ML18158A131
| ML18158A131 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 06/06/2018 |
| From: | Weege S Inwater Research Group |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML18158A131 (8) | |
Text
1 NRR-DMPSPEm Resource From:
Steve Weege <steveweege@gmail.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 8:25 AM To:
Meghan Koperski Cc:
Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; 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; Eaton, Kristin; Jonathan Gorham; William.Nurnberger@fpl.com; Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal; Ryan Chabot
Subject:
[External_Sender] May 2018 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments:
May 2018 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf; Monthly Report Notes 2018.pdf; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2018.pdf Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469
Subject:
Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary May 2018
Dear Meghan,
Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for May 2018. This month we captured 15 Caretta caretta and seven Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. Two sea turtles were sent for rehabilitation (all non-causal) and there were two mortalities (one causal and one non-causal) during the month of May. 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 strandings forms were filed with the state through the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. The lethal capture of six turtles this calendar year resulted in the power plant exceeding the take limit of five green turtle causal mortalities as established by the 2016 Biological Opinion as set forth by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
According to the 2016 Biological Opinion, exceeding any one of the capture, causal non-lethal, or causal lethal take limits requires reinitiation of consultation. FPL and the NRC have already reinitiated a section 7 consultation with NMFS regarding the take of green turtles.
There were two juvenile green turtle mortalities this month. On May 7th, a severely decomposed green turtle was found atop the 5-inch barrier net during the morning survey. The turtle was missing its head and most of its flippers. Its scutes were also sloughing off. Consequently, it was too decomposed to necropsy. After consulting FWC, this turtle was regarded as non-causal. On May 29th, a fresh dead green turtle was found atop the 5-inch barrier net in the morning. It had red tinted fluid draining from its mouth. The turtle was not tangled in the barrier net, it did not have any external injuries, and its weight was normal. Believed to have drowned during entrainment, it was presumed to be causal pending necropsy. According the veterinarians necropsy report the turtle was in good condition, had eaten recently, and there were no signs of significant trauma or disease. Therefore, based on the postmortem examination the cause of death was likely forced submergence/drowning and the findings were thereby consistent with a causal mortality.
Two subadult loggerheads were sent to rehabilitation facilities for non-causal injuries this month. On May 4th, a loggerhead with extensive soft tissue injuries was removed from the primary barrier net. Its injuries were relatively recent and consistent with a shark attack. Inwater Research Group (IRG) personnel transported the turtle partway to rehab at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton. On May 10th, an emaciated and lethargic loggerhead was recovered from the tangle nets. The turtle was a probable boat strike victim. It was missing approximately 15% from its posterior carapace, part of both rear flippers, and had healed lacerations in its tail and flippers. Its injuries were old and almost entirely healed. However, the animal was in poor condition and after consultation with FWC it was transported by Ecological Associated to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation.
2 On May 8th, Underwater Engineering Services performed the quarterly net inspections on the first two barrier nets within the intake canal system (the 5-inch and 8-inch A-1-A). The 10-inch U.I.D.S. net will now be inspected semiannually and was not included in the inspections for this month. One small single-strand hole was found and repaired in the 5-inch barrier net. No other holes were found during the quarterly net inspections.
The primary 5-inch barrier net encountered moderate-to-severe loads of sargassum algae during the month of May. IRG biologists performed around-the-clock monitoring of the intake canal and barrier net system either as warranted by sufficiently high debris intrusion levels or whenever directed by FPL oversight personnel. Furthermore, Underwater Engineering Services inspected the 5-inch and A-1-A barrier nets from the 5th until the 16th of the month and removed accumulated algae and debris as needed. Even still, the new barrier net has performed as designed and 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 2018. In addition, this spreadsheet tracks fresh scrapes incurred on captured turtles for the current month, as well as the entire year.
