ML19309C861

Fish Kill Associated W/800105 Outage at Facility.

ML19309C861
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Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	03/31/1980
From:	Roche M JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT CO.
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ML19309C860	List: ML19309C859 ML19309C861
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TECHNICAL REPORT Fish Kill Associated with the January 5, 1980 Out'ge.at a Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Michael B. Roche Jersey Central Power & Light Co.

March 1980 8004000 b DC

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

1. Introduction 2

2. Environmental and Plant Operating 2 Conditions Before and After Shutdown

3. Methods 3

4. Observations 3

5. Data Analysis 4

6. Discussion 6

7. Conclusions 9

8. References 11 O

< . 2

1) Introducticn Tne Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) be g z. n operation in late 19691 In early 1972 a large number of Atlantic menhaden died after a winter shutdown. Similar kills occurred in cabsequent years. In 1975 changes were made in operation ar.d snutdown procedures, whien were intended to minimize tne tne impact of winter shutdowns on fish. Winter shutdowns between 1975 and 1979 had relatively small kills of Atlantic menhaden associated with them. On January 5, 1980 OCNGS shut down. OCNGS stopped gener.ating electricity at 0225 hours0.0026 days <br />0.0625 hours <br />3.720238e-4 weeks <br />8.56125e-5 months <br />. Subsequent to tr.e snutdown, approximately 7 p fich died.

Tnis report summarizes the results of fisn sampled and collected prior to and after the shutdown.and provides an assessment of trp impact of the loss of these organisms. The report also compares tne size of tne fisn kill with prior kills associated with otner winter outages at OCNGS and provides an assessment of tne effectiveness of various changes wnich have been instituted in the operation and snutdown procedures at OCNGS intended tc minimize the impact of tne shutdowns on fisn. This report supercedes a preitminary report produced snortly arter tne snutdown.

2) E:nvironmental and Plant Operating Conditions Before and After Shutdown OCNGS monitors meteorological and water temperature conditions continuously. During the ten days prior to the January 5, 1980 outage (see Table 1), tne average OCNGS intake water teeperature was approximately 39.1 F (3.94 C). The average intake water temperature on January 5, 1980 was 33.9 F (1.06 C). The difference is due in part to the normal decline of ambient water temperature associated with the onset of winter and more particularly with the passage of a cold front through Ocean County, New Jersey during the night of January 4 and the morning of January 5, 1980. The cold front was observed to pass through tne vicinity of OCNGS at approximately 1900 to 2000 hours0.0231 days <br />0.556 hours <br />0.00331 weeks <br />7.61e-4 months <br /> on January 4, 1980 and was characterized by winds of between 10-14 mph from the northeast. Heavy snowfall and poor visibility accompanied the cold front.

Tne shutdown began on January 4, 19 8 0 a t 2200 hours0.0255 days <br />0.611 hours <br />0.00364 weeks <br />8.371e-4 months <br /> (see Table 2). At approximately 2300 hours0.0266 days <br />0.639 hours <br />0.0038 weeks <br />8.7515e-4 months <br /> the reactor reached 70% power level.and both dilution pumps were shut off. On January 4, 1980 at 2342 hours0.0271 days <br />0.651 hours <br />0.00387 weeks <br />8.91131e-4 months <br /> one circulating water pump was shut down. At 0225 hours0.0026 days <br />0.0625 hours <br />3.720238e-4 weeks <br />8.56125e-5 months <br /> on January 5, 1980, OCNGS came off the line. The remaining tnree circulating pumps continued to circulate water, rejecting residual waste heat into the discharge canal.

As a result of the changes in power level and ne discharge temperature went from 54.2 F (12.33 C) to p35.8 u m pFi n g( 2.11 C) over a period of 7.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> producing a rate of temperature decline of approximately 2.5 F per hour (See Figure 1). During e

3 tne same period, tne U.S. Rt. 9 bridge temperature we'nt from 44.7 T (7.06 C) to 50.6 F (10.33 C) after the dilution pumps were turned off and subsequently down to 37.1 F (1.83 C). Intase water temperature declined from 35.6 F (2.00 C) to 33.9 F (1.06 C).

