ML071710045

Beaverdam Creek Anadromous Fish Study, Burke County, Georgia from March, 1977, Through May, 1978 Operating License Stage Environmental Report Technical Document.

ML071710045
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle, 05200011
Issue date:	10/31/1982
From:	Wiltz J Georgia Power Co
To:	Office of New Reactors
References
+reviewedcja, AR-07-0924
Download: ML071710045 (18)

Text

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT BEAVERDAM CREEK ANADROMOUS FISH STUDY, BURKE COUNTY, GEORGIA FROM MARCH, 1977, THROUGH MAY, 1978 OPERATING LICENSE STAGE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TECHNICAL DOCUMENT J. WAYNE WILTZ PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR GEORGIA POWER COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS CENTER OCTOBER, 1982

VEGP - OLSER TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES iii INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS 2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3 CONCLUSIONS 4 REFERENCES 5 TABLES 7 FIGURES 13 i

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF TABLES

1. Family, Scientific, and Common Names of Fishes Collected 7 During the 1977-1978 Beaverdam Creek Anadromous Fish Study

2. Sampling Dates and Number of Individuals Collected in the 9 Gill Net Surveys for 1977

3. Sampling Dates and Number of Individuals Collected in the 10 Hoop Net Surveys for 1978

4. Taxa Collected During the 1977 Beaverdam Creek Anadromous 11 Fish Study (Drift Survey)

5. Taxa Collected During the 1978 Beaverdam Creek Anadromous 12 Fish Study (Drift Survey) ii

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF FIGURES

1. Station Location for the Beaverdam Creek Anadromous 13 Fish Study

2. Comparison of Monthly Precipitation for the Augusta 14 Area for January Through May, 1977 and 1978 iii

VEGP - OLSER INTRODUCTION Construction of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) began in June, 1974, and was discontinued in September, 1974, as a result of unfavorable economic conditions. Construction*resumed in January, 1977, with excavation activities beginning in February. The plant site is approximately 3169 acres located in Burke County on the southwest side of the Savannah River, the natural boundary between Georgia and South Carolina. The site is at river mile 150.9 across from the Savan-nah River Plant (SRP) operated by E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company for the U.S. Department of Energy. The plant site is approximately 26 miles south-southeast of Augusta, Georgia. The site is located in the coastal plain, which is characterized by sandy or sandy loam soil with rolling hills and mixed pine-hardwood association. Since the on-set of construction, approximately 1391 acres of the site have been cleared for plant construction.

The original plans proposed a generating plant consisting of four units, but construction of two units has been cancelled. The plant will employ two pressurized water reactors producing 1160 MW each. Unit 1 is sche-duled to go into service in March, 1987, and Unit 2 in September, 1988.

The exhaust steam will be cooled by a closed-cycle cooling system em-ploying natural draft cooling towers using make-up water from the Savan-nah River. Low volume waste and blowdown from both cooling towers will ultimately be discharged back into the river.

The Savannah River below Augusta, Georgia, and above the VEGP site receives wastewater discharges from municipalities and industries that add organic wastes, nutrients, metals, and other trace contfifnants.

Stream classification near the VEGP is listed as "Fishing." The river near the plant site is typical of large southeastern coastal plain rivers except that a dredged channel is maintained by the Corps of Engineers for barge traffic. The biological community of the river is similar to that of other large southeastern rivers but has been affected by man's influ-ence on the river. The impoundment of the river above Augusta, Georgia, has reduced the transport of sediments and allochthonous particulate organic materials, and the dredging of the channel has reduced the natural shallow areas and backwaters that would normally support a diverse flora and fauna. Studies on the Savannah River flora and fauna have be{~

conducted periodically since 1951 and were d{3tt~Jd in Patrick'(sj al., )

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and Matthews.

Georgia Power Company was required by the Plant Vogtle Final Envt6~nmental Statement, issued by the United States Atomic Energy Commission, to com-plete the requirement that the extent of use of Beaverdam Creek by ana-dromous fishes for spawning be established and that the effects of con-struction on spawning be determined. A study began in March, 1977, and ended in May, 1978.

