29th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer SchoolOrlando

July 9, 2015

AquaTech Eco ConsultantsTampa, FL 33684

813-867-3600

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AquaTech Eco Consultants has over 16 years of experience with seagrass mitigation, restoration and research projects in Florida, the Caribbean Sea, Chesapeake Bay, and Texas

Project development and oversite

Staff have been involved with techniques that have been the subject of peer reviewed scientific research and publications by NOAA, FWCC and seagrass experts within the scientific community

Past projects have received various Environmental Awards

AquaTech Eco Consultants employs local laborers for product manufacturing and project implementation

AquaTech Eco Consultants uses both innovative and traditional technologies to increase overall viability of restoration and mitigation plans

Restoration partner of The Ocean Foundation for the SeaGrass Grow campaign along with Rock The Ocean

About AquaTech Eco Consultants

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Seagrass is important because:• Seagrass grows in beds and meadows in shallow coastal waters• Seagrass beds support one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet• Seagrass beds protect and nurture fisheries• Seagrass beds improve water quality• Seagrass beds protects coral reefs and mangrove systems• Seagrass beds protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges• Seagrass beds sustain thousands of plant and animal species including

many endangered species such as manatees and seahorses• Over a billion people live within 30 miles of a seagrass meadow• Millions of people obtain their protein from animals that live in seagrass• Seagrasses are the first line of defense along much of the world’s

coastlines, intercepting pollution that would harm the ocean

In Florida alone:• In 1950, is was estimated that Florida had over 5 million acres of seagrass.

Today, less than 500,000 acres exist.• In 1994, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined

that over 174,000 acres of prop scarring existed in Florida’s shallow coastal waters

• Some of the most severe scarring exists in the Florida Keys Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay

• Seagrass beds help support Florida’s $184 Million per year commercial fishing industry

Seagrass Overview

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Seagrass OverviewThe Value of Seagrass to the Environment – Carbon Sequestration• Seagrasses represent 15% of the total surplus carbon fixed in the global ocean.1 Keeping it protected

and restoring its abundance is important to storing carbon in the ocean. Any loss of seagrass is thus cause for concern, particularly given the very slow rate of recovery observed for many seagrass species.

• As perennial structures, seagrasses are one of the few marine ecosystems which store carbon for relatively long periods. 2

• Seagrass sequesters approximately 3.5x as much carbon as a pine tree forest = roughly 7.84 metric tons per year and can be fully grown in less than 2 years compared to 90 years

1 Duarte, Carlos M. and Carina L. Chiscano “Seagrass biomass and production: a reassessment” Aquatic Botany Volume 65, Issues 1-4, November 1999, Pages 159-1742 Green, Edmund P., and Frederick T. Short (Editors) World Atlas of Seagrasses (University of California Press, 2003) Page 15

Right: St. Petersburg, FL shown after a 1.25 meter rise in sea levels

Left: Tampa Bay shown after a 1.5 meter increase in sea levels

Source: Architecture 2030 – depicts estimated sea levels rise in the year 2030

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The Value of Seagrass to the Environment – Water Clarity

• Seagrasses protect the coast by trapping and stabilizing marine sediments, raising the sea floor at rates of 0.04 inch per year

• Seagrass dissipates wave energy and shelters coasts from storms• Seagrass is paramount to the natural cycling of runoff nutrients in near-shore areas, thus

removing excess nutrients from the ocean

Seagrass Overview

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Mitigation SolutionsCommon Shallow Water Seagrass Injuries

Propeller or Hull Scarring

• Formed by dredging effects from propellers or vessel hulls as boats travel over shallow banks

• Severity (width and depth) vary due to size of vessel and extent to which propeller or hull is forced into seagrass bed

Blowholes

• Concentrated force of propeller wash from grounded vessel powering off a bank or the prop wash from a salvage vessel pulling the grounded vessel off the bank

• May also occur in deeper waters due to dredging and construction activities

Berms

• Produced from sand, coral fragments and other substrate excavated during the creation of prop scars and blowholes that accumulate around the perimeter of an injury, burying healthy grass

• May also occur in deeper waters due to dredging and construction activities

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Mitigation SolutionsSuccessful Restoration of Propeller / Pipeline Scarring

Sediment Tube Technology (FPEIS)

Used on Propeller Scarring and Boat Groundings

Returns the injury site to grade

Made from biodegradable materials

Propeller Scar and Blowhole – Illustrative depiction of Restoration Activities

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Mitigation SolutionsSuccessful Restoration of Boat Groundings and Propeller / Pipeline Scarring

Used on Propeller Scarring and Boat Groundings

Returns the injury site to grade

Blowholes are filled with rock or sediment and capped with Sediment Tubes

Highly effective in low energy and high energy areas

Restoration complete in less than 24 months in most cases

Effective means for mitigation, shortens monitoring requirements

Useful Public Interest component to Mitigation Plans

Pipeline impact restoration and solutions for consent orders

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Mitigation SolutionsSite Selection

