The construction of the first offshore wind facility in US waters afforded the opportunity to learn about the environmental impacts from this activity. In 2015, five turbine foundations were installed about 3 miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island. One year later, the turbine structures were installed and operation commenced in December 2016. As part of the BOEM study, Real-time Opportunity of Development Environmental Observations (RODEO), a team of researchers collected information about the types and duration of activities; the sound generated, both in the air and underwater; the disturbance and recovery of the seafloor; and changes in benthic habitat on and around the foundations. The task order 6 reports include the observations and findings during the installation and early operation of the turbine structures, the first two years of benthic observations, and some additional analysis from the foundation installation. While sound is measurable during operations very near the turbines, it is much less intense than during the pile driving. The first two years of benthic monitoring did not identify any changes to the benthic communities around the base of the turbines but did observe the complete encrustation of the turbines with mussels. The reports also include observations of particle motion and a chance encounter with a Sei whale.

USD: $1,262,225

2016-07-28 → 2019-06-30