ML23006A188

NRR E-mail Capture - (External_Sender) December 2022 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML23006A188
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	01/06/2023
From:	Weege S Inwater Research Group
To:	Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML23006A188 (11)

Text

From: Steve Weege <sweege@inwater.org>

Sent: Friday, January 6, 2023 10:32 AM To: Koperski, Meghan Cc: Eldridge, Jodie; Marine Turtle Permits; Michael Bresette; EndangeredSpecies Resource; SCO@dep.state.fl.us; Vince Munne; Eaton, Kristin; William Nurnberger; Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal; Cody Mott; Jguertin; Robert.Craven@fpl.com; Damon Hobson; Andrew.McHenry@fpl.com; Falkiewicz, Timothy; Annessia Michaels; Ryan Welsh

Subject:

[External_Sender] December 2022 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments: December 2022 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf; Monthly Report Notes 2022.pdf; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2022.pdf Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary December 2022

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for December 2022. This month we captured seven Caretta caretta and 59 Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. Three sea turtles were sent for rehabilitation (non-causal) and there were no mortalities recorded this month. As with all sea turtle strandings at the St. Lucie Plant, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was consulted and stranding forms were filed with the state through the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.

Three sea turtles were sent to rehab for non-causal injuries this month. On December 12th, a lethargic juvenile green turtle was dip-netted near the barrier net. On December 18th, another juvenile green turtle was proactively captured that had numerous healing wounds on its head and flippers (possibly from embedded barnacles). On December 20th, an adult male loggerhead was captured in the tangle nets with a severe laceration through its right front flipper; the distal third of its flipper was almost completely detached. This animal also had an old healed boat strike injury to its posteriormost carapace (prop scar visible through the last vertebral scute). All turtles this month were transported to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehab. Furthermore, because these injuries/illnesses were unrelated to the power plant, they were classified as non-causal strandings.

The primary 5-inch barrier net encountered only negligible amounts of algae in December. However, two turtles were discovered beyond the barrier net this month. Both turtles were in good condition and released following a routine workup. Even still, Inwater Research Group biologists increased capture efforts following the discovery that some turtles had progressed beyond the primary barrier net.

Moreover, nearly half (30 out of 66 turtles) were proactively removed from the intake canal this month.

On December 9th, Underwater Engineering Services (UESI) divers performed the quarterly net inspections on the first two barrier nets (the 5-inch and 8-inch A-1-A) as well as the semiannual inspection of the UIDS net; the barrier nets were found to be in good working condition. Again, on the 28th, UESI divers inspected the 5-inch barrier net and no holes or damage were uncovered. Therefore, the two turtles that were recovered from the intake wells are believed to have passed through the primary barrier net after it was damaged by Hurricane Nicole.

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 2022. 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_DRMA Email Number: 1894 Mail Envelope Properties (CAOA4+RJ+uUFFXW=jYPr-2BWUVHxqA8NPX2bPh5k_6Pp=90Tbbg)

Subject:

[External_Sender] December 2022 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 1/6/2023 10:31:58 AM Received Date: 1/6/2023 10:32:49 AM From: Steve Weege Created By: sweege@inwater.org Recipients:

"Eldridge, Jodie" <Jodie.Eldridge@nexteraenergy.com>

Tracking Status: None "Marine Turtle Permits" <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 "Eaton, Kristin" <Kristin.Eaton@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "William Nurnberger" <William.Nurnberger@fpl.com>

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

Tracking Status: None "Cody Mott" <cmott@inwater.org>

Tracking Status: None "Jguertin" <jguertin@inwater.org>

Tracking Status: None "Robert.Craven@fpl.com" <Robert.Craven@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "Damon Hobson" <Damon.Hobson@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "Andrew.McHenry@fpl.com" <Andrew.McHenry@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "Falkiewicz, Timothy" <Timothy.Falkiewicz@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "Annessia Michaels" <AMichaels@inwater.org>

