Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor DEVELOPING WAVE ENERGY IN

182 Pages·2008·5.97 MB·English

by  Bob Aldrich

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
DEVELOPING WAVE ENERGY IN
COASTAL CALIFORNIA:
POTENTIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC

AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS T
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Prepared For:
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California Energy Commission
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Public Interest Energy Research Program
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California Ocean Protection Council

November 2008
CEC-500-2008-083

Prepared By:
H. T. Harvey & Associates, Project Manager: Peter A. Nelson
California Energy Commission Contract No. 500-07-036
California Ocean Protection Grant No: 07-107
Prepared For

California Energy Commission
California Ocean Protection Council

Laura Engeman Melinda Dorin & Joe O’Hagan
Contract Manager Contract Manager

Christine Blackburn Linda Spiegel
Deputy Program Manager Program Area Lead
Energy-Related Environmental Research
Neal Fishman
Ocean Program Manager Mike Gravely
Office Manager
Drew Bohan Energy Systems Research Office
Executive Policy Officer

Martha Krebs, Ph.D.
PIER Director
Sam Schuchat

Executive Officer; Council Secretary
Thom Kelly, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

Melissa Jones
Executive Director

DISCLAIMER
This report was prepared as the result of work sponsored by the California Energy Commission. It does not necessarily represent the views of the
Energy Commission, its employees or the State of California. The Energy Commission, the State of California, its employees, contractors and
subcontractors make no warrant, express or implied, and assume no legal liability for the information in this report; nor does any party represent
that the uses of this information will not infringe upon privately owned rights. This report has not been approved or disapproved by the California
Energy Commission nor has the California Energy Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information in this report.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the able leadership and graceful persistence of Laura Engeman at the
California Ocean Protection Council. Sharon Kramer, Scott Terrill and Sheri Woo (H. T. Harvey
& Associates) provided invaluable criticism as well as professional and technical editing. Brad
Hunt at the California Ocean Protection Council coordinated the peer review; to him and to the
anonymous reviewers we offer our appreciation.

Nelson PA, D Behrens, J Castle, G Crawford, RN Gaddam, SC Hackett, J Largier, DP Lohse, KL
Mills, PT Raimondi, M Robart, WJ Sydeman, SA Thompson, S Woo. 2008. Developing Wave
Energy In Coastal California: Potential Socio-Economic And Environmental Effects. California Energy
Commission, PIER Energy-Related Environmental Research Program & California Ocean
Protection Council CEC-500-2008-083

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Author Affiliations
Dane Behrens David P. Lohse
Bodega Marine Laboratory Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of California Davis University of California Santa Cruz
2099 Westside Road 1156 High Street
Bodega Bay, California 94923 Santa Cruz, California

Jim Castle Kyra L. Mills
Farallon Institute for Advanced Farallon Institute for Advanced Research
Ecosystem Research P.O. Box 750756
P.O. Box 750756 Petaluma, California 94975
Petaluma, California 94975

Greg Crawford Peter A. Nelson
Department of Oceanography H.T. Harvey & Associates
Humboldt State University 1125 16th Street, Suite 209
1 Harpst Street Arcata, California 95521
Arcata, California 95521

Rani N. Gaddam Pete T. Raimondi
Department of Ecology and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz
University of California Santa Cruz 1156 High Street
1156 High Street Santa Cruz, California 95064
Santa Cruz, California 95064

Steven C. Hackett Matt Robart
Department of Economics Bodega Marine Laboratory
Humboldt State University University of California Davis
1 Harpst Street 2099 Westside Road
Arcata, California 95521 Bodega Bay, California 94923
Planwest Partners
1125 16th Street Suite 200 William J. Sydeman
Arcata, California 95521 Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research
P.O. Box 750756
John Largier Petaluma, California 94975
Bodega Marine Laboratory
University of California Davis Sara Ann Thompson
2099 Westside Road Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research
Bodega Bay, California 94923 P.O. Box 750756
Petaluma, California 94975

Sheri Woo
H.T. Harvey & Associates
1125 16th Street, Suite 209
Arcata, California 95521

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Preface
The California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program supports
public interest energy research and development that will help improve the quality of life in
California by bringing environmentally safe, affordable, and reliable energy services and
products to the marketplace.
The PIER Program conducts public interest research, development, and demonstration (RD&D)
projects to benefit California.
The PIER Program strives to conduct the most promising public interest energy research by
partnering with RD&D entities, including individuals, businesses, utilities, and public or private
research institutions.
PIER funding efforts are focused on the following RD&D program areas:
• Buildings End-Use Energy Efficiency
• Energy Innovations Small Grants
• Energy-Related Environmental Research
• Energy Systems Integration
• Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation
• Industrial/Agricultural/Water End-Use Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy Technologies
• Transportation

Developing Wave Energy in Coastal California: Potential Socio-Economic and Environmental Effects is
the final report for the Ocean Energy Study (contract number 500-07-036), conducted by H. T.
Harvey & Associates. The information from this project contributes to PIER’s Energy-Related
Environmental Research program.
For more information about the PIER Program, please visit the Energy Commission’s website at
www.energy.ca.gov/research/ or contact the Energy Commission at 916-654-4878.
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The California Ocean Protection Council was established by the requirements of the California
Ocean Protection Act1 that was signed as law in 2004 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The council consists of the Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman (Chair); State Lands
Commission Chair, State Controller John Chiang; Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda
Adams; two public members, Susan Golding, CEO and President of the Golding Group, and
Geraldine Knatz, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles; and two non voting members,
Senator Darrell Steinberg and Assembly member Pedro Nava. The council will help coordinate
and improve the protection and management of California's ocean and coastal resources and
implement the Governor's 'Ocean Action Plan'2 released in October 2004.
The council is tasked with the following responsibilities:
• Coordinate activities of ocean-related state agencies to improve the effectiveness of state
efforts to protect ocean resources within existing fiscal limitations.
• Establish policies to coordinate the collection and sharing of scientific data related to coast
and ocean resources between agencies.
• Identify and recommend to the Legislature changes in law.
• Identify and recommend changes in federal law and policy to the Governor and Legislature.

