ML20003H345
| ML20003H345 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 04/29/1981 |
| From: | Graham R, Lowery D, Taylor M TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20003H342 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8105050617 | |
| Download: ML20003H345 (181) | |
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1 i 4 . , t i ' TENNESSEE VALLEY-AUTHORITY OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES' ! DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES i i !- l i i r !' WATER QUALITY-AND l BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN WHEELER RESERVOIR DURING
*. OPERATION OF BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR-PLANT !
JANUARY 1, 1980-DECEMBER 31, 1980 + I O I r i 4 1 4 4 a ! L ?. t.
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O PREPARED BY Mahlon P. Taylor Ron L. Graham Donny R. Lowery i Frank H. Taylor O e 9
b e e TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I INTRODUC' ION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II PLANT OPERATION DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD .. 6 III RESULTS OF OFFSITE WATER QUALITY SURVEYS ..... 29 i IV RESULTS OF AQUATIC BIOLOGICAL MONITORING ..... 34 V RESULTS OF FISHERIES STUDIES ................. 82 VI TRANSMISSION LINE RIGHT-OF-WAY MAINTENANCE .. 143 VII EVALUATION OF ELEVATED TEMPERATURES ON AQUATIC BIOTA 0F WHEELER RESERVOIR DURING TEMPORARY VARIANCE OF 930F LIMITATION ....... 147 APPENDIX A--
SUMMARY
OF RESULTS OF TEMPERATURE ANALYSIS
- FOR EVALUATION OF 11iERMAL STRESSES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD (JAN.1,1980 THROUGH DEC. 31, 1980)
APPENDIX B--LISTING OF WATER QUALITY DATA SUMMARIES (JAN.1,1980 THROUGH DEC. 31, 1980) APPENDIX C--BIOLOGICAL DATA (JAN. 1, 1980, THROUGH DEC. 31, 1980) l l i I = i s I
LIST OF FIGURES Jtata s - Figure 1 Monitoring Locations - Wheeler Reservoir . . . . . . . 5 Figure 2 Units 1, 2, and 3 Reactor Power During January 1980 Through December 1980 . . .. . . .. . . . .. . 7 Figure 3 Temperaturo Differentint'lletween Thermal Control Monitors at Primary Upstream Control Station (TRM 297.6) and the Average Downstream Control Station (TRM 292.6 LMP) for the 5' Depth, Based on 15-minute Interval hour Moving Averages . . . . .. . 14 Figure 4 Average Daily Temperature Differentials Between an Upstream Control Station (TRM 297.6) and Selected Downstream Stations . ......... ... . . . . 19 Figure 5 Temperature Differential Between TRM 297.6 and TRM 292.5 (LMP) for 1978. Expressed as Percentage of Time at the Given Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Figure 6 Daily Average Discharge from Guntersville anu Wheeler Dams and the Calculated Daily Average Flow Past Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant .. . .. . . .. . . 27 Figure 7 Frequency of Phytoplankton Abundance Above and , Below Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Before and During Operation . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . .... 37 Figure 8 Percentages of Major Groups of Phytoplankton Duting
- Two of Four Seasons of all Years Sampled Showing Preoperational Versus Operational and Control Versus Belcw BFNP . . .... . . .. . . . . .... 45 Figure 9 Percentages of Major Groups of Phytoplankton During Two of Four Seasons of All Years Sampled Showing Preoperat'onal Versus Operational and Control Versus Below BFNP . . .. .. . .. . . . . . ... . 46 Figure 10 Results of Winter 1980 Phytoplankton Genera Index of Change . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. 49 Figure 11 Results of Spring 1980 Phytoplan'kton Genera Index of Change . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . .. . .. 50 Figure 12 Results of Summer 1980 Phytoplankton Genera Index of Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Ffgure 13 Results of Fall 1973 Phytoplankton Genera Index of Change . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. 52 9
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m LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Page Figure 14 Chlorophyll a Comparisons by Year Between Control and Below BFNP for Winter and Spring 1969-1980 . . . . 55 Figure 15 Chlorophyll a Comparisons by Year Between Control and Below BFN' for Summer and Fall 1969-1980 . . . . . 56 Figure 16 Phytoplaakton Productivity During the Winter Season Showing Preoperational Versus Operational and Control Versus Below BFNP . .. .. . . .. . . . 57 Figure 17 Phytoplankton Productivity During the Spring Season Showing Preoperational Versus Operational and Control Versus Below BFNP .. .. . . . .. . . . 58 Figure 18 Phytoplankton Productivity During the Summer Season Showing Preoperational Versus Operational and Control Versus Below BFNP . .. . .. . .. . . . 59 Figure 19 Phytoplankton Productivity During the Fall Season Showing Preoperational Versus Operational and
, Control Versus Below BFNP .. .. ... . .. . . . . 60 Figure 20 Corbicula Density (Number /m 2 ) by Year for Winter and Spring . . . .. . . . ........ ... . . . 66 Figure 21 Corbicula Density (Number /m 2 ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . ... . . . 67 Figure 22 Corbicula Density (Number /m2 ) by Year for Summer Fall, and All Seasons . . . . . ... .. . .. . . . 68 Figure 23 Corbicula Density (Number /m 2 ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . . .. . . . 69 Figure 24 Hexagenia Density (Number /m 2 ) by Year for Winter and Spring .. . .. ........... . . 70 Figure 25 Hexagenia Density (Number 2/m ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . . . .. . . 71 Figure 26 Hexagenia Density (Number /m2) by Year for Summer and Fall . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . . . . .. . 72 Figure 27 Hexagenia Density (Number 2/m ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . . .. . . . 73 Figure 28 Chironomidae Density (Number /m 2 ) by Year for Winter and Spring . . ... .... . . . . . . . . . 74 iii
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LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) . Figure 29 Chironomidae Density (Number 2/m ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . .... .. 75 Figure 30 Chironomidae Density (Number /m2 ) by Year for Summer and Fall . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. ...... 76 Figure 31 Chironomidae' Density (Number 2/m ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . ... . .. 77 Figure 32 Oligochaeta Density (Number /m 2 ) by Year for Winter and Spring . . . . . . . . . ...... . ...... 78 Figure 33 011gochaeta Density (Number 2/m ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational Samples . . ...... 79 Figure 34 Oligochaeta Density (Number /m2 ) by Year for Summer, Fall, and All Seasons . . . . . . ... . . ..... 80 2 Figure 35 Oligochaeta Density (Number /m ) by Station for Preoperational and Operational-Samples . . ... ... 81 Figure 36 Densities of Larval Clupeids Collected in Larval Fish Monitoring at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 1980 . ... -142 Figure 37 Transmission Facilities, Browns Ferry Area . ..... 146 Figure 38 Browns Ferry Water Quality Data on July 1, 1980 ... 148 Figure 39 Regression of Temperature and Total Phytoplankton, Including Data from Regular and Special Studies of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Tennessee River, F' July 1 and 18, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. 160 n
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LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Water and Wastevater Treatment chemical Usage 1980 . . . . . . .... . . 17 Table 2 Analytical Methods for Parameters Measured in Wheeler Reservoir .. . . . . . . . . . . ..... 30 Table 3 W o-Way Analy is of Variance Results for :erational Water Quality Data . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . 31 Table 4 Total Phytoplankton Numbers Frequency of Occurrence in Increments of 500,000 Cells / Liter . . . . . ... . % Table 5 Wheeler Reservoir Temperatures (OF) During Summer Phytoplankton Sample Periods, 1972-1980 . . . .. .. 40 Table 6 Gill Net Catch Station I, TRM 293.0, Vinter Quarter, Jsnuary 22-25, 1980, 40 Net Nights . . . . . .. . . . 85 Table 7 Cill Net Catch Station II, TRM 299.0, Winter Quarter, January 15-18, 1980, 40 Net Nights . . . . . ..... 86
. Table 8 Gill Net Catch Station III, TRM 294.0, Winter Quarter, January 15-18, 1980, 3 Net Nights . ... . . 87 Table 9 Gill Net Catch Station IV TRM 294.0, Winter Quarter, January 22-25, 1980, 12 Net Nights . . . . . .. .. 88 Table 10 Gill Net Catch Station I, TRM 293.0, Spring Quarter, May 20-23,1980, 36 Net Nights . . . . . . .... .. 89 Table 11 Gill Net Catch Station II, TRM ~.99.0, Spring Quarter, April 22-25, 1980, 40 Net Nights . . . . . . . . .. . 90 Table 12 Gill Net Catch Station III, TRM 294.0, Spring Quarter, May 13-16, 1980, 40 Net Nights . .. ... . 91 Table 13 Gill Net Catch Station IV, TRM 294.0, Spring Quarter, May 28-30, 1980, 15 Net Nights . . . . . . .... . . 92 Table 14 Gill Net Catch Station I, TRM 293.0, Su:mner Quarter, August 12-15, 1980, 30 Net Nights . . . . . . .. .. 93 Table 15 Gill Net Catch Station II, TRM 299.0, Sunsner Quarter, July 9-11, 1980, 39 Net Nights . . . . . . . ... . . 94 Table 16 Gill Net Catch Station III, TRM 294.0, Sucuner *- Quarter, August 5-8, 1980, 40 Net Nights . .. . . .. 95 Table 17 Gill Net Catch Station IV, TRM 294.0 (Midehannel), . Sumer Quarter, August 12-15, 1980, 19 Net Nights .. 96 v
LIST OF TAILES (Continued), Page Table 18 Gill Net Catch Station I, TRM 293.0, Fall Quarter, November 1980, 37 Net Nights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Table 19 Gill Net Catch Station II, TRM 299.0, Fall Quarter, November 1980, 34 Net Nights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Table 20- Gill Net Catch Station III, TRM 294.0, Fall Quarter, November 1980, 40 Net Nights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Table 21 Gill Net Catch Station IV, TRM 294.0 (Midehannel, Heated Discharge), Fall Quarter, November 1980, 16 Net Nights .................... 100 Table 22 Summary of Winter Quarter Gill Net Sampling; Preoperational (1969-1973) and Operational (1974-1980) . . . ..................... 101 Table 23 Summary of Spring Quarter Gill Net Sampling; Preoperational (1969-1973) and Operational (1974-1980) . . . ..................... 102 Table 24 Summary of Summer Quarter Gill Net Sampling; Preoperational (1969-1973) and Operational (1974-1980) . . . ..................... 103 Table 25 Summary of Fall Quarter Gill Net Sampling; Preoperational (1969-1973) ar.d operational (1973-1979) . . . ..................... 104 - Table 26 Trap Net Catch .(KL1 Stations) Winter Quarter, March 4-7, 1980, Total of 4 Lifts . . . . . . . . . . 106 Table 27 Trap Net Catch (All Stations) Spring Quarter, May 6-9, 1980 .................... 107 Table 28 Trap Net Catch (All Stations) Fall Quarter, December 2-5, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Table 29 Fish Taggir.g Recaptures, Wheeler Reservoir,1980 . . . 111 Table 30 Summary of Tagging Operations to Date, Wheeler Reservoir, 1980 ................... 112 Table 31 Common and Scientific Names of Fish in Rotenone Samples, Wheeler Reservoir, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . , 113 vi w
