ML14063A539

February 2014 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML14063A539
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	03/04/2014
From:	Weege S - No Known Affiliation
To:	Koperski M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML14063A539 (11)

Text

1 NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From: Steve Weege [steveweege@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 11:41 AM To: Meghan Koperski Cc: Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal; Dave Clark; Da vid Niebch; Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; John Jones; Ken Frehafer; Marine Turtle Permit; Michael Bresette; EndangeredSpecies Resource; SCO@dep.state.fl.us; Shelley Norton; Vince Munne

Subject:

February 2014 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments:

February 2014 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf; Mont hly Report Notes 2014.xls; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2014.xls; Powe r Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory

19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary February 2014

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for February 2014. This month, we captured twenty-four (24)

Caretta caretta and twelve (12)

Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. There was only one mortality and no sea turtles were sent for rehabilitation during the month of February. 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. The strandi ng in February was not considered causal to power plant operations.

There was one noncausal mortality recorded at the Saint Lucie Power Plant during the month of February. A severely decomposed subadult loggerhead sea turtle was found on the surface of the temporary 5-inch barrier net during a routine net check. The turtle was in an advanced state of decompos ition and no other wounds or abnormalities were found. The animal was likely entrained postmortem. The weight was estimated at 35 kg. FWC was consulted and this incident was not considered causal to pow er plant operations.

Throughout the month, the 5-inch barrier ne t experienced severe loads of algae that entered into the intake canal system, whereas jellyfish entrainment was negligible. On February 18 th, a severe algae event caused the temporary barrier net to be drug under the water's surface by up to two inches. Underwater Engineering Services, Inc. (UESI) was called upon to clean and inspect the temporary 5-inch barrier net. The net height was restored after approximately 1.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> and divers were able to maintain the net above water for the remainder of the severe algae event. Inwater Research Group biologists helped to mitigate the potential impact of the algae event by performing around-the-clock monitoring during an d after periods of heavy debris intrusion. Daily inspections of the intake canal up to the Underwater Intrusion Detection System, or 10-inch U.I.D.S. net, have not revealed any turtles beyond the 5-inch net. Construction of a permanent 5-inch barrier net is currently underway and completion has been projected for mid-to-late 2014.

Net inspections were also performed during the month of February. In the beginning of the month a ten inch hole was discovered at the surface of the 5-inch barrier net - the hole was promptly repaired. On February 20 th , UESI performed the quarterly net inspections on the barrier nets within the intake canal system (specifically, the 2temporary 5-inch; 8-inch A-1-A; and 10-inch U.I.D.S. nets). No holes were uncovered during the quarterly net inspection.

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 2014. 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 in curred 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

Hearing Identifier: NRR_PMDA Email Number: 1135 Mail Envelope Properties (CAJrYmh-pKnt_qtBQwd0E3Zgh8WWV1oOJ7AT4cO2AyHr0YK8A0A)

Subject:

February 2014 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 3/4/2014 11:40:55 AM Received Date: 3/4/2014 11:41:36 AM From: Steve Weege Created By: steveweege@gmail.com Recipients: "Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal" <audra.livergood@noaa.gov>

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

Tracking Status: None "David Niebch" <David.Niebch@fpl.com> Tracking Status: None "Ed Hollowell" <Ed.Hollowell@fpl.com> Tracking Status: None "Jodie Gless" <Jodie_Gless@fpl.com>

Tracking Status: None "John Jones" <John.Jones@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 "Shelley Norton" <Shelley.Norton@noaa.gov>

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

Post Office: mail.gmail.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 4000 3/4/2014 11:41:36 AM February 2014 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf 128653 Monthly Report Notes 2014.xls 124480 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2014.xls 177216 Power Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx 22043

Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date: Recipients Received:

MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL FEBRUARY 2014 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 2/2/2014 Chelonia mydas 1 EEA474 69.3 69.7 74.4 66.7 54.7 57.3 48.7 South net 2/2/2014 Chelonia mydas EEP523/EEP524 36.0 36.6 38.2 32.1 28.3 30.0 5.9 South net 2/4/2014 Chelonia mydas EEP525 31.0 31.3 33.8 29.6 26.0 25.5 3.8 Dip net 2/6/2014 Chelonia mydas EEP526 28.7 29.3 30.6 27.7 24.1 24.1 3.1 Dip net 2/6/2014 Chelonia mydas 2 EEP527/EEP528 54.9 55.2 57.6 54.5 44.7 44.6 23.0 South net 2/7/2014 Caretta caretta 3 EEA116/EEA117 66.1 67.1 72.2 68.2 53.7 50.9 43.3 North net 2/7/2014 Caretta caretta EEP529/EEP530 60.2 61.1 66.5 61.1 49.8 48.0 31.2 North net 2/7/2014 Caretta caretta EEP531/EEP532 64.4 66.1 70.4 67.2 54.2 51.5 35.1 North net 2/7/2014 Caretta caretta EEP533/EEP534 62.3 63.6 69.1 65.3 51.2 48.4 37.4 North net 2/7/2014 Caretta caretta EEP535/EEP536 68.8 70.1 74.9 73.0 57.0 54.0 44.2 South net 2/9/2014 Caretta caretta EEP537/EEP538 64.0 65.4 68.6 65.8 52.7 51.0 36.2 South net 2/11/2014 Chelonia mydas 4 EEP539/EEP540 62.9 63.5 67.7 57.4 45.6 50.7 31.5 South net 2/12/2014 Chelonia mydas 5 EEA125/EEP541 57.7 57.9 62.3 58.6 46.1 46.7 26.4 South net 2/13/2014 Caretta caretta 6 EEP542/EEP543 79.0 80.3 87.0 78.0 63.2 61.7 72.4 South net 2/13/2014 Caretta caretta EEP544/EEP545 77.1 78.5 84.5 75.5 60.3 55.8 59.6 South net Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 2/14/2014 Caretta caretta EEP546/EEP547 62.5 64.2 68.2 66.4 56.2 48.8 36.6 South net 2/14/2014 Caretta caretta EEP548/EEP549 66.6 68.2 71.8 72.0 60.6 53.2 43.8 South net 2/15/2014 Caretta caretta EEP550/EEP551 74.6 76.8 83.9 75.7 59.5 57.2 53.9 South net 2/16/2014 Chelonia mydas 7 EEP552/EEP553 55.6 55.8 59.3 53.0 43.3 46.6 24.2 Hand capture 2/16/2014 Caretta caretta 8 JRG140216-01 67.0 68.5 73.2 69.1 54.4 51.8 35.0 Barrier net 2/17/2014 Caretta caretta 9 EEP398/EEP399 55.2 56.0 59.0 57.6 48.9 43.2 22.5 Hand capture 2/17/2014 Chelonia mydas EEP554/EEP555 65.6 66.1 69.8 61.8 53.2 54.8 37.2 Hand capture 2/17/2014 Caretta caretta EEP556/EEP557 77.3 78.6 84.6 77.8 66.4 58.9 66.1 Hand capture 2/21/2014 Caretta caretta EEP558/EEP559 64.9 66.3 71.5 69.0 58.9 54.9 48.5 North net 2/24/2014 Chelonia mydas 989001001237723 27.0 27.5 28.7 23.8 21.6 22.4 2.6 South net 2/24/2014 Caretta caretta EEP560/EEP561 67.6 70.9 76.1 78.3 63.2 55.8 55.7 Hand capture 2/24/2014 Caretta caretta EEP562/EEP563 79.1 81.2 86.7 78.9 62.4 57.4 64.2 Hand capture 2/24/2014 Caretta caretta EEP564/EEP565 65.7 67.7 72.6 66.2 51.5 51.1 42.4 Hand capture 2/24/2014 Caretta caretta EEP566/EEP567 66.2 67.3 72.8 71.2 55.5 52.6 45.2 Hand capture 2/24/2014 Caretta caretta EEP568/EEP569 66.9 68.0 74.2 72.1 56.7 52.2 42.2 Hand capture 2/24/2014 Caretta caretta EEP570/EEP571 67.2 68.6 74.1 71.3 57.4 51.8 47.8 South net 2/25/2014 Chelonia mydas 10 4304582210 54.7 54.9 59.6 53.5 44.3 45.7 23.2 North net 2/25/2014 Caretta caretta EEP572/EEP573 65.9 67.5 70.9 71.9 57.6 50.1 43.5 Hand capture 2/25/2014 Caretta caretta EEP574/EEP575 69.6 72.4 76.9 73.5 56.5 54.1 47.9 Hand capture 2/27/2014 Chelonia mydas 11 4542791F31 65.8 66.0 70.0 65.1 54.1 53.4 39.1 North net Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 2/27/2014 Caretta caretta EEP576/EEP577 66.4 68.6 72.5 69.9 55.7 53.5 44.0 Hand capture

