ML17285A204
| ML17285A204 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 10/10/2017 |
| From: | Weege S - No Known Affiliation |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Materials and License Renewal |
| References | |
| Download: ML17285A204 (12) | |
Text
1 NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From: Steve Weege <steveweege@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 1:39 PM 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@no aa.gov; Eaton, Kristin; Jonathan Gorham; Terri.Taylor@fpl.com; William.Nurnberger@fpl.com; Audra Livergood - NOAA Federal; Janine.Bacquie@nexteraenergy.com
Subject:
[External_Sender] Amended September 2017 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Attachments:
September 2017 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf
- Monthly Report Notes 2017.pdf; FPL St.
Lucie Capture Summary 2017.pdf; Po wer Plant Causal Turtles.pdfPlease note that the September report was amended to re flect that water did not go over the top of the 5-inch barrier net during the storm as previously reported. Only the beginning of the fifth paragraph has been changed.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________
Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469
Subject:
Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary September 2017
Dear Meghan,
Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for September 2017. This month, we captured twenty (20) Caretta caretta , thirty-one (31)
Chelonia mydas , and one (1) Eretmochelys imbricata in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchi nson Island. There were two sea turtle mortalities and one turtle was sent for rehabilitation. As with all sea turt le 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. In addition, one smalltooth sawfish was entrained into the intake canal during September. There were two causal mortalities this month. On September 11 th, the day after Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, two fresh dead turtles were found pinned against the primary 5-inch ba rrier net. The first was a juvenile 2green turtle with no salient wounds or abnormalities. The second was a subadult loggerhead with recent boat strike injuries; it had healing prop wounds along the length of its skull and anterior carapace. The turtles were not retained for necropsy due to the logistical constraints following a major hurricane. Both mortalities were ultimately considered causal to power plant operations and, as such, go against the take limit established by the most recent Biological Opinion set forth by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
One loggerhead was sent for rehabilitation this month. On September 25th, an emaciated subadult loggerhead with a heavy epibiont load was removed from the primar y 5-inch barrier net. It ha d two large cuts through the right posterior carapace from a boat strike (15 cm and 30 cm in length) and large partially healed wounds in its neck. After consultation with FWC, Inwater Research Group (IRG) biologists transported the turtle to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach for rehab. This stranding was classified as non-causal. On September 17th, a smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) became entangled in the turtle capture nets at the St. Lucie Power Plant intake canal. Additional resources from IRG, FPL, and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) were called in to assist with the removal. Removal was completed according to the Smalltooth Sawfish Handling, Transportation, and Release Protocols (FPL 2007) and recent smalltooth sawfish on-site training (2016). The smalltooth sawfish was an adult male with a total length of 347 cm and an estimated weight of 135 kg. The animal was in good condition with only minor fresh scrapes. Tissue samples were collected and tags applied by HBOI biologists under NMFS permit 21043. It was successfully released into the ocean adjacent to the intake canal beach access. Thereafter, IRG biologists monitored the three-mile stretch of beach near the release site for any possible delayed impacts on the captured smalltooth sawfish for seven days.
The incidental take limit established by the 2016 Biol ogical Opinion set forth by NMFS is one non-lethal capture (take) of U.S. Distinct Population Segment smalltooth sawfish every five years. Therefore, FPL has not exceeded its take limit with regards to smalltooth sawfish. Hurricane Irma significantly impacted the barrier nets within the FPL intake canal. The high winds and storm surge resulted in significant stress on the primary 5-inch net; however, water did not come over the top o f the barrier net as previously reported. The hurricane ultimately did cause the failure of the secondary 8-inch A-1-A barrier net. Underwater Engineering Services, Inc. (UES I) personnel were on site immediately after the storm to remove debris, inspect and cl ean the 5-inch net, restoring its in tegrity. No holes were found during the post-storm inspection of the primary barrier net. In addition, UESI removed and replaced the severely damaged 8-inch net over the following two weeks. IRG personnel insp ected the entire length of th e intake canal (up to the security barrier) at least twice daily for turtles that may have made it past the primary or secondary barrier nets for the remainder of the month. Additional effort was also made to proactively capture turtles with dip nets east of the primary barrier net.
Altogether, only one turtle was encountered west of the primary barrier net in September. A juvenile green turtle was recovered from the intake wells on September 11th that was in good condition. The permanent 5-inch barrier net enc ountered moderate-to-severe loads of comb jellies and algae during the month of September. Unlike the small gelatinous comb jellies, or ctenophores, algae can readily 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 either as warranted by suffici ently high debris intrusion levels or whenever directed by FPL oversight personnel. Furthermore, Underwater E ngineering Services was dispatched several times in order to clean the primary 5-inch net of all accumulated algae and debris. 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 mo rtalities incurred by sea turtles at the St. Lucie Plant since 2004.
