Biological Assessment of Bahia Icacos in Support of the U.S. Navy s Munitions Removal Program on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico

Transcription

1 Biological Assessment of Bahia Icacos in Support of the U.S. Navy s Munitions Removal Program on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico Presented by Tunch Orsoy/CH2M HILL Co Author: Daniel Hood/NAVFAC Atlantic Restore America s Estuaries 6th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration October 20-25, 2012 Tampa, Florida 1

2 Vieques Overview Island-municipality of Puerto Rico Approximately 7 miles southeast of Puerto Rico and 20 miles southwest of St. Thomas Approximately 20 miles long, 4.5 miles wide, and 33,088 acres (51 square miles) Used by Navy s Atlantic Fleet for training from 1964 to

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7 Bahia Icacos Overview Located along northeastern coast of Vieques in former Live Impact Area (LIA) It s beautiful but not safe! MEC exists in the water and on the adjacent land Public access is restricted but largely ignored During holidays, up to 100 recreational boats may be anchored within the bay at a time

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13 Proposed Action Construct a waterway barrier system to restrict access of Bahia Icacos by large recreational boats Barrier system would serve as an interim measure to: Reduce public exposure to explosives that may exist underwater and in surrounding terrestrial areas Facilitate MEC investigations and remediation in the area Project Phases: Planning and preliminary design Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultation Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation Final design, construction, and operation

14 Barrier System Overview Install floating barriers across the 3 channels used by boaters (East, West, and South channels) Install 3 mariner warning buoys to provide early warning to boaters about the hazards of the waterway barriers and submerged shallow reefs beyond the buoys Install 6 reef marker buoys to provide early warning to boaters about the hazards of the submerged shallow reefs adjacent to the waterway barriers

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16 Waterway Barriers Armorfloat TM waterway barrier Each module is 120 inches long, 16 inches in diameter, and weighs 100 pounds Adjustable draft between 3 and 8 inches West barrier 423 feet long East barrier 536 feet long South barrier 205 feet long 16

17 Anchors Barriers and mariner warning buoys 3 or 4-ton concrete bulk anchors 2 anchors on each end of barrier; East barrier also includes 2 anchors at mid-length 1 anchor for each mariner warning buoy Secondary anchors may be attached to bulk anchors (Disc, Manta Ray, or Helical ) Reef marker buoys Core anchors (installed into bare rock or coral rubble) 1 anchor for each reef marker buoy

18 ESA Section 7 Consultation NOAA (NMFS) Protected Resources Division (PRD) Biological Assessment (BA) Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) Threatened Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) Threatened Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) Threatened (in Vieques) Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Endangered Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Endangered Field Investigation for BA Work plan approved by NOAA Scientific divers (CSA International) Munitions divers (USA Environmental) NOAA participation 18

19 BA Field Investigation Determination of anchor locations for waterway barriers, mariner warning buoys, and reef marker buoys Sand-depth measurements to determine anchors types Mapping of benthic habitats GPS surveys of listed coral species and benthic habitat boundaries Surveys of fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, sea turtles, macroalgae, coral, and seagrasses Underwater video of the marine environment 19

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21 Anchor Locations Total of 22 anchor points and 5 alternate anchor points identified and GPS surveyed Preliminary locations identified in 2009 adjusted based on potential for environmental impacts and functional suitability Anchor points identified in collaboration with NOAA No live or dead coral within 3-meter radius of barrier or mariner warning buoy anchors No Acropora coral within 3-meter radius of reef marker buoy anchors 21

22 Water Depths, Sediment Depths, and Geographical Coordinates for the Final Proposed Anchor Point Locations under the Primary Option for the East Channel Waterway Barrier System Component Anchor Location Anchor Point Habitat Water Depth Sediment Depth Latitude (N) Longitude (W) (ft) (m) (ft) (m) Waterway Barrier (WBA) Reef Marker Buoy (RMB) E G F E >9 > '49.7" 65 18'03.3" E >9 > '49.6" 65 18'03.0" Seagrass G >9 > '52.6" 65 18'02.7" G >9 > '52.6" 65 18'02.3" F1 Sand >9 > '54.8" 65 18'01.8" F2 Seagrass >9 > '54.9" 65 18'02.0" E Bare Reef <1 < '48.9" 65 18'03.1" F Coral Rubble <1 < '55.1" 65 18'01.1" Mariner Warning Buoy (MWB) 3 Sand '53.3" 65 17'44.7" 22