Between January 6 and January 10, 1980 intake water temperatures varied between 32.8 and 33.8 P with an average of 33.32 F (0.73 C). On January 5, 1980 and on subsequent days, ice was found in discontinuous sheets along the main stem of Oyster Creek and in solid sneets in the residential lagoons on the south side cf Oyster Creek near its confluence with Barnegat Bay.

3) Methods A pre-shutdown survey of fish in the discharge canal was ,

conducted on January 2 and Janury 3, 1980 (See Attachment I). A '

4.8 meter semi-balloon trawl which has a 3.9 cm stretch mesh cody and a 3.2 cm stretch mesh cod end with a 1.3 cm stretch mesn liner, was used to collect two five minute trawls at the mouth of Oyster Creek and just east of U.S. Rt. 9 bridge and one trawl the .

lengtn of the eastern lagoon. A 60 meter by 2.4 meter monofilament gill net which had two 30 meter panels, one of 3.9 4

cm stretch mesh and the other of 8.5 cm stretch mesh, was used for two half hour periods at the mouth of Oyster Creek and for five minutes next to the condenser discharge of OCNGS.

Subsequent to the shutdown, the same two gear types were used at the same stations with the exception that the gill net was not deployed at the mouth of Oyster Creek due to ice sheets. All fish captured during these surveys were identified to the lowest possible taxa and enumerated completely or estimated. Lengths were measured for key species. Other pre-shutdown work was conducted and is reported elsewhere (Ecological Analysts, in orep.). ,

The object of tne post-shutdown collection was to remove as many' ./

of the dead specimens as possible so as to minimize double '

counting. Immediately after the OCNGS shutdown, stressed and or-dying fish were counted and collected f rom the shoreline along the discharge canal by dip netting. Specimens were collected in the immediate vicinity of the condenser discharge after the plant came off line and were collected along the length of the discharge canal down to and including the wide area of Oyster Creek adjacent to the former marina sites. The dip netted fish were counted either as they were collected or after being combined. Portions of the entire length of the discharge canal were observed on January 5, and 7. Observations were made at U.S. Rt. 9 on January 8th, 1980. Ice conditions on the banks precluded shore collection of specimens in some portions of the discharge canal.

4) Observations During the pre-shutdown survey it became obvious the discharge

4' canal contained a very'large number of Atlantic menhaden (

Brevoortia tyrannes) in the immediate vicinity of the condenser ctsenarge. Ine tish were observed swimming into the condenser discharge tunnel and were packed tightly both horizontally and vertically. The areal extent of the Atlantic menhaden, s delineated by their breaking the water surface, was a triangular snaped area adjacent to the eastern-most port of the condenser discharge. Based on an extrapolation of several transect counts across the eastern port, it was estimated that this port contained three to five thousand Atlantic menhaden. After sampling other portions of Oyster Creek and the discharge canal, it appeared Atlantic menhaden were confined almost exclusively to this area although one fisherman reported catching one bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and one Atlantic menhaden on the Monday (12/31/80) pr ior to the shutdown. No bluefish, weakfish (_

Cynoscion regalis), or spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were collected during the pre-shutdown survey.

Immediately prior to the shutdown, Atlantic menhaden continued to be found almost ex<:lusively in the eastern-most condenser port, swimming strongly into the discharge flow. As the shutdown progressed and dilution pumps were removed from service, tnis behavior continued. Almost immediately af ter the plant came off line, bluefish and weakfish were observed at the surface moving passively just west of the eastern discharge port at a discharge temperature of approximately 42 to 43 F (5.6 to 6.1 C). Atlantic menhaden began to exhibit signs of stress (approximately 030a hours), when the discharge temperature was between 41 and 42 F(5.0 to 5.6 C).

Between 0300 hours0.00347 days <br />0.0833 hours <br />4.960317e-4 weeks <br />1.1415e-4 months <br /> and 0400 hours0.00463 days <br />0.111 hours <br />6.613757e-4 weeks <br />1.522e-4 months <br /> bluefish were first dip netted in the vicinity of U.S. Rt. 9 bridge. After 0400 hours0.00463 days <br />0.111 hours <br />6.613757e-4 weeks <br />1.522e-4 months <br />, weakfish also began to appear in the vicinity of the bridge. Subsequent to 0430 hours0.00498 days <br />0.119 hours <br />7.109788e-4 weeks <br />1.63615e-4 months <br /> Atlantic menhaden appeared at the'U.S. Rt. 9 bridge ,

