The National Park Service (NPS) contracted GMI to conduct endangered species regulatory mitigation monitoring during percussive and vibratory pile driving and extraction operations in Port Angeles, Washington. Working in coordination with NPS personnel and industry professionals, GMI marine scientists provided both land- and boat-based visual monitoring for Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) before (baseline) and during, all in-water construction operations.

 

Pile driving activities involved the installation and extraction of trestle pipe piles, H-piles/I-beams, and sheet piles. Mitigation measures were implemented in a no-start/shutdown safety zone centered at the project site throughout these activities. In accordance with National Marine Fisheries Service requirements, GMI scientists monitored pre-set safety zone radii for the presence of SRKWs; radii and number of monitors required was based on the installation/extraction method. Additionally, observers maintained personal communication with regional SRKW researchers.

 

SRKW occurrence within the pre-set safety zone was resulted in an immediate recommendation to shutdown pile driving or extraction activities until the area was clear of SRKW s for a predetermined length of time.

The National Parks Service (NPS) contracted GMI to conduct marine mammal and acoustic regulatory mitigation monitoring during demolition and reconstruction of a new pier in Bechers Bay, Santa Rosa Island. Working in coordination with NPS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experts, GMI designed and implemented monitoring protocols, and was responsible for the management, interpretation, validation, and analysis of all data.

In cooperation with NPS personnel and representatives of the construction crew, GMI marine scientists monitored for potential marine mammal presence in an identified acoustic exclusion zone before (baseline) and during, hydraulic vibratory pile extraction and pile drilling operations.

Real-time sound pressure levels (SPLs), related to construction activities, were acquired using state-of-the-industry acoustic equipment. Utilizing sound propagation principles for the marine environment, SPLs at the noise source were calculated to determine exclusion zone boundaries (all regions where noise levels were or exceeded 160 dB re 1 µPa [rms]). Additionally, ambient noise data were collected of the project area and a noise map was created to allow for comparison of noise levels between pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases.

Marine mammal occurrence both within and outside the acoustically established exclusion zone was visually monitored during all pile extraction and drilling activity. Marine mammals sighted within the exclusion zone resulted in an immediate recommendation to shutdown extraction or drilling activities until the area was clear of marine mammals for a predetermined length of time.

GMI seabird biologists conducted visual and radar-based avian surveys to determine species composition (including federal and state threatened, endangered, candidate, and species of concern), abundance, flight altitudes, migration trends (start, peak, end dates), and flight directions of migratory seabirds over a designated site off of Reedsport, Oregon.

The GMI Mobile Avian Radar System (MARS®) was located in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and was utilized to monitor bird movements. The MARS® was equipped with a parabolic antenna for horizontal scanning and an open array antenna for vertical scanning. The vertical scanning radar (VSR) determined both the altitude and range of biological targets while the horizontal scanning radar (HSR) determined the range, flight direction, and heading of biological targets within a narrow cone sample volume, used to assess the mean traffic rate (birds/km/hr). The avian data collected was used to provide a comparison between offshore avian density (determined by avian radar) and nearshore avian density (determined by visual surveys).

GMI was contracted to conduct marine mammal monitoring during geophysical surveys in the northeast U.S. These surveys are required to support the siting and installation of a meteorological (met) tower. Survey equipment included a Geopulse Boomer and multiple sidescan, chirp, and multibeam sonars to identify the subsurface stratigraphy, geomorphologic variations, and natural and man-made obstructions that may be present on the seafloor at the proposed installation sites. GMI marine mammal observers (MMOs) monitored during survey operations for the presence of marine mammals within a 500-meter (m) exclusion zone around the acoustic source. GMI MMOs implemented the monitoring and mitigation measures as described in the Letter of Concurrence (LOC) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) section 7 consultation letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and United States (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

GMI recently completed a 24-month project for the NJDEP which integrated shipboard and small boat surveys, aerial surveys, passive acoustic monitoring, avian radar monitoring, photo-identification, behavioral assessments, species density modeling, and literature review/data searches to provide a more complete understanding of marine mammal, sea turtle, and seabird species diversity, distribution, and density on the outer continental shelf off the New Jersey coastline. GMI’s efforts focused on a designated study area off New Jersey’s coast to determine the current distribution, abundance, and migratory patterns of avian species, fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles. GMI provided spatial and temporal data on avian and marine species that use the offshore waters to determine potential areas for offshore wind power development and the potential impacts to avian and marine species. Pre-existing data was combined with the new data collected by GMI scientists and compiled into a digital GIS to be used to depict species distribution, generate distribution models, and determine impact assessment. Copies of the final report can be accessed at the NJDEP Office of Science website.

