Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of comfort that an animal has with its habitat is dependent on the famil-
iarity it establishes with its environs. Changes to physical features of the
environment or even to scent patterns attached to lora can severely disrupt
foraging patterns.
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A better way of developing sites is to clear only those
areas of land that will be built upon. his will leave some of the original
lora in place and provide a level of familiarity that will induce animals to
return to the area after construction is completed. Moreover, careful atten-
tion should be given to selection of any vegetation to be replanted. Eforts
should be made to ensure that new vegetation mirrors the type of vegeta-
tion lost.
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Furthermore, the ecological intrusiveness of wind tower founda-
tions can be signiicantly reduced by recovering foundations with soil and
vegetation.
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Another law with traditional site development concerns fencing which
is often erected around a site, often in adherence to public safety regula-
tions. Utilizing traditional chain-link fencing prevents larger species from
returning to the site. Construction standards that require access holes to be
installed at various intervals along the fence to facilitate animal migration
can attenuate this problem.
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It is worth noting that ecologically sensitive site design should not stop
at site boundaries. One of the greatest threats associated with wind sys-
tem developments stems from the clearing of pristine lands for access roads
and transmission line towers. Not only do access roads potentially hinder
animal migration, they also facilitate human access to ecologically sensi-
tive areas. Again, the process of designing the project with these threats in
mind can produce cost-efective solutions. Migration corridors can facilitate
improved animal migration and lockable entry gates at the mouth of service
roads can help regulate unauthorized access.
Diferent species of animals respond diferently to external commotion.
During the construction stage, noise and commotion from construction
activities can either scare of predators or prey; in doing so, they can unin-
tentionally upset the ecological balance.
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Identifying the types of animals
native to a site—resident animal proiles—and developing impact assess-
ment and mitigation strategies for the identiied species can help minimize
the disruptive impact of construction activities. It is particularly important
in the development of resident animal proiles that endangered species and
keystone species are prioritized to ensure a given project does not cause
irreparable ecological damage.
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Unfortunately, ecological disruption caused by wind farms does not
entirely disappear upon completion of construction.
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Rotor noise that
was a problem with older wind systems has been more or less attenuated
through technological advances.
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However, the impacts on wildlife of the
