20160988 Ver 1_SAW99-BO-govt dredge plant_19990309

Mr. C. E. Shuford, Jr., P.H.
Chiclfl Toohnica:l Sarvicses Llivisian
Wilmington District Clarpss of F nginaars
F.C. Box 1890
Wilmington, NC 284(11-1890
Desan Mr. Shufbrd:
UNITED STATES OEPARTIMENTI OF COMMERDS
National Oceanic and A tmoel pharlic A c ministration
NATION AL MARIN 8 F19 BFUE9 SERVIC9
Southeast Rlagsional Offncla
5 721 Elxacoutive Centar Drivel North)
St. F atersburg, FL 33702
[phone]; FLAN 57(1-`_1517
MAR 9 '1991 Hj1SERII3:EGHI:ts
This letller responds to your letter to me dated July 1, 1195 f and enclosed Biological Assesnrrlelnl
(HA). Yours BA, submlittad pursuant to Endangerad Species Aul (ESA) ssesctian , consultal ion
raquiramlants, assasses tha usa of tha L .S. Army Corps of Einginearsl (CC El' sidaclasl dredgcis
HRY, MERRITT and SCIHIWEIZERII, and tha slplit-hull hopper dredge CLRRITUCK in United
Statas aaasted waters). Additional, ravised irfarrration was submitllad to This afficia on MaiiaH 2,
1955.
Proposed A(illian
Thlisi corsu:llation addrassas the use aflthe sidacsast dredges) HRIY, MERRITT and SCHWEIaEIR
and the split -hull Hopper dredge CIURRI'DUCK, to maintain shallow, coastal inlet nav>igatior
clhlannel;I along the eastern saabaak of the United States. These slplecializad dredge pllant:I are
aurranlly wicid primarily by the WilmlirEllon Eistr:iat Corps aflEnElinaelrs at many locations in
Worth Carolina but also ocamianally ellsawhera along the eastern) seaboard. T orma:lly, they are
ussad in: 1) ;shallow coastal inlets whlich ciannot be dradack siaflsly or (sffdcitively with
commaraially available dradgasl, 2) during emlarlaanaies, ar 3; when an ujgclnl and comple:llinEl
need axists for cslearing out a navigatian channel, suahl as pleriods when rallid shoaling has
occurred, a navigalior Hazak may axis), and thera is insufficsient lime la contract commercial
drag gess.
'Dhel sidecast dradgasl FRAY and MERRITT eacsh have Iwo drag arms), once or eacsh side, 1hal
vacsuum the sedimanl through) l 0 -inch) inlake psipas as thle arrr. s drag along thle bottom. Tha
sedimant is pumped through a combined 12 -inch disaharge piple that is above thea water surfacse
and panpandicoular la the drag ga. The SCHWE 121ER is laid out similarly but its dredge suction
piples arcs 114 :inchasl in diamater and combined discharge pliple) :is 16 inahcssl in diametar. In all
threw dredgas the discharge pliple axlends about 60 feet beyord thle side aflthle dredge. This pipe
distance and force from thle llumpss genarally rasults in the sediment baing deplasitcsd 851 to 100
feet from the dreldga. The sed:imlant is disohargad on the side of the channel whera the
predaminant currents would tand to move the sedimanl away from the clhlannal.
C gyp ATM0.5gyEq
�ArMENT Oi ��

The sp! it -hull hoppar dredge CL RRITUCK has drag arm; s imilar to a s:idacasil dredges, but the
sadiment i; purripac into lha dredga's hoppeti. The watar in lha hoppcir is ovarfllowed to pravicci
an acor.iorn is loac of ,iand, sinice the dredged slurry enitening thci hloppar cor.itainsi about 20% s ar.ic
and 80% water. Once thle hopper is fuail of sarc (aboul 30(I cubic yards), thla sediment is taken to
nearshara ocean waters (normaally 6 to 10 below f✓acR maar low walem) whara the spl:iI -hu:lI hloppar
isi openied and tha sediments asci durripoc .
Tllesia vessels opcirate yeah -round to dradge arc ma: ntai n shallow nava gal i on chlartn els w i thl
c apthls bdwaani 4 facrt and 14 facit balcw+ mciar low walar. Vassahi opcmate w: thout sea turfla
dafllecitcros on lhci dragllaads, and nava na sarcieninig or observiens. Draghead suction isi praducad
by use ofldredgei pumps avaraging 33(1•hotisapower, with a maxa:irrium horsepower afl4(10. Tha
draghciad sizes tiange from appromimataly 2 f6d by 2 firiet to 2 feat by 3 facet. The draghaac
apanings ara furthlar subdivided an thlair undensiidas by griidded baff us, withl openings ranging
from aboul 5 inahas by 9 inichlesi to _`I inicihles by 8, riches. Thlese bafflas rastriat the siize cif abjacts
whlich cian entar the dradga draghciad.
