Wind Watch’s Post

National Wildlife Federation has a new product for those of you thinking about state primacy and CO2 storage! Check out our newest brief, spearheaded by our talented CDR Justice fellow Jake Ferrell: Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide: The State of Responsible Primacy. The brief includes details on what it takes to successfully permit a Class VI well, why the federal government has encouraged states to apply for primacy, and how states like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana came to acquire primacy. Additionally it explores the various qualms around primacy, including from some environmental justice organizations. To learn more about it, and what NWF thinks of this tool for carbon management, check out the brief!

Australia's seagrass meadows and coral reefs play a pivotal role in maintaining ocean health. But how do we accurately measure these intricate ecosystems? The solution is current meters. These sophisticated tools are designed to measure water flow velocity, aiding us in tracking long-term ecological changes. They provide a more transparent view of the impacts of climate change and the effects of storm-induced alterations. Furthermore, they supply essential data on how water currents manipulate temperature, sediment, and nutrient distribution. This not only amplifies our understanding but also empowers us to formulate strategies to preserve these critical marine habitats. Enhance your research with the precision and dependability of our tools. Browse our selection of Tilt Current Meters today >> #research #environmental #environmentalmonitoring #researchproject #datacollection #oceanresearch #seagrass #coralreef #dataloggers #datalogger #datalogging

Publication alert! Check out my first paper on peatlands (yes, it's me! ) investigating winter microclimatic conditions in a peatland disturbed by a seismic line. Open access: https://lnkd.in/eshEpNEf #BERA #hydrologicalprocesses

🦈 These gentle giants may look intimidating, but they’re about as dangerous as a floating pool noodle. Most of their life is focused on plankton and chill, but they are on the vulnerable species list due to having to dodge boats and other marine vessels. 🛥️ This summer, we've been tracking these massive filter feeders to learn more about their behavior and habitat use near offshore energy operations. 🔎 As we learn more about these slow-moving vacuums, we’re able to use science to inform our decisions on how to protect them. Learn more: https://ow.ly/GOam50T3iHO #UnleashTheScience

The U.S. Geological Survey is highlighting the role of my mitigation tool, the Avian-Impact Offset Method, in creating habitat for wildlife. Energy companies can compensate for the loss of avian breeding habitat from the development of energy facilities by using my tool to calculate the number of acres of grasslands and wetlands their developments impacted, and providing financial resources to create or restore that amount of habitat elsewhere. This mitigation tool has been responsible for nearly 4,000 acres of new or restored grasslands and wetlands in North Dakota to date. https://lnkd.in/gz5bP4gx

Remember those claims that off shore wind power was threatening whales? Well, there's #newresearch showing that's absolutely not true! "We found no evidence that offshore wind development contributed to strandings or mortalities. This work highlights the need to consider behavioral, ecological, and anthropogenic factors to determine the drivers of mortality and serious injury in large whales and to provide informed guidance to decision-makers." Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/evjiX6cH

Ever look closely at the critters living under rocks in a #stream? Sampling these small organisms can tell you a lot about how a stream’s #ecosystem is functioning. It can be a powerful tool to monitor stream health. https://stantec.co/47zuYEV #EcosystemRestoration #GenerationRestoration #FishPassage #StreamRestoration

Ever look closely at the critters living under rocks in a #stream? Sampling these small organisms can tell you a lot about how a stream’s #ecosystem is functioning. It can be a powerful tool to monitor stream health. https://stantec.co/47zuYEV #EcosystemRestoration #GenerationRestoration #FishPassage #StreamRestoration

MANMADE #SOUNDS FOR #SURVEYS HARM #MARINE #MAMMALS. For example, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC and Ørsted’s OW Ocean Winds both requested #permission to #harm ocean #mammals in their applications for New Jersey #offshore #wind projects. And, since boats ramped up #offshore #surveys in May 2022, 31 #dead #whales have #washed up on New Jersey and surrounding beaches. Ørsted, which in November pulled out of a proposed New Jersey #offshore #wind farm, requested #permission to #harm 30 #whales, 3,231 #dolphins, 82 #porpoises, and eight #seals through #sound #waves generated by its #surveys—although the company claims that the #damage would be negligible. The precise numbers and detailed species can be found on the website of the NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, in Ørsted’s Application for Incidental Harassment Authorization (Table 9). Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, owned by Dutch Shell oil and French EDF, is still seeking permission to locate an #offshore #wind farm in New Jersey. In its #Request for #Incidental #Harassment (Table 6-3) it stated that #acoustic #waves associated with the siting of the #wind #turbines would likely #affect 10 whales, 662 dolphins, 206 porpoises, and 546 seals (also termed a negligible amount). It received #permission to #harm these marine animals. Although the companies describe effects as “negligible,” the NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration website states that it’s difficult to measure the effects of #manmade #sounds on #mammals. “#Acoustic #trauma, which could result from close exposure to loud human-produced sounds, is very #challenging to #assess, particularly with any amount of decomposition,” or damage to the whale’s body, states NOAA on its website.