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Village of EsteroSunny Isles Beach RFQ 18-02-01 | Marine and Coastal Professional Engineering Consulting Services Benthic Assessment and Coral Relocation On behalf of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Civil Engineering Unit (CEU) Sector Miami, Pinnacle Ecological, Inc. (Pinnacle) conducted coral salvage activities at the USCG Station Lake Worth Inlet. The coral removal activities were associated with the Floating Dock Replacement Project (Project) at the USCG Station Lake Worth Inlet located in Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida (Project No.: 8934870). A benthic survey of the Project area conducted in August 2016 identified potential corals for removal and/or relocation (Coastal Systems International, Inc. (CSI), 2016). The purpose of the coral salvage activities was to avoid and minimize potential environmental impacts that could occur as a result of Project construction or construction related activities. Pinnacle scientists coordinated with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to obtain a Special Activities License (SAL) to conduct the coral removal/salvage activities. In November 2017 a team of Pinnacle’s coral scientists successfully removed coral colonies for donation to the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (Museum) where the corals will be used for education and exhibition purposes. All coral salvage activities were coordinated with FWC, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Museum, USCG CEU Sector Miami, and USCG Station Lake Worth Inlet. Underwater visibility in the Project area during the coral removal activities was extremely low, typically less than five (5) feet (1.5 meters). Low visibility made it challenging to locate the corals targeted for removal. Additional difficulties arose when trying to locate the coral colonies targeted for removal due to discrepancies in mapping and species identifications between the Field Observation Report (CSI 2016) and in situ conditions observed by Pinnacle scientists. For example, the submerged car tire noted at 39 meters (128.0 feet) along Transect 1 during the benthic assessment survey (CSI, 2016), was found approximately 5 to 8 meters (16.4 to 26.2 feet) north of Transect 1 at the 45-meter (147.6-foot) mark. Additionally, the CSI Field Observation Report stated that there were four (4) S. bournoni colonies on the tire and two (2) Phyllangia americana (hidden cup coral) polyps. Pinnacle scientists only observed one (1) S. bournoni colony; the remaining colonies on the car tire that had been previously identified as S.bournoni were correctly identified as S. radians by Pinnacle divers. Pinnacle scientists also noted the occurrence of five (5) P. americana (hidden cup coral) colonies on the tire. The additional P. americana colonies observed during the coral removal activities may have been new recruits. Furthermore, the coral colony located in between two submerged pilings along Transect 6 that was previously identified as S. radians (CSI, 2016), was determined to be a S. bournoni by Pinnacle scientists. Corals targeted for removal were observed in water depths from 4 to 10 feet (1.2 to 3.0 meters). The S. radians colonies removed ranged in size from 7.8 centimeters (3.1 inches) to 14.0 centimeters (5.5 inches) in maximum diameter. The S. bournoni colonies ranged from 23.0 centimeters (9.1 inches) to 30.0 (11.8) centimeters in maximum diameter. Removed corals were generally healthy, although all colonies had their polyps extended before and after removal. The S. radians colonies only had 90% live tissue due to the presence of algal tufts. Some of the coral colonies identified for removal were growing over the 90° edge of submerged concrete pilings and other debris (i.e. submerged tire) scattered throughout the Project area. Coral growth occurring around tight angles increases the difficulty for removing the colonies in one piece. Pinnacle scientists exercised a great deal of care during the removal process in order to keep the colonies as intact as possible and to prevent coral damage. The coral colonies removed were then transferred to a representative from the Frost Museum for transport back to the Museum, where they will be permanently housed for education and exhibition purposes. Reference - United States Coast Guard Contact: Marvin Bethel(305) 278-6718 Dates: 2017 Proposed Team Member's Experience Pinnacle Ecological, Inc. Paul FitzgeraldRandi ShiplettMauricio Lopez Project Highlights:• Environmental Monitoring• Coral Removal/Relocation 228