Listed 'Speai cis am d Cri ll i cal Habi tall
Llistad spaeies undeni the jttrisdiation of the NMFS that may occur in channels along tha
south awiterri U nited Statos ar d which rr ay be affbcted by dreidging i nciluc ei:
THREATFINEE :
(1) the loggerhead turtle - Carne tta aamha
EN DANC EIRE D :
(11) tha right NN Hale - Euba& Bina gJaaaalisi
(2) tha hlumpbaak whal a - Megapteria no v c eic nghiae
(3) the graeni tur lla - Chelonia myaas
Nota: grean turtles : n U.S. waters area :listad asi tlueatanac, axacipl for the Hloriida breeding
popu:l ationi whi all is :I i stad asi endangarad.
(4; the Kemp'si ridley turtle -1 epiidocht 41 s kemt HI
(3; thle hlawklsbiII turtle - Ereilmochelys iimbiuiccta
(1E; the shlortnose sturgeon-Acipenseir tlneWinostrunt
Additianal andangered spacies whlichl arca krlawn to aaciur along the Atlartici coasil include the
fir.ibackl (Balatinopteric physalwi), lha sai (BalaeinopteinG borcahis), and sparm (Physieiteri
macrnocephalus) whlales and lha loathlerbackl sea turtle (Denmochelysi coniactia). NMAS has
daterm:inad thlat thlasa sipaaiesi are unliklaly to ba advetisialy affecded by tha praposed dredge vessal
activities because thay ara unlikely to ba encountered in the shlal l aw , aoam al inlet watars that
typify the projaot arcias.
2

Right w1lale critical hallitat oveirlaps porticinsi of lhei project arca. There ane five wcill-knciwr
Habitats used annually By r:igHt wHalcis irciludir.g: 1) coastal Porida and Ceicrg:ia, :I) thlei Greiat
South C hannell, ciast of Cape C od, 3; Capel Cod and Massachusetts bays, 4) tha Bay cif Fundy, and
5) Browns and Baccano Banks, south cif Nova Scotia. Tha first three aneias occur in U.S. walers
and Have Eleien designated Ely NMFIS as critical hallitat (f151 ARI, 287513, June 3, 1994).
Biological information an thei righlt whlala and hlumpbacY whale is included by rciftireircie la the
August 25, 1995 Biological Cpinicn on Happeri dredg:ing in the southeastcm Unitcd States, and
thle NMP9 recovery plans for righlt whlales and humpElack whlak s (NMF 9 15191 a; :I S119111). the
fkl lowi ng di scussi tins focus primarily an vessel i r. tenacl ior. s with wHall a s.
kl�lht Whalc s:
New :information Has recently Ile come availab:lc or the rigHt w1lale papulalion. A progression cifI
discussions and analysis has cccurrcd during HSA suct:icin 'a consu:llation; conducted in 15195 and
1996 on vcssel and airicrafll opeuiations oflthe U.S. Coast Guard, and lhei proseculion oflnortHeasl
At11an1ic fishcrieis far Amcriican:IoHsler and multi •-speciies, conccming the population trend for
the northlern right whale. Thle currcnt conclusion is that it remains unknawn whetHeii or not thle
population is shawing a decline, or whether the population growth iiatc hlais rema:intd at ai
constant iiatc of 2._`I% or at a constant, but lows r date. The 1996 NMAS draft stock asses smc n1
rcport indicala: that thle siizc oflthis population rriaiy have bcien as ]cw as _`IO at Ilio turn of the
ce n tur31, w1lichl s uggc stsi thlat the specie s may be sillawin g siigns ofl a slow recovery to thle current
cstimaite of129fl. Howeiver, ai recent slait:isit:ical analysis based an cuneir.t trcndsi :in right whale
mortality prcdictsi that the northern night whale population hi doamied to extinction and ca:lculatesi
thorn cxtircition dale as :1189 (Casiwel:l et ail 1999 in press). Other righl whale rcisiearchcrsi havc
cixpresisie d thlci:ir daubtsi as la the a ffi cacy cf 1 curre r. t acnsierviait:i cm rrie wiurc si lo prevent c x1 i r. ation
oftEle northlerni right wha:Ic population (Slay 19951, plcirsior.al commiuniaat:icin). In any evert, thle
tunic nt ,irrizill papulal ion ,iize con biinc c w:ilh thle:ir low reprcduclive rale siu�lgc sit than
anthropogenic impacts maty have a gre atc r effect on thlisi sipacic s tElan othler cindangeric d whla:lc s
siutject to the mme impaictsi.
