RS-14-029, Standard Operating Procedures for Braidwood Station'S Fisheries Monitoring Program in the Kankakee River and Horse Creek
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EXELON NUCLEAR Warrenville, Illinois STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR BRAIDWOOD STATION'S FISHERIES MONITORING PROGRAM IN THE KANKAKEE RIVER AND HORSE CREEK July 2009 HDR Engineering, Inc.10207 Lucas Road Woodstock, Illinois 60098 3-1 HDR Engineering, Inc.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The monitoring program in the Kankakee River and Horse Creek near Exelon Nuclear's Braidwood Nuclear Station was initiated by Westinghouse Electric Corporation in October 1972 and continued through March 1973. A report, issued 30 November 1973, discussed results and projections of construction impact. The results were also discussed in the Braidwood Station Environmental Report and the Braidwood Station Final Environmental Statement.
In 1977, the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) began monitoring studies in the Kankakee River and Horse Creek in the vicinity of Braidwood Station. The summer sampling program has been continuous since that time (except for 1980). The long-term data base generated from these studies will be continued in 2009 using a modified sampling design.The principal objectives of the monitoring program are to: " Evaluate year-to-year changes in the fish populations, including recruitment, relative weight, and species diversity." Provide a basis for examining possible effects of Station operation on fish populations." Characterize the suitability of habitat and relative well-being of the fishery using two indicies currently favored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).3-1 HDR Engineering, Inc.
CHAPTER 2 SCOPE OF WORK 2.1 FIELD PROCEDURES 2.1.1 Sampling Locations Fish sampling will be conducted at five locations in the Kankakee River and one location in Horse Creek (Figure 2-1). The sampling locations are described as follows: " Location 1 is approximately 1000 meters upstream of the intake for the cooling pond makeup water; this sampling transect is not influenced by intake or discharge of cooling pond water. Sampling will be conducted separately along both the east and west banks." Location 2, in Horse Creek, is approximately 150 meters upstream from its confluence with the Kankakee River. Horse Creek represents a potential fish spawning area for Kankakee River fishes." Location 3 is in the area of the Station's intake structure.
Sampling will be conducted separately along the east and west banks." Location 4, in the area of the Station's discharge structure, may be affected by thernal and chemical discharges from the cooling pond. Sampling will be conducted separately along the east and west banks.* Location 5, approximately 300 meters downstream of the discharge structure, will represent nearfield recovery from any impacts associated with discharge from the cooling pond. Sampling will be conducted separately along the east and west banks." Location 6, approximately 1.6 kilometers downstream of the discharge structure, will represent farfield recovery from any impact associated with discharge from the cooling pond. Sampling will be conducted separately along the east and west banks.River and stream sampling locations are the same as those established during previous monitoring 3-2 HDR Engineering, Inc.
efforts. Each location will be identified according to fixed, easily recognizable landmarks or marked with fluorescent orange paint or flags. During the initial sampling effort of each annual survey, habitat quality will be evaluated at the I 1 locations described above using the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) as developed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (1989). (See attached QHEI Form I).2.1.2 Collection Methods Fish will be sampled by electrofishing and seining twice during the month of August at each of the 11 designated locations specified for Braidwood Station. Collections will be made the first week and the third of August, 2009. At least seven days will separate each series of collection efforts.Electrofishing will be conducted using a boat-mounted, boom-type electrofisher with a 230 volt, 5000 watt, 10 amp, three-phase Multiquip AC generator equipped with volt/amp meters and a safety mat cutoff switch. Generator output will be checked each day and must exceed four amps.Sampling will begin no earlier than one half hour after sunrise and may not extend beyond one half hour before sunset. The crew will consist of a driver and one dipper both equipped with long-handled dip nets to retrieve stunned fish. The driver may capture only those fish that can be reached without changing course or backing up appreciably.
Electrofishing will be conducted along the shoreline on each side of the river at Locations 1, 3, 4., 5, and 6. At Locations 1, 5, and 6 each station [(L)eft and (R)ight banks, as one looks upstream]
will be electrofished for 0.5 hr over a distance of 500 ft, representing one unit effort. Because of the proximity of Locations 3 and 4, these areas will be sampled for 15 min, each covering 250 ft. Horse Creek (Location
- 2) will be electrofished from its mouth to a point 1000 ft upstream for 0.5 hr, representing one unit of effort. Electrofishing will be conducted such that the first "run" of each sample will be in a downstream direction through the middle of the shocking zone. The second run will be upstream, adjacent to the first run and as close to the bank as water depth allows. The third run, if necessary, will be back downstream, adjacent to and outside the first run (Figure 2). Runs 3-3 HDR Engineering, Inc.
will be repeated until the desired length of time has elapsed.Shoreline seining will be used as the second collection method at each of the II locations described previously.
The seine will measure 25 ft x 4 ft of 3/16-in. Ace mesh, with a 4-ft x 4-ft bag of 3/16-in. Ace mesh. Two seine hauls will be made at each location during each biweekly sampling effort.A shoreline distance of 15 m will be seined in a downstream direction; the second haul will be taken upstream of the first, again in a downstream direction.
All fish collected will be identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level and counted. For each gear type up to 25 randomly selected individuals of a species will be measured for total length (millimeters) and weight (grams) at each location.
Any remaining individuals of a species will be counted and batch weighed. Minnow species, other than carp or goldfish, will be counted and batch weighed only. Small fish or specimens of questionable identity may be preserved and returned to the laboratory for analysis.
Large fish and endangered and threatened species will be processed in the field and released at the collection location.A voucher collection of all fish species (except threatened/endangered species) will be compiled and preserved.
Any specimens of questionable identity will be sent for verification to a recognized fish taxonomist acceptable to both Exelon and HDR.All fish will be examined for evidence of disease, parasites, and abnormalities.