1

VEGP - OLSER The creek is approximately six miles in length and flows east-northeast to its confluence with the Savannah River at approximate river mile 148.4.

Daniels Branch, a creek approximately five miles in length, flows south-east and High Head Creek, approximately one mile in length, flows north-east with both joining Beaverdam Creek in Telfair Pond (figure 1). Telfair Pond originated with the damming of Beaverdam Creek below the confluence of three creeks.

Game and commercially important anadromous fishes found in the Savannah River in Georgia include the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus),

blueback herring (A10sa aestiva1is), hickory shad (Alosa mediocris),

American shad (A10sa sapidissima), and the striped bass (Morone saxati1is).

The shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) has been reported bY(51e State of South Caro1tgr in the Savannah River. It is on the federal and State of Georgia endangered and threatened species lists.

METHODS One permanent station. Station 1.0 (figure 1), was sampled weekly beginning March 2 and ending May 3, 1977, and from March 7 to May 3, 1978. Because of flooding in 1977, surveys could not be conducted the weeks of April 4 to 8 or April 25 to 29. When river levels decreased so that sampling could be continued, the spawning in Beaverdam Creek by anadromous fishes was completed. The April 14, 1977, survey was conducted approximately 1 to 1~ miles upstream from the mouth of Beaver-dam Creek due to the elevated river level. In contrast, river levels were low in 1978, allowing continuous weekly sampling.

Adult fish in 1977 were sampled using 2, 3, and 4-inch stretch mesh gill nets set at dusk and collected at dawn the following day. A hoop net with blockoff wings was used in the 1978 study, set for the same duration of time. Specimens which could be positively identified in the field and were not needed for the reference collection were released.

Other specimens were preserved in a ten percent formalin solution and were taken to the Environmental Affairs Center in Decatur, Georgia.

Larval fish and eggs in 1977 were sampled with a ~ x ~ m net and a 1-m ~'.

diameter drift net with a 760 micron mesh. Samples were collected at three locations across the creek. The net was placed on the bottom for a 15-minute duration. In 1978, two surveys were conducted using the

~ x ~ m net at two locations for 15 minutes each, but was later changed to one sample using a 1-m diameter drift net taken in the middle of the creek on the bottom for two hours. This proved to be more effective in procurring eggs and larvae. Samples were preserved in the field with ten percent formalin.

Physicochemical data collected in conjunction with the biological data included air and water temperatures, dissolved oxygen, pH, and light penetration. A YSI Model 54 oxygen meter was used to measure air and 2

VEGP - OLSER water temperatures and dissolved oxygen. A Beckman Electromate pH meter was used in 1977 and an Orion Ionalyzer Model 399A in 1978.

Light penetration was measured using a secchi disc.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The family, scientific, and common names of all fishes including resident species collected during the anadromous fish study are given in table l.

The Atlantic sturgeon, according to Breder and Rosen,(9) spawned at water temperat~ojs of 13.3 C (56 F) and above, which agrees with Scott and Crossman, who stated that the species spawned at temperatures of 13.3 to 17.8 C (54 to 64 F). The spawning site was 11 0ve r a hard bottom of clay, rubble, gravel, or shell in shallow running water 0tll water up to five fathoms deep; possibly in pools below waterfall~10)(1{)

The Atlantic sturgeon spawned in water over a hard, clay bottom.

The shortnose sturgeo~16YtY2jd in the middle reaches of large tidal rivers in the spring. The striped bass spawned in tidal-fresh or slightly brt9fti~)Y!~jr in large rivers with a high discharge in April and May. Spawning sites and temperatures for the American shad, hickory shad, and blueback herring showed some differ-ences according to the available literature. The American shad spawned at te~perat~res of 12 to 20 C in the m~instream.of a rivtrlj~!~)(~O)mouths of tr1~~5rr1es and creeks and rarely, 1f ever, 1n lakes.

Street reported blueback herring spawned in swamps and lakes at temperatures of 15 to 20 C and not the main channel in the Altamaht16)

River, Georgia, which contradicted the findings of Loesch and Lund that they were highly selective and preferred fast-flowing water and associated hard substrate but not standing water. Hickory shad spawned in the Altamaha River at temperatures of 12 to 26(£5tn large tributaries and lakes and not in the mainstream of the river.

