Florida Power & Light Company Biological Plan of Study … · 2015-11-18 · bumper, bonnethead...

Florida Power & Light Company Biological Plan of Study Implementation for

St. Lucie Plant EPU Final Report

August 2011 – February 2015

April 2015

Florida Power & Light Company Biological Plan of Study Implementation

for St. Lucie Plant EPU Final Report

August 2011 – February 2015

Submitted to

Florida Power & Light Company 700 Universe Blvd.

Juno Beach, FL 33408

April 2015

Prepared by

Ecological Associates, Inc. Post Office Box 405

Jensen Beach, Florida

FINAL REPORT, ST. LUCIE PLANT EPU BIOLOGICAL PLAN OF STUDY

ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC., JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... ii

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1

METHODS .................................................................................................................................... 2

Sampling Period ......................................................................................................................... 2

General Sampling Areas ............................................................................................................ 2

Specific Sampling Locations ..................................................................................................... 2

Water Quality ............................................................................................................................. 3

Trawling ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Gill Netting ................................................................................................................................. 4

Beach Seining ............................................................................................................................ 4

Plankton Netting ........................................................................................................................ 5

Nearshore Hardbottom Utilization by Sea Turtles ................................................................... 5

Representative Important Species ............................................................................................. 6

Statistical Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 8

RESULTS ...................................................................................................................................... 8

Water Quality ............................................................................................................................. 8

Dissolved Oxygen ................................................................................................................... 9

pH ............................................................................................................................................ 9

Salinity .................................................................................................................................... 9

Specific Conductivity............................................................................................................ 10

Temperature .......................................................................................................................... 10

Trawling ................................................................................................................................... 11

Gill Netting ............................................................................................................................... 15

Beach Seining .......................................................................................................................... 17

Plankton Netting ...................................................................................................................... 19

Nearshore Hardbottom Utilization by Sea Turtles ................................................................. 20

DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................................. 21

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 23


ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC., JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA ii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An Extended Power Uprate (EPU) was undertaken to increase the generating capacity and improve operating efficiency of Units 1 and 2 at Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL’s) St. Lucie Plant on Hutchinson Island, St. Lucie County, Florida. The EPU was expected to result in a slight increase (2.0ºF; 1.11ºC) in the temperature of cooling water discharges into the Atlantic Ocean. A Biological Plan of Study (POS) was developed to assess the extent, if any, to which these elevated temperatures may affect the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish and wildlife in the receiving water body. The Biological POS was formally approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on August 18, 2011, and study implementation began soon thereafter. This report summarizes results of 8 baseline (pre-EPU) and 12 post-EPU monitoring events conducted from August 2011 through February 2015. All sampling was conducted under a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Special Activities License (most recently SAL-14-0071-SR) issued to Ecological Associates, Inc. Sampling consisted of water quality monitoring, collection of fish and shellfish by trawl, gill net, and beach seine, and monitoring of sea turtle utilization of nearshore hardbottom habitat. Monitoring was performed approximately every other month. Three discrete study sites, one centered around the plant within the zone of thermal influence (SL2) and two reference/control sites located north (SL1) and south (SL3) of the plant, were used throughout the study. Water quality data were collected during each sampling event, and resultant Event Reports were previously provided to FPL. These data represented only a snapshot of water quality conditions over a period of just a few days during each event, with only six sampling events per year conducted at each study site. Thus, no analyses could be performed that would allow meaningful inferences regarding the effect of the EPU on water quality. Clupeiform fish (anchovies, herrings, and sardines), a Representative Important Species (RIS), accounted for over 38% of the total catch from trawl sampling. The species comprising this group provide forage food for a large variety of predatory fish, many of which are commercially and recreationally important. Sixteen (16) Commercially/Recreationally Important (CRI) decapod crustacean taxa were also collected by trawl during pre- and post-EPU sampling. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean number of fish, RIS, or CRI decapod crustacean taxa among study sites either before or after the EPU. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences among areas during baseline monitoring with respect to the mean Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) for any of these groups or for individual RIS taxa. Although, CPUEs for fish and RIS captured by trawl during post-EPU sampling at the discharge site were significantly lower than comparable values at the northern control, they did not differ significantly from the southern control. There were no statistically significant differences

ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC., JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA iii

between the discharge site and either control site with respect to the mean biomass of RIS captured before or after the EPU. Finally, none of the biological variables analyzed from trawl data at the discharge site differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Thus, there is no indication that the EPU affected the benthic fish, RIS, or CRI invertebrate communities in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

Gill-net sampling primarily targeted fish, including many RIS. Atlantic sharpnose shark, Atlantic bumper, bonnethead shark, and spot collectively accounted for over half of all captures. The most abundant RIS were spot, Atlantic croaker, and Atlantic Spanish mackerel. As with trawl sampling, there was considerable variability in the number of taxa and CPUE per sampling event. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean number of fish taxa, RIS taxa, fish CPUE, RIS CPUE, CPUE for individual RIS taxa, or RIS biomass among study sites during either pre- or post-EPU sampling periods. Furthermore, none of the biological variables analyzed from gill net data at the discharge site differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Thus, there is no indication that the EPU had an effect on water column fish assemblages in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

As for other sampling methods, there was considerable variability among sampling events with respect to the number of taxa and, in particular, the number of individuals captured by beach seine. This was due mainly to a large catch of scaled sardines at the southern control site during two sampling events. Throughout the entire study period, that species accounted for 68% of all specimens collected by seine. Sand drum, Atlantic bumper, tidewater mojarra, and Spanish sardine also occurred in relatively high numbers.

There were no statistically significant differences among study sites in the mean number of fish taxa, RIS taxa, number of fish captured per event, number of RIS captured per event, number of each RIS taxa, or RIS biomass collected by beach seine either before or after the EPU. These results persisted regardless of whether scaled sardines were included or excluded from the analyses. Furthermore, none of the biological variables analyzed from beach seine samples at the discharge site differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Collectively these results give no indication of an EPU affect on surf zone fish in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

Numerous taxa of fish and CRI crustacean larvae and large quantities of fish eggs were collected during plankton sampling. The family Clupeidae dominated the larval fish collections, accounting for 39% of all fish larvae captured. Mole crabs in the genus Albunea dominated CRI crustacean larvae, accounting for 30% of all specimens captured during plankton sampling. As with other biological sampling, there was considerable variability among sampling events. However, none of the differences among study sites in the mean number of fish larvae taxa, fish egg taxa, CRI crustacean taxa, fish larvae CPUE, fish egg CPUE, and CRI crustacean larvae CPUE from plankton samples were statistically significant either before or after the EPU. Nor were there any significant differences in these variables at the discharge site between pre- and

ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC., JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA iv

post-EPU sampling periods. These results provide no indication of an EPU effect on planktonic stages of fish and CRI invertebrate larvae in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

The mean number of green turtles sighted within the discharge site was significantly greater than the means in both controls during pre-EPU monitoring. Following the EPU, the discharge site remained significantly higher than the southern control, but it no longer differed significantly from the northern control. This change in the relationship among study sites appeared to be due to a slight increase in sightings at SL1 following the EPU and a small corresponding decrease at the discharge site. However, none of the pre- and post-EPU changes within any study site, including the discharge, were statistically significant, indicating that the EPU had no effect on the number of small green sea turtles utilizing nearshore hardbottom habitat in the vicinity of the plant.

Data collected during the St. Lucie Plant Biological POS characterize a diverse and abundant fish and shellfish community in nearshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean offshore the St. Lucie Plant. These communities are extremely dynamic in terms of spatial and temporal variability. Although there were occasional statistically significant differences in faunal conditions between the discharge site and one of the controls, SL2 never differed significantly from both controls. The lack of significant differences among sites for most variables, and the lack of significant differences between pre- and post-EPU sampling at the discharge site indicate the absence of a measureable EPU effect on local fish and wildlife populations in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant. Given the huge capacity of the receiving water body (Atlantic Ocean) to dissipate heat, the effectiveness of the offshore discharge pipes in diffusing heated cooling water, the limited spatial area historically affected by thermal discharges, and the small change in discharge temperatures resulting from the EPU, these findings are not unexpected.


ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC., JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA

INTRODUCTION

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) applied to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for a revision to its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit (FL0002208), which authorizes thermal discharges into the Atlantic Ocean from the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant on Hutchinson Island, St. Lucie County, Florida. The revision, which became effective on December 23, 2010, allows for a minor increase in effluent temperatures, 2.0ºF (1.11°C) under normal operating conditions, resulting from an extended power uprate (EPU) for Units 1 and 2 at the plant. Administrative Order (AO) AO022TL authorizes the above-referenced St. Lucie Plant EPU with conditions. Paragraph 20 of the AO stipulates that no later than 90 days after the effective date of the AO, FPL shall prepare and submit for the Department’s review and approval a Biological Plan of Study (POS). The AO further identifies specific elements to be incorporated into the design of the POS. These elements were derived from historical Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance addressing the regulation of thermal effects associated with nuclear plants. A draft Biological POS was prepared in early 2011 and discussions with FDEP ensued shortly thereafter. Following receipt of review comments in May 2011, a final Plan was submitted to the Department on June 1, 2011; it was formally approved on August 18, 2011. The Biological POS for the St. Lucie Plant EPU was intended to characterize the fish and shellfish fauna in the vicinity of the plant, and assess the extent, if any, to which the EPU affected those communities. As described below, the Plan consisted of trawling, gill netting, beach seining, plankton netting, and monitoring of sea turtle utilization of nearshore hardbottom. Sampling techniques largely replicated those used in prior 316(a) demonstration studies at the St. Lucie Plant to provide comparable contemporary data. The Biological POS called for baseline monitoring prior to completion of the EPU, and two years of post-EPU monitoring. Results of all individual pre- and post-EPU sampling events were previously reported to FPL. This final report, as required by the AO, compiles and summarizes those results and compares pre- and post-EPU data between seasons and among study sites to assess EPU effects.


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METHODS

Sampling Period Baseline monitoring commenced in August 2011 following FDEP approval of the Biological POS and continued through October 2012. The EPU was completed in December 2012 and the first post-EPU sampling event was conducted in January 2013. Post-EPU monitoring continued through February 2015. Sampling was performed every other month for a total of 8 baseline sampling events and 12 post-EPU events. All sampling was conducted under a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Special Activities License (most recently SAL-14-0071-SR) issued to Ecological Associates, Inc. General Sampling Areas Three separate sampling sites were established within the study area, each measuring approximately 2.0 mi (3.2 km) on a side (Figure 1). Within the near and far field area surrounding St. Lucie Plant’s discharge structures, the first site (SL2) extends from shore along the axis of the Unit 2 multi-port diffuser. The north and south boundaries of the discharge site are located 1 mi (1.6 km) from the discharge structure and parallel the center line. Within this bounded area, three unique habitat types are present, each with a unique benthic and fish fauna: the beach terrace (shallow sandy areas near shore in depths less than about 20 ft (6.1 m), an offshore trough (a relatively homogenous shell hash substrate in 35-40 ft (11-12 m), and an offshore shoal (sandy substrate that rises to a depth of approximately 20 ft (6.1 m; EAI, 2001). Two additional sites of equivalent size to SL2 and positioned similarly served as reference/control sites to document “natural” background conditions in areas unaffected by thermal discharges. One of these was located approximately midway between the discharge site and the Ft. Pierce Inlet (SL1) and the other midway between the discharge site and the St. Lucie Inlet (SL3; Figure 1). Precise sampling locations within each area were established during the initial baseline sampling event. A Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to capture sampling points and transect end points, as applicable. Following the initial sampling event, all sampling locations remained fixed for the duration of the study period. Specific Sampling Locations Within each of the three study sites, three transects progressively distant from shore were established for gill net and trawl sampling. The transects were located approximately 600 ft (183



m) from shore on the beach terrace in water depths of 8-32 ft (2.4-9.8 m; Transect A), approximately 4,000 ft. (1.2 km) from shore in water depths of 34-45 ft (10.4-13.7 m; Transect B), and approximately 8,000 ft. (2.4 km) from shore in water depths of 31-47 ft (9.4-14.3 m: Transect C). A schematic of transect locations within the discharge area is shown in Figure 2. Plankton samples were collected concurrently with trawl samples in all three areas but only on Transects A and C. Beach seining was conducted at three stations within each of the three sampling sites. Station A was located approximately 0.5 mi. (0.8 km) north of the center of each site, Station B was located at the center of the site, and Station C was located approximately 0.5 mi. south of the center of the site (Figure 2). Final station locations were adjusted, as necessary, to avoid potential bottom obstructions. For the purpose of boat-based sea turtle surveys, a 0.6 mi- (1 km-) long transect was established in the vicinity of nearshore hardbottom in each of the three study sites. The approximate location of these transects was based on recent aerial photography and then adjusted in the field using towed underwater video cameras. Water Quality Water quality data were recorded at three locations (middle and both end points) and three depths (approximately 30 cm below the surface, mid-depth and 30 cm above the bottom) along each of the nine transects established for trawl and gill net sampling. A Hach Quanta water quality meter was used to document water quality at each sampling point. Monitored variables included: specific conductivity (mS/cm), temperature (°C), salinity as a function of conductance (practical salinity units [PSU]), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH. The meter was calibrated prior to the start of daily sampling activities and again at the completion of sampling. Trawling Trawling was conducted along each of the three shore-parallel transects established within each study site, yielding a total of 72 baseline and 108 post-EPU samples. Sampling was conducted with a 16-ft (4.9-m) by 3-ft (0.9 m) semi-balloon bottom trawl, having a 0.5-in (12.7 mm) stretch mesh in the bag and 0.25-in (6.4-mm) stretch mesh in the cod end. The net was towed on the bottom at speeds of 2-3 knots for 15 minutes along each transect. The tows typically intersected the approximate midpoint of each of the three gill net transects (Figure 2). Trawl sampling at all sites was performed at night. All fish captured by trawl were identified to species and counted. Additionally, a maximum of 25 representative specimens of each Representative Important Species (RIS; see below) captured



were measured (standard length and total length) and a batch weight for those specimens obtained. Trawl data are presented as total number of individuals captured, number of individuals captured per kilometer of bottom trawled (Catch per Unit Effort; CPUE), and average length and weight of RIS. CPUE is used to account for differences in tow distances resulting from varying boat speeds and currents. Biomass for RIS was determined by dividing the batch weight of each taxon by the number of specimens weighed and then multiplying the average weight by the total number of specimens in the sample. All invertebrates captured by trawl were counted and identified to major taxonomic group (e.g., spider crab, swimming crab, squid, etc.). Additionally, any Commercially/Recreationally Important Species (CRI; e.g., blue crabs, penaeid shrimp, lobster, etc.) in the catch were identified to the lowest practicable taxon. Gill Netting Gill net sampling was conducted along three shore-perpendicular transects established within each study site, yielding a total of 72 baseline and 108 post-EPU samples. Within the discharge site, the transects were sited either north or south of the multi-port diffuser, depending on predominant current flow at the time of sampling, to ensure the net fished within the thermal plume, if present (Figure 2). The gill net was 600 ft (183 m) in length and 12 ft (3.7 m) in depth, and consisted of 5 monofilament mesh panels, each 120 ft (66.6 m) long. Mesh sizes (stretch length) of the five panels are as follows: 2.5 in (64 mm), 2.9 in (74 mm), 3.3 in (84 mm), 3.8 in (97 mm), and 4.6 in (117 mm). The variable mesh allowed the capture of numerous fish species of different size classes. The bottom line of the gill net was weighted such that it rested on the bottom, and floats on the top line kept the net suspended in the water column. Gill net sampling at all sites was conducted during daylight hours. Gill nets remained in the water a minimum of 30 minutes, with total soak time calculated from the time the lead end of the net entered the water until the time the terminal end was back onboard the vessel. All fish captured by gill net were identified to species and counted. Additionally, a maximum of 25 representative specimens of each RIS captured were measured (total length) and a batch weight obtained for those specimens. Gill net data is presented as described above for trawl samples with the exception that CPUE represents the number of individuals captured per hour of soak time. Soak times often varied considerably in relation to sea conditions and/or the number of fish captured. Beach Seining Beach seining was conducted at three locations within each of the three study sites, yielding a total of 72 baseline and 108 post-EPU samples. The seine consisted of a 100-ft (30.5-m) long by



6.0 ft (1.8-m) deep net having a stretch mesh of 1 inch (25 mm). The net was heavily weighted along the bottom and had extra floatation on the top so it maintained a vertical hanging position in the water column under surf conditions. The rolled net was carried out to a depth of approximately 4 ft (1.2 m), deployed parallel to shore and then pulled onto the beach with the ends roughly perpendicular to shore. This created a horseshoe-shaped barrier, with fish funneled to the central part of the net as it was brought on shore. Beach seining was performed during daylight hours. Fish and invertebrates captured by seine were processed, as described above for gill netting and trawling. Data are presented as total number of individuals captured, with average length and weight also reported for RIS. Insofar as the exact area of bottom sampled by the seine could not be accurately determined, no CPUE data are presented. Plankton Netting Nighttime sub-surface plankton tows were made concurrently with trawling along Transects A and C within each study site (Figure 2), yielding a total of 48 baseline and 96 post-EPU samples. Sampling was conducted using paired bongo nets with a mouth opening of 7.9-in (20-cm) diameter, and fitted with a 0.02 in (500 micron) mesh. Each net was equipped with flow meters to allow determination of volume of water filtered. The nets were towed for 15 minutes, unless clogging required shorter tow times. Once the nets were retrieved aboard the vessel, the contents from both cod ends were combined into a single sample and preserved in 10% buffered formalin for laboratory identification. In addition to quantifying ichthyoplankton, any captured CRI decapod crustacean larvae were identified and enumerated. CRI target species included, but were not limited to, penaeid shrimp, blue crabs, stone crabs, lobster, and mole crabs. Plankton data are presented as total number of individuals captured and number of individuals captured per 100 cubic meters of water filtered (CPUE). Nearshore Hardbottom Utilization by Sea Turtles A single 0.62-mi (1-km) shore-parallel transect was monitored in each of the three study sites. Each transect was traversed two times during each sampling event with at least a 30 minute separation between the two passes. A total of 48 baseline event observations and 96 post-EPU observations were made. Sea turtle surveys were performed from a boat equipped with an elevated platform capable of holding two observers. As the boat traversed each transect at a slow and constant speed (4.0 knots or less), one observer would look to port side and the other to starboard side. Observers would record and identify to species, when possible, any turtle observed surfacing within approximately 100 ft (30 m) of the transect centerline. Monitoring days were selected for optimal viewing capabilities (e.g., sunny with calm seas).



Representative Important Species Section 4.0 of the Interagency 316(a) Guidance Manual (EPA, 1977) defines Representative Important Species as having one or more of the following traits: commercially or recreationally valuable; threatened or endangered; critical to the structure and function of the ecosystem; and/or a necessary component of the food chain for the preceding species. RIS for the Biological POS were selected based on results of prior 316(a) demonstration studies at the St. Lucie Plant and included 11 fish taxa and one species of sea turtle, as follows:

1. Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) – This bottom associated species, which is part of the recreational fishery, was one of the most abundant species captured in both gill nets and trawls during prior studies at the plant. It spawns offshore and gravid females have been found throughout the year.

2. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) – This bottom associated species is a common species along

the Atlantic coast and was one of the most abundant species captured in both gill nets and trawls during prior studies at the plant. Spawning occurs offshore during the late fall, winter, and early spring and peaks in December and January.

3. Sand Drum (Umbrina coroides) – This bottom associated species is a common species along the Atlantic coast and was one of the most abundant species captured in both gill nets and trawls during prior studies at the plant. Spawning occurs offshore during the late fall, winter, and early spring and peaks in December and January.

4. Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) – This bottom associated species is a common recreational species along the Atlantic coast and accounted for a large percentage of biomass for all species captured by trawl during prior studies at the plant. Spawning occurs offshore during the fall, winter, and spring.

5. Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) – This commercially and recreationally important schooling predator regularly occurs in coastal waters of east Florida, although it is present in greatest numbers during the fall and winter. It was captured in large numbers by gill net during prior studies at the plant. Gravid females were present throughout the year, although spawning within the south Atlantic fisheries stock occurs primarily in early summer along the continental shelf between northern Florida and Cape Hatteras.

6. Silver Seatrout (Cynoscion nothus) – This important recreational species, occurs in the

vicinity of the plant and was relatively common in gill net and trawl collections during prior studies at the plant. Seatrout are bottom associated species that spawn offshore, and gravid females have been found throughout the year.



7. Kingfish/Whiting (Menticirrhus spp.) – Both the Gulf (M. littoralis) and southern (M. americanus) kingfish occur in coastal waters over sandy bottom and were routinely captured in ocean beach seines during previous studies at the plant. Both species are taken in the recreational fishery. They typically spawn in the ocean during spring, summer and fall.

8. Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) – This species is a commercially important and recreationally popular coastal species often found in small to large schools along sandy beaches. Florida pompano were often captured in beach seines during previous studies at the plant. This species primarily spawns in the spring and summer.

9. Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) – This schooling coastal species is both commercially and recreationally important in eastern Florida waters and was one of the most frequently caught species in gill netting operations conducted during previous studies at the plant. Although it occurs throughout much of the year, largest concentrations occur during the fall and winter, with gravid females being present primarily during the spring, summer, and fall. Spanish mackerel feed on a variety of Clupeiform fish (herrings and sardines) which are extremely abundant in the nearshore waters off Hutchinson Island.

10. Clupeiformes – This group includes a variety of anchovies, herrings and sardines, the primary source of food for most of the commercially important piscivorous fish species that migrate through the area. Clupeiformes were numerically prevalent in both trawl and gill net sampling previously conducted at the plant.

11. Leopard Searobin (Prionotus scitulus) – The leopard searobin is a benthic oriented fish that is common over sandy substrates. It was one of the most frequently captured species in trawl sampling during previous studies at the plant. Individuals in spawning condition were captured in winter and spring.

12. Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) – The green sea turtle is federally listed as endangered. Juveniles are found in inland estuaries where they occupy and feed on submerged aquatic vegetation. They are also regularly found in the ocean where they feed on algae that colonize exposed hardbottom and worm reef. Large numbers of juvenile green turtles occur in the ocean in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant, as evidenced by their routine entrapment in the plant’s cooling water intake system.



Statistical Analysis All variables were statistically analyzed using STATISTICA 64, Version 11 software (Statsoft, Inc.). Data were first tested to determine if they met requisite requirements for parametric testing, including normality (Shapiro-Wilks Test) and homogeneity of variance (Levene’s Test). Water quality data was not statistically analyzed due to the time spans between sampling and the natural short term variability of the measured parameters. Faunal data did not meet the conditions for parametric testing and therefore non-parametric tests were used for all analyses. Separate analyses were done for each type of faunal sampling: trawls, gill nets, beach seines, plankton tows, and sea turtle surveys. Data were analyzed separately for: all fish, RIS, fish larvae, fish eggs, CRI decapod crustaceans, and CRI decapod crustacean larvae, as applicable. Each group was analyzed for differences in the number of taxa collected, total number of individuals captured, and/or CPUE. Biomass was also analyzed for RIS fish only. All data were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance by Ranks Test (ANOVA) to determine if statistically significant differences (p<0.0500) existed among sites, season, or pre- and post-EPU events. If significant differences were detected, the Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test was used to determine which paired values were significantly different. In certain instances, the ANOVA and the Multiple Comparisons Tests produced conflicting results (i.e. the ANOVA indicated the presence of significant differences, but the Multiple Comparisons Test did not indicate any significant differences for any of the pair-wise comparisons). In these cases, a Mann-Whitney U Test was performed to determine which areas (SL1 vs. SL2, SL2 vs. SL3 and SL1 vs. SL3) differed significantly from each other. Seasonal changes and/or long-term temporal patterns were assessed by analyzing for differences among seasonal sampling events. For the purpose or these analyses the sampling events were grouped into either summer (May through October) or winter seasons (November through April). During the study period, an abnormally large number of individuals of a single taxon were occasionally captured during a sampling event at one or more stations. For these events, the data were statistically analyzed both including and excluding the anomalous catch to assess its effect on a test outcome.

RESULTS Water Quality Differences in time of day, tidal stage, and weather conditions both between and during each sampling event created considerable spatial and temporal variability in water quality parameters and precluded any meaningful statistical analyses. Nevertheless, a few general characterizations



can be made regarding seasonal differences in measured variables among study sites pre- and post-EPU. Data are presented in relation to the associated sampling method: daytime bottom and surface values for gill netting and nighttime bottom and surface values for trawling/plankton tows. Dissolved Oxygen

Gill Netting – Mean bottom DO during daytime sampling ranged from 5.89 to 6.51 mg/L and averaged 6.29 mg/L for all areas and seasons combined (Table 1). During the summer, mean bottom DO declined within all three study areas following the EPU, and differences among study sites were minor. Similar patterns were detected for mean surface DO, which ranged from 5.94 to 6.74 mg/L and averaged 6.40 mg/L for all areas and seasons combined (Table 2).

Trawling – Mean bottom DO during nighttime sampling ranged from 6.09 to 6.68 mg/L and averaged 6.36 mg/L for all areas and seasons combined (Table 3). Mean surface DO ranged from 6.11 to 6.69 mg/L and averaged 6.40 mg/L for all areas and seasons (Table 4). As for gill netting stations, mean DO was higher in the winter than during the summer, but differences among study sites or pre- and post-EPU seasonal events were minor.

pH

Gill Netting – During daytime sampling, mean bottom pH ranged from 7.87 to 8.20, with a mean value of 8.08 for all areas and seasons combined (Table 5). Mean surface pH ranged from 7.87 to 8.17 and averaged 8.06 for all areas and seasons combined (Table 6). Mean values for daytime surface and bottom pH showed little variation among sites, seasons, or pre- and post-EPU sampling.

Trawling – During nighttime sampling, mean bottom pH ranged from 8.00 to 8.16, with a

mean value of 8.10 for all areas and seasons combined (Table 7). Mean surface pH for trawls ranged from 7.99 to 8.14 and averaged 8.09 for all areas and seasons combined (Table 8). pH data collected during trawling were very similar to those reported for gill netting.

Salinity

Gill Netting – Mean bottom salinity during daytime sampling ranged from 35.51 to 36.37 PSU, with a mean value of 36.05 PSU for all areas and seasons combined (Table 9). Mean surface salinity ranged from 35.50 to 36.31 PSU and averaged 36.01 PSU for all areas and seasons combined (Table 10).



Trawling – Mean bottom salinity during nighttime sampling ranged from 35.64 to 36.51 PSU, with a mean value of 36.01 PSU for all areas and seasons combined (Table 11). Mean surface salinity ranged from 35.60 to 36.55 PSU with a mean of 36.00 PSU for all areas and seasons (Table 12). Mean salinity values showed little variation among sites, either pre- or post-EPU and were typical of oceanic conditions.. Specific Conductivity

Gill Netting – Mean bottom specific conductivity during daytime sampling ranged from 53.68 to 54.99 mS/cm, with a mean value of 54.58 mS/cm for all areas and seasons combined (Table 13). Mean surface specific conductivity ranged from 53.65 to 54.95 mS/cm and averaged 54.46 mS/cm for all areas and seasons (Table 14).

Trawling – Mean bottom specific conductivity during nighttime sampling ranged from 53.81 to 55.29 mS/cm and averaged 54.51 mS/cm for all areas and seasons combined (Table 15). Mean surface specific conductivity ranged from 53.75 to 55.30 mS/cm and averaged 54.44 mS/cm for all areas and seasons (Table 16). Mean specific conductivity values mirrored salinity data presented above, with little variation among sites, either pre- or post-EPU. Temperature

Gill Netting – Mean bottom water temperatures during daytime sampling ranged from 70.7 to 79.1°F (21.50 to 26.15°C) with a mean of 75.4°F (24.10°C) for all areas and seasons combined (Table 17). Mean surface water temperatures for daytime sampling ranged from 71.3 to 81.2°F (21.84 to 27.35°C) with a mean temperature of 77.0°F (24.98°C) for all areas and seasons combined (Table 18). Trawling – Mean bottom water temperature during nighttime sampling ranged from 70.9 to 79.8°F (21.63 to 26.56°C) and averaged 75.6°F (24.21°C) for all areas and seasons combined (Table 19). Mean surface water temperature during nighttime sampling ranged from 71.8 to 80.7°F (22.09 to 27.05°C) and averaged 76.7°F (24.85°C) for all areas and seasons combined (Table 20). Mean summer surface water temperatures increased at all study sites post-EPU, including a 2.3°F (1.30°C) increase at the discharge site. However, surface water temperatures at Control SL1 to the north experienced similar increases: 2.2°F (1.22°C) during daytime gill net sampling and 2.4°F (1.35°C) during nighttime trawl sampling. The greatest increase in mean summer bottom water temperatures between pre- and post-EPU sampling events (3.0°F; 1.66°C) occurred during trawl sampling at the northern control, and the smallest increase (0.5°F; 0.28°C) was found at the southern control, also during trawl sampling.