Anthrapogenic cavies oflright whale rriarality are disicusscd in detail in Krausi (1990; wi well ais
in NNF1S (:151511a). Shlip cc:Ilisicnsi and er.langlementsi aiiei thci most common dint ct ceusiesi of
mortality icer.tified duaughl right whlaac s1rancin€lsi. Twenty percent of all right whale mortalitics
obscrvcd between 1970 and 19851 wort caused by vesisiel eallisiions/inleracticnsi with) ri€lht wHalles.
An additional 8% of thesie mcrtelities are siuspected tc Have resultcd fiicn vesisiell collision.
As ai resiult cflthle potential fkir irteraalionsi bctwecn vessie:lsi enc right whelesi from December
through Marah in the calving area cfflGeorgia and northerri Alorida, aerial siurveys fenced Ely the
COB, N avy and USCC Have Neon implemc me d as tht righlt whlalt early warning systc mi. Thies e
siurvcysi arca conduated to identify 1he occurnencci and disitributicn afIright whalesi in lhei vicinity, of
sihi Fl channel si in the wintc r Elrc adi ng area; and to n otify newel y ve ssiel apt rail ora of I whlalc s in their
path. Date ao]lectcd during thest survieysi indicate that righlt whale ane oHsierveic off I Savannah,
3

Georgia, in Deccmbeir and Marchi, and arc relaitivel) abundant butweiein Brunswick, Ceiorg:ia,
south) to C apes Canaveral from Deccimbeir thiiough Marsh. Dw ing easy 1995, a right Wflale Was
also observed by shlipboard obscirvcrs cifflMorehlead City, Norlh Caiicilir.ai.
Hum pbacik Whaa cis:
The Humpback WY elle Reicovary Alan (NMFS 19911 b) identifiieis entanglement and ship ciallisions
as potcinlial sources of m srtality, and dislurbanaei, habiilat dcgradalion, and ciompalition with
(iommarciial fishcrieis as potential factors dela) ing reicoveiry of the speciieis.
Until recently, humpback whales in the mid- and south) Atlantic wcrci conis:idarcid transiieir.its. Flew
weirei seen during maria] surve) s esnducteid over a deicade ago (Shoop et al., 15182). Hawevar,
sir.icie 1989, sightings of fcieding juvciniile humpbacks Have ir.icireiaseid along the cioasts oft Virginia
and North) Carolina, peaking during the months of 3anuary through March in 15191 and 15192
(Swingle cit al., 1519=1). Shipboard sbservations conducted during daylight hours during drudging
aslivit:ieis in the Morehead City Harbor cintranca channel during January and FlebrciarM 15195
dociumented sigHtings of young Humpback whalas on al ;Iciasl six days nciaai the allannal and
disposal area, thiiough January 22, 1995. Threci hlumpbacikl stiandings wcrei documented in North)
Carolina ir thal year, one eiach in Aabruary, Marchi, and April, suggesting thal humpback wHalcis
remaincid within South Atlant:ici waters thiiough April.
Swingle eit al. (1993) identify] a shift in diistr:ibuticn cifljuvar.iile humpback wheiles in 11 ei nearshore
walers ofNirginia, primarily in wintar moriths. Those whales using this mid-Atlantic areia that
flava becin identifieid ware found is ba residents of lflei Gulf of Mair.ia feeding group; suggesting a
sh:ifl in distnibutiicin that may bci related 1c wi nteir prey availability. In cor.iciert with tf ei :incnciase in
mid -Atlantis whale sightings, stnand:ings of Humpback) whales Have incirciascid beitwaein Nava
Jsrsey and Florida since 1985. Strandings wera most fiiequant during the mionths of Seiptember
thilaugh April in North Carolina and Virginia waters, and weirs somposcid primarily of juven:ilei
Humpback whales oflno more than 11 meiters in length) (Wiley et G1. 15195). Sim of 181
flumpbacks (=13 pcmcant) for which 1Ha cause of mortality was determined wane killad by vessel
strikcis. Ar, additional humpback had scars and bore fraclujes ir.ic icative ofla previous vessel
strika that may hava contributad to 1Ha whale's mortality. Sixty, peiicent cif 1Hose miortaliticis theft
wena closely investigated showed signs of cinlanglement or vessel collision (Wiley eit al., 1993).
Sea Turtles:
Information on the biology and d:istr:ibuticn oflscia turtleis can be found :in the 19511 and 119515
Bicicgiieal Opinions on hloppar dredging in chlannels and bonow arcias, which are inccrporatad by
reiftirence. Channel spociif a information Elms beieni (iolIectsd b) the CC B for chlannals at Moiiehlaad
City, CHarlaston, Savannah, Brunswick, Aernandina and Canavenal, and is pnasentad in detail :in
CCE summary neport enititlad "Asscissmenit sflSea Turtle Aburidancei :in Sias South Atlaritic U.S.