Tracking Status: None "Ryan Welsh" <rwelsh@inwater.org>

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

Tracking Status: None Post Office: mail.gmail.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3404 1/6/2023 10:32:49 AM

December 2022 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf 96895 Monthly Report Notes 2022.pdf 69428 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2022.pdf 86714 Options Priority: Normal Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL DECEMBER 2022 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 12/1/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0524/IRG0526 29.3 30.0 31.0 26.1 23.6 24.6 3.1 South net 12/2/2022 Chelonia mydas 1 FFM082/FFM083 50.9 51.6 54.0 50.2 41.6 42.0 18.4 South net 12/3/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM084/FFM085 31.6 32.1 33.8 27.2 23.7 26.5 4.2 Dip net 12/4/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM086/FFM087 33.8 33.9 35.7 32.6 28.0 28.2 4.8 Dip net 12/5/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM089/FFM090 31.1 31.5 33.1 28.5 24.8 25.7 3.8 North net 12/5/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0527/IRG0528 29.3 29.8 31.3 26.9 24.0 24.4 3.1 Dip net 12/6/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM091/FFM092 30.5 30.6 32.0 28.0 24.9 24.8 3.2 South net 12/7/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM093/FFM094 40.4 40.5 41.5 35.8 30.7 32.7 7.7 South net 12/7/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM095/FFM096 56.4 56.5 59.7 53.3 45.3 46.5 23.2 South net 12/8/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM097/FFM098 30.0 30.6 32.2 28.2 24.9 24.5 3.1 South net 12/12/2022 Chelonia mydas 2 4A591B0149 68.4 68.6 73.8 64.9 53.2 54.4 44.0 South net 12/12/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM099/FFM100 31.8 32.0 32.7 27.1 25.3 27.0 3.7 North net 12/12/2022 Chelonia mydas 3 HWB221212-001 43.7 44.1 46.1 40.9 35.3 35.9 9.7 Dip net 12/13/2022 Caretta caretta -/FFM303 62.2 62.3 69.7 65.6 51.3 47.5 34.0 North net 12/13/2022 Chelonia mydas 4 FFM301/FFM302 62.5 63.3 66.0 58.5 51.2 51.9 33.6 South net 12/14/2022 Chelonia mydas 5 982000402162928 51.9 52.1 56.1 48.4 40.6 40.7 17.1 South net 12/14/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM304/FFM305 44.5 45.0 47.5 40.5 35.9 35.0 9.9 South net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 12/14/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0529/IRG0530 28.8 29.1 30.5 26.7 24.4 24.9 3.0 Dip net 12/15/2022 Chelonia mydas 6 FFM306/FFM307 39.1 39.8 41.9 35.7 31.7 33.3 8.4 Dip net 12/15/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0531/IRG0532 29.3 29.4 31.1 26.4 23.2 25.1 3.1 Dip net 12/16/2022 Caretta caretta FFM308/FFM309 63.7 64.2 68.7 65.4 53.5 48.9 39.2 North net 12/17/2022 Caretta caretta 7 FFM310/FFM311 85.5 86.8 93.1 90.3 70.5 66.1 105.2 North net 12/17/2022 Chelonia mydas 8 FFM312/FFM313 36.3 36.6 39.1 33.3 27.8 28.5 5.9 North net 12/17/2022 Chelonia mydas 9 KKY061/- 58.0 58.4 61.4 58.5 46.2 47.9 24.4 North net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas -/FFM314 31.4 31.9 33.5 29.4 25.9 26.0 4.2 Dip net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas 10 FFM315/FFM316 69.1 69.5 73.2 68.1 54.6 55.8 47.9 South net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM317/FFM318 30.7 31.4 33.1 29.2 25.8 25.7 3.8 South net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM319/FFM320 78.3 79.2 84.9 79.5 62.3 67.2 68.3 North net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas 11 HWB221218-001 30.9 31.3 32.7 27.8 25.0 25.5 3.5 Dip net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0533/IRG0534 28.8 29.4 30.1 25.7 23.2 24.1 2.7 Dip net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0536/IRG0537 25.8 25.9 27.9 