The Effects of Turbidity and Suspended Sediments on ESA-Listed Species from Projects Occurring in the Greater Atlantic Region
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Greater Atlantic Region Policy Series 18-02 The Effects of Turbidity and Suspended Sediments on ESA-Listed Species from Projects Occurring in the Greater Atlantic Region Drafted November 2016 Published July 2018 Amanda Johnson Greater Atlantic Region Policy Series | NOAA Fisheries | Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office 55 Great Republic Drive | Gloucester, MA 01930 KEYWORDS Turbidity, Endangered Species Act, Environmental Impact The Greater Atlantic Region Policy Series is a secondary publication series based in the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in Gloucester, MA. Publications in this series include works in the areas of marine policy and marine policy analysis. Please visit www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/policyseries/ for more information. This document may be cited as: Johnson, A. 2018. The Effects of Turbidity and Suspended Sediments on ESA-Listed Species from Projects Occurring in the Greater Atlantic Region. Greater Atlantic Region Policy Series 18-02. NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office - www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/policyseries/. 106p. ii Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 7 STATEMENT OF ISSUE............................................................................................................... 7 TURBIDITY AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS ........................................................................ 10 Turbidity ................................................................................................................................... 10 Total Suspended Solids or Suspended Sediments .................................................................... 11 EFFECTS ON LISTED FISH ....................................................................................................... 11 Effects on Atlantic Salmon Adults and Juveniles ..................................................................... 13 Behavioral Responses ........................................................................................................... 16 Sub-Lethal (Physiological) Responses ................................................................................. 19 Lethal Responses .................................................................................................................. 22 Summary of Effects to Adult and Juvenile Salmonids ......................................................... 23 TSS Exposure Thresholds for Adult and Juvenile Salmonids .............................................. 24 Effects on Atlantic Salmon Early Life Stages .......................................................................... 26 Effects of Suspended Sediment ............................................................................................ 27 Effects of Sediment Deposition ............................................................................................ 29 Summary of Effects to Salmonid Eggs and Larvae .............................................................. 30 Effects on Sturgeon ................................................................................................................... 31 Behavioral Effects ................................................................................................................. 32 Sub-Lethal and Lethal Effects .............................................................................................. 34 Summary of Effects to Adult and Juvenile Sturgeon ............................................................ 35 Summary of Effects to Sturgeon Eggs and Larvae ............................................................... 38 Additional Considerations and Cumulative Effects on Salmon and Sturgeon ......................... 39 Environmental Conditions and Water Chemistry ................................................................. 39 Habitat Displacement ............................................................................................................ 42 Location and Timing of the Project ...................................................................................... 42 Known Movements and Habitat ........................................................................................... 42 Life Stages ............................................................................................................................ 42 Cumulative Effects................................................................................................................ 43 EFFECTS ON ESA-LISTED WHALES ...................................................................................... 46 Direct Effects ............................................................................................................................ 46 Other Effects ............................................................................................................................. 48 Summary of Effects on Listed Whales ..................................................................................... 49 2 EFFECTS ON ESA-LISTED SEA TURTLES ............................................................................ 49 Direct Effects ............................................................................................................................ 49 Other Effects ............................................................................................................................. 51 Summary of Effects on Sea Turtles .......................................................................................... 51 EFFECTS ON PREY SPECIES ................................................................................................... 51 Prey Species for Listed Fish ..................................................................................................... 51 Prey Species for Large Whales ................................................................................................. 54 Prey Species for Sea Turtles ..................................................................................................... 55 Summary of Effects to Prey Species ......................................................................................... 56 EFFECTS ON HABITAT............................................................................................................. 57 Fish Habitats ............................................................................................................................. 57 Atlantic Salmon Critical Habitat ............................................................................................... 57 Adult Spawning .................................................................................................................... 58 Embryo and Fry Development .............................................................................................. 59 Parr Development ................................................................................................................. 60 Adult Migration .................................................................................................................... 62 Smolt Migration .................................................................................................................... 62 Summary ............................................................................................................................... 63 Proposed Atlantic Sturgeon Critical Habitat ............................................................................. 63 Large Whale Habitats ............................................................................................................... 66 Sea Turtle Habitats .................................................................................................................... 68 ACTIVITIES THAT PRODUCE OR CHANGE TURBIDITY AND/OR TSS .......................... 69 Dredging ................................................................................................................................... 69 Mechanical Dredges.............................................................................................................. 71 Hydraulic Dredges ................................................................................................................ 72 Comparisons of TSS by Dredge Type .................................................................................. 74 Disposal of Dredged Material ............................................................................................... 76 Jetting/Jet Plowing .................................................................................................................... 78 Pile Installation and Removal ................................................................................................... 80 INFORMATION NEEDS FOR CONSULTATIONS THAT CONSIDER TURBIDITY AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT EFFECTS......................................................................................... 81 SUMMARY: THRESHOLDS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR RESPONSES OR ADVERSE EFFECTS ...................................................................................................................................... 83 Listed Fish ................................................................................................................................