During winter sampling, mean surface water temperatures also increased at all sites during post-EPU gill net sampling, with the largest increase (2.7°F; 1.48°C) occurring at Control SL1, while the smallest change (0.9°F; 0.53°C;) was found at the discharge site. During winter trawl sampling, mean surface and bottom water temperatures were lower after the EPU, with the greatest decrease found at the bottom during nighttime trawling at the discharge site (-2.5°F; -1.41°C). Trawling Table 21 provides the common and scientific names of all organisms captured for all sampling methods combined during pre- and post-EPU monitoring. One hundred eighty four (184) taxa, representing 93 fish, 76 crustaceans, 10 echinoderms, and 5 molluscs, were captured by trawl (Table 22). A total of 7,530 organisms were identified and enumerated from the collections (2,078 fish, 3,803 crustaceans, 1,527 echinoderms, and 122 molluscs). Nine (9) of the 11 RIS were represented in the catch, and collectively they accounted for 60% of all fish captured by trawl. Clupeiformes (anchovies, herrings, and sardines), represented primarily by unidentified Engraulids and the Cuban anchovy (Anchoa cubana), accounted for 38% of the total number of fish caught. The species comprising this taxon provide forage food for a large variety of predatory fish, many of which are commercially and recreationally important. The sand drum, unidentified anchovy (Anchoa sp.), star drum (Stellifer lanceolatus), and Atlantic bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus) were also caught in relatively high numbers. Collectively, these six taxa accounted for approximately 62% of the total catch. There were no statistically significant differences among study sites with respect to the number of fish, RIS, or CRI invertebrate taxa collected by trawl during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling, or when all sampling events were combined (Table 23). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the number of fish, RIS, or CRI invertebrate taxa collected between pre- and post-EPU sampling events within any study site, including the discharge (Table 24). Of the fish taxa collected by trawl, sand drum, Engraulidae, and Cuban anchovy had the greatest CPUE (2.39/km, 2.02/km and 2.01/km, respectively), while the vast majority (>76%) of the other fish taxa captured had a CPUE of 0.10 or less (Table 25). The mean CPUE for all fish taxa combined ranged from 1.63/km in the southern control during pre-EPU winter events to 74.43/km in the northern control during pre-EPU summer events (Table 26). The considerably higher mean CPUE for all areas during pre-EPU summer sampling is attributable to relatively high numbers of Clupeiform fish and sand drum captured during two events. Overall, catches of fish during trawl sampling was higher during the summer than during the winter, and pre-EPU summer sampling yielded considerably higher CPUE for fish than post-



EPU sampling, particularly at the discharge site (9.4 times higher; Table 26). In contrast, post-EPU CPUE for fish during the winter was higher than comparable pre-EPU values at all study sites. When the mean CPUE values for all fish taxa combined were compared among study sites, there were no significant differences during pre-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 23). However, CPUE at Control SL1 was significantly higher than CPUE at the discharge site (SL2) during post-EPU monitoring, but SL2 was not significantly different from the southern control (Table 23). Large catches of anchovies (Engraulidae) were responsible for a substantial amount of variation in the data. However, even after excluding anchovies from the statistical analyses, CPUE during post-EPU monitoring remained significantly higher at the northern control than at the discharge site, and the discharge site did not differ significantly from Control SL3 (Table 23). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in fish CPUE between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods, either including or excluding Engraulidae, within any study site, including the discharge (Table24). Insofar as Clupeiformes, an RIS taxon, accounted for a large percentage of the total fish catch, seasonal patterns for RIS CPUE were similar to those for all fish species combined (Table 27). The anchovies, herrings and sardines comprising the Clupeiformes occur in large schools that are common throughout the study area. However, their chance occurrence at the time of sampling can skew catch numbers. For example, Clupeiform fish accounted for 82% of all RIS captured during pre-EPU trawl sampling (Table 27), and all but one of those individuals was captured during a single sampling event (October 2012). Sixty-eight (68) percent and 23%, respectively, of all Clupeiformes captured during all pre- and post-EPU sampling events combined were caught in SL1 and SL2, while only 9% were captured in SL3. Thus, it is not surprising that Control SL1 had the greatest number of all RIS specimens captured (820), and Control SL3 had the fewest (207; Table 27). As mentioned earlier, sand drum, Engraulidae, and Anchoa cubana had the greatest CPUE (2.39/km, 2.02/km and 2.01/km, respectively; Table 28). The mean CPUE for all RIS taxa combined was 8.78/km.

The mean CPUE for each RIS species was compared statistically among study sites and seasons. Due largely, to the high degree of spatial and temporal variability in the data, CPUE for Clueiformes did not differ significantly among any study sites pre- or post EPU, seasonally, or for all events combined (Table 29).

The only significant differences in CPUE for RIS taxa were found for sand drum and leopard searobin. The CPUE for sand drum during post-EPU trawl sampling was found to be significantly higher at Control SL1 than at the discharge site, but SL2 did not differ significantly from Control SL3. This same outcome was found for all events combined (Table 29). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in CPUE for sand dram between pre- and post-EPU events within any study site, including the discharge (Table 30).



ANOVA of CPUE for leopard searobin indicated a significant difference among study sites during post-EPU monitoring. However, neither the Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test nor the Mann-Whitney U Test were able to determine which sites were significantly different from one another (Table 29). Within-area comparisons revealed that this species was significantly more abundant before the EPU than after, but only at Control SL3 (Table 30).

When captures were adjusted to account for variable tow distances, CPUE for all RIS taxa combined ranged from 54.24/km in Control SL1 during pre-EPU summer events to 0.76/km at the discharge site (SL2) during post-EPU summer events (Table 31). Prior to the EPU, regardless of season, mean RIS CPUE at the discharge site was intermediate between comparable values at the two control sites. Prior to the EPU, CPUE for RIS during summer events was anywhere from 6 (SL3) to 34 times (SL1) higher than corresponding winter values at all study sites. Following the EPU, summer CPUE for RIS at the two control sites remained higher that corresponding winter values, although the differences were only about twofold. By comparison, winter CPUE values at the discharge site were double corresponding summer values. Mean CPUE for RIS during the summer decreased at both SL1 and SL2 after the EPU, with the greatest decrease occurring at the discharge site. At SL3, post-EPU CPUE during the summer was slightly larger than the comparable pre-EPU value. During the winter, mean CPUE after the EPU increased at all study sites. When CPUE for RIS, all species combined, were compared statistically, Control SL1 was found to have significantly higher RIS CPUE than the discharge site during post-EPU monitoring, but SL2 did not differ significantly from the southern control (Table 23). The difference between SL1 and SL2 was largely attributable to differences in the number of Engraulidae in the catches, as its removal from the analysis resulted in no significant differences in RIS CPUE between those two sites (Table 23). There were no significant differences found in RIS CPUE, either including or excluding Engraulidae, among study sites during pre-EPU, summer, or winter sampling events, or when all events were combined (Table 23). Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences found within any study site when RIS CPUE was compared pre- and post-EPU (Tables 24). The mean total length (TL) for each taxon of RIS collected by trawl during pre- and post-EPU sampling is presented in Table 32. The species with the largest mean TL included the Atlantic croaker (234.27 mm), pigfish (233.00 mm), and silver seatrout (225.00 mm). The Clupeiforms, such as anchovies, were the smallest. Mean weights and total biomass for RIS collected within each study site during trawl sampling are presented in Tables 33 and 34, respectively. Despite representing the greatest number of specimens captured by trawl during baseline sampling, Clupeiformes represented only 17% of the RIS biomass.



Many of the RIS taxa were not captured during all of the various sampling periods. For example, during the summer, 10 of the 13 taxa collected at Control SL1 were only captured during pre- or post-EPU trawling, but not both. Similarly six of the nine RIS taxa collected during winter sampling at the northern control were only represented in pre- or post-EPU events, but not both. In other cases, an RIS taxon may have been captured during both pre- and post-EPU sampling periods, but only during one season. For example, Gulf kingfish were only captured during the summer at the southern contol, while Atlantic croaker were only captured during the winter at the northern control. During the winter, the mean weight for all RIS taxa combined was much lower during post-EPU trawl sampling than during pre-EPU monitoring at all study sites (Table 33). During the summer, mean weight decreased slightly at SL1 following the EPU, while increasing slightly at the discharge site. At Control SL3, mean weight during pre-EPU summer sampling was nearly 24 times greater than during the comparable post-EPU sampling period. Total biomass reflects the total number of fish collected and the corresponding mean biomass for each RIS taxon captured. Since there were unequal numbers of pre- (8) and post-EPU (12) sampling events, total biomass will yield biased results when assessing the effects of the EPU. Comparison of mean biomass removes that bias. The discharge site had a lower mean biomass than either control site during pre-EPU summer sampling, but was intermediate to the two controls during pre-EPU winter sampling. During post-EPU sampling, mean biomass at SL2 was intermediate to the two control sites during the summer, but lower than both during the winter (Table 34). However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Regardless of whether Engraulidae was included or excluded from the analysis, there were no statistically significant differences in mean RIS biomass among study sites during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 23). Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences in mean RIS biomass, inclusive of Engraulidae, between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods within any study site (Table 24). The only significant within-area difference was found at SL3 when Engraulidae were excluded from the analysis; mean biomass was significantly greater during pre-EPU sampling than during post-EPU monitoring (Table 24). A total of 5,452 invertebrates represented by 91 taxa were collected by trawl during pre- and post-EPU sampling (Table 22). The largest total number of invertebrates were captured in SL1 (2,695) and the fewest in SL3 (695; Table 35). Mean CPUE for all invertebrate taxa combined ranged from 6.34/km in SL3 during post-EPU winter sampling to 149.50/km at the discharge site during pre-EPU summer sampling. Means for SL2 and SL3 were higher during pre-EPU summer sampling than during the comparable post-EPU period, while the opposite was true for SL1. Pre- and post-EPU mean values were quite similar during both winter and summer sampling



periods. The discharge site had a higher mean CPUE than the two control sites during the pre-EPU summer period, but it was intermediate to both controls during the comparable post-EPU period. For winter sampling events, the mean CPUE at the discharge site was intermediate to the means for the two controls during both pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Eighteen (18) CRI decapod crustacean taxa were collected during trawl sampling. Four of those, roughneck shrimp (Rimapenaeus constrictus), unidentified roughneck shrimp (Rimapenaeus sp.), pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum), and speckled swimming crabs (Arenaeus cribrarius) made up 77% of all CRI crustaceans captured (Table 22). Mean CPUE for CRI invertebrates ranged from 1.28/km at SL1 during pre-EPU winter sampling to 7.48/km, also at SL1, during post-EPU summer events (Table 36). Mean CPUE for CRI decapod crustaceans captured by trawl at the discharge site was slightly lower than the means for the two controls during pre-EPU summer events, but intermediate to the controls during post-EPU sampling. Mean CPUE for CRI invertebrates at SL2 was also intermediate to the two controls during both pre- and post-EPU winter sampling periods. However, none of these differences among study sites were statistically significant whether considering pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 23). Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of invertebrate taxa or CPUE for all taxa combined between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods within any study site (Table 24). Gill Netting One hundred (100) taxa, representing 84 fish, 8 crustaceans, 7 echinoderms, and 1 mollusc were collected during gill net sampling (Table 37). A total of 5,993 organisms were identified and enumerated from the collection (5,831 fish, 62 crustaceans, 99 echinoderms, and 1 mollusc). The 10 most abundant species accounted for 78% of the catch, with four species, Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae; 15.7%), Atlantic bumper (15.7%), bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo; 14.0 %), and spot (6.6%) accounting for over half of all captures. All 11 RIS of fish were captured by gill net, and collectively they accounted for 28.7% of all fish collected. Spot and Atlantic croaker were the most abundant. The number of fish taxa, all species combined, captured by gill net during the summer was significantly higher at Control SL1 than at the discharge site, although SL2 was not significantly different from the southern control (Table 38). Similar results were obtained for all sampling events combined. When, looking at RIS only, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of taxa captured among areas during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 38). Similarly, there were no



statistically significant differences in the number of fish taxa or RIS fish taxa captured between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods within any study site (Table 39). Atlantic sharpnose sharks had the highest CPUE for all fishes (6.08/hr) followed by Atlantic bumper (6.06/hr) and bonnethead sharks (5.40/hr; Table 40). The mean CPUE for all fishes caught by gill net in pre-EPU events ranged from 36.10/hour in SL1 during the winter to 63.73/hour in SL3, also during the winter (Table 41). Mean CPUE during post-EPU sampling was lower than comparable pre-EPU values within all three study sites regardless of season. During the pre-EPU summer sampling, the discharge site had a lower mean CPUE for fish captured by gill net than either of the two controls, but it was intermediate to SL1 and SL3 during pre-EPU winter sampling. Following the EPU, the mean CPUE for fish captured by gill net at the discharge site was intermediate to the two controls during summer sampling and greater than both controls during winter sampling. None of the differences in mean fish CPUE among study sites were statistically significant whether considering pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 38). Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences in fish CPUE between pre- and post-EPU events within any study site (Table 39). There was considerable fluctuation in the number of RIS specimens captured by gill net between pre- and post-EPU events in all areas, particularly during the summer (Table 42). The discharge site was intermediate to the two control sites during pre-EPU summer sampling. During post-EPU summer events, all sites saw a decrease in the number of RIS captured, although the number caught at SL2 was greater than at either of the two controls. During the winter, the number of RIS specimens captured at the discharge site was lower than at either of the control sites prior to the EPU, but higher than both during post-EPU sampling. The relationships among study sites described above for the number of RIS specimens captured by gill net are the same as those based on mean CPUE (Table 43). There were no statistically significant differences in RIS CPUE among areas during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling events, or when all events were combined (Table 38). With-area comparisons indicated that there were no significant differences in RIS CPUE between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods at the discharge site or Control SL3. However, RIS CPUE at Control SL1 was significantly higher during pre-EPU monitoring than during post-EPU monitoring (Table 39). No statistically significant differences were found among study sites with regard to mean CPUE of individual RIS taxa during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 44). The only difference in mean CPUE for any RIS taxa within a study site was at SL1, where bluefish were significantly more abundant during pre-EPU sampling (Table 45).



The mean total lengths (TL) for each taxon of RIS collected in gill net sampling are presented in Table 46. The largest species captured included Atlantic Spanish mackerel (470.0 mm), bluefish (409.9 mm), and Gulf kingfish (371.4 mm). Mean weights and total biomass for RIS collected within each study site during gill netting are presented in Tables 47 and 48, respectively. Atlantic Spanish mackerel accounted for 42% (233.5 kg) of the total biomass for all RIS collected, with Atlantic croaker (80.4 kg), blue fish (80.0 kg), and spot (57.4 kg) accounting for another 39%. Mean RIS biomass at the discharge site was lower than at the two control sites during both summer and winter pre-EPU sampling periods (Table 49). Following the EPU, mean RIS biomass at SL2 was higher than either control. However, as for other variables when these data were analyzed statistically, none of the differences among study sites were significant whether considering pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling events, or when all events were combined (Table 38). Likewise RIS biomass did not differ significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods within any study site (Table 39). The only CRI invertebrate captured during gill net sampling was the speckled swimming crab, which was represented by 16 specimens (Table 37). Too few were captured to allow for meaningful statistical analyses. Beach Seining Seventy-six (76) taxa, representing 64 fish and 12 crustaceans, were collected during pre- and post-EPU beach seine sampling (Table 50). A total of 42,289 organisms were identified and enumerated from the collection (42,105 fish and 184 crustaceans). The scaled sardine (Harengula jaguana) was by far the most abundant species (31,455 individuals), accounting for 75% of all specimens collected. Four additional taxa, sand drum, Atlantic bumper, tidewater mojarra (Eucinostomus harengulus), and Spanish sardine (Sardinella aurita), were each represented by more than 1,000 individuals, and collectively these five taxa accounted for 89% of all fish caught. In the absence of a reliable method of normalizing beach seine data, such as CPUE, and given the unequal numbers of pre- and post-EPU sampling events, the only metric available for assessing the effect of the EPU based on beach seining data was the mean number of individuals captured per event (Table 51). Fewer individuals, all species combined, were captured per beach seine event at the discharge site than at either control site during both pre- and post-EPU summer sampling periods (Table 52). During winter events, the mean number of fish captured per event was higher in SL2 than either control during pre-EPU sampling and intermediate between the two controls during post-EPU sampling. By far, Control SL3 had the highest number of captures per event during



summer sampling, both pre- and post-EPU, and that was attributable to the large numbers of scaled sardines caught at that location. Despite large spatial and temporal differences in the absolute numbers of fish captured during beach seining, when analyzed statistically no significant differences were detected among study sites in the mean number of fish per event whether analyzing pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or all events combined (Table 53). These results were unaffected by the exclusion of scaled sardines from the analysis. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in mean numbers of fish captured between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods within any study site (Table 54). Similar results were obtained when the number of fish taxa collected during beach seining was compared both among and within study sites (Tables 53 and 54). Twenty taxa of RIS were among the fish captured by beach seine. Of these, Clupeiformes (represented by 11 species of sardines, herrings, and anchovies) was the most abundant, accounting for 91% of the total catch (Table 55). There were no statistically significant differences in the number of RIS taxa captured among or within study sites whether considering pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Tables 53 and 54). A large proportion of total RIS captures (83%) occurred during two events (August 2012 at Control SL3 and August 2014 at both SL1 and SL3) due primarily to large numbers of scaled sardines. Because of the high degree of temporal and spatial variability in the data, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean numbers of RIS captured per event either among or within study sites during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all were events combined (Table 53 and 54). The same results were obtained whether scaled sardines were included or excluded from the analysis. When numbers of individuals of each RIS taxa were compared, no statistically significant differences were found either among or within study sites during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 56 and 57). The mean total lengths (TL) for each taxon of RIS collected by beach seine are presented in Table 58. The species with the greatest mean TL included Spanish mackerel (255.33 mm), spot (236.00 mm), Atlantic croaker (199.25 mm), and Gulf kingfish (103.78 mm). Mean weight and total biomass for RIS taxa collected by beach seine within each study site are presented in Tables 59 and 60, respectively. Scaled sardines accounted for 77% (286.4 kg) of the total RIS biomass. The addition of sand drum (45.0 kg), Gulf kingfish (23.9 kg), Florida pompano (5.9 kg), and Spanish sardine (5.1 kg) elevate the combined percentage of total RIS biomass to 98%. Mean biomass for all RIS taxa combined ranged from 0.003 kg at the discharge



site during pre-EPU winter sampling to 7.8 kg during at Control SL3 during pre-EPU summer sampling (Table 60). When scaled sardines were included in the statistical analysis, no significant differences were detected in RIS biomass either among or within study sites during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 53 and 54). However, when that species was excluded from the analysis, mean biomass of all RIS taxa combined was significantly higher at the southern control than at the discharge site during winter sampling, while the discharge and Control SL1 did not significantly from each other (Table 53). Seven taxa of CRI decapod crustaceans were captured during baseline beach seine sampling, the speckled swimming crab, three taxa of mole crabs (Albuneidae, Emerita sp., and Emerita talpoida), the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), swimming crabs (Callinectes sp.), and pink shrimp, which collectively accounted for 178 specimens (Table 50). Mole crabs, which burrow into the sand, are considered to be an opportunistic capture and the number captured does not accurately represent their relative abundance. Speckled swimming crabs were collected in all areas. There were too few specimens of CRI decapod crustaceans captured by seine to allow for meaningful statistical analyses. Plankton Netting One hundred ninety one (191) taxa of different life stages of fish (162), crustaceans (19), and fish eggs (10), were collected by plankton nets (Table 61). A total of 80,908 organisms were identified and enumerated from the collection (6,874 fish, 11,517 crustaceans, and 62,517 fish eggs). Not all fish and fish eggs could be identified to species level, so differences in abundances of individual RIS taxa could not be statistically analyzed. However, 51% (3,504) of all fish larvae were identified as members of the Clupeiformes. Collectively, 10 taxa comprised over 75% of the ichthyoplankton captured during plankton tows, including members of the families Clupeidae, Gobiidae, Sciaenidae, Engraulidae, and Blennidae. All species of Clupeidae, as well as some taxa within the Sciaenidae, are RIS. The total number of larval fish captured for all pre-and post EPU events combined was highest at Control SL 1 (2,990) and lowest at Control SL3 (1,217), with intermediate numbers (2,667) caught at the discharge site Table 62). The number of larval fish collected at the discharge site was higher than either control site during both pre- and post-EPU summer sampling periods, but intermediate to the two controls during winter sampling. The large number of larval fish captured at Control SL1 during pre-EPU winter sampling (1,260) was attributable primarily to the presence of large numbers of Clupeidae (Table 61).



The mean CPUE for each taxon collected by plankton nets is presented in Table 63. For summer events, mean CPUE for all taxa combined (fish larvae, fish eggs, and CRI crustacean larvae) collected at the discharge site was intermediate to the means for the two controls prior to the EPU and greater than both after the EPU (Table 64). During winter sampling, mean CPUEs at the discharge site were lower than both controls both before and after the EPU. When examining only fish larvae contained in the plankton samples, CPUEs were higher at the discharge site than at either control during the summer both before and after the EPU (Table 65). During winter sampling, fish larvae CPUE at the discharge was lower than the comparable values for the two controls prior to the EPU, but intermediate to the controls after the EPU. However, none of the differences among or within study sites were statistically significant whether considering pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 66 and 67). Mean CPUE for fish eggs, all events combined, was greater at the discharge site than at either control (Table 68). However, neither number of fish egg taxa nor CPUE differed significantly among study sites during pre-EPU, post-EPU, summer, or winter sampling periods, or when all events were combined (Table 66). The only within-area difference for fish egg CPUE between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods was found at Control SL3, where significantly higher numbers were collected prior to the EPU (Table 67). A relatively large number of CRI decapod crustacean larvae were captured during plankton collections, with five taxa comprising over 78% of the crustaceans captured: two mole crab taxa (Albunea sp. and Emerita talpoida), stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria), blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), and different life stages of unidentified swimming crabs (Callinectes spp; Table 61). The mean CPUE for each CRI crustacean taxa captured by plankton nets is presented in Table 63. For all taxa combined, greater numbers were captured at the discharge site than at either control during both pre- and post-EPU summer sampling, as well as during pre-EPU winter sampling (Table 69). However, SL2 was intermediate to the two controls during post-EPU winter sampling. With one exception, no statistically significant differences were detected in the number of CRI crustacean larval taxa or corresponding CPUE either among or within study sites during any sampling period (Table 66 and 67). That exception occurred when the ANOVA indicated a significant difference among sites during summer sampling events. However, neither the Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test nor the Mann-Whitney U Test was able to determine which sites were significantly different from one another (Table 66). Nearshore Hardbottom Utilization by Sea Turtles



The mean number of green turtle sightings was consistently higher at the discharge site than at either control during both pre- and post-EPU sampling periods (Table 70). When data from all pre- and post-EPU events were combined, the average number of green turtle sightings per one-kilometer-long transect ranged from 0.03 at Control SL3 to 2.32 at SL2. Statistical comparisons indicated the mean numbers of green turtle sightings at both the discharge site and Control SL1 were significantly higher than Control SL3 during post-EPU, summer, and winter sampling periods and when all events were combined (Table 71). During pre-EPU monitoring, the mean number of green turtle sightings at SL2 was significantly higher than at either control. However, mean numbers of green turtle sightings did not differ significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods within any study site (Table 72).

DISCUSSION The purpose of Biological POS baseline monitoring was to establish background conditions against which to assess the effects of the St. Lucie Plant EPU. Monitoring was not intended to determine the overall effect of plant operations, as previous 316(a) studies demonstrated that thermal effluents from the St. Lucie Plant were not jeopardizing the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of fish, shellfish, and wildlife in receiving waters of the Atlantic Ocean (ABI, 1979). Rather, the Biological POS was intended solely to assess the effects of a minor elevation in discharge water temperatures resulting from the Units 1 and 2 EPU. Collectively, data collected during the Biological POS indicate a diverse assemblage of fish and shellfish in nearshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean offshore the St. Lucie Plant. These faunal communities as well as the monitored water quality parameters exhibit considerable spatial and temporal variability. Water quality within the study area is naturally affected by a number of variables including proximity to inlets, currents, tides, prevailing weather conditions, and occasional upwelling events. Given the high degree of spatial and temporal variability within this dynamic system, it would be virtually impossible to isolate natural variability in water quality from changes resulting from the EPU based on the infrequent data collected during this study.

There were no statistically significant differences among the three study sites in the number of fish taxa, RIS taxa, or CRI invertebrate taxa collected by trawl either before or after the EPU. There were no statistically significant differences among sites before the EPU with respect to CPUE for fish (all taxa combined), RIS (all taxa combined), individual RIS taxa, or CRI invertebrates. Following the EPU, the discharge site had significantly lower fish CPUE and RIS CPUE than the northern control, but it did not differ significantly from the southern control. There were no statistically significant differences in mean RIS fish biomass among any of the



three study sites prior to or following the EPU. Finally, none of the biological variables analyzed from trawl sampling at the discharge site differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Based on these results, there is no indication that the EPU affected the benthic fish, RIS, or CRI invertebrate communities in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

With respect to gill net sampling, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of fish taxa or RIS taxa among study sites either prior to or following the EPU. The mean CPUE for fish (all species combined) and RIS captured by gill net were not significantly different among study sites pre- or post-EPU, nor were there any statistically significant differences among study sites in the mean CPUE for individual RIS taxa. There were no statistically significant differences in mean RIS biomass among study sites either before or after the EPU. Finally, none of the biological variables analyzed from gill net sampling at the discharge site differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Thus, as with the analysis of trawl data, there is no indication of an EPU effect on water column fish assemblages in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant. Too few CRI invertebrates were collected by gill net for any meaningful comparisons.

There were no statistically significant differences in numbers of fish or RIS taxa collected by beach seine among study sites before or after the EPU. Furthermore, differences in the mean numbers of fish (all species combined), RIS (all species combined), and individual RIS taxa collected by beach seine did not differ significantly among study sites prior to or after the EPU, regardless of whether scaled sardines, the numerically dominant taxa, were included or excluded from the analysis. Similar results were obtained when RIS biomass was statistically compared among study sites. None of the biological variables analyzed from beach seine data collected at the discharge site differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods. Collectively these results give no indication of an EPU affect on surf zone fish in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant. Too few specimens of CRI invertebrates were collected by beach seine for any meaningful comparisons.

None of the differences among study sites in the mean number of fish larvae taxa, fish egg taxa, CRI invertebrate taxa, fish larvae CPUE, fish egg CPUE, and CRI invertebrate CPUE from plankton samples were statistically significant, either before or after the EPU. Nor were there any significant differences in these variables between pre- and post-EPU sampling periods at the discharge site. These results provide no indication of an EPU effect on planktonic stages of fish and CRI invertebrate larvae in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

Statistical comparisons among areas indicated that the mean number of green turtle sightings at the power plant site was significantly greater than the means at both control sites during pre-EPU sampling, but only significantly different from the south control during post-EPU events. This change in the relationship among areas appeared to be due to slight increases in the number of turtles sighted at the north control and a small decrease at the discharge site following the EPU. However, none of these changes differed significantly between pre- and post-EPU events within



any of the three study sties. These results indicate that there is no discernible EPU effect on small green sea turtles utilizing nearshore hardbottom habitat in the vicinity of the St. Lucie Plant.

It should be emphasized that the number of individuals and taxonomic composition of faunal communities sampled, regardless of method, varied greatly over time as evidenced by high standard deviations about the means. Consequently, large differences in the absolute numeric means were often found not to be significantly different. Even with best efforts to reduce variation by removing outlier catches and segregating results by season, very few significant differences were detected, either within or among study sites. Similar to the results of the 316(a) monitoring effort at the St. Lucie Plant in the 1970’s (ABI, 1979), data collected during the current Biological POS provide no evidence that the recent plant EPU has affected the abundance or composition of faunal communities in the vicinity of the plant. Based on the huge capacity of the receiving water body (Atlantic Ocean) to dissipate heat, the effectiveness of the offshore discharge pipes in diffusing heated cooling water, the limited spatial area historically affected by thermal discharges, and the small change in discharge temperatures resulting from the EPU, the absence of any detectable EPU effects on faunal communities is not unexpected.