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24 Benthic Habitat Characterization Data Scientific Name Common Name Waterway Barrier Anchor Location Channel Mariner Warning Buoy Reef Marker Buoy A B C D E F G Alt. E Alt. G West South East 1 East A C1 C2 D E F Alt. E Soft Coral Briareum asbestinum Corky sea finger R R R R R R R R Erythropodium caribaeorum Encrusting gorgonian R R R Eunicea spp. Knobby sea rod R R R R R R R R R Gorgonia spp. Common sea fan R R R R R R R R R R R Muricea spp. Spiny sea fan R R R R R R Plexaura spp. Black sea rod R R R R R R R R Pseudoplexaura spp. Porous sea rods R R X, R R R R R R R R R Pseudopterogorgia spp. Sea plume R R R R R R R R R R Sea Grass Halodule beaudettei Shoal grass X X X X X X X X X Syringodium filiforme Manatee grass X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Thalassia testudinum Turtle grass X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Amphiroa tribulus Flat twig alga R R Avrainvillea sp. Blade alga X X X X X Caulerpa prolifera Oval-blade alga X Caulerpa sertulariodes Green feather alga X Algae Dictyota spp. Y-branched algae R R R R R R R R R R R R Halimeda spp. R R X X, R R R R R X X X X X, R R R R Padina jamaicensis White scroll alga R R X Penicillus dumetosus Bristle ball brush X X Penicillus pyriformis Flat-top bristle brush X X X X X X Peyssonnelia sp. Burgundy crust algae R R R R R R R R Porolithon pachydermum Crustose coralline R R R R Udotea cyathiformis Mermaid's tea cup X Udotea sp. Mermaid's fans X X X X X Aplysina fulva Scattered pore rope sponge Arbacia punctulata Common arbacia urchin R R Invertebrates R Cinachyra spp. Orange ball sponge R R R R R 24

25 Acropora Survey Data New Colony # Site Name Depth (ft) Maximum Diameter (cm) Live Tissue Rank (%) Easting (ft) Northing (ft) Latitude (N) Longitude (W) 29 WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:46:34 8/15/ WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:49:26 8/15/ WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:49:26 8/15/ WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:52:19 8/15/ WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:55:12 8/15/ WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:55:12 8/15/ WBA-D A. cervicornis ' ' 13:56:38 8/15/ WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:44:38 8/15/2011 Time Date Picture Notes 37 WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:46:05 8/15/ , 6215, b WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:46:05 8/15/ to c WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:46:05 8/15/ to d WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:51:50 8/15/ to 6223 Target for 5 colonies in vicinity of #2 37e WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:51:50 8/15/ to WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:51:50 8/15/ to 6223 Target for 4 colonies in vicinity of #3 38b WBA-D A. palmata < ' ' 12:51:50 8/15/ to WBA-F A. palmata < ' ' 8:41:17 8/19/ , WBA-F A. palmata ' ' 8:45:36 8/19/ , WBA-F A. palmata ' ' 8:47:02 8/19/ WBA-F A. cervicornis < ' ' 9:57:36 8/19/2011 Target for colonies 27 to WBA-F A. cervicornis < ' ' 9:57:36 8/19/ WBA-F A. cervicornis < ' ' 9:57:36 8/19/ WBA-F A. cervicornis < ' ' 9:57:36 8/19/ WBA-F A. cervicornis < ' ' 10:01:55 8/19/ WBA-F A. cervicornis ' ' 10:04:48 8/19/ WBA-F A. cervicornis ' ' 10:04:48 8/19/ East Bay A. prolifera ' ' 13:33:36 8/25/ East Bay A. palmata ' ' 14:13:55 8/25/2011 Target for colonies 32 and 33 Approximately a dozen colonies within small area swum, all healthy 25