Channels" (Diickemson eitl al. 1994) and in the C CE's Biological Assessment. Information cin lhei
4

biolagy and c istribution oflrighlt whales and humpback whlalcis can be fbund :in thea 1991 and
1995 Biological Cpiniaw as well. There is no significant nciw infbrmatian raganding thle stalus
of l sea turtici spciai e: that hlas niat becin di saus sere in thea Biological C psi ni ons that Have b clan
inaarporatcic by referenicci.
Sturgaons:
Sflarinose sturgeon are found in river:, eistuar.kis, and lhlei seia, but population., are aonfiineic
mostly to niatal river: and eistuar:icis. The ,pciaieE appears la be cistuar..'inc anadrorricus in the
soutf. arn. plait ofIits range, but in some ncnhearn rivers it is "fre.hwatcir amplhidrarr.aus," ix.,
adu:lls spawn in freshwaileir but rcigularly enitcir saltwater Habitats during their life. Adult: in
south earn river: forages al the initerfaaei of fresh tidal vaater and saline eastuariie., and enter the upper
neaaheas oflrivers to spawn in early ,prang (NMAS 1998).
Thea uses oflsalinae habitat varies greasily among northern populations. In the Said Jalid and
Buc sora rivers, ac u:lls acaur in b othl freashwater and upper tidal saline areas all year. 'Ilhis
situation may also axisil in Thea Keanneabeac River syslem where, during summear, ,arra adults fbrage
in the salines estuary while others forage in freshwalear reachleas. In Thea Delaware, Mcarriamiackl and
Conneacticul Rivers , adu:ll s remain in fres hwater all year but s ora ea adults blr.'caf ly enter l ow
saliniq river rciachles in May -June lhear, return upriver. Some adulls flavea been aapltured in
nearshlorea marinca hlablital, but this is not well documented. Many tagging and telcametry studies in
n:iwirs lhnioughcut the species ranges indicate That ilhcase fish nieamain in their natal river or lllea
raver s eastuary (N MAS 19981).
Thee final recovery plan for thlei shartnose sturgeon (NMFS 19981b) givers the aunent, best
avai lab:1 ea information a on 1 hca distribution and abundancia of s horn nos ea sturgeon, and is
incarporatead flewin by reafcarear.aae. Bowever, in 11 ea plrojeal arena, lhca Carle Rear Rivera, North
Carolina, sharinose sturgeon population woulc be 11 ea mosl :likaly to bca affealead by thea plrcposead
dredging activitieas. No other shortnose sturgeon populations arca kdawn from Narih Carolina,
which is w heare rr ost of the mai r.al en ance d readgi ng by the vcass eels conasi dciread in this aonsultal i on
Has hl:istorically occuned and wall aantinuc.
Effects of th e F nopos(id A ction
Effcacts on Sca Turtles
Thea conastrualion and mainlenaance oflFuc coral navigaliona channe:lsi by hopper dredges have bean
sic entified as a souraci of turtles mortality. NMAS has preaviiawly consulted on thea use of Hoplpear
dredges in southeastern United Stales chlanneh and bonaow, areas, and Gulf aflMexiao channels.
The November 2-I, 1991 biological opinion issued to the COE si South Atlanlic Divi,, ion (1IAD)
fbund that continued hopper dredging aalivity was :likaly to jeoplardize lhlea ccntinucd exhleance cfl
11 ea Keamp's ridleay sena lurtle. Thea reasonable and prudent alternative issuad wilh the 1991

biological opinion included 11 o pltohibition of hopper drodg:ing in ilho Canavcmal (ihlannel
ff lomida), soasanal mestriailions which allowcid flapper dradgiing from Decamibar though Marchi :in
ahannals from North Clajolina Through Canaveral, or use aflalilornatva diiedges in all southoasilorn
U.S. chlannalsi.
In addition ilo happcm dradgas, clarrishlell, sideaast and pipciline dradgas are all used la drodgci and
maintain navigation ahannahi. Pipellino and alamsholl drodacis are iielalive:ly stationarM, and
11arafora act on only small] arias at any given times. Ctlserver coverage was ragwirad at piipolino
outf ows during sevcmal driedging pmojecils dcipllaying plipolinci cbodgesi allang tela Atlantic coast.
