biological monitoring: an underwater perspective monitoring: an underwater perspective lauren floyd...
TRANSCRIPT
A World of Solutions
Biological Monitoring: An Underwater Perspective
Lauren Floyd and Stacy Buck, CB&I
2015 National Annual Conference September 23-25, 2015; Hawks Cay, Duck Key, FL
1 A World of Solutions
Florida’s Reefs
The Path of a Florida Marine Biologist
Biological Monitoring for Beach Nourishment
– Background
– Monitoring Protocol
– Challenges
Efforts to Improve the Protocol
– Input from Biological Monitoring Firms
– FDEP Initiatives
Conclusion
Overview
Florida Reefs
Duck Key
Florida Reefs
Collier Co.
Siesta Key
Longboat Key
Manatee Co.
Pinellas Co. Pinellas Co.
Broward Co.
Deerfield Beach
Palm Beach Co.
wormrock
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The Path of a Florida Marine Biologist
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Beach Nourishment
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Eroded Beach
Design and Permitting of Beach Nourishment Project
If Nearshore Hardbottom Present:
– Mitigate for anticipated impacts (ETOF)
Biological Monitoring for Beach Nourishment
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PROFILE EVOLUTION OF BEACH NOURISHMENT
Post-Construction
Adjustment in 1-3 years
Design
Beach
Equilibrium Toe
of Fill (ETOF)
Biological Monitoring for Beach Nourishment
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PROFILE EVOLUTION OF BEACH NOURISHMENT
Post-Construction
Adjustment in 1-3 years
Design
Beach
Equilibrium Toe
of Fill (ETOF)
Biological Monitoring for Beach Nourishment
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Eroded Beach
Design and Permitting of Beach Nourishment Project
If Nearshore Hardbottom Present:
– Mitigate for anticipated impacts (ETOF)
– Biological monitoring conducted beyond ETOF for potential unanticipated impacts
Biological Monitoring for Beach Nourishment
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Why do we monitor?
– FDEP has the responsibility and statutory authority to protect and
manage the waters of the State (Part IV of Chapter 373, F.S.)
– Monitoring programs required for “any coastal construction permitted…that is determined to have an adverse impact,” and that “Monitoring programs shall include sufficient pre-project data to establish an adequate baseline for project construction and post construction comparison.” (FAC Chapter 62B-41)
– Regulatory monitoring plans will provide reasonable assurance under State regulatory requirements that approved projects will have no unpermitted impacts to nearshore hardbottom and their associated benthic communities. (Chapter 161 and Part IV of 373, F.S.)
Who pays for monitoring?
– Typically cost-shared between the State and local municipalities
– Annual surveys can cost between $150,000 and $500,000
Biological Monitoring for Beach Nourishment
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Timing
– Pre-Construction
– Immediate and Annually Post-Con (3-5 yrs)
– Summer Surveys
Each survey documents
– Location hardbottom edge
– Sedimentation
– Benthic community
Submittals
– Raw data - 45 days
– Report - 90 days
Biological Monitoring Protocol
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Determines location of sand/hardbottom edge
Divers swim hardbottom edge while towing DGPS buoy
Edged either continuous hardbottom or “emergent epifauna”
Seaward shifts of edge indicate burial
Hardbottom Edge Delineation
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Interval Sediment Depth Measurements
Sedimentation
X
X
X
0.0
4.0
8.0
12.0
16.0
20.0
CQ4 CQ5 CQ8 CQ9 TS2Mea
n S
edim
ent
Dep
th (
cm)
Mean Interval Sediment Depth per Transect
2011 Project
One-Year Post-Con
2011 Project
Two-Year Post-Con
2014 Project
Immed Post-Con
2014 Project
1-Yr Post-Con
TR 4 Pre-Con
1 Yr Post-Con
1 Yr Post-Con
1 Yr Post-Con
1 Yr Post-Con
1 Yr Post-Con
TR 2
2 Yr Post-Con
3 Yr Post
3 Yr Post
3 Yr Post
3 Yr Post
3 Yr Post
TR 5 TR 3
Pre-Con
Pre-Con
Pre-Con
TR 3 TR 3 TR 3 TR 1
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Line-Intercept Method
Sedimentation
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Pre-Con
1-Yr Post
Meter
hardbottom sand
Hardbottom Sand Hardbottom Sand
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Quadrat Assessment
Benthic Community Characterization
10%
81%
1%
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Quadrat Assessment
Benthic Community Characterization
(circle all: g r b )
(circle all: sand shell mud)
2.54
1
20
3
60
02
00
014
0
1
11
HypneaGracilaria
Sample Name or #
List macroalgae Genus
List every coral colony ~and coral condition(s)
