WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE AVIAN PROTECTION PLAN: BIRD PROTECTION IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY MISSION LORI NIELSEN EDM INTERNATIONAL, INC. SR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 4001 AUTOMATION WAY FORT COLLINS, CO (970) PATRICIA CUTLER WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (575)
AVIAN PROTECTION PLANS APP Guidelines Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Edison Electric Institute (EEI) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service April 2005
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE Endangered Species Act Migratory Bird Treaty Act Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE – APP 2013
WSMR By the Numbers 3,200 square miles 5 counties 3 rural electric cooperatives 100s miles of distribution lines 1,000s of poles Military Mission U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defense, and other entities High quality services for experimentation, testing, research, development, and training
Areas Ranging from… Native and Remote Elevations: 4,000-9,000 feet Habitats: Chihuahuan Desert to southern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains High Security Areas
…to High Hazard Areas
…to Cantonment Area w/ High Raptor Use
OVERHEAD NEUTRAL & GROUNDWIRE – ACROSS WSMR
Neutral Conductor Phases (Hot) Groundwire Phase-to-Neutral Phase-to-Phase Phase-to-Ground Groundwire Bonded to Hardware
RELATIVELY SIMPLE CONFIGURATIONS
MORE COMPLEX CONFIGURATIONS
VERTICAL CONFIGURATIONS
STEEL POLES & FAILING COVERUP
COMPLEX CONFIGURATIONS
TRULY COMPLEX CONFIGURATIONS
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
OUTDATED USE OF PERCH DISCOURAGERS
Golden Eagles Breeds/Winters on WSMR - Particularly Tularosa Basin March 2013 Surveys: 174 GOEA nests documented 5-day aerial survey 1 ~56 Breeding Areas (42 Extrapolated as Occupied) Nesting Density ~76 Square Miles/Pair More work needed to verify these estimates 1 The American Eagle Institute and The Peregrine Fund 2013
GOLDEN EAGLE FATALITIES ON WSMR IMPORTANT DETERMINING FACTOR FOR APP DEVELOPMENT
GOLDEN EAGLE FATALITIES ON WSMR IMPORTANT DETERMINING FACTOR FOR APP DEVELOPMENT Golden Eagle Fatalities: Averaged 7/year This banded bird being one…
HOW TO SAMPLE AND SURVEY ON SUCH A SCALE?
OVERHEAD NEUTRAL & GROUNDWIRE COMPLICATES EVEN SIMPLE CONFIGURATIONS
“SUGGESTED PRACTICES”…2006 Electrocution / Nesting Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Edison Electric Institute (EEI) California Energy Commission (CEC) Updated December
“REDUCING AVIAN COLLISIONS”…2012 Collision Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Updated December
REACTIVE PROGRAM Incidents and Problem Nests PROACTIVE RETROFITTING Risk Assessment NEW CONSTRUCTION Avian-Friendly Standards APP COMPONENTS
TARGETING ALL BIRD SPECIES – NOT JUST EAGLES
HISTORIC REACTIVE PROGRAM Areas - Active Missions Retrofit by pole Areas - Inactive Missions Open switches to taps
DE-ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT POLES = ATTRACTIVE NESTING Problematic Missions could start on short notice
PROACTIVE PROGRAM APP Development Infeasible to inspect every pole Field Risk Assessment ~80% of WSMR examined APP Implementation Aid in short- and long-term planning Improve facility electric reliability Due diligence for regulatory compliance All in turn supports military mission
RISK ASSESSMENT Survey Methods RECORD POLE CONFIGURATION RECORD HABITAT RECORD SIGNS OF USE RECORD ANY BIRD FATALITY
RISK ASSESSMENT Each Pole or Area Recorded: Existing Animal Protection Measures Recommended Retrofitting Products Copyright © EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. THREE-PHASE
HABITAT VALUES
HABITAT, OTHER BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES, AND POLE CONFIGURATION RISK USED TO CALCULATE PRIORITY Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 No Retrofit Needed High risk - (lethal pole in good habitat) Medium risk Low risk No risk +- RISKRISKRISKRISK Priority 1 Highest risk - (lethal pole in Golden Eagle habitat) WSMR RETROFITTING PRIORITIZATION
Copyright © EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ANECDOTAL OBSERVATIONS HABITAT DIFFERENCES VS. EAGLE SIGN
OTHER OBSERVATIONS COYOTE SIGN COINCIDED WITH POLES EXHIBITING SIGNS OF HIGH BIRD USE
APP- MOVING FORWARD Incrementally Reduce Electrocution Risk to Birds Retrofitting Plan - Poles & Areas: 5 years = Priority 1 10 years = Priority 2 15 years = Priority 3 & 4 Review & update APP annually Regulatory Compliance Support of Military Mission Increased electrical reliability
SUMMARY An APP is not “one-size-fits all” and is specific to the facility Risk Assessment approaches will vary Personnel and contractor training are critical Quality checks of retrofitting and new construction standards are integral to the process An APP is a dynamic process, not a static document Avian protection (e.g., retrofitting) on an installation this size is costly and will depend on funds received from Army SRM program Advantage of an APP is that it provides input on the most hazardous areas; therefore, the greatest benefit is achieved from retrofitting the most hazardous poles or areas first APP Goal: to meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk to area birds, and support the military mission
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