ML14125A211

NRR E-mail Capture - April 2014 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML14125A211
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	05/02/2014
From:	Weege S Inwater Research Group
To:	Kopera M Division of License Renewal, Tequesta Field Laboratory
References
Download: ML14125A211 (9)

Text

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

Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 10:37 AM To: Meghan Koperski Cc: Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal; Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; John Jones; Ken Frehafer; Marine Turtle Permit; Michael Bresette; EndangeredSpecies Resource; SCO@dep.state.fl.us; Shelley Norton; Vince Munne; Cody Mott; Jeff Guertin; Ryan Welsh; Serge Aucoin

Subject:

April 2014 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments: April 2014 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf; Monthly Report Notes 2014.xls; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2014.xls; Power Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary April 2014

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for April 2014. This month, we captured twenty-three (23) Caretta caretta and six (6) Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. Two sea turtle were sent for rehabilitation and there was only one mortality recorded during the month of April. 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. None of the strandings in April were considered causal to power plant operations.

There were two noncausal live strandings at the Saint Lucie Power Plant during the month of April. On April 23rd, a subadult loggerhead was removed from the tangle nets with a recent shark bite in its right posterior carapace (crushed costals, marginals). The turtle was also missing 30% of the right rear flipper (partially healed) and had shark rakings in the carapace and plastron. The animal was taken to rehab due to the open wound into the body cavity from the shark attack. It was transported to the new rehabilitation facility at the Brevard Zoo by the FWC stranding coordinator. On April 28th, an emaciated and lethargic juvenile green turtle was found on the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. There were two cracks in its right posterior carapace, several scutes were sloughing and there were small open sores in the carapace and plastron. After consultation with FWC, Inwater Research Group biologists transported the turtle to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. Neither of these incidents were considered causal to power plant operations.

There was one noncausal mortality recorded at the Saint Lucie Power Plant during the month of April. On the 25th, a severely decomposed juvenile green turtle was found on the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning.

No wounds or abnormalities were found and the turtle was likely entrained postmortem. This animal was too decomposed to perform a necropsy and was therefore buried in accordance with established FWC stranding protocols. FWC was consulted and this incident was determined to be non-causal to power plant operations.

Throughout the month, the 5-inch barrier net experienced light loads of algae and jellyfish that entered into the intake canal system. Overall, the temporary barrier net has performed as designed and no turtles have been observed beyond the 5-inch net. Bathymetric surveys of the intake canal were performed between the 8-inch A-1

1-A net and the power plant intake wells. Construction of a permanent 5-inch barrier net is currently underway and completion has been projected for mid-to-late 2014.

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 incurred 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 2

Hearing Identifier: NRR_PMDA Email Number: 1265 Mail Envelope Properties (CAJrYmh8H6PBoT9zWj82DqSajUCg38f2SE2tWotwbgDzxOqe8sg)

Subject:

April 2014 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 5/2/2014 10:37:07 AM Received Date: 5/2/2014 10:37:38 AM From: Steve Weege Created By: steveweege@gmail.com Recipients:

"Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal" <audra.livergood@noaa.gov>

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 "Cody Mott" <cmott@inwater.org>

Tracking Status: None "Jeff Guertin" <jguertin@gmail.com>

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

Tracking Status: None "Serge Aucoin" <saucoin@gmail.com>

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

Tracking Status: None Post Office: mail.gmail.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 4107 5/2/2014 10:37:38 AM April 2014 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf 110229 Monthly Report Notes 2014.xls 129600 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2014.xls 172608 Power Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx 26538