w LIST OF TABLES (Continued) Page Table 32 Species Composition of Cove Populations, Wheeler Reservoir, 1980 ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Table 33 Major Fish Groups by Sample Cove, Wheeler Reservoir, 1980 ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Table 34 Size Distribt tion Per Hectare by Species From Rotenone Sam'les, Wheeler Reservoir, 1980 . . . . . . . 117 Table 35 Size Distribution of Major Fish Groups, Wheeler Reservoir, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Table 36 Comparison of Rotenone Survey Results in Three Coves of Wheeler Reservoir, 1961-1980 . . . . . . . . . 121 Table 37 Species List and Numbers of Fish Impinged at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, January-December, 1980 . . . . . . 122 Table 38 Species Composition of Fishes in Impingement Samples at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, January- ^ December, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Table 39 Fishing Pressure Estimates by Month, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, January 1, 1980-December 31, 1980 . . . . . .. .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Table 40 Seasonal Fishing Pressure Per Hectare for Each Sampling Area, January 1, 1980, Through December 30, 1980, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Table 41 Percent of Total Estimated Fishing Pressure for Each Saapling Area by Seasons, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, January 1, 1980-December 30, 1980 . . . . . . 128 Table 42 Estimated Total Sportfishing Catch by Species, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, January 1, 1980-December 31, 1980 . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Table 43 Estimated S'portfish Harvest per Hour and per Hectare, January-December 1980, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Table 44 Estims ted Total Sportfish Catch f' rom Each Sample Area by Species, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, January 1, 1980-December 31, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Table 45 Estimated Numberand Biomass of Sportfish Harvest , per Hectare by Species, January-December 1980, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 vii
LIST OF TABLES (Continued) Page Table 46 Estimated Harvest Rate of Sportfish from Each Sampling Area, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, January 1, 1980-December 30, 1980 .... . .... 133 Table 47 Estimated Entrainment of Ichthyoplanktors at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 1980 . ......... 135 Table 48 Weekly Estimates of Number and Density of Fish Eggs and Larvae Transported Past Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in a 24-Hour Period, 1980 ...... 136 Table 49 Weekly Estimates of Number and Density of Fish Eggs and Larvae Entrained in a 24-Hour Period at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 1980 . . . .. ..... ... 137 Table 50 Reservoir (Qr) and Intake (Qi) Flows (m3 x 106 ) at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 1977-1980 . . .... 138 Table 51 Annual Entrainment (Percent) of Fish Eggs and Larvae by Family at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant from 1977-1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Table 52 Estimated Number of Young-of-Year Threadfin -* and Gizzard Ehad Per Hectare from Cove Rotenone Samples, Wheeler Reservoir, 1977-1979 . .. 141 Tchle 53 Estimated Total Number and Percent Entrainment by Family at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 1980 ... 144 Table 54 Phytoplankton Population and Percentage Compari-son by Stations, Regular Study - July 1, 1980, and Special Study - July 18, 1980 ..... .... 156 Table 55 Temperatere and Total Phytoplankton Cells per Liter Near Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant on July 1, 1981, and July 18, 1981 ...... .... 158 Table 56 Zooplankton Population and Percentage Comparisons by Stations, Regular Study - July 1, 1980, and Special Study - July 18, 1980 . . ........ . 163 Table 57 Benthic Population Comparisons by Stations, Regular Study - July 1,1980, and Special Study - July 18, 1980 .... . . . . . . .... ..... 167 Table 58 Gill Net Catch, Station 1, TRM 293, 30 Variance, July 16-Aug. 12, 1980, 30 Net Nights . . . ..... 168 e e viii
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LIST OF TABLES (Continued) Table 59 Gill Net Catch, Station II, TRM 299.0, 3 i Variance, July 16-Aug. 12, 1980, 25 Net hights . . . . 169 Table 60 Gill Net Catch, Station III, TRM 294, 3 Variance July 15-Aug. 12, 1980, 30 Net Nights . . . . . . . . 170 Table 61 Gill Net Catch, Station IV, TRM 294, 30 variance, July 16-Aug. 12, 1980, 32 Net Nights . . . . . . . . . 171 f Table 62 Gill Net Catch, Station V, TRM 287, 30 Variance, July 23-Aug. 12, 1980, 9 Net Nights . . . . . . . . . 172
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I. INTRODUCTION The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), by law an Agency and corporate Lastrumentality of the United States, generates electricity as a part of its responsibility for the physical, social, and economic development of the Tennessee Valley region and as a part of national defense. The TVA system supplies power required for an area of approximately 80,000 square miles containing 6.7 mdllion people and the system interconnects at 29 points with neighboring utilities. Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFNP) is a key element of TVA's power system and helps supply electricity to meet the increasing demand in the Tennessee Valley region. Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is located in Limestone County in , northern Alabama on the north bank of Wheeler Reservoir at Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 294 (figure 1). It is about 10 miles northwest of Decatur, Alabama, and 10 miles southwest of Athens, Alabama. The plant occupies 840 acres and consists of three units with eleccrical name-plate ratings of 1,152 megawatts each. Physical structures on-site include: reactor containment buildings, turbine building, radwaste building, service building, transformer yard,161-kV and 500-kV switchyards, stack, sewage treatment plant, and mechanical draft cooling towers. Unit I was placed in commercial operation on August 1, 1974; Unit 2 on March 1, 1975; and Unit 3 on September 12, 1976. Unit 3 was 4 1
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k 1 licensed to operate by the NRC on July 2, 1976. Since Units 1, 2, and 3 . operate as an integrated system, technical specification requirements for Units 1 and 2 are retroactive to July 2,1976, to correspond with the ef fective date of- technical specifications for Unit 3 for reporting purposes. The original specifications, bases, and methodology may be - found in " Water Quality and Biological Conditions in Wheeler Reservoir During Operation of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (Un.. 4, August 17, 1973-February 17, 1974," TVA, Division of Environmental Planning, April 1, 1974. Current i specifications and bases are in appendix B of the ' facility operating license for Units 1, 2, and 3 of the technical specifications. Specific reporting requirements for the technical specifications are compiled as follows: Sec. 2.0, Appendix B (Limited Conditions for Operation are i addressed in Cp. 2); Sec. 4.1.1, Appendix B (Abiotic Surveillance is , addressed in Cp. 2); Sec. 4.1.2, Appendix B (Biotic Surveillance is addressed in CP's. 4, 5, a. J 7); and Sec. 3.2.2 Appendix B (Transmission Line Right- - of-Way Maintenance is addressed in Cp. 6). This report of the water quality and biological conditions in l Wheeler Reservoir is submitted in conformance with Section 5.6.1 of i [ Environmental Technical Specifications for the Browns Ferry Nuclear . Plant; Unit 3 (July 2,1976) Docket No. 50-296 and Units 1 and 2 (August 20, 1976) Docket Nos. 50-259 and 50-260. It covers the period from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1980, and is the fif th annual report; l five semiannual reports were submitted previous to the annual reports.
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Quarterly monitoring periods are defined as follows: First - January 1 through March 31 (Winter) Second - April 1 through June 30 (Spring) Third - July 1 through September 30 (Summer) Fourth - 0..tober 1 through December 31 (Fall) On July 13,1977, *. 'A submitted a petition to EPA Region IV requesting thermal effluent limitations less stringent than those contained in the NPDES Permit No. A10022080 issued on June 30, 1977. At the same time, TVA requested the Chief Administrative Officer of the Alabama Water Improvement Cormiission (AWIC) and NRC to provide concurrence that i TVA be allowed to operate Browns Ferry not to exceed a maximum mixed temperature of 90 F as an interim measure. The EPA Region IV, AWIC 4 . Staff, and NRC issued authorization to operate the plant to meet an
, interim maximum mixed temperature of 900 F and a temperature differential of 5 F by correspondence on July 15,1977, (John Alec Little, Acting Regional Administrator, Region IV, EPA, to Herbert Sanger, General Counsel, TVA) and on July 18, 1977 (James W. Warr, Chief Administrative Officer, AWIC, to Herbert Ssnger, General Counsel, TVA) .
Unusually hot weather during July and August 1980 caused high electrical demands on the TVA power system and high ambient reservoir - temperatures in the vicinity of BFNP. To meet power demands, TVA requested a variance which would allow the downstream limitations to be increased temporarily to 93 F. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved 3
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TVA's request to operate BFNP with the temperature at the edge of the , mixing zone not'to exceed 93 F in a transmittal' dated July 14, 1980. This original concurrence was for a maxinum period of seven days. A letter from AWIC dated July 15, 1980, concurred with EPA's approval.
- Due to continued hot weather, additional temporary variances for the 93 F limitation were requested for 2-week intervals and approved by EPA q and AWIC through September 7, 1980. Biological. samples were collected ,
r on July 18, 1980, and fisheries samples were collected July 15-18, July 22-24, and August 12, 1980,- to assess effects of elevated temperatures on aquatic biota of Wheeler Reservoir. Chapter 7 addresses these effects. 4 e 1 4 i
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II. PLANT OPERATION DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD Thermal Discharge Discharges entering Wheeler Reservoir are limited by the State of Alabama and as such cannot cause a rise in temperature of more than 5" F or exceed a maximum of 86 F. However, BFNP operates under a temporary thermal limitation of 90 F. Limiting conditions of operation (LCO) occurred four times in 1980, the first time was on .Tuly 6. The computer program used to predict temperature excursions had predicted a downstream temperature of 90 F by 6 p.m. (CDT). Mitigative actions begun at 1:38 p.m. consisted of using cooling towers. Later station load was reduced. The 90 F limit was exceeded between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., but the extent of the excursion was minimized. A maximum temperature of 90.20 F was recorded downstream of BFNP. The second and third LCO's occurred on September 28 (8:00 p.m. - through 9:15 p.m.) and on September 29 (6:15 a.m. through 6.45 a.m.).