No turtllas or turtle partsi wema obmirvad. Additionally, the CCEI'si SAD plravidad doaumionlation
of hundreds oflhlours of informal ollscirvalion Ely CCE imipautoni during which) no ilalas afllisited
siplacicis were observied. Additional mian:ilaring by othlem ailanay perosionnal, conscirvalion
organizations, and lila general putllic has novor tesiulted in meportsi of a turtle talo by p'pellir.ia
dredges. In (iontmast, largci capacity, aaeiangain8 Hopper drodgwi, which are flnoqucintly used in
occiar, bar cllannols and sicirriatimcis in haillcir channels and aff kora borrow areas, move melailivaly
rapidly and can entrain and Mill ,icia turtlasi, pmesiumably as the drag arm aflthe miav:ing dredge
overtakcis thea silowcm movin8 turthi. Brumalion by sea turtles yin siciuilhaaslern channels, when llhciy
bur){ themseNcis in the ahlanral bottom mud and presumably slow their mcRabolic plroaasmis, is
allso suspected in doathsi of stomia sea turtles by hopper dredge. The roascinsi for ilhis ara that: 1)
thci turtle deflector devico on the leading adgo of the dmaghoad is probably'loss effeclivei ail
deflecting buried scia turtlas than deflaciting turtlasi wh:iall arca simply rcisting or forailing on tela
channel bottom, 2) the turtles' ability Ila mova out aflthle way quiaklly may be aomipromisied
because thoy arca partially blunied in midiment, and 1-I) ltlaim f ighlt rosponso timia may tla lcingthened
dua ile their torpor or iieduaed malabolic rate during tlrumation.
The operation of sideaast drodilcis FRIY, M E RRITT and SC B WEI2 EIR and ilho simiall caplacit}l,
coasitall hopper driedge CURRITUCI-a is not expactod to advorscily afftiot lisilod siplaaiesi of soa
turtles bauawia of ilhe ,ilow speed ofltho vesisols, the low sivalion lovelsi inhorar.il to thosci small
dradgas, and tela small ,iize afltho draghleadsi. These splecias should bo ablo ila gat out aflthe way
of thci slava moving dredges, which ciperale al sipoedsi of 1 la 3 kdotsi whon working in inlet
channels. From scia turtle Masts performed by tela Corps oflEnginecirs in Now Rivar Inlet in 119SIFI,
it isi krkiwn thal the suction dmaghoads of these vcissohi exhlibiil very low suction foraos. Furlllar,
the dragheads havo very small oploninas--3 inahcis by f inches fbr the CIURRITUCA and `.f
inches by 8 ir.iaho,,i for the sideaasil dradgas. The mesiultsi of thci tcistsi aanducilod Ely the Corps of
Enigineemsi on a previously -dead, _juvenile (13.5 -inch) aaiaplacci lcngilh) green turtle dcimomitrated
that the low suction fkiraas and simall apciningsi pmeventod the life lesis lurlle from Elaing entraincid.
Furthcr, the ,iucl ion force wasi low enough that the lurlle was casily prodded and miaved with a
plale dcispitc being Meld Ely the suction faraa against the drailhead. If a small, lives turtlla did get
impinged by lila pump sivation against the dmaghead, tha tur lle would very likely soon Ela dtokan
free of the suction by the motion of the draghe ad along tela :irrcilulam blotlami and/or its own effort s
to ffiea itself. Event if a turtle small enough to plass thrlough the draahcad vete ancauntcmcd, it
could plass tlulough lila driedge ralat:ivc ]y unharmed due 10 the low pump pmesisumesi :involved.
0

It is unliklaly ilhlat turtlas small anougH to pass through the dnagHeads will ba encountered in
significant numbers iin the pnopased operaling area ofltHe dredg(is. Tha smallest of three sea
turtles (all l aggerheads) takan during hopper dredging openail i ons in N omember-E acember 1998
at Bciaufart Inlet Entrance Channel; North Carolina by tlla dredge SUGAR ISLAND mieasurad 371
cm by 44 am curved carapace length (CCL) by curved carapace width (CCIW; . During Hopper
drad8ing aparationis in Fabruary of IS1199 in Kings Bay Entranae Channel, Farrandina, Florida, a
total of133 soa turlle:i (all juueniile loggemhaads) were captured and nelocalad by a contaiact trawlat
swaepinig thci area in frionit of tha :larg(i capacity Hopper dredge M.N. WEEKS. (The R.N. WEENI9
has a dredged mal erial ,ilarada capacity approximately 10 time:i tHail of the CURRYBUCK1, and
significantly lardar diiagllciads, pumps and suction). 31Ha smallast capturcid and nelocalad
loagarhead measwad 54.5 cirri CCII by 52.0 cirri CCIW. One Kamip's ridaay that was:Iathally taken
by tHa M.N. WEEKS measured approximately 30 cm in carapace diamcicit. NaitHen of tHasc
turtles would Kama been er.ittained by the ,im aller siaed gnidded dragheads of 1ha vie,isels
considered in this con:iultatiion bcicause ofltheiir small opening:i.
