ML13345A219
ML13345A219 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Saint Lucie ![]() |
Issue date: | 12/05/2013 |
From: | Weege S - No Known Affiliation |
To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
References | |
Download: ML13345A219 (10) | |
Text
1NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From:Steve Weege [steveweege@gmail.com]
Sent:Thursday, December 05, 2013 4:05 PM 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:
November 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments:
November 2013 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf; M onthly Report Notes 2013.xls; FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2013.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 November 2013
Dear Meghan,
Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for November 2013. This month, we captured eleven (11) Caretta caretta and twenty-six (26)
Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island. There were two mortalities and two sea tu rtle were sent for rehabilitation during the month of November.
On November 14 th, a severely decomposed subadult loggerhead sea turtle was removed from the top of the temporary 5-inch barrier net. There was no salient cause of death. After consultation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), this incident was determined to be non-causal to power plant operations and the turtle was buried behind the dune. On November 15 th, a subadult loggerhead sea turtle was removed from the tangle nets that was later sent to a re hab facility. This turtle was slightly underweight and apparently too lethargic to be released. After consultation with FWC, Inwater Research Group (IRG) biologist transported the animal to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. This was deemed a non-causal stranding. On November 26 th, a juvenile green turtle was found underwater on the temporary 5-inch barrier net by Underwater Engineering Services divers during a ne t cleaning. The turtle was recovered postmortem during a severe algae event that temporarily drug the 5-inch ba rrier net underwater. The animal was kept on ice and held for necropsy by Nanc y Mettee, DVM. According to the necropsy report, forced submergence (drowning) was the likely cause of death based on the overall goo d condition of this turtle.
This incident was considered causal to plant operations and counts against the take limit established by the most recent Biological Opinion set forth by the National Marine Fisheries Service. On November 30 th, a juvenile green turtle was captured in th e tangle nets that had fishing line in the mouth and appeared to be hooked deep in the throat. The turtle also had extensive flipper and carapace damage from an old healed injury. After consultation with FWC, IRG transported the turtle to LMC for rehabilitation. This last incident was not considered causal to power plant operations.
The scheduled short-term power plant outage that began on September 29 th ended in the beginning of November. Throughout the month, the 5-inch barrier net expe rienced severe loads of al gae that entered into the intake canal system; whereas jellyfish entrainment has been light-to-moderate. Th ere were two severe algae 2intrusions, one on the 16 th and the other on the 26 th of the month. Both times, U nderwater Engineering Services (UESI) was called upon to deploy divers, sometimes on a 24-hour basis, to inspect and clean the 5-inch barrier net. In addition, Inwater Research Group biologists ramped up canal monitoring and reporting as well as proactive turtle capturing efforts in response to these periods of heavy algae entrainment. Unfortunately, the weight of the algae overwhelmed the temporary 5-inch ba rrier net during the second severe algae event and the net became submerged for approximately 2.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> before being restored by UESI dive teams. The temporary barrier net was submerged by up to ten inches. In additi on, partial occlusion of the net's surface area by algal matting resulted in increased velocity where water still flowed through, creati ng the potential to trap turtles by pinning them against the net. During this time period, a juvenile green sea turtle made it past the 5-inch net.
The turtle eluded capture until it was recovered from the intake wells inside the power plant's protected area on December 1 st. The turtle was given a health assessment, measured, photographed and released in good condition later that morning. No other turtles have b een observed beyond the 5-inch net. Florida Power & Light has moved beyond the design phase for a permanent 5-inch barrier net and awarded the contract for its installation with an expected completion date in 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 2013. 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 was added this year that tracks all causal injuries and mortalities incurred by sea turtles at the St.
Lucie Plant since 2001.