Water temperatures during the study period ranged from 10 to 22 Cfor 1977 and from 8.9 to 21 C for 1978. The Atlantic sturgeon has not been collected in Beaverdam Creek, although larvae have been collected in drift samples from the Savannah River. Beaverdam Creek did not appear to be suitable for spawning for this species. The creek bottom consisted of drifting sand which(fb1(~£J concur with the spawning habitats for the Atlantic sturgeon. Shortnose sturgeon, striped bass, and American shad, because of their preference in spawning sites, did not utilize Beaverdam Creek. Hickory shad and blueback herring were more likely to spawn in the creek. This was indicated by the numbers collected during the study (tables 2 and 3) and by the literature search. Blueback herring seemed best suited for spawning in the creek because the physical conditig~s of the creek were similar to those described by Loesch and Lund. Water temperatures were optimum for spawning beginning in mid-March to early April, and the Alosa spp. eggs collected in the drift samples (tables 4 and 5) fit the description of blueback herring.

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VEGP - OLSER The low numbers of a10sids collected may have indicated a low utilization of Beaverdam Creek and the adjacent Savannah River for spawning.

"Upstream distribution is more likely a {ygytion of seeking ~i'trab1e spawning sites," stated Loesch and Lund. Davis and Cheek noted that blueback herring have spawned as far as 134.8 miles upstream in the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. Beaverdam Creek is 10cated(!ij~roxi mately 150;0 miles from the mouth of the Savannah River. Loesch also noted that different areas of a brook were used for spawning, (16) depending on the rainfall and runoff intensities. Loesch and Lund found that during periods of drought, spawning was not observed in tri-butaries with reduced flow. The low numbers of species and individuals collected, e~~9Jia11y a10sids in 1978, may have indicated the effects of low rainfall thus low river elevations. Figure 2 presents the monthly precipitation for the Augusta area for January through May 1977 and 1978 and the record mean values for those months.

Sec chi disc readings ranged from 15.4 to greater than 39.0 inches in 1977 and from 31.3 to greater than 39.0 inches in 1978. The creek was muddy only for short periods after heavy rainfall or when the creek flow was reversed because of the backflow of the river water as in 1977.

Dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.6 to 10.0 ppm in 1977 and from 6.9 to 10.0 ppm in 1978; pH ranged from 5.5 to 7.7 and from 6.2 to 7.2, respec-tively for 1977 and 1978.

CONCLUSION Because of the low number of eggs and adults collected in the gill net, hoop net, and larval drift survey, the conclusion was Beaverdam Creek provided minor use for spawning for blueback herring. Physical charac-teristics notable creek bottom composition and flow made the creek unsuitable for spawning for the remaining anadromous species except the hickory shad. No reason can be given that would explain why hickory shad did not spawn in Beaverdam Creek.

4

VEGP - OLSER REFERENCES

1. Environmental Protection Division, Water Quality Monitoring Data for Georgia Streams, Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, Georgia, 1981.

2. Patrick, R., Cairns, J. Jr., and Roback, S. S., "An Ecosystematic Study of the Fauna and Flora of the Savannah River," Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pp 109-407, 1967.

3. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary of Studies on the Savannah River 1951-1970 for E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1970.

4. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary Reports of Savannah River Cursory Surveys for E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company 1961-1972, 1974, and 1977, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1978.

5. Matthews, R. A., Biological Surveys on the Savannah River in the Vicinity of the Savannah River Plant (1951-1976), E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, 1982.

6. United States Atomic Energy Commission, Environmental Statement Related to the Proposed Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 3, and 4, Parts 6 and 11, Washington, D.C., 1974.

7. Office of Endangered Species and International Activities, Threatened Wildlife of the United States, Red Book Data, U.S.

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., p 6, 1973.

8. Odom, R. R., et. al., Georgia's Protected Wildlife, Game and Fish Division, Endangered Wildlife Program, Social Circle, Georgia, p 51, 1977.

