MEMORANDUM - legacy-assets.eenews.net

Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

1165 East Jennings Way, Suite 101

Elko, NV 89801-7977

Tel: (775) 738-8766

Fax: (775) 738-2264

595 Double Eagle Court, Suite 2000

Reno, NV 89521-9005

Tel: (775) 747-5777

Fax: (775) 747-2177

MEMORANDUM

To: Tim Coward – Bureau of Land Management

cc: Rob Howe – Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC

Adam Green – Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC

Wendy Seley – Bureau of Land Management

Tracy Kipke – Nevada Department of Wildlife

From: Josh Vittori

Date: January 26, 2015

Project: Crescent Dunes Project – Avian Mortality Surveys and Reporting

Stantec Project Number 203714090/203703047

Subject: January 2015 – Avian Mortality Survey Results

Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec) is contracted by Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC (TSE) to

perform monthly avian mortality surveys for the Crescent Dunes Solar Power Plant as per TSE's

Avian and Bat Protection Plan (ABPP). This memorandum reports a summary of the results from

January 2015 of avian mortality surveys. As outlined in the ABPP, Stantec wildlife biologists

conducted surveys along established transects within the power plant's heliostat field, around

the evaporation ponds, and along the overhead transmission line. Surveys were conducted for

seven consecutive days between January 12 and 18, 2015 along previously-established

transects (Figure 1).

Mortalities were observed during the surveys on January 14, 2015, see attached Memorandum

and Field Forms. However, no carcasses were located on the project site. Photograph and video

documentation was provided as noted in the attachment. It should be noted that the results

transmitted within this memorandum are specific to the seven day survey event in January 2015

and do not include other observations that may have been made outside of these surveys,

especially those documented by other contractors. As outlined in the ABPP for this project,

Stantec will compile an annual report of avian and mortality survey results and data analysis. This

report will include the results of each month's surveys as well as detection analysis using program

DISTANCE and annual estimates of mortality for the entire project area based on the use of

program MARK, as appropriate.

CRESCENT DUNESSOLAR ENERGY PROJECT

FIGURE 1AVIAN MORTALITY MONITORING

JANUARY 2015 SURVEY RESULTSDRAWNBY

XY

T-2

T-3

T-4

T-1

H-1

H-2H-8

H-3H-7

H-6H-4

H-5

P-3

P-1

P-2

DATEDRAWN

2,500 0 2,5001,250Feet $

SCALE 1 in = 2,500 feet

Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data.

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Transmission Line Transects

Transmission Line

HelioStat Transects

XY Mortality Observations

Pond Transects

Project Boundary

Note: On 1/14/2015, approximately 115 avian mortalities were documented.

SAMPLE DATA SHEET (Excel file is available)

XXX Sozr ~ility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: j iZ D . (use ad er t sheet for each day)

Observer: q 6

kn_ l , Transect Unique # Carcass

ID

(\

J \ \'

Species

(\

"~ 1\.lJ /

/ v

Carcass

Condition

{l /

// /

UTM Cause of Death

Transect Unique Species # Carcass

10

\ \

\ \ r '\ \ ~

/ ./

--·-

Carcass UTM

Condition

n /

U/ ,v / '/

Cause of

Death

Daily Summary Transect Total·no. of carcasses {include zeros Transect Total no. of carcasses (include zeros -

for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put "X11 if not sampled) "X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 (.) Pond 1 X Mirror 2 C) Pond 2 ?< Mirror 3 X Pond3 X Mirror 4 _X Pond 4 L<: Mirror 5 X Line 1 u Mirror 6 X Line 2 >< Mirror 7 f) Line 3 C> Mirror 8 u Line 4 X


XXX Sola~Fa ·my Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: 1/13 t5 . (use a dilrer sneet for each day)

Observer l L c/;tn . Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM Cause of # Carcass Condition Death

ID I

. '

/ () ~

!\ // I .-~-11 ./

() / "-/

/

/ /


10

1\ \ \ I\ \ \ (\ v \ \ '-. _';:/"

/ /

... .. - L _/ -· ......