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: 948 Mail Envelope Properties (CAJrYmh86Z2SckKj5kP1+LBjFRL9mVZz7rx6bx9cALB7GbLXV0g)
Subject:
November 2013 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 12/5/2013 4:05:01 PM Received Date: 12/5/2013 4:05:32 PM 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 5321 12/5/2013 4:05:32 PM November 2013 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf 23234 Monthly Report Notes 2013.xls 173120 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2013.xls 185920 Power Plant Causal Turtles.xlsx 14161
Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date: Recipients Received:
MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL NOVEMBER 2013 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 11/1/2013 Caretta caretta EEP331/EEP332 61.9 62.9 70.6 62.6 49.0 48.8 34.4 South net 11/5/2013 Chelonia mydas 1 EEA333/EEP333 47.6 47.8 50.8 45.2 36.7 39.1 14.1 North net 11/6/2013 Caretta caretta EEP334/EEP335 71.2 72.1 77.7 75.2 60.8 56.4 55.2 North net 11/10/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP336/EEP337 54.4 54.7 57.6 49.5 42.6 45.0 23.5 Dip net 11/11/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237127 26.8 27.1 28.1 24.7 22.6 23.4 2.3 South net 11/12/2013 Chelonia mydas 2 EEA321/EEP340 46.2 46.3 49.8 45.6 38.2 39.8 14.8 North net 11/12/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP338/EEP339 49.2 49.7 53.5 48.1 40.0 40.2 17.3 North net 11/14/2013 Chelonia mydas 3 EEA204 54.0 54.4 58.1 50.2 43.2 47.2 22.9 North net 11/14/2013 Chelonia mydas 4 EEP341/EEP342 33.5 34.0 35.5 30.8 27.1 27.7 5.1 South net 11/14/2013 Caretta caretta EEP343/EEP344 64.5 66.6 70.4 67.7 54.6 50.4 37.8 North net 11/14/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP345/EEP346 42.9 43.4 45.9 39.1 33.3 36.3 10.8 South net 11/14/2013 Caretta caretta 5 JRG131114-01 61.2 61.9 67.2 65.0 55.2 46.5 Barrier net 11/15/2013 Caretta caretta EEP347/EEP348 70.5 72.3 79.0 75.0 58.0 56.4 53.1 South net 11/15/2013 Caretta caretta 6 EEP349/EEP350 65.5 67.5 71.5 71.8 55.8 50.0 36.8 North net 11/16/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237054 28.4 28.8 30.5 25.0 22.3 24.4 2.7 Barrier net
Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 11/16/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237132 25.9 26.3 27.7 23.8 21.2 21.7 2.0 Barrier net 11/17/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237094 27.3 27.7 28.7 24.7 22.2 22.8 2.7 Dip net 11/18/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237141 22.9 23.4 24.7 22.1 19.0 19.1 1.6 Dip net 11/19/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237089 28.0 28.4 30.1 26.5 23.5 23.3 3.3 Hand capture 11/19/2013 Chelonia mydas 989001001237102 26.5 26.8 28.5 26.0 23.5 22.9 2.7 Hand capture 11/19/2013 Caretta caretta 7 EEA388/EEA389 61.1 62.0 66.7 64.3 51.1 49.9 32.4 Hand capture 11/19/2013 Caretta caretta EEP351/EEP352 66.8 69.6 74.1 70.9 56.0 54.0 47.3 Hand capture 11/19/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP353/EEP354 75.0 75.7 79.9 72.8 61.2 61.7 54.5 Hand capture 11/19/2013 Caretta caretta 8 EEP355/EEP356/RR 83.5 85.4 91.5 84.4 64.9 64.7 94.5 Hand capture S228 11/19/2013 Caretta caretta 9 UUW864/UUW865 65.7 67.3 72.5 67.6 56.9 51.3 40.5 Hand capture 11/22/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP357/EEP358 34.2 34.5 36.6 30.5 27.0 28.3 5.0 South net 11/23/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP359/EEP360 65.1 66.4 70.9 65.0 53.0 54.9 39.4 North net 11/24/2013 Chelonia mydas 10 EEP322/EEP361 53.7 54.0 57.1 50.4 41.5 43.4 19.7 South net 11/24/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP362/EEP363 41.8 42.4 45.7 39.5 33.8 34.6 9.6 North net 11/26/2013 Chelonia mydas 4A0B1E6F4B 27.2 27.5 29.0 23.9 21.5 23.0 2.3 Barrier net 11/26/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP364 28.2 28.3 30.0 25.5 22.6 23.8 3.0 Barrier net 11/26/2013 Chelonia mydas 11 RCW131126-01 25.1 25.4 27.3 23.4 20.5 21.1 2.1 Barrier net 11/27/2013 Chelonia mydas 4B04204061 29.2 29.4 31.1 26.4 23.5 24.5 3.3 North net 11/27/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP365/EEP366 39.5 39.7 42.3 37.5 32.7 32.4 7.9 North net 11/30/2013 Caretta caretta EEP367/EEP368 69.3 71.3 77.5 71.3 58.5 54.3 44.9 South net
Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 11/30/2013 Chelonia mydas EEP369/EEP370 47.2 47.5 50.0 42.0 37.3 39.2 14.0 North net 11/30/2013 Chelonia mydas 12 RCW131130-01 41.7 42.0 44.2 41.0 34.6 34.5 9.0 North net
NOTES
1.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 5/31/12, 4/27/13 and 11/5/13. One new inconel tag inserted today in the right front flipper (EEP333).
