Assessment of Underwater Noise Generated by Wave Energy Devices

Abstract

The potential for creating underwater noise disturbance is one environmental impact that must be accounted for by wave energy developers to meet the needs of regulatory agencies. This review study has been conducted to provide a concise knowledge base of the expected underwater noise conditions in the near shore environment in regions of the Oregon coast where wave energy projects could be developed and to present an overview of noise measurement methodologies that would be suitable for the effective regulatory assessment of potential acoustic impacts. This report is intended as a reference to be used by wave energy developers in the specification and selection of approaches to underwater noise measurement that would be acceptable to regulatory bodies, consistent with the state of the industry and cost effective to implement. In an attempt to address some of the uncertainties surrounding these types of environmental noise assessment studies, this report provides information on the expected existing ambient noise conditions, the sound propagation characteristics of the environment, and the expected sources of noise associated with various types of wave energy devices. Guidelines detailing specific noise measurement studies are provided, along with a listing of several commercially available devices that are suitable for performing these measurements.