Challenges in Quantifying the Effectiveness of Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures and Potential Solutions

Julie Garvin

Tetra Tech

Dr. Julia Garvin is a senior ecologist and project manager at Tetra Tech with over 15 years of experience in the fields of conservation, avian and behavioral ecology, and field biology. Her work for Tetra Tech over the past 5 years has been focused on the renewable energy sector where she provides environmental permitting support to project developers and operators. Specific to wind energy, her experience includes agency consultation as well as the development and implementation of pre-construction wildlife baseline studies, post-construction behavioral studies and fatality monitoring, and adaptive management and mitigation plans. Dr. Garvin has authored a variety of environmental permitting documents such as Eagle Conservation Plans, Environmental Assessments associated with applications for eagle take permits, and Bird and Bat Conservation Strategies. She is experienced with demographic and statistical models including the USFWS Bayesian collision risk model, and fatality estimators such as the USGS programs Evidence of Absence and Fatality CMR. Through her work at Tetra Tech, previous research efforts, and current research collaborations Dr. Garvin has gained a solid understanding of interactions between wind projects and wildlife species including eagles and other raptors, Hawaiian species, and threatened and endangered species. She is a member of the Western Golden Eagle Working Group, the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group, Women of Wind Energy, and several scientific societies.

Abstract

There are numerous challenges to estimating the effectiveness of impact avoidance and minimization measures at reducing bird and bat fatalities at operational wind facilities. The objective of our study is to provide a review of a number of these challenges illustrated with case studies and to provide potential solutions. We draw upon our experience working with numerous wind energy facility owners and operators across the country as well as published information in both peer-reviewed and gray literature. There are two major categories of impact types with respect to collision mortality: 1) those in which fatality events are rare (e.g., eagles, endangered species), and 2) those in which fatality events are frequent. The former impact type poses its own specific set of challenges because of the difficulty of detecting the occurrence of rare events, and the inherent uncertainty of fatality estimation when events are rare. This uncertainty leads to large confidence intervals which can obscure any potential reductions in fatalities realized by the implementation of avoidance and minimization measures. In some instances, an alternative metric to fatality rates may be more appropriate to quantify effectiveness. Suitable alternative metrics are those that are well-correlated with risk, can be measured with relative accuracy, have good sample sizes, and have baseline data available. Examples of case studies using surrogate species or behavioral variables as alternative metrics are presented for both birds and bats as well as the implications the metric of interest has on study design. We also provide an overview of suitable metrics and study designs when fatality events are frequent. By successfully addressing these challenges, estimation of fatality rates should improve, and the effectiveness of avoidance and minimization measures should be better quantified. Having a suite of avoidance and minimization measures that have been verified to be effective will improve permit compliance and better enable adaptive management of impacts at operational wind facilities.

Authors

Julie Garvin (Tetra Tech)
Thomas Snetsinger (Tetra Tech)

Topic Areas

Bats , Testing the efficacy of efforts intended to minimize or compensate for impacts to species , Birds , Eagles , Raptors , Threatened or endangered species , U.S. - No Specific Region , Mitigation , Land-based

Session

10 » Furthering Understanding of Siting and Assessment (15:55 - Thursday, 1st December, Interlocken Ballroom)

Presentation Files

The presenter has not uploaded any presentation files.

Email Support • Blog • Privacy Policy • Cancellation Policy