Carcass UTM Condition

11 ~·

.// /

~

Cause of

Death

Daily Summary Transect Total·no. of carcasses (include zeros Transect Total no. of carcasses (include zeros

for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put uxll if not sampled) 11X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 X Pond 1 u Mirror 2 :X Pond 2 CJ Mirror 3 0 Pond3 () Mirror 4 Q Pond4 u Mirror 5 n Line 1 X Mirror 6 0 Line 2 0 Mirror 7 .X Line 3 X Mirror 8 X: Line 4 6

- ~~ '( c va ; L-o v-J

SAMPLE DATA SHEET (Excel file is available) - 0-J<r->6-<) i.JXZI<

XXX Sol1ar Farility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project

Date: ! / 1 t-{ /1 :;s- · (use a d1fferent sheet for each day) ,, u -a -

r7 ' L ::C. Qloo>=•cYCD Observer: 'i tJhrt 1 'SI::rl~"'~ ·

/ ., \W\ 1 'VJ7f"b"S~'j<?

Transect ~i 6e Species C~ass UTM Cause of # r s Con 'tion Death

D"\,~ -·- --,-1 ""'~- i n .:z. L -

- Pilfp. /'1~ \o"'-'~2_ - (o(·""

- 1-)wJ~ 01# <i.'VV

- '' r f. '' TV · ..... 7::::,_ I ("L,-,

Carcass UTM Cause of Condition Death

~ ( C)o,.\(lAG<?:/1_ •(.C. iZI'i "vb


ID

I \-\ -C ~"i...l• 1-.1 'h\~ \Z::,Q ""'

IWCb- 1\:DO :rv roO \-;;J., z::tl) T . §j''g''fi~ ; I >, /D -z: it I' - I . \ "> L z_~,~ I

l't7 L 7. : I'll ( I 1::; '-

,, '$ (...,: 1 -, 4/l. I : ~'Z.- 1~3 -7:' ( I

11. z 7 ~vi ?:vto 1 I"'.. 1..-c, I ? ~ v(~ .it,Tfltl{ r. "'1 L I I',C\"-J I 1 :vi \!) "L ' ' t\ (( '.., \, ' I i ... ,_;_q I I : "; ", \ \:·~I~ !J i ';('!- I 7 '<-:: ':!-.I '2-

Daily Summary Transect Total· no. of carcasses (include zeros Transect Total no. of carcasses (include zeros

for transects without carca~sesi put for transects without carcasses; put ~~~~ if not sampled} ''XN if not sampled)

-Mirror 1 C.J Pond 1

Mirror 2 0 Pond 2

Mirror 3 t) Pond 3 Mirror 4 C) Pond4 Mirror 5 ) Line 1 77 Mirror 6 "') Line 2 n Mirror 7 :2 Line 3 (/

Mirror 8 J Line 4 <7 _;k /\A(J';\ ,~·\\'Li)? r'--OV \1'-V v f:.+: ~ ~lJ, If o ~;;s:-JLv ~;o ~ vo Q.:\£1 t0YIXl ~\!JV<n~ \!Xl-'7,


(use a dilrer ~et for each day)

XXX S'?lar~a ility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: \ /15 "!C

Observer: ohn J.__ ,

Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM Cause of # Carcass Condition Death

ID

:I v \ 1\ J / \ r'-i '- / \U/

'"/ /

/


ID

I l r \. \ ""\\ \ \I 'i' \ \~ /

/ /

/ J


/

L /

Cause of Death

Daily Summary Transect Total·no. of carcasses (include- zeros Transect Total no. of carcasses (include zeros

for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put "X" if not sampled) ux" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 X Pond 1 0 Mirror 2 X Pond 2 0 Mirror 3 (!) Pond 3 ('--:; Mirror 4 0 Pond4 {')

Mirror 5 0 Line 1 >< Mirror 6 0 Line 2 0 Mirror 7 X. Line 3 X Mirror 8 X Line 4 c; .


XXX SoJ.r Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: \ luj :5 · (use a di eren s~eet for each day)

Observer: qohn \.... Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM

Condition # Carcass

ID

r \ '- !I

\ \ A

\: \ ~~ ·;; / \ \../ /

\ ./

/

~ /

~

Transect Total· no. of carcasses (include zeros for transects without carca~ses; put "X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 n Mirror 2 CJ Mirror 3 ><:: Mirror 4 .><;: Mirror 5 -;:.-. Mirror 6 :>;, Mirror 7 B Mirror 8 n

Cause of Death

-

-

Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM # Carcass Condition

ID

.l I -

I

" -t .l +. -1--1-_JI '\ .. ll ~ ,

__>) \ I __::.._' /---1 \ I\ '--" ~ 1--1 ' L_

~}L/::__1=f--------r L

Cause of Death

Daily Summary Transect Total no. of carcasses {include zeros

for transects without carcasses; put "X" if not sampled)

