HomeMy WebLinkAbout20041689 Ver 2_USFWS Comments_20200304United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
GUIDELINES FOR AVOIDING IMPACTS TO THE WEST INDIAN MANATEE
Precautionary Measures for Construction Activities in North Carolina Waters
The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), also known as the Florida manatee, is a Federally -listed
endangered aquatic mammal protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.0 1461 et seq.). The
manatee is also listed as endangered under the North Carolina Endangered Species Act of 1987 (Article
25 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the lead
Federal agency responsible for the protection and recovery of the West Indian manatee under the
provisions of the Endangered Species Act.
Adult manatees average 10 feet long and weigh about 2,200 pounds, although some individuals have been
recorded at lengths greater than 13 feet and weighing as much as 3,500 pounds. Manatees are commonly
found in fresh, brackish, or marine water habitats, including shallow coastal bays, lagoons, estuaries, and
inland rivers of varying salinity extremes. Manatees spend much of their time underwater or partly
submerged, making them difficult to detect even in shallow water. While the manatee's principal
stronghold in the United States is Florida, the species is considered a seasonal inhabitant of North
Carolina with most occurrences reported from June through October.
To protect manatees in North Carolina, the Service's Raleigh Field Office has prepared precautionary
measures for general construction activities in waters used by the species. Implementation of these
measures will allow in -water projects which do not require blasting to proceed without adverse impacts to
manatees. In addition, inclusion of these guidelines as conservation measures in a Biological Assessment
or Biological Evaluation, or as part of the determination of impacts on the manatee in an environmental
document prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, will expedite the Service's review
of the document for the fulfillment of requirements under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
These measures include:
1 The project manager and/or contractor will inform all personnel associated with the project that
manatees may be present in the project area, and the need to avoid any harm to these endangered
mammals. The project manager will ensure that all construction personnel know the general appearance
of the species and their habit of moving about completely or partially submerged in shallow water. All
construction personnel will be informed that they are responsible for observing water -related activities for
the presence of manatees.
2. The project manager and/or the contractor will advise all construction personnel that there are civil and
criminal penalties for harming, harassing, or killing manatees which are protected under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
3. If a manatee is seen within 100 yards of the active construction and/or dredging operation or vessel
movement, all appropriate precautions will be implemented to ensure protection of the manatee. These
precautions will include the immediate shutdown of moving equipment if a manatee comes within 50 feet
of the operational area of the equipment. Activities will not resume until the manatee has departed the
project area on its own volition (i.e., it may not be herded or harassed from the area).
4. Any collision with and/or injury to a manatee will be reported immediately. The report must be made
to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (ph. 919-856-4520), the National Marine Fisheries Service (ph. 252-
728-8762), and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (ph. 252-448-1546).
5. A sign will be posted in all vessels associated with the project where it is clearly visible to the vessel
operator. The sign should state:
CAUTION: The endangered manatee may occur in these waters during the warmer months,
primarily from June through October. Idle speed is required if operating this vessel in shallow
water during these months. All equipment must be shut down if a manatee comes within 50 feet
of the vessel or operating equipment. A collision with and/or injury to the manatee must be
reported immediately to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (919-856-4520), the National Marine
Fisheries Service (252-728-8762), and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (252-
448-1546).
6. The contractor will maintain a log detailing sightings, collisions, and/or injuries to manatees during
project activities. Upon completion of the action, the project manager will prepare a report which
summarizes all information on manatees encountered and submit the report to the Service's Raleigh Field
Office.
7. All vessels associated with the construction project will operate at "no wake/idle" speeds at all times
while in water where the draft of the vessel provides less than a four foot clearance from the bottom. All
vessels will follow routes of deep water whenever possible.
8. If siltation barriers must be placed in shallow water, these barriers will be: (a) made of material in
which manatees cannot become entangled; (b) secured in a manner that they cannot break free and
entangle manatees; and, (c) regularly monitored to ensure that manatees have not become entangled.
Barriers will be placed in a manner to allow manatees entry to or exit from essential habitat.
Prepared by (rev. 02/2017):
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
919/856-4520
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Figure 1. The whole body of the West Indian manatee may be visible in clear water; but in the dark and
muddy waters of coastal North Carolina, one normally sees only a small part of the head when the
manatee raises its nose to breathe.
, 73
Illustration used with the permission of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences.
Source: Clark, M. K. 1987. Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Fauna of North Carolina: Part I. A re-
evaluation of the mammals. Occasional Papers of the North Carolina Biological Survey 1987-3. North
Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences. Raleigh, NC. pp. 52.
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