2021-025A - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ecological Associates, Inc. — Cost Proposal and Scope of Work 2 Surveys will commence within 30 minutes of sunrise. Monitoring will be performed by EAI staff or Indian River County staff either on foot or using ATVs (Indian River County staff have agreed to perform the nesting surveys three days per week through September 30 in the southern survey area and then one day per week thereafter). All emergences (turtle crawls) apparent from the previous night will be interpreted to determine which species of turtle came ashore and whether or not it nested. Crawls will be denoted as being above or below the previous high tide line. The approximate geographic location of each crawl will be determined by GPS (sub -meter accuracy). In addition to segregating crawls into nesting and non -nesting emergences (false crawls), each false crawl will be assigned to one of the following categories denoting the stage at which the nesting attempt was abandoned: no digging, abandoned body pit, or abandoned egg cavity. Any obstacles encountered by turtles during their crawls will be documented. Disorientation Reporting. During the course of daily monitoring, any evidence of hatchling misorientation or disorientation from either marked or unmarked nests will be documented using FWC's electronic Marine Turtle Hatchling Disorientation Incident Report Form. Based on track evaluations, an estimate of the number of hatchlings disoriented will be recorded and light sources potentially responsible for the disorientation identified. Information concerning each incident will be forwarded by email to Indian River County so appropriate remedial action may be taken. Stranding and Salvage. A requirement of FWC sea turtle permit holders conducting nesting surveys is to respond to the stranding of sick, injured and dead sea turtles within their survey area. These animals are examined, and if alive, transported to state - approved care facilities. A standard Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage data form will be completed and submitted for each stranded animal encountered by EAI. This information will be transmitted to FWC in accordance with established guidelines. State and Federal Authorizations. All sea turtle monitoring and related activities will be performed under FWC Marine Turtle Permit 4261 issued by FWC to EAI Director of Operations, Niki Desjardin. All persons engaged in monitoring for Indian River County will be listed on the permit. All data will be subject to rigorous QA/QC protocols and stored in EAI's project - specific database. Monthly summary reports will be furnished to Indian River County. These reports will tabulate the dates and times of monitoring, names of monitoring personnel, numbers of sea turtle emergences by species, and numbers of nests marked and evaluated for reproductive success, as applicable. Monthly reports will be submitted to the County on the last day of the month following delivery of services (e.g., March report due no later than April 30).