Hazardous Wildlife Management

Transcription

1 Hazardous Wildlife Management ACI-NA Joint Session Technical & Operations Committee Public Safety & Security Committee Emily Underhill, P.E. Division Director - Development March 16, 2009

2 Who We Are The Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) operates both Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Page Field General Aviation Airport (FMY). RSW Southwest Florida International Airport 89,303 Annual Aircraft Movements FMY Page Field General Aviation Airport 71,033 Annual Aircraft Movements 2

3 RSW Location Map 3

4 Airport History In 1979, the five-county area that comprises our air service region created an advisory panel that selected an area of land off Daniels Parkway and east of I-75 for the new airport. One of the original selling points for RSW s current location was its distance from populated area and the pristine park-like natural surroundings! The original RSW terminal opened on May 14,

5 History of Wildlife Studies at RSW 1989: Airport Operations conducted the first bird/wildlife study Identified problem areas Outlined deterrence methods in use» Distress tape» Herbicide to eradicate cattails» Introduction of grass eating carp : Wildlife study conducted by USDA FAA did not require a WHMP 2/99-9/99 and 12/00-9/01: Wildlife study was conducted by a consultant Completed report compared wildlife data from the two observation periods Report made recommendations to reduce problem birds 5

6 History of Wildlife Studies at RSW Present: LCPA conducts regular bird counts Enters the counts into wildlife tracking software 2/2005: LCPA created the Hazardous Wildlife Working Group (HWWG). 8/2005: Consultants conduct a Preliminary Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA) 3/2008 Present: Consultants conducting a full WHA 6

7 FAA Top 25 Hazardous Species Outlined in FAA AC 150/ B Deer Vultures Geese Cormorants/Pelicans Cranes Eagles Ducks Osprey Turkey/Pheasants Herons Hawks Gulls Nighthawks Species in red are common or have been observed in the AOA at RSW Rock pigeon Owls Larks/Buntings Crows/Ravens Coyote Mourning Dove Shorebirds Blackbird/Starling American Kestrel Meadowlarks Swallows Sparrows 7

8 FAA Top 25 Hazardous Species at RSW Total Strikes of Top 25 FAA Species Groups at RSW since 1990 = Top five most prevalent strike groups 8

9 Current Wildlife Hazard Deterrence Activities Pyrotechnics and Propane Cannons Bird spiders on lights on direct approach to the runway Bird spikes on headwalls Methyl anthranilate (MA) fogging of dry detention areas The nation s first commercial service Bird Dog 9

10 Airport Border Collie Program 1999: RSW became first commercial airport in US to use border collie Three border collies to date: Jet (M) Radar (F) Sky (F) 2008-Current Last two dogs purchased via RFP from Flyaway Farms in North Carolina Initial cost $7,500 Purchase of Animal Initial Training 1 Year of Site-Specific Additional Training Handler cost At RSW Dual Duty Handler/Operations Agent If Dedicated Handler: ~$50,000/year Annual Veterinary and Food Cost: $600 Radar Most effective with wading birds, waterfowl and ground birds that flock Jet Sky 10

11 Airport Border Collie Program (continued) Wildlife Management Program in the news Airport Border Collie - Sky Southwest Florida International Airport 11

12 Current Wildlife Hazard Management Activities Hazardous Wildlife Working Group Staff Airfield observation and use of AIRMAN database to determine hot spots Coordination with federal, state and local permitting agencies to allow for steeper lake side slopes Drought management and maintenance plan 12

13 Hazardous Wildlife Working Group Meets bimonthly or within 48 hours of an FAR Part 139 qualifying strike Consists of airport environmental compliance, operations and maintenance staff Arranges wildlife training of operations and field maintenance staff Conducts research on emerging technologies and recommends schedule for implementation 13

14 Agency Coordination Midfield Terminal Complex Water Management System (2005) Negotiated 2:1 Side Slopes with Rip Rap and no littoral zones Normal permitting requires 4:1 side slopes and 6:1 littoral zones with plantings System includes a 160 acre wet detention lake and 80 acres of dry detention, associated canals and additional, separate dry detention Meets all state water quality and attenuation criteria Lake has been a success, no wading birds have been observed during wildlife observations 14