REFERENCES ABI (Applied Biology, Inc.). 1979. Florida Power & Light Company St. Lucie Plant Annual

Non-Radiological Environmental Monitoring Report, Volumes I and II. Applied Biology, Inc., Decator, Georgia.

EAI (Ecological Associates, Inc.). 2001. Survey of Aquatic Environments Potentially Affected

by the Operation of the St. Lucie Power Plant, Hutchinson Island, Florida. Prepared by Ecological Associates, Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, for Florida Power & Light Company. 41 pp.

EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1977. Interagency 316(a) Technical Guidance

Manual and Guide for Thermal Effects Sections of Nuclear Facilities Environmental Impact Statements. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Enforcement, Permits Division, Industrial Permits Branch, Washington, D.C. 79 pp.

[

0 5 102.5

Kilometers

Fort Pierce Inlet

St. Lucie Inlet

Area SL1

Area SL2

Area SL3

Hutchinson Island

Martin Co.St. Lucie Co.

St. Lucie River

Indian River Lagoon

Atlantic Ocean

Figure 1. Location of Three Study Sites for the Biological Plan of Study, FPL St. Lucie Plant EPU.

)St. Lucie Plant

[

0 440 880220

Kilometers

Hutchinson IslandIndian River Lagoon

Atlantic Ocean

Figure 2. Location of the Cooling Water Discharge Pipes and Biological Sampling Locations at the Discharge Study Site, FPL St. Lucie Plant EPU.

!.

!.

!.

LEGEND

!.

Discharge PipesGill Net TransectsTrawl & Bongo Net Transects

Beach Seine Locations

Trawl Only Transects

A

B

C

AB

C

St. Lucie Plant

Pre Post Pre PostSL1 6.07 5.97 6.51 6.50 6.23SL2 6.37 5.89 6.46 6.48 6.27SL3 6.44 6.29 6.37 6.42 6.38

Mean 6.29 6.05 6.45 6.47 6.29

Summer (N=297) Winter (N=243) Overall MeanArea

Table 1. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) Levels Among Areas at Gill Net

Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU,August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean 6.52 6.01 6.52 6.64 6.40

Table 2.Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) Levels Among Areas at Gill

Net Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

AreaSummer (N=297) Winter (N=243) Overall

Mean


Mean 6.28 6.12 6.52 6.58 6.36

Table 3. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) Levels Among Areas at Trawl

Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 6.45 6.12 6.49 6.60 6.40

Table 4. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) Levels Among Areas at Trawl



Mean


Mean 8.01 8.12 7.96 8.17 8.08

Table 5. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom pH Levels Among Areas at Gill Net Sampling Stations,

Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 7.98 8.09 7.95 8.14 8.06

Table 6.Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface pH Levels Among Areas at Gill Net Sampling Stations,

Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 8.06 8.13 8.00 8.14 8.10

Table 7. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom pH Levels Among Areas at Trawl Sampling Stations, Pre-

and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 8.05 8.12 8.00 8.13 8.09

Table 8. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface pH Levels Among Areas at Trawl Sampling Stations, Pre-

and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 36.36 35.63 36.14 36.19 36.05

Table 9. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Salinity (PSU) Levels Among Areas at Gill Net Sampling

Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 36.27 35.60 36.16 36.14 36.01

Table 10. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Salinity (PSU) Levels Among Areas at Gill Net Sampling



Mean


Mean 36.38 35.68 36.45 35.82 36.01

Table 11. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Salinity (PSU) Levels Among Areas at Trawl Sampling



Mean


Mean 36.30 35.64 36.50 35.85 36.00

Table 12. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Salinity (PSU) Levels Among Areas at Trawl Sampling



Mean


Mean 54.92 53.87 54.87 54.86 54.58

Table 13. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Specific Conductivity (mS/cm) Levels Among Areas at

Gill Net Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 54.72 53.75 54.85 54.76 54.46

Table 14. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Specific Conductivity (mS/cm) Levels Among Areas at

Gill Net Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 54.93 53.92 55.21 54.39 54.51

Table 15. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Specific Conductivity (mS/cm) Levels Among Areas at

Trawl Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 54.76 53.80 55.24 54.41 54.44

Table 16. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Specific Conductivity (mS/cm) Levels Among Areas at

Trawl Sampling Stations, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Mean


Mean 24.85 25.86 21.93 22.79 24.10

Table 17. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Temperature (°C) Levels Among Areas at Gill Net



Mean


Mean 25.95 27.06 22.43 23.37 24.98

Table 18. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Temperature (°C) Levels Among Areas at Gill Net



Mean


Mean 25.15 26.17 22.92 22.11 24.21

Table 19. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Bottom Temperature (°C) Levels Among Areas at Trawl



Mean


Mean 25.96 27.03 23.13 22.60 24.85

Table 20. Comparison of Mean Seasonal Surface Temperature (°C) Levels Among Areas at Trawl



Mean

Taxa Common Name

Cephalopoda squidGastropoda gastropods/snailsIdiosepiidae pygmy cuttlefishLoliginidae squidMyopsida myopsid squidsOpisthobranchia seahares

Acetes americanus aviu shrimpAlbunea sp.* mole crabsAlbuneidae* mole crabsAlpheus sp. snapping shrimpArenaeus cribrarius* speckled swimming crabAutomate sp. snapping shrimpCalappa flammea flame box crabCalappoidea box crabsCallinectes ornatus* shelligCallinectes sapidus* blue crabCallinectes similis* lesser blue crabCallinectes sp.* swimming crabsCaridea caridean shrimpChlamydopleon dissimile opossum shrimpCuapetes americanus American grass shrimpDecapoda decapod crustaceansEmerita sp.* mole crabEmerita talpoida* Atlantic sand crabFarfantepenaeus aztecus* brown shrimpFarfantepenaeus duorarum* pink shrimpFarfantepenaeus sp.* penaeid shrimpHepatus epheliticus calico box crabHexapanopeus angustifrons smooth mud crabHippidae sand crabsHippoidea mole crabHippolytidae brokenback shrimpLatreutes fucorum slender sargassum shrimp

Table 21. Common and Scientific Names of Invertebrates and Fish Identified During All

Sampling Events (August 2011 - February 2015), St. Lucie Plant EPU.

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Taxa Common Name



Latreutes parvulus sargassum shrimpLatreutes sp. sargassum shrimpLeander cf. tenuicornis brown grass shrimpLepidopa sp.* mole crabLepidopa websteri* Webster's mole crabLeptochela carinata carinate glass shrimpLeptochela serratorbita combclaw shrimpLeucosioidea purse crabsLibinia dubia longnose spider crabLysmata rathbunae pathbun cleaner shrimpLysmata sp. cleaner shrimpMajidae spider crabMajoidea spider crabsMenippe mercenaria* Florida stone crabMenippe sp.* stone crabMysida opposum shrimpOgyrides hayi sand longeye shrimpOvalipes ocellatus lady crabOvalipes sp. lady crabPaguridae right-handed hermit crabsPaguroidea hermit crabPalaemonidae grass shrimpsPandalidae pandalid shrimpPanulirus argus* Caribbean spiny lobsterPenaeidae* penaeid shrimpPericlimenes longicaudatus longtail grass shrimpPericlimenes sp. anemone shrimpPersephona mediterranea mottled purse crabPetrochirus diogenes giant hermit crabPhycomenes siankaanensis iridescent shrimpPilumnus sp. hairy crabPitho sp. urn crabsPlagusia depressa tidal spray crabPodochela sp. spider crabPortunidae swimming crabs

Taxa Common Name



Portunus anceps delicate swimming crabPortunus depressifrons flatfaced swimming crabPortunus gibbesii iridescent swimming crabPortunus sayi sargassum swimming crabPortunus sp. portunid crabPortunus spinimanus blotched swimming crabProcessa hemphilli night shrimpProcessa sp. night shrimpProcessidae night shrimpRimapenaeus /Xiphopenaeus complex* roughneck shrimp/seabob complexRimapenaeus constrictus* roughneck shrimpRimapenaeus sp.* roughneck shrimpScyllaridae slipper lobstersScyllarus americanus* American slipper lobsterSicyonia brevirostris* brown rock shrimpSicyonia laevigata* coral shrimpSicyonia parri* rock shrimpSicyonia sp.* rock shrimpSicyonia typica* kinglet rock shrimpSicyoniidae* rock shrimpsSquilla sp. mantis shrimpStomatopoda mantis shrimpSynalpheus sp. snapping shrimpTrachypenaeopsis richtersii Richter sand shrimpUpogebiidae mud shrimpsXanthidae mud crabsXanthoidea crabsXiphopenaeus kroyeri* seabob

Arbacia punctulata purple-spined sea urchinArbaciidae sea urchinArbacioida sea urchinAsteroidea sea starsAstropecten sp. sea starClypeasteroida sand dollars

Echinoderms

Taxa Common Name



Echinodermata green sea urchinEchinoidea sea urchins and sand dollarsMellitidae sand dollarsOphiuroidea brittle starsTemnopleuroida sea urchinsToxopneustidae sea urchin

Albulidae bananafishes/ladyfishesGinglymostoma cirratum nurse sharkAbudefduf saxatilis sergeant majorAcanthostracion quadricornis scrawled cowfishAcanthurus chirurgus doctorfishAcanthurus sp. surgeonfishAchiridae American/scrawled solesAchirus lineatus lined soleAcropomatidae temperate ocean-bassesAetobatus narinari spotted eagle rayAlbula sp. bonefishesAlbula vulpes bonefishAlosa sp.** herringAluterus monoceros unicorn filefishAluterus schoepfii orange filefishAnchoa cubana** Cuban anchovyAnchoa hepsetus** striped anchovyAnchoa lyolepis** dusky anchovyAnchoa mitchilli** bay anchovyAnchoa sp.** anchovyAncylopsetta ommata oscellated flounderAnguilloidei eelsAnisotremus surinamensis black margateAnisotremus virginicus porkfishApogon binotatus barred cardinalfishApogonidae cardinalfishArchosargus probatocephalus sheepsheadArchosargus rhomboidalis sea bream

Fish

Taxa Common Name



Ariopsis felis hardhead catfishAstrapogon puncticulatus blackfin cardinalfishAtheriniformes silversidesAtherinopsidae New World silversidesBagre marinus gafftopsail catfishBairdiella chrysoura silver perchBalistidae triggerfishesBathygobius soporator frillfin gobyBlenniidae combtooth blenniesBlennioidei blenniesBothidae lefteyed floundersBothus robinsi twospot flounderBothus sp. Lefteye flounderBramidae pomfretsBregmacerotidae codletsBrevoortia smithi** yellowfin menhadenBrevoortia sp.** menhadensBrevoortia tyrannus** Atlantic menhadenCalamus arctifrons grass porgyCalamus penna sheepshead porgyCarangidae jacksCarangidae/Labridae/Sciaenidae egg complex egg complex: jacks/wrasses/drumsCarangoides bartholomaei yellow jackCaranx crysos blue runnerCaranx hippos crevalle jackCaranx latus horse-eye jackCaranx sp. jackCarcharhinus acronotus blacknose sharkCarcharhinus brevipinna spinner sharkCarcharhinus limbatus blacktip sharkCentropomus sp. snookCentropomus undecimalis common snookCentropristis philadelphica rock sea bassCentropristis striata black sea bassCerdale floridana Pugjaw wormfish

Taxa Common Name



Chaetodipterus faber Atlantic spadefishChasmodes saburrae Florida blennyChloroscombrus chrysurus Atlantic bumperCitharichthys arctifrons Gulf Stream flounderCitharichthys macrops spotted whiffCitharichthys sp. whiffCitharichthys spilopterus bay whiffClupeidae** herrings and sardinesClupeiformes** herring-like fishesCongridae conger eelsCorvula sanctaeluciae striped croakerCoryphaena hippurus dolphin, mahi mahi, doradoCtenogobius boleosoma darter gobyCtenogobius sp. gobyCyclothone sp. bristlefishCynoscion nebulosus spotted sea troutCynoscion nothus** silver seatroutCynoscion regalis gray troutCynoscion sp. seatroutsDactylopterus volitans flying gurnardDactyloscopidae sand stargazersDactyloscopus crossotus bigeye stargazerDecapterus macarellus mackerel scadDecapterus punctatus round scadDiapterus auratus Irish pompanoDiodon holocanthus balloonfishDiodon sp. porcupinefishDiodontidae burrfishesDiogenichthys atlanticus Atlantic lanternfishDiplectrum formosum sand perchDiplectrum sp. sand perchDiplodus holbrookii spottail pinfishDiplogrammus pauciradiatus spotted dragonetDiplospinus multistriatus striped escolarDormitator maculatus fat sleeper

Taxa Common Name



Dorosoma petenense** threadfin shadEcheneis naucrates sharksuckerEleotridae sleepersEleotris pisonis spinycheek sleeperElops saurus ladyfishEngraulidae** anchoviesEngraulis eurystole** silver anchovyEphippidae spadefishesEpinephelus sp. groupersEtrumeus teres** round herringEucinostomus argenteus spotfin mojarraEucinostomus gula silver jennyEucinostomus harengulus tidewater mojarraEucinostomus jonesii slender mojarraEucinostomus sp. mojarraEuthynnus alletteratus little tunnyGempylidae snake mackerelsGerreidae mojarraGerres cinereus yellowfin mojarraGobiesox strumosus skilletfishGobiidae gobiesGobionellus oceanicus highfin gobyGobionellus sp. darter gobyGobiosoma bosc naked gobyGobiosoma parri naked gobieGobiosoma robustum code gobyGobiosoma sp. gobyGonostomatidae lightfishesGymnachirus melas naked soleHaemulidae gruntsHaemulon aurolineatum tomtateHaemulon carbonarium Caesar gruntHaemulon macrostomum spanish gruntHaemulon sciurus bluestriped gruntHaemulon sp. grunt

Taxa Common Name



Halichoeres bivittatus slippery dickHalichoeres caudalis painted wrasseHarengula humeralis** redear sardine, redear herringHarengula jaguana** scaled sardineHemiramphus brasiliensis ballyhooHippocampus erectus spotted seahorseHistrio histrio sargassumfishHygophum reinhardtii lanternfishesHyporhamphus meeki false silverstripe halfbeakHyporhamphus unifasciatus Atlantic silverstripe halfbeakLabridae wrassesLabrisomidae labrisomid blenniesLabrisomus nuchipinnis hairy blennyLachnolaimus maximus hogfishLagodon rhomboides pinfishLarimus fasciatus banded drumLeiostomus xanthurus** spotLupinoblennius nicholsi highfin blennyLutjanidae snappersLutjanus analis mutton snapperLutjanus griseus gray snapperLutjanus sp. snapperLutjanus synagris lane snapperMelamphaidae bigscale fishesMelanocetidae deepsea anglerfishesMembras martinica rough silversideMenticirrhus americanus** southern kingfishMenticirrhus littoralis** Gulf kingfishMenticirrhus saxatilis** northern kingfishMenticirrhus sp.** kingfishes/weakfishesMerlucciidae hakesMicrodesmidae wormfishesMicrodesmus sp. wormfishesMicrogobius gulosus clown gobyMicrogobius thalassinus green goby

Taxa Common Name



Micropogonias furnieri whitemouth croakerMicropogonias undulatus** Atlantic croakerMonacanthidae filefishesMonacanthus ciliatus fringed filefishMugil cephalus striped mulletMugil curema white mulletMugilidae mulletsMullidae goatfishesMuraenidae moray eelsMustelus canis smooth dogfishMyctophidae lanternfishesMyliobatidae eagle rays/manta raysMyliobatis goodei southern eagle rayNarcine bancroftii lesser electric rayNes longus orangespotted gobyOgcocephalus sp. batfishOligoplites saurus leatherjacketOphidiidae cusk eelsOphidiiformes pearlfishes/cusk-eelsOphidion grayi blotched cusk-eelOphidion holbrookii bank cusk eelOphidion sp. cusk-eelOpisthonema oglinum** Atlantic thread herringOpistognathidae jawfishesOpistognathus robinsi spotfin jawfishOpsanus beta Gulf toadfishOrthopristis chrysoptera** pigfishOstraciidae boxfishes/truckfishesParablennius marmoreus seaweed blennyParalepididae barracudinasParalichthyidae sand floundersParalichthys albigutta Gulf flounderPareques acuminatus high-hatPareques sp. drumPeprilus burti gulf butterfish

Taxa Common Name



Peprilus paru harvestfishPeprilus triacanthus butterfishPerciformes perch-like fishesPercophidae DuckbillsPhaeoptyx conklini freckled cardinalfishPhosichthyidae lightfishesPleuronectidae righteyed floundersPleuronectiformes floundersPolydactylus oligodon littlescale threadfinPolydactylus virginicus barbuPomacanthidae angelfishesPomacentridae damselfishesPomatomus saltatrix** bluefishPrionotus carolinus northern searobinPrionotus rubio blackwing searobinPrionotus scitulus** leopard searobinPrionotus sp. North American searobinsPrionotus tribulus bighead searobinPseudocaranx dentex white trevallyRachycentron canadum cobiaRaja eglanteria clearnose skateRhinobatos lentiginosus Atlantic guitarfishRhizoprionodon terraenovae Atlantic sharpnose sharkSardinella aurita** Spanish sardineSaurida brasiliensis largescale lizardfishScaridae parrotfishesScarus sp. parrotfishSciaenidae drums and croakersSciaenops ocellatus red drumScomberomorus maculatus** Atlantic Spanish mackerelScombridae mackerelsScorpaena brasiliensis barbfishScorpaena grandicornis plumed scorpionfishScorpaena inermis mushroom scorpionfishScorpaena plumieri spotted scorpionfish

Taxa Common Name



Scorpaenidae scorpionfishesScorpaeniformes scorpionfishesSelar crumenophthalmus bigeyed scadsSelene setapinnis Atlantic moonfishSelene vomer lookdownSerranidae sea basses and groupersSparidae porgiesSparisoma sp. parrotfishesSphoeroides sp. pufferSphyraena guachancho guaguancheSphyraenidae barracudaSphyrna tiburo bonnethead sharkStegastes sp. damselfishStellifer lanceolatus star drumStephanoberyciformes stephanoberyciformsStephanolepis hispida planehead filefishStomiiformes stomiiformsSyacium micrurum channel flounderSymphurus diomedeanus spottedfin tonguefishSymphurus sp. straightmouth tonguefishesSyngnathidae pipefishesSyngnathus fuscus northern pipefishSyngnathus louisianae chain pipefishSyngnathus sp. pipefishesSynodontidae lizard fishSynodus foetens inshore lizardfishTetragonuridae squaretailsTetraodontidae puffersTetraodontiformes puffersTrachinocephalus myops bluntnose lizardfishTrachinotus carolinus** Florida pompanoTrachinotus falcatus permitTrachinotus goodei palometaTrichiurus lepturus cutlassfishTriglidae searobins

Taxa Common Name



Trinectes maculatus hogchokerTripterygiidae triplefinsUmbrina coroides** sand drumUnidentified fish unidentified fishUnidentified fragment unidentified fragmentUranoscopidae stargazers

Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtleChelonia mydas** green sea turtle*Commercially and recreationally important (CRI) decapod crustaceans**Representative Important Species (RIS)

Reptiles

Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre PostNumber of Samples 15 18 9 18 15 18 9 18 15 18 9 18 180

Opisthobranchia 62 3 1 66Gastropoda 27 27Loliginidae 6 12 1 7 1 27Idiosepiidae 1 1Myopsida 1 1 Total Molluscs 1 68 0 0 27 15 0 0 2 8 0 1 122

Acetes americanus 92 16 17 1,304 3 7 15 2 1,456Paguroidea 101 426 3 9 34 2 22 12 47 4 1 661Rimapenaeus constrictus* 38 38 40 15 7 34 25 197Portunus gibbesii 23 14 24 17 4 2 31 23 3 12 23 176Portunus spinimanus 14 6 51 1 94 4 3 173Rimapenaeus sp.* 22 3 5 13 12 24 10 12 38 7 12 2 160Portunus sp. 9 32 5 2 36 4 4 52 2 146Palaemonidae 99 3 1 103Farfantepenaeus duorarum* 10 23 2 2 1 1 2 13 9 63Arenaeus cribrarius* 15 1 9 8 1 9 7 11 61Latreutes fucorum 42 16 58Leander cf. tenuicornis 50 50Hepatus epheliticus 3 5 2 5 2 1 1 2 13 3 4 4 45Portunus anceps 1 8 27 1 1 1 39Penaeidae* 8 3 3 8 2 2 4 3 33Alpheus sp. 29 2 31Majoidea 5 12 4 6 1 28Farfantepenaeus sp.* 6 17 2 25

Table 22. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Invertebrates and Fish Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU,

August 2011 - February 2015.

TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

TotalSummer Winter Summer Winter

Crustaceans

Summer Winter

Molluscs




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

TotalSummer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter

MolluscsPaguridae 22 22Sicyonia typica* 8 1 11 20Hippolytidae 19 19Calappoidea 14 1 3 18Portunidae 15 2 17Processa hemphilli 1 5 1 1 5 4 17Panulirus argus* 13 1 14Portunus sayi 13 1 14Callinectes sp.* 3 2 1 4 1 1 12Sicyonia brevirostris* 6 2 2 10Persephona mediterranea 2 1 1 1 1 2 8Sicyonia parri* 5 2 1 8Libinia dubia 4 3 7Podochela sp. 3 4 7Cuapetes americanus 1 5 6Decapoda 5 1 6Calappa flammea 1 1 1 2 5Callinectes ornatus* 2 3 5Farfantepenaeus aztecus* 2 3 5Sicyonia sp.* 4 1 5Caridea 3 1 4Ovalipes ocellatus 2 1 1 4Periclimenes longicaudatus 3 1 4Processa sp. 3 1 4Automate sp. 1 1 1 3Callinectes similis* 2 1 3




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsChlamydopleon dissimile 1 1 1 3Ogyrides hayi 1 1 1 3Synalpheus sp. 1 2 3Xanthidae 2 1 3Callinectes sapidus* 2 2Latreutes parvulus 2 2Periclimenes sp. 1 1 2Phycomenes siankaanensis 1 1 2Pilumnus sp. 1 1 2Processidae 2 2Sicyonia laevigata* 2 2Squilla sp. 1 1 2Stomatopoda 1 1 2Xanthoidea 2 2Xiphopenaeus kroyeri* 1 1 2Hexapanopeus angustifrons 1 1Latreutes sp. 1 1Leptochela carinata 1 1Leptochela serratorbita 1 1Leucosioidea 1 1Lysmata rathbunae 1 1Lysmata sp. 1 1Majidae 1 1Mysida 1 1Ovalipes sp. 1 1Pandalidae 1 1




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsPetrochirus diogenes 1 1Pitho sp. 1 1Portunus depressifrons 1 1Sicyoniidae* 1 1Trachypenaeopsis richtersii 1 1Upogebiidae 1 1 Total Crustaceans 359 888 19 148 1,443 264 20 117 240 192 42 71 3,803

Clypeasteroida 124 573 153 9 23 25 76 4 2 10 4 1,003Mellitidae 155 118 9 11 32 9 334Temnopleuroida 19 18 11 3 13 11 1 32 6 11 1 126Arbacia punctulata 16 2 3 1 22Asteroidea 17 2 19Ophiuroidea 2 5 6 13Echinoidea 1 1 2 3 7Arbaciidae 1 1Arbacioida 1 1Toxopneustidae 1 1 Total Echinoderms 144 765 170 133 37 34 89 16 49 40 35 15 1,527

Umbrina coroides** 46 154 4 35 3 4 5 18 41 31 341Engraulidae** 181 103 4 288Anchoa cubana** 229 48 10 287Anchoa sp.** 4 59 13 48 10 134Stellifer lanceolatus 31 72 30 133Chloroscombrus chrysurus 23 11 1 1 31 3 34 4 4 112

Echinoderms

Fish




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsHaemulon aurolineatum 53 1 20 74Harengula jaguana** 62 6 68Citharichthys macrops 7 1 1 10 2 1 3 21 11 3 60Prionotus scitulus** 2 13 2 3 9 5 3 14 8 59Corvula sanctaeluciae 2 38 2 6 4 52Eucinostomus gula 34 3 10 1 48Lutjanus synagris 5 11 3 1 7 7 34Labrisomus nuchipinnis 23 3 26Menticirrhus littoralis** 7 1 1 2 2 1 6 1 21Scorpaena inermis 19 2 21Haemulon carbonarium 4 14 2 20Bothus robinsi 10 4 1 2 1 18Ophidion sp. 5 12 1 18Ophidion holbrookii 1 1 2 8 1 4 17Eucinostomus harengulus 1 9 2 4 16Micropogonias undulatus** 1 1 1 4 8 15Selene setapinnis 2 1 1 4 5 13Larimus fasciatus 8 1 1 1 1 12Synodus foetens 4 1 2 4 1 12Cynoscion nothus** 1 4 4 1 10Leiostomus xanthurus** 6 3 1 10Ophidion grayi 10 10Stephanolepis hispida 4 3 1 1 1 10Eucinostomus jonesii 9 9Selene vomer 4 2 1 2 9Centropristis striata 1 2 3 2 8




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsSardinella aurita** 1 7 8Diplectrum formosum 1 5 1 7Albula sp. 5 5Lagodon rhomboides 2 2 1 5Caranx crysos 2 1 1 4Opisthonema oglinum** 1 3 4Cynoscion regalis 1 1 1 3Prionotus rubio 1 2 3Sciaenidae 1 2 3Scorpaena brasiliensis 1 2 3Symphurus diomedeanus 1 1 1 3Trachinocephalus myops 1 1 1 3Achirus lineatus 1 1 2Anchoa hepsetus** 1 1 2Anchoa mitchilli** 1 1 2Caranx hippos 2 2Citharichthys spilopterus 1 1 2Decapterus punctatus 2 2Gymnachirus melas 1 1 2Hippocampus erectus 2 2Monacanthus ciliatus 2 2Orthopristis chrysoptera** 1 1 2Peprilus paru 1 1 2Trachinotus carolinus** 1 1 2Trichiurus lepturus 1 1 2Albulidae 1 1




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsAnchoa lyolepis** 1 1Ancylopsetta ommata 1 1Anisotremus surinamensis 1 1Anisotremus virginicus 1 1Apogon binotatus 1 1Ariopsis felis 1 1Caranx latus 1 1Centropristis philadelphica 1 1Cynoscion nebulosus 1 1Dactyloscopus crossotus 1 1Diapterus auratus 1 1Elops saurus 1 1Gobiosoma robustum 1 1Haemulon macrostomum 1 1Haemulon sciurus 1 1Haemulon sp. 1 1Halichoeres bivittatus 1 1Halichoeres caudalis 1 1Histrio histrio 1 1Labridae 1 1Lachnolaimus maximus 1 1Myliobatis goodei 1 1Narcine bancroftii 1 1Oligoplites saurus 1 1Opistognathus robinsi 1 1Phaeoptyx conklini 1 1




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsPolydactylus virginicus 1 1Prionotus carolinus 1 1Prionotus sp. 1 1Raja eglanteria 1 1Scorpaena grandicornis 1 1Serranidae 1 1Syacium micrurum 1 1Syngnathus fuscus 1 1Trinectes maculatus 1 1 Total Fish 719 322 32 118 337 51 17 37 241 122 15 67 2,078Total All Organisms 1,223 2,043 221 399 1,844 364 126 170 532 362 92 154 7,530*Commercially and Recreationally Important Crustaceans**Representative Important Species (RIS)

SL1 SL2 SL36.00 4.70 5.00

± 4.76 ± 4.62 ± 5.497.75 6.50 7.25

± 6.54 ± 6.46 ± 7.634.83 3.50 3.50

± 2.86 ± 2.54 ± 2.977.27 5.82 6.27

± 5.66 ± 5.78 ± 6.754.44 3.33 3.44

± 2.96 ± 2.29 ± 3.09

SL1 SL2 SL328.51 10.21 10.02

± 59.68 ± 29.34 ± 14.0346.66 20.78 14.89

± 91.66 ± 45.89 ± 18.4916.41

± 20.14 3.17 6.78± 3.31 ± 9.68

45.92 16.63 15.29± 77.34 ± 39.15 ± 17.13

7.24 2.37 3.59± 7.52 ± 1.43 ± 3.99

SL1 SL2 SL316.65 6.42 8.43

± 23.26 ± 13.98 ± 12.3420.97 12.01 14.08

± 28.38 ± 21.29 ± 17.4213.77

± 19.99 2.70 4.65± 3.36 ± 5.59

27.00 10.24 12.76± 27.57 ± 18.29 ± 15.29

3.99 1.75 3.13± 2.79 ± 1.14 ± 3.50

Winter 2 27 2.7337 0.2549

Post-uprate 2 36 6.5763 0.0373

Summer 2 33 2.3860 0.3033

All Events 2 60 3.5285 0.1713

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.2450 0.8847

Sampling Period

Mean Value Per Area ± SD df n H p

Winter 2 27 3.4427 0.1788

Fish CPUE Excluding Engraulidae

Post-uprate 2 36 7.0178 0.0299

Summer 2 33 2.1838 0.3356

All Events 2 60 3.8874 0.1432

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.2450 0.8847

Fish CPUESampling

PeriodMean Value Per Area ± SD df n H p

Summer 2 33 0.8525 0.6529

Winter 2 27 1.3489 0.5095

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0755 0.3542

All Events 2 60 1.5466 0.4615

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0784

Table 23. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), and Biomass Among Areas for Fish, RIS (All Species Combined), and

Invertebrates Captured by Trawl, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus

One Standard Deviation (SD). Fish Taxa

Sampling Period


0.9615



One Standard Deviation (SD).

