ML17219A439

NRR E-mail Capture - (External_Sender) July 2017 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML17219A439
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	08/05/2017
From:	Weege S - No Known Affiliation
To:	Division of License Renewal
References
Download: ML17219A439 (9)

Text

NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From: Steve Weege <steveweege@gmail.com>

Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2017 9:37 AM 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; Eaton, Kristin; Jonathan Gorham; Terri.Taylor@fpl.com; William.Nurnberger@fpl.com; Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal

Subject:

[External_Sender] July 2017 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments: July 2017 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf; Monthly Report Notes 2017.pdf; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2017.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 2017

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for July 2017. This month, we captured thirty-one (31) Caretta caretta and four (4) Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. One sea turtle was sent for rehabilitation and there was one non-causal mortality during the month of 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.

One loggerhead was sent for rehabilitation this month. On July 7th, a subadult loggerhead was hand-captured in the intake canal with a 50 cm healing crack in the left side of its carapace. Although the wound was mostly healed, bone was still visible. After consultation with FWC, Inwater Research Group biologists transported the turtle partway to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton for rehabilitation. This stranding was classified as non-causal.

On July 21st, a severely decomposed subadult loggerhead was removed from the primary 5-inch barrier net. The turtle was severely decomposed and most of the soft tissue was missing. The carcass pulled apart while attempting to retrieve it from the barrier net. Some measurements could not be taken due to the state of decomposition. The cause of death could not be ascertained. The turtle was buried above the dune after 1

consultation with FWC. This animal was regarded to have been entrained postmortem and was thereby considered non-causal.

The permanent 5-inch barrier net encountered severe loads of comb jellies and filamentous algae during the month of July. Unlike the small gelatinous comb jellies, or ctenophores, filamentous algae 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 heaviest. Overall, the barrier net has performed as designed and no turtles have been observed beyond the 5-inch net this month.

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 2017. In addition, this spreadsheet 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 2004.

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: 3643 Mail Envelope Properties (CAJrYmh_=qQkC=PMcy6ht58t=z7cdHa2pg-Hbb+SgCxc-RYFvEA)

Subject:

[External_Sender] July 2017 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 8/5/2017 9:36:33 AM Received Date: 8/5/2017 9:37:01 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 "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 "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 "Terri.Taylor@fpl.com" <Terri.Taylor@fpl.com>

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 "Meghan Koperski" <Meghan.Koperski@myfwc.com>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: mail.gmail.com

Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3277 8/5/2017 9:37:01 AM July 2017 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf 78076 Monthly Report Notes 2017.pdf 59357 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2017.pdf 80855 Power Plant Causal Turtles.pdf 89956 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received:

MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL JULY 2017 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 7/1/2017 Caretta caretta 1 MML370/MML371 86.3 88.4 92.7 87.6 69.5 69.6 97.0 Hand capture 7/7/2017 Caretta caretta 2 JRG170707-01 61.3 62.5 66.1 67.2 53.7 37.7 Hand capture 7/10/2017 Caretta caretta MML372/MML373 80.4 82.6 87.9 87.6 67.8 65.2 84.0 North net 7/10/2017 Caretta caretta 3 MML374/MML375 84.1 86.0 90.5 87.3 65.5 65.1 86.8 North net 7/14/2017 Caretta caretta MML376/MML377 56.0 57.3 60.4 58.1 49.0 44.9 31.7 North net 7/14/2017 Caretta caretta MML378/MML379 65.6 66.3 70.7 68.6 57.9 51.9 48.7 North net 7/15/2017 Caretta caretta MML380/MML381 73.3 74.8 78.5 71.5 57.2 58.7 59.9 North net 7/18/2017 Caretta caretta MML382/MML383 77.5 79.9 86.3 76.0 63.3 59.7 71.3 North net 7/19/2017 Caretta caretta MML384/MML385 81.7 83.6 86.5 83.3 61.3 62.5 79.5 North net 7/20/2017 Caretta caretta 4 MML386/MML387 94.3 94.7 102.3 89.1 72.3 71.3 109.8 North net 7/20/2017 Caretta caretta 5 MML388/MML389 86.9 88.2 93.0 83.0 67.4 68.0 88.5 North net 7/21/2017 Caretta caretta 6 CRM170721-01 74.9 76.9 Barrier net 7/21/2017 Caretta caretta MML390/MML391 81.3 82.9 86.1 79.2 61.6 64.4 82.7 North net 7/21/2017 Caretta caretta 7 MML392/MML394 96.5 98.1 101.0 91.6 74.2 72.4 128.5 North net 7/23/2017 Caretta caretta 8 MMA575/MMA576 64.7 66.0 70.8 66.0 54.7 50.0 39.3 North net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 7/23/2017 Caretta caretta 9 MML395/MML396 86.4 87.2 91.5 85.4 61.7 67.3 95.1 Hand capture 7/24/2017 Chelonia mydas 10 4A0E263130 51.3 51.5 53.1 48.4 40.4 42.0 17.1 Hand capture 7/24/2017 Chelonia mydas 11 MMA866/MMA867 55.2 55.4 57.9 54.1 44.1 45.3 23.3 Hand capture 7/24/2017 Caretta caretta MML397/MML398 83.4 84.8 88.5 78.9 62.3 65.0 85.8 Hand capture 7/24/2017 Caretta caretta MML399/MML400 62.7 64.2 67.4 63.4 54.8 50.1 37.3 Hand capture 7/24/2017 Caretta caretta 12 MML401/MML402 85.2 86.8 93.1 80.7 66.7 65.8 80.8 Hand capture 7/25/2017 Caretta caretta 13 MMA818/MMA819 79.6 80.5 86.2 79.5 62.5 62.1 76.8 Hand capture 7/25/2017 Caretta caretta 14 MML403/MML404 87.3 88.3 94.5 84.6 67.1 66.4 90.4 Hand capture 7/25/2017 Caretta caretta MML405/MML406 82.4 83.9 88.4 83.6 63.9 63.8 72.6 Hand capture 7/25/2017 Caretta caretta 15 MML407 85.5 87.2 91.6 84.5 68.3 68.1 92.5 Hand capture 7/25/2017 Caretta caretta MML408/MML409 76.6 77.8 82.5 76.3 58.6 58.9 63.5 Hand capture 7/26/2017 Chelonia mydas 16 4A61073F34 57.1 57.6 60.6 51.2 42.5 45.4 23.9 Hand capture 7/26/2017 Caretta caretta 17 MML410/MML411 97.2 97.2 108.2 91.0 69.7 72.5 123.3 Hand capture 7/26/2017 Caretta caretta MML412/MML413 81.4 82.2 88.7 81.9 59.0 63.2 75.9 Hand capture 7/26/2017 Caretta caretta 18 MML414/MML415 93.5 94.8 101.0 93.9 74.7 70.0 116.1 Hand capture 7/26/2017 Caretta caretta 19 MML416/MML417 84.1 87.3 93.3 84.4 67.4 65.8 93.5 Hand capture 7/27/2017 Caretta caretta MML418/MML419 83.0 84.7 88.3 81.5 64.0 64.2 90.4 North net 7/30/2017 Chelonia mydas 20 MML420/MML421 89.6 90.3 94.1 88.9 72.4 73.5 106.2 Hand capture 7/30/2017 Caretta caretta MML422/MML423 64.0 65.2 68.8 66.5 53.6 48.6 35.1 Hand capture 7/30/2017 Caretta caretta MML424/MML425 79.1 80.4 83.6 89.2 64.5 61.2 67.8 Hand capture

