2015-064 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

EXHIBIT A Indian River County Sector 3 Sea Turtle Monitoring — 2015 Throughout the period of monitoring, all nests and false crawls will be enumerated by pre -established survey zones and their approximate geographic locations determined by GPS (general accuracy of 3-5 meters). Each false crawl will be categorized as to the stage at which the nesting attempt was abandoned in conformance with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) requirements for beach restoration projects. Additionally, all obstacles (e.g., scarps, seawalls, etc.) encountered by turtles during their emergences onto the beach will be documented. EAI will coordinate its monitoring activities with other FWC Marine Turtle Permit Holders within the Project Area to ensure that it does not interfere with their data collection efforts. EAI will also coordinate its monitoring activities in a manner that best supports the County's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and will furnish data collected under this Scope of Work to the County's HCP Coordinator in a format compatible with the HCP database. 5) Nest Marking and Monitoring (FDEP Special Condition No. 29). A representative sample of nests within the Phase 2B and Dune Repair Project Areas, as well as the control, will be marked between April 1 and September 15, 2015 and monitored throughout their incubation periods to determine nest fate and reproductive success. The clutch of each marked nest will be located and surrounded by a series of small stakes connected by brightly colored surveyor's tape. 6) In -water Sea Turtle Monitoring (FDEP Specific Condition No. 32). EAI will assess sea turtle population levels in the nearshore area within and adjacent to the Sector 3 Project Area. This assessment will be conducted quarterly during the following time frames: April -May 2015, June -August 2015, September - November 2015, and December 2015 -February 2016. The surveys will employ the same methodology and transect locations used since 2007. The methodology will include concurrent sampling of the Project Area and an appropriate control area to permit isolation of potential project effects from natural background variability. In -water surveys will be conducted from a boat equipped with an elevated observation platform and a GPS navigational system to allow constant monitoring of speed and location. The boat will traverse a series of 3 -kilometer long transects (three each within the Treatment and Control sites) at slow and constant speed (5-6 knots). Two experienced biologists will be positioned on the platform and will make observations at an eye level of approximately 12 ft above the water; one will monitor the port side and the other the starboard side. When a turtle is sighted, the position of the vessel at the time of the sighting will be recorded by GPS. The position of the turtle will be mapped based on the position of the boat and the observer's estimate of the distance and bearing to the turtle. In addition to recording the position of the turtle, the observer will also record the