23.6 20.9 21.7 2.6 Dip net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0538/IRG0540 27.6 27.7 29.3 25.6 22.1 22.4 2.5 Dip net 12/18/2022 Chelonia mydas 12 IRG0541/IRG0542 27.2 27.9 29.2 24.1 21.9 23.2 2.5 Intake well 12/19/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM321/FFM322 29.4 30.0 31.7 27.6 25.0 24.8 3.2 Dip net 12/19/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM323/FFM324 30.8 31.0 33.3 29.1 24.9 25.2 4.4 Dip net 12/19/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0543/IRG0545 28.0 28.7 30.2 26.4 23.4 24.0 3.2 Dip net 12/19/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0546/IRG0547 25.2 25.4 26.7 23.2 20.9 20.9 1.8 Dip net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 12/19/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0548/IRG0549 28.3 28.5 30.6 26.7 23.5 23.4 3.1 Dip net 12/20/2022 Caretta caretta 13 HWB221220-001 84.5 85.2 91.5 89.1 67.3 66.7 100.3 North net 12/20/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0550/IRG0551 25.5 25.6 26.6 22.6 20.1 21.0 2.0 Dip net 12/20/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0552/IRG0553 26.1 26.2 27.2 23.0 20.8 22.3 2.1 Dip net 12/21/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM325/FFM326 39.7 39.9 41.4 34.8 31.2 32.0 7.6 South net 12/22/2022 Chelonia mydas 14 982000402163339 53.7 54.3 57.5 52.6 42.4 44.7 21.3 South net 12/22/2022 Caretta caretta FFM327/FFM328 63.1 64.1 66.6 66.9 56.0 50.8 36.1 North net 12/22/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0554/IRG0555 26.1 26.2 27.3 22.7 19.5 21.7 2.0 Dip net 12/23/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM329/FFM330 39.6 39.7 42.0 35.1 30.5 33.2 8.1 Dip net 12/23/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0556/IRG0557 29.5 29.8 31.5 27.5 23.9 24.8 3.3 Dip net 12/23/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0558/IRG0559 28.1 28.3 29.2 27.0 23.5 22.5 2.9 Dip net 12/25/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM331/- 46.4 46.8 50.0 44.5 37.3 38.7 14.0 Dip net 12/26/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM332/FFM333 30.6 31.0 33.0 28.7 25.3 26.1 4.0 Dip net 12/26/2022 Caretta caretta FFM334/FFM335 58.9 61.0 65.4 60.8 50.0 47.6 32.0 South net 12/26/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM336/FFM337 32.8 33.3 35.4 29.6 26.6 26.5 4.9 Dip net 12/27/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM338/FFM339 31.5 32.4 35.1 28.7 25.0 26.5 4.2 South net 12/27/2022 Caretta caretta 15 FFM340/FFM341 97.8 99.7 105.3 97.9 79.6 71.2 117.2 South net 12/28/2022 Chelonia mydas 16 IRG0560/IRG0561 26.8 27.4 28.6 25.2 22.9 22.7 2.3 Intake well 12/29/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM342/FFM343 32.6 32.6 34.4 30.5 27.2 26.8 4.2 Dip net 12/29/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM344/FFM345 31.9 32.0 33.4 27.3 23.8 25.8 3.7 South net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 12/29/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM346/FFM347 50.7 51.6 54.0 48.1 42.9 43.3 16.9 South net 12/29/2022 Chelonia mydas 17 FFM348/FFM349 60.6 61.2 63.8 53.5 46.3 50.5 27.7 North net 12/29/2022 Chelonia mydas IRG0562/IRG0563 27.9 28.1 29.7 25.3 22.6 23.7 2.8 Dip net 12/30/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM350/FFM351 32.2 32.6 33.9 29.2 26.2 26.1 4.1 South net 12/30/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM352/FFM353 30.4 31.1 32.7 28.7 25.9 26.3 3.6 Dip net 12/30/2022 Chelonia mydas FFM354/FFM355 30.7 31.0 32.6 27.7 24.9 25.8 3.6 Dip net 12/30/2022 Chelonia mydas 18 IRG0541/IRG0542 27.3 27.8 29.3 24.1 21.8 23.0 2.5 South net 12/31/2022 Chelonia mydas 19 FFM037/FFM038 51.0 51.6 53.5 47.5 40.3 41.6 15.8 South net 12/31/2022 Chelonia mydas 20 FFM356/FFM357 56.6 57.1 59.5 54.5 46.7 46.5 23.1 South net

