2022-037 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ecological Associates, Inc.—Scope of Work and Cost Proposal 2 Task 2: Project Management An EAI project manager will oversee all fieldwork and data management operations, participate in weekly check-in meetings with APTIM/Indian River County,and consult with APTIM on permit requirements,as necessary.A project schedule, as well as field survey schedules,will be created and maintained throughout the life of the project.All equipment and supplies necessary to successfully implement this Scope of Work are available. Task 3: Daily Sea Turtle Monitoring and Data Management (FDEP Specific Condition 15) Beginning on March 1,2022,EAI will conduct daily morning sea turtle nesting surveys of the Project and Reference Areas. Surveys will continue through November 11,2022 or until two(2)weeks without a crawl in the Project Area,whichever is earlier. If there is a two-week period where no crawls are documented in the Project Area, EAI will request a waiver from the USFWS and FWC to discontinue daily monitoring. If permission is granted, EAI will then perform surveys three days per week to monitor marked nests. Surveys will commence within 30 minutes of sunrise. Monitoring will be performed by EAI staff either on foot or using ATVs. 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 on a weekly basis 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.