Any observed occurrences will be summarized in tabular forn and reported as percent occurrence by species for each sampling location.Coincident with fish sampling, certain physicochemical parameters will be measured.
Each time a location is sampled, water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) will be measured at mid-depth of the water column. Conductivity will also be measured at mid-depth prior to each electrofishing effort. Equipment calibration and maintenance will be conducted prior to each day's 3-4 HDR Engineering, Inc.
use. Instrumentation to be used and documentation of accuracy appears in Table 1.Seine collections may be made concurrent with electrofishing sampling, but not at the same locations on the same day. For example, if five locations are selected for electrofishing on a given day, these same locations will not be seined until the following day.2.2 DATA ANALYSIS Raw data will be entered in the Paradox data management system on PC and analyzed using programs developed for this project. Data developed from electrofishing, seining, and a combination of the two will be reported as total number and biomass and percent of total abundance and biomass for each species, and kept separate by location, gear type, and sampling period.Electrofishing data will also be reported as catch-per-effort (No./hr) for each species by location.Historical comparisons of abundance and biomass by location will also be reported for the 10 most dominant species in the electrofishing collection.
Length-frequency distributions will be calculated for the five species (gizzard shad, golden redhorse, rock bass, longear sunfish, and smallnouth bass) used in previous reports. The incidence of external disease, parasites, and physical anomalies will be described as stated in Section 2.1.2.Condition of fish will be determined by Wr. No attempt will be made to compare Wr data to K data from previous years. Diversity indices (Shannon 1948) using log, will be computed for collections taken at each location for electrofishing and seine catches and will be compared with those calculated in previous years.Biomass, abundance, and diversity will be compared to data collection in previous years.Additional analyses may be included in the final report to ascertain any measurable changes in the surrounding aquatic community possibly attributable to Station operation.
The historical Kankakee River fisheries database will be updated as part of this specification.
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2.3 REPORTS 2.3.1 Oral Reports At the end of each sampling period the crew chief will inform Exelon's project manager of the sampling results. Any problems or difficulties encountered will be noted, as will the occurrence of any rare, threatened, or endangered species.2.3.2 Variance Procedures Any deviation in the performance of this work or problems with instruments or equipment will be reported on a standard form designating a variance from standard operating procedures (SOPs).Variances from the SOPs will be reported to Exelon during weekly oral reports and completed report forms will be conveyed to Exelon's project manager before the next scheduled sampling period.2.3.3 Annual Report For each study year HDR will submit a draft annual report to Exelon no later than 15 December of the year for each project. The report will consist of the following sections:
Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion.
Summary tables will be included with the text of the report, along with tables that compare electrofishing catch-per-effort for all sampling years. HDR will provide Exelon with one unbound, camera-ready copy and 5 bound copies of each annual report.Raw data developed during each study year will be stored onl a IBM-compatible system in Excel, Paradox or another mutually agreed upon format on an. An electronic copy will be provided to Exelon following completion of the annual report, along with a full description of the files contained on the disk and the coding instructions used.3-6 HDR Engineering, Inc.
2.3.4 Data Storage HDR will store all data and final report text on IBM-type personal computers, removable hard-drives or other appropriate backup media. Information will be provided in Excel, Paradox and Microsoft Word formats unless another format is agreed upon. HDR will provide Exelon with computer disks of all data developed during these programs, along with a complete information guide that includes file lists and brief descriptions of the files. These will be submitted with the final report.2.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE/CONTROL PROGRAM All work will be performed in accordance with HDR's Quality Assurance Manual, which will be provided to Exelon before the initial sampling effort. SOPs specific to this project will accompany field crews at all times. Exelon's project manager will receive a copy of the SOP, which will describe in detail how the work is to be performed (Section 2.1), the equipment to be used (Table 1), and equipment calibration/maintenance schedules (Section 2.1.2). HDR understands that field audits by Exelon persormel may be conducted at any time.3-7 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE I INSTRUMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF INSTRUMENT ACCURACY INSTRUMENT SCALE ACCURACY Scales Pesola 10 kg X 100 g Accurate to one graduation Horns 1000 g X 2 g Accurate to one graduation Meters YSI-Model 85 Meter a) conductivity 0 to 5,000 umhos + 0.5%b) temperature
-2.0 to 50.0 'C 0.1 °C c) dissolved oxygen 0 to 20 mg/I +/- 0.3 or 2.0% of full scale Oakton pHTestri -1.0 to 15.0 pH units +/- 0.2 pH units Measurin2 Boards Homemade Meter Board I rn X 1000 mm N/A 3-8 HDR Engineering, Inc.
4L U Duu 31 METERS// 1L FIGURE 2-1. FISH SAMPLING LOCATIONS IN THE KANKAKEE RIVER NEAR BRAIDWOOD NUCLEAR STATION.3-9 HDR Engineering, Inc.
UPSTREAM BOUNDARY EF BOAT THIRD RUN FIRST RUN CURRENT DIRECTION SECOND RUNBOUNDAR]I I I ILLUSTRATION OF ELECTROFISHING BOAT PATH DURING SAMPLING IN THE BRAIDWOOD STATION MONITORING AREA.AM Y FIGURE 2-2.I I!
CHAPTER 3 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Species occurrence.
Eighty-three species of fish representing 18 families have been collected from the Kankakee River and Horse Creek from 1977 through 2009 (Table 3-1).River redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum), which is currently listed as threatened (Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board 2009), was the only protected species collected in 2009. A single specimen was collected by electrofishing at Location 4L. Pallid shiner (Notropis amnis), which is currently listed as endangered in Illinois, was not collected in 2009, which is the first time since 1993 that this species was not collected.
Since 1990, the number of river redhorse collected (14 specimens) during these studies has declined substantially from those observed in the 1970's and 1980's (357 specimens).
