Effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on Coastal Resources LESSONS LEARNED
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SPECIAL ISSUE ON UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ON FISHERIES Effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on Coastal Resources LESSONS LEARNED By Drew A. Carey, Dara H. Wilber, Lorraine B. Read, Marisa L. Guarinello, Matthew Griffin, and Steven Sabo 70 Oceanography | Vol.33, No.4 ABSTRACT. The Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm in the United ational users, adaptive monitoring based States, attracted intense interest and speculation about the effects of construction and on data and stakeholder feedback, and operation on valuable coastal resources. Four studies designed to address the ques- cooperative research with commercial tions raised were conducted over seven years as a requirement of the lease agreement fishermen. Sampling was based on meth- between the State of Rhode Island and the developer, Deepwater Wind Block Island. ods consistent with regional surveys The objectives of the studies were to separate the effects of construction and operation (e.g., ASMFC, 2015; Bonzek et al., 2017) on hard bottom habitats, demersal fish, lobster and crabs, and recreational boating from and included data on multiple metrics regional changes in conditions. Study elements included: early engagement with stake- to evaluate fish and fisheries resources. holders (fishermen and boaters), adaptive monitoring based on data and stakeholder Statistical considerations included strat- feedback, cooperative research with commercial fishermen, use of methods consistent ified random sampling within a before- with regional surveys, stratified random sampling within a before-after-control-impact after- control- impact (BACI) design, (BACI) design, power analysis (when possible) to determine sample size, and multiple using customized linear contrasts metrics to evaluate fish and fisheries resources. This combination of studies and ana- (e.g., Chevalier et al., 2019; Schad et al., lytical approaches evaluated multiple mechanisms by which potential effects could be 2020) and power analysis (when possi- detected. Lessons learned included practical guidance, for example, for collaborating ble) to determine sample size. with stakeholders and regional scientists to address concerns through adaptive mon- Sampling designs were developed itoring, quantifying uncertainty associated with BACI contrasts, and evaluating the through an iterative collaborative pro- duration of a seasonal lobster survey. Applying these lessons can improve monitoring cess with state and federal regulators at proposed larger-scale offshore wind projects in the United States. and stakeholders (commercial and recre- ational fishing and user groups) and direct INTRODUCTION tions about the potential effects of OSW meetings with local fishermen. Over The Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) construction and operation on a wide 20 meetings of these groups and 15 meet- offers the first opportunity to assess the variety of marine resources (RICRMC, ings with fishermen resulted in a coop- effects of offshore wind (OSW) develop- 2010). The four study designs summa- erative research design where fishermen ment on coastal resources in the north- rized here were required by the lease identified suitable sampling locations, eastern United States. “America’s First agreement, vetted by stakeholders and conducted the sampling with onboard Offshore Wind Farm” was constructed scientists, and represented the first scientists, and engaged in the inter- in 2015 and 2016 after an extensive sci- opportunity to evaluate fish and fisher- pretation of data. For each study, sam- entific data-gathering and stakeholder ies resources at an operating OSW proj- pling began before construction in refer- vetting process (RICRMC, 2010). The ect in the United States. Each study col- ence and potential-effect areas defined by pilot-scale project consists of five 6 MW lected data on multiple parameters and their proximity to the planned installa- turbines located within the state waters of compared effects of the project to refer- tion area. The locations and sizes of these Rhode Island 5.3 km from Block Island. ence areas prior to construction, during areas were scaled to the sampling method The turbines are within sight of commu- construction, and post-construction. A and expected effects; hence, they are dis- nities that depend on tourism and recre- timeline illustrates the overlap between tinctly named for each study (Table 1; ational fishing (H. Smith et al., 2018) and construction events and each of the four Figure 2). Hard bottom habitat (HBH) that rely upon the project for electricity studies (Figure 2). Detailed results of surveys of limited duration were con- and grid connection (Russell et