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Right Whale Paper Published

A paper by GMI marine scientists Amy Whitt, Kathleen Dudzinski, and Jennifer Laliberté has been published in the journal Endangered Species Research. The authors summarize right whale sightings and acoustic data collected from the first year-round study dedicated to marine mammals in New Jersey’s nearshore waters.

Cultural Resources TxDOT Win

The Cultural Resources group of the GMI Environmental Services Division was awarded an Archeological General Services contract by the Texas Department of Transportation in February. One of four awardees, GMI will be involved in archeological survey, test excavations for National Register eligibility determinations, and data recovery projects across the state of Texas.

Biological Inventory Study for Melrose AFR

GMI wildlife biologists, in conjunction with Cannon AFB and Melrose AFR, initiated surveys for a Biological Inventory Study of a 10,968 acre area of land gifted to Melrose AFR by the state of New Mexico.

GMI to Support Fishermen's Energy with Environmental Impact Efforts

As part of the Energy Department's broader efforts to launch an offshore wind industry in the United States, GMI will support the Fishermen's Energy team with R&D for the advancement of traditional thermal and video imaging systems related to the assessment of nocturnal animal (bird, bat) occurrence, strikes and behavior around offshore wind turbines.

GMI Researchers Contribute to Texas Archaeological Literature

Nancy Kenmotsu is a co-editor and author of a new book published by Texas A&M University Press: The Toyah Phase of Central Texas: Late Prehistoric Economic and Social Processes. The volume is about the hunter-gatherers living in central Texas from AD 1300 – 1700.

Estabrook Heads Cultural Resources Dept.

Following 20+ years working as a Project/Program Manager for several of the largest cultural resources firms in Florida, Rich Estabrook has joined GMI as Cultural Resources Program Manager in the Plano corporate office.

Environmental Resources

NEXRAD Analysis • Thermal Imaging • TITAN™ Radar

Renewable Energy

Wind Energy

GMI offers a full line of wind energy project-related services, products, and technologies for wildlife and bird studies, assessments, and management at proposed and existing wind power development sites. GMI has years of experience studying the impacts of onshore and offshore wind power developments on wildlife, especially migratory birds. GMI staff are experts in conducting avian assessments and wildlife impact studies through the use of remote sensing (e.g., radar, thermal imaging, NEXRAD) and field methods (e.g., surveys, assessments) to support wind energy developments.

Environmental impacts of wind energy developments on wildlife in general and migratory birds and bats in particular is a concern of regulatory agencies. To assess the risk of a proposed wind energy project on wildlife, pre- and post-construction studies are needed. The results of these studies provide a database of information for the preparation of formal risk assessments that are considered before final approval is given for project construction.

GMI wind energy project-related services include:

Site screening and selection
Onshore
Offshore
NEXRAD analysis – determine regional migratory patterns over months and years
Radar surveys – assess site-specific migratory bird or bat activity (passage rates, altitude use, flight directions)
Avian and bat field surveys
Advanced tracking and improved bird classification algorithms
Mortality surveys and mitigation
Land use analysis
Threatened and endangered species presence and absence determination
Archeological, cultural, and historical resources management
Biological monitoring
Permitting
Migration and management plans
Passive Acoustic Monitoring
SPL Monitoring
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Surveys
Habitat Modeling
Abundance & Density Modeling

In addition, GMI offers similar services for other types of development projects such as:

Wind turbine generator – siting studies, surveys, and operations
Cellular towers – siting studies, surveys, and operations
Biological habitat assessments and migratory studies and surveys
Military and commercial aviation – BASH and wildlife hazard assessments and management plans

GMI has conducted a number of avian monitoring studies and avian risk assessments for commercial clients intending to site and permit wind power projects. These studies are similar to airport wildlife hazard assessments, collecting wildlife activity data over extended lengths of time.

A typical study combines data collected by GMI’s custom-designed Mobile Avian Radar System® (MARS®) bird detection system with field observations to identify avian activity relative to proposed wind and other development projects. The MARS® bird detection system plays a critical role in these assessments, automatically archiving and monitoring activity (24/7), speed, headings, and altitudes of birds that cross a project site. GMI’s visual survey protocols allow for a quantifiable assessment of detection performance while complementing MARS® performance to provide species composition. Although a typical radar study is 30 to 90 days, radar studies can be any duration based on client needs. GMI studies provide data to construct resident activity baselines and identify occurrence and duration of migratory and resident events.

GMI has developed advanced tracking and improved bird classification algorithms to provide the most accurate and defensible radar assessments for different types of birds (small neotropical songbird migrants, soaring migrant raptors, and other species such as geese, vultures, and grackles). In addition, GMI offers consultations and provides mitigation and management plans for wind power and other development projects.

