ML13099A010

March 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML13099A010
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	04/04/2013
From:	Weege S - No Known Affiliation
To:	Koperski M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML13099A010 (11)

Text

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

Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 10:50 AM To: Meghan Koperski Cc: Dave Niebch; Mike Bresette; MTP@MyFWC.com; SCO@dep.state.fl.us; Vince Munne; Dave Clark; Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; Ken Frehafer; Shelley Norton; EndangeredSpecies Resource

Subject:

March 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments: March 2013 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf; Monthly Report Notes 2013.pdf; FPL St Lucie Capture Summary 2013.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 March 2013

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for March 2013. This month, we captured twenty-two (22) Caretta caretta and twenty-eight (28) Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St.

Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. During the month of March, three sea turtles were sent for rehabilitation and one turtle was recovered postmortem.

On March 15th, a subadult loggerhead was recovered from the surface of the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. The turtle was emaciated and lethargic with heavy epibiont coverage. After consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the animal was transported by the stranding coordinator to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. This incident was considered to be non-causal to power plant operations. On March 16th, a severely decomposed juvenile green turtle was recovered from the surface of the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. The animal was in an advanced state of decomposition; the appendages had already rotted away and the body cavity was exposed.

This turtle was most likely entrained into the canal system postmortem and was deemed non-causal to plant operations. The remains were buried after consultation with FWC. On March 18th, a juvenile green turtle was found at surface of the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. This animal was underweight and lethargic and had numerous leeches and cocoons. Inwater Research Group biologists transported the turtle to LMC for rehabilitation after consulting FWC. This incident was considered to be non-causal to power plant operations.

The last stranding of the month was a juvenile green turtle that was found pinned against the temporary 5-inch barrier net on March 29th. This animal was emaciated and in poor condition. There were broken bones in the distal end of the right front flipper (an old injury, not from entrainment) and the turtle was missing part of the tail. After consultation with FWC, the turtle was transported to LMC by the FWC stranding coordinator. This last incident was also considered to be non-causal to power plant operations.

Throughout the month, the 5-inch barrier net experienced light-to-moderate loads of algae that entered into the intake canal system; whereas jellyfish entrainment was negligible. On March 27th, Underwater Engineering Services performed quarterly net inspections on the barrier nets within the intake canal system (specifically, the temporary 5-inch; 8-inch A-1-A; and the Underwater Intrusion Detection System, or 10-inch U.I.D.S. nets). No holes were uncovered during the first quarterly net inspection. Trash near the surface of the temporary barrier net was removed and one repair was made to the 8-inch net (a loose float was reattached). 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 (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.

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: 659 Mail Envelope Properties (1365086982.86305.YahooMailNeo)

Subject:

March 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 4/4/2013 10:49:42 AM Received Date: 4/4/2013 10:49:55 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 "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: web122605.mail.ne1.yahoo.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3848 4/4/2013 10:49:55 AM March 2013 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf 87696 Monthly Report Notes 2013.pdf 80220 FPL St Lucie Capture Summary 2013.pdf 113354 Power Plant Causal Turtles.pdf 108640 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received:

MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL MARCH 2013 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 3/1/2013 Chelonia mydas 1 EEA162 51.0 51.7 55.3 47.4 41.2 41.1 17.0 North net 3/5/2013 Chelonia mydas 982000167772413 27.1 27.4 29.0 26.0 23.2 22.8 2.9 Dip net 3/8/2013 Caretta caretta EEA232/EEA233 43.2 44.3 48.0 52.0 42.0 35.5 15.8 South net 3/9/2013 Caretta caretta EEA234/EEA235 49.9 50.7 55.1 53.7 44.3 41.0 20.0 South net 3/11/2013 Chelonia mydas 2 BBR058/EEA239 35.3 36.1 39.4 36.2 29.6 28.9 5.6 Dip net 3/11/2013 Caretta caretta EEA236 74.6 74.6 78.7 87.5 65.3 67.6 95.0 Hand capture 3/11/2013 Caretta caretta EEA237/EEA238 63.4 64.7 69.4 65.1 52.0 49.0 33.7 Dip net 3/12/2013 Chelonia mydas 982000167820862 29.3 29.7 30.9 26.8 24.2 24.7 3.2 North net 3/12/2013 Caretta caretta EEA240/EEA241 77.2 79.6 87.3 81.1 62.0 59.4 62.7 Hand capture 3/13/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA242/EEA243 34.9 35.3 38.0 32.7 28.7 28.8 5.1 South net 3/13/2013 Caretta caretta EEA244/EEA245 70.8 72.8 78.1 73.2 56.3 65.1 48.9 South net 3/14/2013 Chelonia mydas 3 BBP073/EEA129 60.2 60.4 65.0 55.1 43.8 47.7 28.6 North net 3/14/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA246 34.9 35.5 37.9 33.9 30.4 30.4 6.0 North net 3/14/2013 Caretta caretta EEA247/EEA248 61.7 63.3 68.8 65.7 51.9 49.7 35.3 North net 3/15/2013 Chelonia mydas 982000167774644 25.9 26.1 27.6 23.1 19.9 21.1 1.6 Barrier net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 3/15/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA249/EEA250 44.0 44.8 47.2 39.1 34.4 38.1 10.3 North net 3/15/2013 Caretta caretta 4 STW130315-01 74.0 75.9 80.9 76.5 59.3 55.2 45.0 Barrier net 3/16/2013 Caretta caretta EEA251/EEA252 64.3 65.2 68.6 68.5 54.0 51.2 40.8 North net 3/16/2013 Caretta caretta EEA253/EEA254 53.2 54.5 57.7 58.4 48.6 44.7 26.4 South net 3/16/2013 Chelonia mydas 5 RCW130316-01 26.0 27.1 29.3 Barrier net 3/17/2013 Chelonia mydas 982000167771426 27.7 27.9 29.4 25.5 22.4 22.6 2.6 Dip net 3/17/2013 Caretta caretta EEA255/EEA256 69.6 70.9 77.0 72.3 58.3 56.7 52.5 North net 3/17/2013 Caretta caretta EEA257/EEA258 59.0 60.8 65.0 63.3 50.6 47.7 29.3 North net 3/18/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA259/EEA260 35.1 35.2 37.4 33.5 29.1 29.0 5.9 North net 3/18/2013 Caretta caretta EEA261/EEA262 69.2 70.3 74.0 68.6 56.8 55.3 49.1 North net 3/18/2013 Caretta caretta EEA263/EEA264 69.5 70.7 75.1 72.6 57.6 56.3 46.0 North net 3/18/2013 Chelonia mydas 6 STW130318-01 25.9 26.1 27.5 22.9 19.8 21.1 1.5 Barrier net 3/19/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA265/EEEA266 34.5 34.6 36.6 32.8 27.5 28.9 5.6 Dip net 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta 7 BBR294/EEA279 69.1 71.4 76.0 73.9 58.2 53.8 45.2 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Chelonia mydas 8 EEA211/EEA212 48.0 48.1 51.7 47.5 38.8 39.3 15.9 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta 9 EEA267/EEA268 91.6 95.1 101.9 92.6 72.8 73.4 134.2 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA269/EEA270 44.1 44.1 47.1 41.8 34.6 36.4 11.8 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta EEA271/EEA272 57.9 59.2 64.8 59.5 50.5 46.8 32.0 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta EEA273/EEA274 63.3 64.6 69.0 66.6 53.2 50.1 35.5 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta EEA275/EEA276 64.2 65.3 69.5 64.6 55.4 47.7 35.1 Hand capture

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta EEA277/EEA278 58.8 60.0 66.7 64.6 52.1 46.3 34.1 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta EEA280/EEA281 59.5 61.2 62.1 64.8 52.5 48.3 31.7 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Caretta caretta EEA283/EEA284 62.4 62.7 67.4 60.8 53.9 48.2 30.9 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Chelonia mydas 10 UUX310/EEA282 61.1 61.6 65.1 57.9 49.0 49.5 33.2 Hand capture 3/20/2013 Chelonia mydas 11 YYB158/EEA285 63.9 64.7 69.6 63.5 50.6 53.3 38.3 Hand capture 3/21/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA286 31.5 32.0 34.1 28.7 24.7 26.0 4.0 Dip net 3/21/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA287 31.5 32.1 26.5 3.8 South net 3/22/2013 Chelonia mydas 12 BBP226/BBP227 42.4 42.8 45.4 43.1 36.1 35.6 10.5 North net 3/22/2013 Chelonia mydas 13 BBR253/BBR254 41.4 41.9 44.4 37.6 32.7 35.9 9.8 North net 3/22/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA288/EEA289 37.5 38.2 40.2 35.9 31.1 30.2 6.4 Dip net 3/27/2013 Chelonia mydas EEA290/EEA291 45.5 46.1 48.4 43.4 37.9 37.1 12.0 South net 3/29/2013 Chelonia mydas 14 BBR111 45.8 46.2 49.4 43.4 36.6 38.5 11.6 North net 3/29/2013 Chelonia mydas 15 DRC130329-01 23.8 23.9 25.6 21.4 18.7 20.2 1.5 Barrier net 3/31/2013 Chelonia mydas 16 BBR112/BBR113 44.8 45.3 47.5 43.0 36.0 36.3 10.4 Dip net 3/31/2013 Chelonia mydas 17 EEA292/EEA293 44.2 44.6 48.0 40.0 34.0 34.9 11.0 North net