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The maximum temperature differential was 5.1 F in each case. These excursions were caused by rapid natural ovarbank cooling which occurred upstream of the plant. On November 23, the 5 F temperature rise limitation was exceeded f rom 8:30 p.m. throuah 10 30 a.m. The maximum rise in temperature was 5.6 F. Heavy ra.infall and runoff in the area resulted in lowerine water temoeratures at the upstream monitors. Load reduction and an increase in flow at both Guntersville and Wheeler Dams were initiated as mitigative measures. 6
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, Because of high ambient reservoir temperature and power demands, TVA received from epa a temporary increase in the maxistna downstream limitation from 90 F to 93 F on July 15. Temperatures intermittently
, exceeded 90 F from July 15 through July 22. The highest recorded downstream temperature during thir period was 92.2 F.
Reactor thermal power levels for this reporting period are shown in figure 2. Temperature differentials used in figure 3 are
- computed by subtracting the temperature of the upstream control monitors from the average temperature of the three downstream monitors. Therefore ,
a positive tengerature differential indicates the temperature at the 4 downstream monitors was higher than the upstream monitor. Makeup Water Treatment Plant (Spent Dimineralizer Resenerants) 3 Spent dimineralizer regenerant was discharged to the river during the reporting period as follows: Month Volume Released (gallons) September 700,000 October 735,000 December 804,300 The pH of the releases was maintained within technical specifi-cation limits of 6.0-9.0. _ Chlorine The raw water chlorination system was operated 25 days during the reporting period as follows: Month Number of Days Amount
.o June 16 13000 gal 10% Na0Cl July 4 4000 gal 10% Na0Cl November 5 3600 gal 10% NaOC1 13
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JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE Figure 3. Temperature differential between thermal control monitors at primaty upstream cuntrol station (TftM 297.6) and the average downstream control station (TRM 292.6 LMP) for the 5', depth, based on 15-minute in'.orval-2-hour moving averages.
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JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECENBER Figure 3 (cont.). Temperature differential between thermal c)ntrol monitors at primary upstream control station (TILM 297.6) and the average downstream control station (TRM 292.6 LMP) for the 5' depth, based on 15-minute interval-2-hour moving averages.
Residual chlorine in the system did not exceed the 0.5 mg/l NPDES limit. However, the technical specification limit of 0.05 mg/l residual chlorine - in the main condenser cooling water (CCW) discharge was exceeded for approximately 19 hours from November 6 at 4:25 p.m. to November 7 at 11:20 p.m. (CST) when the residual chlorine in the main CCW discharge reached 0.49 mg/1. Because Unit 2 was down for refueling, adequate dilution did not occur in the CCW system. However, it is unlikely that adverse environmental effects occurred in Wheeler Reservoir since the 7000 gpm chlorinated raw cooling water was discharged into the CCW conduit which initially contained 4.53 million gallons of unchlorinated river water. Chemical Usage . Table 1 is a list of water and wastewater treatment chemical usage for BFNP during 1980. . Potential Environmental Stress Form i Condenser" Cooling Water Discharge In addition to the instream thermal monitors used for plant control, a series of fixed temperature monitors is located in Wheeler Reservoir upstream and downstream of BFNP. A summary of the temperature differential between the upstream control monitor (TRM 297.6) and monitors located at three stations downstream from BFNP (TRM 292.5, 286.4, and 275.0) is shown in figure 4. A summary of hourly temperature data by month is in appendix A. The large volume of detailed hourly data precludes inclusion in this report but is on file in the Western Area Office, Division of Water Resources, EDB, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. p 16
. c o * **~
Table 1 3RCVNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT WATER AND WASTEWATER TREA1 MENT CHl!MICAL USAGE 1980 l Description Grade , Amount Ured Per Quarter Chemical Concentration, etc. 1/1-3/31 4/1-6/30 7/1-9/30 10/1-12/31 4 i Aluminum Sulfate Commercial 2600 lbs 2800 lbs 3300 lbs 100 lbs Anunonium Hydroxide Reagent 7 gal 3 gal 3 gal 7 gal Coagulation Aids (Wisprofloc 20) 500 lbs Magnifloc 575 C 500 lbs 500 lbs 500 lbs Hydrazine 35% 7 gal 2 gal 3 gal 7 gal U Soda Ash 58% 3300 lbs 600 lbs 1600 lbs Sodium Hydroxide 50% 17.5 tons 21.2 tons 27.1 tons 25.7 tons Sodium Hypochlorite 10% .220 gal 13,235 gal
- 1120 gal 2130 gal Sulfuric Acid 93% 18.1 tons 21.6 tons 26.2 tons 27.8 tons
- June RCW Chlorination - 13,000 gal i
l
Figure 5 shows temperature differentials between the upstream temperature station and the average of the three downstream stations. . Data la expressed as the percentage of time that a given temperature difference was within the specified range during the reporting period. Figure 6 shows mean daily stream flows in the vicinity of BFNP during the reporting period. These data are based on actual mean daily discharges from Guntersville and Wheeler Dams and computed mean daily atrcan f3ows at BFNP. s e 1 4 e 0 18
Average Temperature at Station (Vertical) E.E L
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dANUARY rtosdARY MARCH Arm MAY M Figure 4. Average daily temperature differentials between an upstream er,ntrol station (TRM 297.6) and selected downstream stations. 19 l
Average Temp 2reture at Station (Vertical)
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s JULY AUG ST 6EPit$iBER OCTOBER NOVENatR DECE$5ER Figure 4 (Continued) 20
Avarega Temparcture et Station (Vertical)
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t I dANUhRY rendARY MARCH ArEL MY J$JE Figure 4 (Continued) l 21
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1 Avareg2 Terpe'reture at Station (Vertical) ' 292.s
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OCTupex JULY AUGUST SeritJwtx NOVEMBER DECENBER , Figure 4 (Continued) 24
Ayuregs of All S3nwors 100 100 8E - '
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6E - i 4E - 4E - 2E - 2E - i f 9 . . 4-3-2-1012345 Z5..0-5-4-3-2-1012345 - - - - 3 I .- 1ST QUARTER 2ND QUARTER Figure 5. Temper:.ture differential between TRM 297.6 and TRM 292.5 (LMP) for 1980. Expressed as percentage of time at the given differential. 25
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3RD QUARTER 4TH QUARTER Figure 5 (Continued) - 26
350 g , y y. , 300 - GUNTERSVILLE 250 - 1 200 - 150 - 10 0 - 50 - 0 ' ' ' ' ' - 350 i i i i 300 . 8FNP p Oy = 0.56 Q,+044 Q , M M - 1 - y iso - M -
!=
350 O ' i (s ' i 300 . j . WHEELER 250 - 200 - 15 0 - 30 0 . - 0 ' ' ' JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE FIGURE 6. DAILY AVERAGE CISCHARGE FROM GUNTERSVILLE AND WHEELER DAMS AND THE CALCULATED DAILY AVERAGE FLOW PAST BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT. 27
100 i i I
- CUNTERSVLLE So . .
h I Y l Q ML O' ' ' ' ' ' 10 0 g i i : 9 WNP Oy *0.56 O/0.44Qs 1 L j 50 - k k l\/AL ~ f O
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JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER FIGURE 6 CONTIN'JED. DAILY AVERAGE DISCHARGE FROM GUNTERSVILLE AND Les ELER DAMS ANO THE CALCULATED DAILY AVERAGE FLOW PAST BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANI i 28 l
. . = _ _ _ .
k III. RESULTS OF OFFSITE WATER QUAL.lTY SURVKYS Water quality data for winter, spring, summer, and fall quarters of.1980 are presented in appendix B. These data are collected quarterly j during a water quality survey from stations upstream and downstream of BFNP (figure 1). A statistical summary for each parameter includes the maximum, minimum, mean, and standard deviation of the horizontal and
'- vertical observations at ea:h station. Analytical methodologies are in table 2.
A summary of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) procedure' utilized is presented in table 3. An analysis of variance was used involving factors of station, date, and their interaction for the parameters indicated. The analysis of variance was not structured specifically to detect differences in stations upstream and downstream of BFNP, but to determine whether significant differences occurred in this reach. This statistical analysis will detect not only significant differences
; attributable to BFNP but also differences attributable to other factors.
l Therefore, tests which proved significant were examined further by visual inspection and comparison of the means to identify affects that may have been ! caused by BFNP. The data indicated no adverse niteration of water quality in Wheeler Reservoir as a result of the operation of the plant. The differences
- between the means are believed to be attributable to natural factors such as I
j thermal stratification, seasonal biological activity, influence of tributaries, etc. For example, the SAS procedure indicated statistically significant differences exist between stations for conductivity. These differences are i believed to be caused by the influence of Elk River downstream of BFNP. The conductivity increased slightly downstream at Elk River, but did not l ' change significantly in the flow past the plant. I I 29
+
i _~ , ., ._ _ _ - _ _ _ . - - . , . -
Ttble 2 ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR PARAMETERS MEASURED IN WHEELER RESERVOIR . Reporting Period: January 1,1980-December 31, 1980 Preservation Detection ~ Parame ter Method and Reference" Techniques Limits Terperature Thermister-Thermometer In situ O.1 C Ilissolved oxygen Membrane EPA, 1974, p. 56 In situ 0.1 mg/l Titration-Winkler, ETA, 1974, p. 51 Determine immediately BOD 5-day, 20 C incubation DO depletion Iced 1 mg/l measured with YSI (model 54RC) membrane or Titration-Winkler EPA,1974, p.11: Standard Methods 14th ed., p. 543 COD Titrimetric-K Cr 0 reflux Sulfuric 1 mg/l EPA, 1974, p.2 20 27 acid (1 + 4) pH Potentiometric In situ or Not EPA, 1974, p. 239 Determine applicable immedia tely Total Alkalinity Potentiometric Titration Determine 1 mg/l Standard Methods 14th ed. , p. 278 immediately Sp:cific Conductance Self-contained meter - EPA, 1974, p. 275 None 0.5 pmho/cm Sodium Atomic absorption - EPA,1974, p.147 None 0.1 mg/l Sulfate Turbidimetric - EPA, 1974, p. 277 None 1 mg/l . Chlorides Titrimetric - EPA, 1974, p. 29 None 1 mg/l NH -N Colormetric - EPA, 1974, p. 168 Sulfuric 0.01 mg/l 3 acid (1 + 4) 1 ml/8 oz. NO2 + NO3 -N Colormetric - EPA, 1974, p. 207 Sulfuric 0.01 mg/l acid (1 + 4) 1 ml/8 oz. Orgtnic-N Colormetric - EPA, 1974, p. 182 iulfuric 0.01 mg/l acid (1 + 4) 1 mg/8 oz.
