Abstract
This benthic survey was aimed at conducting a pre-construction benthic assessment along the proposed EW 1 export cable corridor within New York state waters in agreement with state and local agencies. The focus of this benthic survey was the EW 1 export cable route, which transits away from the Lease Area from its northeastern boundary and continues north-northwest towards Lower New York Bay (Figure 1-1). The EW 1 runs parallel to the Ambrose Channel as it enters Lower New York Bay, transits through the Verrazano Narrows on the eastern side and makes landfall in Brooklyn, NY.
The objective of this survey was to characterize seafloor conditions, including the collection of geophysical, biological, and chemical parameters, prior to the installation of the EW 1 export cable. Specifically, the Empire Wind 1 Benthic Sampling Plan New York State Waters was designed to characterize and summarize baseline benthic conditions and sediment chemical levels observed prior to cable installation within New York state waters, and subsequently monitor post-installation benthic conditions and chemical levels to assess any effects resulting from installation activities and operation of the EW 1 export cable (INSPIRE 2023). Sediment Profile and Plan View Imaging (SPI/PV) in combination with sediment grab samples, sediment temperature measurements, and water column temperature and salinity profile measurements were used to meet the benthic assessment goals for this pre-construction benthic survey as described in more detail below.
The appendices for this report can be found here.