3Please 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: 3767 Mail Envelope Properties (CAJrYmh8GeGJxZe-Mj4iq9fwvehmPzZ8hzrarkc8BzYdH-iukQw)
Subject:
[External_Sender] Amended September 2017 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Sent Date: 10/10/2017 1:39:06 PM Received Date: 10/10/2017 1:39:21 PM 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 "Janine.Bacquie@nexteraenergy.com" <Janine.Bacquie@nexteraenergy.com> Tracking Status: None "Meghan Koperski" <Meghan.Koperski@myfwc.com>
Tracking Status: None Post Office: mail.gmail.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 6603 10/10/2017 1:39:21 PM September 2017 Marine Turtle Captures.pdf 83243 Monthly Report Notes 2017.pdf 61683 FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2017.pdf 80754 Power Plant Causal Turtles.pdf 89953 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date: Recipients Received:
MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL SEPTEMBER 2017 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 9/11/2017 Chelonia mydas 1 982000406048281 25.6 25.7 26.4 23.0 21.1 21.7 2.0 Intake well 9/11/2017 Chelonia mydas 2 RCW170911-01 26.3 26.7 28.0 24.0 21.0 21.2 Barrier net 9/11/2017 Caretta caretta 3 RCW170911-02 66.1 66.9 70.5 66.0 55.1 51.6 Barrier net 9/13/2017 Chelonia mydas MML449/MML450 53.0 53.6 57.4 50.9 42.7 43.7 20.1 North net 9/13/2017 Caretta caretta MML451/MML452 64.3 65.8 68.5 69.1 55.7 51.7 43.4 South net 9/13/2017 Caretta caretta MML453/MML454 67.1 67.7 71.3 71.3 55.0 52.2 48.8 North net 9/14/2017 Chelonia mydas 4 MML455/MML456 89.2 89.6 94.0 88.5 71.4 68.0 95.0 North net 9/14/2017 Chelonia mydas 5 MML457/MML458 87.3 87.7 90.8 85.4 70.1 72.5 95.5 North net 9/14/2017 Caretta caretta 6 MML459/MML460 70.5 70.8 75.8 72.5 56.8 54.5 50.8 North net 9/14/2017 Caretta caretta MML461/MML462 65.9 66.7 70.7 68.1 56.0 52.0 43.6 North net 9/15/2017 Chelonia mydas MML463 26.8 27.1 28.2 24.3 22.1 23.0 2.6 Dip net 9/16/2017 Chelonia mydas MML464 50.4 51.3 53.9 46.7 39.9 42.8 15.7 South net 9/16/2017 Caretta caretta MML465/MML466 66.0 67.3 71.3 69.3 54.2 52.8 39.3 North net 9/17/2017 Caretta caretta MML467/MML468 59.9 60.9 66.2 63.0 51.2 48.2 32.9 South net 9/17/2017 Chelonia mydas MML469/MML470 36.5 36.9 38.7 33.6 29.9 30.3 6.2 South net Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 9/18/2017 Chelonia mydas 7 982000402168682 38.0 38.3 41.0 34.6 29.9 31.5 6.8 South net 9/18/2017 Chelonia mydas 8 MML471/MML472 53.6 53.8 56.7 49.2 42.1 44.5 19.6 South net 9/18/2017 Caretta caretta MML473/MML474 59.2 60.5 65.0 62.9 49.7 46.2 32.8 South net 9/18/2017 Eretmochelys MML475/MML476 58.9 62.5 66.9 60.1 48.7 49.1 29.6 South net imbricata 9/19/2017 Chelonia mydas 982000402168501 26.9 27.2 28.0 23.5 22.1 22.3 2.5 Dip net 9/19/2017 Chelonia mydas 9 MML477/MML478 51.6 51.7 54.2 49.3 41.9 44.3 17.2 South net 9/20/2017 Chelonia mydas MML479/MML480 49.4 49.8 51.5 47.3 39.7 41.7 16.2 South net 9/20/2017 Chelonia mydas 10 MML481/MML482 73.1 73.5 79.0 65.2 54.8 59.7 48.3 South net 9/20/2017 Chelonia mydas 11 MML483/MML484 52.8 54.0 58.0 50.6 41.7 45.0 18.3 South net 9/21/2017 Chelonia mydas 12 45430D265B 58.8 59.0 