- Filterable residue Gravimetric - EPA, 1974, p. 266 None 10 mg/l N
- nfilterable residue Gravimetric - EPA, 1974, p. 268 None 1 mg/l Total residue Gravimetric or sum of filterable plus None 10 mg/l neafilterable residues EPA, 1974, p. 270 ,
- n. Methods for Chemical- Analysis of Water and Wastes, EPA-625-/6-74-003,1974.
Standard Methods for the Examine. tion of Water and Wastewater, 14th Edition. 1975. 30
. Table 3 TWO-WAY ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE RESULTS FOR OPERATIONAL WATER QUALITY DATA Parameter - Chloride Factor DF Staa Of Squares Mean Square F Significance S ta tion 2 0.27 0.14 0.37 NS Date 3 185.57 61.86 173.39 S Sta. & Date 6 2.64 0.44 1.23 NS Error 40 14.27 0.36 Parameter - Sulfate Station 2 5.26 2.63 0.41 NS
, Date 3 181.17 60.39 9.42 S Sta. 4 Date 6 15.28 2.55 0.40 NS Error 40 256.54 6.41 Parameter - NH3-N Station 6 0.01 0.002 1.31 NS
, Date 3 0.02 0.007 7.73 S Sta. & Date 18 0.04 0.002 2.14 S Error 84 0.08 0.001 Parameter - NO2 + NO3 Station 6 0.08 0.01 2.50 S Date 3 2.58 0.86 170.93 S Sta. & Date 18 0.22 0.01 2.39 S Error 80 0.40 0.005 Parameter Org-N Station 6 0.05 0.01 4.54 S Date 3 0.14 0.05 27.39 S Sta. & Date 18 0.03 0.01 1.13 NS Error 84 0.14 0.002 e
31
Table 3 (continued) Parameter - DG Factor DF Sum Of Squares Mean Square F Significance Station 6 6. 84 1.14 1.14 NS Date 3 1526.80 508.93 640.84 S Sta. & Date 18 45.66 2.54 3.19 S Error 337 267.64 0.79 Parameter - Dissolved Solids Station 2 179.05 89.53 0.41 NS Date 3 31867.31 10622.44 48.34 S Sta. & Date 6 1708.59 284.77 1.30 NS Error 40 8789.29 219.73 I \ Parameter-NonwFilterable Solids Station 2 79.26 39.63 0.45 NS Date 3 753.44 251.15 2.84 S Sta. & Date 6 183.80 30.63 0.35 NS Error 40 3535.25 88.38 - Paranneter - Conductivity , Station 6 1650.53 275.09 5.92 S Date 3 137310.91 45770.30 984.96 S Sta. & Date 18 5609.61 311.65 6.71 S Error 337 15660.18 46.47 Parameter - BOD-5-Day Station 2 1.42 0.71 2.0 NS Date 3 18.57 6.19 17.37 S Sta. & Date 6 2.94 0.49 1.37 s Error /0 14.25 0.36 Parameter - COD Station 2 27.27 13.64 3.69 S. Date 3 255.75 85.25 23.04 S Sta. & Date 6 45.50 7.58 2.05 NS Error 40 148.0 29.87 e 32
Table 3 (continued) Parameter - pH Factor D Sum Of Squares Mean Square F Significance S,ta tion 6 2.18 0.36 2.22 NS Date 3 8.76 2.92 17.90 S-Sta. & Date 18 13.48 0.75 4.59 S Error 315 51.38 'O.16 Parameter - Total Alkalinity Station 6 342.61 57.10 2.53 S Date 3 3595.74 1198.58 53.17 S Sta. & Date 18 1163.15 64.62 2.87 S Error 84 1893.49 22.54 4 eh a 33
IV. RESULTS OF AQUATIC BIOLOGICAL MONITORING (NONFI:23ERIES CHAPTER)
~
Introduction Aquatic biological communities selected for detecting biological changes in Wheeler Reservoir attributable to operation of BFNP are phyto-plankton, zooplankton, and benthos. Samples have been collected quarterly since January 1969, usually during January, April, July, and October, at eight stations. These stations are shown in figure 1 and are as follows: Tennessee River Mile controls 307.52 301.06 295.87 Below BENP , 293.70 291.76 288.78 283.94~ 277.98 This is the tenth report summarizing. water quality and biologi-cal conditions in Wheeler Reservoir since BFNP began operation and , includes data for winter, spring, summer, and fall of 1980. Biological data from previous reports are compared to 1980 data, where appropriate. These data are compared with data collected before operation begar.. Specific data from five downstream stations are compared to three upstream stations to determine whether changes have occurred in aquatic biological communities as a result of operating BFNP. Benthic samples were collected randomly at each station. Phytoplankton samples were collected at specific depths in the river channel while zooplankton were collected throughout the water column at e
' 34
9 the same locations at each station. Although BFNP was not operational during portions of this monitoring period due to repairs, the biological monitoring continued as planned. Standard operating procedures for all sample collection and laboratory methods are on file in TVA's Division of Water Resources, Western Area Of fice, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Specifications and bases (i.e. , reasons for monitoring) concerning the biological monitoring program can be found in the Environmental Technical Specifications for BFNP. Phytoplankton
.. ag Abundance--The frequency of occurrence of phytoplankton densities in increments of 10 cells / liter at both upstream and downstream stations before and during operation of BFNP is shown in figure 7. These results are also shown in percentage increments of 500,000 cells / liter in table 4.
Winter, spring, summer, and f all samples were used to establish a frequency range for the entire preoperational monitoring phase (tabic 4 and figure 7). Operational data for fall of 1973 and all seasons during 1974 through 1980 are combined for the same reason. At this time, four years and three quarters of preoperational averaged observations are compared with seven years and one quarter of operational averaged observations. Table 4 and figure 7 show that for the entire sampling period from the fall of 1968 to present, cell densities were more during operational sampling than during preoperational sampling, both upstream
. and downstream from BFNP and the increase was proportional for the 35
.- .- .- - _- -... n . - - ~ . . . - , . . - _ . . . . - - .. . _~- . . . -
a 4 g t. . Table 4 i a TOTAL PHYTortANETON NUMBERS . FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE IN INCREMENTS OF 500,000 CEl,LS/ LITER , (DATA TAKEN FROM FICURE 7) l Ranae Croups (cells /l) x 106 (Percentage Occurrence) ' 0.5.5-11-1.51.5-22-2.52.5-33-3.53.5-44-4.54.5-55-5.55.5-66-6.56.5-77-7.57.5-88-8.58.5-99-9.59.5-10 72 Preoperacional , Control 48 26 9 6 4 2 4 2 , . Operational - Control 30 28 9 6 8 6 2 2 I I 2 1 i 3 1'
' Presperational-Downstream 27 31 10 6 11 8 1 1 1 2 1 1
'OP erational Downstream 25 10 8 6 7 4 1 6 3 3 2, 1 3 1- 2 1 -l ! 12
' %s e
i e 4 g D
IS " PM 0PIRAT10NAL-CONTROL CALL MAS (NS3 I 29" j IS" e 5 g'"* 30 " PREOPERATIONAt.-BELOU DFNP
<: [ALL SEASONS 3 29 "
co -
- . . i _
l 8 38 " OPERATIONAL-CONTROL
' I%LL SEASONS 31974-19885 g ,
- ALSO INCLUDES FALL, 19731 i
l M 1s- - ( i g , i I i I , .___, --r ,__. n La. 38 " - 36 OPERATIONAL-BELOV BFNP TALL SEASONS 31074-1908 A ALSD INCLtA)ES FALL,19731 23 -A IS" - i C r-
'18.9 1 1.5 I
2.0 I I I I I I I I 3.8 4.8 S.5 6.8 7.0 8.8 9.8 18.8 MILLION PHYTOPLANKTON CELLS FICURE 7 FREQUENCY OF PHYTOPLANKTON ASUNDANCE ABOVE APC OELOW OR0WNS FERRY MJCLEAR PLANT MFORE AND DURING OPERATION l 37
control and downstream areas. The increase f rom upstream to downstream is mainly due to a longer retention time caused by water pooling in the forebay area of Wheeler Reservoir downstream of BFNP. The pooled area extends farther upstream at times, depending upon existing flow character-istics. Therefore, greater cell densities exist farther downstream toward Wheeler Dam where the environment is more adapted to algal production. Winter and spring phytoplankton standing crops have been similar through the entire monitoring period at areas both upstream and downstream of BFNP because the water is homogenously mixed by seasonal flow regulations and lack of temperature stratification. Cell counts during the winter of 1980 were low and comparable to those during 1976 and 1978 above and below BFNP during the winter months. Nutrient concen-trations have not been unusually high during any of the years f rom 1968- - 1980, and the water was colder during the winter of 1976 through 1979 (approximately 42 F in 1976, 40 F in 1977, 41"F in 1978 and 1979) and warmer during the winter of 1980 (44-46 F). Secchi disc measurements were over 1 meter in r.ast locations in 1977 thus allowing for excellent light penetration, less than 1 meter in 1976, 1978, 1979, and ranged from 0.75 meter at the upstream stations to 1.50 meters at the downstream stations in 1980. Spring phytoplankton samples of 1969, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 averaged over 1 million cells / liter for all stations because of j unusually high ambient water temperatures during these years compared to other years. Cell densities during 1980 of approximately 0.6 million l l 38 l l
4 cells /l were less than the above operational years but more than the two remaining operational years (1974 and 1975 of approximately 0.2 million cells /1). Surface temperatures of approximately 58"F in 1974 and 54"F in 1975 were less than 64 F in 1976, 69 F in 1977, 63 F in 1978, 65 F in 1979, and 59 F in 1980 in the control area as well as downstream of BFNP and may have suppressed phytoplankton cell production during 1974 and 1975. On the sampling date of April 16, 1980 the inflow and discharge of Wheeler Reservoir were over 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). This was due to 0.70 inches of rain three days prior to sampling and 22.60 inches of rainfall during the three months before sampling. The high flow and relatively low water temperatures are probably the reason for lower phytoplankton numbers in the spring of 1980 than the previous four years. The results are tabularized in appendix C (winter and
; spring phytoplankton tables).