Prior to the decision to transplant, site selection should becarefully evaluated. In many cases where the injury wasmechanically derived, restoration can often be achieved, butmay also require engineering interventions to “fix” the site,such as filling excavation holes caused by vessel groundings. Proper filling designs should be used when adjusting the site

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Mitigation SolutionsSite Design

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Mitigation Solutions

• Traditional Buoys cause halos• Pole Buoys are more visible • Less maintenance• Engineered to withstand Cat 4 Hurricanes

Project Location Map:

Project Plan Map:

Project background:

The initial mapping effort occurred in June, 2009 while the second mapping effort occurred in September of 2009. To identify additional mitigation acreage as required by Miami-Dade County DERM Staff, a third survey was conducted in August, 2010. Aerial photography and direct observations were utilized to identify individual seagrass injuries within the selected mitigation sites. Seagrass injuries within the sites selected for restoration are hereafter referred to as restoration sites. During these three separate mapping efforts, over 2.5 acres of deep propeller scars (greater than 20 cm. deep) were mapped and surveyed for restoration options and inclusion in FPL's compensation plan. The intent was to demonstrate the ability to locate sufficient propeller scarring and vessel groundings in the selected mitigation areas.

Project Description:•Restoration of 111,078 square feet of prop scars using Sediment Tubes•Restoration of over 217,800 square feet of prop scars through the use of bird stakes •Enhancement of nearly 64,000 square feet of other damaged areas•Manufacturing of over 58,000 Sediment Tubes by Americans with Disabilities•Restoration of damaged essential fish habitat•Installation of 98 seagrass caution markers to help protect the Banks from further damage•Create public awareness of the importance of seagrass

Case Study: FP&L Mitigation Project

Project Update (Adam Gelber: ATKINS):• The sediment tubes installed in deep prop scars and blow holes were either visible or buried.

In both instances, seagrass was observed growing over the sediment tubes. Thus, this technique currently appears to be successful and no corrective action is recommended at this time.

• All sediment subsidence stations have satisfied the success criteria which states < 10 cm of sediment subsidence at sites that have been stabilized with sediment placement.

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Case Study: Isle of Wight, Chesapeake Bay

Site Description. The Isle of Wight is located in Assawoman Bay near Ocean City, Maryland. The island is part of the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources public land system managed by the Wildlife and Heritage Service. The Isle of Wight Road and Route 90, the Ocean City Expressway, one of the main access routes into the barrier island resort of Ocean City, divide the 0.8 km2 island. The island and surrounding waters on the north side of Route 90 are managed as a wildlife management area. The area south of Route 90 is managed as a day use recreation area by Worcester County. Extensive erosion along the southeastern shoreline resulted in development of a shore erosion control project by the USACE Baltimore District. The project would employ non-structural protection methods including a near shore low sill with tidal marsh and a larger protected area with more extensive tidal marsh with a public access pier. Construction of the shore protection project began in Spring 2003 and was completed in Fall 2004. Beds of Z. marina (eelgrass), were present within the proposed construction area.

Figure 2. Locations of donor and transplant sites near Isle of Wight, Chesapeake Bay.

Planting Operations. A demonstration project using the GUTS was developed to relocate a portion of the eelgrass from the construction area to a transplant site located along the southwest shore of the island where SAV was not present (Figure 2). One hundred sixty five sods approximately 1.2m by 1.5m and 20 cm thick were transplanted in September and October 2002. Monitoring was conducted immediately after transplanting and annually for 2 years following transplanting by BayLand Consultants & Designers, Inc.

Results•The original 165 transplants resulted in placement of 3,300 square feet of SAV in 2002.•The 2003 monitoring showed that the transplants had survived for the most part but had not yet reached the area on density of the original transplants.•The 2004 monitoring showed that the monitored transplants had expanded to approximately their original transplant area and density. Approximately half of the monitored transplants had SAV growth beyond the original four-feet by five-feet sods and began to take the form of a 27,000 square feet (0.6 acre) SAV bed.•In 2008 the transplants were indiscernible from the 5.3 acre SAV bed that encompassed the Transplant Site. •The 2008 SAV bed extended 50 to 200-feet beyond the boundary of the original East Transplant Area.•The bed extended from zero to 75-feet beyond the original West Transplant Area. The more narrowed bed was likely a result of the narrower transplant area and higher wave energy climate at the West Transplant Area.

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•Would a Seagrass and oyster mitigation bank be beneficial•How would a seagrass mitigation service area be established•Florida Keys Restoration Fund?•Private or state owned land (why can’t state land be used)•Protection like Aquaculture lease

Mitigation Banking

SeaGrass Grow Campaign

The Ocean Foundation (TOF) is a community foundation with a specialized practice. Its niche is providing high-end philanthropic advice for a community of donors who care about the coast and oceans. TOF's mission is to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of

destruction of ocean environments around the world. Its goal is to grow the financial resources available to support marine conservation. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, international public foundation.

All donations to the SeaGrass Grow Campaign will be made to the Seagrass Fund at:

For more information, please visit www.Oceanfdn.org

www.SeaGrassGrow.org

http://www.oceanfdn.org/index.php?tg=articles&topics=87

Tell us what you want to do for the ocean, we’ll take care of the rest

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