% cover max size (cm)
Max Relief (cm)
Max Sediment Depth (cm)
Sessile Benthos… % Cover
Sediment-
Macroalgae-Fleshy+Calcareous
Turf- algae+cyanobacteria
Encrusting Red Algae
Sponge
Hydroid
Octocoral
Stony Coral
Tunicate
Bare Hard Substrate
other-…
Total Must = 100%
S. hyades 14
S. siderea 5
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Video and Photos
Video and Photo
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Video and Photos
– Document biota along the transect
Video and Photo
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Video and Photos
– Document biota along the transect
– Document substrate types
Video and Photo
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Video and Photos
– Document biota along the transect
– Document substrate types
– Document site conditions
Video and Photo
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Video and Photos
– Document biota along the transect
– Document substrate types
– Document site conditions
– Analyzed in the lab for additional data (if high quality)
Video and Photo
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Video and Photos
– Document biota along the transect
– Document substrate types
– Document site conditions
– Analyzed in the lab for additional data (if high quality)
Video and Photo
+
+
+
+
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– Coral Stress
– Rugosity
– Species Area Curves
– Motile Invertebrate Census
– Macroalgae height
– Coral Census
– Coral Fate Tracking
Additional Methods
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Challenges
Weather
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Challenges
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Challenges
Locating Pins
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Challenges
Mapping
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Challenges
Long Transects
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Input from other Firms
– Many respondents say current protocol does not accurately determine project impact
– Specific methods that received comments
• Pre-construction surveys and/or more frequent aerials
• Mapping – need to differentiate hardbottom from emergent epifauna and rubble, add relief measurements
• Line-intercept – add emergent epifauna and rubble
• Permanent vs. temporary transects/quadrats
• Questionable usefulness of additional methods
– Concerns that submittals are due too soon
– Question as to what is done with the data/how is it used
– Why is monitoring reinitiated for repeat projects
– Most cited improved coordination, communication and assistance from FDEP biologists
Biological Monitoring – Efforts to Improve the Protocol
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FDEP SOP for Nearshore Hardbottom Monitoring of Beach Nourishment Projects
– Reaching out to biological monitoring firms for input
– Workshops to discuss methods/changes
– Addressing comments in next draft of SOP
– More workshops
– Training
FDEP Site visits
– Opportunity for FDEP biologists to put data into context of project area conditions
– Opportunity for biological monitoring firm and permittee to discuss questions and provide recommendations for improvement
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Discussions with FDEP
– Understand that each additional method and transect adds cost, trying to balance quality of data with cost efficiency
– More pre-construction surveys add cost, as does the much greater number of temporary transects that would be required
– Will be including additional habitat classifications and relief measurements for mapping
– Have begun including “sediment only” transects to get greater detail on sedimentation but without over-burdening monitoring firms and permittee
– Eliminated quantitative video surveys, but video archive can provide additional data if needed
– Still addressing comments to SOP, will circulate next draft and hold a webinar to discuss
Biological Monitoring – Efforts to Improve the Protocol
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Conclusions
General consensus is that hardbottom biological monitoring protocol still needs work but is improving
FDEP is working to improve effectiveness and consistency of monitoring, keeping in mind associated cost/time required
Suggest that permittees/biological monitoring firms continue to provide input to FDEP on concerns and recommendations
Keep in mind that SOP is needed but that project-specific considerations must still be made
Apply data to form greater understanding of project impacts
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Thank You