Although annual and seasonal fluctuations have occurred, these have been similar at both downstream and upstream stations; hence, it is concluded that total phytoplankton numbers were not affected by the operation of BFNP during the winter and spring of 1980. Since summer months are typically most critical for thermal effects, more extensive discussion is presented than for other quarters. Phytoplankton samples collected throughout summer monitoring periods of 1969-1980 have shown a larger standing crop of phytoplankton downstreim of BFNP than in the control area except during the nummer of 1978. During 1978 phytoplankton numbers at two control stations were lower than numbers at downstream stations, but the other control had a large i 5 e
- 39 '
Table 5 WHEELER RESERVOIR TEMPERATURES (OF) DURING SUMMER PHYTOPIMKTON SAMPLE PERIODS - 1972-1980 (OF Through Profile) July 5, 1972 Depth TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM (ft.) 277.98 283.94 288.78 291.76 293.70 295.87 301.06 307 52 (0907)* (1059)* (1351)* (1747)* (1615)* (1515)* -(1416)* 3 78 79 78 (1330)* 78 78 78 78 78 10 78 78 77 - ** 78 78 77 78 16 78 78 77 78 78 78 77 78 23 -- 78 78 30 -- 77 33 78 -- 39 -- 77 46 77 July 9, 1973 (0815)* (0930)* (1105)* (1130)* (1350)* (1425)* (1330)* (1605)* . 1 82 83 84 85 84 85 82 83 3 82 83 84 84 84 84 81 83 10 82 83 83 -- 83 83 81 83 16 82 83 82 82 83 83 81 83 23 81 82 82 30 -- 82 33 -- 81 49 80 July 8, 1974 (0955)* (0855)* (1030)* (1118)* (1242)* (1310)* (0925)* (1245)* 1 83 83 82 83 85 80 81 3 82 83 81 83 84 83 79 81 5 82 83 80 82 82 82 -- 81 10 82 82 80 81 81 81 79 80 16 81 30 80 80 80 79 80 23 -- 80 80 30 -- 80 33 80 -- 39 78 77 1 46 77
'49 76 40
Table 5 (Cont.) July 7, 1975 Depth TRM ~ TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM (ft.) 277.98 283.94 288.78 291.76 293.70 295.87 301.06 307.52 (1220)* (1155)* (1135)* (1050)* (0945)* (0900)* -(0920)* (1430)* 1 83 82 83 81 81' 81 80 82 3 83 82 82 81 '81 81 80 82 5 -- -- 81 81 81 81 -- 82 10 82 82 81 81 81 81 80 81 16 82 82 81 81 81 80 81 23 -- -- 81 33 82 82 July 1, 1976 (1145)* (1155)* (1055)* (1025)* (1010)* (0950)* (0930)* (0850)* 1 80 79 80 78 78 77 78 77
< 3 79 79 79 78 77 77 78 77 5 79 78 78 78 : 77 77 77 77
. 7 -- --
78 -- - -- -- -- 10 78 78 78 77 77 77 77 77 16 78 78 78 77 77 77 77 77 20 -- -- 78 77 -- -- -- -- 26 78 78 -- -- -- -- -- -- 30 -- 78 77 33 78 36 77 43 77 46 76 49 75 July 12, 1977 (1300)* (1225)* (1206)* (1139)* (1100)* (1033)* (1009)* (0932)* 1 88 87 86 86 84 83 83 83 3 87 85 85 86 83 82 83 83 5 87 85 85 84 83 82 83 83 10 86 85 84 84 83 82 83 83 16 86 85 84 83 82 82 83 83 23 86 85 84 83 82 82 83 83 26 85 -- 83 83 30 84 82 o 31 -- 84 52 78 k o 4 41
i. Table 5 (cont.) . July 5, 1978 , Depth TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM TRM (ft.), 277.98 283.94 288.78 291.76 293.70 295.87 301.06 307.52 (1300)* (1221)* (1152)* (1122)* (1058)* (1028)* (1001)* * (0920)* J 1 89 88 88 86 85 86 84 84 3 88 88 88 85 86 86 84 83 5 88 88 88 85 85 85 84 83 10 86 86 86 85 85 84 84 57 16 86 86 85 85 85 84 84 83 23 85 85 85 85 85 84 84 83 30 85 85 85 33 -- 83 36 84 83 43 83 46 79 July 5, 1979 (1607)* (1532)* (1505)* (1435)* (1200)* (1130)* (0938)* (0852)* 1 83 85 85 84 84 81 80 80 3 83 85 86 84 84 82 80 80 5 83 85 85 84 84 82 80 80 10 33 84 85 82 83 80 80 80 16 82 83 82 82 83 79 80 80 20 -- -- 82 82 -- -- -- -- 23 81 83 81 79 80 80 - 30 81 83 81 33 -- 81 36 80 43 79 July 1, 1980 (1415)* (1333)* (1252)* (1211)* (1114)* (1032)* (0953)* (0857)* 1 85 84 82 81 84 80 81 81 3 84 8,4 82 81 84 80 81 81 5 83 84 82 81 82 80 81 81 10 83 82 81 81 81 79 81 81 16 82 81 81 81 81 80 81 81 23 82 81 79 81 81 80 81 81 30 82 82 36 79 39 78
- Collection times, CDT ,
** Dash indicates measurements were not taken at that depth.
e 42
e bloom of Merismopedia making the average number from control higher than the average number downstream (appendix C). I Phytoplankton abundance in Wheeler Reservoir during the summer of 1978 was over seven times greater than any summer from 1969-1976, over one and a half times greater than 1977 and 1979, and over three times greater than 1980. Increased abundance was likely due to extreme
, summer water temperatures at the times of sample collection and other factorn such as meteorological and hydrological f actors causing ideal growing conditions, especially for cyanophytes. Table 5 shows Wheeler Reservoir temperatures ( F) during summer phytoplankton sampling periods from 1972-1980. Water temperatures in July 1977 and 1978 were the highest since sampling began in 1959. Temperatures averaged over 6 F warmer than the normal July temperature for the past nine years. These were naturally occurring water temperatures since they were observed throughout
- Wheeler Reservoir. On July 5,1978, the water temperature et the time of sample collection was higher upstream of BFNP than dcwnstream at certain locations. Nutrient values (N&P) during July 1977 and 1978 were also low indicating uptake by the abundant phytoplankton.
Since 1979 was a cool wet year, reservoir water temperatures were relatively low and flows relatively high. Surface water temperatures were approximately 4-5 F cooler on July 5, 1979, than they were during 1977 and 1978. However, total phytoplankton numbers downstream of BFNP vere higher during summer of 1979 than during previous years indicating that. factors other than temperature alone contributed to phytoplankton t I J 4 43
t increases in Wheeler Reservoir. The pattern shows an increase from control at TRM 307.52 to the reservoir area downstream of BFNP. . Call densities during 1980 were less than those from 1977-1979 and more than those from 1974-1976. Water temperatures were not extreme during the regular summer sampling period of 1980 dr.e to 0.95 inches of rain the day before sampling,1.65 inches the week before sampling, 15.12 inches during the 30 days prior to sampling, and air temperature in the high 80 F and low 90 F range on the sampling date. However, weather conditions changed extremely immediately following routine sampling as discussed in chapter 7. At least two reasons exist for the downstream increases during summer operational sampling: (1) plant operation or (2) high flows produced velocities in the upstream reach too great for large crops of phytoplankton to develop; however, decreased velocities in the lacustrine portion of Wheeler Reservoir provide favorable conditions, and phytoplank- , ton numbers increase substantially at stations in this reach. Because of the numerous interacting factors, delineation of the exact cause is not possible. Phytoplankton abundance in Wheeler Reservoir during the fall l of 1980 increased from TRM 307.52 to TRM 283.94. Largest densities were in the area downstream from BFNP and these are probably due to the extreme heat wave and low rainfall amounts from the niddle of July until the fall sampling date rather than to operation of BFNP. Composition--Figure S shown percentages of Chrysophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanophyta during winter and spring of each year at both control O 44
e s
~
e s 7 5
^
8 1
~
! mm :
^
T A m i a t w 6 7 8 mg r na P G L B N F 4 n N - nr O ? s RW a I . i - R T O P l N LE fp S LA I B
. (
C B Im 2 r o.
- n. BO C _ 7 9
r. I T 1 W _*. f 2 P m e s
~
l e=l g e d s 3 rP L A p b 7 e
=
- I B C e p I s T A : M t r h l fP n-e u A A m P T Y H
,f
- T Y
H P d T A Y H i m# N F R E T N ( S Y O R l P O N m rSW 1 N O. L I W M7 . M C f C A Y C 3
=OS E L
A C_ l I7 e rS aSRU 4 3 n n rE ( I T p e t Y A 1 u 7 91 s - r u - . t e 2 5 r 0
~ - -
2
~ - -
f - ~ - - - 8 91 I s g e o " S I S es g " I s es e % _ e
E ma- d2 '
- 1
- sfE mx' - i E hsss E !hlu j 5 6E 1_- 93 5 % SE mi-!I
- EE g .a-i igN g
_ % g , _ce gg i g '-- g - ese __ % =a s :,g i yl
- - s 1 as- E y E8 si w m: _ -
_ ;g-hss iss 1- _fa g & & '
- tg u E
g E L - zj ll l E E '
- s1 se a_ G EE -
_ t36 ** SE l a-l i -
- s &_
kssss l< o a i *ds i g '
% Es- s_sgg EI Egg 5
- die
~xt- E ' m.mi.
I
,,,,,G, , .
r4 , 9 t E!l5: aason aaa*a gaaea 30 VIN 33W3d , m le f t
2 . stations and statf ans downstream from BFNP. Larger than usual blue-
; green algal percentages were found during spring of 1977 and 1980 (36 N percent ' upstream and 12 percent ' downstream of BFNP in 1977 and 33 percent '1 3 upstream and 16 percent downstream from F,FNP in 1980) . Usually the
- (-
j: 'I . percentages of blue-greens above and dr enstream from BFNP are similar l during spring but the increase in blue-green populations started earlier
.;- upstream during 1977 and 1980 due to favorable meterological and hydrologi- .?
- j cal conditions. Additional data concerning each station are tabularized j in appendix C (wie.ter and spring percentage tables).
i j Figure 9 shows percentages of Chrysophyta, Chlorophyta, ' and
'i Cyanophyta comprising the phytoplankton community during summer and fall each year at both control stations and stations downstream from BENP.
Largest summer biue-green algal percentages occurred in 1977 (81 percent 1
- upstream of BFNP and 85 percent downstream of BFNP) and 1978 (82 percent upstream of BFNP and 83 percent downstream of BFNP). Percentages of cyanophytes decreased somewhat in 1979 and 1980 during summer and fall seasons. These _ changes were not due to the operation of BFNP because u
changes were similar up- and downstream of BFNP. Additional data concerning ll cach station are tabularized in appendix C (summer and fall percentage
; tables).
i. Diversity--Chrysophyta, Chlorophyta, and cyanophyta are he ' major groups of phytoplankton examined for diversity. An index of
, change based on presence / absence of genera was established within each -
j group for the winter, spring, summer, and fall. The purpose of this n $f e ]- s pc '
. . 47 L
. , - . - = ..~ - w~ . . .-
f j index is to determine whether the genera present and number of ' genera D' ]_ present for each group (Chrysophyta, Chlorophyta, and.Cyanophyta) have , a
] changed because of operation of BFNP.