2.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/30/11, 4/21/13 and 11/12/13.
3.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 9/18/11, 4/26/12, 7/7/12, 1/30/13, 5/13/13 and 11/14/13. PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 1 {light},
Total Tumor Score = 1).
4.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 11/26/12 and 11/14/13. Large notch in marginals in left posterior carapace.
5.DEAD (NON-CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# JRG131114-01. Turtle was severely decomposed; there was no salient cause of death. Weight estimated at 30kg. Animal was buried off beach after consultation
with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
6.REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# STW131115-01. Turtle was underweight and lethargic. Attempted to release but would not crawl back into ocean. Inwater Research Group biologist transported the animal
to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation.
7.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 5/9/13 and 11/19/13. Turtle had minor healed flipper damage.
8.STRANGE TAG (PIT tag #467D450E35 in left front flipper & Inconel Tag #RRS228 in left rear flipper).
Turtle originally captured in a pound net in Carteret County, North Carolina on 5/19/06. Sexed by the
National Marine Fisheries Service via laparoscopy when originally captured (male). Two new inconel tags
inserted on this capture event (front flippers).
9.STRANGE TAG (PIT Tag #982000190653268). "Kingston" was originally captured in Cape Cod, MA during a cold-stun event. The animal was rehabilitated by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center of Juno Beach
and released on 4/19/13.
10.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 2/17/10, 10/8/13 and 11/24/13. New inconel tag (EEP361) inserted today in the right front flipper.
11.DEAD (CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding# RCW131126-01. The turtle was found underwater on the temporary 5-inch barrier net by Underwater Engineering Services divers while cleaning the net. The turtle
was recovered postmortem during a severe algae event that temporarily drug the 5-inch barrier net
underwater. The animal was kept on ice and held for necropsy by Nancy Mettee, DVM. According to the
necropsy report, forced submergence (drowning) was the likely cause of death based on the overall good
condition of this turtle. Sex determined from necropsy (female).
12.REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding# RCW131130-01. The turtle had fishing line in the mouth and appeared to be hooked deep in the throat. The animal was also missing the entire left front flipper (healed).
Two large pieces of the carapace were missing on the right side of the body from an old healed injury (large
portions of the 1st, 3rd and 4th right costal scutes missing). Inwater Research Group biologists transported
the turtle to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehabilitation.
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 Nov-13Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateCaptures11 2842616902020037457Causal Mortalities 001100000011Non-causal Mortalities 120100000013Causal Injuries010000000001Sent to rehab1714000000211Fresh ScrapesNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNov-13 Year to DateNone357433010000791Minor72042111700020028323Moderate1 22119010000242Severe010000000001Percent with mod/sev scrapes9.1%8.1%3.8%11.2%N/A50.0%N/A0.0%N/AN/A5.4%9.4%LeatherbacksLoggerheadsGreen turtles (Caretta caretta)
(Chelonia mydas)Overall Totals Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)(Eretmochelys imbricata)
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Hawksbills 200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012**2013 Injury / Mortality Totals by Species Total Captures2703415386234844192274202602953022322844,695 Injuries00001*301100118 Mortalities10010*21000100024 Total Captures3212923942864282671012991614442171271693,506 Injuries001037022100016 Mortalities421111120312120 Total Captures204201101202217 Injuries00000000000000 Mortalities00000000000000 Total Captures102133020700019 Injuries00000000000000 Mortalities00000000000000 Total Captures636222142321236 Injuries00000000000000 Mortalities0000000000000052225321535132686006369449149176923307254247515213624578,273
- The loggerhead causal injuries and mortalities in 2006 were all hatchlings.
- 2013 is a partial year St Lucie Power Plant Causal Turtles Total Captures per Year Loggerhead GreenLeatherback Kemp's Ridley Hawksbill Injury / Mortality Yearly Totals