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
Hearing Identifier:
NRR_DMPS Email Number:
403 Mail Envelope Properties (CAJrYmh_p9CjHZ+ALBVcOWYVrKALgFSukHU=GhLL=3v_x21LkMA)
Subject:
[External_Sender] May 2018 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date:
6/6/2018 8:25:13 AM Received Date:
6/6/2018 8:25:32 AM From:
Steve Weege Created By:
steveweege@gmail.com Recipients:
"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 "Marine Turtle Permit" <MTP@myfwc.com>
Tracking Status: None "Michael Bresette" <mbresette@inwater.org>
Tracking Status: None "EndangeredSpecies Resource" <EndangeredSpecies.Resource@nrc.gov>
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 "Cody Mott" <cmott@inwater.org>
Tracking Status: None "Jeff Guertin" <jguertin@gmail.com>
Tracking Status: None "Ryan Welsh" <rwelsh@inwater.org>
Tracking Status: None "debbie.spring@noaa.gov" <debbie.spring@noaa.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Eaton, Kristin" <Kristin.Eaton@fpl.com>
Tracking Status: None "Jonathan Gorham" <jgorham@inwater.org>
Tracking Status: None "William.Nurnberger@fpl.com" <William.Nurnberger@fpl.com>
Tracking Status: None "Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal" <audra.livergood@noaa.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Ryan Chabot" <ryan.chabot@gmail.com>
Tracking Status: None "Meghan Koperski" <Meghan.Koperski@myfwc.com>
Tracking Status: None Post Office:
mail.gmail.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 5068 6/6/2018 8:25:32 AM
May 2018 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf 78110 Monthly Report Notes 2018.pdf 61132 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2018.pdf 76718 Options Priority:
Standard Return Notification:
No Reply Requested:
No Sensitivity:
Normal Expiration Date:
Recipients Received:
MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL MAY 2018 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(kg) 5/1/2018 Chelonia mydas 1 MMY145/MMY146 55.3 55.9 58.5 51.1 43.4 46.0 21.0 South net 5/2/2018 Chelonia mydas 2 MMX100/MMY161 51.2 51.6 54.6 46.1 39.9 40.9 15.7 South net 5/4/2018 Caretta caretta 3
STW180504-01 81.6 82.4 88.5 85.5 67.5 63.9 77.8 Barrier net 5/7/2018 Chelonia mydas 4 CRM180507-01 46.0 46.8 49.9 42.6 37.5 36.3 Barrier net 5/7/2018 Caretta caretta 5 MMA864/MMA865 73.0 75.2 79.9 79.5 75.5 56.6 51.3 South net 5/10/2018 Caretta caretta 6 MMY162/MMY163 93.2 95.6 101.3 90.9 70.9 71.1 111.0 South net 5/10/2018 Caretta caretta MMY164/MMY165 65.9 67.2 71.7 65.7 54.4 52.1 39.7 South net 5/10/2018 Caretta caretta 7
STW180510-01 72.7 78.9 80.0 64.6 55.1 54.9 North net 5/11/2018 Chelonia mydas MMY166/MMY167 57.0 57.2 60.9 53.0 43.9 45.4 22.3 South net 5/17/2018 Caretta caretta MMY168/MMY169 58.0 59.0 63.9 61.8 50.6 46.2 30.0 North net 5/18/2018 Caretta caretta 8 MMY170/MMY171 81.1 83.1 89.2 78.5 61.0 60.9 63.4 Hand capture 5/19/2018 Caretta caretta 9 MMY172/MMY173 89.5 90.5 97.5 92.9 71.7 68.2 116.0 South net 5/20/2018 Caretta caretta 10 MMY174/MMY175 63.4 65.0 71.8 67.6 52.0 48.2 34.6 North net 5/20/2018 Caretta caretta MMY176/MMY177 60.0 60.8 65.2 61.4 51.3 50.1 32.6 North net 5/20/2018 Chelonia mydas 11 MMY178/MMY179 52.6 53.1 57.1 47.9 39.4 41.3 11.5 South net
Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(kg) 5/22/2018 Caretta caretta MMY180/MMY181 78.9 79.9 84.7 78.2 64.4 62.5 72.9 South net 5/23/2018 Caretta caretta 12 MMY182/MMY183 84.9 86.3 89.9 80.5 62.9 64.5 88.8 South net 5/24/2018 Chelonia mydas 13 MMY141/MMY142 33.7 34.0 35.6 30.0 26.3 27.9 4.8 South net 5/24/2018 Caretta caretta MMY184/MMY185 81.9 83.4 91.3 79.8 62.6 62.0 83.4 South net 5/27/2018 Caretta caretta 14 MMY186/MMY187 88.7 91.2 97.8 84.5 64.2 67.9 99.7 North net 5/29/2018 Chelonia mydas 15 STW180529-01 29.3 29.8 31.5 28.1 24.8 25.1 3.6 Barrier net 5/31/2018 Caretta caretta MMY188/MMY189 60.4 61.8 66.2 59.6 47.5 46.4 29.0 North net
NOTES
- 1. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/23/18, and 5/1/18.