SL1 SL2 SL32.25 1.40 1.50

± 1.77 ± 1.60 ± 1.732.38 2.00 1.88

± 2.20 ± 2.27 ± 2.032.17 1.00 1.25

± 1.53 ± 0.85 ± 1.542.18 1.64 1.82

± 2.18 ± 2.01 ± 1.992.33 1.11 1.11

± 1.22 ± 0.93 ± 1.36

SL1 SL2 SL319.49 5.22 4.48

± 53.18 ± 17.96 ± 7.1433.15 11.37 3.59

± 82.69 ± 28.30 ± 4.6910.39 1.12 5.08

± 17.56 ± 1.29 ± 8.5530.76 8.43 6.38

± 70.90 ± 24.21 ± 9.025.72 1.31 2.16

± 6.82 ± 1.38 ± 2.91

SL1 SL2 SL37.63 1.37 2.93

± 14.77 ± 2.50 ± 4.067.46 2.45 2.89

± 12.11 ± 3.71 ± 3.917.74 0.65 2.95

± 16.84 ± 0.80 ± 4.3411.84 1.94 3.85

± 19.19 ± 3.26 ± 5.012.47 0.69 1.81

± 1.98 ± 0.82 ± 2.30Winter 2 27 3.9224 0.1407

Post-uprate 2 36 5.9909 0.0500

Summer 2 33 1.9705 0.3734

All Events 2 60 5.2606 0.0721

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.4691 0.7909

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 4.5684 0.1019

RIS Fish CPUE Excluding Engraulidae

Post-uprate 2 36 6.5471 0.0379*

Summer 2 33 1.3111 0.5192

All Events 2 60 4.6054 0.1000

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.1967 0.9063

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 5.6593 0.0590

RIS CPUE

Post-uprate 2 36 4.9487 0.0842

Summer 2 33 0.3715 0.8305

All Events 2 60 3.8571 0.1454

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.1562 0.9249

Sampling Period


RIS Fish Taxa




SL1 SL2 SL3332.32 150.59 178.48

± 804.89 ± 350.39 ± 466.82671.11 347.85 392.32

± 1219.04 ± 507.93 ± 704.82106.46 19.08 35.92

± 184.98 ± 26.84 ± 69.66467.37 166.74 274.65

± 1059.33 ± 377.33 ± 616.68167.27 130.86 60.94

± 283.19 ± 335.88 ± 118.02

SL1 SL2 SL3238.79 122.80 172.61

± 418.02 ± 270.96 ± 460.06433.05 279.56 390.18

± 584.71 ± 388.99 ± 692.56109.29 18.29 27.57

± 196.26 ± 27.08 ± 54.66298.17 117.07 254.34

± 508.88 ± 221.22 ± 612.31166.22 129.80 72.72

± 283.79 ± 336.30 ± 116.70

SL1 SL2 SL32.45 2.00 2.15

± 2.21 ± 1.08 ± 1.792.00 1.63 2.50

± 1.51 ± 1.06 ± 1.932.75 2.25 1.92

± 2.60 ± 1.05 ± 1.732.82 2.18 3.00

± 2.71 ± 1.17 ± 1.902.00 1.78 1.11

± 1.41 ± 0.97 ± 0.93Winter 2 27 2.9336 0.2307

Post-uprate 2 36 1.4173 0.4923

Summer 2 33 0.9345 0.6267

All Events 2 60 0.1907 0.9090

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.8250 0.6620

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.3027 0.5213

CRI Invertebrate Taxa

Post-uprate 2 36 4.4241 0.1095

Summer 2 33 0.6271 0.7309

All Events 2 60 2.1160 0.3472

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.1866 0.9109

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 3.1833 0.2036

RIS Fish Biomass Excluding Engraulidae

Post-uprate 2 36 4.5215 0.1043

Summer 2 33 0.5973 0.7418

All Events 2 60 2.5920 0.2736

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0965 0.9529

Sampling Period


RIS Fish Biomass




SL1 SL2 SL36.16 4.23 4.02

± 6.95 ± 3.83 ± 3.975.50 3.57 4.90

± 7.79 ± 4.14 ± 3.736.60 4.67 3.43

± 6.66 ± 3.72 ± 4.187.91 5.67 5.76

± 8.28 ± 4.37 ± 4.514.02 2.47 1.89

± 4.43 ± 1.45 ± 1.68Winter 2 27 1.0093 0.6037

*Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test showed conflicting results. Mann-Whitney U Test results showed SL1 was significantly higher than SL2, SL1 vs SL3 were not significanlty different, and SL2 vs SL3 were not significantly different.

Post-uprate 2 36 1.6173 0.4455

Summer 2 33 0.1888 0.9099

All Events 2 60 0.2171 0.8972

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.9817 0.6121

Sampling Period


CRI Invertebrate CPUE

Pre-uprate Post-uprate7.75 4.83

± 6.54 ± 2.866.50 3.50

± 6.46 ± 2.547.25 3.50

± 7.63 ± 2.97


± 91.66 ± 20.1420.78 3.17

± 45.89 ± 3.3114.89 6.78

± 18.49 ± 9.68


± 28.38 ± 19.9912.01 2.70

± 21.29 ± 3.3614.08 4.65

± 17.42 ± 5.59


± 2.20 ± 1.532.00 1.00

± 2.27 ± 0.851.88 1.25

± 2.03 ± 1.54SL3 1 20 0.7090 0.3998

SL1 1 20 0.0062 0.9374

SL2 1 20 1.0439 0.3069

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.5238 0.2170

RIS Fish Taxa

SL1 1 20 0.3810 0.5371

SL2 1 20 0.7202 0.3961

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.3393 0.2472

Fish CPUE Excluding Engraulidae

SL1 1 20 0.5952 0.4404

SL2 1 20 0.4821 0.4875

SL2 1 20 1.3639 0.2429

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.9545 0.3286

Fish CPUE

Table 24.Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Catch

Per Unit Effort (CPUE), and Biomass for Fish, RIS, and Invertebrates Captured by Trawl, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

Fish TaxaSampling

AreaMean Value Per Area ± SD df n H p

SL1 1 20 0.4888 0.4845





± 82.69 ± 17.5611.37 1.12

± 28.30 ± 1.293.59 5.08

± 4.69 ± 8.55


± 12.11 ± 16.842.45 0.65

± 3.71 ± 0.802.90 2.95

± 3.91 ± 4.34


± 1219.04 ± 184.98347.85 19.08

± 507.93 ± 26.84392.32 35.92

± 704.82 ± 69.66


± 584.71 ± 196.26279.56 18.29

± 388.99 ± 27.08390.18

± 692.56 27.57± 54.66

SL3 1 20 5.5926 0.0180

SL1 1 20 0.5970 0.4397

SL2 1 20 2.4453 0.1179

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 3.0752 0.0795

RIS Fish Biomass Excluding Engraulidae

SL1 1 20 0.5970 0.4397

SL2 1 20 2.1816 0.1397

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.5033 0.4780

RIS Fish Biomass

SL1 1 20 0.5970 0.4397

SL2 1 20 1.0331 0.3094

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.2287 0.6325

RIS Fish CPUE Excluding Engraulidae

SL1 1 20 1.0090 0.3151

SL2 1 20 0.7932 0.3731

Sampling Area


RIS CPUE





± 1.51 ± 2.601.63 2.25

± 1.06 ± 1.052.50 1.92

± 1.93 ± 1.73


± 7.79 ± 6.663.57 4.67

± 4.14 ± 3.724.90 3.43

± 3.73 ± 4.18SL3 1 20 1.9344 0.1643

SL1 1 20 0.7878 0.3748

SL2 1 20 0.6567 0.4177

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.5604 0.4541

CRI Invertebrate CPUE

SL1 1 20 0.2634 0.6078

SL2 1 20 1.6504 0.1989

Sampling Area


CRI Invertebrate Taxa


Opisthobranchia 4.46 0.21 0.07 0.46Gastropoda 2.68 0.19Loliginidae 0.43 0.83 0.09 0.49 0.07 0.19Idiosepiidae 0.09 0.01Myopsida 0.10 0.01 Total Molluscs 0.10 4.89 0.00 0.00 2.68 1.04 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.56 0.00 0.07 0.85

Acetes americanus 9.52 1.15 1.28 129.36 0.21 0.53 1.42 0.15 10.20Paguroidea 10.46 30.62 0.30 0.68 2.36 0.19 1.65 1.14 3.32 0.43 0.07 4.63Rimapenaeus constrictus* 2.73 2.85 2.78 1.13 0.66 2.40 1.82 1.38Portunus gibbesii 2.38 1.01 1.80 1.69 0.28 0.19 2.33 2.18 0.21 1.30 1.68 1.23Portunus spinimanus 1.45 0.43 5.06 0.07 8.93 0.28 0.33 1.21Rimapenaeus sp.* 2.28 0.22 0.49 0.98 1.19 1.67 0.97 0.90 3.61 0.49 1.30 0.15 1.12Portunus sp. 0.93 2.30 0.38 0.20 2.50 0.30 0.38 3.67 0.15 1.02Palaemonidae 7.12 0.23 0.07 0.72Farfantepenaeus duorarum* 1.04 1.65 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.10 0.15 1.23 0.64 0.44Arenaeus cribrarius* 1.55 0.07 0.68 0.79 0.07 0.68 0.66 0.78 0.43Latreutes fucorum 3.02 1.11 0.41Leander cf. tenuicornis 3.59 0.35Hepatus epheliticus 0.31 0.36 0.20 0.38 0.20 0.07 0.10 0.15 1.23 0.21 0.43 0.29 0.32Portunus anceps 0.07 0.79 1.88 0.10 0.08 0.11 0.27Penaeidae* 0.83 0.22 0.30 0.56 0.15 0.19 0.28 0.33 0.23Alpheus sp. 2.08 0.14 0.22Majoidea 0.52 0.86 0.28 0.42 0.11 0.20Farfantepenaeus sp.* 0.62 1.69 0.19 0.18

Table 25.Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per Kilometer Trawled) for Invertebrates and Fish Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,

St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

Total1Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter

Molluscs

Crustaceans




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsPaguridae 1.53 0.15Sicyonia typica* 0.58 0.10 0.76 0.14Hippolytidae 1.37 0.13Calappoidea 1.45 0.10 0.28 0.13Portunidae 1.55 0.20 0.12Processa hemphilli 0.08 0.50 0.07 0.08 0.35 0.29 0.12Panulirus argus* 0.93 0.07 0.10Portunus sayi 0.93 0.09 0.10Callinectes sp.* 0.31 0.14 0.10 0.30 0.07 0.07 0.08Sicyonia brevirostris* 0.60 0.19 0.22 0.07Persephona mediterranea 0.21 0.07 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.15 0.06Sicyonia parri* 0.36 0.15 0.07 0.06Libinia dubia 0.30 0.21 0.05Podochela sp. 0.22 0.28 0.05Cuapetes americanus 0.07 0.35 0.04Decapoda 0.52 0.09 0.04Calappa flammea 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.15 0.04Callinectes ornatus* 0.20 0.21 0.04Farfantepenaeus aztecus* 0.15 0.29 0.04Sicyonia sp.* 0.29 0.07 0.04Caridea 0.22 0.08 0.03Ovalipes ocellatus 0.21 0.10 0.09 0.03Periclimenes longicaudatus 0.31 0.10 0.03Processa sp. 0.22 0.08 0.03Automate sp. 0.10 0.10 0.08 0.02Callinectes similis* 0.14 0.07 0.02




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsChlamydopleon dissimile 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.02Ogyrides hayi 0.10 0.08 0.08 0.02Synalpheus sp. 0.07 0.15 0.02Xanthidae 0.15 0.07 0.02Callinectes sapidus* 0.14 0.01Latreutes parvulus 0.14 0.01Periclimenes sp. 0.08 0.08 0.01Phycomenes siankaanensis 0.07 0.08 0.01Pilumnus sp. 0.08 0.07 0.01Processidae 0.14 0.01Sicyonia laevigata* 0.14 0.01Squilla sp. 0.07 0.08 0.01Stomatopoda 0.10 0.10 0.01Xanthoidea 0.14 0.01Xiphopenaeus kroyeri* 0.08 0.07 0.01Hexapanopeus angustifrons 0.10 0.01Latreutes sp. 0.10 0.01Leptochela carinata 0.07 0.01Leptochela serratorbita 0.10 0.01Leucosioidea 0.10 0.01Lysmata rathbunae 0.10 0.01Lysmata sp. 0.10 0.01Majidae 0.07 0.01Mysida 0.08 0.01Ovalipes sp. 0.07 0.01Pandalidae 0.07 0.01




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsPetrochirus diogenes 0.07 0.01Pitho sp. 0.07 0.01Portunus depressifrons 0.07 0.01Sicyoniidae* 0.09 0.01Trachypenaeopsis richtersii 0.07 0.01Upogebiidae 0.10 0.01 Total Crustaceans 37.16 63.83 1.87 11.12 143.15 18.35 1.94 8.79 22.79 13.55 4.55 5.18 26.63

Clypeasteroida 12.84 41.19 15.07 0.68 2.28 1.74 7.37 0.30 0.14 1.08 0.29 7.02Mellitidae 11.14 8.86 0.63 0.83 2.26 0.66 2.34Temnopleuroida 1.97 1.29 1.08 0.23 1.29 1.07 0.08 3.04 0.42 1.19 0.07 0.88Arbacia punctulata 1.15 0.15 0.33 0.07 0.15Asteroidea 1.61 0.22 0.13Ophiuroidea 0.14 0.49 0.65 0.09Echinoidea 0.10 0.10 0.19 0.33 0.05Arbaciidae 0.08 0.01Arbacioida 0.10 0.01Toxopneustidae 0.07 0.01 Total Echinoderms 14.91 54.99 16.74 9.99 3.67 2.36 8.63 1.20 4.65 2.82 3.79 1.09 10.69

Umbrina coroides** 4.76 11.07 0.39 2.63 0.30 0.28 0.38 1.71 2.89 2.26 2.39Engraulidae** 18.74 10.22 0.38 2.02Anchoa cubana** 23.71 4.76 0.95 2.01Anchoa sp.** 0.29 4.43 0.98 3.39 0.73 0.94Stellifer lanceolatus 3.21 7.14 2.85 0.93Chloroscombrus chrysurus 2.38 0.79 0.10 0.08 3.08 0.23 3.23 0.28 0.29 0.78

Fish

Echinoderms




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsHaemulon aurolineatum 5.49 0.10 1.90 0.52Harengula jaguana** 6.42 0.60 0.48Citharichthys macrops 0.72 0.07 0.08 0.99 0.14 0.10 0.23 1.99 0.78 0.22 0.42Prionotus scitulus** 0.21 0.93 0.20 0.23 0.89 0.35 0.29 1.33 0.87 0.41Corvula sanctaeluciae 0.21 2.73 0.20 0.45 0.38 0.36Eucinostomus gula 3.52 0.30 0.95 0.07 0.34Lutjanus synagris 0.52 0.79 0.23 0.10 0.49 0.66 0.24Labrisomus nuchipinnis 1.65 0.30 0.18Menticirrhus littoralis** 0.50 0.10 0.10 0.14 0.15 0.09 0.42 0.07 0.15Scorpaena inermis 1.37 0.14 0.15Haemulon carbonarium 0.29 0.97 0.14 0.14Bothus robinsi 0.99 0.28 0.08 0.19 0.11 0.13Ophidion sp. 0.52 1.14 0.11 0.13Ophidion holbrookii 0.10 0.10 0.15 0.76 0.07 0.29 0.12Eucinostomus harengulus 0.10 0.65 0.14 0.28 0.11Micropogonias undulatus** 0.10 0.08 0.10 0.39 0.76 0.11Selene setapinnis 0.21 0.07 0.08 0.40 0.47 0.09Larimus fasciatus 0.58 0.08 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.08Synodus foetens 0.39 0.10 0.15 0.43 0.07 0.08Cynoscion nothus** 0.10 0.40 0.38 0.07 0.07Leiostomus xanthurus** 0.59 0.29 0.08 0.07Ophidion grayi 0.95 0.07Stephanolepis hispida 0.41 0.22 0.10 0.07 0.07 0.07Eucinostomus jonesii 0.93 0.06Selene vomer 0.41 0.20 0.09 0.15 0.06Centropristis striata 0.07 0.20 0.21 0.19 0.06




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsSardinella aurita** 0.10 0.69 0.06Diplectrum formosum 0.10 0.36 0.09 0.05Albula sp. 0.38 0.04Lagodon rhomboides 0.20 0.19 0.09 0.04Caranx crysos 0.20 0.08 0.09 0.03Opisthonema oglinum** 0.10 0.30 0.03Cynoscion regalis 0.10 0.10 0.07 0.02Prionotus rubio 0.10 0.19 0.02Sciaenidae 0.10 0.19 0.02Scorpaena brasiliensis 0.10 0.19 0.02Symphurus diomedeanus 0.10 0.09 0.07 0.02Trachinocephalus myops 0.10 0.07 0.07 0.02Achirus lineatus 0.10 0.09 0.01Anchoa hepsetus** 0.07 0.08 0.01Anchoa mitchilli** 0.10 0.07 0.01Caranx hippos 0.20 0.01Citharichthys spilopterus 0.10 0.07 0.01Decapterus punctatus 0.20 0.01Gymnachirus melas 0.10 0.07 0.01Hippocampus erectus 0.14 0.01Monacanthus ciliatus 0.14 0.01Orthopristis chrysoptera** 0.07 0.10 0.01Peprilus paru 0.10 0.10 0.01Trachinotus carolinus** 0.10 0.07 0.01Trichiurus lepturus 0.10 0.10 0.01Albulidae 0.07 0.01




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsAnchoa lyolepis** 0.07 0.01Ancylopsetta ommata 0.07 0.01Anisotremus surinamensis 0.10 0.01Anisotremus virginicus 0.10 0.01Apogon binotatus 0.09 0.01Ariopsis felis 0.08 0.01Caranx latus 0.07 0.01Centropristis philadelphica 0.10 0.01Cynoscion nebulosus 0.10 0.01Dactyloscopus crossotus 0.07 0.01Diapterus auratus 0.10 0.01Elops saurus 0.10 0.01Gobiosoma robustum 0.07 0.01Haemulon macrostomum 0.07 0.01Haemulon sciurus 0.07 0.01Haemulon sp. 0.10 0.01Halichoeres bivittatus 0.07 0.01Halichoeres caudalis 0.09 0.01Histrio histrio 0.07 0.01Labridae 0.10 0.01Lachnolaimus maximus 0.08 0.01Myliobatis goodei 0.08 0.01Narcine bancroftii 0.09 0.01Oligoplites saurus 0.10 0.01Opistognathus robinsi 0.10 0.01Phaeoptyx conklini 0.07 0.01




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


MolluscsPolydactylus virginicus 0.10 0.01Prionotus carolinus 0.08 0.01Prionotus sp. 0.11 0.01Raja eglanteria 0.10 0.01Scorpaena grandicornis 0.10 0.01Serranidae 0.09 0.01Syacium micrurum 0.07 0.01Syngnathus fuscus 0.10 0.01Trinectes maculatus 0.09 0.01 Total Fish 74.43 23.15 3.15 8.86 33.43 3.54 1.65 2.78 22.89 8.61 1.63 4.88 14.55Trawl Total 126.60 146.86 21.76 29.97 182.93 25.30 12.21 12.77 50.52 25.54 9.97 11.23 52.741 Distance towed all events and areas = 142.5 km*Commercially and Recreationally Important Crustaceans**Representative Important Species (RIS)

Total Fish Distance Trawled CPUE Total Fish Distance

Trawled CPUE Total Fish Distance Trawled CPUE

Pre- 719 9.7 74.43 337 10.1 33.43 241 10.5 22.89 43.58Post- 322 13.9 23.15 51 14.4 3.54 122 14.2 8.61 11.77Pre- 32 10.2 3.15 17 10.3 1.65 15 9.2 1.63 2.14Post- 118 13.3 8.86 37 13.3 2.78 67 13.7 4.88 5.51

1,191 47.0 25.32 442 48.1 9.19 445 47.6 9.34298 11.8 27.40 111 12.0 10.35 111 11.9 9.50

Summer

Winter

Total14.55

Mean

Table 26.Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per Kilometer Trawled) for Fish Captured by Trawl, All Species Combined, Among

Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

SeasonPre- or Post-

Uprate

SL1 SL2 SL3Mean CPUE


Engraulidae 181 103 4 288Anchoa cubana 229 48 10 287Anchoa sp. 4 59 13 48 10 134Harengula jaguana 62 6 68Sardinella aurita 1 7 8Opisthonema oglinum 1 3 4Anchoa hepsetus 1 1 2Anchoa mitchilli 1 1 2Anchoa lyolepis 1 1 Total Clupeiformes 475 6 0 60 167 0 0 13 14 48 0 11 794

Umbrina coroides 46 154 4 35 3 4 5 18 41 31 341Prionotus scitulus 2 13 2 3 9 5 3 14 8 59Menticirrhus littoralis 7 1 1 2 2 1 6 1 21Micropogonias undulatus 1 1 1 4 8 15Cynoscion nothus 1 4 4 1 10Leiostomus xanthurus 6 3 1 10Orthopristis chrysoptera 1 1 2Trachinotus carolinus 1 1 2Total Other RIS 49 175 16 39 18 11 10 8 45 48 8 33 460Total All RIS 524 181 16 99 185 11 10 21 59 96 8 44 1,254

Clupeiformes

Other RIS

Summer Winter

Table 27.Seasonal Comparison of Number of RIS Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Clupeiformes Presented Separate from Other RIS.

TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3



Engraulidae 18.74 10.22 0.38 2.02Anchoa cubana 23.71 4.76 0.95 2.01Anchoa sp. 0.29 4.43 0.98 3.39 0.73 0.94Harengula jaguana 6.42 0.60 0.48Sardinella aurita 0.10 0.69 0.06Opisthonema oglinum 0.10 0.30 0.03Anchoa hepsetus 0.07 0.08 0.01Anchoa mitchilli 0.10 0.07 0.01Anchoa lyolepis 0.07 0.01 Total Clupeiformes 49.17 0.43 0.00 4.51 16.57 0.00 0.00 0.98 1.33 3.39 0.00 0.80 5.56

Umbrina coroides 4.76 11.07 0.39 2.63 0.30 0.28 0.38 1.71 2.89 2.26 2.39Prionotus scitulus 0.21 0.93 0.20 0.23 0.89 0.35 0.29 1.33 0.87 0.41Menticirrhus littoralis 0.50 0.10 0.10 0.14 0.15 0.09 0.42 0.07 0.15Micropogonias undulatus 0.10 0.08 0.10 0.39 0.76 0.11Cynoscion nothus 0.10 0.40 0.38 0.07 0.07Leiostomus xanthurus 0.59 0.29 0.08 0.07Orthopristis chrysoptera 0.07 0.10 0.01Trachinotus carolinus 0.10 0.07 0.01Total Other RIS 5.07 12.58 1.58 2.93 1.79 0.76 0.97 0.60 4.27 3.39 0.87 2.41 3.22Total All RIS 54.24 13.01 1.58 7.44 18.35 0.76 0.97 1.58 5.60 6.77 0.87 3.21 8.78

Summer Winter

1 Distance towed all events and areas = 142.5 km

Table 28. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per Kilometer Trawled) for RIS Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,

St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Clupeiformes Presented Separate from Other RIS.

TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3 Mean

CPUE1Summer Winter Summer Winter

Clupeiformes

Other RIS

SL1 SL2 SL313.47 4.16 1.60

± 52.73 ± 17.32 ± 3.7229.69 9.70 0.81

± 83.61 ± 27.45 ± 2.292.65 0.47 2.12

± 5.84 ± 1.16 ± 4.4621.82 7.06 2.53

± 71.24 ± 23.41 ± 4.833.25 0.63 0.46

± 6.70 ± 1.32 ± 1.05

SL1 SL2 SL30.02 0.09 0.11

± 0.11 ± 0.42 ± 0.330.06 0.23 0.23

± 0.18 ± 0.66 ± 0.490.00 0.00 0.03

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.120.05 0.17 0.17

± 0.15 ± 0.56 ± 0.430.00 0.00 0.05

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.14

SL1 SL2 SL30.08 0.06 0.00

± 0.30 ± 0.20 ± 0.000.20 0.10 0.00

± 0.47 ± 0.28 ± 0.000.00 0.04 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.13 ± 0.000.00 0.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.18 0.14 0.00

± 0.44 ± 0.29 ± 0.00Winter 2 27 2.2428 0.3258

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0000 0.3679

Summer 2 33 0.0000 1.0000

All Events 2 60 2.1040 0.3492

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.1789 0.3364

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679

Leiostomus xanthurus

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0000 0.3679

Summer 2 33 0.4596 0.7947

All Events 2 60 1.5467 0.4615

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.4476 0.7995

Summer 2 33 1.7159 0.4240

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.6284 0.4430

Cynoscion nothus

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.5720 0.7512

Post-uprate 2 36 2.5786 0.2755

Table 29.Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Catch Per Unit Effort

(CPUE) Among Areas for RIS Captured by Trawl, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One

Standard Deviation (SD). Clupeiformes

Sampling Period


All Events 2 60 2.5667 0.2771



Standard Deviation (SD).

SL1 SL2 SL30.16 0.12 0.17

± 0.67 ± 0.30 ± 0.560.03 0.09 0.06

± 0.09 ± 0.25 ± 0.160.25 0.14 0.25

± 0.87 ± 0.34 ± 0.710.27 0.14 0.27

± 0.90 ± 0.30 ± 0.740.03 0.11 0.05

± 0.09 ± 0.32 ± 0.16

SL1 SL2 SL30.04 0.09 0.18

± 0.12 ± 0.28 ± 0.810.04 0.22 0.45

± 0.10 ± 0.42 ± 1.280.04 0.00 0.00

± 0.14 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.06 0.33

± 0.00 ± 0.21 ± 1.090.09 0.12 0.00

± 0.18 ± 0.36 ± 0.00

SL1 SL2 SL30.04 0.00 0.00

± 0.11 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.04 0.00 0.00

± 0.10 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.04 0.00 0.00

± 0.13 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.04 0.00 0.00

± 0.13 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.03 0.00 0.00

± 0.10 ± 0.00 ± 0.00Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0000 0.3679

Summer 2 33 2.0000 0.3679

All Events 2 60 4.0678 0.1308

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.0000 0.3679

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0098 0.3661

Orthopristis chrysoptera

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0000 0.3679

Summer 2 33 1.0341 0.5963

All Events 2 60 0.3524 0.8384

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.5957 0.7424

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.0118 0.9941

Micropogonias undulatus

Post-uprate 2 36 0.3114 0.8558

Summer 2 33 0.3034 0.8592

All Events 2 60 0.2839 0.8677

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0151 0.9925

Sampling Period


Menticirrhus littoralis




SL1 SL2 SL30.49 0.38 0.46

± 0.83 ± 0.73 ± 1.170.30 0.70 1.16

± 0.64 ± 1.07 ± 1.670.61 0.17 0.00

± 0.94 ± 0.29 ± 0.000.71 0.62 0.62

± 1.01 ± 0.93 ± 1.510.21 0.10 0.27

± 0.46 ± 0.20 ± 0.56

SL1 SL2 SL30.01 0.00 0.02

± 0.06 ± 0.00 ± 0.090.03 0.00 0.00

± 0.09 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.00 0.03

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.120.00 0.00 0.04

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.120.03 0.00 0.00

± 0.09 ± 0.00 ± 0.00

SL1 SL2 SL35.19 1.98

± 13.10 0.25 ± 3.02± 0.51

2.76 0.18 1.00± 7.00 ± 0.35 ± 1.286.80 2.64

± 16.06 0.30 ± 3.68± 0.60

7.87 0.27 2.43± 17.47 ± 0.52 ± 3.57

1.90 0.22 1.43± 2.00 ± 0.52 ± 2.26

**Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test showed conflicting results. Mann-Whitney U Test results showed SL1 was significantly higher than SL2, SL1 vs SL3 were not significanlty different, and SL2 vs SL3 were not significantly different.