61.3 50.7 42.3 48.2 23.5 South net 9/22/2017 Chelonia mydas MML485/MML486 35.1 35.7 37.5 32.0 28.9 28.5 5.6 South net 9/22/2017 Caretta caretta 13 MML487/MML488 76.4 79.2 84.3 76.0 62.7 57.5 64.8 North net 9/23/2017 Chelonia mydas 14 MML489/MML490 54.6 54.9 58.5 53.9 47.4 46.4 24.5 South net 9/23/2017 Chelonia mydas 15 MML491/MML492 57.8 58.1 60.0 54.3 42.9 45.9 24.4 North net 9/23/2017 Caretta caretta MML493/MML494 63.9 64.8 70.0 69.8 54.8 49.6 38.6 North net 9/23/2017 Caretta caretta MML495/MML496 80.2 81.7 88.5 81.0 62.7 61.8 73.1 North net 9/24/2017 Caretta caretta 16 MMA822/MMA823 65.3 66.1 72.2 71.3 53.5 50.0 37.0 South net 9/24/2017 Caretta caretta 17 MMA864/MMA865 73.5 75.3 79.6 76.0 60.5 57.1 55.9 North net 9/24/2017 Chelonia mydas MML497/MML498 69.2 69.4 73.2 66.7 54.4 58.0 48.8 South net 9/24/2017 Chelonia mydas MML499/MML500 45.9 46.3 48.9 41.1 34.5 37.4 12.4 South net Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 9/25/2017 Caretta caretta 18 CRM170925-01 66.9 67.5 72.0 67.0 55.6 48.3 35.2 Barrier net 9/25/2017 Caretta caretta 19 MML501/MML502 68.6 69.8 74.9 68.9 57.2 53.5 47.9 South net 9/25/2017 Chelonia mydas MML503/MML504 83.0 84.1 89.3 82.2 66.5 67.6 83.6 South net 9/25/2017 Chelonia mydas 20 MML505/MML506 46.3 46.4 48.5 42.5 37.5 39.5 13.6 South net 9/25/2017 Chelonia mydas 21 MML507/MML508 92.2 93.6 99.0 88.2 71.4 79.6 105.9 South net 9/26/2017 Chelonia mydas MML509/MML510 36.2 36.4 38.8 33.2 28.3 30.3 6.2 North net 9/26/2017 Caretta caretta MML511/MML512 65.6 66.7 70.8 67.2 56.4 52.2 38.6 North net 9/27/2017 Chelonia mydas 22 4A591B0149 57.0 57.3 60.5 53.2 44.4 46.6 24.6 South net 9/27/2017 Caretta caretta MML513/MML514 63.3 64.6 67.3 67.8 55.5 49.5 37.0 Barrier net 9/27/2017 Chelonia mydas MML515 26.6 27.3 28.7 25.4 22.4 22.5 2.6 Dip net 9/27/2017 Caretta caretta MML516/MML517 72.2 73.3 78.6 73.1 59.2 56.5 44.1 South net 9/28/2017 Chelonia mydas 982000402170087 25.5 25.8 27.1 24.5 22.1 21.7 1.9 Dip net 9/28/2017 Chelonia mydas MML518 27.7 28.3 29.0 27.6 24.4 23.4 2.9 Dip net 9/28/2017 Caretta caretta MML519/MML520 63.4 64.7 69.0 66.3 54.5 51.9 40.0 South net 9/28/2017 Caretta caretta MML521/MML522 82.7 83.7 90.8 81.9 61.6 63.1 82.2 South net 9/30/2017 Chelonia mydas MML524 30.5 30.7 32.0 28.0 25.0 25.4 3.6 Dip net 9/30/2017 Chelonia mydas MML525 46.3 46.8 49.0 41.9 36.7 38.7 12.3 South net NOTES
1.Juvenile green turtle removed from the intake wells following Hurricane Irma. Turtle was in good condition and was released following the workup and health assessment.
2.DEAD (CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding #RCW170911-01. Fresh dead juvenile green found pinned on 5-inch barrier net after Hurricane Irma. Necropsy not possible for logistical reasons (the day after a major hurricane makes landfall). Weight estimated at 25 kg.
3.DEAD (CAUSAL MORTALITY). Stranding #RCW170911-02. Subadult loggerhead found pinned against 5-inch barrier net after Hurricane Irma. Deep healing prop wound along length of skull and nuchal.
Mouth split open, healing. Necropsy not possible for logistical reasons (the day after a major hurricane
makes landfall). Weight estimated at 45.0 kg.