Based on these data, river redhorse has become much less abundant in the Kankakee River near Braidwood 0 Station during recent years. All but two (99.5%) of the 373 river redhorse collected since 1977 have been captured by electrofishing, while 68.7% of the 568 pallid shiners collected have been captured by minnow seine (Table 3-2).3.2 Relative Abundance and CPE. Electrofishing and seining efforts in 2009 resulted in the capture of 4105 fish representing 46 species and 12 families (Table 3-3). Spotfin shiner was the most abundant species collected, representing 29.6% (1217 individuals) of the total catch by number. Bullhead minnow comprised 17.3% of all fish collected by electrofishing and seining. Bluntnose minnow (10.9%), sand shiner (7.8%), and longear sunfish (6.3%)were the only other species to individually comprise more than 5% of the numerical catch.Electrofishing and seining biomass was dominated by golden redhorse (25.5%), channel catfish (18.6%), common carp (12.8%), smallmouth bass (5.6%), and freshwater drum (5.0%).3-11 HDR Engineering, Inc.
Electrofishing resulted in the collection of 1753 individuals representing 41 species (Table 3-3). The catch was dominated by spotfin shiner, which comprised 15.9% of all fish captured.
Longear sunfish (14.5%), bluntnose minnow (12.6%), golden redhorse (9.2%), sand shiner (9.0%), bullhead minnow (5.5%), and bluegill (5.1%), were the only other species to numerically comprise more than 5% of the total catch. Excluding gizzard shad, cyprinids (including carp) dominated the catch comprising 48.9% of the electrofishing catch and were represented by 10 species. Centrarchids comprised 34.3% of the catch (nine species), catostomids 12.9% (eight species), and percids 1.6% (five species) of all fish collected.
Electrofishing biomass was dominated by golden redhorse, which constituted 26.1% of the 209.5 kg collected.
Other species that individually contributed more than 5%of the total biomass included channel catfish (19.1%), common carp (13.1%), smallmouth bass (5.7%), and freshwater drum (5.1%). Rough fish (carp and sucker species) accounted for 57.0% of the total electrofishing biomass (119.5 kg) collected.
A total of 2352 fish representing 22 species and eight families was collected by seine in 2009 (Table 3-3). Spotfin shiner was the dominant species collected, comprising 39.9%(938 individuals) of all fish captured.
The second most abundant species taken was bullhead minnow (26.1%), followed by bluntnose minnow (9.7%), and johnny darter (6.2%). Total biomass of fish taken by seine was 5.0 kg. Taxa collected by minnow seine that individually comprised greater than 5% of the total catch by weight included spotfin shiner (40.9%), bullhead minnow (26.8%), bluntnose minnow (8.5%), and sand shiner (5.2%).The mean electrofishing catch-per-effort (CPE) for fish collected at all locations combined was 194.8 fish/hr (Table 3-4). This value is slightly higher than the 32-yr average of 175.1 fish/hr (Table 3-5) and well within the range of values reported since 1977. Electrofishing CPE's since 1994 have been higher than those reported during the earlier years of these studies (1977-1993).
Electrofishing CPE has ranged from 35.2 fish/hr in 1982 to 486.3 3-2 HDR Engineering, Inc.
fish/hr in 2002. In 2009, CPE by location ranged from 36.0 fish/hr at Location IR to 390.0 fish/hr at Location 4L.An observation made during recent years is that an increasing proportion of the Kankakee River has been inundated with large beds of aquatic macrophtyes.
This is noteworthy because the extensive vegetation that has occurred throughout much of the study area during recent years (particularly 2005-2007) has had an effect on sample collections, sampling efficiency, and perhaps species utilization of these areas when compared to previous years (HDR/LMS 2006-2008 and HDR 2009). However, in 2009, and to a lesser extent 2008, the development of aquatic macrophtyes in the Kankakee River was much less than observed in 2005, 2006, and 2007. River flows in 2009 were higher for a longer period of time in the spring and early summer than those observed during 2005-2007.
Development of extensive aquatic macrophtye beds was likely inhibited by the higher, more turbid flows that occurred in 2009. The observed decline in aquatic vegetation is most likely the primary reason for decreased relative abundance of centrarchids taken by electrofishing and minnow seining.3.3 Historical Comparison Based on sampling efforts conducted during the last three years, the relative abundance of spotfin shiner, bullhead minnow, bluntnose minnow, sand shiner, and golden redhorse, have remained relatively high (Table 3-6). In addition, johnny darter, striped shiner, and bluegill abundance seems to be increasing during recent years. Rosyface shiner was also commonly collected in 2009. In contrast, the relative abundance of longear sunfish was lower than most recent years, which may be attributed to the decline in aquatic vegetation noted in 2009. All of the species listed in Table 3-6 are common to this portion of the Kankakee River near Braidwood Station.In 2009, spotfin shiner was the most abundant species collected (Table 3-6), followed by bullhead minnow, bluntnose minnow, and sand shiner. Cyprinids accounted for six of the 3-3 HDR Engineering, Inc.
top 10 species collected.
Cyprinids, gizzard shad, and centrarchids (Appendix Table B-i)have typically dominated catches of fish in the Kankakee River. The percent contribution of non-cyprinid species to the catch from 1996-2009 has generally decreased because of the large numbers of cyprinids and/or gizzard shad that have been captured.