NOTES

1. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/13/20 and 12/2/22. New Inconel tags applied on this capture event.

2. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/29/08, 1/17/14, 5/7/14, 1/27/15, 3/1/15, 12/23/15, 1/30/16, 6/2/16, 1/5/17, 6/1/17, 9/27/17, 1/2/18, 7/3/18, 8/28/18, 4/18/19, 10/4/19, 11/30/20, 1/23/21, 12/12/22. Multiple tag scars on both front flippers (no new Inconel tags applied).

3. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# HWB221212-001. Lethargic juvenile green turtle dip netted near the barrier net. Metal detector scan was inconclusive (possible ingested hooks). Ecological Associates Inc.

biologist transported the turtle to rehab at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach.

Update 12/14/22: No evidence of hook ingestion and floating has resolved. Turtle now eating on its own.

4. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 2/1/19, 4/5/19, 12/13/22. New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

5. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/27/18, 4/19/19, 6/3/19, 9/14/19, 10/8/19, 12/2/19, 1/3/20, 8/16/20, 1/23/21, 1/6/22, 12/14/22. Multiple tag scars (no new Inconel tags inserted).

6. STRANGE TAG (PIT tag), stranded cold and lethargic 2/20/16 in Flagler County and went to Volusia Marine Science Center for rehab (released 5/12/16). Inconel tags placed on this capture event (12/15/22).

Large depression in costal scutes on right side, mid-carapace.

7. Adult female loggerhead. Tail length = 285 mm.

8. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 1 {light}, Total Tumor Score = 1). One papilloma tumor on left eye.

9. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 11/12/20, 12/16/21, 12/17/22.

10. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 9/22/10, 10/13/11, 12/18/22.

11. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# HWB221218-001. Turtle had numerous healing wounds on head and flippers (possibly from embedded barnacles). Inwater Research Group biologists (IRG) transported partway to LMC in Juno Beach for rehab.

12. Turtle recovered from the intake wells overnight. It was alive and in good condition. Turtle was held until morning and released following a routine workup.

13. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# HWB221220-001. Adult male loggerhead (tail length = 455 mm) with a severe laceration through its right front flipper (distal third of flipper almost completely detached). Old healed boat strike injury in posteriormost carapace (prop scar through last vertebral scute). IRG transported the turtle to LMC in Juno Beach for rehab.

14. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/19/18, 12/10/18, 3/31/19, 12/9/19, 1/7/20, 2/15/20, 5/5/20, 8/11/20, 10/25/20, 1/13/21, 4/22/21, 1/5/22, 3/17/22, 10/6/22, 12/22/22. No new Inconel tags inserted due to multiple tag scars.

15. Adult male loggerhead. Tail length = 445 mm.

16. Turtle recovered from the intake wells overnight. It was alive and in good condition, although underweight.

Turtle was held until morning and released following a routine workup.

17. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 1 {light}, Total Tumor Score = 1).

18. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/18/22, 12/30/22.

19. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 2/1/22, 11/14/22, 12/31/22.

20. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/25/20 and 12/31/22. New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

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 Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Captures 7 145 59 187 0 0 0 1 0 1 66 334 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Non-causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Causal Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sent to rehab 1 4 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date Dec-22 Date None 0 20 9 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 50 Minor 7 118 50 156 0 0 0 0 0 1 57 275 Moderate 0 7 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 Severe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 0.0% 4.8% 0.0% 0.5% N/A N/A N/A 100.0% N/A 0.0% 0.0% 2.7%