Ecological Effects of the Moss Landing Powerplant Thermal Discharge A report submitted to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN) and Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation June 2006 Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 8272 Moss Landing Road Moss Landing CA 95039 Moss Landing Powerplant Thermal Discharge Effects 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary........................................................................................................4 1 Introduction..............................................................................................................6 2 Plankton ...................................................................................................................8 2.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................8 2.2 Previous Studies.....................................................................................................................9 2.3 Objectives .............................................................................................................................10 2.4 Methods.................................................................................................................................11 2.4.1 Sampling........................................................................................................................................11 2.4.2 Bacterial analysis ..........................................................................................................................11 2.4.3 Phytoplankton analysis.................................................................................................................12 2.4.4 Production and Respiration ..........................................................................................................13 2.4.5 Statistical analysis.........................................................................................................................13 2.5 Results ...................................................................................................................................14 2.5.1 Temperature ..................................................................................................................................14 2.5.2 Bacteria..........................................................................................................................................14 2.5.3 Phytoplankton ...............................................................................................................................15 2.5.4 Gross Primary Production and Community Dark Respiration...................................................16 2.6 Discussion .............................................................................................................................16 2.7 Literature Cited...................................................................................................................19 2.8 Tables and Figures ..............................................................................................................22 3 Benthos...................................................................................................................34 3.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................34 3.2 Objectives .............................................................................................................................35 3.3 Background ..........................................................................................................................36 3.3.1 Intertidal Ecological Background ................................................................................................36 3.3.2 Shallow Subtidal Ecological Background...................................................................................37 3.4 Methods.................................................................................................................................38 3.4.1 Intertidal Methods.........................................................................................................................38 3.4.2 Subtidal Methods ..........................................................................................................................40 3.5 Results ...................................................................................................................................41 3.5.1 Intertidal Results ...........................................................................................................................41 3.5.2 Subtidal Results.............................................................................................................................44 3.6 Discussion .............................................................................................................................47 3.6.1 Results of Study Objectives .........................................................................................................47 3.6.2 Discussion of Thermal Impacts....................................................................................................48 3.6.3 Intertidal Ecological Discussion ..................................................................................................50 3.6.4 Subtidal Ecology Discussion........................................................................................................54 3.7 Historical Data .....................................................................................................................58 3.8 Literature Cited...................................................................................................................60 3.9 Tables and Figures ..............................................................................................................65 Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Moss Landing Powerplant Thermal Discharge Effects 3 4 Fish.........................................................................................................................95 4.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................95 4.2 Historical Data .....................................................................................................................95 4.3 Bat Ray Observations .........................................................................................................97 4.4 Discussion .............................................................................................................................97 4.5 Literature Cited...................................................................................................................98 4.6 Tables and Figures ..............................................................................................................99 5 Birds .....................................................................................................................100 5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................100 5.1.1 Resident seabirds ........................................................................................................................100 5.1.2 Wintering birds ...........................................................................................................................100 5.1.3 Migratory seabirds ......................................................................................................................101 5.2 Methods...............................................................................................................................101 5.3 Results .................................................................................................................................102 5.3.1 Migratory season (May/June) ....................................................................................................102 5.3.2 Summer season (September)......................................................................................................103 5.3.3 Winter season (January/February) .............................................................................................103 5.4 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................104 5.5 Historical Database ...........................................................................................................106 5.6 Literature Cited.................................................................................................................106 5.7 Tables and Figures ............................................................................................................107 6 Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................112 Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Moss Landing Powerplant Thermal Discharge Effects 4 Executive Summary During the period 2002-2005 a study of the Moss Landing Power Plant was undertaken by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories under the auspices of the Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN) of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The study focused on plankton, sand beach and shallow subtidal benthos, and birds. The primary goals of the study were