PORTFOLIO

Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Study, New Jersey Waters

GMI was contracted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to conduct an ecological baseline study in nearshore waters off New Jersey to determine the current distribution, abundance, and usage of this area by marine and avian resources. We conducted shipboard and aerial surveys for marine mammals, sea turtles, and birds; passive acoustic monitoring for marine mammals; and additional radar studies for avian resources. We modeled survey data to provide density/abundance estimates and predictive habitat spatial layers for these marine resources. We also conducted a literature review of all marine resources, habitat, and important areas within this region (e.g., oceanography, fishes, fisheries, shipping lanes, etc.). We used the digital spatial and temporal data on the various resources and habitat in this region to develop an environmental sensitivity index to visually summarize the overlapping resources and depict areas that may be more or less suitable for development. We also assessed the potential impacts associated with offshore wind development in this region. The data obtained during this study provide the baseline of resources which will be critical in the future development of environmental compliance documentation required for development of offshore renewable energy sites.

The final report of this study is available at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/ocean-wind/report.htm.

GMI Conducts Avian Surveys in Advance of Wind Power Development

Avian survey Atlantic City, New Jersey, currently hosts a five-turbine onshore wind farm that forms part of the city’s skyline. Fishermen’s Energy hopes to add to New Jersey’s movement into wind power by placing a string of six turbines in state waters about 2.8 miles seaward of the city. In preparation for development of this offshore wind power facility, GMI’s ornithologists have been conducting pre-construction bird surveys since May 2010. This March, they began conducting bird surveys for Fishermen’s Energy at a site in federal waters farther offshore of Atlantic City.

GMI’s ornithologists are continuing the use of widely-accepted seabird-survey protocols during repeated boat surveys of transect lines positioned over the future development site. Some of the avian species encountered most often include Surf and Black scoters, Red throated and Common loons, Northern Gannets, Laughing Gulls, and Common and Forster’s terns. The ornithologists also record opportunistic sightings of marine mammals, sea turtles, and other species of interest (particularly migrating insects). They have seen bottlenose dolphins, which are common in spring and summer, and both humpback and fin whales, which are designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. In May, they observed seven endangered loggerhead turtles in the region. GMI’s ornithologists have also been conducting similar surveys in state waters off Delaware since March 2012.

Avian Radar Study and NEXRAD Analysis, Long Island Offshore Wind Park, New York

GMI used two MARS® units to monitor avian activity and migration patterns in the study area. GMI biologists recorded avian observations during the fall and spring migrations. In addition to the onshore avian radar system, an offshore MARS® unit collected horizontal and vertical data to study the passage rates, flight directions, altitudes, and area distribution of birds within the proposed wind park.

Offshore and Onshore MARS® Avian Radar Surveys, Cape Wind Associates

GMI conducted onshore and offshore radar-based surveys of seasonal and daily bird movements and densities in the vicinity of the first proposed offshore wind turbine site in U.S. waters. Surveys were conducted in the spring and fall seasons during 2002, 2005, and 2006. Through the use of GMI’s MARS® advanced processing technologies, biologists identified bird targets from clutter in the avian radar data. GMI’s MARS® unit allowed 24-hour monitoring of bird activity over a 4-mile radius, including bird size, migratory path, and altitude. GMI analyzed radar data for day and night avian activity and for activity in clear and inclement weather. Altitude distributions of bird tracks and abundance counts for altitudes of interest provided data for an assessment of possible risk to migratory birds. GMI MARS® data were used by Cape Wind Associates to develop an EIS and evaluate the potential impact to avian activity at the proposed wind turbine site.

Avian Monitoring Studies, NEXRAD Analysis, and Avian Risk Assessment

GMI conducted bird migration studies in spring 2005, fall 2005, and fall 2006 at various sites within the proposed wind resource area. GMI installed a MARS® unit at various hilltop locations to gather avian data. GMI later analyzed the data to determine avian use and flight patterns in the area.

Critical Issues Analysis and Field Surveys, Wind Power Project, Alaska

GMI studied and analyzed key resource areas (biological, cultural, and visual resources, land use, noise, and soils) to be addressed during the environmental review and permitting processes, as well as land use requirements. In addition, GMI conducted surveys (avian, vegetation, wetland, and habitat), identified native plant communities to determine wildlife habitat relationships, and delineated vegetation types within the wind resource area.

Avian Radar Studies for a Confidential Client, New York

GMI was contracted to conduct avian radar surveys for migratory birds during spring and fall migration periods. Through the use of GMI’s MARS® advanced processing technologies, scientists identified bird targets from clutter in the avian radar data. GMI’s MARS® unit allowed 24-hour monitoring of bird activity, including bird size, migratory path, and altitude. GMI later analyzed the data to determine avian use and flight patterns in the area.

Passive Acoustic Monitoring, New Jersey Offshore Windpark

GMI has begun Year 2 of a multi-year program to provide spatial and temporal data analysis for various species in advance of the development of a windpark off Atlantic City, New Jersey. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is used to understand baseline ambient noise levels within four miles of the planned turbine site and to record the presence of vocalizing marine mammals within this area. Two Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs) were deployed around 1,000 m from the planned turbine construction location to provide a consistent data stream of ambient noise levels related to periods of construction and noise levels outside of construction activity. GMI’s acousticians are currently analyzing the acoustic data for ambient noise, anthropogenic noise, fish sounds, and marine mammal vocalizations. We plan to compare these baseline data to post construction data to estimate impacts of the windpark project on biological resources.