Winter 2 27 6.5878 0.0371**

*Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test showed conflicting results. Mann-Whitney U Test results no significant differences between any Areas.

Post-uprate 2 36 7.7056 0.0212

Summer 2 33 3.9719 0.1373

All Events 2 60 8.5521 0.0139

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.0943 0.3509

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679

Umbrina coroides

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0000 0.3679

Summer 2 33 2.0000 0.3679

All Events 2 60 1.0178 0.6012

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.0000 0.3679

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.0865 0.9577

Trachinotus carolinus

Post-uprate 2 36 6.5187 0.0384*

Summer 2 33 0.9537 0.6207

All Events 2 60 0.5487 0.7601

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.0731 0.3547

Sampling Period


Prionotus scitulus


± 83.61 ± 5.849.70 0.47

± 27.45 ± 1.160.81 2.12

± 2.29 ± 4.46


± 0.18 ± 0.000.23 0.00

± 0.66 ± 0.000.23 0.03

± 0.49 ± 0.12


± 0.47 ± 0.000.10 0.04

± 0.28 ± 0.130.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00


± 0.09 ± 0.870.09 0.14

± 0.25 ± 0.340.06 0.25

± 0.16 ± 0.71SL3 1 20 0.1386 0.7097

SL1 1 20 0.0493 0.8242

SL2 1 20 0.1386 0.7097

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Menticirrhus littoralis

SL1 1 20 3.1579 0.0756

SL2 1 20 0.1371 0.7112

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.2476 0.2640


SL1 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

SL2 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

SL2 1 20 0.0154 0.9012

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.0281 0.3106

Cynoscion nothus

Table 30. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Catch Per Unit Effort

(CPUE) for RIS Captured by Trawl, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard

Deviation (SD). Clupeiformes

Sampling Area


SL1 1 20 0.7583 0.3839



Deviation (SD).


± 0.10 ± 0.140.22 0.00

± 0.42 ± 0.000.45 0.00

± 1.28 ± 0.00


± 0.10 ± 0.130.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00


± 0.64 ± 0.940.70 0.17

± 1.07 ± 0.291.16

± 1.67 0.00± 0.00


± 0.09 ± 0.000.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.03

± 0.00 ± 0.12SL3 1 20 0.6667 0.4142

SL1 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

SL2 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 9.2532 0.0024


SL1 1 20 0.5245 0.4689

SL2 1 20 0.9175 0.3381

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Prionotus scitulus

SL1 1 20 0.0493 0.8242

SL2 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.5000 0.2207


SL1 1 20 0.0493 0.8242

SL2 1 20 3.1579 0.0756

Sampling Area





Deviation (SD).


± 7.00 ± 16.060.18 0.30

± 0.35 ± 0.601.00 2.64

± 1.28 ± 3.68SL3 1 20 0.3330 0.5639

SL1 1 20 2.9588 0.0854

SL2 1 20 0.0103 0.9192

Sampling Area


Umbrina coroides

Total RIS Distance Trawled CPUE Total RIS Distance

Trawled CPUE Total RIS Distance Trawled CPUE

Pre 524 9.7 54.24 185 10.1 18.35 59 10.5 5.60 26.07Post 181 13.9 13.01 11 14.4 0.76 96 14.2 6.77 6.85Pre 16 10.2 1.58 10 10.3 0.97 8 9.2 0.87 1.14Post 99 13.3 7.44 21 13.3 1.58 44 13.7 3.21 4.07

820 47.0 17.43 227 48.1 4.72 207 47.6 4.34205 11.8 19.07 57 12.0 5.42 52 11.9 4.11

Summer

Winter

Total8.78

Mean

Table 31. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per Kilometer Trawled) for RIS Captured by Trawl, All Species Combined, Among


SeasonPre- or Post-

Uprate



Micropogonias undulatus 248.00 191.00 234.00 241.50 234.38 234.27Orthopristis chrysoptera 236.00 230.00 233.00Cynoscion nothus 226.00 225.00 225.75 221.00 225.00Leiostomus xanthurus 190.17 191.50 189.00 190.33Prionotus scitulus 19.75 106.95 193.50 100.87 83.44 115.98 190.00 155.50 184.25 130.02Harengula jaguana 126.97 120.33 125.92Trachinotus carolinus 149.00 59.30 104.15Opisthonema oglinum 115.00 98.00 102.25Sardinella aurita 160.00 82.14 91.88Menticirrhus littoralis 68.00 227.00 52.45 77.20 171.00 65.70 102.70 81.51Umbrina coroides 79.04 65.44 147.00 50.97 55.00 72.10 47.72 90.10 53.20 59.64 64.55Anchoa lyolepis 56.40 56.40Anchoa cubana 54.69 57.33 42.56 54.47Anchoa hepsetus 59.20 45.80 52.50Anchoa mitchilli 50.00 53.10 51.55Engraulidae 38.68 34.80 34.00 36.07Anchoa sp. 20.55 32.28 28.07 23.24 30.43 29.71Mean TL (mm) 73.79 72.15 185.63 43.93 62.70 88.47 213.22 47.93 131.79 48.56 184.25 57.57 74.49

Summer Winter

Table 32. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Total Length (mm) for RIS Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

Mean TL (mm)Summer Winter Summer Winter


Orthopristis chrysoptera 172.1 160.0 166.1Micropogonias undulatus 167.0 71.4 150.0 168.5 139.9 145.4Cynoscion nothus 137.9 132.5 151.0 117.2 138.9Leiostomus xanthurus 78.7 79.6 81.8 79.3Prionotus scitulus 38.0 18.7 53.0 14.6 15.2 19.0 50.9 50.4 55.3 33.9Trachinotus carolinus 45.3 3.2 24.3Harengula jaguana 22.3 18.4 18.7Menticirrhus littoralis 3.2 113.0 1.5 4.0 54.4 4.3 11.9Sardinella aurita 31.6 7.9 10.9Opisthonema oglinum 14.9 9.4 10.8Umbrina coroides 10.2 3.9 57.8 2.4 3.6 4.8 2.6 10.9 2.2 3.0 5.5Anchoa lyolepis 1.1 1.1Anchoa cubana 1.1 1.2 0.4 1.1Anchoa hepsetus 1.5 0.4 1.0Anchoa mitchilli 0.01 1.1 0.6Engraulidae 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3Anchoa sp. 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1Total Mean Weight (g) 8.5 8.1 80.9 2.4 9.3 10.6 106.6 5.8 48.8 2.0 55.3 5.0 14.1

Summer Winter

Table 33. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Weight (g) for RIS Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3 Total

Mean Weight (g)

Summer Winter Summer Winter


Micropogonias undulatus 167.0 71.4 150.0 674.1 1,119.0 2,181.5Prionotus scitulus 76.0 243.5 106.0 43.7 136.5 94.8 152.7 705.6 442.5 2,001.3Umbrina coroides 471.1 596.5 231.1 84.0 10.9 19.1 12.9 196.1 89.6 93.9 1,805.2Cynoscion nothus 137.9 530.1 603.8 117.2 1,389.0Harengula jaguana 1,269.6 110.1 1,275.3Leiostomus xanthurus 472.1 238.8 81.8 792.7Orthopristis chrysoptera 172.1 160.0 332.1Anchoa cubana 252.7 58.9 315.6Menticirrhus littoralis 22.5 113.0 3.0 7.9 54.4 26.0 226.8Sardinella aurita 31.6 55.2 86.8Engraulidae 60.1 25.1 0.1 85.3Trachinotus carolinus 45.3 3.2 48.5Opisthonema oglinum 14.9 28.1 43.0Anchoa sp. 0.2 9.2 1.6 0.6 1.4 13.0Anchoa hepsetus 1.5 0.4 1.9Anchoa lyolepis 1.1 1.1Anchoa mitchilli 0.0 1.1 1.1Mean Biomass (g) 257.1 148.2 184.9 41.7 122.8 39.0 355.2 26.0 446.5 29.9 442.5 53.4 623.5

Summer Winter

Table 34. Seasonal Comparison of Calculated and Mean Biomass (g) for RIS Captured by Trawl Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

Total Biomass (g)Summer Winter Summer Winter

Number Captured

Distance Trawled CPUE Number

CapturedDistance Trawled CPUE Number

CapturedDistance Trawled CPUE

Pre 504 9.7 52.17 1,507 10.1 149.50 291 10.5 27.64 76.43Post 1,721 13.9 123.71 313 14.4 21.76 240 14.2 16.93 54.13Pre 189 10.2 18.61 109 10.3 10.56 77 9.2 8.34 12.51Post 281 13.3 21.11 133 13.3 9.99 87 13.7 6.34 12.48

2,695 47.0 57.29 2,062 48.1 42.87 695 47.6 14.59674 11.8 53.90 516 12.0 47.95 174 11.9 14.81

Summer

Winter

Total38.25

Mean

Table 35. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per Kilometer Trawled) for Invertebrates Captured by Trawl, All Species Combined,

Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

SeasonPre- or Post-

Uprate


Number Captured

Distance Trawled CPUE Number

CapturedDistance Trawled CPUE Number

CapturedDistance Trawled CPUE

Pre 64 9.7 6.63 45 10.1 4.46 72 10.5 6.84 5.98Post 104 13.9 7.48 90 14.4 6.26 69 14.2 4.87 6.19Pre 13 10.2 1.28 14 10.3 1.36 17 9.2 1.84 1.48Post 70 13.3 5.26 40 13.3 3.00 28 13.7 2.04 3.42

251 47.0 5.34 189 48.1 3.93 186 47.6 3.9063 11.8 5.16 47 12.0 3.77 47 11.9 3.90

Summer

Winter

Total4.39

Mean

Table 36. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per Kilometer Trawled) for CRI Decapod Crustaceans Captured by Trawl, All Species

Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

SeasonPre- or Post-

Uprate



Cephalopoda 1 1Total Molluscs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Portunidae 8 14 22Arenaeus cribrarius* 4 2 1 1 6 1 1 16Calappa flammea 1 1 3 2 1 8Portunus spinimanus 4 2 6Calappoidea 1 2 1 4Portunus sp. 1 2 3Paguroidea 1 1 2Ovalipes sp. 1 1Total Crustaceans 0 1 0 10 5 9 1 17 9 5 3 2 62

Temnopleuroida 16 1 1 15 11 5 4 7 60Arbacia punctulata 20 1 2 23Clypeasteroida 2 1 1 2 6Asteroidea 1 1 1 3Echinodermata 2 1 3Echinoidea 3 3Astropecten sp. 1 1Total Echinoderms 20 21 2 0 16 16 6 0 8 2 8 0 99

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae 46 57 74 79 22 40 51 63 28 81 272 130 943Chloroscombrus chrysurus 115 24 21 39 77 61 327 41 91 10 84 50 940Sphyrna tiburo 64 283 70 54 49 1 13 102 102 1 83 15 837

Crustaceans

Echinoderms

Fish

Molluscs

Table 37. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Invertebrates and Fish Captured by Gill Net Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3



Molluscs



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Leiostomus xanthurus** 10 74 299 11 1 1 396Micropogonias undulatus** 45 2 5 72 171 83 14 2 394Scomberomorus maculatus** 37 4 34 19 41 42 1 77 100 2 25 382Caranx crysos 14 22 10 9 17 58 20 4 26 49 13 27 269Bagre marinus 36 2 5 29 5 29 119 10 235Larimus fasciatus 32 46 7 67 1 153Caranx latus 35 1 3 61 1 17 30 4 152Pomatomus saltatrix** 31 25 2 4 7 11 27 3 10 120Caranx hippos 1 5 12 54 23 9 4 3 111Brevoortia smithi** 19 9 6 3 5 2 17 43 104Cynoscion nothus** 61 33 3 2 99Carcharhinus brevipinna 25 3 3 18 1 10 3 22 1 4 1 91Menticirrhus americanus** 11 3 3 4 26 2 13 1 63Lutjanus synagris 1 12 1 35 2 51Trichiurus lepturus 17 1 3 10 4 1 6 4 1 47Synodus foetens 2 2 7 1 1 2 26 3 44Elops saurus 24 3 5 6 38Orthopristis chrysoptera** 8 3 3 1 1 3 11 1 31Anisotremus virginicus 13 9 3 1 26Trachinotus carolinus** 4 15 3 1 23Mustelus canis 8 3 10 1 22Selene setapinnis 17 1 2 1 1 22Carcharhinus acronotus 1 1 3 6 2 1 2 1 2 19Prionotus scitulus** 2 1 1 1 6 7 1 19Centropristis striata 4 2 6 4 1 1 18Archosargus probatocephalus 11 2 1 1 1 1 17


Molluscs



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Umbrina coroides** 7 9 16Menticirrhus saxatilis** 4 3 2 2 11Cynoscion regalis 7 1 1 1 10Rachycentron canadum 3 2 1 3 1 10Citharichthys macrops 2 1 1 1 4 9Carcharhinus limbatus 1 1 4 1 1 8Menticirrhus littoralis** 2 1 4 7Calamus penna 1 1 2 2 6Diplodus holbrookii 5 1 6Echeneis naucrates 2 1 1 1 1 6Rhinobatos lentiginosus 1 2 1 1 5Calamus arctifrons 2 2 4Albula vulpes 2 1 3Brevoortia tyrannus** 3 3Opisthonema oglinum** 1 1 1 3Paralichthys albigutta 1 2 3Peprilus paru 2 1 3Prionotus rubio 3 3Prionotus tribulus 3 3Scombridae 3 3Ancylopsetta ommata 1 1 2Centropomus undecimalis 2 2Chaetodipterus faber 1 1 2Corvula sanctaeluciae 1 1 2Hippocampus erectus 1 1 2Myliobatis goodei 2 2


Molluscs



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Stephanolepis hispida 2 2Trachinotus falcatus 1 1 2Acanthostracion quadricornis 1 1Acanthurus chirurgus 1 1Aetobatus narinari 1 1Aluterus monoceros 1 1Aluterus schoepfii 1 1Anisotremus surinamensis 1 1Archosargus rhomboidalis 1 1Citharichthys spilopterus 1 1Cynoscion nebulosus 1 1Dactylopterus volitans 1 1Diapterus auratus 1 1Diplectrum formosum 1 1Euthynnus alletteratus 1 1Ginglymostoma cirratum 1 1Haemulon aurolineatum 1 1Lagodon rhomboides 1 1Lutjanus analis 1 1Lutjanus griseus 1 1Membras martinica 1 1Opsanus beta 1 1Peprilus burti 1 1Peprilus triacanthus 1 1Pseudocaranx dentex 1 1Raja eglanteria 1 1


Molluscs



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Sciaenops ocellatus 1 1Scorpaena plumieri 1 1Selene vomer 1 1Total Fish 692 424 287 293 602 219 451 965 809 170 615 304 5,831Total All Organisms 712 446 289 303 623 244 458 983 826 177 626 306 5,993* Commercially or Recreationally Important Decapod Crustaceans** Representative Important Species

SL1 SL2 SL311.35± 6.95 7.80 8.60

± 7.57 ± 6.9614.00 9.63 12.25± 9.80 ± 8.70 ± 9.249.58 6.58 6.17

± 3.73 ± 6.84 ± 3.6411.27± 9.25 6.73 8.91

± 8.42 ± 8.5011.44 9.11 8.22± 2.79 ± 6.64 ± 4.94

SL1 SL2 SL329.62 31.23 29.38

± 23.76 ± 43.01 ± 33.4737.05 36.87 47.20

± 24.62 ± 42.72 ± 46.5424.67 27.47 17.50

± 22.85 ± 44.67 ± 13.0832.59 20.78 27.14

± 30.41 ± 31.67 ± 36.6225.98 44.01 32.12

± 12.54 ± 52.97 ± 31.12

SL1 SL2 SL32.65 2.40 2.10

± 2.85 ± 3.10 ± 3.044.13 2.88 3.63

± 3.36 ± 3.64 ± 4.241.67 2.08 1.08

± 2.06 ± 2.81 ± 1.312.09 1.82 2.00

± 3.30 ± 3.43 ± 3.523.33 3.11 2.22

± 2.18 ± 2.67 ± 2.54Winter 2 27 1.7233 0.4225

Post-uprate 2 36 0.4567 0.7959

Summer 2 33 1.4362 0.4877

All Events 2 60 1.0457 0.5928

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.8594 0.6507

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.1728 0.9172

RIS Fish Taxa

Post-uprate 2 36 2.5961 0.2731

Summer 2 33 5.1104 0.0777

All Events 2 60 2.7161 0.2572

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.4550 0.7965

Summer 2 33 6.0881 0.0476

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 3.5730 0.1676

Fish CPUE

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.4412 0.2951

Post-uprate 2 36 5.8474 0.0537

Table 38. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Catch Per

Unit Effort (CPUE), and Biomass Among Areas for Fish and RIS (All Species Combined) Captured by Gill Net, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


Fish TaxaSampling


All Events 2 60 7.1057 0.0286

Table 38. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Catch Per

Unit Effort (CPUE), and Biomass Among Areas for Fish and RIS (All Species Combined) Captured by Gill Net, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


SL1 SL2 SL35.55 11.02 5.50

± 8.28 ± 28.11 ± 10.5911.01 7.33 11.04

± 10.88 ± 12.50 ± 15.171.92 13.47 1.81

± 2.64 ± 35.34 ± 3.185.00 6.40 6.39

± 9.87 ± 11.86 ± 13.356.23 16.66 4.42

± 6.32 ± 40.44 ± 6.41

SL1 SL2 SL36.66 15.06 5.24

± 13.38 ± 54.02 ± 18.7015.03 3.19 10.90

± 18.70 ± 6.23 ± 29.521.08 22.98 1.47

± 1.33 ± 69.61 ± 3.247.09 3.18 8.01

± 16.14 ± 7.08 ± 25.196.13 29.58 1.86

± 9.95 ± 80.24 ± 3.69Winter 2 27 0.6528 0.7215

Post-uprate 2 36 0.3010 0.8603

Summer 2 33 3.2335 0.1985

All Events 2 60 2.2561 0.3237

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.8252 0.2435

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.6352 0.4415

RIS Fish Biomass

Post-uprate 2 36 0.3234 0.8507

Summer 2 33 1.4050 0.4953

All Events 2 60 1.1803 0.5543

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.0827 0.5820

Sampling Period


RIS CPUE

Pre-uprate Post-uprate14.00 9.58± 9.80 ± 3.739.63 6.58

± 8.70 ± 6.8412.25 6.17± 9.24 ± 3.64


± 24.62 ± 22.8536.87 27.47

± 42.72 ± 44.6747.20 17.50

± 46.54 ± 13.08


± 3.36 ± 2.062.88 2.08

± 3.64 ± 2.813.63 1.08

± 4.24 ± 1.31

Pre-uprate Post-uprate11.01

± 10.88 1.92± 2.64

7.33 13.47± 12.50 ± 35.3411.04 1.81

± 15.17 ± 3.18SL3 1 20 1.0502 0.3055

SL1 1 20 4.5356 0.0332

SL2 1 20 0.1636 0.6859

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.2750 0.2588

RIS CPUE

SL1 1 20 3.3211 0.0684

SL2 1 20 0.2785 0.5977

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.7202 0.1897

RIS Fish Taxa

SL1 1 20 1.7202 0.1897

SL2 1 20 0.7202 0.3961

SL2 1 20 1.2687 0.2600

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 2.3050 0.1290

Fish CPUE

Table 39. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), and Biomass for Fish and RIS Captured by Gill Net, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented

For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD). Fish Taxa

Sampling Area


SL1 1 20 0.3859 0.5345

Table 39. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), and Biomass for Fish and RIS Captured by Gill Net, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented

For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).


± 18.70 ± 1.333.19 22.98

± 6.23 ± 69.6110.90 1.47

± 29.52 ± 3.24SL3 1 20 0.0068 0.9343

SL1 1 20 2.4856 0.1149

SL2 1 20 0.0082 0.9279

Sampling Area


RIS Fish Biomass


Cephalopoda 0.06 0.01Total Molluscs 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01

Portunidae 0.58 0.86 0.14Arenaeus cribrarius* 0.25 0.15 0.13 0.06 0.39 0.08 0.10 0.10Calappa flammea 0.07 0.07 0.23 0.16 0.08 0.05Portunus spinimanus 0.30 0.16 0.04Calappoidea 0.06 0.13 0.10 0.03Portunus sp. 0.07 0.12 0.02Paguroidea 0.06 0.10 0.01Ovalipes sp. 0.08 0.01Total Crustaceans 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.72 0.32 0.69 0.13 1.05 0.58 0.39 0.31 0.15 0.40

Temnopleuroida 1.01 0.07 0.13 0.95 0.84 0.67 0.26 0.73 0.39Arbacia punctulata 1.47 0.08 0.16 0.15Clypeasteroida 0.13 0.06 0.13 0.13 0.04Asteroidea 0.13 0.06 0.10 0.02Echinodermata 0.13 0.06 0.02Echinoidea 0.23 0.02Astropecten sp. 0.08 0.01Total Echinoderms 1.26 1.55 0.25 0.00 1.01 1.22 0.80 0.00 0.52 0.16 0.83 0.00 0.64

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae 2.90 4.20 9.31 5.72 1.39 3.05 6.78 3.88 1.81 6.31 28.19 9.86 6.08Chloroscombrus chrysurus 7.24 1.77 2.64 2.83 4.86 4.65 43.50 2.53 5.88 0.78 8.70 3.79 6.06Sphyrna tiburo 4.03 20.83 8.81 3.91 3.09 0.08 1.73 6.29 6.59 0.08 8.60 1.14 5.40

Crustaceans

Echinoderms

Fish

Molluscs

Summer Winter

Table 40. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected Per Hour of Soak Time) for Invertebrates and Fish Captured by Gill Net Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

Total CPUESummer Winter Summer Winter


Molluscs

Summer Winter



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Leiostomus xanthurus** 0.63 4.67 18.44 0.71 0.10 0.08 2.55Micropogonias undulatus** 2.83 0.25 0.36 4.54 10.54 5.36 1.45 0.15 2.54Scomberomorus maculatus** 2.33 0.29 4.28 1.38 2.59 3.20 0.13 4.75 6.46 0.16 1.90 2.46Caranx crysos 0.88 1.62 1.26 0.65 1.07 4.42 2.66 0.25 1.68 3.82 1.35 2.05 1.73Bagre marinus 2.27 0.15 0.36 1.83 0.38 1.79 7.69 0.76 1.52Larimus fasciatus 2.01 2.90 0.43 4.33 0.08 0.99Caranx latus 2.20 0.13 0.22 3.85 0.08 1.05 1.94 0.30 0.98Pomatomus saltatrix** 1.95 3.14 0.14 0.25 0.93 0.68 1.74 0.31 0.76 0.77Caranx hippos 0.06 0.36 0.76 3.33 1.49 0.70 0.41 0.23 0.72Brevoortia smithi** 2.39 0.65 0.38 0.23 0.67 0.12 1.10 4.46 0.67Cynoscion nothus** 3.84 2.08 0.18 0.13 0.64Carcharhinus brevipinna 1.57 0.38 0.22 1.14 0.08 1.33 0.18 1.42 0.08 0.41 0.08 0.59Menticirrhus americanus** 1.38 0.22 0.19 0.53 1.60 0.13 1.35 0.08 0.41Lutjanus synagris 0.06 0.87 0.06 3.63 0.15 0.33Trichiurus lepturus 1.07 0.07 0.22 0.63 0.30 0.06 0.39 0.31 0.08 0.30Synodus foetens 0.13 0.15 0.88 0.07 0.06 0.27 2.69 0.23 0.28Elops saurus 1.51 0.22 0.32 0.39 0.25Orthopristis chrysoptera** 0.50 0.38 0.22 0.06 0.06 0.19 1.14 0.08 0.20Anisotremus virginicus 0.82 0.66 0.22 0.08 0.17Trachinotus carolinus** 0.25 0.92 0.19 0.10 0.15Mustelus canis 0.58 0.40 0.62 0.08 0.14Selene setapinnis 1.07 0.06 0.13 0.08 0.10 0.14Carcharhinus acronotus 0.06 0.07 0.22 0.38 0.27 0.06 0.13 0.08 0.15 0.12Prionotus scitulus** 0.13 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.37 0.45 0.08 0.12Centropristis striata 0.25 0.15 0.75 0.29 0.13 0.06 0.12Archosargus probatocephalus 0.69 0.15 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.08 0.11


Molluscs

Summer Winter



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Umbrina coroides 0.44 0.55 0.10Menticirrhus saxatilis** 0.25 0.19 0.12 0.13 0.07Cynoscion regalis 0.44 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.06Rachycentron canadum 0.22 0.12 0.06 0.31 0.08 0.06Citharichthys macrops 0.13 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.26 0.06Carcharhinus limbatus 0.06 0.07 0.25 0.06 0.08 0.05Menticirrhus littoralis** 0.13 0.10 0.30 0.05Calamus penna 0.07 0.07 0.16 0.15 0.04Diplodus holbrookii 0.31 0.08 0.04Echeneis naucrates 0.13 0.07 0.06 0.10 0.08 0.04Rhinobatos lentiginosus 0.07 0.14 0.10 0.08 0.03Calamus arctifrons 0.13 0.14 0.03Albula vulpes 0.16 0.08 0.02Brevoortia tyrannus** 0.22 0.02Opisthonema oglinum** 0.07 0.08 0.08 0.02Paralichthys albigutta 0.07 0.27 0.02Peprilus paru 0.13 0.07 0.02Prionotus rubio 0.19 0.02Prionotus tribulus 0.23 0.02Scombridae 0.19 0.02Ancylopsetta ommata 0.08 0.10 0.01Centropomus undecimalis 0.13 0.01Chaetodipterus faber 0.06 0.06 0.01Corvula sanctaeluciae 0.06 0.06 0.01Hippocampus erectus 0.07 0.08 0.01Myliobatis goodei 0.13 0.01


Molluscs

Summer Winter



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Stephanolepis hispida 0.13 0.01Trachinotus falcatus 0.06 0.06 0.01Acanthostracion quadricornis 0.06 0.01Acanthurus chirurgus 0.07 0.01Aetobatus narinari 0.06 0.01Aluterus monoceros 0.08 0.01Aluterus schoepfii 0.08 0.01Anisotremus surinamensis 0.07 0.01Archosargus rhomboidalis 0.06 0.01Citharichthys spilopterus 0.07 0.01Cynoscion nebulosus 0.06 0.01Dactylopterus volitans 0.07 0.01Diapterus auratus 0.06 0.01Diplectrum formosum 0.13 0.01Euthynnus alletteratus 0.06 0.01Ginglymostoma cirratum 0.07 0.00 0.01Haemulon aurolineatum 0.00 0.06 0.01Lagodon rhomboides 0.07 0.01Lutjanus analis 0.06 0.01Lutjanus griseus 0.07 0.01Membras martinica 0.13 0.01Opsanus beta 0.07 0.01Peprilus burti 0.13 0.01Peprilus triacanthus 0.06 0.01Pseudocaranx dentex 0.06 0.01Raja eglanteria 0.06 0.01


Molluscs

Summer Winter



TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Sciaenops ocellatus 0.06 0.01Scorpaena plumieri 0.13 0.01Selene vomer 0.06 0.01Total Fish 43.57 31.21 36.10 21.23 37.98 16.70 60.00 59.51 52.25 13.25 63.73 23.06 37.60Total All Organisms 44.83 32.83 36.35 21.96 39.31 18.60 60.93 60.62 53.35 13.79 64.87 23.21 38.65* Commercially or Recreationally Important Decapod Crustaceans** Representative Important Species

Season Pre- or Post-Uprate SL1 SL2 SL3 Mean CPUE

Pre 43.57 37.98 52.25 44.54Post 31.21 16.70 13.25 20.56Pre 36.10 60.00 63.73 53.87Post 21.23 59.51 23.06 36.16

