Power Plant Mitigation Using Artificial Reefs
Project Overview of Power Plant Mitigation Plan
The Marine Review Committee of the California Coastal Commission needed to determine how to mitigate for coastal and near-shore habitat loss related to the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.
The Marine Review Committee asked Aquabio to evaluate available technology, develop a mitigation plan, and monitor results.
Aquabio's Role
- Reviewed global state-of-the-art and best practices in artificial reef technology
- Identified Japanese artificial reef technology for technology transfer
- Developed recommendations for using artificial reefs as a mitigation plan for the power plant in Southern California
- Integrated habitat enhancement with kelp transplantation and possible fish stocking as part of the mitigation plan
- Reviewed artificial reef designs
- Monitored follow-up study plans and results of prototype test artificial reef
Results of Aquabio's Recommendation of Artificial Reefs for Power Plant Mitigation
- Recommended Japanese artificial reef designs for habitat enhancement
- Identified opportunities for integrating stocking / transplantation and habitat enhancement
- Introduced Japanese research results relevant to reef construction to power plant operators
- Information used to develop modular rock artificial reef for testing
Return to Mitigation and Restoration Planning from Power Plant Mitigation