Sea turtle stranding;i ware compiaad by IT Hoetllahlan of Northl Carolina Marina F ishlenies
Commiss'on fbn bciachle:i witllir.i 3 mile:i (ricrlh, south, and inland) of Oregon Ir.ilet, I7 rum 16 at,
Now Topsail Inlet, and IJoaklwood I olly Inlat, North Carolina fbn all pariods whlen dradging
openaticna occurred fbn 1994 - 1997 (ACICE, 15198) fbri 1ha four vie.isels considered ir.i this
coniaultatiion. A toilal of 19 loggerheads, ona gtaeni and ona Kamp's ridley wane reported
:itrandad. The siza of thci ,i1randad log8arheads would Havie prcialuded their entrainmant by the
viessels aonsidered ir.i th's consultation (111a smallest logoarhaad which strandad measured 23.5
inches by 22.-I inichle;i (CCII by CCIW). 31hc rarest and smallest of the turlle:i whiiah sirandcid
during the raporting patiod-1he green and thla Nlemp's ridley — measured 112 inches by 10 inehes
(CCII1 by CCW , and 1-I iniahwi by 1fl inches, rcispealiuely, and were alio too large to Havie bccir.i
entraincid by the dra3heads of 11.1a me:isels considered ir.i this eansultation. Both oflthlesci turtlas
strandad within thrlec mi:las of I.loakwood I olly Inlet.
Additianal data was compiled and analyzed by Hoetichen on thio mciasuremcnts of sea turtle
strandings and incidenital captures in North Carolina fram 11 9S -1998. C f12fI stranded 1]wan
turtles fbri which straight-line carapace widths (SCWs w(ire measured in 1SIS16, toughly 5111%
IImician plus or minus two ;itanidard deuiatians) ranged belwecn 7.5-12.5 inchcs (rrciari SCW was
10.0 inches); in IS197, toughy SI - I% of 29 stranded 8rcen turtlas hlad SCWs of 6.7-12.4 inchles
IImiaan SCIW was 9.3 inches); in 15198, toughly SI -`I% of 43 stranded graeni turtlas had SCWs of
3.8• R.4 inches (mcian SCW was 10.1 ir.iahlas), while roughly 68% (mean hilus cr minus one
standard deviation) had SCWs cif 17.0-13.3 inches. In 1996 of 9 stranded Klemp':i, toughly 93%
had SCWs of 7.1-17.4 inchlas 11mcian SCIW was 12.6 inchle:i ;yin 15197 of134 stranded Klemp':i,
roughly 95% had SCIWs of (.2-19.2 inchles (mean SCW wa:i 112.7 inchlas); in 1998 of173 shandad
Klemp';i, roughly 95% plaid SCWs of 4.6-19.5 ir.ichlas (mean SCW wa:i 12.0 ineh(is). The
difftiranae belween the SCW and straight -lana carapace loriglhl (SCID) measuramiarits oflthe 212
stranded Klemp's and greens considerad abova ranged from (1.8 to 2.2 .inches. It applciars bascid an
111ase measuraments and tha ,iiae of thla openings on the dra3heads (1ha larg(ist cpeniing is fl by 8
inchles), That ilha Wast majcriq of both greens and Klemp':i tidleys conisidatad here could r.ial and
7

would not be cinlrainied by lhei dragheiads. Both spee:ieis ane cacansiderably smaller ilhan the
abundant loggerheads. While the posasibility of anilrainmenit ciflthle sma:lleisl individuals of lheasci
two species cannot bei nailed out, it is unlikely to occur.
Hffiicitsi on Stud eg. ion
Asides fiom seasonal miEralioris to estuarine waters, shortnosei saturgeacan sanely occur in thea marina
einv:ironn int. 'IHortnose sturgeon spawning habilut in the poleinitial projecil areas should Fief well
upsa aam caflthle aaeian an', cit einviironmenitsi typically dredged by the small capacity, eoamal hopper
dredge CURRITUCK and the small siideacast dredgesi ARYI, SCHWEI2BR and M[BMTT.
Juvcinile shlortniosei usually remain upstream oflsaline wateui until they rciach about 4`I cim
(approximateily 181 inches) in lengthl.