Although not reflected in the percent contribution to the catch, the numbers of non-cyprinid species taken from 1996-2009 have generally been similar to those observed during most previous years.Since 1993, carp has been the dominant species collected in terms of total biomass, except in 1999 when gizzard shad ranked first, in 2004 when smallmouth bass ranked first, and 2009 when golden redhorse ranked first (Table 3-7 and Appendix Table B-2). Smallmouth bass, carp, and either golden or silver redhorse have all been substantial contributors to the total weight of fish collected (ranking from first to fifth) during the last ten years. As was the case from 2005 through 2009, channel catfish can also contribute heavily to the total biomass collected during some years. Historically, the percent composition by biomass of dominant fish species collected by electrofishing and seining has been relatively consistent during most years. Dominant taxa collected during this period include carp, gizzard shad, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, redhorse species, carpsucker species, and longear sunfish.A review of historical trends in total catch can be useful for evaluating the stability and long term productivity of a fishery. Catches of fish have exhibited considerable variability from year to year during the Braidwood Monitoring program (Table 3-5). Since 1994, the catch-per-effort of fish has been higher than most previous years. The decline in the numbers of fish collected from 1991 through 1995 was attributed to a reduction in the sampling program beginning in 1991, which decreased electrofishing effort by more than half (LMS 1996). In addition, the number of fish collected during any given year is influenced by seine collections, which can be highly variable between years. During years that produce large numbers of fish in seine collections (primarily minnows, brook silverside and small sunfish species), total catch is typically high. Conversely, when seine catches are low, the total number of fish collected is also generally low. Electrofishing CPE in 2009 (194.8 fish/hr)was higher than the 32-yr mean of 175.1 fish/hr. Electrofishing CPE in 2009 was well within the range of values reported since 1995 and higher than all but three of the values 3-4 HDR Engineering, Inc.
reported during the 1977 through 1995 sampling period. The 2009 seining CPE of 53.5 fish/haul was slightly less than the 32-yr mean of 58.6 fish/haul.
Seining CPE's have varied markedly during the 32 years of sampling, ranging from 8.4 fish/haul in 1982 to 240.4 fish/haul in 1977.3.4 Length Frequency Distributions.
Length-frequency distributions were used to estimate age groups of four dominant species (rock bass, longear sunfish, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass) collected from the Kankakee River. Age groups can be separated and identified as peaks in a standard length-frequency histogram; however, small sample size, differential growth between sexes of the same species, and/or the lack of well-defined breaks in length categories of older fish, hampers accurate interpretation of older age-classes.
Eighty-four fish measuring from 23 to 218 mm in total length are included in the length-frequency analysis of rock bass (Figure 3-1). Based on this information, at least five age classes of fish were collected.
Only one (1.2%) Age 0 rock bass measuring 23 mm in TL was collected in 2009. Peaks in the length frequency histogram occurred at 70-80 mm (Age 1), 120-150 mm (Age 2), at 180-190 mm (Age 3), and at 210-219 mm (Age 4). Recruitment of Age 0 rock bass was weak in 2009 based on these data. In contrast, the 2007 (Age 2) and 2008 (Age 1) year-classes appear to be moderate to strong based on data collected in 2009.The length-frequency of 238 longear sunfish measuring from 41 to 164 mm is presented in Figure 3-2. One hundred ninety-four (81.5%) of the 238 fish that were measured ranged from 40 to 100 mm in total length (primarily Age 1), while the remaining forty-four (18.5%) fish measured from 100 to 170 mm in total length. The majority of fish over 100 mm in total length were Age 2, but a few of the largest individuals may have been Age 3 or Age 4. Recruitment of longear sunfish appeared to be weak in 2009 based upon the few Age 0 fish (<50 mm) observed in the length frequency histogram.
Similar results were 3-5 HDR Engineering, Inc.
noted for this species from 2005-2008 when recruitment was also reported be relatively weak based upon information collected during the electrofishing and seining sampling efforts. However, during 2005 (HDR/LMS 2006) and 2007 (HDR/LMS 2008) relatively large numbers (1666 and 1081 fish, respectively) of young-of-year fish measuring less than 50 mm in total length were identified only as sunfish species. Because species assignment to these very small fish is likely to contribute an unknown margin of error, only fish larger than 40 or 50 mm in total length were identified to species. Based on historical data, a large portion of these fish were longear sunfish. Longear sunfish has been the most abundant sunfish species taken during all previous years of sampling.
If this assumption is correct, recruitment of this species in 2005 and 2007 would have been strong. The large contribution of Age 1 longear sunfish to the catch in 2006 and 2008 appears to validate the assumption that the majority of these unidentified Age 0 sunfish were indeed longear sunfish. Similar results have been noted during almost all previous years of this long-term data base. Recruitment of longear sunfish has been classified as strong to very strong during most years of these studies. This is not surprising because longear sunfish is one of the most abundant species found in this section of the Kankakee River. However, only two small young-of-year fish were classified as sunfish species in 2009. This may be attributed to gear bias, sampling conditions, or an actual weak year class for this species in 2009.The vigorous rooted aquatic plant growth that had occurred within the Kankakee River during the past few years had been conducive to the survival of longear sunfish and other small fish species by affording protection from predators.
Weed growth was much less extensive in 2009, which may explain the decline in young-of-year sunfish species captured during the current study. Reduced spawning habitat and increased predation may explain this decline. In contrast, only six fish (2.5%) larger than 130 mm were collected.
Becker (1983) states that relatively few longear sunfish live to be older than Age 4. This may account for the low occurrence of longear sunfish greater than 150 mm in total length that have been encountered during the course of these studies.Seventy-six smallmouth bass were collected during 2009. Specimens ranged in length from 57 mm to 415 mm (Figure 3-3). Several age classes of fish were represented in the 3-6 HDR Engineering, Inc.
catch, with peaks in the length frequency histogram occurring at 50 to 90 mm (Age 0), at 100 to 160 mm (Age 1), and 170-260 mm (Age 2). Young-of-year smallmouth bass were strong contributors to the catch from 1994-1999, 2001-2004, and again in 2007, 2008, and 2009. However, only a relatively small portion of the smallmouth bass collected in 2000 and 2005 were Age 0 (LMS 2001 and HDR/LMS 2006). In 2006, Age 0 smallmouth bass made a moderate contribution to the total catch (HDR/LMS 2007), but the Age 0 fish that were collected were smaller than those captured during most previous years. As a result, these fish may have incurred higher mortality than would have been expected if they had been larger and in better condition to survive predation and over-wintering mortality.