and they continued to move into the shore area until "

approximately 1100 hours0.0127 days <br />0.306 hours <br />0.00182 weeks <br />4.1855e-4 months <br />. After 1100 hours0.0127 days <br />0.306 hours <br />0.00182 weeks <br />4.1855e-4 months <br />, the rate of appearance of new specimens in the shore areas stopped. During this time period, approximately 3000 specimens were collected by dip netting along the shoreline. The shoreline in the vicinity of the U.S. Rt. 9 bridge contained many more specimens than the other areas of_ shoreline possibly due to the influx of warmer, fresh water from Oyster Creek ponding over the surface. Visual observations made from the U.S. Rt. 9 bridge and from a boat revealed the largest concentrations of beached fish were mainly in the vicinity of the Rt. 9 bridge. -

5) Data Analysis Estimates of the number of fish killed were produced by linear extrapolation from the number of collected organisms and assuming 75% of the dead specimens would be found near the shore (American Fisheries Society, 1979). Specimens collected between 1/5 and 1/7/80 by JCP&L and Ecological Analysts (EA) are as follows:

3 Area Menhaden ' Bluefish Weakfish- Spot Scup Kincfish O.C. Shoreline 2778 -

642 29 5 2 1 C.C. Bottom 3 1 - - - -

Lagoon Bottoms 2 - - - - -

Estimates for the OC Shoreline were extrapolated by the 75%

factor (Estimate = Actual /75%) to include the bottom and the shoreline (See Attachment II for equations); estimates for the i

OC Bottom were produced by computing a specimen per area figure for the area sampled and extrapolating that figure to cover tne total bottom and then extrapolating that number to a total for bottom and shoreline by the 75% factor (Estimate = [(Actual  :/J,

r. umber / area sampled) x total area]/25%); estimates for t.g e , de Lagoon Bottoms were produced by compucing a specimen per area .'

figure for the area sampled and extrapolating that figure t o ' y,*f' cover the total bottom of the four lagoons. Computation of tne OC Shoreline and OC Bottom estimates should produce an

. overestimate since some areas were sampled both from the shore and the water. The estimates are as follows:

Area Menhaden Bluefish Weakfish Spot Scup Kingfish O.C. Shoreline 3704 856 39 7 3 1 0.C. Bottom 283 94 - - - -

Lagoon Bottoms 50 - - - - -

Total 4037 950 39 7 3 1 Dead specimens were counted on 1/8/80 from shoreline and trawl by JCP&L, EA and the USNRC as follows:

Area Menhaden Bluefish Weakfish Spot Scup Butterfish O.C. Shoreline 328 1 3 51 1 1 Bay Shoreline 5 1 - - -

1 0.C. Bottom 4 - - - - -

0.C. Lagoons 20 - - - - -

Extrapolating the counted specimens as above produces the following estimates:

Area Menhaden Bluefish' Weakfish Spot Scup Butterfish .

O.C. Shoreline 437 1 4 68 1 1 Bay Shoreline 7 1 - -

1 -

0.0. Bottom 667 - - - - -

0.C. Lagoons 260 - - - - -

Total- 1371 2 4 68 2 1 Live specimens of Atlantic menhaden and spot were found in Oyster Creek and the lagoons in the trawls. Assuming these live-

[

o specimens died after the' sampling, the following tota'1s would be produced:

Menhaden Spot Number 75 469

. Adding the three totals provides a final total number for the kill as follows:

Menhaden Bluefish Weakfish Spot Scup Butterfish Kingfish Number 5483 952 43 544 5 1 1 Weights were measured for the Atlantic menhaden, bluefish and weakfish allowing a total weight estimate to be computed as shown below:

Menhaden Bluefish Weakfish We ig n t (sg) 1590 371 60 Weights for Spot, Scup, King fi sh and Butterfish were estimated f rom the known length and length-weight relationships (Hildebrand and Schroeder, 1928) to produce a weight per species estimate as follows:

Spot Scup Kingfish Butterfish We ig h t (kg) .71 .85 .12 .04 The above number and weight estimates are derived from computations, assumptions and field observations. Estimation of errer is discussed in a subsequent section.