Habitat cor.iditioni;i niorrr. ally suitab:la fori adults (shlcartnose groater than 49 cm in lcingth) could
occur in estuarine areas whearea these vessaeils might be iiequired to workl. Sturgeons hlabitat within
thle areasa dredged would Ile tomparariily disatwbad during maintenance dredging. Howuvcir, thea
dredgus cionsidearcad in this cicansultatian riestarc navigation channels to theair authorized
dimensions to reestabll:ishl a preaviiously axisting condition i (depth). Thurcafkaro, no new peirmanent
rr,cadiification oflhablitat will ocicii
Maintanance dreidging of Rederal niaviigaticinal channels can adviersauly afflacit sturgeon Ely
eanlraining them :in dreadgei dragarms and impe:llar pumps (NMRS '998). Cthler dredging mealhlods
may also adversely affeict stungeoni. Hastings (19821) rupcarieid anecdotal accounts cafladult
Etungeior.i being eampalled ftom drudge spoil pipeis wHi:lu conducting a satud) on slurgeon an the
Atlantic cicaast. Atlantic stwigcican wer(i klillcid in both hydraulic pipeline and bucket -and -barge
(elan isheill drudge) capciratior.is ir.i the Clapa Haar Riviera JIM. Mosaeir :in NMFhI 15198). NMHS
ollsurvurs dociumuntud the take cif Icanu At] antic salurgecan in a hopper drudge operiating in King's
Bay, Georgia (C. Slay in NMFS 1998). Two shcartnase sturgeons cianciasases ware discovered in a
diiedge spoil ncian Tullytcawri, Aenrsylviania and apparcinilly ki:llad by a hydraulic pipoline drudge
opemat:ing in thea Eclawarea River in March 1996 (N MAS 1998). In candy 1998, thricci sahortnosci
slurgcican were klil:leid Ily a hydraul:ia pipelinci diiedgei operating in thea Alcareancie tca Treniton seetian
ofltHe upper E alawaiia Riviera (NMAS 1998).
Adult shortniosei could occur in sour ei of thea areas that rr ay be dreidged by thusea viessuls. Adults
would bei most l:ikcily to bei enicountered in the winii and sipriing, after sipawning and lheair
migiiat:ions to fbeding areas in downstreiam and estuanir.iei waters. Howuvier, beicausaei of theiir
rr,ability, adult shlarinose sturgeon should blei able to avoid the slow moving dreadgci equipment if
they movie ai when lheiy deitocit thea apprcaacihlinig diiaghead. Civien theiir sipciciia' heed sena
apparatus, thcay should be able to detecit thci vibrat:ionsa of a salow rravring, appmachling draghead.
AN a, g:ivein the sizes of thea sahortnosu saturguan whlicH would be empected to occupy thea coastal
inlets being dredged, i.e. greaater thlan 45 cim, :i1 is unl:ikuly that they would be eanlrained by thea
slow moving, lcaw suction draghleads. Bntrained stud€cions passir.i� tlulougH lhlea suction p:ipulinies
ciauld pass lhrioughl unharmed, ar they could ba l ilaead. Though lhlu possibility of injury at doath
cannot be ruled out, as evidenced by lhei Historic reacord, thea likeilihlood is remote.
8

Elfftiats on Whales
RigHt wHal cis and Humplblacld vuhlalas are vu InenaHle to small vessel and ship collisions w lan the
whales makes their annual mignatians along tHa eastarn seaboard. aha sidaaasl dnedgas RRIY,
MEIRRIT'D and SCE WEIZERI iransill at approximately] to 10 knots fram thle inlet dredging sites
to adjaccint beaah sites la dispose of drudged materials. 31hci CURRYBUCK travels at specids of 5
to El knolls to adjaaent tleiacHes or cff§hlcrci disiposial sitcis. Because ofltHesci slow speeds, these
vessels sHould present a minimal tlueat to m:ignallird whales — certainly less thlan thal of normal,
fasten -moving commuraial shipl traffici and necirciational blciatinig. Advensu impacts to nighlt whales
and Humplblaclds from tha dredges and dredging oplenations are viol eNplectcid because 1) the
dredges work) in the 1 hilcats and i nil eirior portion s of I inlets wfli chl arca riot uscid bly whal cis, 2) the
dreidges travel at vary low iatas oflspecid during dncidg:ing operations, 3) the capltains of the
drudgas will He plrovidad daily iniforrr.ation on tha plosillions of the migrating rigW whalcis, and 4)
the dredges voila reduce their speed as racessary and maintains a plropen lookout to avoid collisions
with wHalcis wHeni transiting to disposal situs and right whales are in the area.