In 2007, only 15 (4.5%) Age I smallmouth bass measuring from 120 to 200 mm were collected, suggesting that the recruitment and survival of the 2006 year class in this portion of the Kankakee River was indeed weak in 2006. The contribution of the 2006 year-class (Age 2 fish measuring from 200 to 250 mm) to the catch in 2008 again appeared to be weak.0 An addition grouping of smallmouth bass in the 2009 length-frequency histogram occurs from 290-360 mm (Age 3 or Age 4). Only four (5.3%) fish larger than 360 mm were collected in 2009. These fish were most likely Age 4 or older. The largest specimen collected (415 mm) was likely an Age 5 fish. Although peaks in the length-frequency of smallmouth bass larger than 100 mm total length can be difficult to distinguish by age, the 2004-2009 year classes (Ages 0-5) all appear to be represented in the catch.Eighty-eight largemouth bass, measuring from 27 to 460 mm in total length, were collected in 2009 (Figure 3-4). Based on the lengths of the fish that were collected, at least six age classes were likely included in the catch (Age 0-5). Sixty-nine (78.4%) largemouth bass less than 90 mm in total length were captured in 2009, while only 19 (21.6%) fish greater than 90 mm were collected.
Six fish (6.8%) from 100 to 199 mm, three fish (3.4%) from 200 to 299 mm, eight fish (9.1%) from 300 to 399 mm in total length, and two fish (2.3%)greater than 400 mm were collected.
During most years, either Age 0 and/or Age 1 largemouth bass have dominated the catch, while relatively few fish older than Age 2 have 3-7 HDR Engineering, Inc.
been collected.
Recruitment of largemouth bass in 2009 appeared to be moderate to relatively strong based on data collected by electrofishing and seining.Due to recent stocking efforts of walleye in the Kankakee River by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, it needs to be noted that eight walleye measuring 131, 174, 257, 281, 404, 423, 442, and 484 mm in total length were collected in 2009. The 131 and 174 mm walleye were young-of-year fish, while the 257 mm fish was either a large young-of-year or small Age I fish. At least three, but likely four, age classes of walleye were included in the eight fish captured in 2009.3.5 COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS 3.5.1 Diversity Mean diversity indices were calculated for each of the 11 individual electrofishing and seining locations in 2009. Electrofishing diversity values ranged from 2.53 at Location 5L to 3.63 at Location 3R (Table 3-8). The average diversity index for all locations in 2009 was 3.16. This value is slightly higher than most years reported since 1977. The mean diversity index has ranged from 2.36 in 1982 to 3.74 in 2005. It should be noted that the average diversity indices were not calculated using weighted means, but are simply means of means. They should therefore be viewed with some degree of caution.Mean diversity indices for each location sampled by seining ranged from 1.53 at Location 4L to 3.02 at Location 3L (Table 3-9). Diversity indices in the Kankakee River appear to reflect habitat quality and the flow characteristics at each location during the time of collection, rather than any affect associated with the Braidwood Station intake or blowdown.
Average seining diversity indices (all locations) by year has ranged from 1.08 in 1983 to 2.97 in 2001. The average seining diversity index of 2.14 in 2009 is well within the range of values reported during the 32 years of this long-term sampling program.3-8 HDR Engineering, Inc.
3.5.2 Anomalies In 2009, 42 (1.02%) of the 4105 fish collected from the Kankakee River and Horse Creek exhibited some form of external anomaly (Table 3-10). Eighteen of the 42 fish noted were golden redhorse; six were rock bass; five were channel catfish; four were smallmouth bass;three were silver redhorse; two were freshwater drum; and one specimen each of river carpsucker, carp, quillback, and longear sunfish also exhibited anomalies.
Only one fish, a river carpsucker, exhibited more than one anomaly. This individual exhibited both eroded fins and was blind in one eye. In total, 10 species were noted to exhibit at least one type of external anomaly. During previous studies (1991-2008), fish with external anomalies have comprised from 0.1% of the fish examined in 2001 to 4.9% of the fish examined in 1993.The majority of fish during those years were afflicted with fin rot, parasitic leeches, cysts, or anchor worm. In 2009, parasites accounted for ten (23.3%) of the 43 anomalies observed.Anchor worm (Lernaea spp.) was noted on nine of the fish (sunfish species and freshwater drum) observed, while leeches were found on only one of the 20 channel catfish examined for external abnormalities.
DELT (Deformities, Eroded fins, Lesions, or Tumors) anomalies were noted on 33 (0.8%)of the 4105 fish collected.
Eroded fins (fin rot) occurred on 20 individuals; lesions occurred on eight individuals; malformations were noted on four individuals; and one river carpsucker was noted to be blind in one eye. Fifteen of the 20 specimens exhibiting eroded fins were golden redhorse.
Eroded fins were also noted on one individual each of smallmouth bass, carp, and silver redhorse.
Tumors, fish lice, cysts, and black spot were not observed on any of the fish examined in 2009. The numbers of fish noted with external anomalies by location were all relatively low with the greatest number of fish (11) with anomalies occurring at Location 2 in Horse Creek (1.37% of all fish examined).
The highest percentage of fish with anomalies occurred at Location IR where four (5.48%) of the 73 fish observed exhibited some form of external anomaly. The low percentage of individuals with DELT anomalies noted in 2009 indicates that the resident fish assemblage in this portion of the Kankakee River was in good condition as defined by Karr (1981)3-9 HDR Engineering, Inc.
during the August sampling period.3.5.3 Relative Weight Inherent in the development of the W, equations used to calculate Wr is the objective of modeling the growth form of a species for fish in better-than-average condition.
