HRC SCC Aerial-based Transect Surveys February 2011

Original provider:
HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction, Inc.

Dataset credits:
The U.S. Navy Marine Species Monitoring Program

Abstract:
Aerial surveys to monitor marine mammals and sea turtles (MM/ST) were conducted in
conjunction with two training events during the period February 16 to March 5, 2011, including<br/>
(a) U.S. Navy Submarine Commander’s Course (SCC) naval training event in the Hawaii Range
Complex (HRC) on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) instrumented range between Kauai
and Niihau, Hawaii; and <br/>
(b) Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX) training event south of Oahu
and Molokai.<br/> Surveys in support of the SCC event occurred on 4 consecutive days from
February 16 to 19, 2011, in waters adjoining Kauai and Niihau where the missile destroyer (DDG)
and other ships were operating, followed by shoreline surveys of Kauai and Niihau on 2 separate
days thereafter: February 24 and 26, 2011.<br/> This was followed by shoreline surveys of the Four
Islands region in support of the USWEX event on 2 separate days, February 28 and March 5, 2011.
The survey methods and sampling design were submitted and approved in advance, per the
statement of work (SOW), to the Navy Technical Representative (NTR) and followed previously
established protocol (Mobley and Milette 2010; Smultea et al. 2009a,b).