HDR, Inc. provided comprehensive monitoring services for an in-water pile driving construction project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington. Using highly trained marine species observers, field technicians, and acousticians, we ensured client compliance in the face of complex regulatory requirements.

Marine mammal (MM) monitoring was conducted during in-water pile driving (PD) at Hood Canal, Washington, during fall 2011. Monitoring was performed on construction days, during active-construction (“AC”, defined as 30 minutes prior to, during, and 30 minutes after PD) and non-construction (“NC”, downtime) periods. Baseline surveys were also conducted throughout Hood Canal on days when no PD occurred. Monitoring and baseline surveys occurred over 53 days. Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) recorded 1,207 sightings totaling 2,269 individual MM.

Marine mammal (MM) monitoring was conducted during inwater pile driving (PD) at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington in Hood Canal during Fall 2011. Vessel-based monitoring was performed on construction days, during both active-construction (“AC”, defined as 30 minutes prior to, during, and 30 minutes after PD) and non-construction (“NC”, downtime) periods. Baseline surveys were also conducted throughout Hood Canal on days when no PD occurred. Monitoring and baseline surveys occurred over 53 days, during which Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) recorded 1,207 sightings totaling 2,269 individual MM. Species observed included California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Harbor seals were the most frequently observed MM on construction days (n=782 sightings) and baseline survey days (n=197 sightings). The only cetaceans observed were harbor porpoise (n=68 construction, 34 baseline sightings). Harbor seal sighting rates were lower on construction days than on baseline days (0.73 and 1.80 sightings/observer hour [obs hr], respectively). Likewise, harbor porpoise were sighted less often on construction days than on baseline days (0.13 and 0.31 sightings/obs hr, respectively). On construction days, harbor seal sighting rates were actually higher during AC periods than NC periods (3.31 and 0.23 sightings/obs hr, respectively). This is consistent with MMOs’ qualitative observations that harbor seals (particularly juveniles) appeared to be attracted to PD, and often moved towards the construction area when PD was initiated. On construction days, pinnipeds were most often observed “diving,” “looking,” “sinking,” and “swimming”. During AC, 4% more pinnipeds were observed “diving” vs. NC periods (n=124). On construction days, harbor porpoise were most often observed “traveling”. During AC, 27% fewer harbor porpoise were observed “traveling” vs. NC periods (n=18). Overall, minor behavioral disruptions were observed in relation to PD, and were within “take” numbers in the issued Incidental Harassment Authorization.

This survey implemented visual line transect and passive acoustic methods to assess the presence and distribution and to estimate density and abundance of cetaceans in Behm Canal and central Clarence Strait.

This report summarizes information from 24 U.S. Navy-funded aerial surveys of pinniped haulout sites in the inland waters of Washington State conducted between March 2013 and February 2014 by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The objectives of this TO are to conduct aerial surveys of the study area in order to: 1) provide estimates of seasonal abundance for seals and sea lions, 2) identify seasonal distribution patterns for seals and sea lions, 3) collect data to determine seal and sea lion densities, and 4) provide harbor seal abundance data needed by NMFS to prepare a Stock Assessment Report (SAR) for the Washington inland waters harbor seal stock. Additionally, the atlas showing pinniped haulouts for these waters (Jeffries et al. 2000) has not been updated in 13 years and will be revised as well.

During this project, the visual survey covered a total of 760 kilometers (410 nautical miles) on-effort while transit and fog effort legs accounted for 553 km (298 nm). There were a total of 96 sightings (453 individuals) of 11 confirmed marine mammal species; these included fin, humpback, gray, and minke whales as well as killer whales, Dall’s and harbor porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphins and Steller sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters. Additionally, there were 36 sightings (46 individuals) of unidentified large whales, dolphins and pinnipeds. Acoustically, operations were conducted 24-hours/day surveying a total of 3,519 km (1,900 nm) and recording 49 acoustic detections of sperm whales and killer whales. Photographs of nineteen individual killer whales and four fin whales were obtained on this cruise and compared to existing catalogs.

From 2013 to 2016, we conducted systematic line-transect aerial surveys in 8 sub-regions of Puget Sound encompassing inland waters of Washington State. U.S.-funded surveys were conducted year-round and focused on estimating seasonal in-water density and abundance of marine mammals, particularly harbor porpoises and harbor seals

From 2013 to 2015, researchers conducted systematic line-transect aerial surveys for marine mammals in eight subregions of Puget Sound encompassing inland waters of Washington State. Effort consisted of five separate survey periods spanning four seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall) and was funded by the United States Navy (Navy). Surveys focused on estimating seasonal in-water density and abundance of cetaceans, particularly harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

Seasonal systematic aerial surveys of Puget Sound.

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), NOAA Fisheries, with support from the U.S. Navy, conducted line transect surveys in Behm Canal and adjacent areas in the spring of 2023 and fall of 2024 to obtain estimates of density and abundance of cetaceans and information on marine mammal distribution and occurrence.