15 Drought Management and Maintenance Plan During Winter Dry Season lakes and flow ways dry up Maintenance plan takes advantage of drought to remove vegetation and siltation and steepen side slopes Conducted maintenance in 2008 on lake 4 Recognized reduction in wading bird use as a result 15

16 Hazardous Wildlife Management at FMY Worked with Water Management District to allow for 2:1 side slopes with new GA Terminal Project Worked with FFWCC to develop a long-term Burrowing Owl Permit which does not require any enhancement of owl habitat Worked with Lee County Staff to develop less wildlife attractant landscape plantings Last reported bird strike was in June The most recent prior to that date was December

17 FAA Separation Criteria for RSW Because numerous residential and commercial developments lie within the FAA AC 10,000 foot buffer, LCPA has coordinated closely with local agencies and developers. 17

18 Coordination with Local County Staff Education of county staff on FAA Wildlife AC requirements County staff has agreed to administrative exemptions (10,000 ft buffer): Reduction in number of littoral species to eliminate diversity Clumping of littorals and removal of new littoral growth Coordinated with LCPA staff to create a landscape list of species that are less attractive to wildlife Cabbage Palm Spanish Stopper Southern Magnolia 18

19 Balancing Mitigation and Wildlife Management The Mitigation Park is approximately four (4) miles east of the Airfield 7,000 acres Provides large natural sanctuary for wildlife Serves as a corridor to other regional conservation areas 19

20 Mitigation Park During the Midfield Terminal Complex construction project, the airport worked closely with all of the environmental agencies to offset wetland and wildlife impacts. Mitigation Park Project (January 2003) Exotic removal Wetland creation Habitat enhancement Habitat restoration Land Acquisition - $21 million Exotic, Creation, Enhancement and Restoration - $9 million LCPA Annual Maintenance - $500,000 20

21 Mitigation Park (continued) Offers a protected habitat for a variety of plants and animals including: Eight (8) Federal and State listed plant species Eleven (11) Federal and State listed wildlife species Bald Eagle Florida Panther American Alligator Tri-colored Heron Florida Black Bear 21

22 Airport Awards and Recognition Airports Council International-North America: 2004 Environmental Excellence Award - Mitigation Park Project 2000 Environmental Achievement Award - Recognition for LCPA Wildlife Management Program Florida Airports Council: 2008 FAC Environmental Excellence Award - Mitigation Park 22

23 Airline Safety and Wildlife Protection Act of Florida (Proposed) Act was drafted January 22, 2009, just one week after the Miracle on the Hudson. Sponsored by Senator Baker (SB 1864) and Representative Plakon (HB1065). The act will grant immunity from prosecution by federal, state or local agencies to Florida airports and airport personnel while conducting an authorized action taken for the purpose of protecting human life or aircraft safety from wildlife hazards. For this immunity to take effect, the airport must have authorization through: a WHMP, a depredation permit or standing order by USFWS or FFWCC. Existing RSW Conservation Easement 23

24 Current Wildlife Hazard Assessment Study Area: 6,366 acres 24

25 Current Wildlife Hazard Assessment 16 observation points within & outside the AOA Observations at dawn, midday, dusk & nighttime Part 139 Inspection recommended WHA be performed Duration of study is one year Includes review & analysis of previously conducted studies Current proactive wildlife deterrent program Utilizes GIS (Geographic Information Systems) 25

26 GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Allows for graphical representation of field observations Can be built upon by the airport and utilized to set quantifiable benchmarks Allows for specific queries using all field data attributes to create specific maps 26

27 Program Success Why Has RSW Been Successful? Education of Maintenance & Operations Staff on best management practices for habitat management Formal training of Operations & Environmental Compliance Staff on emerging technologies for hazardous wildlife management Implementation of successful wetland mitigation & storm water management practices Coordination/Education of FAA AC criteria with federal, state and local regulatory officials Communications with the ATCT and pilot users The border collie program 37% reduction in strikes 29% increase in aircraft movements Constant vigilance 27

28 Questions? Emily Underhill, PE Director - Development Division Lee County Port Authority Terminal Access Rd, Suite 8671 Fort Myers, FL (239) emunderhill@flylpca.com * Wildlife photographs courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 28

29 THANK YOU! 29