Wildlife considerations for windpower

Tim McCoyNebraska Game

and Parks Commission

Windpower and Wildlife• NGPC supports the development of windpower in

Nebraska.

• The national wind energy industry and wind developers in Nebraska have been proactive in addressing wildlife impacts .

• NGPC wants to proactively work with the growing wind industry in Nebraska to minimize negative impacts on wildlife because: The risks to wildlife from windpower can be greatly reduced IF the wildlife concerns can be recognized and addressed during the planning phase.

Significance of Nebraska: Birds

• Major Central Flyway Migration corridor • Waterfowl• Shorebirds• Wading birds and cranes

Nebraska- Core distribution of the Greater Prairie Chicken in the U.S.- Important breeding area for grassland birds

- most strongly declining group of birds in North America

Wildlife Issues and Concerns

•Habitat impacts Tower / habitat avoidance Landscape and habitat fragmentation

•Bird and bat collision

Evidence for Concern –

Grassland Birds in Minnesota•Bird densities within about 100 m from each turbine were lower than those farther from turbines (Leddy et al.,1999). •Indicated grassland birds may avoid using grassland areas near towers (effectively fragmenting habitat)•Turbines and towers smaller than those currently being built/proposed

Evidence for Concern –

Lesser prairie chickens in Kansas• Lesser prairie chickens:

-avoid nesting within ¼ mile of power lines-avoid nesting within ¾ mile of buildings

Greater prairie chickens in Oklahoma• Avoided use of suitable habitat within 1/3 mile of power lines

Bird and Bat Collision:

Mortality:• Turbine blades• Transmission lines

Contributing Issues:• Tower design (tubular…not lattice, no areas for nests)• Tower height

-Higher towers may kill more birds -285’ tall vs. 350-420’ tall

• Ridges• Blade speed

-Slower blade rotation kills fewer birdsRisk:

• Raptors• Breeding birds• Bats

Evidence for Concern: Bird kills

Existing Studies - Generally collision-related deaths are not a population threat, with one major anomoly:

Altamont Pass, California•22,000 birds killed over 20 years•Golden eagles, hawks, and owls (long-lived)

Poor Planning and Siting!

Evidence for Concern: Bat killsExisting Studies - Generally collision-related deaths not a threat, but there appear to be 2 anomalies:

Backbone Ridge, West Virginia• 2,000 bat collision fatalities per year• studies ongoing, local breeding bats seem to be attracted to blades Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota•184 bat collision fatalities over 4 years

Windpower and Wildlife

• NGPC wants to proactively work with the growing wind industry in Nebraska to minimize negative impacts on wildlife because: The risks to wildlife from windpower can be greatly reduced IF the wildlife concerns can be recognized and addressed during the planning phase.

Overlay of range maps of all of Nebraska Threatened and Endangered Species

Nebraska wildlife concerns for windpower impacts:

• Whooping crane• Greater prairie chicken• Sharp-tailed grouse• Long-billed curlew• Golden eagle• Bald eagle• Ferruginous hawk• Mountain plover

• Fringe-tailed myotis (bat)• Townsend’s big-eared

bat• Interior least tern• Piping plover• Bighorn sheep• Important migratory

corridors and migration stop-over sites

Wildlife and WindPlanning and Management Issues

• Avoid and minimize impacts- Use the map as a planning tool- Contact NGPC and USFWS for additional information or consultation on project areas- Working together, we can develop windpower and minimize negative impacts on wildlife