A mean Wr value close to 100 (90-110) over a range of size groups may reflect optimal health and utilization of food resources for a given population (Anderson and Gutrueter 1983). When relative weight values are considerably less than 100, problems may exist in food availability and/or feeding relationships.
A total of 196 fish (13 species) that met the minimum length criteria of the W, equations was collected (Table 3-11 and Appendix Table C-i). Of the 13 species collected, only seven were represented by more than 10 individuals.
Relative weights by species, as well as by individuals within a species, were highly variable.
Mean relative weight by species ranged from 85.6 for green sunfish to 121.5 for gizzard shad. Several factors can influence Wr, including sample size, fish size, sex, food availability, competition, and spawning condition.
With the possible exceptions of green sunfish, walleye, carp, channel catfish, and bluegill (Wr = 85.6, 87.3, 87.7, 88.8, and 89.0, respectively), the remaining species examined appeared to reflect optimal health and utilization of food resources based upon the relative weights of fish that were collected during the August 2009 Braidwood Fish Monitoring Program. Eight of the 13 species examined exhibited a W, score of greater than 90.0 and six species (gizzard shad, river carpsucker, smailmouth buffalo, rock bass, largemouth bass, and black crappie) scored greater than 100.3.6 Physicochemical Data Water quality data recorded in conjunction with fish sampling was measured at each location prior to every sample collection (Appendix Tables A-I to A-4). During August 2009, water temperature ranged from 22.0 DC at Location 2 (Horse Creek) on August 6 to 29.1 --C at Location 5R (below the Braidwood Station discharge) on August 18. Water 3-10 HDR Engineering, Inc.
0 temperatures were slightly warmer during the second sampling period. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.8 to 16.5 ppm, pH from 7.8 to 8.7, and conductivity from 508 to 710[tmhos/cm.
With the exception of dissolved oxygen readings that were higher than most previous years, the physicochemical data collected in 2009 was similar to values reported during earlier years of these studies. Each of the measured water quality parameters observed were within the range of values capable of supporting a healthy fishery.Since 1981, mean monthly discharge for the Kankakee River (Site Number 05527500) has been calculated from flow data recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)near Wilmington, Illinois (Figure 3-5 and Appendix Table A-5). Based on preliminary data, the mean monthly river flows for January through May 2009 were higher than the mean monthly flows for all years combined (January 1981- September 2008). These data should be viewed with caution because the current water year's data is still preliminary.
Ice jams in the river likely resulted in errant flow readings during the late winter/early spring period.0 Following the period of higher than normal river flows from January through May 2009, mean monthly river flows for June through September 2009 were slightly below average.Mean monthly river flow (excluding provisional data) since 1981 has averaged 5838 cfs.Highest mean monthly river flows have occurred during the spring (March -May), while the lowest flows have occurred during the months of August through October.River flow during each sampling date in 2009 was well below the 28-yr mean August monthly average of 2572 cfs (Appendix Table A-5). Preliminary flow data for the four sampling dates on August 5, 6, 18, and 19, were 1070, 988, 635, 635 cfs, respectively.
River flows in the Kankakee River can be highly variable over a relatively short period of time.SCHEDULE Field efforts are scheduled for the first and third weeks of August 2009. This will allow 3-11 HDR Engineering, Inc.
flexibility to adjust field work without compromising the objectives of the project. The exact dates of sampling will be dictated by weather conditions and flows in the Kankakee River, i.e., sampling may be postponed if severe thunderstorm or tornado activity is forecast for the scheduled dates. Exact dates will be communicated to the Exelon Manager prior to the initiation of sampling.
The tentative project schedule is presented in Table 2.3-12 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE 2 BRAIDWOOD PROJECT SCHEDULE 1. FIELD SURVEYS 2005: Ist Week of August 3 rd Week of August 2. Data Entry 3. Draft Annual Report 4. Final Annual Report 5. Raw Data 6. Verbal Reports 7. Variance Procedures
- 8. Quality Assurance/
Quality Control Program September-November By 15 December.Two weeks following receipt of comments on draft report from Exelon.Submitted following acceptance of final report each year of program; to coincide with final report submittals.
To Exelon's project manager following each field effort.To Exelon's project manager prior to next field effort, if required.Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program to be submitted before first sampling effort in 2009.Standard Operating Procedures to be submitted before first sampling effort in 2009.3-1 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE 3-2 TOTAL CATCH OF PALLID SHINER AND RIVER REDHORSE COLLECTED DURING THE BRAIDWOOD STATION AQUATIC MONITORING PROGRAM Braidwood Station -1977-2009 PALLID SHINER RIVER REDHORSE SHOCK SEINE SHOCK SEINE Year No. CPEa No. CPEb No. CPE a NO. CPEb 1977 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.33 0.00 0.56 1.00 1.33 0.12 0.78 9.11 0.89 1.67 0.56 0.90 0.90 0 1 9 3 2 1 49 15 4 0 0 0 12 152 27 0 4 10 22 20 3 2 12 12 2 10 7 0.00 0.02 0.20 0.07 0.05 0.02 1.11 0.34 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.27 3.45 0.61 0.00 0.09 0.23 0.50 0.45 0.07 0.05 0.27 0.27 0.05 0.23 0.16 69 10 46 26 I0 4 5 18 102 17 9 I1 30 3.45 0.50 2.30 1.30 0.50 0.20 0.25 0.90 5.10 0.85 0.45 0.55 1.50 0.12 0.00 0.56 0.22 0.00 0.11 0.12 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7 82 8 15 s 8 8 0 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3-2 HDR Engineering, Inc.