The index of change formulae and definitions ~ are described by
- Taylor (1975). Figures 10 (winter),11 (spring),12 (sammer), and 13 (fall) show plotted values up- and downstream of BFNP' for each major
~!
group of phytoplankton. - Possible conclusions f rom the resul ts of these
- i ij values are given below in categories a through e:
- a. If the plotted value is normal or above, the index of change is-the same -or greater than before operation of BFNP.
{; b. If the plotted value downstream of BFNP la below normal, the indcx is less than beforc = operation of BFNP (see c or d for final consid ration).
- c. If the plotted value downstream of BFNP is belou normal and the l:
ti:' plotted value for control- is below normal and similar to the plotted
- value below HFNP-- ( 1), the decrease 'in the index is not caused by 4: ,
- operation of BFNP.
- d. If the plotted value downstream of BFNP is below normal and the plotted value for control is above normal and greatly different e
(>1), the-index decrease may be because of operation of BFNP and reeds i to be investigated more thoroughly. L ' c. Whenever the plotted value for control is >l over the plotted value downstream of BFNP .whether above or below normal, the investigator
< ,- assumes the index downstream of BFNP may be changed because of L
operation of BFNP nud needs to be investigated note thoroughly.
- Data plotted in figures 10 through 13 are taken from appendix
~
- 3 C (Genera Diversity by Station for each season). In~no case was the '
b 1 4 48 o -. _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
. CHRYSOPHYTA CHLOROPHYTA CYANOPHYTA
- 7. -
- e. -
s .
- 4. .
3 .
- 2. -
A A 1 .
, e -
NORMAL ,
-i .
-2,
-3 .
-4 .
A BELOW BFNP
-e_ .
-7 .
e CONTROL
.g RESULTS OF WINTER 1980 PHYTOPLANKTON GENERA INDEX OF CHANGE FIGURE 10 S
h, 49
., t
. CHRYSOPHYTA CHLOROPHYTA CYANOPHYTA 1 . .
- a. ,
3-e . 4
+. A ,
3.
- 2. ,
1 A e m - NORMAL
-1 .
-2.
-1.
-4 .
-s. -
3, A BELOW BFNP
-7 .
e CONTROL
-a -
RESULTS OF SPRING 1980 PHYTOPLANKTON GENERA INDEX OF CHANGE FIGURE 11 l
\
I i i . 1 l 50 l
t
. CHRYSOPHYTA CHLOROPHYTA CYANOPHYTA 7.
a.
- s. ~
s. 5. g - 2. I NORMAL _
-i .
-2.
-3.
-4 .
-s .
-6. A BELOW BFNP
~
-7 . e CONTROL
-e RESULTS OF SUMMER 1982 PHYTOPLANKTON CENERA INDEX OF CHACE FIGURE 12 1
1 51
. . CHRYSOPHYTA CHLOROPHYTA CYANOPHYTA 7- . . *\
- a. ,
E . , 4 . ,
- 3. ,
- 2. & ,
3 - A . m NORMAL
- I
-1 -
e .
-2. _
-3. ,
-4 . ,
-s. -
& BELOW BFNP
-6 . ,
o CONTROL 7 ,
-e RESULTS r./ FALL 1973 PHYTOPLANKTON GENERA INDEX OF CHANGE i
l l l FIGURE 13 t I er 52
result in category d or e. From these results, it is concluded that the genera index of change was not affected by operation of BFNP during 1980. Biomass--Biomass or weight was calculated from chlorophyll 3L extraction and is another means of expressing standing crop in a unit volume at a given time. Figure 14 shows biomass comparisons for winter and spring each year and for control stations and stations downstream of BFNP. Additional chlorophyll gt data are shown in appendir C (winter and spring chlorophyll data). Phytoplankton biomass during the winter of 1980 was similar up- and downstream. from BFNP. The relationship between data for control stations and stations downstream of BFNP remains similar due to the normal homogeneity discussed earlier (water hciogeneously mixed by seasonal flow regulations and lack of temperature stratification). Spring seasons of 1976 through 1980 showed higher chlorophyll a concentrations downstream of BFNP than upstream with similar fluctuations occurring at both up- and downstream locations. These results are also reflected in the phytoplankton productivity studies which follow. Figure 15 shows biomass comparisons for summer and fall each year as well as dif ferences between values for control stations and stations downstream of BFNP. The 1978 and 1979 summer results are not shown on this figure because these samples were improperly analyzed. Phytoplankton biomass w.is greater downstream of BFNP than in the control area during summers for the same reasons discussed in the phytoplankton abundance section. Fall 1980 chlorophyll samples collected downstream of
, BFNP showed an increase of 126 percent over samples in the control area.
53 .-
f I This was normal since f all chlorophyll samples are typically larger downstream of BFNP than upstream of BFNP. These results are also reflected . in the phytoplankton productivity studies. Additier.al chlorophyll a data are tabularized in appendix C (summer and fall chlorophyll data). Productivity--Productivity is the rate of accumulation of new , organic matter or stored energy; that is, productivity is the observed f change in biomass plus all losses, except respiration, divided by the i time interval as determined by the carbon-14 method. Figures 16 through 19 show phytoplankton productivity comparisons for preoperational versus operational and upstream area versus downstream of BFNP. Data expressed as milligrams of carbon per square meter per day are available only from winter 1972 to the present; before 1972, solar radiation data were not available for daily calculations of phyto-plankton productivity. The homogeneity of the water mass and the lower productivity values during the winter and spring months are expressed . clearly in figures 16 and 17. High summer and fall values shown in figures 18 and 19 reflect the abundance of phytoplankton typically found in the reservoir forebay area. The 1980 fall values are higher than the summer values at every station except TRM 288.78. This has not occurred since daily productivity values have been recorded starting in 1972 and-is due to the extremely hot weather occurring after the summer samples were taken on July 1,1980, and not the operation of BFNP. Additional pertinent data are tabularized in appendix C (productivity data). Zooplankton Resident Species--Common species are those found during
- I preoperational and operational sampling at every station and are as 54
"ALOW OFNP
- - - CONTROL WINTER 13 - PfEOPERAT 10NAL OPERAT10NAL 5 3 I g n.n to - \
\
\
9 - t
\
'" \
0 -
\ .ee i
\ \ \
4 - g / g
, / E.et 2 ~
u e at y
.31 M = % :.se 1 , I I I l l I I l l 1 SPRING y PREOPERAT10NAL OPERATIONAL
. O 12 -
E
.1 -
8 ' r.: io..e 6 - B- s.es
~
.St g' l l / \ / \
I # % / B.M i 2 -
/
s ,,, ,s f s, ,,
/ N / ,
, 1 I I I I I m l I 1 l 1989 1979 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1995 FICURE 14 CM.OROPHYLL e COMPARISONS SY YEAR BETWEEN CONTROL APO BELOW SFDP FOR VINTER APC SPRINC 1909-1900 l
l l
~
l l l l 55
1 OELOW OFNP .
- - - CONTROL PREOPERATIONAL OPERATIONAL i e i i
12 - IS - l j e - r.se I tt.30 8 - fg e.as l
/ \ / s,gg 4 -
/ \
,g \ f.99 g,gg ,/
r.sa ,r \ - u 2 -
- ~ ~ . . -
, , ,s a
) e I I I i l l l I s
- s. -
s 1 I l FALL ig . PRE 0PERATIONAL. OPERATIONAL g r . . i 8 - 6 - i.es
- r. t /s 4 -
/
s.es f g B.se l 2 - s- #
/
B.35 # s
/
# N
,, ,, f
/
/
6
\
\ /
/
/ \
s i.sr - \ / 8 I I
' ' l' I I i i /" i l l 1989 1978 1971 1972 1975 1974 1975 1978 1977 1978 1979 1900
- FIGURE 15 CHLOROPHYLL e COMPARISONS SY YEAR SETWEEN CONTROL AND l
OELOW BFNP FOR SUMMER AND' FALL 1989-1989 l 56 i
t , . . . . . i - i WINTER BELOW BFNP CONTROL Ben,- e 0PERAT10NN. g GPE(FERATI(BEAL i 525 - .. mx! nun __ O EAN I l 45a - ..nininun ._ l
; .o 375 -
" l a i Em -
l
$ __ i E . 225 - ~ l i
I 15e - i I 75 _ __i .__ 1 X
- l+ * *
- 2 . z z y " "
e 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 88 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 a"s YEAR FICutE 16 PHYTOPLA8eLTON PRODUCTIVITY DURING THE WINTER SEASON
$40 WING PRE 0PERAT10NAL VER9US OPERAT10NAL A80 CEDsinn.
VERSUS BELOW SFNP
SPRING BELOW BFNP CONTROL 2988 - e
.tPERATIONAL g ePREOPERATIONAL --
g 245s -- **I "
.i i mm I I
2 ige - - MINI u l l l l 37se - o i I I 3 i4 -
._ i
$ l y I o isse -
" T i n --
i l 780 - o I
.. m 1 --
1 I r_ 35e - I y I = I ,l I , . I 1 :s a - - - ' - * ' ' ' 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 72 73 74 75 78 77 78 79 83 YEAR FIGutE 17 P WTOPLA8ETON PRODUCTIVITY DURING ThE SPRING SEASON SHOWING PRE 0PERATIONAL YERSUS OPERATIONAL A80 CONTROL VUtSUE ELOW BFNP T
< + . , , ,
so , SMR BELOW BFNP CONTROL 11980 - .
