Turtles Lessons Learned and the Gulf Regional Biological Opinion

1. TurtlesLessons Learned and the Gulf Regional Biological Opinion Bob PrinceChief, Operations and Regulatory Community of PracticeSouth Atlantic Division

2. Gulf Regional Biological Opinion(GRBO)/Management Protocol • Three Divisions – SWD, MVD, SAD • Four Districts • Galveston • New Orleans • Mobile • Jacksonville

3. Executive Advisory Group (EAG) • Operations Chiefs – Three Divisions • Policy and oversight • Decisions, in consultation with Districts, dealing with ceasing dredging • Communicate frequently • Meet annually • Annual review of GRBO Protocol

4. Federal Projects • District trigger points • Reasonable and prudent measures • Districts engage EAG • Four turtle takes – any species or three endangered • Seventy five percent of District “trigger point” limit

5. Federal Projects (continued) • Hopper Dredge Inspection • Silent Inspector • Sea Turtle Deflecting Dragheads • Sea Turtle Observers • Inflow/Overflow Screens • Pre-trawling Condition and Abundance Surveys • Relocation Trawling

6. Federal Projects (continued) • Take one or two (Threatened or Endangered) • Continue dredging • Simultaneously perform risk assessment • Develop Risk Management Plan and implement

7. Federal Projects (continued) • At three turtles – District notify EAG • At four turtle takes – engage EAG • At first Sturgeon take – District notify EAG • At two Sturgeon takes – District engage EAG • EAG remains engaged throughout the remainder of the project (Note – Dredging continues as all the above occurs)

8. COE Permitted Projects • No District trigger points • Reasonable and prudent measures • Districts engage EAG • Four turtle takes – any species or three endangered • Seventy five percent of incidental take limit for any species • Role of Permittee’s Consultant • Dredge Inspection • Risk Assessment

9. COE Permitted Projects(continued) • Hopper Dredge Inspection • Silent Inspector • Sea Turtle Deflecting Dragheads • Sea Turtle Observers • Inflow/Overflow Screens • Pre-trawling Condition and Abundance Surveys • Relocation Trawling

10. COE Permitted Projects(continued) • Take one or two (Threatened or Endangered) • Stop dredging • Perform risk assessment • Develop Risk Management Plan and implement • District reviews and concurs – dredging may continue

11. COE Permitted Projects(continued) • At three turtles – District notify EAG • At four turtle takes – engage EAG • At first Sturgeon take – District notify EAG • At two Sturgeon takes – District engage EAG • EAG remains engaged throughout the remainder of the project (Note – Dredging stops at each take – turtle or sturgeon)

12. Relocation Trawling Takes • Same for Federal and COE Permitted Projects • Use as conditions dictate • Plan for Sea Turtle Relocation Trawling • No District “Trigger Points” • Keep ERDC informed on relocations • If lethal/injurious take occurs – Notifications – District, NMFS, and ERDC

13. Preferred alternative, but, unsuccessful during discussions with NMFS Separate take limits – Federal and Permitted projects If either Federal takes or Permitted takes nearly exhausted/exhausted - Reconsult with NMFS Separate RBO

14. Discussions and Questions