6) Discussion o.1 Causal mechanism for kill Based on the temperature and species data associated with prior fish kills at OCNGS (JCP&L, 1978) and the cold shock literature for the affected species, the fish died because the ambient water temperature was below their respective lower lethal temperatures (Table 3). After the shutdown, ambient water temperature was 33.9 F (1.06 C). Lower lethal temperatures for'the affected species are: Atlantic menhaden - 37 F (3 C); bluefish - between 40 and 47 F (3.3 and 8.5 C); weakfish - below (10 C) 50 F; spot

- 37 F (3 C). No data has been found for the other species.

Based on 1) collection of live Atlantic menhaden and spot on

1/7/80 in the lagoons; 2) the observation of dead menhaden and spot on 1/8/80 in the areas where no dead specimens were observed on 1/7/80; and 3) past fish kill experience (JCP&L, 1978), it is

O 9 ,

likely snat Atlantic menhaden and spot moved into the lagcens after tne OCNGS snutdown, and died between 1/7 and 1/8/80 as tne lagoon water temperatures declined. It is reasonable to assume that less mortality would have occurred if ambient temperatures were higher.

6.2 Estimation of kill Accurate estimates of the number of fish which died after a fish kill are difficult to make. The post-shutdown monitoring ef for t was devoted to col.lecting all dead specimens along accessible shores and estimating the number of dead specimens on the bottor by bottom trawling. The estimates could be low due to tne following factors: 1) fish die outside of sampled area and are not counted; 2) dead fish are washed out of the sampled area and are not counted: 3) fish die in sampled area but are not counted

. These factors are discussed below:

Factor 1 - Due to the low water temperatures, it is probable that most of the Atlantic menhaden and all of the bluefish and weakfish died quickly af ter OCNGS went off line.

Prior to tne shutdown, tne U.S. Rt. 9 bridge temperature was below the lower lethal temperature for bluefish and weakfish.

Some Atlantic menhaden and spot did actively move down.the discharge canal and into the lagoons near the mouth of Oyster Creek - an area which cools down much slower than the main portion of Oyster Creek. Since the Bay temperature (33.9 F; 1.06 C) was lower than the Atlantic menhaden and spot's lower lethal

temperatures it is unlikely that these species would actively

move into the Bay. Because of these considerations it is i

improbable that Factor 1 would have significantly affected the estimates of the kill. .

Factor 2 - The discharge canal has significant and competent flows when OCNGS is operating dilution and/or circulating water pumps. Measurements in the discharge canal have shown velocities of 1.0 tri 1.5 feet:per second (fps) in the narrow portions and 0.5 to .7 fps in the wider portions when OCNGS is pumping 720,000 gallon per minute (gpm) (Woodward -

Envicon, Inc., 1973). After the shutdown, OCNGS pumped 345,000 gpm which should have resulted in velocities of 0.5 to 0.7 fps in the nar_ row portions and 0.2 to 0.3 to the wider portions of the canal. Post-shutdown trawling in Oyster Creek and in Barnegat Bay near the mouth of Oyster Creek picked up dead Atlantic menhaden (6) and blue fish (1) . All specimens were. collected in the higher velocity areas thereby indicating the velocities were not sufficient to wash the organisms into the bay.

These collections would not allow the conclusion that specimens were not washed into Barnegat Bay but observations of the shoreline of the Bay after the shutdown revealed few specimens -

none to the north of Oyster Creek and 7 menhaden, 1 bleefish and

) 1 scup south of Oyster Creek (Masnik, 1980; Danila, 1980). Wind conditions on January 5 and 6, 1980 would have blown dead fish to

6

~

the soutn' in the Bay yet observations made of tne Bay's shore soutn of Oyster Creek between January 5 and January 8, 1950 revealed little or no gull activity so common after fish kills.

Eased on the paucity of dead fish found along the shore in the Bay and the presence of dead Atla . tic menhaden on the bottom of Oyster Creek it is unlikely that Factor 2 has significantly  !

, affected the fish kill estimates. ,.

Factor 3 - Oyster Creek, from-OCNGS to Barnegat Bay, contains much bottom and shoreline which was not directly sampled. A significant effort was made to sample and collect dead specimens from representative areas in the discharge canal.

