Abstract
NedPower Mount Storm LLC is developing a wind farm, of up to 300 MW capacity, in Grant County, West Virginia. The Mount Storm Wind Project, is located approximately one mile east of Bismarck, West Virginia, along the primary ridgeline of the Allegheny Front and east of Mount Storm Lake. The Public Service Commission permit issued to NedPower for development of the site contains conditions pertaining to the study of the avian resources of the site as well as those migrating over the site. Several permit conditions focused on conducting migration studies on the proposed development area to address concerns such as heavy migration areas, feeding areas, varying climatic conditions, and spatial use patterns by migrants.
Based on the permit conditions, NedPower implemented a survey protocol for a spring and fall diurnal study of migrant birds, a habitat study for golden-winged warblers, surveys for breeding raptors and wintering raptor (including bald eagles), and a fall nocturnal radar study on the proposed Mount Storm site. The avian studies were designed to characterize avian resources using the site during the spring and fall migration seasons. The study protocol was developed with input from the USFWS, expertise and comments of local ornithologists familiar with the study region, and similar studies for wind energy development throughout the U.S.
The principal goals of the studies were to (1) provide baseline information on activity of avian species in the proposed development area useful in evaluating the impact to birds from the wind power development and (2) to provide information that would help in designing a wind plant that is less likely to expose avian species to potential collisions with turbines. The principal goals of the studies were to (1) provide baseline information on activity of avian species in the proposed development area useful in evaluating the impact to birds from the wind power development and (2) to provide information that would help in designing a wind plant that is less likely to expose avian species to potential collisions with turbines. The avian baseline studies consisted of diurnal avian use surveys during the spring and fall migration; a nocturnal radar study during the fall migration; surveys of golden-winged warbler habitat during the spring and summer; a survey for breeding raptors and their nests during the late spring; roadside surveys for wintering bald eagle s and other raptors; and surveys of common snipe and American woodcock habitat during the spring. Methodology of the surveys and data analysis for each study component is provided in the text of the report and Appendix A.