al., 2020). these studies are presented in a series ducted during three sampling periods The BIWF is located close to rock reefs of technical reports and publications over 15 months, with planned sampling and intertidal habitats in an area with rel- (Guarinello et al., 2017; Guarinello and at three and five years post-construction atively low commercial fishing pressure Carey, 2020; Sabo et al., 2020; Wilber canceled with approval of state and fed- (RICRMC, 2010). This unique juxtapo- et al., 2020a,b), with more forthcoming. eral regulatory agencies based on initial sition of scale, location, resources, and Here, we critically examine study designs post- construction results. These surveys user interests influenced the design of the to identify lessons learned from assess- focused on HBH adjacent to the south- studies described here (Figure 1). ment of potential effects of the pilot-scale ern end of the wind farm using stratified The site selection and permitting pro- BIWF on multiple resources and stake- random sampling, with post- construction cess for the BIWF raised important ques- holders. These lessons can be applied to locations adaptively added based on planning and monitoring larger-scale results of multi beam echosounder OSW farms proposed for the northeast- (MBES) mapping. Demersal trawl sur- FACING PAGE. The INSPIRE team conducts ern United States. veys began two years and eight months demersal-trawl cooperative research aboard F/V Virginia Marise at the Block Island Wind Principles of study design included before construction, with monthly data Farm. Photo credit: Steven Sabo consultation with commercial and recre- collected from randomized trawl lines Oceanography | December 2020 71 for seven years in three areas identified as single observer on Block Island. HARD BOTTOM HABITAT suitable by commercial trawlers. Ventless BACI study designs offer a powerful Physically complex and limited in distri- lobster trap surveys began two years and tool for detecting environmental impacts bution in Rhode Island Sound (RICRMC, two months before construction, with because they account for both temporal 2010), HBH is critical for ecologically bimonthly data collected for seven years, and spatial changes (Underwood, 1992; and economically important taxa such in two locations with two areas each, E. Smith et al., 1993; Stewart-Oaten and as American lobster (Wahle and Steneck, which were identified by commercial Bence, 2001). Natural spatial heterogene- 1991), juvenile Atlantic cod (Gotceitas lobstermen. Each year, trawl locations ity was acknowledged early in the design and Brown, 1993), and longfin squid were randomly selected and revisited process and ameliorated by the inclusion (Griswold and Prezioso, 1981). Because every two weeks May through October. of two reference areas for each survey. these habitats provide stability and phys- Week-long recreational boating surveys Sampling frequency was designed for ical complexity, they are a focal point that focused on identifying the locations each survey, tailored to provide the sam- for regulatory conservation and mit- of fishing activity began one month before pling intensity needed for examining igation, but prior to BIWF, few OSW construction and continued across four potential impacts not only of wind farm farms have been located within 1 km years. They were timed around one or two operation but also of construction peri- of HBH (e.g., Wihelmsson and Malm, of the busiest recreational boating week- ods that included turbine installation and 2008; Roach et al., 2018). The BIWF was ends each year, with data collected from cable placement (Lindeboom et al., 2015; sited to avoid construction directly in three contiguous marine areas visible to a Dannheim et al., 2020). HBH, although one turbine was located FIGURE 1. The first offshore wind farm in the United States, Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) is unique in scale with five turbines 830 m apart. It is located near an island adjacent to natural reefs, an area where there is heavy recreational fishing use. Four studies related to fish and fisheries resources yielded important lessons on scale and duration for future monitoring efforts. WTG = wind turbine generator. 72 Oceanography | Vol.33, No.4 close to HBH (Figure 2; HDR, 2018). and drop camera stations. The August inferred physical stability (Guarinello and Because HBH is present in several pro- 2016 post-construction survey deter- Carey, 2020). In addition to our study, a posed US OSW areas, monitoring effects mined if disturbance features identified separate project recorded visual obser- of construction within these habitats is in the March 2016 survey recovered and vations of construction activities during important for potential mitigation of compared reference areas to the Impact each phase of the project, and MBES mon- OSW development.