33.11 42.45 37.11 37.60

Table 41. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected Per Hour of Soak Time) for Fish Captured

by Gill Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Summer

Winter

Mean CPUE

Season Pre- or Post-Uprate SL1 SL2 SL3 Total

Pre 207 242 257 706Post 6 46 3 55Pre 94 17 87 198Post 45 622 45 712

352 927 392 1,671

Table 42. Seasonal Comparison of Number of RIS Captured by Gill Net, All Species Combined, Among


Summer

Winter

Total

Season Pre- or Post- Uprate SL1 SL2 SL3 Total

Pre 13.03 15.27 16.60 14.95Post 0.44 3.51 0.23 1.39Pre 11.82 2.26 9.02 7.88Post 3.26 38.36 3.41 16.48

6.87 17.59 7.66 10.78

Table 43. Seasonal Comparison of Mean CPUE (Number Collected Per Hour of Soak Time) for RIS

Captured by Gill Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Summer

Winter

Total

SL1 SL2 SL30.67 0.28 0.94

± 1.58 ± 0.56 ± 2.350.89 0.43 1.73

± 2.06 ± 0.67 ± 3.350.52 0.18 0.41

± 1.24 ± 0.48 ± 1.280.03 0.30 0.83

± 0.11 ± 0.66 ± 1.741.44 0.25 1.07

± 2.17 ± 0.45 ± 3.05

SL1 SL2 SL30.78 0.47 0.07

± 2.49 ± 1.82 ± 0.241.96 1.10 0.06

± 3.77 ± 2.87 ± 0.170.00 0.06 0.08

± 0.00 ± 0.19 ± 0.291.43 0.80 0.14

± 3.28 ± 2.46 ± 0.320.00 0.07 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.22 ± 0.00

SL1 SL2 SL30.12 4.07 0.27

± 0.42 ± 14.94 ± 0.710.30 1.82 0.42

± 0.65 ± 4.73 ± 1.010.00 5.56 0.16

± 0.00 ± 19.11 ± 0.440.22 1.33 0.42

± 0.56 ± 4.05 ± 0.930.00 7.41 0.08

± 0.00 ± 22.06 ± 0.16Winter 2 27 2.2797 0.3199

Post-uprate 2 36 2.1831 0.3357

Summer 2 33 0.2939 0.8634

All Events 2 60 1.3369 0.5125

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.1627 0.9219

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679


Post-uprate 2 36 1.0310 0.5972

Summer 2 33 0.0387 0.9808

All Events 2 60 0.2985 0.8613

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.7534 0.6861

Summer 2 33 1.5512 0.4604

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.3762 0.5025

Cynoscion nothus

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.2893 0.8653

Post-uprate 2 36 0.3522 0.8385

Table 44. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE)

Among Areas for RIS Captured by Gill Net, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One


Sampling Period


All Events 2 60 0.0380 0.9812




SL1 SL2 SL30.36 0.48 0.69

± 0.86 ± 1.38 ± 1.760.70 0.38 0.53

± 1.27 ± 0.48 ± 1.040.13 0.55 0.81

± 0.32 ± 1.77 ± 2.150.14 0.13 0.78

± 0.36 ± 0.29 ± 2.220.62 0.91 0.59

± 1.20 ± 2.01 ± 1.11

SL1 SL2 SL30.76 2.62 1.46

± 1.55 ± 8.74 ± 3.461.59 1.79 3.10

± 2.23 ± 4.53 ± 5.080.20 3.18 0.37

± 0.40 ± 10.87 ± 1.011.09 1.30 2.29

± 2.04 ± 3.88 ± 4.500.35 4.24 0.44

± 0.41 ± 12.55 ± 1.03

SL1 SL2 SL30.25 0.04 0.41

± 0.39 ± 0.13 ± 1.100.44 0.02 0.40

± 0.51 ± 0.07 ± 0.840.12 0.05 0.41

± 0.22 ± 0.16 ± 1.280.22 0.02 0.48

± 0.40 ± 0.06 ± 1.330.28 0.06 0.32

± 0.39 ± 0.18 ± 0.80Winter 2 27 2.1421 0.3426

Post-uprate 2 36 0.9146 0.6330

Summer 2 33 1.7841 0.4098

All Events 2 60 3.7946 0.1500

Pre-uprate 2 24 3.3133 0.1908

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.6574 0.4366


Post-uprate 2 36 0.2358 0.8888

Summer 2 33 0.4023 0.8178

All Events 2 60 1.1533 0.5618

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.2083 0.5465

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.1636 0.9215


Post-uprate 2 36 0.3994 0.8190

Summer 2 33 0.9319 0.6275

All Events 2 60 0.1314 0.9364

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0742 0.9636

Sampling Period


Menticirrhus spp.




SL1 SL2 SL30.89 0.37 0.87

± 1.84 ± 0.81 ± 1.672.10 0.54 0.98

± 2.50 ± 1.14 ± 1.630.09 0.26 0.79

± 0.30 ± 0.52 ± 1.760.67 0.09 1.10

± 1.87 ± 0.25 ± 1.921.17 0.71 0.58

± 1.87 ± 1.12 ± 1.35

SL1 SL2 SL30.07 0.11 0.43

± 0.15 ± 0.25 ± 1.270.06 0.03 0.33

± 0.12 ± 0.10 ± 0.720.07 0.16 0.50

± 0.17 ± 0.31 ± 1.570.08 0.02 0.73

± 0.15 ± 0.08 ± 1.680.05 0.22 0.06

± 0.16 ± 0.34 ± 0.17

SL1 SL2 SL31.57 2.26 2.24

± 2.21 ± 4.92 ± 4.342.76 1.12 3.35

± 2.67 ± 2.30 ± 6.240.78 3.02 1.50

± 1.48 ± 6.07 ± 2.510.97 2.34 3.05

± 1.91 ± 5.33 ± 5.442.31 2.17 1.26

± 2.44 ± 4.68 ± 2.40Winter 2 27 3.2935 0.1927

Post-uprate 2 36 0.3130 0.8552

Summer 2 33 0.4320 0.8058

All Events 2 60 0.4980 0.7796

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.6097 0.4472

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.3111 0.3149

Scomberomorus maculatus

Post-uprate 2 36 0.5126 0.7739

Summer 2 33 2.6237 0.2693

All Events 2 60 0.3510 0.8391

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.6006 0.4492

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.6043 0.7392

Prionotus scitulus

Post-uprate 2 36 1.4811 0.4768

Summer 2 33 0.6058 0.7387

All Events 2 60 0.1257 0.9391

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.6196 0.2699

Sampling Period


Pomatomus saltatrix




SL1 SL2 SL30.00 0.22 0.37

± 0.00 ± 0.79 ± 1.440.00 0.11 0.13

± 0.00 ± 0.21 ± 0.210.00 0.30 0.54

± 0.00 ± 1.02 ± 1.860.00 0.08 0.66

± 0.00 ± 0.19 ± 1.930.00 0.39 0.02

± 0.00 ± 1.18 ± 0.07

SL1 SL2 SL30.08 0.10 0.35

± 0.36 0.45 ± 1.550.20 0.00 0.00

± 0.57 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.17 0.58

± 0.00 ± 0.58 ± 2.000.15 0.00 0.63

± 0.49 ± 0.00 ± 2.090.00 0.22 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.67 ± 0.00Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679

Post-uprate 2 36 1.0310 0.5972

Summer 2 33 1.0341 0.5963

All Events 2 60 0.0023 0.9989

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.0000 0.3679

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.0427 0.5937

Umbrina coroides

Post-uprate 2 36 1.0310 0.5972

Summer 2 33 3.2599 0.1959

All Events 2 60 4.0835 0.1298

Pre-uprate 2 24 3.2220 0.1997

Sampling Period




± 2.06 ± 1.240.43 0.18

± 0.67 ± 0.481.73 0.41

± 3.35 ± 1.28


± 3.77 ± 0.001.10 0.06

± 2.87 ± 0.190.06 0.08

± 0.17 ± 0.29


± 0.65 ± 0.001.82 5.56

± 4.73 ± 19.110.42 0.16

± 1.01 ± 0.44


± 1.27 ± 0.320.38 0.55

± 0.48 ± 1.770.53 0.81

± 1.04 ± 2.15SL3 1 20 0.6638 0.4152

SL1 1 20 2.3162 0.1280

SL2 1 20 2.0357 0.1536

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.8328 0.3615

Menticirrhus spp.

SL1 1 20 3.1579 0.0756

SL2 1 20 0.1949 0.6589

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.0493 0.8242


SL1 1 20 3.1579 0.0756

SL2 1 20 0.9857 0.3208

SL2 1 20 0.8328 0.3615

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.0281 0.3106

Cynoscion nothus


(CPUE) for RIS Captured by Gill Net, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard

Deviation (SD). Clupeiformes

Sampling Area


SL1 1 20 0.0103 0.9192



Deviation (SD).


± 2.23 ± 0.401.79 3.18

± 4.53 ± 10.873.10 0.37

± 5.08 ± 1.01


± 0.51 ± 0.220.02 0.05

± 0.07 ± 0.160.40 0.41

± 0.84 ± 1.28

Pre-uprate Post-uprate2.10

± 2.50 0.09± 0.30

0.54 0.26± 1.14 ± 0.520.98 0.79

± 1.63 ± 1.76


± 0.12 ± 0.170.03 0.16

± 0.10 ± 0.310.33 0.50

± 0.72 ± 1.57SL3 1 20 0.6580 0.4173

SL1 1 20 0.0487 0.8253

SL2 1 20 0.6851 0.4078

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.1832 0.6686

Prionotus scitulus

SL1 1 20 6.8423 0.0089

SL2 1 20 0.2737 0.6009

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.8328 0.3615

Pomatomus saltatrix

SL1 1 20 2.0980 0.1475

SL2 1 20 0.0493 0.8242

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.4805 0.2237


SL1 1 20 2.8862 0.0893

SL2 1 20 0.1949 0.6589

Sampling Area





Deviation (SD).


± 2.67 ± 1.481.12 3.02

± 2.30 ± 6.073.35 1.50

± 6.24 ± 2.51


± 0.00 ± 0.000.11 0.30

± 0.21 ± 1.020.13 0.54

± 0.21 ± 1.86


± 0.57 ± 0.000.00 0.17

± 0.00 ± 0.580.00 0.58

± 0.00 ± 2.00SL3 1 20 0.6667 0.4142

SL1 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

SL2 1 20 0.6667 0.4142

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.9030 0.1677

Umbrina coroides

SL1 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

SL2 1 20 0.7547 0.3850

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.0738 0.7859


SL1 1 20 2.5840 0.1080

SL2 1 20 0.4565 0.4993

Sampling Area




Scomberomorus maculatus 480.0 528.0 446.5 511.4 493.3 447.7 415.0 428.5 469.9 502.0 507.2 470.0Pomatomus saltatrix 429.2 420.1 393.5 363.8 387.9 370.2 396.3 379.3 451.3 409.9Menticirrhus littoralis 378.0 377.0 366.8 371.4Brevoortia smithi 337.6 341.7 334.2 344.0 343.6 367.5 359.6 333.3 341.7Menticirrhus americanus 361.7 346.0 332.3 376.8 314.3 239.5 344.0 319.0 332.1Menticirrhus saxatilis 326.3 306.7 328.5 320.5 320.3Micropogonias undulatus 266.9 293.5 263.4 261.2 247.3 271.8 247.2 315.0 263.4Cynoscion nothus 257.8 259.8 310.3 305.0 261.0Trachinotus carolinus 270.0 242.9 250.7 277.0 250.1Umbrina coroides 216.4 272.2 247.8Orthopristis chrysoptera 233.4 240.7 230.3 201.0 256.0 250.0 247.7 260.0 240.8Opisthonema oglinum 237.0 238.0 237.0 237.3Leiostomus xanthurus 236.1 208.8 230.6 233.8 258.0 236.0 224.0Brevoortia tyrannus 218.3 218.3Prionotus scitulus 184.0 174.0 177.0 156.0 188.7 223.6 190.0 198.0Mean TL (mm) 323.8 420.5 408.8 385.1 310.0 432.4 373.8 305.7 364.6 413.7 309.1 451.0 344.6

Summer Winter

Table 46. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Total Length (mm) for RIS Captured by Gill Net Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3



Pomatomus saltatrix 776.5 702.4 480.0 400.0 555.7 516.8 618.1 515.0 841.5 670.1Scomberomorus maculatus 677.8 893.0 471.8 677.5 787.4 513.5 380.0 403.6 709.2 775.0 726.4 631.9Brevoortia smithi 455.6 421.7 545.8 502.3 460.0 476.0 570.0 415.2 466.8Menticirrhus littoralis 435.0 545.0 458.8 464.3Menticirrhus americanus 505.0 423.3 356.7 585.0 322.1 315.0 441.3 304.0 398.9Menticirrhus saxatilis 355.0 310.0 350.5 360.0 342.8Micropogonias undulatus 241.6 315.0 219.4 207.8 168.6 248.8 162.2 360.0 221.0Umbrina coroides 147.1 262.8 212.2Trachinotus carolinus 277.5 184.7 210.0 266.0 207.7Orthopristis chrysoptera 201.9 216.7 152.7 120.0 220.0 246.7 213.7 280.0 207.3Cynoscion nothus 181.5 162.6 292.0 200.0 178.9Leiostomus xanthurus 195.0 124.2 147.0 184.5 192.0 90.0 148.7Brevoortia tyrannus 97.3 97.3Prionotus scitulus 45.0 37.0 40.0 10.0 57.8 151.4 50.0 86.0Opisthonema oglinum 125.0 115.0 15.0 85.0Mean Weight (g) 377.1 622.3 534.3 457.0 335.3 500.8 524.1 272.6 485.8 521.7 348.7 663.4 407.3

Table 47. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Weight (g) for RIS Captured by Gill Net Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


Mean Weight

(g)Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer WinterTaxa

SL1 SL2 SL3


Scomberomorus maculatus 25.1 3.6 16.0 12.9 32.3 21.6 0.4 31.1 70.9 1.6 18.2 233.5Micropogonias undulatus 10.9 0.6 1.1 15.0 28.8 20.6 2.3 0.7 80.4Pomatomus saltatrix 24.1 17.6 1.0 1.6 3.9 5.7 16.7 1.5 8.4 80.0Leiostomus xanthurus 2.0 9.2 43.9 2.0 0.2 0.1 57.4Brevoortia smithi 5.0 3.8 3.3 1.5 2.3 1.0 9.7 17.9 44.4Menticirrhus americanus 5.1 1.3 1.1 2.3 8.4 0.6 5.7 0.3 24.8Cynoscion nothus 11.1 5.4 0.9 0.4 17.7Orthopristis chrysoptera 1.6 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.7 2.4 0.3 6.4Trachinotus carolinus 1.1 2.8 0.6 0.3 4.8Menticirrhus saxatilis 1.4 0.9 0.7 0.7 3.8Umbrina coroides 1.0 2.4 3.4Menticirrhus littoralis 0.9 0.5 1.8 3.3Prionotus scitulus 0.1 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.3 1.1 0.1 1.6Brevoortia tyrannus 0.3 0.3Opisthonema oglinum 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3Total Biomass (kg) 78.1 3.7 44.9 20.8 69.9 23.2 8.9 126.1 124.2 1.6 30.8 29.9 562.0

Summer Winter

Table 48. Seasonal Comparison of Total Calculated Biomass (kg) for RIS Captured by Gill Net Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,



Biomass (kg)


SL1 SL2 SL3Pre 7.8 6.4 11.3 8.5Post 1.2 7.7 0.8 3.3Pre 7.5 2.2 3.8 4.5Post 2.6 10.5 3.7 5.6

4.8 6.7 4.9 5.5

Winter

Mean Biomass (kg)

Table 49. Seasonal Comparisons of Mean Calculated Biomass (g) from the Mean Weight for RIS

Captured by Gill Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Season Pre- or Post- Uprate

Area Mean Biomass (kg)

Summer


Arenaeus cribrarius* 12 1 2 41 1 1 2 82 142Albuneidae* 3 9 12Emerita talpoida* 5 7 12Emerita sp.* 1 6 1 8Majoidea 2 2Panulirus argus* 1 1 2Callinectes sp.* 1 1Farfantepenaeus duorarum* 1 1Libinia dubia 1 1Paguroidea 1 1Plagusia depressa 1 1Portunidae 1 1Total Crustaceans 12 7 0 1 2 54 1 5 11 84 6 1 184

Harengula jaguana** 5 2,417 6 5 1 195 1 3 18,382 10,418 22 31,455Umbrina coroides** 195 221 5 69 133 386 2 122 336 595 11 112 2,187Chloroscombrus chrysurus 960 149 1 9 18 47 118 21 6 1,329Eucinostomus harengulus 28 15 11 1 1,123 1,178Sardinella aurita** 155 185 3 701 72 1,116Menticirrhus littoralis** 68 99 2 64 65 134 5 43 142 117 31 30 800Eucinostomus gula 23 3 367 11 1 185 12 2 604Anchoa lyolepis** 1 2 570 573Engraulis eurystole** 498 498Opisthonema oglinum** 4 2 18 397 3 424Selar crumenophthalmus 74 9 1 31 272 387

Table 50. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Crustaceans and Fish Captured by Beach Seine Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Crustaceans

Fish




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


CrustaceansTrachinotus carolinus** 59 21 1 42 62 3 2 78 91 1 15 375Caranx crysos 199 1 2 68 2 272Anchoa sp.** 127 55 9 11 202Harengula humeralis** 1 138 15 154Trachinotus falcatus 6 16 14 15 4 5 32 4 14 1 14 125Anchoa hepsetus** 1 14 4 59 78Eucinostomus argenteus 21 5 2 19 7 54Selene vomer 1 13 4 2 4 6 1 2 2 6 7 48Polydactylus virginicus 1 7 1 1 2 1 9 4 3 29Caranx latus 1 1 2 17 21Elops saurus 1 1 11 2 5 20Centropomus undecimalis 1 4 4 2 1 7 19Mugil curema 1 2 3 1 2 3 5 17Menticirrhus americanus** 2 1 4 3 4 14Pomatomus saltatrix** 1 1 11 13Trachinotus goodei 1 3 5 3 12Carangoides bartholomaei 5 5 10Oligoplites saurus 4 1 3 8Caranx hippos 1 3 1 1 1 7Eucinostomus jonesii 5 2 7Menticirrhus saxatilis** 6 1 7Bairdiella chrysoura 6 6Albula vulpes 4 1 5Archosargus probatocephalus 4 4Micropogonias undulatus** 1 1 2 4Selene setapinnis 1 2 1 4




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


CrustaceansEtrumeus teres** 1 2 3Polydactylus oligodon 2 1 3Pseudocaranx dentex 3 3Scomberomorus maculatus** 1 2 3Sphyraena guachancho 3 3Citharichthys macrops 1 1 2Stephanolepis hispida 2 2Alosa sp.** 1 1Anisotremus surinamensis 1 1Bagre marinus 1 1Caranx sp. 1 1Carcharhinus brevipinna 1 1Centropomus sp. 1 1Chaetodipterus faber 1 1Decapterus macarellus 1 1Diapterus auratus 1 1Dorosoma petenense** 1 1Gerres cinereus 1 1Hemiramphus brasiliensis 1 1Hyporhamphus meeki 1 1Hyporhamphus unifasciatus 1 1Lagodon rhomboides 1 1Leiostomus xanthurus** 1 1Mugil cephalus 1 1Myliobatidae 1 1Sphyrna tiburo 1 1




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


CrustaceansTrachinocephalus myops 1 1Total Fish 1,812 3,111 45 178 1,004 966 83 237 20,575 13,784 63 247 42,105Total All Organisms 1,824 3,118 45 179 1,006 1,020 84 242 20,586 13,868 69 248 42,289*Commercially and recreationally important (CRI) decapod crustaceans**Representative Important Species (RIS)


Arenaeus cribrarius* 2.40 0.17 0.40 6.83 0.33 0.17 0.40 13.67 7.10Albuneidae* 0.50 1.80 0.60Emerita talpoida* 0.83 1.17 0.60Emerita sp.* 0.17 2.00 0.17 0.40Majoidea 0.33 0.10Panulirus argus* 0.17 0.17 0.10Callinectes sp.* 0.17 0.05Farfantepenaeus duorarum* 0.17 0.05Libinia dubia 0.17 0.05Paguroidea 0.17 0.05Plagusia depressa 0.17 0.05Portunidae 0.17 0.05Total Crustaceans/Event 2.40 1.17 0.00 0.17 0.40 9.00 0.33 0.83 2.20 14.00 2.00 0.17 9.20

Harengula jaguana** 1.00 402.83 2.00 0.83 0.20 32.50 0.33 0.50 3,676.40 1,736.33 3.67 1,572.75Umbrina coroides** 39.00 36.83 1.67 11.50 26.60 64.33 0.67 20.33 67.20 99.17 3.67 18.67 109.35Chloroscombrus chrysurus 192.00 24.83 0.33 1.50 3.60 7.83 23.60 3.50 1.00 66.45Eucinostomus harengulus 5.60 3.00 1.83 0.20 187.17 58.90Sardinella aurita** 31.00 37.00 0.50 140.20 12.00 55.80Menticirrhus littoralis** 13.60 16.50 0.67 10.67 13.00 22.33 1.67 7.17 28.40 19.50 10.33 5.00 40.00Eucinostomus gula 4.60 0.50 73.40 1.83 0.17 37.00 2.00 0.33 30.20Anchoa lyolepis** 0.20 0.40 95.00 28.65Engraulis eurystole** 99.60 24.90Opisthonema oglinum** 0.67 0.40 3.00 66.17 0.50 21.20Selar crumenophthalmus 14.80 1.50 0.20 6.20 45.33 0.00 19.35

Table 51. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Crustaceans and Fish Captured per Event by Beach Seine Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


Crustaceans

Fish




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


CrustaceansTrachinotus carolinus** 11.80 3.50 0.33 8.40 10.33 1.00 0.33 15.60 15.17 0.33 2.50 18.75Caranx crysos 39.80 0.17 0.40 13.60 0.33 13.60Anchoa sp.** 21.17 9.17 1.50 1.83 10.10Harengula humeralis** 0.20 27.60 3.00 7.70Trachinotus falcatus 1.20 2.67 2.33 3.00 0.67 1.67 5.33 0.80 2.33 0.33 2.33 6.25Anchoa hepsetus** 0.17 4.67 0.67 19.67 3.90Eucinostomus argenteus 4.20 1.00 0.40 3.17 1.17 2.70Selene vomer 0.20 2.17 1.33 0.33 0.67 2.00 0.17 0.40 0.33 2.00 1.17 2.40Polydactylus virginicus 0.20 1.17 0.33 0.17 0.40 0.17 1.50 0.67 0.50 1.45Caranx latus 0.17 0.33 0.40 2.83 1.05Elops saurus 0.17 0.33 1.83 0.33 0.83 1.00Centropomus undecimalis 0.20 0.67 1.33 0.40 0.17 1.17 0.95Mugil curema 0.20 0.33 0.50 0.17 0.33 0.60 0.83 0.85Menticirrhus americanus** 0.33 0.17 0.67 0.50 0.67 0.70Pomatomus saltatrix** 0.20 0.20 3.67 0.65Trachinotus goodei 0.17 0.50 0.83 0.50 0.60Carangoides bartholomaei 0.83 0.83 0.50Oligoplites saurus 0.67 0.17 0.50 0.40Caranx hippos 0.17 0.50 0.20 0.17 0.17 0.35Eucinostomus jonesii 1.00 0.40 0.35Menticirrhus saxatilis** 1.20 0.17 0.35Bairdiella chrysoura 2.00 0.30Albula vulpes 0.67 0.17 0.25Archosargus probatocephalus 0.80 0.20Micropogonias undulatus** 0.20 0.20 0.67 0.20Selene setapinnis 0.20 0.33 0.17 0.20




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


CrustaceansEtrumeus teres** 0.20 0.33 0.15Polydactylus oligodon 0.33 0.17 0.15Pseudocaranx dentex 0.50 0.15Scomberomorus maculatus** 0.33 0.33 0.15Sphyraena guachancho 0.50 0.15Citharichthys macrops 0.17 0.20 0.10Stephanolepis hispida 0.33 0.10Alosa sp.** 0.17 0.05Anisotremus surinamensis 0.17 0.05Bagre marinus 0.20 0.05Caranx sp. 0.20 0.05Carcharhinus brevipinna 0.17 0.05Centropomus sp. 0.17 0.05Chaetodipterus faber 0.17 0.05Decapterus macarellus 0.17 0.05Diapterus auratus 0.17 0.05Dorosoma petenense** 0.17 0.05Gerres cinereus 0.17 0.05Hemiramphus brasiliensis 0.20 0.05Hyporhamphus meeki 0.17 0.05Hyporhamphus unifasciatus 0.20 0.05Lagodon rhomboides 0.17 0.05Leiostomus xanthurus** 0.17 0.05Mugil cephalus 0.17 0.05Myliobatidae 0.17 0.05Sphyrna tiburo 0.17 0.05




TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


CrustaceansTrachinocephalus myops 0.17 0.05Total Fish/Event 362.40 518.50 15.00 29.67 200.80 161.00 27.67 39.50 4,115.00 2,297.33 21.00 41.17 2,105.25Total Specimens/Event 364.80 519.67 15.00 29.83 201.20 170.00 28.00 40.33 4,117.20 2,311.33 23.00 41.33 2,114.45*Commercially and recreationally important (CRI) decapod crustaceans**Representative Important Species (RIS)

SL1 SL2 SL3Pre 362.40 200.80 4,115.00 4,678.20Post 518.50 161.00 2,297.33 2,976.83Pre 15.00 27.67 21.00 63.67Post 29.67 39.50 41.17 110.33

257.30 114.50 1,733.45 2,105.25

Winter

Total Fish/Event

Table 52. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Number of Fish Captured by Beach Seine, All Species Combined,

Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


AreaTotal

Summer

SL1 SL2 SL36.90 6.50 7.60

± 4.08 ± 3.68 ± 5.496.13 6.75 6.00

±4.58 ± 4.13 ± 4.607.42 6.33 8.67

± 3.83 ± 3.53 ± 5.968.36 7.91 9.82

± 4.80 ± 4.01 ± 6.425.11 4.78 4.89

± 2.03 ± 2.44 ± 2.26

SL1 SL2 SL3257.30 114.50 1733.45

± 610.86 ± 140.72 ± 4726.45232.13 135.88 2579.75

± 514.49 ± 184.08 ± 6515.50274.08 100.25 1169.25

± 689.43 ± 109.94 ± 3271.56447.55 179.09 3123.55

± 787.43 ± 161.80 ± 6141.6824.78 35.56 34.44

± 24.13 ± 39.47 ± 32.07

SL1 SL2 SL3135.65 104.50 292.35

± 328.37 ± 133.23 ± 623.77230.75 135.63 282.00

± 514.85 ± 183.92 ± 659.6472.25 83.75 299.25

± 81.28 ± 89.21 ± 628.51227.36 161.27 505.36

± 428.79 ± 156.93 ± 792.3323.56 35.11 32.00

± 23.76 ± 39.01 ± 26.66Winter 2 27 0.6858 0.7097

Post-uprate 2 36 0.8012 0.6699

Summer 2 33 0.7212 0.6973

All Events 2 60 0.6801 0.7117

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.1555 0.9252

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.8591 0.6508

Total Fish Caught Excluding Harengula jaguana

Post-uprate 2 36 0.4742 0.7889

Summer 2 33 0.4848 0.7847

All Events 2 60 0.5247 0.7692

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.2860 0.8668

Summer 2 33 0.3852 0.8248

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.1174 0.9430

Total Fish Caught

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.5498 0.7597

Post-uprate 2 36 0.8232 0.6626

Table 53. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Total

Number of Individuals, and Biomass Among Areas for Fish and RIS (All Species Combined) Captured by Beach Seine, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February

2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

Fish TaxaSampling


All Events 2 60 0.0941 0.9540




SL1 SL2 SL33.30 3.50 3.75

± 1.69 ± 1.79 ± 1.682.88 3.88 3.50

± 1.55 ± 1.55 ± 1.693.58 3.25 3.92

± 1.78 ± 1.96 ± 1.734.00 4.36 4.55

± 1.73 ± 1.12 ± 1.692.44 2.44 2.78

± 1.24 ± 1.94 ± 1.09

SL1 SL2 SL3177.40 84.30 1633.75

± 525.46 ± 100.69 ± 4556.3564.00 80.75 2526.50

± 90.69 ± 109.60 ± 6459.41253.00 86.67 1038.58

± 675.34 ± 99.26 ± 2888.10307.00 130.18 2947.27

± 695.10 ± 113.58 ± 5935.1819.00 28.22 28.33

± 21.84 ± 39.02 ± 31.75

SL1 SL2 SL355.75 74.30 192.65

± 78.43 ± 90.11 ± 408.7862.63 80.50 228.75

± 90.46 ± 109.68 ± 579.9251.17 70.17 168.58

± 73.22 ± 79.51 ± 270.2686.82 112.36 329.09

± 94.71 ± 103.44 ± 521.0017.78 27.78 25.89

± 21.22 ± 38.50 ± 26.05Winter 2 27 1.4586 0.4822

Post-uprate 2 36 1.3562 0.5076

Summer 2 33 0.9819 0.6121

All Events 2 60 1.1511 0.5624

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.3069 0.8578

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 1.5588 0.4587

Total RIS Fish Caught Excluding Harengula jaguana

Post-uprate 2 36 0.6948 0.7065

Summer 2 33 0.8586 0.6510

All Events 2 60 1.0269 0.5984

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.6958 0.7062

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.8421 0.6564

Total RIS Fish Caught

Post-uprate 2 36 0.1959 0.9067

Summer 2 33 0.2037 0.9031

All Events 2 60 0.5231 0.7698

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.2475 0.5359

Sampling Period


RIS Fish Taxa




SL1 SL2 SL32460.80 827.36 25041.92

± 5308.10 ± 1186.29 ± 63613.402108.54 589.02 35624.66

± 3707.57 ± 763.07 ± 78118.232695.64 986.25 17986.76

± 6306.31 ± 1411.16 ± 54502.854098.42 1357.97 44980.81

± 6837.90 ± 1387.07 ± 81954.03459.27 178.83 672.16

± 526.59 ± 277.60 ± 695.30

SL1 SL2 SL31215.99 768.50 4934.13

± 2501.42 ± 1160.11 ± 14085.772094.53 585.41 8092.31

± 3821.84 ± 762.04 ± 21754.35630.30 890.57 2828.68

± 759.69 ± 1383.65 ± 5427.371880.39 1262.54 8511.95

± 3252.34 ± 1380.77 ± 18586.79403.94 561.25

± 538.21 164.68 ± 521.46± 259.81

Winter 2 27 6.1006 0.0473

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0003 0.3678

Summer 2 33 0.4336 0.8051

All Events 2 60 2.1868 0.3351

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.3800 0.8270

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 5.9524 0.0510

RIS Fish Biomass Excluding Harengula jaguana

Post-uprate 2 36 1.9117 0.3845

Summer 2 33 0.5309 0.7669

All Events 2 60 2.4859 0.2885

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.5000 0.7788

Sampling Period


RIS Fish Biomass


± 4.58 ± 3.836.75 6.33

± 4.13 ± 3.536.00 8.67

± 4.60 ± 5.96


± 514.49 ± 689.43135.88 100.25

± 184.08 ± 109.942579.75 1169.25

± 6515.50 ± 3271.56


± 514.85 ± 81.28135.63 83.75

± 183.92 ± 89.21282.00 299.25

± 659.64 ± 628.51


± 1.55 ± 1.783.88 3.25

± 1.55 ± 1.963.50 3.92

± 1.69 ± 1.73SL3 1 20 0.1899 0.6630

SL1 1 20 0.5599 0.4543

SL2 1 20 0.3460 0.5564

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.0856 0.2974

RIS Fish Taxa

SL1 1 20 0.3815 0.5368

SL2 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.6567 0.4177

Total Fish Caught Excluding Harengula jaguana

SL1 1 20 0.7208 0.3959

SL2 1 20 0.0015 0.9692

SL2 1 20 0.0015 0.9690

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.9521 0.1624

Total Fish Caught

Table 54. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Total Number of Individuals, and Biomass for Fish and RIS Captured by Beach Seine, Pre-

and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

Fish TaxaSampling


SL1 1 20 1.0198 0.3126

Table 54. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa, Total Number of Individuals, and Biomass for Fish and RIS Captured by Beach Seine, Pre-

and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).