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Totals 7 2 I 0.78 0.22 0.11 0.24 0.00 5 0.11 6 0 0.14 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 390 0.2 9 d 0.12 0 0.00 0.11 0 0.00 178 0.41c 371 0.86c 2 <0.0 1 d aBased on 20.00-hours of effort from 1977-1990; 8.45 hours5.208333e-4 days <br />0.0125 hours <br />7.440476e-5 weeks <br />1.71225e-5 months <br /> in 1991; 9.00 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> from 1992-1996, 1998-2002, 2004-2007 and 2009; and 8.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> in 1997 and 2008 and 8.75 hours8.680556e-4 days <br />0.0208 hours <br />1.240079e-4 weeks <br />2.85375e-5 months <br /> of effort in 2003 (all three due to a fallen tree in Horse Creek).bBased on 44 seine hauls.cBased on 429.20 total hours ofeffort.dBased on 1364 total seine hauls.3-3 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE 3-3 TOTAL CATCH BY METHOD FOR FISH SPECIES COLLECTED FROM THE KANKAKEE RIVER AND HORSE CREEK Braidwood Station -2009 ELECTROFISHING SEINING TOTAL TAXON NUMBER WEIGHT NUMBER WEIGHT NUMBER WEIGHT No. % (g) % No. % (g) % No. % (g) %Longnose gar Gizzard shad Grass pickerel Carp Homyhead chub Red shiner Redfin shiner Striped shiner Rosyface shiner Spotfin shiner Sand shiner Fathead minnow Bluntnose minnow Bullhead minnow Carpsucker spp.River carpsucker Quillback Smallmouth buffalo Bigmouth buffalo I 12 5 7 2 2 59 19 279 157 9 221 96 0.1 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.1 3.4 1.1 15.9 9.0 0.5 12.6 5.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 150 3311 77 27,500 4 6 135 35 669 273 36 358 190 5920 3792 7491 5400 0.1 1.6<0. 1 13.1<0. I<0. I 0.1<0.1 0.3 0.1<0.1 0.2 0.1 I <0.1 3 0.1 2 12 1 <0. 1 26 05 6 7 6 0.3 15 0.3 6 1 <0.1 4 0.1 3 2 68 2.9 156 3.1 127 86 3.7 203 4.0 105 938 39.9 2051 40.9 1217 162 6.9 259 5.2 319 9 228 9.7 428 8.5 449 614 26.1 1343 26.8 710 5 0.2 28 0.6 5 6 4 3 1<0. I 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1<0. 1 3.1 2.6 29.6 7.8 0.2 10.9 17.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1<0.1 153 3311 103 27,500 15 8 6 291 238 2720 532 36 786 1533 28 5920 3792 7491 5400 0.1 1.5<0.1 12.8<0. I<0.1<0. I 0.1 0.1 1.3 0.2<0.1 0.4 0.7<0. 1 2.8 1.8 3.5 2.5 6 4 3 1 2.8 1.8 3.6 2.6 3-1 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE 3-3 (Continued).
TOTAL CATCH BY METHOD FOR FISH SPECIES COLLECTED FROM THE KANKAKEE RIVER AND HORSE CREEK Braidwood Station -2009 ELECTROFISHING SEINING TOTAL TAXON NUMBER WEIGHT NUMBER WEIGHT NUMBER WEIGHT No. % (g) % No. % (g) % No. % (g) %Northern hog sucker White sucker Redhorse spp.Silver redhorse River redhorse Black redhorse Golden redhorse Black bullhead Charnel catfish Blackstripe topminnow Brook silverside Yellow bass White perch Sunfish spp.Hybrid sunfish Rock bass Green sunfish Pumpkinseed Orangespotted sunfish 3 0.2 903 0.4 I <0. 1 7 0.3 12 30 1 3 161 1 20 0.7 1.7 0.1 0.2 9.2 0.1 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 4.8 0.4 0.2 0.6 37 7630 3700 2468 54,618 150 39,966<0. 1 3.6 1.8 1.2 26.1 0.1 19.1 1 85 7 3 10 77 <0.1 42 <0.1 5 <0.1 4194 2.0 32 <0.1 14 <0.1 57 <0.1 3-2 7 0.3 22 0.9 2 0.1 I <0.1 I <0. I 3 3 0.1 1 29 0.6 19 30 1 3 161 1 20 18 0.4 7 33 0.7 22 1 I 4 0.1 2 1 1 <0.1 86 7 3 7 0.1 II 0.1<0 1 0.5 0.7<0.1 0.1 3.9<0. I 0.5 0.2 0.5<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1 2.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 903 3 66 7630 3700 2468 54,618 150 39,966 18 33 77 42 4 5 4195 32 14 64 0.4<0.1<0.1 3.6 1.7 1.2 25.5 0.1 18.6<0. I<0. I<0. I<0. I<0.1<0. 1 2.0<0.1<0. I<0.1 HDR Engineering, Inc.