Pond 1 >< Pond 2 X: Pond3 X Pond 4 X Line 1 (} Line 2 >< Line 3 n Line 4 X

SAMPLE DATA SHEET (Excel file is available) XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: /-/ Z- j,s-(use a different sheet for each day)

Observer: br') 5 he-.< ( Transect Unique # Carcass

ID

\

•' /

/ /

/ /

/ /

//

Species Carcass UTM Condition

/ v

u _?/ '\ .~

'\ \ )/ \ \Y

y /

I'\

/

Cause of Death

----/


ID

1\ \I \ \ ); y

/

/ /

1/ /

/ /

/

Daily Summary Transect Total· no. of carcasses (include zeros Transect

for transects without carca~ses; put 11X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 1\ Pond 1 Mirror 2 -f. Pond2 Mirror 3 1n Pond 3 Mirror 4 If Pond4 Mirror 5 ( Line 1 Mirror 6 Line 2 Mirror 7 X. Line 3 Mirror 8 'f Line4


/ (\ I~

" \::::/ /f· iV lV }

/

Cause of Death

---~ /

Total no. of carcasses {include zeros for transects without carcasses; put ux" if not sampled)

0 0 0 J

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~


XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: /- /j-/5" · (use a different sheet for each day)

Observer: /' 5 I f (!)' "J vtc-. r

Transect Unique # Carcass


ID

/ /

/ I--'d

\ \>"' \ .}-v

/ /

/ /

/ /

/

/

Cause of Death

/

/ /


ID

~

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/ /

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Cause of Death

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Daily Summary Transect Total· no. of carcasses (include zeros I Transect Total no. of carcasses (include zeros

for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put "X" if not sampled) "X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 C) Pond 1 I'{ Mirror 2 ) Pond2 "'/., Mirror 3 ..,.., Pond 3 -A Mirror4 i't. Pond 4 " Mirror 5 'f.. Line 1 0 Mirror 6 X Line 2 \')( Mirror 7 l Line 3 In Mirror 8

- h -----Line 4 I')(..

-·

SAMPLE DATA SHEET (Excel file is available) XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: /-[L)-j!) -(use a different sheet for each day)

Observer: {pi~;:; )' [-1-:;.rrJ Transect Unique # Carcass

lD


Cause of

Death

'5& ~( \\\-\ ~·0"


ID


Cause of

Death

. /1 / / !

/ / .

/ / / /

/ 1/ f) /. ! /

1\V . / • 1\ li7 '/

\. iY . l\f/1JY / 117'

/ / / '

/ / / /

/ / /

/ / !_

.... ,/


for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put "X" if not sampled) 11XJI if not sampled)

Mirror 1 Pond 1 If' Mirror 2 Pond 2 ?

Mirror 3 ) Pond3 / Mirror 4 I"' Pond 4 ) Mirror 5 ) Line 1 IX Mirror 6 i ( Line 2 0 Mirror 7 1--t. Line 3 'X Mirror 8 'f... Line 4 ifl

-

+ e't- f-rO\_ +rO\v\S -ec t--..s - . fNo... llceJ 1 V\ )l) t:- 5 ec hov1. - 0

'


XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date:/- /5-/~ (use a different sheet Yor each day)

Observer: {Dte:J 5 h_"'-rf Transect Unique # Carcass

ID

/ /

/ /

I - ..


/ /

,0/ I\"?"

f1 iL ' \v/ /

/ 1/

cause of Death

-f""'

' i


·-

.

( \ ';

y L

/ /

/ /

v /

/


/ v

(}/ d\V y

/

Cause of

Death

I /


for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put 11X" if not sampled) "X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 () Pond 1 )( Mirror 2 () Pond2 -'!< Mirror 3 'i-.. Pond 3 > Mirror4 "' Pond 4 )

Mirror 5 'f Line 1 0 Mirror 6 "' Line 2 '-/:. Mirror 7 C) Line 3 () Mirror 8 u Line 4 X

SAMPLE DATA SHEET (Excel file is available) XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: \ - \ lo- I';) (use a different sheet for each day)

Observer: G . S \r-.c-._ \ f Transect Unique # Carcass

ID

/ /

/ /

/ /

/


/ 1/

/ /

-, / . r-_ '-:?