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MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL APRIL 2014 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 4/1/2014 Chelonia mydas 989001001242862 25.8 26.7 27.7 24.4 22.1 21.4 2.4 North net 4/3/2014 Caretta caretta EEP614/EEP615 61.8 63.2 67.8 66.3 53.0 48.8 36.7 South net 4/10/2014 Chelonia mydas EEP616 29.0 29.4 30.6 27.2 23.3 23.9 3.3 South net 4/11/2014 Caretta caretta EEP617/EEP618 55.1 56.3 60.4 58.4 46.9 43.2 26.9 North net 4/12/2014 Caretta caretta EEP619/EEP620 62.4 63.5 68.1 64.9 53.8 50.2 36.1 North net 4/17/2014 Caretta caretta EEP621/EEP622 65.4 67.3 72.7 70.2 57.3 51.2 42.4 North net 4/18/2014 Caretta caretta EEP623/EEP624 64.6 65.5 71.5 67.5 55.9 51.7 41.6 North net 4/19/2014 Caretta caretta EEP625/EEP626 58.6 58.9 63.8 59.6 48.2 43.9 30.3 North net 4/21/2014 Caretta caretta EEP627/EEP628 60.9 62.8 67.2 65.4 53.9 48.8 33.8 North net 4/21/2014 Caretta caretta EEP629/EEP630 70.8 72.4 76.8 72.2 60.4 56.0 52.9 North net 4/21/2014 Caretta caretta EEP631/EEP632 58.0 59.4 62.6 62.4 51.8 45.8 31.5 North net 4/22/2014 Chelonia mydas 1 BBR112/EEP507 47.1 47.5 50.0 45.2 37.7 38.7 13.1 Dip net 4/22/2014 Caretta caretta EEP633 70.9 71.8 77.5 73.3 58.1 53.7 46.7 North net 4/23/2014 Caretta caretta 2 CRM140423-01 64.1 65.4 70.6 69.3 53.7 49.9 37.0 South net 4/24/2014 Chelonia mydas EEP634/EEP635 46.4 46.7 48.8 42.2 35.9 38.8 13.5 North net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 4/25/2014 Caretta caretta 3 EEP483/EEP484 71.8 73.7 78.3 74.2 58.9 54.3 53.1 North net 4/25/2014 Caretta caretta EEP636/EEP637 61.7 63.7 69.0 68.5 62.2 48.5 36.0 North net 4/25/2014 Chelonia mydas 4 RCW140425-01 22.3 22.5 24.4 22.0 18.7 19.3 1.4 Barrier net 4/26/2014 Caretta caretta EEP638/EEP639 68.1 69.7 75.0 69.2 55.0 50.9 44.5 North net 4/27/2014 Caretta caretta EEP640/EEP641 59.6 60.4 65.0 68.5 52.0 48.2 35.0 South net 4/27/2014 Caretta caretta EEP642/EEP643 61.7 62.6 68.1 61.5 51.8 47.6 34.7 North net 4/27/2014 Caretta caretta EEP644/EEP645 62.4 63.4 67.4 63.3 51.9 49.3 33.2 North net 4/28/2014 Caretta caretta EEP646/EEP647 69.2 70.7 73.7 70.6 56.4 51.4 41.9 North net 4/28/2014 Caretta caretta EEP648/EEP649 62.6 64.7 69.1 64.6 53.2 49.8 39.7 South net 4/28/2014 Caretta caretta EEP650/EEP651 66.8 68.2 76.3 68.1 54.9 52.0 45.4 North net 4/28/2014 Chelonia mydas 5 STW140428-01 29.8 30.2 31.7 25.8 22.6 24.7 2.8 Barrier net 4/29/2014 Caretta caretta EEP652/EEP653 63.4 64.7 68.4 66.6 53.1 50.0 41.3 North net 4/29/2014 Caretta caretta 6 EEP654/EEP655 70.4 72.5 78.6 75.7 59.5 54.4 50.6 North net 4/29/2014 Caretta caretta EEP656/EEP657 53.9 55.2 58.9 57.2 47.2 42.9 25.8 South net

NOTES

1. 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, 3/31/13, 5/10/13, 1/18/14 and 4/22/14.

2. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# CRM140423-01. Healing shark bite in right posterior carapace (crushed costals, marginals) and missing 30% of right rear flipper (partially healed). Shark rakings in right posterior carapace and plastron. Taken to rehab due to open wound into body cavity from shark attack.

Transported to the new rehabilitation facility at the Brevard Zoo by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stranding coordinator.

3. RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 1/4/14 and 4/25/14.

4. DEAD (NON-CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# RCW140425-01. Severely decomposed juvenile green turtle found on the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. No wounds or abnormalities present.

FWC was consulted and this incident was determined to be non-causal to power plant operations. The turtle was likely entrained postmortem. This animal was too decomposed to perform a necropsy and was therefore buried in accordance with established FWC stranding protocol.

5. REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# STW140428-01. Emaciated and lethargic juvenile green turtle found on temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. Two cracks in right posterior carapace along marginals.

Scutes sloughing. Small open sore in both the anterior carapace and plastron. Inwater Research Group biologists transported the turtle to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation.

6. STRANGE TAG (Satellite Tag Serial #0950388). Satellite tag found attached to second vertebral scute.

Appeared malfunctioning (no antenna). Tag was removed prior to release. Wildlife Computer brand satellite tag. Tag was originally applied in Spain in 2012 by the National Marine Fisheries Service in cooperation with another research entity. Awaiting additional information as of 4/30/14.

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 Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Captures 23 96 6 63 0 2 0 0 0 2 29 163 Causal Mortalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Non-causal Mortalities 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 Causal Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sent to rehab 1 5 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 Fresh Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Year to Scrapes Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date Apr- Date None 2 18 1 16 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 37 Minor 19 71 5 44 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 116 Moderate 2 7 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 Severe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percent with mod/sev scrapes 8.7% 7.3% 0.0% 4.8% N/A 0.0% N/A N/A N/A 0.0% 6.9% 6.1%

Injury / Mortality St Lucie Power Plant Causal Turtles 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 **2014 Totals by Species Total Captures 341 538 623 484 419 227 420 260 295 302 232 303 96 4,540 Loggerhead Injuries 0 0 0 1 *3 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 5 Mortalities 0 0 1 0 *21 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 Total Captures 292 394 286 428 267 101 299 161 444 217 127 196 63 3,275 Green Injuries 0 1 0 3 7 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 16 Mortalities 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 2 2 0 17 Total Captures 0 4 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 2 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 0 2 1 3 3 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 2 20 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 3 6 2 2 2 1 4 2 3 2 1 2 2 32 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 2 2 2 5 32 1 5 3 5 1 3 3 0 64 Total Captures per Year 636 944 914 917 692 330 725 424 751 521 362 503 163 7,882

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

• • 2014 is a partial year.