Ecological Effects of Wave Energy Development in the Pacific Northwest A Scientific Workshop, October 11–12, 2007 George W. Boehlert, Gregory R. McMurray, and Cathryn E. Tortorici, editors U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-92 Ecological Effects of Wave Energy Development in the Pacific Northwest A Scientific Workshop, October 11–12, 2007 George W. Boehlert1, Gregory R. McMurray2, and Cathryn E. Tortorici3, editors Workshop Steering Committee: George Boehlert, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center; Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition; Maurice Hill, U.S. Minerals Management Service; Justin Klure, Oregon Wave Energy Trust; Greg McMurray, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development; John Meyer, Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea, OSU; Cathy Tortorici, NOAA-NMFS 1Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, Oregon 97365 2Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, Ocean and Coastal Services Division, 635 Capitol Street NE, Suite 150, Salem, Oregon 97301-2540 3NOAA-NMFS Northwest Region, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97232 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-92 September 2008 U.S. Department of Commerce Carlos M. Gutiérrez, Secretary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.) Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere National Marine Fisheries Service James W. Balsiger, Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Suggested citation: Boehlert, G. W, G. R. McMurray, and C. E. Tortorici (editors). 2008. Ecological effects of wave energy in the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Dept. Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-92, 174 p. A copy of this report may be obtained from: Northwest Fisheries Science Center NMFS, NOAA 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, Washington 98112 Or online at: http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/tm/ ii Contents Executive Summary......................................................................................................................................v Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................ix Introduction and Workshop Objectives George W. Boehlert, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center.........................................1 Presentations—Extended Abstracts ..............................................................................................................5 Wave Energy Interest in the Oregon Coast: Policy and Economic Considerations Justin Klure, Oregon Wave Energy Trust.................................................................................................5 The Oregon Shelf/California Current System’s Ecological Setting Bill Peterson, NOAA-NMFS, NWFSC......................................................................................................7 The Technology: Wave Energy Development on the West Coast Mirko Previsic, re vision consulting, LLC..............................................................................................15 Environmental Risk Analysis and Wave Energy: Examples of How to Assess Potential Impacts of Wave Energy on the Environment Maurice L. Hill and Fred M. Piltz, U.S. Minerals Management Service ...............................................22 Wave Energy Ecological Effects Workshop Ecological Assessment Briefing Paper Gregory McMurray, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development..................................25 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................25 The Technology......................................................................................................................................25 The Affected Environment: Oregon’s Continental Shelf .......................................................................32 Environmental Effects ............................................................................................................................51 Bibliography and Literature Cited..........................................................................................................63 Breakout Groups .........................................................................................................................................67 Introduction to the Breakout Groups John Meyer, Oregon State University, and Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition.................................................................................................................................................67 Receptor Breakout Group Report: The Physical Environment ..............................................................69 Receptor Breakout Group Report: Pelagic Habitat.................................................................................74 Receptor Breakout Group Report: Benthic Habitat................................................................................ 78 Receptor Breakout Group Report: Fish and Fisheries............................................................................84 Receptor Breakout Group Report: Marine Birds....................................................................................89 Receptor Breakout Group Report: Marine Mammals.............................................................................95 Stressor Breakout Group Report: Energy Absorbing Structures..........................................................101 Stressor Breakout Group Report: Chemical Effects.............................................................................106 Stressor Breakout Group Report: Hard Structures and Lighting..........................................................110 Stressor Breakout Group Report: Acoustics.........................................................................................114 Stressor Breakout Group Report: Electromagnetic Effects ..................................................................121 Breakout Group Report: System View and Cumulative Effects ..........................................................125 Workshop Integration and Synthesis Cathy Tortorici, NOAA-NMFS .................................................................................................................133 Glossary, Abbreviations, and Acronyms ..................................................................................................139 Appendix 1: Workshop Agenda...............................................................................................................147 iii Appendix 2: Ecological Effects of Wave Energy Development in the Pacific Northwest: Prospectus for a Science Workshop..........................................................................................................149 Appendix 3: Workshop Participants ........................................................................................................153 Appendix 4: Keynote Address— Ocean Zoning: Implications for Wave Energy Development (WED) Richard G. Hildreth ..................................................................................................................................159 Appendix 5: Environmental Consequences of Wave Energy Extraction along the Shores of the U.S. Pacific Northwest: The Physical Environment .........................................................................................163 iv Executive Summary Background wave energy technologies being considered, and frameworks for environmental risk analysis The Pacific Northwest has significant (which were adopted for this workshop) set the opportunity to develop the capacity to harvest stage for a common understanding among wave energy off its coast as a clean, renewable participants. This was followed by a series of resource. While the technology and interest is breakout sessions to address these questions: advancing rapidly, it is important to understand the potential effects of wave energy technology ! What is known about important wave on the ecological and physical components of energy facilities, their associated coastal ecosystems. A workshop to address components (such as cables, anchors, these issues was organized at Oregon State and buoys), and their effect on the University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in physical and biological systems? Newport, Oregon, on October 11–12, 2007. The ! What is unknown about these workshop’s problem statement was as follows: relationships, and what are key information gaps? The conversion of ocean waves into electricity has the potential to provide ! What is the level of uncertainty or clean, reliable, and low-cost electricity agreement among scientists about these to the economy while producing minimal interactions? impacts on the environment. However, in order for wave energy to develop and ! Can we prioritize important ecological fulfill these assumptions, we must issues (e.g., key interactions)? reduce the uncertainties about the ! What studies, monitoring, or mitigation technology's effects on the marine measures should be employed to help environment. We must assess the minimize or better understand effects? potential environmental impacts of wave energy, determine what is known and Two sets of breakout sessions were unknown, and identify a rigorous set of convened. The first dealt with “receptors,”