Ccinclusion
Based oni our consideration of 1 he Heal avai labile inform ationi, we blel ieve tHat the year -hound
operation of the hloppcir dredge CL'RRITL'CIK and 1ha sidaca,R dnedges BRIM, MERRITT and
SCIII WEIZEM to maintain coastal ir,ilets on the eastern seaboard oflha Ln:iIad States may aff✓6ct,
blut is nal likcly to advierscly affect thci continued cixiistence of Iisiled species ur. dcir NMFIS
Alun iew. This consultatian is valid as wall fbr 1Ihu operation by W ilminigtor,i E istr:iat Corps of
Engineers fbr ahannal miainitenanaci dredging of upl to 10 vessels of this or sim:ilan typle and siza
class (under 500 gross tans), with similar dragheads (Brur.swicld, Brunswick CountN Type,
BruwiwiaM Adjustable, or equivalcinl), dnedge plumpl horseplawen (400 H.A. ma)Cmium), and
sucllion and discHarge pliple speciifiaatiians (dredge suation pipes 10-14 inichles ini d:iamiciter, and
comblinied discHarge pliple 12-16 :inches in diamelen).
This concludes consultation resiponisiiblil:iliesi wilthl NMFS urden section 7 afltHe EISA.
Conisultatian should also be neinitialad plwsuant to 50 CBIM 4 02.16 ifltHere is new infbrmatian
that reveals effects of the aclior. tHal may aff6at listed ,ipciaiesi or critical Hablital (when
designiatad; ini a manner or to an e)atent riot plrieviously cor. sidarcid, :i f thla :idunll i feed acil i on is
subsequently modified ini a manner that causes an effect to :liistad species or critical habitat ]hart
Has not been considered, or :ifla nava splec:icis is lisRed ori critical Habilat its designated ]hart may bci
affected by thla idanlified action.
Blease Cala Mr. Eric Hawk, BlisHery E iolog:ist, at 727/570-52I12 if you have any questions
regarding This cor,isulutioni or if furtHen coardinalion is niecessarM.
Kemmcircir
gioniaa Administrator
7

Re fe ren ae,�i
Caswell, H. 6 j al. 19SI9. Araciaedinigs oflthe Nal ional Academy cafl Sciancia. In press.
Diakearsor,i, D.D., K.J. Kleine, D.A. Nahion and C.E. Dicklerson. 1994. Amassmenit caflSea Turtle
Abur,ic ancia in Six Southl Atlantic U.S. Channels. Report for thea UIS Army Corps of
Engineers, C catobar, 1994.
Has ti ngs, H.W. 1983. A study of the shortnose satw g aon, Ac;lp e nsi ri bre viriostm rn, populat ion in
the upper tidal Delaware Rvear: assass ment caflimpact oflma:inteanancae dredging. Final
Report. 81 _`1670 UISACE SHortnosea Stutgeaon—Delaware River (Haslings) DACW 61-
81-C-0138. Center for Coastal and Elnvironmeanilal Studies for U.S. Army Corps oft
Enginieears , Phi:l adealphia D is trict. 117pp.
Kraus, S.D. 1990. Rlateas and pcalential causes of mortality in Northl Allantia righlt whales
(Eubailaenagilacialis). Marina Mammal Saience. ((4):278-291.
NM IRS. 1991. Endangered Spec:ieas Act seacation I cor,isubation with U.S. Army Carps of
Engineers, Scauth Atlantic Division on hopper dreadg:ing oflcal anneals in the scautheaastearn
United States from North CanoliniathalcaugH Cape Canaveral, Aloriida. Bicalcagicaal
Opinion, November 25.
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the Right Whale Recovery 'fl aam for the National M arinea Aisheriieas Service,
Silver Spring, Maryland. 86 pp.
NMHS. l 9SIlb. Recovery plan for the humpbacakl whale (Megapalera novaeangiliae). Preapareac
by the Humpbacld Whale Reaaver)l Team for the NM FS, Silver Spring,
M aryl ar d. 105 pp.
NMFS. 1993. Endangered Spec:ieas Act section I consu:llation "itH U.S. Army Corpse of
Engir,iaen, South Ailantia Division on hopper dreac ging oflcahlannals and borrow areas in
the southeastern United States from North C arcalinia through Florida east caoast.
Biologicaal Opinion, August 25. 25 pp.
NMHS. 1997a. Endangered Specias Act scacation 7 cor.sullation witH U.S. Army Carpsa of
Eng:ineaears, South Atlantic Division on 1Ihea continued hopper d><edginig of two channels
ar d two borrow anew :in thle southeastern Ulniteid Stales during 1997. Biological
C pir. i on, April 9. 16 pp.
LAMES. 1997b. Elndangered Species Aa1 section 7 consultation with U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Southl Atlantia Division ori the continued hopper dred>ling oflchlannels and
boncaw arenas in thci southeastearn Unilleid States. Biological Cp:in:ion, Ocalobcir 14. 16 pp.
10