ML15231A408
| ML15231A408 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 08/06/2015 |
| From: | Weege S Inwater Research Group |
| To: | Koperski M Division of License Renewal, Tequesta Field Laboratory |
| References | |
| Download: ML15231A408 (2) | |
Text
From:
Steve Weege <steveweege@gmail.com>
Sent:
Thursday, August 06, 2015 12:56 PM To:
Meghan Koperski Cc:
Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; John Jones; Ken Frehafer; Marine Turtle Permit; Michael Bresette; EndangeredSpecies Resource; SCO@dep.state.fl.us; Vince Munne; Cody Mott; Jeff Guertin; Ryan Welsh; debbie.spring@noaa.gov; Max Toebe
Subject:
[External_Sender] July 2015 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments:
July 2015 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf; Monthly Report Notes 2015.pdf; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2015.pdf; Power Plant Causal Turtles.pdf Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469
Subject:
Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary July 2015
Dear Meghan,
Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for July 2015. This month, we captured thirty-five (35) Caretta caretta, twelve (12) Chelonia mydas and one (1)
Lepidochelys kempii in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. There were no mortalities and two sea turtles were sent for rehabilitation in July. As with all sea turtle strandings at the Saint Lucie Plant (alive or dead), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was consulted and a stranding form was filed with the state through the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.
There were two sea turtle that were sent for rehabilitation for non-causal injuries this month.
On July 12th, two subadult loggerheads were hand captured in the FPL intake canal that were in poor condition. The first turtle had severe constriction injuries. Monofilament line and netting material were wrapped tightly around the base of each rear flipper, cutting into the tissue. The second turtle was a severely emaciated individual with a sunken plastron and a visible heartbeat. After consultation with FWC, Inwater Research Group biologists transported the two turtles to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. Neither of the two stranding events this month were considered causal to power plant operations.
Throughout the month, the 5-inch barrier net experienced severe loads of comb jellyfish that entered into the intake canal system, whereas algae entrainment was moderate. Fine filamentous algae, like that which was entrained, can interfere with the operation of the power plant by restricting access to sufficient quantities of clean cooling water. As such, Inwater Research Group biologists performed around-the-clock monitoring of the intake canal and barrier net system during the end of the month when the influx of algae was the heaviest.
Overall, there was no significant impact on the barrier net system and the new barrier net has performed as designed; no turtles have been observed beyond the 5-inch net.
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 2015.
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 tracks all causal injuries and mortalities incurred by sea turtles at the St. Lucie Plant since 2002.
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