weight was extimated at 600-700 pounds.

19. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/9/11, 1/8/12, 2/5/12, 5/24/12, 7/5/12, 4/3/13, 4/20/13 and 8/31/13.

20. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 9/23/04, 8/11/06, 8/23/06, 9/30/06, 3/6/07, 8/19/07, 12/3/07, 1/14/08, 2/21/08, 3/19/08, 5/5/08, 5/31/08, 7/7/08, 9/17/08, 11/30/08, 1/26/09, 4/10/09, 4/19/09, 6/24/09, 1/11/10, 3/31/10, 6/5/10, 8/27/10, 10/10/10, 11/27/10, 5/18/11, 11/14/11, 7/12/12 and 8/31/13. New inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

21. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/23/08, 9/17/08, 1/10/09, 3/17/09, 12/18/09, 9/25/10, 11/11/10, 5/18/13 and 8/31/13.

SMCL = Straight Minimum Carapace Length SMCL = Straight Standard Carapace Length CSCL = Curved Standard Carapace Length CMCW = Curved Maximum Carapace Width SMCW = Straight Maximum Carapace Width SMPL = Straight Midline Plastron Length

Loggerheads Green turtles Hawksbills Leatherbacks Kemp's ridley (Chelonia (Eretmochelys (Dermochelys (Lepidochelys (Caretta caretta) mydas) imbricata) coriacea) kempii) Overall Totals Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Captures 39 258 5 120 0 2 1 2 0 0 45 382 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Non-causal Mortalities 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Causal Injuries 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Sent to rehab 2 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date Aug-13 Date None 8 52 0 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 8 70 Minor 27 185 4 88 0 0 1 2 0 0 32 275 Moderate 3 20 1 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 36 Severe 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 10.3% 8.1% 20.0% 12.5% N/A 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% N/A N/A 11.1% 9.7%

Injury / Mortality St Lucie Power Plant Causal Turtles 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 **2013 Totals by Species Total Captures 270 341 538 623 484 419 227 420 260 295 302 232 258 4,669 Loggerhead Injuries 0 0 0 0 1 *3 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 8 Mortalities 1 0 0 1 0 *21 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 24 Total Captures 321 292 394 286 428 267 101 299 161 444 217 127 120 3,457 Green Injuries 0 0 1 0 3 7 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 16 Mortalities 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 2 0 19 Total Captures 2 0 4 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 2 2 17 Leatherback Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Captures 1 0 2 1 3 3 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 19 Kemp's Ridley Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Captures 6 3 6 2 2 2 1 4 2 3 2 1 2 36 Hawksbill Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Injury / Mortality Yearly Totals 5 2 2 2 5 32 1 5 3 5 1 3 1 67 Total Captures per Year 600 636 944 914 917 692 330 725 424 751 521 362 382 8,198

• The loggerhead causal injuries and mortalities in 2006 were all hatchlings.

• • 2013 is a partial year