,..,(\y y

/r

/

Cause of Death

/ /

/


ID

(\~ > ~o/

/

/ 1/

/ /

/ /

v


/

/ /

/

Cause of Death

/ /

/

f


for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put ~~~~ if not sampled) ~rx~~ if not sampled)

Mirror 1 'f.- Pond 1 )

Mirror 2 ~ Pond 2 ) Mirror 3 0 Pond3 ';

Mirror 4 lt'"J Pond 4 n Mirror 5 Ci Line 1 --(..,

Mirror 6 u Line 2 0 Mirror 7 ....,... Line 3 'f... Mirror 8 ·y... Line 4 G

SAMPLE DATA SHEET {Excel file is available) XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: - l -(use a different sheet for each day)

Observer: '~ f Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM # Carcass Condition

ID

/./

/ ... /

//

/

e /:/ r

f \~ .. ~v/ i

___j_

Transect Total·no. of carcasses (include zeros for transects without carca~ses; put "X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 ·~" Mirror 2 '"'. Mirror 3 C· Mirror4 (') Mirror 5 C) Mirror 6 0 Mirror 7

""" Mirror 8 ~

Cause of Death

Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM Cause of Death # Carcass Condition

ID

I/

4/···

,//

"'//

i/ f,;J//

i\ /l't·7

\1 ).."'' ....

.

/J/,·

.... /.·

Daily Summary Transect Total no. of carcasses {include zeros

for transects without carcasses; put "X11 if not sampled)

Pond 1 lc1 Pond 2 (f Pond 3 (\ Pond 4 (7 Line 1 )(

Line 2 0 Line 3 17<. Line 4 _0_


XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: - $ -\:)" (use a different sheet for each day) Observer: ·

Transect #

' ~

~/'

~-···

Transect

Mirror 1

Mirror 2

Mirror 3 Mirror 4 Mirror 5 Mirror 6 Mirror 7 Mirror 8

'~

Unique Carcass ID

~ ~·/ ~~

,J'

'


.~·"''' /'

,,,·"

d,/ A ~/',v

/1\f.~/ \f\ f_1A fJ)'

,+'.,

------······--'-

Total· no. of carcasses (include zeros for transects without carca~ses; put "X11 if not sampled)

I~(

~~·-A lrr r7 () n rt-'f

Cause of Death

~~/

/

'

Transect #

,./'

/ ~<

Daily Summary

Unique Carcass ID

,?'/,/

. L<' /

Transect

Pond 1 Pond 2

Pond 3 Pond 4 Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4

Species Carcass UTM Cause of Death Condition

,/ j •• ('

,/d/'

~ .d

,,•''

/,p/

t/ tiff\

\(\V \/

' ~· '

Total no. of carcasses (include zeros for transects without carcasses; put "X11 if not sampled)

ld ~)

(J 0 I~ 0 'K {J

SAMPLE DATA SHEET (Excel file is available) XXX Solar Facility Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: \-(use a different sheet for each day) Observer: ,

Transect Unique # Carcass

ID

/ /

/ ..,/


/ /

/ <L//

N ~ ,./~ ~

~v" # v

/ /

v

/

Cause of Death

/ / /

/

--

Transect Unique Species Carcass UTM # Carcass Condition

/ //

~ / (f-J /

"'r\f". 7 \V" y

/ /

/ /

v /

/ /

/

Cause of Death

/ /

/


for transects without carca~ses; put for transects without carcasses; put

"X" if not sampled) "X" if not sampled)

Mirror 1 0 Pond 1

""" Mirror 2 c, Pond 2 ·~

Mirror 3 ~ Pond 3 ~ Mirror4 ·~ Pond 4 )(..

Mirror 5 '(..,. Line 1 L) Mirror 6 X Line 2 )-..

Mirror 7 a Line 3 C) Mirror 8 0 Line 4

'""


XXX Solar Facility _Migratory Bird Monitoring Project Date: \ - -~ S,..- · (use a different sheet for each day) Observer:

Transect #

'-

_/-"' __ .•.