NOTES

1.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 6/15/03, 7/17/03, 11/26/03, 4/1/04, 5/14/05, 7/2/05, 7/23/05, 10/17/05, 5/10/06, 8/21/06, 9/25/06, 12/2/07, 3/15/08, 11/2/08, 2/14/09, 6/23/09, 12/7/09, 9/18/10, 2/20/11, 5/18/11, 9/15/11, 12/18/11, 5/24/13, 7/29/13 and 2/2/14. Turtle missing 40% of left rear flipper (healed). Puncture wound in left pygal

measuring 1cm x 3cm (healing, not from entrainment).

2.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/10/02, 9/27/03, 6/19/06, 7/8/06, 8/16/06, 10/24/11, 5/24/13 and 2/6/14. Turtle used for "Homing Study" by Ken Lohmann (released on 7/11/02). New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

3.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/12/12 and 2/7/14.

4.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/7/05, 8/30/05, 8/6/06, 9/19/06, 8/29/07, 4/30/08, 1/26/09, 10/1/09, 2/13/10, 3/27/10, 7/19/11, 10/4/11, 12/14/11, 12/17/12, 3/14/13 and 2/11/14. New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

5.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, 8/19/13 and 2/12/14. One new Inconel tag (EEP541) inserted on this capture event.

6.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/4/02, 9/17/02, 11/5/02, 4/15/03, 7/1/03, 2/16/04, 4/11/05, 6/19/06, 9/16/06, 8/15/07, 8/7/08, 7/28/09, 11/9/09, 12/3/12, 12/2/13 and 2/13/14. New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

7.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, 8/31/13 and 2/16/14.

8.DEAD (NON-CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# JRG140216-01. Severely decomposed subadult loggerhead found on surface of temporary 5-inch barrier net. No wounds or abnormalities found. Turtle

was in an advanced state of decomposition. The animal was removed from the barrier net and buried

after consulting with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Weight estimated at 35kg.

9.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/11/13 and 2/17/14. Turtle was slightly lethargic.

10.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/24/03, 1/16/04, 9/23/05, 9/19/06, 8/28/08, 3/25/09, 11/14/11 and 2/25/14.

11.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/28/04, 5/20/05, 5/28/05, 7/20/05, 8/2/05, 8/12/05, 9/12/05, 4/16/06, 6/24/06, 8/14/06, 2/2/07, 3/10/08, 9/7/08, 12/22/08, 5/18/11, 11/23/11 and 2/27/14. Two tag scars in each front flipper.

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 Feb-Year to DateFeb-Year to DateFeb-Year to DateFeb-Year to DateFeb-Captures24 55 12 52 0 1 0 0 0 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Non-causal Mortalities 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Causal Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sent to rehab 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Fresh ScrapesFeb-Year to DateFeb-Year to DateFeb-Year to DateFeb-Year to DateFeb-None5 14 3 15 0 1 0 0 0Minor16 36 9 35 0 0 0 0 0Moderate3 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0Severe0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 12.5%9.1%0.0%3.8%N/A 0.0%N/A N/A N/ALoggerheadsGreen turtles (Caretta caretta)(Chelonia mydas)Kemp's (Lepid o kem p (Eretmochelys imbricata)(Dermochelys coriacea)HawksbillsLeatherbacks Year to DateFeb-Year to Date 2 36 110 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 6 Year to DateFeb-Year to Date 1 8 31 1 25 72 0 3 7 0 0 0 0.0%8.3%6.4%Overall Totals s ridle y o chelys p ii) 200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013**2014 Injury / Mortality Totals by Species Total Captures341538623484419227420260295302232303554,499 Injuries0001*3011001105 Mortalities0010*21000100002 Total Captures292394286428267101299161444217127196523,264 Injuries010370221000016 Mortalities211111203122017 Total Captures042011012022015 Injuries00000000000000 Mortalities00000000000000 Total Captures021330207000220 Injuries00000000000000 Mortalities00000000000000 Total Captures362221423212131 Injuries00000000000000 Mortalities0000000000000022253215351330646369449149176923307254247515213625031107,829

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

• • 2014 is a partial year.

St Lucie Power Plant Causal Turtles Total Captures per Year Loggerhead Green Leatherback Kemp's Ridley Hawksbill Injury & Mortality Yearly Totals