9. Breder, C. M., Jr. and Rosen, D. E., Modes of Reproduction in Fishes, Natural History Press, New York, New York, p 941, 1966.

10. Scott, W. B. and Crossman, E. J., Freshwater Fishes of Canada, Information Canada, Ottawa, Canada, p 966, 1975.

11. Mansueti, A. J. and Hardy, J. D., J~., Development of Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay Region, Part 1, Port City Press, Baltimore, Maryland, p 202, 1967.

12. Vladykov, V. D. and Greeley, J. R., "Order Acipenseroidei," in Fishes of the Western North Atlantic, Memoir of the Sears Founda-tion for Marine Research, pp 24-60, 1963.

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VEGP - OLSER REFERENCES (Con't.)

13. Lippson, A. J. and Moran, R. L., Manual for Identification of Early Developmental Stages of Fishes of the Potomac River Estuary, Power Plant Siting Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (PPSP-MP-13), p 282, 1974.

14. O'Dell, J., et a1., Survey of Anadromous Fish Spawning Areas Completion Report, Project AFC-8, July, 1970-January, 1975, for Potomac River Drainage Upper Chesapeake Bay Drainage, 2nd edition, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, p 184, 1977.

15. Street, M. W., Some Aspects of the Life Histories of Hickory Shad, Alosa mediocris (Mitchell), and Blueback Herring, Alosa aestiva1is (Mitchell), in the Altamaha River, Georgia, Master's of Science Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, p 86, 1970.

16. Loesch, P. G. and Lund, W. A., Jr., ffA Contribution to the Life History of the Blueback Herring, A10sa aestiva1is," Transaction of the American Fisheries Society 106, pp 583-589, 1977.

17. Davis, J. R. and Cheek, R. P., "Distribution, Food Habits, and Growth of Young Clupeids, Cape Fear River System, North Carolina,"

Proceedings of the 20th Annual Conference of Southeast Association of Game and Fish Commission, p 10, 1966.

18. Loesch, J., A Study of the Blueback Herring, Alosa aestiva1is (Mitchell), in Connecticut Waters, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, p 78, 1969.

19. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Local Climatological Data, Asheville, North Carolina, 1977.

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VEGP - OlSER TABLE 1 (PAGE 1 OF 2)

F~~IlY, SCIENTIFIC, ~~D CO~~10N NAJffiS OF FISHES COllECTED DURING THE 1977-1978 BEAVERDMf CREEK ANADRm10US FISH STUDY Scientific Name Common Name Totals GIll ~ET ~~D HOOP ~LT SL1RVEY Lepisosteidae lepisosteus osseus Language gar 14 3 17 lepisosteus p1atvrhincus Florida gar 3 3 A..niidae Amia calva Bowfin 9 9 Anguillidae Anguilla rostrata American eel 1 1 C1upeidae Alosa aestiva1is Blueback herring 44 10 54 A10sa mediocris Hickory shad 17 17 Alosa sapidissima American shad 7 7 Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad 12 4 16 Catostomidae Erimyzon ob1ongus Creek chubsucker 1 2 3 Minytrema me1anops Spotted sucker 22 1 23 Moxostoma anisurum Silver redhorse 1 1 Icta1uridae Icta1urus brunneus Snail bullhead 4 31 35 Ictalurus catus White catfish 2 2 Icta1urus nata1is Yellow bullhead 4 4 Ictalurus nebu10sus Brown bullhead 3 3 Icta1urus p1atycepha1us Flat bullhead 10 10 Icta1urus punctatus Channel catfish 5 1 6 Centrarchidae Centrarchus macropterus Flier 1 1 Lepomis auritus Redbreast sunfish 1 7 8 lepomis macrochirus Bluegill 1 9 10 Lepomis micro1ophus Redear sunfish 2 2 Micropterus sa1moides Largemouth bass 3 3 Pomoxis annu1aris White crappie 1 1 Pomoxis nigromacu1atus Black crappie 3 3 6 Hugilidae

~fugi1 cephalus Striped :nullet 1 1 DRIFT NET SURVEY C1upeidae Alosa spp . ~ Shad 2 58 60 Cyprinidae Notropis cummingsae Dusky shiner 1 1 Notropis lutipinnis' Ye110wfin shiner 1 1 Notropis petersoni Coastal shiner 7 7 Opsopoeodus emi1iae Pugnose minnow 1 1 7