4.Adult female. Tail length = 219 mm. Missing left rear flipper (healed, most likely a congenital deformity).
5.Adult female. Tail length = 240 mm.
6.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/22/13, and 9/14/17.
7.PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 3 {heavy}, Total Tumor Score = 52). After some consideration the turtle was released because the weight was normal, locomotion was not significantly impeded, the eyes
were not occluded, and the turtle was quite active.
8.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 4/5/12, and 9/18/17. Moderate fresh scrapes above left eye and in left anterior carapace (bone exposed).
New Inconel tags inserted on this capture event.
9.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 3/19/08, 6/28/13, 5/25/14, 2/12/16, 6/1/17, and 9/19/17.
10.STRANGE TAG (2 PIT tags in RFF), contacted Peter Eliazar from the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research for more information. Large indentation or notch in right posterior carapace (old, healed).
11.PAPILLOMAS (Balazs Tumor Score = 1 {light}, Total Tumor Score = 4).
12.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 5/29/09, 7/24/09, 11/18/11, 4/11/13, 2/9/15, 7/2/15, 10/30/16, and 9/21/17. Turtle missing 85% of right
rear flipper (healed). Indentation in marginals on right side of carapace (likely a congenital deformity).
13.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 8/23/08, 9/17/08, 1/10/09, 3/17/09, 12/18/09, 9/25/10, 11/11/10, 5/18/13, 8/31/13, 7/15/14, 1/30/16, 6/22/17, and 9/22/17. Turtle is likely a male (tail is somewhat elongated).
14.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 7/26/08, and 9/23/17.
15.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 5/20/11, 7/28/14, 5/19/15, and 9/23/17.
16.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 5/19/17, and 9/24/17.
17.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, 3/20/13, 11/4/15, 12/27/16, 1/6/17, 5/30/17, and 9/24/17.
18.REHAB (NON-CAUSAL). Stranding #CRM170925-01. Emaciated subadult loggerhead with a heavy epibiont load was removed from the primary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. Two large cuts through the
right posterior carapace from a boat strike (15 cm and 30 cm in length). Large partially healed wounds in
ventral side of neck. After consultation with FWC, IRG personnel transported the turtle to LMC for rehab.
19.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 12/12/12, 2/7/14, and 9/25/17.
20.STRANGE TAG (PIT tag in RFF), contacted Peter Eliazar from the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research for more information. Turtle missing 80% of right rear flipper (healed).
21.Adult female. Tail length = 235 mm. Moderate fresh scrapes around left eye and deep fresh scrapes in left anterior plastron. Mating scars in the anterior carapace and shoulders. Extra vertebral scute.
22.RECAPTURE. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/29/08, 1/17/14, 5/7/14, 1/27/15, 3/1/15, 12/23/15, 1/30/16, 6/2/16, 1/5/17, 6/1/17, and 9/27/17.
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 Sep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateCaptures20 188 31 69 1 1 0 0 0 0 52 258 Causal Mortalities 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 Non-Causal Mortalities 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Causal Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sent to Rehab 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 Fresh ScrapesSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateSep-17 Year to DateNone3 20 4 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 30Minor17 159 23 53 1 1 0 0 0 0 41 213Moderate0 9 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 15Severe0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percent with Mod/Sev Scrapes 0.0%4.8%12.9%8.7%0.0%0.0%N/A N/A N/A N/A 7.7%5.8%LeatherbacksLoggerheadsGreen turtles (Caretta caretta)(Chelonia mydas)Overall Totals Kemp's ridle y (Lepidochelys kempii)(Eretmochelys imbricata)(Dermochelys coriacea)Hawksbills 2004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016**2017 Injury/MortalityTotalsbySpecies TotalCaptures6234844192274202602953022323022752743161884,617 Injuries01*3011001100008 Mortalities10*210001000001125 TotalCaptures286428267101299161444217127197134181159693,070 Injuries0370221000000015 Mortalities1111203122040119 TotalCaptures2011012022021014 Injuries000000000000000 Mortalities000000000000000 TotalCaptures1330207000276031 Injuries000000000000000 Mortalities000000000000000 TotalCaptures2221423212314130 Injuries000000000000000 Mortalities000000000000000253215351330412679149176923307254247515213625034144654862587,762
- Theloggerheadcausalinjuriesandmortalitiesin2006wereallhatchlings.
- 2017isapartialyear.StLuciePowerPlantCausalTurtles TotalCapturesperYear Loggerhead Green Leatherback Kemp'sRidley Hawksbill Injury&MortalityYearlyTotals