.(PERAT10NAL g l ePREOPERATIONAL i
1e325 - "
- 3' "
l OMEAN l l 8958 - -- MINIPRM i l I 7375 - I _r i O a g a __ d 5900 - l e __ u __ I I W v, 4425 - a m I e
., i
~~
l ' ' 2958 - \ _. i _- t __ __ l l 1475 - " --l o __ o o g ,, __ ga X I o 0 - 72 73 74 75 78 77 78 70 88 72 73 74 75 7S 77 78 79 80 YEAR FIGURE 18 PHTTOPLANETON Pet 000CTIVITY DURIIsc THE SlpeER SEASON SHCNIE PflEOPERATIONAL YERSdS OPERATIONAL AM CONTRG. VERSUS IELOV 0FNP 9 l ___ _ _ _ - - - - _ _ _ - - - _ _ _
A % dn' my 69e %. - AM4anade%' -NH& l l FALL SELOW 8F r CONTROL 8498 - - 0PGtATIONAL g erEE0PetATIONAL l . 7358 - -smxinun g 1 MAN l l esas - -
- niminim ,
I 525s - I E I
.R s
42ee - l _ _ d i E I g 315s - g a 2 ss - I __ l __ tese -
-- l o .,
.T I --
;-_ 7 I g
7 __ l* 7 w r- . __ . 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 70 80 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 M YEMt FICUIE I9 PHfTOPLANKTON Pfl00UCTIVITY OURING TM FALL SEASON SBOWING PHEOPERAT10NAL VDtSUS OPERATIONAL Ate CENTRG. VERSUE BELOW OFNP l l -
follows: 4 cladocerans (Bosaina longirostris, Daphnia retrocurva, Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum, and Leptodora kindtii); 6 copepods (Cyclops bicuspidatus, Cyclops vernalis, Diaptomus pallidus, Diaptomus reithardi, Eucyclops agilis and Mesocyclops edax); and 7 rotifers (Branchionus caudatus, Conochilus unicornis, Keratella cochlearis, Keratella crassa, Brachionus angularis, Brachionus budapestinensis, and Brachionus calyciflorus). Species List--As shown in the zooplankton species identification list table 10 (appendix C) 38 cladoceran, 30 copepod, and 59 rotifer species or genera (not including Lamatures) have been identified in Wheeler Reservoir. Table 11 (appendix C) compares the number or species by major groups (Cladocera, Copepoda, and Rotifera) for precperational versus operational and control versus downstream of BFNP. Table 11, appendix C, indicates that comparable numbers of different species have been found upstream and downstream of BFNP during the operational period of the plant. Enumeration--Table 12, appendix C, shows total zooplankton per cubic meter during the 32 sampling periods from the winter of 1973 through the f all of 1980. In 1980, taoplankton densities were lowest during winter and spring. Compared to 1979, the 1980 zooplankton counts were less during the winter seasons and greater during spring, summer, and fall. Rotifers were dominant throughout each season in the forebay area of the reservoir and most all stations except in the fall upstream of BFNP. Copepods were next in dominance throughout the year due to
. large numbers of nauplii except in the fall. Cladocerans were dominant i .
6
k in the fall due to a large population of Bosmina longirostriq especially f rom TRM 293.70 through 307.52. Based on large and diverse numbers of , zooplankton downstream of BFNP it is doubtful that mortality resulted f rom operation of BFNP. Any ef fects to zooplankton from any short term elevated temperatures are also expected to be reversible. Benthic Macroinvertebrates Corbicula manilensis (Asiatic clam), Hexagenia bilineata (mayfly), Chironomidae (midges), and Oligochaeta (aquatic worns) are the principal taxa of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in Wheeler Reservoir. Since these organisms spend most of their life cycle in a localized area, they are excellent biological indicators of environmental stress. Corbicula man 11ensis--Corbicula has a semiplanktonic larval r stage followed by a benthic adult stage of four to seven years. Adult Corbicula are motile but have a very localized individual range. Figures . 20, 21, 22, and 23 show Corbicula densities by years and stations. These figures also present both comparisons of control versus stations I downstream of BFNP as well as preoperational versus operational. These data are tabularized in appendix C. Corbicula densities during the last l ! four years (1977-1980) have shown decreases up- and downstream of BFNP. Periodic Asiatic clam die-offs have been observed in Wheeler Reservoir during the past ten years with more observations occurring during the past four years. In these dying clams, the adductor muscles relax, the hinge ligament forces the shell open, and the sof t body i I separates f rom the shell. Cases produced by bacterial decay give buoyancy l t 62
F to the body which rises to the surface where it is carried downstream or
~
washed ashore by wind or wave currents. During 1980 far more clam die-off reports necessitating investigations were received than in previous
, years from throughout the Tennessee Valley.
It is assumed that when clams reach a certain age and when population levels reach a certain stage, they become more susceptible to bacterial disease. Also, die-offs occur most of ten when clams are -less resistant to disease during periods of stress, such as rapidly rising water temperatures and decreasing dissolved oxygen levels in the lower depths in the late spring through fall OHay-september). It had been previously thought that since these die-offs occur every year, they have had virtually no impact on Corbicula population levels. However, the population decline since 1977 is evidenced by Wheeler Reservoir benthic data, and a noticable increase in reported die-offs throughout the Tennessee Valley during 1980 indicates otherwise. Since the declining trend is apparent both up- and downstream of BFNP, it is concluded that the operation of the plant has not affected the Corbicula population in Wheeler Reservoir. Hexagenia bilineata--Extreme seasonal variability is expected in Hexagenia populations because each summer nymphs emerge from the water to become adults and lay eggs, and a new generation hatches and nymphs become established in late summer or early f all. Figures 24, 25, 26, and 27 show Heyngenia densities by years and river miles and distinguish between control versus downstream of
. BFNP and preoperational versus operational. Additional Hexagenia datn s
( .i: '63 >
e ,'
'l are tabularized in appendix C. Since 1969, Hexagenia densities peaked in Wheeler Reservoir during 1975 and 1976 and have generally declined ,
from then through 1979. Hexagenia densities during the summer of 1976 were the largest in Wheeler Reservoir since sampling began in 1969. The 1980 summer population was the largest since the summer of 1976 and spring of 1977. Hexagenia densities were not affected by BFNP during 1980 because of large and healthy population levels found in Hexagenia habitats. Chironomidae--Genera conunon in Wheeler Reservoir benthos include: Ablabesmyia, Coelotanypus, Procladius, Chironomus, Cryptochironomus, Xenochironomus, Parachironomus, Epoicocladius and Glyptotendipes. Figures 28, 29, 30, and 31 show Chironomidae densities by years and stations and distinguish between control versus downstream of BFNP and preoperational versus operational data. Chironomid densities during ' 1980 were similar to those of 1979. These data are tabularized in appendix C (Chironomid data). Chironomidae densities were not affected by the operation of BFNP during 1980, as indicated by large numbers found downstream of BFNP during operation as shown in figures 28, 29, 30, and 31. Chironomid densities are consistently greater downstream of BFNP (figures 28 and 30) compared to low densities observed at stations upstream of BFNP. Oligochaeta--Aquatic earthworms are abundant in Wheeler Reservoir l l' and occur in clumped distributions wherever silty substrate and organic detritus are available. Mixed populations of Limnodrilus claparedianus and Branchiura sowerbyi are normally collected together, and these two species are combined as an oligochaete indicator. . i I - l 64
Figures 32, 33, 34, and 35 show seasonal 011gochaeta densities
-l . . ,l by year and station and compare control versus downstream of BFNP and preoperational versus operational. From 1972 through 1976 011gochaeta densities were greater than densities during the first three years (1969-1971). During 1977 densities declined both up- and downstream of BFNP to the 1evels observed prior to 1972.
The 1978 and 1979 atmples indicated an increase ove- 1977 densities. The 1980 sample levels were the lowest recorded since sampling began in 1969, but the densities downstream of BFNP as compared to the control area are similar during 1978-1980. Therefore, oligochaetes were not af fected by operation of BFNP during 1980. O E I +.. < e 9
)
65
BELow arNP .
- - - CONTROL
..........ALL 9TATIONS ESS 480 vlNTER MEOPERATIONAL OPERAT10NAL ggg .
i i
----- . ,- ~ ' ...... ,,,__
q ,ge . s 1 I I I l' I I I I 7 - 9 'l 1
<l See -
4eo - SPRING PREOPERATIONAL OPERAT10NAL - i
" ~
%s......... o...... ,,,,,...................... , , , ,
~ ,, ..,
Ise - N, , __, , , s I l l l ' f~ l I I I 'i"C T.P i 0 1909 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1900 FIGURE 28 CORGICIAA DENSITY INUMOER/m2) BY YEAR FOR VINTER AND SPRING 1 (:f) { i
6 SN - 4ee - OPERATIONAL 1985
~
y , BELOW SF W *---
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O!'ERATIONALel983 l Ogg K LOW BFNP +---
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V. RESULTS OF FISHERIES MONITORING Introduction and Methods Fisheries monitoring investigations were designed and imple-mented to determine possible plant impacts to Wheeler Reservoir fish populations. Potential ef fects of the BFNP intake and thermal discharge were assessed by estimating impingement and entrainment in addition to determining impacts on fish occurrence, distribution, relative abundance, movement, standing stocks, and sport fish harvest. Specific descriptions of sample gear, stations, and procedures are outlined in the Browns Ferry Preoperational Monitoring Report (May 1978), available from the Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Branch, Knoxville, Tennessee. Quarterly gill net samples were collected at four stations in the vicinity of BFNP. Trap nets were fished at three 2tations during winter, spring, and fall quarters. Catches from both gear types provide data for determining species composition, relative abundance, seasonal occurrence and distribution. Selected species from trap net catches were tagged and released to determine movement patterns in relation to the thermally influenced area of the reservoir, and to provide specimens for radiological analysis. Cove rotenone samples collected during late August and early September each year estimated standing stocks and assessed potential changes in fish populations, species composition and spawning success. A weekly creel census was conducted to cstablish catch rates, species composition, hours of fishing pressure and recapture of tagged fish from six designated areas in Wheeler Reservoir. Larval fish samples were collected weekly during March-August from two transects in Wheeler Reservoir and from the intake basin of . e 82
l BFNP. Species composition and distribution data on fish eggs and larvae in the reservoir were compared to data collected prior to plant operation to describe normal yearly variation and assess effects of plant operation. This was the third year in which 3-unit plant operation was maintained for the majority of the period when fish eggs and larvae were present in the reservoir. Weekly counts of all fish impinged on each plant intake screen during a 24-hour period were made. Estimates of total number of fish impinged on intake screens permits an assessment of fish losses from normal plant operation. O e D 83
Results and Discussion Gill Net Results Gill nets were selected as the principal gear for assessing impacts of BFNP cn the adult fishery in Wheeler Reservoir. Baseline preoperational and operational gill net data have been collected since 1969. These investigations have provided seasonal abundance and species composition data for adult fish in the vicinity of BFNP. A total of 5,999 fish (26 species) weighing 2,191 kgs was collected in gill nets from four sampling statior e during 1980. The 1980 catch increased 23 percent in number and 21 percent in biomass over the 1979 catch. Total catch by quarter at all stations combined was: Winter - 449 fish weighing 185.51 kgs Spring - 1834 fish weighing 631.24 kgs Summer - 2,006 fish weighing 649.56 kgs - Fall - 1,710 fish weighing 724.91 kgs Quarterly gill net data for 1980 are shown in tables 6 through
- 21. Tables 22 through 25 compare preoperational and operational data summarized by quarter at stations 1 through 4.