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 1 (PAGE 2 OF 2)

Scientific Name Common Name 1977 .!ill. Totals Catostomidae Erirnvzon spp. larvae Chubsucker 1 1 Perc1dae Percidae ~

Percidae larvae Darter Darter 77 .37 7 7 114 8

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 2 SAMPLING OATES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN THE GILL NET SURVEYS FOR 1977 March March March March March April April May Number of Species 2

--- _9_ 17 22 31

- 14 19 3 Individun1s Amia calva 5 5 Lepisosteus osseus 1 1 1 2 9 14 Lepisosteus ~rhinclJs 3 J A10sa aestivnlis 2 4 19 17 2 44 A10Ba mediocris 7 5 I' 4 17 A10Ba sspidissima 1 2 3 1 7 Dorosoma cepedianum 2 1 4 3 1 1 12 Erimyzon oblongus 1 1 Minytrema me1nnops 10 5 2 1 2 2 22 MoxostolOa anisurum 1 1 Ictlliurus catus 1 1 2 Ictalurus brunneus 1 2 1 4 Ictalurus natalis 4 4 Ictnlurus nebu10sus 3 3 Ictn1urus p1atycepha1us 1 1 3 5 10 Ictalurus punctatus 1 2 2 5 Lepomis auritus 1 1 Lepomis macrochirus 1 1.

Micropterus sa Lmo Idas 2 1 3 Pomoxis annu1aris 1 1 Pomoxia nigromnculatus 2

--- 1

- 3 Totals 24 19 42 35 (, 14 8 15 163

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 3 SAMPLING DATES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN THE HOOP NET SURVEYS FOR 1978 March March March March April April April April May Number of Species 7

- 14 21 28

---4 10 17 24 3 Individuals Lepisosteus OBSCUS 1 1 1 3 Anguilla r05t~at~ 1 1 Alosa aestival1s 1 9 10 Dor-osoma ccpedlanum 1 2 1 4 Erimyzon oblongus 1 1 2 Mlnytrema malanops 1 1 Ictalurus brunneus 4 26 1 31

~

0 Ictalurus Eunctatus 1 1 Centrarchus mnc~opteruB 1 1 Lepomis aur t t us 2 4 1 7 Lepomis macrochlrus 2 2 3 1 1 9 Lepomis mic~olophus 1 1 2 Pomoxis nigromilculatlls 1 2 3 Mugil .cephalus

--- - 1 1 Totals 7 8 33 39 15 1 2 2 4 76

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 4 TAXA COLLECTED DURING THE 1977 BEAVERDAM CREEK ANADROMOUS FISH STUDY (DRIFT SURVEY)

Sampling Dates March March March March March April April April May Taxa 2 8-9 16-17

- - 22-23 30-31 "4-8 13-14 19 3 Totn1s Alosa spp. eggs (a) (a) 2 (b) (b) (b) 2 Percidae larvae 1 68 8 77 NotropiA lutipinnis Adult 1 1 Notropis petersoni Adult 7 7 Opsopoeodus eml1iae Adult 1 I Totals 3 1 76 8 88

a. No species collected

b. No survey

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 5 TAXA COLl.ECTED DURING THE 1978 BEAVERDAM CREEK ANADROMOUS FISH STUDY (DRIFT SURVEY)

Sampling Dates March March March March April April AprU April May Taxa 7 14 21 28 4 10 17 24 3 .Totals Alosa spp. eggs (a) (b) (b) 57 1 58 Percidae eggs 5 2 7 Percidae larvae 13 8 fl 9 1 37 Erimyzon spp. larvae 1 1

....N Notropis cummingsae Adult

-- 1 1 Totals 71 9 . 11 12 1 104

a. No survey

b. No species collected

SOUTH CAROLINA SAVANNAH RIVER SEDIMENT RETENTION BASIN #2 SEDIMENT RETENTION BASIN #1 DANIELS BRANCH BEAVERDAM CREEK

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