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ServicesWind Farm Pre-Construction Ecological Risk AssessmentWe are experienced in wind farm pre-construction environmental risk assessment, especially for birds and bats. Our experience includes work on sites with high visibility and significant stakeholder interest. Completed: Seven properties in four Texas counties. One was abandoned as being too environmentally risky. Ongoing: 38 properties in nine Texas counties. Pending: Seven properties in five Texas counties and one foreign country.
Among the services we provide are:
If you are a new developer, or a land owner interested in wind power on your property, you may have questions about how we conduct our risk assessments and what the results may mean for your wind farm: How is an ecological risk assessment conducted? How is an ecological pre construction risk assessment conducted? The major focus of the risk assessment is on birds and
bats. We initially identify heavy bird-use areas by
surveying the property at different times of the day and at different seasons.
We then map those areas using both GPS groundtruthing, aerial photography
of the property, and GIS software. We quantify usage by implementing a variety
of methodologies, such as point counts and transect counts during daylight
hours, and radar/infrared cameras/bat detectors during the night. By combining
older methodologies with newer methodologies/technology we compile a data
set that not only can be directly compared with data from older projects,
but that can improve the accuracy of the assessment and provide a benchmark
for post-construction studies. There are few professional consulting teams
that have our level of expertise in bird identification and natural history. Are migrating raptors (hawks, falcons) a problem? It depends upon the characteristics of the area. Good wind quality often
means few trees. As a general rule, fewer trees mean fewer migrating raptors.
Our surveys specifically address this issue. We have on staff one of the
foremost authorities on North American raptor migration to make this determination. Hunting has a huge economic impact in many areas. How might wind
farms affect gamebirds, especially waterfowl? Upland gamebirds—turkey, dove, grouse, pheasant and quail—typically fly
low to the ground and are unlikely to ever be threatened by a turbine blade.
In contrast, ducks and geese routinely fly at rotor heights, often making
daily flights between roosting and feeding areas. Their routes, however,
mainly depend on historical usage and are generally confined to narrow flight
corridors. At other wind farms located in close proximity to waterfowl areas,
the birds seem to have high avoidance ability, and are rarely struck. Daily
and seasonal bird traffic is one of the most important characteristics we
identify and define for establishing optimal and safe turbine siting. What about threatened or endangered species? Determining the status of threatened or endangered species is a prime
objective of the area surveys. If threatened or endangered species are discovered,
every effort is made to define their range and to determine if breeding
occurs. Although the focus is on birds, some properties may support other
species that have to be evaluated. Ecotourism is big business, especially in some parts of the country.
How do wind farms affect this resource, especially migrating song birds? This is arguably the most important factor affecting wind farms in areas
with significant ecotourism. It is a difficult question to answer as little
study has been done in the past. We have far more experience than anyone
else in studying this question. In addition to daytime visual surveys, we
deploy infrared camera and/or radar systems to monitor the night-time avian
(and bat) migration flights. Many songbirds migrate at night, and infrared
cameras are the only sensor that has 100% detection capability for individual
small birds flying in the rotor zone. We also are always prepared to respond
on short notice to the occurrence of abnormal weather events by putting
multiple observers in the field. Such events can create conditions that
are most likely to increase the strike risk of migratory songbirds. By observing
the flight patterns during these events we can better predict the strike
risk. Who has the final say on whether a project is safe enough? Ultimately, only the developer. Currently (2008) in Texas there are no
regulations or permits necessary for placing wind turbines on private property.
Other states have varying requirements. We provide an estimated risk based
upon analysis of the data collected during the surveys. A prudent developer
also consults regularly with government agencies, such as U.S. Fish & Wildlife,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (primarily on wetlands issues), and state agencies
such as Parks & Wildlife. The developer considers all the inputs, and makes
a decision based upon them. We assist the developer in communicating with
the government agencies and interested stakeholders. Wind Farm Post-Construction Ecological Risk Assessment Once a wind energy facility is in operation, post-construction studies
are conducted to validate the estimated risk from the pre-construction assessment.
Traditionally, the most significant aspect of post construction monitoring
has been based upon carcass searches. This can be very manpower intensive.
We have been working to better incorporate the latest technology into post-construction
assessments in order to not only reduce overall costs, but to achieve a
more accurate assessment. If problems are discovered, we work hand in hand
with the developer and the regulators to design and implement appropriate
mitigation measures. |