The geog raphic distribution of the collected specimens indicated dead fish preferentially accumulated in the same areas as in the ,

i past kills, i.e. the discharge canal near the Rt. 9 bridge and the lagoons. Other areas were checked but yielded relatively few specimens. The reason for the preferential accumulation is-considered to be related to the Atlantic menhaden seeking higner

temperature water found in these two areas.

$ Based upon the results of the collection effort, the data from

past fish kills, and the general behavior of fish it is unlikely that a large number of dead fish were missed in the sampling ,

! area, either along the shoreline or on the bottom. Since the

! bottom estimates were extrapolated to cover a shoreline 3 component, the fish taken by gulls and residents should be.  ;

i included in the estimates.

No attempts were made to compute a standard error during the field measurements. Since the accuracy of estimate increases:

with the number counted, the Atlantic menhaden estimates are most  ;

accurate and the other species estimates least accurate.

Standard errots of 10% and 50% would not'be unreasonable for the f Atlantic menhaden and other species respectively.

6.3 Comparison With Prior Kills i

} Eleven cold shock fish kill.s have occurred at OCNGS prior to this '

l' kill (Table 4). Prior to 1375, four cold shock kills occurred with estimated losses ranging from a thousand to a million Atlantic menhaden and a hundred to a thousand bluefish. '

Subsequent to 1975, operating changes were made at'OCNGS to '

, minimize cold shock from fish kills: two dilution pumps are i

, operated during Fall and Winter and dilution pumps' are- shut off immediately after an automatic' shutdown. The first change is j intended to reduce the number of fish attracted to the discharge  ;

canal and the second is to lengthen the cooldown time of the  ;

discharge canal to allow the fish 'in the canal to acclimate to  !

the lower temperatures. Since these changes were instituted,.six  ;

~

cold shock fish kills have' occurred with Atlantic' menhaden losses

of a hundred_to a thousand - a significant decrease from prior to l' j .the institution of the changes.' The' loss associated with'the ,

j 1/5/80 shutdown is the largest since the institution of the I i 4

. _ , . . - , . - - . . - . . . , ,m., , - _ _ . .,_._._...__.r.--.,_m, . . . , . , , . , _ _ _ _ , _ _ . . , . .- .. - -.

i

• p Ic n a r:g e s ' b u t is smaller than most.of the pre-1975' cold snock i' <i'Is. Because of.this it is concluded the changes have helped '

recuce the mortality although it is clear the changes have not

! eliminated'it. -

6.4 Assessment of Loss ,

Loss of organisms from a population can be evaluated in many

. different ways. Atlantic menhaden, bluefish, weakfish and spot

! 'are collected commercially in New Jersey and loss of-these i

specimens will produce an immediate loss to these fisheries.

i 1978 landing data (National Marine Fisheries Service,1979). shows

] 37,388, 725 kg. of Atlantic menhaden, 719,012 kg, of bluefisn, 1,602,388 kg. of weakfish and 4,976 kg. of' spot were commercially landed in New Jersey. The estimated 1980 fish kill loss is an j extremely small fraction of these landings: .004% for Atlantic mennaden, .05% for bluefish, .'004% for weakfisn, and 1.4% for

. spot.

Commercial landings from New Jersey enables a computation of

economic value for these four species in 1978 dollars

i Menhaden Bluefish Weakfish Spot i

S/kg. .07 .33 .40 .58 Total S 111.30 122.43 24.00 41.06 -

)

The other species will have a negligible commercial value and ther+ fore, the lost commercial value of the entire kill will be about S345 in 1980 dollars assuming a 7% per year increase due to ,

inflation.

6.5 Future Mitigation Efforts Fish are a ttracted to the OCNGS discharge canal during the Fall.

As the water temperatures in the Bay decline, the fish appear to move into the condenser discharge area achieving extremely high  !

fish densities in the eastern condenser discharge port. A feasibility study has begun to assess the effect of temporarily ,

denying the eastern discharge port to fish during the late autumn i

- early winter period. If this study determines it is feasible to prevent fish from remaining in the discharge canal, further  ;

mitigation of cold shock fish kill losses may be possible. l

7) Conclusion .

1 Ex tensive monitor ing of bef ore, during and after the 1/5/80 i

snutdown of OCNGS has shown ' that approximately 7000 fish died.