0 Bluegill Longear sunfish Smallmouth bass Largemouth bass White crappie Black crappie Johnny darter Logperch Blackside darter Slenderhead darter Walleye Freshwater drum 90 255 72 72 3 10 4 2 4 8 I1 1753 5.1 756 14.5 2945 4.1 12.041 4.1 10,006 0.4 1.4 5.7 4.8 16 0.7 75 1.5 3 0.1 29 0.6 4 0.2 36 0.7 16 0.7 61 1.2 15 0.6 33 0.7 146 6.2 169 3.4 0.2 224 0.1 0.6 10 <0.1 0.2 62 <0.1 0.1 10 <0.1 0.2 12 <0.1 0.5 3541 1.7 0.6 10.679 5.1 209,526.06 2.6 831 0.4 258 6.3 2974 1.4 76 1.9 12,077 5.6 88 2.1 10,067 4.7 15 0.4 33 <0.1 3 0.1 224 0.1 56 3.8 179 0.1 4 0.1 62 <0.1 2 <0.1 10 <0.1 5 0.1 15 <0.1 8 0.2 3541 1.7 11 0.3 10,679 5.0 I <0.1 3 0.1 Totals 2352 5017 4105 214,543 Total taxa Total species 43 41 25 22 50 46 3-3 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE 3-5 TOTAL CATCH OF FISH COLLECTED FROM THE KANKAKEE RIVER AND HORSE CREEK Braidwood Station-1977-2009 ELECTROFISHING SEINING YEAR No. CPEa No. CPEb TOTALS 1977 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2417 2329 1391 2050 703 1024 1471 2633 2599 2478 4008 3617 2545 1825 1012 1578 1930 2007 3220 3657 2401 2431 2250 3994 4377 2834 1500 2247 2428 2148 2279 120.9 116.5 69.6 102.5 35.2 51.2 73.6 131.7 130.0 123.9 200.4 180.9 127.3 216.0 112.4 175.3 214.4 223.0 357.8 430.2 266.8 270.1 250.0 443.8 486.3 323.9 166.7 249.7 269.8 238.7 268.1 10,576 1387 3039 1221 369 1166 1455 7278 968 2256 2050 1489 1770 3185 2163 477 1276 1382 5570 3193 2538 942 4200 2185 3548 3316 1373 3118 1619 3525 1591 240.4 31.5 69.1 27.8 8.4 26.5 33.1 165.4 22.0 51.3 46.6 33.8 40.2 72.4 49.2 10.8 29.0 31.4 126.5 72.6 57.7 21.4 95.5 49.7 80.6 75.4 31.2 70.9 36.8 80.1 36.2 12,993 3716 4430 3271 1072 2190 2926 9911 3567 4734 6058 5106 4315 5010 3175 2055 3206 3389 8790 6850 4939 3373 6450 6179 7925 6150 2873 5365 4047 5673 3870 3-1 HDR Engineering, Inc.
2009 1753 194.8 2352 53.5 4105 TOTALS 75,136 175. 1' 82,577 58.6' 157,713.Based on 20.0 hrs of electrofishing effort from 1977-1990; 8.45 hours5.208333e-4 days <br />0.0125 hours <br />7.440476e-5 weeks <br />1.71225e-5 months <br /> of effort in 1991;9.00 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> of effort from 1992-1996, 1998-2002, and 2004-2007, 2009; 8.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> of effort in 1997 and 2008; and 8.75 hours8.680556e-4 days <br />0.0208 hours <br />1.240079e-4 weeks <br />2.85375e-5 months <br /> of effort in 2003.bBased on 44 seine hauls.'Based on 429.2 total hours of electrofishing effort.dBased on 1408 total seine hauls.3-2 HDR Engineering, Inc.
TABLE 3-8 MEAN DIVERSITY INDICES FOR THE CATCH OF FISH AT EACH LOCATION COLLECTED BY ELECTROFISHING Braidwood Station -1977-2009 YEAR IL I R 2 3L 3R 4L 4R 5L 5R 6L 6R MEAN ALL LOCATIONS 1977 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 3.31 2.89 3.12 2.51 3.04 2.83 3.16 3.20 2.65 2.31 2.72 2.91 2.55 2.82 2.66 2.89 3.09 3.29 2.93 2.97 3.22 2.90 3.05 2.97 3.36 3.09 2.76 3.23 2.97 2.58 3.33 2.68 3.05 2.81 3.57 3.36 3.44 3.62 2.19 3.84 3.15 3.02 3.23 3.29 3.24 3.31 2.93 3.61 3.05 3.45 3.52 2.92 2.88 1.79 2.14 2.71 4.02 3.12 3.24 3.17 2.68 2.75 3.11 2.15 2.63 2.35 2.44 2.87 2.74 2.14 2.61 2.69 2.58 2.22 2.90 2.52 3.28 2.80 2.38 2.56 2.72 2.84 2.26 2.28 2.42 3.56 3.17 2.34 3.04 3.15 2.82 2.63 2.33 2.22 2.98 2.83 2.73 3.14 2.91 2.75 2.55 2.65 2.87 2.90 2.11 1.93 2.13 1.66 2.38 2.53 2.23 2.77 3.04 2.84 2.75 2.71 2.86 2.43 2.60 3.29 2.73 3.09 2.87 3.01 2.82 2.97 2.86 2.93 2.50 3.20 3.22 3.28 2.80 3.60 3.31 3.61 3.33 2.92 3.29 3.53 2.73 3.04 2.90 3.04 3.26 3.39 2.59 3.86 3.40 2.64 3.60 3.37 3.12 3.58 3.40 2.05 3.31 3.73 3.05 3.38 1.17 2.46 2.40 3.33 3.19 2.51 3.68 3.47 2.03 2.32 3.13 3.37 3.51 2.57 3.11 1.50 3.22 3.09 3.07 3.01 3.16 2.79 2.32 2.64 2.88 2.97 2.60 2.80 3.40 2.53 2.61 2.52 2.66 3.59 3.37 1.38 2.94 2.42 2.94 2.86 2.23 2.42 2.68 3.10 3.18 2.50 2.86 3.06 2.83 2.74 3.20 2.11 2.18 3.19 3.28 2.65 3.16 2.88 2.92 3.10 2.36 2.58 2.57 2.93 3.08 2.84 2.89 3.07 2.94 2.65 2.78 2.82 2.96 3.24 3.22 2.66 CHAPTER 4 REFERENCES Murphy, B. R., D. W. Willis, and T. A. Springer.
1991. The relative weight index in fisheries management:
status and needs. Fisheries 16(2):30-38.
Ohio EPA. 1987. Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: Vol. 11: Users manual for biological field assessment of Ohio surface waters. Division of Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment, Columbus, Ohio Ohio EPA. 1989. Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: Vol. HI: Standardized biological field sampling and laboratory methods for assessing fish and macroinvertebrate communities.
Division of Water Quality Monitoring and assessment, Columbus, Ohio.Shannon, C. E. 1948. A mathematical theory of communication.
Bell System Technical Journal 27:379-423, 623-656.