Transect

Mirror 1

Mirror 2

Mirror 3

Mirror 4

Mirror 5

Mirror 6

Mirror 7

Mirror 8

Unique Carcass ID

_ .. --··

' [./··

-·


;J/' 1'{·\f\'"'"'

ru _w

-·-/

---

Total· no. of carcasses (include zeros for transects without carca~ses; put "X11 if not sampled)

IO '! ~x X ~ X

Ia ---- 10

Cause of Death

Transect #

./+' //

Daily Summary

Unique Carcass ID

,../,p•"'

/l·"··

[ .. .,.-"··'

Transect

Pond 1

Pond 2

Pond 3

Pond 4 Line 1

Line 2

Line 3 Line 4

Species Carcass UTM Cause of Death Condition

ji

/ ./·

.. /"' _//

1./·"·"· <

/</····· tr t~ 4

-V):/

.,.,./' it'···'/

Total no. of carcasses (include zeros for transects without carcasses; put "X11 if not sampled)

'X X X X n iX 10 ~

Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

1165 East Jennings Way, Suite 101

Elko, NV 89801-7977

Tel: (775) 738-8766

Fax: (775) 738-2264

595 Double Eagle Court, Suite 2000

Reno, NV 89521-9005

Tel: (775) 747-5777

Fax: (775) 747-2177

MEMORANDUM

To: Tim Coward – Bureau of Land Management

From: Seth Topham

Cc: Wendy Seley – Bureau of Land Management

Rob Howe - Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC

John Lemback, Greg Sharp, and Josh Vittori – Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

Date: January 15, 2015

Project: Crescent Dunes Project

Stantec Project Numbers 203703047, 203714090, and 203711338

Subject: Wildlife Mortality Observations on January 14, 2015

On January 14, 2015, while conducting monthly mortality surveys as required by the project’s

Avian Bat Protection Plan, Greg Sharp (Stantec Biologist) noticed a halo ring of concentrated

light above the central tower. After taking a few photographs of the ring, Greg observed two

common ravens (raven) fly into the halo. Both ravens were clearly burned in the apparent

intense heat of the ring (streamers). Greg then noted two more streamers so he immediately

contacted Construction Inspection Contractor (CIC), Seth Topham (Stantec Biologist) and

informed him of what he had just witnessed. At 10:58 AM, Seth proceeded to the Brahma Lay

Down Yard for an overview site of the halo to observe and document any further streamers. He

observed one raven circling the halo and watched as it flew away with no incident. From this

vantage point, Seth saw no more birds approach the halo and witnessed no more streamers.

Seth then drove to the end of a mortality transect line in the heliostat field to meet Greg to

document and get more information on the event he had witnessed. While discussing the

streamers Greg had witnessed, they both watched as two ravens proceeded towards the halo.

Seth watch in his 10X50 power binoculars as one of the two ravens incinerated in the halo and

left a large cloud smoke (11:15 AM). Seth photographed the lingering puff of smoke from the

incinerated raven with his 100-400 millimeter telephoto lens. The second raven survived the

incident and flew away from the halo.

After this, John Lemback (Stantec Biologist) and Greg proceeded to finish mortality transects

while Seth traveled to the contractor parking lot south of the power block to observe the halo

and watch for and document streamers (12:00 PM). After transects were finished, John and

Greg met Seth in the parking lot and helped observe/document streamers in the halo until (1:00

PM). The biologists used binoculars for viewing the ring and a DSLR camera and zoom lens for

photographing and videoing streamers as documentation of the event. At 1:00 PM Greg and

John left to walk through the power block area to perform a meandering search for any birds

that might have fallen from the halo. No bird carcasses or evidence of burnt birds were found

January 15, 2015

Wildlife Mortality Observations

Page 2 of 2

during this intensive search. Biologists approximated 60 visible birds flew into the halo, turn bright

white, and became streamers between 11:15 AM and 1:00 pm. At 12:27 PM John called Josh

Vittori (Stantec Supervisor) to inform him of what was happening so he could start the process of

contacting the appropriate project and agency representatives. Seth started time stamping

every streamer that occurred from 1:00 PM and continued until 3:30 PM at which time the halo

was no longer visible. Between 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM, Seth recorded 55 streamers. Since the

majority of the birds were flying from west to east through the halo, Greg and John conducted

an intensive meandering search in the northeast section of the heliostat field. No carcasses were

found during this search.

A field form with the cumulative mortality observations for the three Stantec representatives was

provided to Brian Painter (Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC – Site Manager). Brian was also provided

the photographs and video files that were collected during the January 14, 2015 observations.

David Price (BLM Tonopah Field Office Biologist) was also provided copies of the photographs

and videos that were collected on January 14, 2015 by Stantec.

Documents

MEMORANDUM - legacy-assets.eenews.net