The mortality occurred because the ambient temperature was below the lower lethal temperatures of the seven affected species. The size of the kill is about one to two' orders of magnitude lower s, ' tnan kills which occurred prior.to 1975 when changes were made at '

OCNGS to mitigate cold ' shock fish kills but is greater than all [

] _ post 1975 kills. The commercial value of the kill-is-about $350.- i I

I L

I

10 Tutare worr; at OCNGS will be directed at further mitigation of tne cold snock potential.

o

6

. 11

8) References

1) American Fisheries Society, 1979, Fish kill counting guidelines, Rept.'by Southern Division, AFS. 25 pgs.

2) JCP&L, 1978, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station 316 (a)

& (b) Demonstration, Technical Report to USEPA and NJDEP, Five Volumes.

3) Woodward-Envicon, Inc. 1973, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Thermal Reconnaissance and Station Shutdown Surveys, Technical Report, 19 pgs.

4) Masnik, M. T., 198 0, Trip Report - Oyster Creek Generating Station - Investigation of Coldshock Fishkill on January 7, 1970, Report to USNRC, 6 pgs.

5) Danila, D. 1980, Personal communication.

6) National Marine Fisheries Service, 1979, New Jersey Landings, December 1978, Technical Report #7716, NOAA, 4 pgs.

7) Re in tj es , J. W., 1975, Compilation and correlation analysis of published and unpublished environmental data with ,

di tribution, abundance, and movement of young mcnhaden in mid-Atlantic estuaries, Nat. Mar.-Fish Service, 40 pgs.

8) Ichthyological Associates, Inc. 1979, Ecological studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station, Report of 9/77 - 8/78 to JCP&L, 391 pgs.

9) PSE&G, 1980, Personal communication with Mark London.

10) Ecological Analysts, in prep., annual report on the Oyster Creek Environmental Technical Specifications.

11) Hildebrand, S. F. and W. C. Schroeder 1928, Fishes of Chesapeake Bay, Fish & Wildlife Serv., Fishery Bull, V. 53, pt 1, 388 pgs.

O I

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10 Table 1 Average Water Temperature ( F) a't OCNGS Date Intake Discharge

~

December 26, 1979 43.2 62.4 27 40.6 60.0

, 28 -38.7 58.3 29 39.1 58.0

. 30 38.9- 58.1 31 38.5 57.7 January 1, 1980 38.0 57.0 2 38.6 57.5 3 37.7 56.6 4 36.4 55.1 Shutdown 5 33.9 36.9 4

6 32.8 34.5 7 33.2 34.6 8 33.7 35.5 1

9 33.8 35.4 10 33.1 34.4 I'

t s

s I

f l

I

u 6

3 TAELE 2 OCNGS Shutdown Sequence Date Time Action 1/4/80 2200 , Controlled shutdown started 1/4/60 2300 Shutdown of 2 dilution pumps at 70% power s 1/4/80 2342 Shutdown of one circulating watt pump 1/5/80 0225 OCNGS Shutdown

4

'- s:

e

.' 14 1

Table 3 Cold Shock Information 7n Selected ' Fish Species '  ;

i >

Field.0bserved Lab' Derived-

Mortality. Mortality Species Lethal Temperature Lethil Temperature Acclimation Temperature I

Atlantic menhaden 3.0*C (Reintjes, 1975) 5* to 7*C 15*C (Reintjes, i975)

! 4.4* 'to 5.6*C (JCP4L,1978) 7.5'C 14*C- (JCPSL,' 1978)

Bluefish Between 8.5* and 3.3*C- 8.3*C 15*C (IA, 1979) -

(JCP6L, 1978) 1 Menkfish -

Below 10*C' (IA, 1979) j Jacks 8.9'C (JCP6L,1978) - - -

I

' t 9.8'C (floff, 1971)  !

l l 4 t Spot- -

3*C 10*C (PSE5G,1980) f 1

e l  !

s 1

1 .

I

) t l' l i

i l:

4

Table 4: Known fish mortality at the OCNCS since the initiation of plant operation until

'present (Roche,1976 - Revised 1977 and 1979).