± 90.69 ± 675.3480.75 86.67

± 109.60 ± 99.262526.50 1038.58

± 6459.41 ± 2888.10


± 90.46 ± 73.2280.50 70.17

± 109.68 ± 79.51228.75 168.58

± 579.92 ± 270.26


± 3707.57 ± 6306.31589.02 986.25

± 763.07 ± 1411.1635624.66 17986.76

± 78118.23 ± 54502.85


± 3821.84 ± 759.69585.41 890.57

± 762.04 ± 1383.658092.31 2828.68

± 21754.35 ± 5427.37SL3 1 20 1.5238 0.2170

SL1 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

SL2 1 20 0.0238 0.8773

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.1667 0.2801

RIS Fish Biomass Excluding Harengula jaguana

SL1 1 20 0.0238 0.8774

SL2 1 20 0.0953 0.7575

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.2534 0.2629

RIS Fish Biomass

SL1 1 20 0.4840 0.4866

SL2 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.7884 0.3746

Total RIS Fish Caught Excluding Harengula jaguana

SL1 1 20 0.8604 0.3536

SL2 1 20 0.0015 0.9692

Sampling Area


Total RIS Fish Caught


ClupeiformesHarengula jaguana 5 2,417 6 5 1 195 1 3 18,382 10,418 22 31,455Sardinella aurita 155 185 3 701 72 1,116Anchoa lyolepis 1 2 570 573Engraulis eurystole 498 498Opisthonema oglinum 4 2 18 397 3 424Anchoa sp. 127 55 9 11 202Harengula humeralis 1 138 15 154Anchoa hepsetus 1 14 4 59 78Etrumeus teres 1 2 3Alosa sp. 1 1Dorosoma petenense 1 1 Total Clupeiformes 161 2,550 20 9 327 271 60 12 19,599 11,460 0 36 34,505

Other RISUmbrina coroides 195 221 5 69 133 386 2 122 336 595 11 112 2,187Menticirrhus littoralis 68 99 2 64 65 134 5 43 142 117 31 30 800Trachinotus carolinus 59 21 1 42 62 3 2 78 91 1 15 375Menticirrhus americanus 2 1 4 3 4 14Pomatomus saltatrix 1 1 11 13Menticirrhus saxatilis 6 1 7Micropogonias undulatus 1 1 2 4Scomberomorus maculatus 1 2 3Leiostomus xanthurus 1 1 Total Other RIS 323 343 8 134 248 586 11 171 557 804 56 163 3,404Total All RIS 484 2,893 28 143 575 857 71 183 20,156 12,264 56 199 37,909

Summer Winter

Table 55. Seasonal Comparison of Number of RIS Captured by Beach Seine Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3


SL1 SL2 SL3137.00 33.50 1554.75

± 527.35 ± 56.88 ± 4519.3622.63 48.38 2449.88

± 53.93 ± 73.98 ± 6452.66213.25 23.58 958.00

± 680.19 ± 42.85 ± 2794.91246.45 54.36 2823.54

± 706.45 ± 69.14 ± 5905.223.22 8.00 4.00

± 6.82 ± 19.46 ± 8.67

SL1 SL2 SL30.00 0.05 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.22 ± 0.000.00 0.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.08 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.29 ± 0.000.00 0.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.11 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.33 ± 0.00

SL1 SL2 SL311.80 13.00 16.25

± 18.82 ± 14.02 ± 25.038.75 9.50 21.63

± 11.77 ± 14.27 ± 37.8713.83 15.33 12.67

± 22.63 ± 13.97 ± 11.5915.36 19.00 23.64

± 19.66 ± 14.45 ± 31.337.44 5.67 7.22

± 17.87 ± 9.80 ± 9.71Winter 2 27 0.5740 0.7505

Post-uprate 2 36 0.5594 0.7560

Summer 2 33 1.3963 0.4975

All Events 2 60 1.0036 0.6054

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.5003 0.4723

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679

Menticirrhus Spp.

Post-uprate 2 36 2.0000 0.3679

Summer 2 33 0.0000 1.0000

All Events 2 60 2.0000 0.3679

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0000 1.0000

Summer 2 33 0.7488 0.6877

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.6225 0.7325


Pre-uprate 2 24 0.3528 0.8383

Post-uprate 2 36 0.3446 0.8417

Table 56. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Total Individuals Among Areas for RIS Captured by Beach Seine During All Events, Seasons, Pre- and Post-Uprate

Sampling Events, St. Lucie Plant EPU. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

ClupeiformesSampling


All Events 2 60 0.0313 0.9845



SL1 SL2 SL30.05 0.05 0.10

± 0.22 ± 0.22 ± 0.440.13 0.13 0.25

± 0.35 ± 0.35 ± 0.710.00 0.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.09 0.09 0.00

± 0.30 ± 0.30 ± 0.000.00 0.00 0.22

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.67

SL1 SL2 SL30.00 0.05 0.60

± 0.00 ± 0.22 ± 2.460.00 0.13 1.50

± 0.00 ± 0.35 ± 3.850.00 0.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.09 0.09

± 0.00 ± 0.30 ± 0.300.00 0.00 1.22

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 3.67

SL1 SL2 SL30.00 0.05 0.10

± 0.00 ± 0.22 ± 0.310.00 0.13 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.35 ± 0.000.00 0.00 0.17

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.390.00 0.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.11 0.22

± 0.00 ± 0.33 ± 0.44Winter 2 27 2.1667 0.3385

Post-uprate 2 36 4.1176 0.1276

Summer 2 33 0.0000 1.0000

All Events 2 60 2.0702 0.3552

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.0000 0.3679

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679


Post-uprate 2 36 0.0000 1.0000

Summer 2 33 1.0323 0.5968

All Events 2 60 2.1040 0.3492

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.2765 0.3204

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.0000 0.3679

Pomatomus saltatrix

Post-uprate 2 36 0.0000 1.0000

Summer 2 33 1.0323 0.5968

All Events 2 60 0.0017 0.9991

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0114 0.9943

Sampling Period





SL1 SL2 SL34.05 5.45 9.25

± 10.39 ± 9.78 ± 15.127.50 5.63 9.88

± 16.13 ± 7.89 ± 16.911.75 5.33 8.83

± 2.56 ± 11.20 ± 14.577.27 9.45 15.36

± 13.41 ± 11.89 ± 18.180.11 0.56 1.78

± 0.33 ± 1.13 ± 3.90

SL1 SL2 SL324.50 32.15 52.70

± 43.11 ± 52.86 ± 99.4325.00 16.88 43.38

± 44.74 ± 30.55 ± 112.6424.17 42.33 58.92

± 43.99 ± 62.85 ± 94.3237.82 47.18 84.64

± 54.61 ± 65.11 ± 126.658.22 13.78 13.67

± 11.95 ± 25.44 ± 17.68Winter 2 27 1.0643 0.5873

Post-uprate 2 36 1.1639 0.5588

Summer 2 33 0.4529 0.7973

All Events 2 60 0.6848 0.7100

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.3236 0.8506

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.6433 0.2667

Umbrina coroides

Post-uprate 2 36 3.1432 0.2077

Summer 2 33 1.6239 0.4440

All Events 2 60 1.7240 0.4223

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.1938 0.9076

Sampling Period




± 53.93 ± 680.1948.38 23.58

± 73.98 ± 42.852449.88 958.00

± 6452.67 ± 2794.91


± 0.00 ± 0.000.00 0.08

± 0.00 ± 0.290.00 0.00

± 0.00 ± 0.00


± 11.77 ± 22.639.50 15.33

± 14.27 ± 13.9721.63 12.67

± 37.87 ± 11.59


± 0.35 ± 0.000.13 0.00

± 0.35 ± 0.000.25 0.00

± 0.71 ± 0.00SL3 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

SL1 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

SL2 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.0015 0.9692


SL1 1 20 1.1764 0.2781

SL2 1 20 0.7944 0.3728

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Menticirrhus Spp.

SL1 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

SL2 1 20 0.6667 0.4142

SL2 1 20 0.6564 0.4178

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.1376 0.7107


Table 57. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Total Individuals Among

Areas for RIS Captured by Beach Seine, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One


Sampling Area


SL1 1 20 0.1326 0.7158

Table 57. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Total Individuals Among

Areas for RIS Captured by Beach Seine, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One



± 0.00 ± 0.000.13 0.00

± 0.35 ± 0.001.50 0.00

± 3.85 ± 0.00


± 0.00 ± 0.000.13 0.00

± 0.35 ± 0.000.00 0.17

± 0.00 ± 0.39


± 16.13 ± 2.565.63 5.33

± 7.89 ± 11.209.88 8.83

± 16.91 ± 14.57


± 44.74 ± 43.9916.88 42.33

± 30.55 ± 62.8543.38 58.92

± 112.64 ± 94.32SL3 1 20 2.7723 0.0959

SL1 1 20 0.4876 0.4850

SL2 1 20 1.4642 0.2263

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.1558 0.6930

Umbrina coroides

SL1 1 20 0.6825 0.4087

SL2 1 20 0.2255 0.6349

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 1.4074 0.2355


SL1 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

SL2 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 3.1579 0.0756


SL1 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

SL2 1 20 1.5000 0.2207

Sampling Area


Pomatomus saltatrix


Scomberomorus maculatus 28.00 369.00 255.33Leiostomus xanthurus 236.00 236.00Micropogonias undulatus 240.00 220.00 168.50 199.25Menticirrhus littoralis 82.70 95.15 241.50 94.00 90.97 96.49 85.84 102.50 165.85 101.52 78.32 99.49 103.78Dorosoma petenense 102.30 102.30Harengula jaguana 68.00 106.53 167.67 126.06 107.00 68.65 117.00 152.23 86.08 91.17 155.77 94.56Umbrina coroides 125.15 77.90 74.48 100.24 82.70 74.71 54.10 65.94 101.73 110.42 86.22 99.97 94.17Opisthonema oglinum 76.40 92.50 75.97 89.34 203.00 89.94Alosa sp. 85.50 85.50Trachinotus carolinus 101.57 87.57 69.00 91.72 79.65 50.67 62.50 94.69 69.99 390.00 80.26 85.49Sardinella aurita 104.08 68.24 81.50 79.75 87.73 84.16Menticirrhus americanus 67.95 303.00 63.70 58.69 71.28 82.49Etrumeus teres 38.00 94.65 75.77Engraulis eurystole 73.80 73.80Harengula humeralis 69.90 73.13 69.48 72.33Anchoa lyolepis 60.30 40.85 69.92 69.19Menticirrhus saxatilis 51.17 87.50 56.36Pomatomus saltatrix 49.20 132.00 43.90 51.68Anchoa hepsetus 57.60 29.20 84.28 32.17 34.85Anchoa sp. 18.10 30.51 26.01 27.56Mean TL (mm) 106.46 91.30 90.06 102.18 82.54 80.80 38.48 75.78 102.86 93.63 82.45 104.26 91.41

Summer Winter

Table 58. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Total Length (mm) for RIS Captured by Beach Seine Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3



Scomberomorus maculatus 0.1 235.3 156.9Micropogonias undulatus 380.0 119.4 58.5 154.1Leiostomus xanthurus 139.6 139.6Menticirrhus littoralis 10.7 11.4 398.0 11.7 13.3 24.9 6.4 16.2 87.0 22.1 6.8 14.7 26.7Menticirrhus americanus 2.5 325.0 2.6 1.8 4.8 26.0Umbrina coroides 57.5 9.2 9.0 27.7 8.1 7.4 1.6 4.2 12.4 31.3 20.3 21.0 20.7Trachinotus carolinus 18.3 14.8 5.1 17.2 12.1 1.9 4.3 19.0 6.9 708.0 14.7 15.7Harengula jaguana 3.0 16.5 54.5 24.3 15.0 3.4 14.0 37.8 7.3 10.5 44.0 12.5Dorosoma petenense 9.2 9.2Opisthonema oglinum 4.6 6.7 4.5 6.4 79.4 8.4Sardinella aurita 12.2 3.6 4.2 3.0 5.7 5.2Etrumeus teres 0.3 7.2 4.9Harengula humeralis 3.5 4.1 3.2 3.9Engraulis eurystole 3.2 3.2Menticirrhus saxatilis 2.7 5.6 3.1Pomatomus saltatrix 1.0 27.0 0.8 3.0Anchoa lyolepis 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.1Alosa sp. 0.5 0.5Anchoa hepsetus 1.4 0.1 4.9 0.1 0.4Anchoa sp. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1Mean Weight (g) 33.4 12.1 47.0 27.3 9.7 12.4 0.9 8.4 24.1 16.4 23.1 23.8 17.5

Summer Winter

Table 59. Seasonal Comparison of Mean Weight (g) for RIS Captured by Beach Seine Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


TaxaSL1 SL2 SL3

Total Mean Weight (g)Summer Winter Summer Winter


Harengula jaguana 0.015 39.877 0.327 0.121 0.015 0.667 0.014 0.113 134.418 109.896 0.969 286.434Umbrina coroides 11.205 2.029 0.045 1.912 1.083 2.854 0.003 0.512 4.170 18.624 0.223 2.357 45.016Menticirrhus littoralis 0.730 1.124 0.796 0.747 0.864 3.342 0.032 0.695 12.352 2.590 0.212 0.442 23.926Trachinotus carolinus 1.080 0.311 0.005 0.724 0.753 0.006 0.009 1.485 0.626 0.708 0.220 5.927Sardinella aurita 1.891 0.666 0.013 2.124 0.408 5.102Opisthonema oglinum 0.018 0.013 0.081 2.543 0.238 2.894Engraulis eurystole 1.594 1.594Anchoa lyolepis 0.001 0.001 1.236 1.238Micropogonias undulatus 0.380 0.119 0.000 0.117 0.616Harengula humeralis 0.004 0.564 0.049 0.616Scomberomorus maculatus 0.000 0.471 0.471Menticirrhus americanus 0.005 0.325 0.010 0.005 0.019 0.365Leiostomus xanthurus 0.140 0.140Pomatomus saltatrix 0.001 0.027 0.008 0.036Anchoa hepsetus 0.001 0.001 0.020 0.008 0.030Menticirrhus saxatilis 16.200 0.006 0.022Anchoa sp. 0.013 0.001 0.001 0.015Etrumeus teres 0.000 0.014 0.015Dorosoma petenense 0.009 0.009Alosa sp. 0.001 0.001Mean Biomass (kg) 0.765 2.169 0.059 0.156 0.203 0.386 0.003 0.074 7.811 6.797 0.063 0.236 18.723

Summer Winter

Table 60. Seasonal Comparisons of Calculated and Mean Biomass (kg) for RIS Captured by Beach Seine Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,



Biomass (kg)


Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post10 12 6 12 10 12 6 12 10 12 6 12 120

Albunea sp. Zoea 36 221 9 72 152 1,264 206 73 89 177 11 206 2,516Callinectes sp. Megalops 173 60 507 49 95 94 196 27 25 36 197 63 1,522Menippe mercenaria Zoea 15 104 120 44 240 113 262 68 83 62 11 171 1,293Emerita talpoida Zoea 27 124 12 104 91 107 40 278 81 55 34 333 1,286Callinectes sp. Zoea 70 19 112 77 54 154 358 46 47 89 88 131 1,245Callinectes sapidus Megalops 156 325 132 135 190 116 1,054Callinectes similis Megalops 11 16 112 246 385Penaeidae Mysis 15 2 5 20 43 28 122 42 11 66 20 374Penaeidae Post Larvae 24 83 2 4 229 4 346Penaeidae Protozoea 4 14 12 61 87 37 4 5 7 8 239Farfantepenaeus sp. Post Larvae 2 20 3 53 6 3 1 27 29 48 1 38 231Farfantepenaeus sp. Mysis 9 151 1 14 4 179Sicyonia sp. Mysis 43 87 4 15 149Menippe mercenaria Megalops 16 47 1 1 68 7 3 1 144Farfantepenaeus aztecus Post Larvae 27 28 4 30 1 4 10 15 9 128Farfantepenaeus duorarum Post Larvae 22 1 14 4 15 33 8 14 111Lepidopa sp. Zoea 3 8 8 1 4 9 39 72Portunidae Zoea 7 13 7 18 4 13 62Sicyonia sp. Post Larvae 3 39 9 1 52Rimapenaeus /Xiphopenaeus complex Mysis 48 48

Portunidae Megalops 2 8 20 8 3 41Lepidopa websteri Zoea 13 26 39Scyllarus americanus Phyllosoma 2 30 2 1 35Rimapenaeus constrictus Mysis 1 24 1 26Rimapenaeus constrictus Post Larvae 8 2 1 6 1 18Menippe sp. Megalops 1 16 17Emerita talpoida Juvenile 5 3 4 12Rimapenaeus sp. Post Larvae 10 10Emerita talpoida Megalops 8 1 9

Table 61. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Ichthyoplankton and Commercially or Recreationally Important (CRI) Decapod Crustaceans Captured by Plankton Net Among Areas, Pre- and

Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Taxa Life StageSL1 SL2 SL3


Number of SamplesCrustaceans






Number of SamplesCrustaceansCallinectes similis Juvenile 2 6 8

Callinectes sp. Juvenile 1 2 3Portunidae Juvenile 2 1 3Sicyoniidae Mysis 1 2 3Sicyoniidae Post Larvae 2 1 3Callinectes sapidus Juvenile 2 2Hippidae Zoea 2 2Menippe sp. Zoea 2 2Callinectes sp. Post Larvae 1 1Hippoidea Zoea 1 1Penaeidae Other 1 1Scyllaridae Phyllosoma 1 1Sicyonia brevirostris Mysis 1 1Sicyonia sp. Juvenile 1 1Xiphopenaeus kroyeri Mysis 1 1

603 662 822 829 1,233 2,092 1,143 957 901 778 414 1,242 11,676

Unidentified eggs Egg 527 7,869 2,895 5,387 666 12,049 2,329 1,090 6,245 4,904 2,404 3,037 49,402Clupeidae Egg 129 386 204 6,764 724 148 1 36 1,327 274 9,993Clupeiformes Egg 1,012 608 445 149 2,214Synodontidae Egg 3 143 23 5 114 86 374Engraulidae Egg 88 17 87 1 193Carangidae/Labridae/Sciaenidae egg complex Egg 163 163

Sciaenidae Egg 2 27 6 7 31 28 43 144Sparidae Egg 32 32Achiridae Egg 1 1Tetraodontiformes Egg 1 1

781 7,998 4,355 5,614 903 19,421 3,107 1,688 6,389 4,940 3,860 3,461 62,517

Clupeidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 65 57 925 483 183 221 80 455 32 120 16 76 2,713

Total CrustaceansFish Eggs

Fish Total Fish Eggs






Number of SamplesCrustaceansMicrogobius thalassinus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 126 1 1 417 2 5 17 5 1 1 576

Gobiidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 35 11 107 14 23 38 88 18 6 16 15 20 391Sciaenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 44 2 51 19 38 22 37 9 23 93 42 385Engraulidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 10 189 27 47 48 1 2 24 1 13 362Unidentified fish Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 17 27 14 19 21 20 81 3 11 9 64 291Microgobius gulosus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 3 44 12 32 6 7 28 2 137Blenniidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 9 4 4 13 5 13 5 34 18 19 129Gobiosoma robustum Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 7 1 30 8 34 6 3 4 3 99Etrumeus teres Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 8 41 45 94Clupeiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 73 4 10 89Eucinostomus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 8 16 3 28 1 1 6 1 1 23 88Cynoscion sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 3 22 11 4 8 4 22 77Haemulidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 6 2 4 2 1 41 2 1 3 63Anchoa sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 10 4 18 26 58Carangidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 16 1 1 19 1 8 3 2 1 2 54Microdesmidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 18 29 1 5 53Sparidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 7 4 13 1 13 2 9 3 53Bregmacerotidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 2 33 1 1 6 46Clupeidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 26 18 44Cynoscion nebulosus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 3 2 15 1 2 16 43Brevoortia smithi Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 11 2 28 41Lutjanidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 8 6 10 1 7 5 37Sciaenops ocellatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 7 1 2 2 1 18 35Perciformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 21 2 1 2 1 1 3 2 33Anchoa mitchilli Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 24 1 5 30Ctenogobius boleosoma Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 5 4 4 11 26Diodontidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 16 2 1 3 1 24Labridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 2 1 1 4 2 2 6 23Gobiosoma sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 9 1 6 1 22Larimus fasciatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 19 22Serranidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 2 5 8 1 1 20






Number of SamplesCrustaceansChloroscombrus chrysurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 1 11 3 19

Menticirrhus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 1 14 1 1 19Stegastes sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 18 18Microdesmus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 7 8 17Achirus lineatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 7 2 2 1 16Bathygobius soporator Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 4 16Dactyloscopidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 8 4 1 3 16Sciaenidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 6 1 8 15Tetraodontidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 1 3 1 1 5 15Monacanthidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 5 4 1 14Pomacentridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 14Gerreidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 8 1 1 1 1 13Myctophidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 3 1 1 3 13Prionotus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 1 1 4 1 4 13Triglidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 10 1 13Atherinopsidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 1 8 12Citharichthys spilopterus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 8 3 12Lutjanus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 11 1 12Paralichthyidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 3 4 2 12Pareques sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 2 4 3 12Anchoa lyolepis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 11 11Eleotridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 4 6 11Sphoeroides sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 2 1 4 1 11Abudefduf saxatilis Juvenile 10 10Cerdale floridana Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 10 10Labrisomidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 5 1 1 2 10Micropogonias undulatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 7 1 10Bairdiella chrysoura Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 3 1 3 9Brevoortia sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 2 1 3 9Cynoscion regalis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 2 2 9Gonostomatidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 4 1 1 1 9






Number of SamplesCrustaceansScaridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 1 2 1 1 9

Stephanolepis hispida Juvenile 6 2 1 9Gobiesox strumosus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 2 1 1 8Menticirrhus americanus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 1 1 2 8Ostraciidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 1 2 1 8Paralichthys albigutta Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 8 8Pomacanthidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 5 1 8Sparisoma sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 1 2 2 8Stomiiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 2 2 8Apogonidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 4 1 7Harengula jaguana Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 7 7Ophidiiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 5 1 7Pleuronectiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 3 1 7Anguilloidei Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 6 6Selar crumenophthalmus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 4 6Syngnathus louisianae Juvenile 1 1 4 6Micropogonias furnieri Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 5Monacanthus ciliatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 1 2 5Ophidion sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 2 5Parablennius marmoreus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 1 5Pareques acuminatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 4 5Phosichthyidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 1 5Selene setapinnis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 5Stellifer lanceolatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5 5Stephanolepis hispida Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 1 1 5Symphurus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 1 5Diodon holocanthus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 1 4Diplospinus multistriatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 4Mullidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2 4Saurida brasiliensis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 3 4Scarus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 4






Number of SamplesCrustaceansSphyraenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 4

Tetraodontidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 4 4Aluterus schoepfii Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 1 3Balistidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 3Blennioidei Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 3Chaetodipterus faber Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 1 3Chloroscombrus chrysurus Juvenile 3 3Haemulon sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 3Ophidion sp. Yolk-Sac Larvae 3 3Scombridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 2 3Scorpaenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 1 3Atheriniformes Post Larvae 2 2Brevoortia tyrannus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Chasmodes saburrae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Citharichthys arctifrons Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Clupeiformes Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Diplectrum sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Diplogrammus pauciradiatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Elops saurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Ephippidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Epinephelus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Gobiosoma bosc Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Hygophum reinhardtii Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Leiostomus xanthurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Muraenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Opistognathidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Percophidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Syngnathidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Syngnathus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1 2Tetragonuridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2 2Acanthurus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1






Number of SamplesCrustaceansAchiridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1

Acropomatidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Albula vulpes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Aluterus schoepfii Juvenile 1 1Archosargus probatocephalus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Astrapogon puncticulatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Atheriniformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Bothidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Bothus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Bramidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Caranx sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Citharichthys sp. Juvenile 1 1Citharichthys sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Congridae Juvenile 1 1Congridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Coryphaena hippurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Ctenogobius sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Cyclothone sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Dactylopterus volitans Juvenile 1 1Diodon sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Diogenichthys atlanticus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Dormitator maculatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Eleotris pisonis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Engraulidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Euthynnus alletteratus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Gempylidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Gobionellus oceanicus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Gobionellus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Gobiosoma parri Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Hippocampus erectus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Lagodon rhomboides Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1






Number of SamplesCrustaceansLupinoblennius nicholsi Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1

Melamphaidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Melanocetidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Merlucciidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Mugil cephalus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Mugilidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Nes longus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Ogcocephalus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Ophidiidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Paralepididae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Pleuronectidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Scomberomorus maculatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Scorpaeniformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Stephanoberyciformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Syngnathus louisianae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Syngnathus sp. Juvenile 1 1Trichiurus lepturus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Tripterygiidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Umbrina coroides Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Unidentified Fish Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1Uranoscopidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1 1

351 523 1,260 856 904 639 320 804 127 386 261 443 6,8741,735 9,183 6,437 7,299 3,040 22,152 4,570 3,449 7,417 6,104 4,535 5,146 81,067

Total FishTotal All Organisms

SL1 SL2 SL3Pre 351 904 127 1,382Post 523 639 386 1,548Pre 1,260 320 261 1,841Post 856 804 443 2,103

2,990 2,667 1,217 6,874

Winter

Total

Table 62. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Larval Fish Captured by Plankton Net, All Species

Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.