- 2. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/30/16, 9/17/16, 1/7/17, 10/23/17, 11/18/17, and 5/2/18.
- 3. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding # STW180504-01. Extensive soft tissue damage from recent injury.
Wounds appear to be consistent with a shark attack. Deep lacerations in two flippers with bone exposed.
Turtle missing 30% of left rear flipper. Moderate deep fresh scrapes on top of head and above nares.
Inwater Research Group personnel transported the turtle partway to rehab at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton.
- 4. DEAD (NON-CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# CRM180507-01. Severely decomposed juvenile green turtle found atop 5-inch barrier net in the morning. Turtle missing head, rear flippers, left front flipper, and part of right front flipper. Scutes sloughing off. Too decomposed to necropsy. Approximately 15 kg.
- 5. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/18/07, 8/21/07, 8/24/07, 9/2/07, 9/10/07, 10/25/07, 12/17/07, 1/25/08, 4/6/08, 4/30/08, 7/13/08, 8/24/08, 9/13/08, 10/6/08, 10/18/08, 4/17/09, 6/17/09, 8/13/09, 10/27/09, 6/11/10, 9/15/10, 9/15/11, 10/21/11, 11/30/11, 7/7/12, 3/20/13, 11/4/15, 2/27/16, 1/6/17, 5/30/17, 9/24/17, 2/9/18, and 5/7/18.
- 6. Adult female. Tail length = 221 mm.
- 7. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# STW180510-01. Emaciated and lethargic large subadult loggerhead. Possible boat strike victim. Turtle missing approximately 15% from right posterior carapace and 25% from each rear flipper. Minimum lengths could not be accurately taken due to injuries. Scarring and healed lacerations in tail and three flippers. Injuries are old and almost entirely healed. Ecological Associates personnel picked up and transported the turtle to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation.
- 8. STRANGE TAG (PIT tag), information request forwarded to the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida. New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.
- 9. Adult female. Tail length = 242 mm. Recent hooking injury in left axilla.
- 10. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/3/14 and 5/20/18.
- 11. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 2 {moderate}, Total Tumor Score = 15). Deep moderate fresh scrape above right eye and multiple deep scrapes in anterior carapace. Turtle was active and released.
- 12. Adult female. Tail length = 230 mm.
- 13. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/19/18 and 5/24/18.
- 14. Adult female. Tail length = 230 mm.
- 15. DEAD (CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# STW180529-01. Fresh dead juvenile green turtle found atop 5-inch barrier net in the morning. Skin sloughing and red tinted fluid draining from mouth. The turtle was not tangled in the barrier net, it did not have any external injuries, and its weight was normal.
Believed to have drowned during entrainment it was presumed to be causal pending necropsy. Held on ice for Dr. Nancy Mettee, DVM. According to the necropsy report the cause of death was forced submergence and the mortality was determined to be causal.
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
May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date Captures 15 90 7
220 0
0 0
0 0
10 22 320 Causal Mortalities 0
0 1
6 0
0 0
0 0
0 1
6 Non-causal Mortalities 0
0 1
3 0
0 0
0 0
0 1
3 Causal Injuries 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 Sent to rehab 2
7 0
5 0
0 0
0 0
0 2
12 Fresh Scrapes May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date May-18 Year to Date None 2
9 3
131 0
0 0
0 0
0 5
140 Minor 11 78 3
84 0
0 0
0 0
10 14 172 Moderate 2
3 1
5 0
0 0
0 0
0 3
8 Severe 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 13.3%
3.3%
14.3%
2.3%
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.0%
13.6%
2.5%
Leatherbacks Loggerheads Green turtles (Caretta caretta)
(Chelonia mydas)
Overall Totals Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Hawksbills