NOTES

1. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/10/05, 9/21/06, 12/18/06, 4/21/07, 12/6/07, 5/25/08, 10/9/08, 6/15/09, 6/13/11, 1/4/13 and 3/1/13.

2. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 3/16/12, 3/28/12 and 3/11/13. Old PIT tag #4A19420544 could not be found. New PIT tag and inconel tag inserted on this capture event.

3. 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 and 3/14/13.

4. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding #STW130315-01. Extremely emaciated and lethargic subadult loggerhead recovered from surface of temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. Heavy epibiont load.

Deemed a "Barnacle Bill." Turtle picked up by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stranding coordinator for transport to Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach for rehabilitation.

5. DEAD (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding #RCW130316-01. Severely decomposed juvenile green turtle recovered from surface of temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. No head or flippers (rotted away);

ribs exposed. Most likely entrained post mortem. Buried off beach after consulting with FWC.

6. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding #STW130318-01. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 3/15/13. Found at surface of temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning on 3/18/13. Underweight and lethargic with possible carbuncle on dorsal surface of neck.

After consulting with FWC, Inwater Research Group biologists transported the turtle to LMC for rehab.

7. 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 and 3/20/13. New inconel tag applied to right front flipper on this capture event.

8. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/5/08, 5/10/11, 6/13/11, 7/25/11, 7/7/12, 2/5/13 and 3/20/13.

9. STRANGE TAG (PIT Tag #4B66307E45). Tagging information sent to Peter Eliazar at the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (UF). Adult female. Tail length = 270 mm. Turtle had tag scars in both front flippers. New inconel tags inserted on this capture event.

10. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/4/01, 10/3/01, 3/15/02, 4/12/03, 10/2/03, 11/9/04, 2/13/05, 6/6/05, 1/25/06, 4/24/06, 1/9/09, 9/26/09, 1/11/10, 12/14/10, 12/9/11 and 3/20/13. New inconel tag applied to right front flipper on this capture event.

Distal bones of RRF broken (old injury, not from entrainment).

11. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/19/06, 8/14/06, 9/13/06, 11/7/06, 10/13/07, 10/29/07, 2/3/08, 4/29/08, 6/20/08, 10/15/08, 12/16/08, 2/24/10 and 3/20/13. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Score=1 {light}, Total Tumor Score=4). New inconel tag applied to left front flipper on this capture event.

12. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/10/11, 11/11/11 and 3/22/13. Minor healed flipper damage.

13. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/4/08, 8/18/09, 9/15/09, 6/20/12, 10/3/12, 12/6/12 and 3/22/13.

14. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/10/12, 12/18/12 and 3/29/13. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Score=1 {light}, Total Tumor Score=6). Right posteriormost 10% of carapace is slightly concave (old healed injury or congenital deformity).

15. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding #DRC130329-01. Turtle found pinned against temporary 5-inch barrier net. Emaciated and in poor condition. Broken bones in distal end of right front flipper (old injury, not from entrainment). Turtle missing tip of tail. Transported to Marinelife Center in Juno Beach by FWC stranding coordinator.

16. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/11/12, 5/6/12, 7/21/12, 12/14/12, 1/22/13 and 3/31/13.

17. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/19/09, 3/8/10, 5/30/12 and 3/31/13. 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 Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Captures 22 48 28 53 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 101 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Non-causal Mortalities 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Causal Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sent to rehab 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date Mar-13 Date None 6 8 5 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 16 Minor 15 39 21 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 79 Moderate 1 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 Severe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 4.5% 2.1% 7.1% 9.4% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 6.0% 5.9%

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 48 4,459 Loggerhead Injuries 0 0 0 0 1 *3 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 7 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 53 3,390 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 0 15 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 0 34 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 0 66 Total Captures per Year 600 636 944 914 917 692 330 725 424 751 521 362 101 7,917

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

• • 2013 is a partial year