GMI’s avian biologists conducted onshore seabird surveys using its Mobile Avian Radar System (MARS®) to monitor avian flight activity and migration patterns within a study area off the south shore of Jones Beach Island, New York; proposed future location of a large wind energy facility. GMI scientists collected baseline information on species composition, abundance, migration trends (start, peak, end dates), migration passage rates, flight direction, and active bird flight altitudes during the migration season (fall to spring). This information was used to assess variation in migratory bird altitude above, within, and below the rotor swept area of wind turbine blades.

The MARS® surveys were conducted continuously for a period of approximately five months. Concurrent visual observations were conducted periodically to validate radar detection. In addition, when weather conditions allowed, a boat-mounted offshore radar system collected horizontal and vertical data to complete a double sample study design. Using both the horizontal (TracScan®) and vertical (VerCat®) data, the study addressed passage rates, flight direction, altitude, and area distribution. The collected radar observations, when considered with other data sources (avian aerial and boat transect survey data; 5 year GMI NEXRAD analysis), was used to predict avian activity and potential impacts within the proposed LIOWP.

GMI conducted multi-year, on-shore and offshore, radar-based surveys of seasonal and daily bird movements and densities, in the vicinity of the proposed wind turbine site in Nantucket Sound. The MARS® radar was mounted on a lift barge within the project area. Through the use of GMI’s MARS® advanced processing technologies, biologists monitored flight activity and migration patterns of bird targets within the study area. GMI’s development and use of radar systems for monitoring bird activity allowed continuous surveying over a 4-mile radius without observer bias; inherent with visual observation methodologies. Concurrent visual avian observations were completed periodically to confirm radar detections.

GMI consulted with Cape Wind Associates for data analysis and report preparation. Radar data was analyzed for day and night activity as well as for activity in clear and inclement weather. Altitude distributions of bird movement and abundance counts for wind turbine altitudes of interest (below the blades, between blades, and above the blades) provided data necessary to conduct a migratory bird risk assessment. Data collected from the MARS® surveys were used by Cape Wind Associates to develop an environmental impact statement and assess the potential impact to avian activity at the proposed wind turbine site.

New survey methodologies were developed for conducting surveys for marine mammals, sea turtles, and other protected species at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. The intent of aerial surveys was to determine the presence of sea turtles or marine mammals in the areas surrounding the Live Impact Area (LIA) or other identified exercise locations. These surveys ensured no marine mammals, sea turtles, or other protected species were within the target areas, training beaches, or other locations used by the Department of Defense (DOD) in training exercises as outlined in the Biological Opinions (BO) issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marines Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Depending upon the requirements, a fixed, high-wing aircraft or a helicopter was used to conduct the surveys.

GMI conducted helicopter aerial surveys for nesting sea turtles/marine mammals and birds on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. Aerial surveys were conducted to ensure protection of sea turtle nests/marine mammals from impacts resulting from potential or planned Naval activities within 1,000 yards the of target area. GMI also recorded all marine mammals observed during the 15-week survey period. Intensive aerial surveys of marine mammals were conducted for seven days with four surveys each day, except Day 1 with only one evening survey conducted within and around the Live Impact Area (LIA).

Density estimates have been prepared for marine mammals and sea turtles in the following areas:

• Gulf of Mexico
• U.S. Atlantic Coastline
  

GMI has developed methodologies that use standard line transect methodology and the program DISTANCE or Sightings Per Unit Effort (SPUE) to determine marine mammal, sea turtle, and avian densities within areas of interest.

Federal activities affecting marine mammals and threatened or endangered sea turtles are governed by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and the NEPA/Executive Order 12114 (EO 12114). The data generated from these estimations can serve as the basis for environmental planning and the development of environmental compliance documentation (e.g. biological and environmental assessments) that must be prepared in accordance with NEPA/EO 12114, MMPA, and ESA.