PROBABLE m

HUMBEM SPECIES SIZE RANCE CAUSE' INTAKE TEMPERATURE *C(*F) 1/29/72 100,000-1,000,000 At tantic menhaden 76-127 == Thermal 1.7 (35) (1230 pm)

Shoc k 1/5-1/8/73 18,000-1,200,000 ' Atlantic menhaden 102-356 mm ~

5.6 (42) (1800 pm, l'/5 )

20 Bay anchovy -

2/16- Several Atlantic menhaden --

4.4 (40) (1230 am) 2/21/73 Thousand 8/9/73 2,000-4,000 Atlantic menhaden 127-356 mm 28.9 (84) (830 pm) 1/7/74 500 Atlantic menhaden 203-280 mm Chlorine 3.3 (38) (430 ps) 1/11- 9,900-180,000 Atlantic menhaden 102-356 mm Thermal 1.7 (35) (830 pa) 1/15/74 Shock 100-3,600 Bluefish 228-356 mm "

. 10/9/74 200 Cravelle Jack -- "

13.9 (57) 2/4/75 100 Atlantic menhaden - "

3.3 (38) (0030 am) 50-100 Bluefish -- "

11/24/75 7-100 Crave 11e lack -- "

A.9 (4!, (0300 nm) 12/29/75 15-100 Atlantic menhaden 100-250 mm "

2.8 (37) (740 am) 3-200 Bluefish 90-170 mm "

12/27/75 350 Atlantic menhaden 120-150 mm pit 2.2 (36) (1000 pra) 10/21/77 120-200 .. Blue runner Thermal 12.2 (54) (1 am)

Crave 11e Jack Shock 1/15/79 682 Atlantic menhaden 165-225 mm "

O (32) (630 pm)

ATTACIBfENT 1

- OYSTER CREEK 1980 OUTAGE FISl! SUPXEY REPORT ,

J. J. Vouglitois bl. B. Roche

~

D. W. Ballengce January 1980

, Five additional species 'were taken in the trawl survey conducted following ths station shutdown. 1.eiostomus xanthurus (Spot) is a warm water migrant which is common in Barnegat Bay through December and migrates out of the bay to deeper warmer waters for the winter and early spring months. During this latter period only a few individuals of this species have been taken. The relative abundance of spot in the post-shutdown samples compared with their absence prior to the shutdown indicates that they were attracted to the thermal discharge and concentrated in the portion of the canal west of Route 9. Following the shutdown stressed and dead individuals were observed in Oyster Creek and 15 were taken at station 2 where some pockets of warmer water may have existed.

Peprilus triacanthus (butterfish) is common in Barnegat Bay from September through December but rare during the remainder of the year. A single individual was taken in the trawl sample at station 2 and may have been representative of a small number of butterfish attracted to the thermal discharge.

A single Etropu's microstomus (Smallmouth flounder) was taken in the trawl et station 3.

This species is generally abundant in Barnegat Bay from October through

~

Dsc ober but scarce in other months. This species may be attracted to the thermal dischtrge but the presence of a few individuals in the bay at the time of sampling is not unusual.

One Pomatomus saltatrix (Bluefish), apparently dead for some time, was taken in the post-shutdown trawl at station 1. The Bluefish is a warm water migrant which is attracted to the thermal discharge during its fall migration out of the bay.

Following the shutdown, water temperatures in Oyster Creek fell below its lower lethal tcmparature.

Eight Brevoortia tyrannus (Atlantic menhaden) were collected at stations 2 and 3 during the post shutdown trawl survey. Five menhaden were dead at the time of ccpture and all of those were adults (age 2-3). One adult and two juvenile men- -

hedsn were taken alive at station 2 where pockets of warm water may have existed.

In response to regulatory agency requests, samples of the fish fauna of Oyster Creek were collected just prior to (Jan. 2; and Jan. 3) and following (Jan. 7) the shutdown of the Oyster Creek Station on January 5, 1980.

Samples were collected at the four locations indicated on Figure 1, using a 4.8 meter semiballoon trawl and a 60 m x 2.4 m monofilament gill net. The trawl consisted of a 3.9 cm stretch mesh body and a 3.2 cm stretch mesh cod end with a 1.3 cm stretch mesh liner. She gill net consisted of two 30 meter panels,-one of-3.9 cm stretch mesh and the other of 8.5 cm stretch mesh.

