Review of Round 1 Sediment Process Monitoring Data – Lessons Learnt
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Department of Energy and Climate Change Review of Round 1 sediment process monitoring data – lessons learnt A report for the Research Advisory Group Final Report 2008 Summary Environmental monitoring around the initial phase of offshore wind farm development has generated important evidence related to sediment processes. It has now been possible to review the available data and provide consideration to how the information develops our present understanding and to inform further and potentially larger developments. Three areas of information presently exist and relate to: (i) Suspended sediment concentrations monitoring the short-term disturbance during construction (ii) Local detailed surveys around individual turbine foundations to monitor scour (iii) Broader scale surveys to consider the general impact on seabed morphology from the wind farm as a whole In general, the available sediment monitoring evidence appears to support considerations made as part of the environmental impact assessment process. It is noted however, that the evidence base remains exclusive to mono-pile type developments and that initial conclusions are mainly formed from short-term monitoring. i Acknowledgements This research project has been prepared by senior scientists from ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and HR Wallingford Ltd. The principal authors were Bill Cooper (ABPmer), Jon Rees (CEFAS) and Tom Coates (HR Wallingford). The research has only been possible from the support received from offshore wind farm developers whose data and information has been kindly shared with the project team. The research was funded through the pan-Government Research Advisory Group (RAG), which facilitates a co-ordinated approach among the regulatory and funding bodies to address the key impact issues of Round 2 wind farms. The research falls within the subject area of Seabed and Coastal Processes. ii Acronyms and Abbreviations ABPmer ABP Marine Environmental Research ABS Acoustic Backscatter BERR Department for Business and Regulatory Reform CD Chart Datum CEFAS Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Science COWRIE Collaborative Offshore Wind Research into the Environment CPA Coast Protection Act DIMP Data and Information Management Plan DTI Department for Trade and Industry EIA Environmental Impact Assessment FEPA Food and Environmental Protection Act ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency MCEU Marine Consents & Environment Unit MDM Marine Data Management MFA Marine Fisheries Agency NASA National Aeronautics Space Administration NMMP National Marine Monitoring Programme OBS Optical Backscatter PML Plymouth Marine Laboratory PSA Particle Size Analysis RAG Research Advisory Group SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SSC Suspended sediment concentration UK United Kingdom UKMMAS United Kingdom Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy iii Review of Round 1 Sediment Process Monitoring Data Lessons Learnt Contents Summary.....................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... ii Distribution ................................................................................................................................. ii Acronyms and Abbreviations..................................................................................................... iii 1. Introduction....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background..................................................................................................................1 1.2 Research Co-ordination ...............................................................................................1 1.3 Project Aims.................................................................................................................2 2. Approach .......................................................................................................................3 2.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................3 2.2 Consent Conditions......................................................................................................4 2.3 Evidence Base .............................................................................................................6 2.4 Structure of Data Review .............................................................................................7 2.5 Data Review Issues .....................................................................................................8 3. Lessons Learnt..............................................................................................................9 3.1 Data management........................................................................................................9 3.2 Evidence Base .............................................................................................................9 3.3 Suspended Sediment Concentrations........................................................................10 3.4 Morphology ................................................................................................................13 3.5 Scour..........................................................................................................................15 4. Recommendations.......................................................................................................16 4.1 Recommendations for Appropriate Monitoring Strategies..........................................16 4.2 Recommendations for Further Research ...................................................................17 5. Consideration of Broader Scale Issues .......................................................................18 5.1 Related Strategic Monitoring Initiatives......................................................................20 6. References ..................................................................................................................22 Appendices A. Standard Data Request Letter B. Project Database C. Review of Suspended Sediment Concentrations D. Review of Seabed Morphology E. Review of Scour iv Review of Round 1 Sediment Process Monitoring Data Lessons Learnt Figures Figure 1. Schematic for offshore wind farm monitoring and review (after MCEU) ...........5 Figure 2. Standard folder structure for project database..................................................6 Figure 3. Example of seabed morphology at Scroby Sands..........................................14 Figure 4. Satellite images of reflectance at 555nm during 1998 in the North Sea, closely related to SPM concentrations........................................................................22 Tables Table 1. Built offshore wind farms .................................................................................6 Table 2. Status of data collation for the four operational Round 1 sites (date order) available at time of review................................................................................................7 Table 3. Present gaps in evidence base.......................................................................10 Table 4. Site-by-Site Summary of SSC monitoring evidence .......................................12 Table 5. Site-by-Site Summary of scour monitoring .....................................................15 Table 6. Assessment of Impacts on Coastal Processes (after BMT, 2002)..................19 Table 7. NMMP in-situ monitoring ................................................................................21 v Review of Round 1 Sediment Process Monitoring Data Lessons Learnt 1. Introduction 1.1 Background The UK has committed to challenging targets for energy production from renewable sources. In order to reach these targets it is expected that an increasing emphasis will be placed on production from sites located offshore. Offshore wind leads the way and has commenced with a first phase of size limited projects (Round 1) to provide experience to the industry and to develop an evidence base of understanding to support the succeeding phase of larger scale commercial projects (Round 2). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)1, established a Research Advisory Group (RAG) to consider research priorities in relation to the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind energy developments, and consequential impacts on other users of the sea. To assess the need for further research related to coastal processes, RAG established a sedimentation theme and organised a workshop in June 2005 to examine the issues. From this initial workshop three priority research projects were taken forward: • Review of Round 1 sediment process monitoring data – lessons learnt (SED01) • Dynamics of scour pits and scour protection (SED02) • Review of channel migration (SED06) 1.2 Research Co-ordination A consortium of research partners comprising ABPmer, CEFAS and HR Wallingford was commissioned to carry out both SED01 and SED02 projects, and with interim results from this work presented at a RAG Sedimentation Technical Review Workshop held on 17th January 2007, along with SED06 and two further related studies: • Review of cabling techniques and