AreaTotal

Summer


Albunea sp. Zoea 7.6759 41.2313 2.1277 12.6538 31.2115 209.6186 62.6140 12.2074 16.6979 30.5699 4.3137 31.0709 41.6281Callinectes sp. Megalops 36.8870 11.1940 119.8582 8.6116 19.5072 15.5887 59.5745 4.5151 4.6904 6.2176 77.2549 9.5023 25.1820Menippe mercenaria Zoea 3.1983 19.4030 28.3688 7.7329 49.2813 18.7396 79.6353 11.3712 15.5722 10.7081 4.3137 25.7919 21.3931Emerita talpoida Zoea 5.7569 23.1343 2.8369 18.2777 18.6858 17.7446 12.1581 46.4883 15.1970 9.4991 13.3333 50.2262 21.2773Callinectes sp. Zoea 14.9254 3.5448 26.4775 13.5325 11.0883 25.5390 108.8146 7.6923 8.8180 15.3713 34.5098 19.7587 20.5989Callinectes sapidus Megalops 33.2623 57.1178 27.1047 22.5753 35.6473 17.4962 17.4388Callinectes similis Megalops 2.3454 2.8120 22.9979 46.1538 6.3700Penaeidae Mysis 3.1983 0.3731 0.8787 4.1068 7.1310 8.5106 20.4013 7.8799 1.8998 25.8824 3.0166 6.1880Penaeidae Post Larvae 4.4776 13.7645 0.6079 0.6689 39.5509 0.6033 5.7247Penaeidae Protozoea 0.8529 2.6119 2.8369 12.5257 14.4279 11.2462 0.6689 0.9381 1.2090 1.2066 3.9543Farfantepenaeus sp. Post Larvae 0.4264 3.7313 0.7092 9.3146 1.2320 0.4975 0.3040 4.5151 5.4409 8.2902 0.3922 5.7315 3.8220Farfantepenaeus sp. Mysis 1.9190 31.0062 0.1672 2.6266 0.6033 2.9616Sicyonia sp. Mysis 7.5571 14.5485 0.6908 2.2624 2.4653Menippe mercenaria Megalops 3.4115 8.7687 0.1757 0.2053 11.2769 1.3133 0.5181 0.1508 2.3825Farfantepenaeus aztecus Post Larvae 5.7569 6.6194 0.7030 6.1602 0.1658 1.2158 1.6722 2.8143 1.3575 2.1178Farfantepenaeus duorarum Post Larvae 4.6908 0.1866 3.3097 0.7030 3.0801 5.5184 1.5009 2.1116 1.8365Lepidopa sp. Zoea 0.6397 1.4060 2.4316 0.1672 0.7505 1.5544 5.8824 1.1913Portunidae Zoea 1.3060 2.2847 1.1609 3.0100 0.6908 1.9608 1.0258Sicyonia sp. Post Larvae 0.5597 6.4677 1.5544 0.1508 0.8604Rimapenaeus /Xiphopenaeus complex

Mysis 7.2398 0.7942

Portunidae Megalops 0.3731 1.4060 3.3445 1.3817 0.4525 0.6784Lepidopa websteri Zoea 2.1559 4.4905 0.6453Scyllarus americanus Phyllosoma 0.4728 6.1602 0.3752 0.3922 0.5791Rimapenaeus constrictus Mysis 0.1757 4.9281 0.1508 0.4302Rimapenaeus constrictus Post Larvae 1.7058 0.3515 0.2053 1.1257 0.1508 0.2978Menippe sp. Megalops 0.1866 2.6534 0.2813Emerita talpoida Juvenile 1.0661 0.6160 0.7505 0.1985Rimapenaeus sp. Post Larvae 1.8657 0.1655Emerita talpoida Megalops 1.6427 0.1876 0.1489Callinectes similis Juvenile 0.4264 1.2320 0.1324Callinectes sp. Juvenile 0.1876 0.7843 0.0496Portunidae Juvenile 0.3344 0.1508 0.0496Sicyoniidae Mysis 0.3040 0.7843 0.0496Sicyoniidae Post Larvae 0.3752 0.3922 0.0496

Table 63. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per 100m3 of Water Filtered) for Fish and Commercially or Recreationally Important (CRI) Decapod Crustaceans Captured by Plankton Net Among



Total CPUESummer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter

CrustaceansNumber of Samples







Callinectes sapidus Juvenile 0.4264 0.0331Hippidae Zoea 0.4728 0.0331Menippe sp. Zoea 0.3731 0.0331Callinectes sp. Post Larvae 0.2364 0.0165Hippoidea Zoea 0.1672 0.0165Penaeidae Other 0.2053 0.0165Scyllaridae Phyllosoma 0.1866 0.0165Sicyonia brevirostris Mysis 0.1727 0.0165Sicyonia sp. Juvenile 0.1508 0.0165Xiphopenaeus kroyeri Mysis 0.1508 0.0165

128.5714 123.5075 194.3262 145.6942 253.1828 346.9320 347.4164 160.0334 169.0432 134.3696 162.3529 187.3303 193.1833

Unidentified eggs Egg 112.3667 1468.0970 684.3972 946.7487 136.7556 1998.1758 707.9027 182.2742 1171.6698 846.9775 942.7451 458.0694 817.3726Clupeidae Egg 24.0672 91.2530 35.8524 1121.7247 220.0608 24.7492 0.1876 6.2176 520.3922 41.3273 165.3375Clupeiformes Egg 239.2435 100.8292 74.4147 0.0000 22.4736 36.6314Synodontidae Egg 0.7092 29.3634 6.9909 0.8361 21.3884 33.7255 6.1880Engraulidae Egg 18.7633 2.9877 17.8645 0.1876 3.1932Carangidae/Labridae/Sciaenidae egg complex

Egg 34.7548 2.6969

Sciaenidae Egg 0.4264 6.3830 1.0545 1.4374 9.4225 5.2533 16.8627 2.3825Sparidae Egg 7.5650 0.5295Achiridae Egg 0.2132 0.0165Tetraodontiformes Egg 0.1508 0.0165

166.5245 1492.1642 1029.5508 986.6432 185.4209 3220.7297 944.3769 282.2742 1198.6867 853.1952 1513.7255 522.0211 1034.3647

Clupeidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 13.8593 10.6343 218.6761 84.8858 37.5770 36.6501 24.3161 76.0870 6.0038 20.7254 6.2745 11.4630 44.8875Microgobius thalassinus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 26.8657 0.1866 0.1757 85.6263 0.3317 0.8361 3.1895 0.8636 0.3922 0.1508 9.5301Gobiidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 7.4627 2.0522 25.2955 2.4605 4.7228 6.3018 26.7477 3.0100 1.1257 2.7634 5.8824 3.0166 6.4692Sciaenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.0661 8.2090 0.4728 8.9631 3.9014 6.3018 6.6869 6.1873 1.6886 3.9724 36.4706 6.3348 6.3700Engraulidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2.1322 35.2612 4.7452 9.6509 7.9602 0.1672 0.3752 4.1451 0.3922 1.9608 5.9894Unidentified fish Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.0661 3.1716 6.3830 2.4605 3.9014 3.4826 6.0790 13.5452 0.5629 1.8998 3.5294 9.6531 4.8147Microgobius gulosus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6397 0.5597 10.4019 2.1090 5.3068 1.8237 1.1706 10.9804 0.3017 2.2667Blenniidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9328 2.1277 0.7030 0.8214 2.1559 1.5198 2.1739 0.9381 5.8722 7.0588 2.8658 2.1343Gobiosoma robustum Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6397 1.3060 0.2364 6.1602 1.3267 10.3343 1.0033 0.5181 1.5686 0.4525 1.6380Etrumeus teres Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.4060 6.8562 6.7873 1.5553Clupeiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 12.8295 1.2158 3.9216 1.4725

Total CrustaceansFish Eggs

Fish Total Fish Eggs







Eucinostomus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.7058 2.9851 0.7092 4.9209 0.2053 0.1658 1.0033 0.1876 0.1727 3.4691 1.4560Cynoscion sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6397 0.5597 3.8664 2.2587 1.2158 1.3817 1.5686 3.3183 1.2740Haemulidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 1.1194 0.3515 0.8214 0.3317 0.3040 6.8562 0.3454 0.3922 0.4525 1.0424Anchoa sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.8657 0.7030 2.9851 4.4905 0.9596Carangidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2.9851 0.1757 0.2053 3.1509 0.3040 1.3378 0.5629 0.3454 0.3922 0.3017 0.8934Microdesmidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 3.3582 5.9548 0.1672 0.9381 0.8769Sparidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 1.3060 0.9456 2.2847 0.2053 2.1559 0.3344 1.5544 0.4525 0.8769Bregmacerotidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.5597 0.4728 5.4726 0.1727 0.3922 0.9050 0.7611Clupeidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 4.8507 4.2553 0.7280Cynoscion nebulosus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.7463 0.6160 0.6079 2.5084 0.1727 0.7843 2.4133 0.7114Brevoortia smithi Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2.6005 0.6079 10.9804 0.6784Lutjanidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.4925 1.0545 1.6584 0.3040 1.1706 0.8636 0.6122Sciaenops ocellatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.8529 1.3060 0.2364 0.4107 0.3317 0.1876 3.1088 0.5791Perciformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 4.9645 0.3515 0.1658 0.6079 0.1876 0.1727 1.1765 0.3017 0.5460Anchoa mitchilli Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 5.1173 0.1757 1.0267 0.4964Ctenogobius boleosoma Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.1866 0.8787 0.6633 0.6689 1.6591 0.4302Diodontidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 3.2854 0.3317 0.1672 0.5181 0.1508 0.3971Labridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9328 0.4728 0.1757 0.1658 0.6689 0.3752 0.3454 0.9050 0.3805Gobiosoma sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.0661 1.8480 0.1658 1.1257 0.3922 0.0000 0.3640Larimus fasciatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.3515 3.9014 0.3640Serranidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.7092 0.3515 0.8292 1.3378 0.1727 0.1508 0.3309Chloroscombrus chrysurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.7463 0.1658 2.0638 0.5181 0.3144Menticirrhus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.1866 2.4605 0.1658 0.1727 0.3144Stegastes sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2.9851 0.2978Microdesmus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 1.1609 1.3817 0.2813Achirus lineatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.3731 1.4374 0.3317 0.6079 0.1727 0.2647Bathygobius soporator Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4728 0.3515 0.6160 0.3317 0.3040 0.1876 0.3922 0.6033 0.2647Dactyloscopidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.6427 1.2158 0.1727 1.1765 0.2647Sciaenidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.4184 0.2053 3.1373 0.2482Tetraodontidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.8529 0.1866 0.5272 0.1658 0.3922 0.7541 0.2482Monacanthidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3731 0.4728 1.0267 1.2158 0.1727 0.2316Pomacentridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3731 0.4728 0.3515 0.3317 0.3040 0.3344 0.4525 0.2316Gerreidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 1.8913 0.2053 0.1658 0.1672 0.1876 0.2151Myctophidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.8787 0.4975 0.1876 0.1727 0.4525 0.2151Prionotus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3731 0.1658 0.1876 0.6908 0.3922 0.6033 0.2151







Triglidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2053 0.3040 1.6722 0.1508 0.2151Atherinopsidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.3317 0.3040 1.3817 0.1985Citharichthys spilopterus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 1.3378 0.4525 0.1985Lutjanus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.0000 1.8242 0.1727 0.1985Paralichthyidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.3515 0.4975 1.2158 0.3017 0.1985Pareques sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.3515 0.4107 0.7505 0.5181 0.1985Anchoa lyolepis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 2.3454 0.1820Eleotridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.7030 0.9050 0.1820Sphoeroides sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.5597 0.4728 0.1757 0.6633 0.1508 0.1820Abudefduf saxatilis Juvenile 1.7271 0.1655Cerdale floridana Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.6584 0.1655Labrisomidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.8292 0.1672 0.1876 0.3454 0.1655Micropogonias undulatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 1.6548 0.2053 0.1655Bairdiella chrysoura Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.1757 0.4975 0.1672 0.4525 0.1489Brevoortia sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.5272 0.4107 0.1672 1.1765 0.1489Cynoscion regalis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.0661 0.4728 0.3344 0.1489Gonostomatidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.1866 0.9456 0.1757 0.1727 0.1508 0.1489Scaridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.3731 0.1757 0.4107 0.1658 0.1876 0.1489Stephanolepis hispida Juvenile 1.1194 0.3454 0.1508 0.1489Gobiesox strumosus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.4107 0.6079 0.1727 0.1508 0.1324Menticirrhus americanus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9456 0.1658 0.3040 0.3454 0.1324Ostraciidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9456 0.1757 0.4107 0.0000 0.1508 0.1324Paralichthys albigutta Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.4060 0.1324Pomacanthidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3515 0.8292 0.1727 0.1324Sparisoma sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.4728 0.0000 0.1727 0.7843 0.3017 0.1324Stomiiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9456 0.3454 0.7843 0.1324Apogonidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4728 1.2158 0.1727 0.1158Harengula jaguana Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.3133 0.1158Ophidiiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 1.0267 0.1658 0.1158Pleuronectiformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9119 0.5017 0.1508 0.1158Anguilloidei Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.2320 0.0993Selar crumenophthalmus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3317 1.2158 0.0993Syngnathus louisianae Juvenile 0.2132 0.1866 0.9456 0.0993Micropogonias furnieri Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.1820 0.0827Monacanthus ciliatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3731 0.1658 0.3454 0.0827







Ophidion sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6160 0.3344 0.0827Parablennius marmoreus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9456 0.1727 0.0827Pareques acuminatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 1.2158 0.0827Phosichthyidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.7030 0.3040 0.0827Selene setapinnis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.5198 0.0827Stellifer lanceolatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 1.5198 0.0827Stephanolepis hispida Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.5597 0.1757 0.1658 0.0827Symphurus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.4728 0.2053 0.0827Diodon holocanthus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.5597 0.1658 0.0662Diplospinus multistriatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6033 0.0662Mullidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3515 0.3017 0.0662Saurida brasiliensis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.6160 0.0662Scarus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6033 0.0662Sphyraenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9456 0.0662Tetraodontidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.9456 0.0662Aluterus schoepfii Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.1658 0.1727 0.0496Balistidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4525 0.0496Blennioidei Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.5597 0.0496Chaetodipterus faber Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3317 0.3922 0.0496Chloroscombrus chrysurus Juvenile 0.5181 0.0496Haemulon sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2364 0.3317 0.0496Ophidion sp. Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.6160 0.0496Scombridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.3017 0.0496Scorpaenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3731 0.1727 0.0496Atheriniformes Post Larvae 0.4264 0.0331Brevoortia tyrannus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3344 0.0331Chasmodes saburrae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2053 0.3040 0.0331Citharichthys arctifrons Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.3922 0.0331Clupeiformes Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.7843 0.0331Diplectrum sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.0331Diplogrammus pauciradiatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.1727 0.0331Elops saurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.1508 0.0331Ephippidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3515 0.0331Epinephelus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4264 0.0331Gobiosoma bosc Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3344 0.0331







Hygophum reinhardtii Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4728 0.0331Leiostomus xanthurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.2364 0.0331Muraenidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.1508 0.0331Opistognathidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.4728 0.0331Percophidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3515 0.0331Syngnathidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.1727 0.0331Syngnathus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.1876 0.0331Tetragonuridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.3515 0.0331Acanthurus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1876 0.0165Achiridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.0165Acropomatidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1876 0.0165Albula vulpes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Aluterus schoepfii Juvenile 0.1866 0.0165Archosargus probatocephalus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Astrapogon puncticulatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Atheriniformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1876 0.0165Bothidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.0165Bothus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165Bramidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Caranx sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.0165Citharichthys sp. Juvenile 0.2053 0.0165Citharichthys sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1508 0.0165Congridae Juvenile 0.1866 0.0165Congridae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.0165Coryphaena hippurus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.0165Ctenogobius sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Cyclothone sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1876 0.0165Dactylopterus volitans Juvenile 0.1658 0.0165Diodon sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1727 0.0165Diogenichthys atlanticus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Dormitator maculatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165Eleotris pisonis Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1508 0.0165Engraulidae Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.0165Euthynnus alletteratus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165Gempylidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165







Gobionellus oceanicus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2132 0.0165Gobionellus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.0165Gobiosoma parri Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Hippocampus erectus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.0165Lagodon rhomboides Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Lupinoblennius nicholsi Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1727 0.0165Melamphaidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Melanocetidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1727 0.0165Merlucciidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165Mugil cephalus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.0165Mugilidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Nes longus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1727 0.0165Ogcocephalus sp. Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165Ophidiidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1727 0.0165Paralepididae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.0165Pleuronectidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.0165Scomberomorus maculatus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.2053 0.0165Scorpaeniformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.0165Stephanoberyciformes Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1866 0.0165Syngnathus louisianae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1508 0.0165Syngnathus sp. Juvenile 0.1866 0.0165Trichiurus lepturus Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1672 0.0165Tripterygiidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1658 0.0165Umbrina coroides Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165Unidentified Fish Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1876 0.0165Uranoscopidae Post Yolk-Sac Larvae 0.1757 0.0165

74.8401 97.5746 297.8723 150.4394 185.6263 105.9701 97.2644 134.4482 23.8274 66.6667 102.3529 66.8175 113.7326369.9360 1713.2463 1521.7494 1282.7768 624.2300 3673.6318 1389.0578 576.7559 1391.5572 1054.2314 1778.4314 776.1689 1341.2806

Total FishTotal All Organisms

Season Pre- or Post- Uprate SL1 SL2 SL3 Mean CPUE

Pre 369.94 624.23 1391.56 818.80Post 1713.25 3673.63 1054.23 2179.22Pre 1521.75 1389.06 1778.43 1543.40Post 1282.78 576.76 776.17 868.52

1234.55 1646.55 1142.96 1341.28

Table 64.Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per 100m3 of Water Filtered) for Fish and

Commercially or Recreationally Important (CRI) Decapod Crustaceans Captured by Plankton Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


Summer

Winter

Mean CPUE


Pre 74.84 185.63 23.83 92.81Post 97.57 105.97 66.67 90.10Pre 297.87 97.26 102.35 182.82Post 150.44 134.45 66.82 114.92

149.72 132.23 59.95 113.73

Table 65. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per 100m3 of Water Filtered) for All Fish

Larvae Captured by Plankton Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Summer

Winter

Mean CPUE

SL1 SL2 SL313.80 13.30 12.40± 7.09 ± 5.74 ± 5.4012.63 12.00 10.00± 7.39 ± 6.97 ± 3.2114.58 14.17 14.00± 7.10 ± 4.90 ± 6.0813.00 14.27 11.09± 6.20 ± 6.67 ± 5.2614.78 12.11 14.00± 8.33 ± 4.46 ± 5.43

SL1 SL2 SL3144.80 141.23 59.93

± 180.45 ± 197.93 ± 41.60160.69 173.99 52.10

± 232.94 ± 296.68 ± 47.00134.20 119.39 65.15

± 146.31 ± 101.76 ± 38.8490.01 156.66 46.71

± 60.77 ± 253.77 ± 34.60211.76 122.37 76.09

± 252.08 ± 108.69 ± 45.59

SL1 SL2 SL32.00 1.95 2.20

± 1.26 ± 0.83 ± 0.952.50 2.38 3.00

± 1.77 ± 0.92 ± 0.761.67 1.67 1.67

± 0.65 ± 0.65 ± 0.651.64 1.64 2.00

± 0.92 ± 0.67 ± 0.782.44 2.33 2.44

± 1.51 ± 0.87 ± 1.13Winter 2 27 0.1311 0.9366

Post-uprate 2 36 0.0000 1.0000

Summer 2 33 2.1272 0.3452

All Events 2 60 1.3871 0.4998

Pre-uprate 2 24 2.3430 0.3099

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.6384 0.7267

Fish Egg Taxa

Post-uprate 2 36 1.1547 0.5614

Summer 2 33 3.4088 0.1819

All Events 2 60 3.3561 0.1867

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.8950 0.3877

Summer 2 33 1.6779 0.4322

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.7768 0.6782

Fish Larvae CPUE

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.9152 0.6328

Post-uprate 2 36 0.0524 0.9741

Table 66. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa and Catch

Per Unit Effort (CPUE) Among Areas for Larval Fish, Fish Eggs, and Commercially/Recreationally Important (CRI) Invertebrates Captured by Plankton Tows,

Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

Fish Larvae TaxaSampling


All Events 2 60 0.6909 0.7079

Table 66. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa and Catch

Per Unit Effort (CPUE) Among Areas for Larval Fish, Fish Eggs, and Commercially/Recreationally Important (CRI) Invertebrates Captured by Plankton Tows,

Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

SL1 SL2 SL3935.59 1104.26 896.93

± 1134.88 ± 2401.97 ± 1135.61495.21 471.33 1199.35

± 503.97 ± 519.55 ± 1708.811229.17 1526.21 695.31

± 1352.01 ± 3050.92 ± 508.34848.03 1605.82 985.33

± 1113.06 ± 3188.14 ± 1448.511042.60 491.23 788.87

± 1219.35 ± 478.02 ± 645.14

SL1 SL2 SL35.60 6.15 6.50

± 1.73 ± 1.84 ± 2.465.88 6.25 6.38

± 2.10 ± 2.38 ± 3.075.42 6.08 6.58

± 1.51 ± 1.51 ± 2.115.64 6.36 6.82

± 1.80 ± 2.11 ± 2.795.56 5.89 6.11

± 1.74 ± 1.54 ± 2.09

SL1 SL2 SL3146.70 280.98 169.04

± 103.08 ± 268.35 ± 128.45159.84 308.85 180.53

± 138.65 ± 263.24 ± 163.61137.94 262.40 161.37± 76.87 ± 281.69 ± 106.32131.44 326.60 146.56± 80.98 ± 301.35 ± 145.79165.35 225.22 196.50

± 127.77 ± 226.19 ± 105.24Winter 2 27 0.6772 0.7128

*Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Multiple Comparisons of Mean Ranks Post-hoc Test showed conflicting results. Mann-Whitney U Test results showed SL2 was significantly higher than SL1 and SL3, but SL1 vs SL3 were not significanlty different.

Post-uprate 2 36 1.5180 0.4681

Summer 2 33 6.4774 0.0392*

All Events 2 60 3.1957 0.2023

Pre-uprate 2 24 1.7550 0.4158

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 0.1986 0.9055

CRI Crustacean CPUE

Post-uprate 2 36 2.4290 0.2969

Summer 2 33 1.6094 0.4472

All Events 2 60 1.5902 0.4515

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.0635 0.9688

Sampling Period


Winter 2 27 2.1058 0.3489

CRI Crustacean Taxa

Post-uprate 2 36 1.0045 0.6052

Summer 2 33 0.0603 0.9703

All Events 2 60 0.9216 0.6308

Pre-uprate 2 24 0.6650 0.7171

Sampling Period


Fish Egg CPUE

Pre-uprate Post-uprate12.63 14.58± 7.39 ± 7.1012.00 14.17± 6.97 ± 4.9010.00 14.00± 3.21 ± 6.08


± 232.94 ± 146.31173.99 119.39

± 296.68 ± 101.7652.10 65.15

± 47.00 ± 38.84


± 1.77 ± 0.652.38 1.67

± 0.92 ± 0.653.00

± 0.76 1.67± 0.65


± 503.97 ± 1352.01471.33 1526.21

± 519.55 ± 3050.921199.35 695.31

± 1708.81 ± 508.34SL3 1 20 0.0536 0.8170

SL1 1 20 1.0060 0.3159

SL2 1 20 0.0238 0.8774

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 9.4869 0.0021

Fish Egg CPUE

SL1 1 20 0.8251 0.3637

SL2 1 20 3.2500 0.0714

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.8571 0.3545

Fish Egg Taxa

SL1 1 20 0.3810 0.5371

SL2 1 20 0.0952 0.7576

SL2 1 20 1.6267 0.2022

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 2.3917 0.1220

Fish Larvae CPUE

Table 67. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa and

Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) for Larval Fish, Fish Eggs, and Commercially/Recreationally Important (CRI) Invertebrates Captured by Plankton

Tows, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).

Fish Larvae TaxaSampling


SL1 1 20 0.1215 0.7274

Table 67. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Number of Taxa and

Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) for Larval Fish, Fish Eggs, and Commercially/Recreationally Important (CRI) Invertebrates Captured by Plankton

Tows, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One Standard Deviation (SD).


± 2.10 ± 1.516.25 6.08

± 2.38 ± 1.516.38 6.58

± 3.07 ± 2.11


± 138.65 ± 76.87308.85 262.40

± 263.24 ± 281.69180.53 161.37

± 163.61 ± 106.32SL3 1 20 0.0238 0.8774

SL1 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

SL2 1 20 0.2143 0.6434

Sampling Area


SL3 1 20 0.4396 0.5073

CRI Crustacean CPUE

SL1 1 20 0.1297 0.7187

SL2 1 20 0.0000 1.0000

Sampling Area


CRI Crustacean Taxa


Pre 166.52 185.42 1198.69 542.18Post 1492.16 3220.73 853.20 1883.53Pre 1029.55 944.38 1513.73 1124.33Post 986.64 282.27 522.02 588.14

938.81 1245.36 918.72 1034.36

Table 68. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per 100m3 of Water Filtered) for All Fish Eggs Captured by Plankton Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


Summer

Winter

Mean CPUE


Pre 128.57 253.18 169.04 183.81Post 123.51 346.93 134.37 205.59Pre 194.33 347.42 162.35 236.25Post 145.69 160.03 187.33 165.46

146.02 268.96 164.29 193.18

Table 69. Seasonal Comparison of CPUE (Number Collected per 100m3 of Water Filtered) for All

Commercially or Recreationally Important (CRI) Decapod Crustaceans Captured by Plankton Net, All Species Combined, Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate,


Summer

Winter

Mean CPUE

Season Pre- or Post- Uprate SL1 SL2 SL3 Mean

Pre 0.40 2.40 0.00 0.93Post 0.58 1.50 0.00 0.78Pre 0.33 3.50 0.00 1.28Post 1.40 2.50 0.10 1.33

0.71 2.32 0.03 1.05

Table 70. Seasonal Comparison of Number of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas ) Sighted per Kilometer of

Transect Surveyed Among Areas, Pre- and Post- Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015.

Summer

Winter

Mean

SL1 SL2 SL31.35 4.40

± 1.39 ± 3.57 0.05± 0.22

5.630.75 ± 3.85 0.00

± 0.71 ± 0.001.75 3.58

± 1.60 ± 3.29 0.08± 0.29

1.00 3.82± 1.18 ± 3.03 0.00

± 0.001.78 5.11

± 1.56 ± 4.23 0.11± 0.33

Winter 2 27 14.8101 0.0006

Post-uprate 2 36 15.6937 0.0004

Summer 2 33 17.2311 0.0002

All Events 2 60 32.3894 < 0.0001

Pre-uprate 2 24 17.9747 0.0001

Table 71. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Total Number of Sea Turtles

Observed Among Areas, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One

Standard Deviation (SD). Total Sea Turtles Observed Per Area

Sampling Period



± 0.71 ± 1.605.63 3.58

± 3.85 ± 3.290.00 0.08

± 0.00 ± 0.29SL3 1 20 0.6667 0.4142

SL1 1 20 2.0871 0.1486

SL2 1 20 1.5447 0.2139

Table 72. Results of Statistical Comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) of Total Number of Sea

Turtles Observed, Pre- and Post-Uprate, St. Lucie Plant EPU, August 2011 - February 2015. Means Are Presented For Each Area Plus or Minus One

Standard Deviation (SD). Total Sea Turtles Observed Per Area

Sampling Area


Florida Power & Light Company Biological Plan of Study … · 2015-11-18 · bumper, bonnethead...

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