On January 2, two consecutive 5-minute hauls of the trawl were made at stations I and 3; a single haul, the length of the lagoon (approx. 6 min) was made at station 2. This trawling sequence was repeated on January 7. At station 1,.

two half-hour gill net sets were made on January 3. Ice sheets prevented the use of

'the gill net at station 1 on January 7. The gill net was fished for approximately 5 minutes at station 4 on January 3 and 7. Strong currents in the condenser dis-charge area caused the net to tangle and prevented sets of longer duration.

All fish captured with the nets were identified to the lowest possible taxon and enumerated (in some cases, estimated). Lengths were measured for key species.

RESULTS The raw data are presented in Attachment I. Table 1 summarizes the results of the trawl survey. The most common species captured with the trawl were Henidia menidia (Atlantic Silverside), a bay resident and Alosa aestivalis -(Blue-l brck herring), a cool water migrant. Three other resident species, Apeltes quadracus

. (Fourspine stickleback), Syngnathus fuscus (Northern pipefish) and Pseudopleuronectes entricanus (Winter flounder) were also taken in the trawl. All of the above mentioned l - sp:cies would be expected to occur in the bay during the winter and with the-exception of'P. americanus were taken both prior to and following the shutdown.

i 9

3 Brevoortia is also a warm water migrant which is attracted to the thermal discharge during the fall =ovement out of the bay.

No fish were taken in the 30 minute gill net sets at station 1 on January 3, two days prior to the shutdown. A five minute gill net set at station 4 (condenser discharge) on January 3 yielded 77 Atlantic menhaden averaging 24 cm in length (age 2-3). A large school of menhaden was observed swimming into the current at the con-s.

denser discharge at that time. No fish were taken with the gill net at station 4 '

subsequent to the shutdown.

~

CONCLUSIONS 9

The results of the pre- and post-shutdown trawl and gill net sampling indicate that at least three species (L. xanthu'rus, B,. tyrannus and P,. saltatrix) wsre attracted to the thermal discharge and remained in Oyster Creek when they would normally have left the bay system. The shutdown of the Oyster Creek Station resulted in tortalities to all three species.

The pre-shutdown survey results indicated a lack of pelagic species, such es Brevoortia and Pomatomus in the area of Oyster Creek east of the Route 9 bridge.

Large concentrations of Brevoortia, however, were found in the condenser discharge cres. Following the shutdown, Brevoortia, Pomatomus and Cynoscion (Weakfish) were observed dead and dying both east and west of the Route 9 bridge. These results in'dicate that those species that are attracted to the thermal discharge tend to concentrate in the relatively small area west of the Route 9 bridge as ambient water te=peratures decline.

Pre-Shutdown Post-Shutdown Stations Stations -

1 2 3 2 1 3 Species Menidia menidia 1 90 2 1 5 74 Alosa aestivalis 51 14 5 1 1 2 Apeltes quadracus 1 48 1

'Pseudopleuronectes americanus 1 4 2 Syngnathus fuscus 1 1 1 Etropus microstomus '

1 Lefostomus xanthurus 15 1 Peprilus triacanthus 1

Brevoortia tyrannus 5 2 Pomatomus saltatrix 1 Totals 53 109 11 52 27 81 i

Table 1. Number of individuals per 5 mii.ute trawl. Station 1 = Oyster Creek Mouth; Station 2 = Eastern Lagoon; Station 3 = Oyster Creek Route 9 bridge area.

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Attachment II Calculations of Number of Fish Killed c

1) OC Shoreline i

1.1) Actual =

• of fish counted along shore 1.2) Estimate = Actual /75%

2) OC Bottom 2.1) Actual = # of fish collected in a trawls in 0.C.

2.2) Specimen per area = Actual /(trawl width x total trawl length)

Specimen per area = Actual /(.0048km x 2.6943 km) ,

2.3) Bottom estimate = Specimen per area x area of bottom in 0.C.

Bottom estimate = Specimen per area x .305 sq. km.

2.4) Bottom and shore estimate = Bottom estimate /25%

3) OC Lagoons 3.1) Actual = # of fish collected in trawl in eastern lagoon 3.2) Specimen per area = Actual /(trawl width x trawl length)

Specimen per area = Actual /(.0048 km x .333 km) 3.3) . Lagoon estimate = Specimen per area x area of bottom in 4 lagoons Lagoon estimate = Specimen per area x .04 sq. km.

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