NOTES

1. Adult female. Tail length = 204 mm. Old constriction wound to right axilla region.

2. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). STSSN #JRG170707-01. Subadult loggerhead hand-captured in the intake canal with large 50 cm healing longitudinal crack in left side of carapace. No necrotic tissue present but bone visible. Ventral measurements were not taken due to the animal's condition. Inwater Research Group biologists transported the turtle partway to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton for rehab.

3. Adult female. Tail length = 184 mm. Captured in north tangle nest whilst fighting with another adult female loggerhead. Deep moderate fresh scrape in nares. Two healed gashes in right posterior carapace (possible prop scars).

4. Adult female. Tail length = 219 mm.

5. Adult female. Tail length = 179 mm.

6. DEAD (NON-CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# CRM170721-01. Severely decomposed subadult loggerhead removed from the barrier net in the morning. Left front flipper missing, but too decomposed to determine if from injury or decomposition. Carcass pulled apart attempting to retrieve it off barrier net.

Not all measurements could be taken.

7. Adult female. Tail length = 289 mm.

8. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 9/9/16, 5/11/17, 6/4/17, 6/19/17, 6/30/17, and 7/23/17.

9. Adult female. Tail length = 205 mm.

10. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/28/11, 9/19/13, and 7/24/17. Moderate scrape to top of skull.

11. 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, 3/20/13, 5/7/14, 1/3/15, 4/16/15, 6/15/15, 5/30/17, and 7/24/17.

12. Adult female. Tail length = 208 mm.

13. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 5/19/17, and 7/25/17. Moderate fresh scrape on head measuring 1cm x 4cm (skull exposed).

14. Adult female. Tail length = 226 mm.

15. Adult female. Tail length = 175 mm. Turtle missing 85% of right front flipper (healed). Mating wounds on neck.

16. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/15/08, 3/23/10, 10/29/11, 12/27/11, 12/17/12, 1/22/14, 1/13/15, 5/15/16, 8/9/16, and 7/26/17.

17. Adult female. Tail length = 305 mm. Extensive carapace damage (possible old boat strike injury).

Turtle missing a 6 cm x 18 cm section from its anterior carapace and a large crack in the posterior carapace.

18. Adult female. Tail length = 245 mm.

19. Adult female. Tail length = 145 mm.

20. Adult female. Tail length = 214 mm.

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 Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Captures 31 152 4 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 190 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Non-Causal Mortalities 1 1 0 2 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 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date Jul-17 Date None 2 16 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 22 Minor 26 127 3 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 157 Moderate 3 9 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 11 Severe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percent with Mod/Sev Scrapes 9.7% 5.9% 25.0% 5.3% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 11.4% 5.8%

Injury/Mortality

StLuciePowerPlantCausalTurtles 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 **2017 TotalsbySpecies TotalCaptures 623 484 419 227 420 260 295 302 232 302 275 274 316 152 4,581 Loggerhead Injuries 0 1 *3 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 8 Mortalities 1 0 *21 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 24 TotalCaptures 286 428 267 101 299 161 444 217 127 197 134 181 159 38 3,039 Green Injuries 0 3 7 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 Mortalities 1 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 2 2 0 4 0 0 18 TotalCaptures 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 14 Leatherback Injuries 0 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 0 TotalCaptures 1 3 3 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 2 7 6 0 31 Kemp'sRidley Injuries 0 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 0 TotalCaptures 2 2 2 1 4 2 3 2 1 2 3 1 4 0 29 Hawksbill Injuries 0 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 0 Injury&MortalityYearlyTotals 2 5 32 1 5 3 5 1 3 3 0 4 1 0 65 TotalCapturesperYear 914 917 692 330 725 424 751 521 362 503 414 465 486 190 7,694

• Theloggerheadcausalinjuriesandmortalitiesin2006wereallhatchlings.

• • 2017isapartialyear.