26 Fish Community Composition Data Scientific Name Common Name Mariner Waterway Barrier Anchor Location Channel Reef Marker Buoy Warning Buoy Total A B C D E F G Alt. E Alt. West South East 1 East A C1 C2 D E F Alt. E G Dasyatidae Dasyatis americanus Southern stingray Muranenidae Gymnothorax moringa Spotted moray 1 1 Holocentridae Holocentrus adscensionis Squirrelfish Holocentrus rufus Longspine squirrelfish Myripristis jacobus Blackbar soldierfish Plectrypops Cardinal retrospinis soldierfish 1 1 Synodontidae Synodus intermedius Sand diver Aulostomidae Aulostomus Atlantic maculatus trumpetfish Scorpaenidae Pterois volitans Red lionfish Serranidae Hypoplectrus puella Barred hamlet Hypoplectrus unicolor Butter hamlet 1 1 Epinephelus guttatus Red hind Serranus tigrinus Harlequin bass Serranus tortugarum Chalk bass Serranus tabacarius Tobaccofish 1 1 Mullidae Pseudupeneus maculatus Spotted goatfish Mulloidichthys martinicus Yellow goatfish Lutjanidae Ocyurus chrysurus Yellowtail snapper Lutjanus apodus Schoolmaster snapper Lutjanus analis Mutton sanpper Lutjanus griseus Gray snapper

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29 Benthic Habitat Summary Habitat Type Number of Features (ft 2 ) Area (acres) Percent Reef and Hard Bottom Low-Relief Hard Bottom 1,031 1,610, % Patch Reef , % Coral Reef 19 2,647, % Subtotal 1,214 4,364, % Unconsolidated Sediment Bare Sand 306 3,444, % Vegetated Sand (Seagrass) 105 5,413, % Subtotal 411 8,858, % Total 1,625 13,222, % 29

30 ESA Section 7 Effects Analysis Assessed direct, indirect, and cumulative effects Effects during system installation Effects during system operation Impact avoidance and minimization measures May affect but not likely to adversely affect NOAA issued Biological Opinion 30

31 EFH Consultation NOAA (NMFS) Habitat Conservation Division (HCD) Minor amounts of seagrass displaced by bulk anchors Net benefits analysis Increase public safety Passive mitigation for recreational boat anchoring impacts on seagrass Allows impacted areas to recover, prevents future impacts, and potentially increases seagrass cover in bay 31

32 Barrier Construction and Operation Construction Final design and construction work plan Coordination with NOAA Construction start early 2013 Operation Monitoring and maintenance Routine events Post-storm events Sea-turtle nesting season events 32

33 Vieques Underwater MEC Investigation and Remediation Program Island-wide program Multiple projects/multiple phases Programmatic BA Broad assessment of anticipated activities and general locations Ongoing coordination with NOAA and USFWS Subsequent work plans Address specific activities/specific locations Specific approaches and impact avoidance measures Review and approval by NOAA and USFWS 33

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35 Anticipated Activities 0 to 120 feet depth Underwater visual inspections Underwater Digital Geophysical Mapping (DGM) surveys Removal/remediation of MEC Habitat-specific work approaches and impact avoidance measures Surface and subsurface MEC Sand, seagrass, and hardbottom habitats Removal, in-place containment (encapsulation), and other methods Mitigation 35

36 Assessment of Species and Habitat Effects on corals, sea turtles, marine mammals Effects on benthic habitats 2009 NOAA benthic habitat map Minimum mapping unit (MMU) 1,000 m 2 Detailed classification scheme and spatially comprehensive 116 km 2 SAV (2/3 seagrass) 72 km 2 reef/hardbottom 4 km 2 mangroves Available studies NOAA (Bauer et. al) An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Part I: Historical Data Synthesis NOAA (Bauer and Kendall) An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto. Part II: Field Studies of Habitats, Nutrients, Contaminants, Fish, and Benthic Communities 36

37 Questions / Comments 37