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Final Cape Wind Avian and Bat Monitoring Plan

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Final Cape Wind Avian and Bat Monitoring Plan Final Cape Wind Avian and Bat Monitoring Plan NANTUCKET SOUND, MASSACHUSETTS PREPARED FOR: Cape Wind Associates, LLC 20 Park Plaza, Suite 320 Boston, MA 02116 PREPARED BY: ESS Group, Inc. 100 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 Project No. E159-504 August 15, 2012 www.essgroup.com FINAL CAPE WIND AVIAN AND BAT MONITORING PLAN Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts Prepared For: Cape Wind Associates, LLC 20 Park Plaza, Suite 320 Boston, MA 02116 Prepared By: ESS Group, Inc. 100 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 ESS Project No. E159-504 August 15, 2012 © 2012 ESS Group, Inc. – This document or any part may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording without the express written consent of ESS Group, Inc. All rights reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Summary of Framework for Avian and Bat Monitoring Plan ................................................ 5 1.2 Permits Required to Implement ABMP.............................................................................. 7 2.0 PRE-CONSTRUCTION PROTOCOLS ......................................................................................... 8 2.1 Radio Telemetry............................................................................................................. 9 2.1.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 11 2.1.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 11 2.1.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 20 2.2 Avian Acoustic Monitoring ............................................................................................. 21 2.2.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 22 2.2.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 22 2.2.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 23 2.3 Anti-perching Monitoring ............................................................................................... 23 2.3.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 24 2.3.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 24 2.3.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 25 2.4 Bat Surveys ................................................................................................................. 25 2.4.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 26 2.4.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 27 2.4.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 30 2.5 Beached Bird Surveys .................................................................................................. 30 2.5.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 32 2.5.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 32 2.5.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 35 3.0 CONSTRUCTION MONITORING PROTOCOLS......................................................................... 35 4.0 POST-CONSTRUCTION MONITORING PROTOCOLS............................................................... 36 4.1 Radio Telemetry........................................................................................................... 36 4.1.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 36 4.1.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 36 4.1.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 37 4.2 Avian Acoustic Monitoring ............................................................................................. 39 4.2.1 Study Objective ............................................................................................. 39 4.2.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 39 4.2.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 39 4.3 Anti-perching Monitoring ............................................................................................... 40 4.3.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 40 4.3.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 40 4.3.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 40 4.4 Bat Surveys ................................................................................................................. 41 4.4.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 41 4.4.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 41 4.4.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 42 4.5 Beached Bird Surveys .................................................................................................. 44 4.5.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 44 4.5.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 44 4.5.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 44 4.6 NEXRAD Radar ........................................................................................................... 45 © 2012 ESS Group, Inc. j:\e159\avian-bat-monitoring-plan\abmp\cwa-abmp-08-15-12-final.doc TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 4.6.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 46 4.6.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 46 4.6.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 46 4.7 Abundance and Spatial Distribution Surveys ................................................................... 47 4.7.1 Study Objective ............................................................................................. 47 4.7.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 47 4.7.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 49 4.8 Boat Surveys ............................................................................................................... 52 4.8.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 52 4.8.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 52 4.8.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 54 4.9 Marine Surveillance Radar and Visual Surveys ............................................................... 54 4.9.1 Study Objectives............................................................................................ 54 4.9.2 Methods and Schedule................................................................................... 54 4.9.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 55 5.0 REPORTING ........................................................................................................................... 56 6.0 SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................. 57 7.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 58 TABLES Table 1 List of Permits Required to Implement ABMP Table 2 Preconstruction Monitoring Schedule 2012 Table 3 Recommended Radio Tags for Radio Telemetry Study FIGURES Figure 1 Locus Map Figure 2 ABMP Conceptual Model Figure 3 Density of Terns Regression Analysis for Distance Northeast of Project Area. Figure 4 Glue-on Back Transmitter Figure 5 Pre-Construction Locations for Automated Radio Tracking System Figure 6 Common and Roseate Tern Staging Areas Figure 7 Conceptual Bat Survey Routes Figure 8 Proposed Test and Control Beaches for Beached Bird Surveys Figure 9 Sample Beached Bird Photo Figure 10 Power Analysis for Number of Radio Tags to be used in Post-Construction Study Figure 11 Post-Construction Locations for Automated Radio Tracking
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