HydroacousticsKen Cannon, ODOT Aquatic Biology Program

ESA Document Training, May 26, 2010

• ODOT HAWG• Agreement on

Thresholds• Hydroacoustic

Specs• Attenuation• Monitoring and

Reporting• Information needs

for BA

ODOT HAWG

• Members- ODOT, NMFS, USFWS, ODFW, Hamilton Construction

• Training• Communication with

stakeholders• Monitoring protocol• Specifications

– Attenuation– Monitoring

• Research• Information pool• Website

Hydroacoustic info on ODOT FTP site

• Biological Opinions• HAWG Meeting Notes• May 14, 2009 Hydroacoustic Training• Monitoring Reports• NMFS Calculator• ODOT Research• Hammer Blow Counts• Project Photos• References• Specifications• Underwater Noise Monitoring Plan

Time History of Pile Driving Events

Illingworth and Rodkin, Inc.

NMFS Pile Driving CalculatorProject TitlePile information (size, type, number, pile strikes, etc.)

Peak SEL RMS Effective QuietMeasured single strike level (dB) 203 179 190 150Distance (m) 10 10 10

Estimated number of strikes 38

Cumulative SEL at measured distance195

BehaviorPeak RMS dB Fish ? 2 g Fish < 2 g dB

Transmission loss constant (15 if unknown) 206 187 183 15015 6 33 61 4642

N. F. Siuslaw River

Fill in green cells: estimated sound levels and distances at which they were measured, estimated number of pile strikes per day, and transmision loss constant.

** This calculation assumes that single strike SELs < 150 dB do not accumulate to cause injury (Effective Quiet)

Acoustic Metric

Distance (m) to threshold

Cumulative SEL dB**Onset of Physical Injury

00290.34 (c) Specifications

(7) Hydroacoustic

(a) General:  

(b) Noise Attenuation System:

(c) Underwater Noise Monitoring Plan, Monitoring, and Reporting:

Attenuation

30000

20000

10000

0

-10000

-20000

-300000 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08

Time (sec)

Pre

ssu

re (

Pa)

Effect of Bubble Curtain on Pressure

Confined Bubble Curtain

Confined Bubble Curtain

Pile SleevePile Sleeve

Bubble RingBubble Ring

Must extendMust extendabove surfaceabove surface

Must contact bottomMust contact bottom

Monitoring and Reporting

• Which projects need monitoring?

• WSDOT Protocol

• ODOT Protocol• Reporting

Information needs for the BAInformation needs for the BA

• Vibratory hammer and/or impact hammer detail.• Type of pile (coal-tar/zinc coated pile need to be sealed)• Size of pile <24”>.• Number of piles (in-water/out of water).• Estimated number of pile strikes per day.• Life-history stages present in the Action Area.• Monitoring data from previous projects with similar site

conditions?• Aquatic habitat types where piles will be driven (scour pools,

riffles, estuary, etc.).• Substrate data from geo-tech report.• Pile driving plan.• Monitoring plan/report, if needed. Template in the works.• In-water work timing (variance may be needed).

From WSDOT

From WSDOT

1. Size and type of piles.2. A detailed description of the bubble curtain, including design specifications.3. The impact hammer force used to drive the piles.4. A description of the monitoring equipment.5. The distance between hydrophone and pile.6. The depth of the hydrophone.7. The distance from the pile to the wetted perimeter.8. The depth of water in which the pile was driven.9. The depth into the substrate that the pile was driven.10. The physical characteristics of the bottom substrate into which the piles were

driven.11. The ranges and means for peak, RMS, and SEL’s for each pile.12. The results of the hydroacoustic monitoring, including the frequency

spectrum, peak and RMS SPL’s, and single-strike and cumulative SEL with and without the attenuation system.

13. A description of any observable fish or bird behavior in the immediate area will and, if possible, correlation to underwater sound levels occurring at that time.

Information Needs for a Monitoring Information Needs for a Monitoring Report….Report….

Web links:

• ODOT hydroacoustic website:ftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/techserv/geo-environmental/Biology/Hydroacoustic/

• WSDOT hydroacoustic information:http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Biology/BA/BAguidance.htm

Illustrations courtesy of:Bud Abbot, Environ CorporationJohn Stadler, NMFSJim Laughlin, WSDOT