1. http://resources.ca.gov/copc/docs/COPA_2008.pdf
2. http://resources.ca.gov/ocean/Cal_Ocean_Action_Strategy.pdf
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Table of Contents
Preface......................................................................................................................................iii

Table of Contents.....................................................................................................................vii

List of Figures.............................................................................................................................x

List of Tables...........................................................................................................................xii

Abstract..................................................................................................................................xiii

Executive Summary....................................................................................................................1

1.0 Developing Wave Energy in Coastal California: Potential Socio-Economic and
Environmental Effects: Introduction...........................................................................................7
Introduction.............................................................................................................................7
Scope of This Study................................................................................................................8
1.1.1 Geographic Scope....................................................................................................8
1.1.2 Habitat Scope...........................................................................................................8
1.1.3 Scope of WEC Scale and Project Size....................................................................10
1.1.4 Effects Not Considered..........................................................................................11
Wave Energy Conversion Technologies................................................................................11
Themes Common to All Chapters..........................................................................................14
Recommendations.................................................................................................................15
References.............................................................................................................................19

2.0 Economic and Social Considerations for Wave Energy Development in California........22
Abstract.................................................................................................................................22
Introduction...........................................................................................................................22
Current Knowledge...............................................................................................................25
2.1.1 Areas of Importance...............................................................................................25
2.1.2 Economic Contribution of Marine Uses and Values...............................................35
2.1.3 Ongoing Research on Marine Uses and Values......................................................39
Knowledge Gaps...................................................................................................................40
Priority Research Needs........................................................................................................41
Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................44
References.............................................................................................................................44

3.0 The Potential Impact of WEC Development on Nearshore and Shoreline Environments
through a Reduction in Nearshore Wave Energy.......................................................................52
Abstract.................................................................................................................................52
Introduction...........................................................................................................................53
Current Knowledge and Knowledge Gaps.............................................................................53
3.1.1 Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Nearshore Waves................................................53
3.1.2 Change in Nearshore Waves Due to Offshore WEC...............................................58
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3.1.3 Wave-driven Physical Processes............................................................................61
3.1.4 Impact of Change in Wave Energy on Shoreline and Nearshore Geomorphology...67
3.1.5 Impact of Change on Offshore Habitats.................................................................68
3.1.6 Impact of Change on Human Activities..................................................................69
Priority Research Needs........................................................................................................69
References.............................................................................................................................71

4.0 Predicted Effects of Wave Energy Conversion on Communities in the Nearshore
Environment.............................................................................................................................75
Abstract.................................................................................................................................75
Introduction...........................................................................................................................75
Current Knowledge and Knowledge Gaps.............................................................................76
4.1.1 Direct Impacts of WEC to the Benthic Community................................................76
4.1.2 Direct Impacts – Construction................................................................................76
4.1.3 Direct Impacts - Operation and Maintenance..........................................................77
4.1.4 Unanticipated Impacts – Shell Mounds..................................................................77
4.1.5 Direct Impacts – Decommissioning........................................................................77
4.1.6 Wave Processes and the Nearshore Community.....................................................78
4.1.7 Non-linearity and Wave Exposure in Biological Systems.......................................79
4.1.8 Species Trends at Wave Exposed and Wave Protected Sites...................................81
4.1.9 Species Distribution and Vertical Zonation............................................................82
4.1.10 Community Composition...................................................................................84
4.1.11 Wave Induced Disturbance.................................................................................85
4.1.12 Sediment Transport and Deposition....................................................................86
4.1.13 Growth Rate.......................................................................................................87
4.1.14 Dispersal and Fertilization Rate..........................................................................88
4.1.15 Settlement..........................................................................................................89
Priority Research Needs........................................................................................................90
References.............................................................................................................................92

5.0 Ecological Effects of Wave Energy Conversion Technology on California’s Marine and
Anadromous Fishes.................................................................................................................100
Abstract...............................................................................................................................100
Introduction.........................................................................................................................100
Components of WEC Technology.......................................................................................101
Effects of Project Size.........................................................................................................101
5.1.1 Pilot Projects........................................................................................................101
5.1.2 Commercial Projects............................................................................................102
5.1.3 Regional Projects.................................................................................................103
Site Selection and Habitat Change.......................................................................................104
5.1.4 Habitats and Habitat Value..................................................................................104
5.1.5 Fish Distribution and Habitat Alteration...............................................................105
5.1.6 Coastline Features................................................................................................107
Fish Behavior......................................................................................................................107
Life History and Temporal Patterns.....................................................................................108
Types of Interactions...........................................................................................................109
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