Tidal_PAD_V1_Sec4.pdf - Snohomish County PUD

Snohomish County PUD –Pre-Application Document
4 – Existing Environment
2005 Marine Mammals Admiralty Spieden
Sightings
Inlet Channel
Oct – Dec
Project Area
Guemes San Juan
Channel Channel
Deception
Pass
Agate
Passage
Rich
Passage
Orca Oct(2) Dec(1) Nov(11) Dec(2)
Gra y Whale
Oc t(2)
Humpback Whale
Minke
Pseudorca
Fin Whale
In addition to these sighting data, WDFW m aintains digital records for marine ma
mmal haulout
s ites in the vicinity of four of the seven project sites: Admiralty Inlet (four sites); Spieden Channel
( greater than ten sites); San Juan Channel ( nine s ites); and Rich Passage (two sites). The data are
current as of the District’s Decembe r 2007 data request; an overview of marine mammal haulout
sites in the vicinity of the project sites is presented in App endix E.
4.5.3.3 Sho rebird and Seabird Sightings
Shorebird and seabird observational data from WDFW vessel surveys are available from 1992
through 2004 (Table 4-37). These data were processed in GIS so as to include birds sighted
within 0.4 km (0.25 miles) of each project site. The greatest (55,590 sightings) and most diverse
(57 species) representation of birds was found at Admiralty In let. Dece ption Pass had the fewest
number (1,476 sightings) of bird sightings. Agate Passage had the lowest number of species (33).
In addition, WDFW maintains records for seabird colonies in the vicnity of five of the project
sites: Admiralty Inlet (alcids, cormorants, and “other” spe cies); Spieden Channel (alcids and other
species); Guemes Channel (al cids), San Juan Channel (alcids and cormorants and other species);
and Decepti on Pass (alcids and cormorants). Mapping of these seabird colonies is provided in
Appendix E.
4-109 January 31, 2008