Data analysis revealed five species; gizzard shad, skipjack herring, freshwater drum, channel catfish, and sauger were abundant (in number and biomass) in all quarters. Total gill net catch during 1980 was dominated by gizzard shad and skipjack herring. Gizzard shad were 24 percent of the total number and 12 percent of total biomass, while , skipjack herring comprised 20 and 22 percent of total number and biomass, respectively. Winter quarter catch (tables 6-9 ) was dominated by skipjack herring (42 percent of total number and 44 percent of biomass). Spring . 84
. TABLE 6 GILL NET CATCH STATION I, TRM 293.0 WINTER QUARTER, JANUARY 22-25, 1980, 40 NET NIGHTS-Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.)
Spotted gar 1 '0.0250 1.26 0.0315 Gizzard shad 2 0.0500 0.15 0.0037 Skipjack herring 26 0.6500 10.67 0.2667 Spotted sucker 3 0.0750 1.56 0.0390 hogsucker 1 0.0250 0.27 0.0067 Freshwater drum 1 0.0250 0.27 0.0067 Redear sunfish 3 0.0750 0.38 0.0095 Sauger 18 0.4500 8.73 0.2182 Total 55 1.3750 23.29 0.5820 9 9 m I e 85
. - -- .. . . -. - - - . _ =
i . TABLE 7 i . GILL NET CATCH STATION II, TRM 299.0 WINTER QUARTER, JANUARY 15-18, 1980, 40 NET NICHTS-1 Species. No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) c/E (ut.) Gizzard chad 25 0.6250 5.36 0.1340 Skipjack herring 31 0.7750 12.87' O.3217 Mooneye 47 1.1750 10.96 0.2740 Spotted sucker 1 0.0250 0.45 0.0112 Silver redhorse 2- 0.0500 1.10 'O.0275 l Golden redhorse 11 0.2750 6.19 0.1547-Blue catfish 1 0.0259 0.90 0.0225 Channel catfish 39 0.9750 24.88 0.6220 $. Freshwater drum 8 0.2000 1.57 0.0392 White bass' 5 0.1250 1.93 0.0482 i Sauger 33 0.8250 0.3802 15.21_ Total 203 5.0750 81.42 2.0352 1 I m 4
- +
, 86
,. TAHl.E 8
- CILL NET CATCH STATION 111. TRM 294.0 WINTER QUARTER, JANUARY 15-18, 1980, 3 NET NICHTS
. Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.)
Skipjack herring .1 0.3333 0.40 Spotted sucker 0.1333 1 0.3333 0.65 0.2167 White crappie 0.3333 1 0.18 0.0600 Total- 3 o,9999 1.23 0.4100 I t w 9 i 4 b
, 87 i
#- p --w y em+. g., + s'rm._.,.v-,
_- _ . . - -_ .-. . _ . - ~ - TABLE 9 GILL NET CATCH STATION IV. TRM 294.0 . (HEATED DISCHARGE) WINTER QUARTER, JANUARY 22-25, 1980, 12 NET NIGHTS Species No. (fish) C/E (fishl Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.1 Cizzard shad 14 1.1667 3.12 Skipjack herring 0.2600 133 11.0833 57.64 4.8033
- Mooneye 0.0833 1
0.23 0.0192 Blue catfish 11 0.9167 4.19 0.3492 Channel catftsh 2 0.1667 1.54 Freshwater drum 0.1283 2 0.1667 .48 0.0400 White bass 3 0.2500 1.36 Sauger 0.1133 22 1.8333 11.01
. 0.9175 Total 188 15.6667 79.57 6.6308 l
1 e r 4 i O 88
TABLE 10 GILL NET CATCH STATION I. TRM 293.0 SPRING QUARTER, MAY 20-23, 1980, 36 NET NIGHTS _ Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.) Longnose gar 4 0.1111 6.27 0.1742
- Spotted gar 11 0.3056 11.52 0.3200 Gizzard shad 92 2.5556 19.27 0.5353 Skipjack herring 10 0.2778 4.82 0.1339 Hooneye 2 0.0556 0.58 0.0161 Spotted sucker 4 G.1111 1.46 0.0406 Colden redhorse 22 0.6111 15.51 0.4308 Blue catfish 26 0.7222 11.01 0.3058 Channel catfish 101 2.8056 70.21 1.9503 Flathead catfish 2 0.0556 0.62 0.0172 Freshwater drum 99 2.7500 21.82 0.6061 White bass 4 0.1111 1.32 0.0367 Yellow bass 1 0.0278 0.20 0.0056 Bluegill 12 0.3333 1.08 0.0300 Redear sunfish 25 0.7222 3.13 0.0869 Largemouth bass 0.1944 7 2.54 0.0706 White crappie 15 0.4167 3.75 0.1042 Sauger 12 0.3333 5.60 0.1556 Total 450 12.5001 180.71 5.0199 t
I l 4 l l l . 1 . I 89
i TABLE 11 CILL NET CAICH STATION II. TRM 299.0 - SPRING QUARIER, APRIL 22-25, 1980, 40 NET NIGliTS Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.) Longnose gar 6 0.1500 6.79 0.1697 Spotted gar 2 0.0500 2.13 0.0532 Gizzard shad 132 3.3000 26.56 0.6640 Skipjack herring 12 0.3000- 4.89 0.1222 Mooneye , 12 0,3000 3.22 0.0805 i Spotted sucker 4 0.1000 1.45 0.0362 Sfiver redhorse 7 0.1750 4.39 0.1097 Colden redhorse 49 1.2250 31.42 0.7855 Blue catfish 8 0.2000 4.90 0.1225 Channel catfish 22 0.5500 13.16 0.3290 Flathead catfish 1 0.0250 0.40 0.0100 Freshwater drum 16 0.4000 3.62 0.0905 White bass 15 0.3750 4.83 0.1207 Yellow bass 3 0.0750 0.65- 0.0162 Bluegill 1 0.0250 0.10 0.0025 Redear sunfish 4 0.1000 0.70 0.0175 White crappie 1 0.0250 0.30 0.0075 Black crappie 1 0.0250 -0.22 0.0055 Sauger 14 0.3500 8.16 0.'040 . Total 310 7.7500 117.89 2.9469 e l i O
. 90
d 4 r TABLE 12 GILL NET CATCH STATION III, TRM 294.0 SPRING QUARTER, MAY 13-16, 1980, 40 NET NIGHTS i Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.) Cizzard shad 320 8.0000 58.86 Skipjack herring 1.4715 27 0.6750 13.55 0.3381 Mooneye 28 0.7000 Spotted sucker 7.15 0.1787 8 0.2000 3.00 0.0750 Silver redhorse 11 0.2750 5.52 0.1380 Golden redhorse 62 1.5500 44.94 Blue catfish 1.1235 88 2.2000 34.46 0.8615 Channel catfish 96 2.4000 47.51 Flathead c,atfish 1.1877 1 0.0250 0.25 0.0062 Freshwater drum 105 2.6250 22.13 White bass 0.5532 4 0.1000 1.40 4 Bluegill 0.0350 2 0.0500 0.21 0.0052 Redear sunfish 14 0.3500 2.31 White crappie 0.0577 1 0.0250 '0.20 0.0050 Sauger 13 0.3250 7.12 _0.1780 Total 780
, 19.5000 248.61 6.2149'
'l O ( l l
, 91 I
- _ - __ - . - =.
TAHLK 13 J CILL NET CATCH STATION IV TRM 20'. .0 - (HEATED DISCHARGE) SPRING QUARTER, MAY 28-30, 1980, 15 NET NIGilTS i )
- Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.)
Gizzard shad 40 2.6667 7.94 0.5293 Skipjack' herring 3 0.2000 1.84 0.1227 . Mooneye 1 0.0667 0.27 0.0180 Colden redhorse 1 0.0667 1.65 0.1100 Blue catfish 15 1.0000 6.57 0.4380 Channel catfish 26 1.7333 15.37 1.0247 Flathead catfish 1 0.0667 0.23 0.0153 I
' Freshwater drum 201 13.4000 .46.65 3.1100 Snuger ,, 6 0,.,4,000 3,. 51_ 0.2340 Total 294 19.6001 84.03 5.6020 l
4 s I i i d I e 92
, TABLE 14 GILL NET CATCH STATION I TRM 293.0 SUMMER QUARTER, AUGUST 12-15, 1980, 30 NET NIGHTS Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.)
Spotted gar 2 0.0667 1.62 0.0540 Gizzard shad 62 1.0667 11.60 Skipjack herring 0.3867 16 0.5333 5.53 Mooneye 0.1843 28 0.9333 7.77 Spotted sucker 0.2590 2 0.0667 1.08 0.0360 Smallmouth buffalo 2 0.0667 2.44 Colden redhorse 0.0813 10 0.3333 8.91 0.2970 Blue catfish 14 0.4667 5.38 Channel catfish 0.1793 35 1.1667 20.53 0.6843 Flathead catfish 3 0.1000 1.53 Freshwater drum 0.0510 8 0.2667 2.74- 0.0913 White bass 9 0.3000 Bluegill 2.24 0.0747 8 0.2667 0.78 Redear sunfish 0.0260 15 0.5000 2.55 Largemnuth bass 0.0850 1 0.0333 0.10 0.0031 White crappie 14 0.4667 Sauger 2.88 0.0960
'h
_3 0.1000 __2_.16 0.0720 Total 232 7.7334 79.84 2.6613 4 93
i l 1 l TABLE.15 1
~ ~
CILL NET CATCH STATION II TRM 299.0 SUMMER QUARTER, JULY 9-11, 1980, 39 NET NIGHTS S2 ecien No. .(fishl C_/,E.,(f_ish) Wt .,jkg
, C/_r. (wt,.J .
Longnose gar 13 0.3333 46.39 1.1895 ! Spotted gar 3 0.0769 2.80 0.0718 l Gizzard. shad 98 2.5128 20.22 0.5185 Skipjack herring 55 1.4103 23.83 'O.6110 Mooneye 92 2.3590 21.30 0.5462 Spotted sucker 9 0.2308 3.93. 0.1008 ^ Shorthead redhorse 1 0.0256 0.48 0.0123 Colden redhorse 45 1.1538 .25.59 0.6562 Blue catfish 4 0.1026 1.55 0.0397
- ~ Channel catfish 26 0.6667 17.12 0.4390 Flathead catfish 5 0.1282 1.55 0.0397-Freshwater drum 33 0.8462 7.78 0.1995 White bass 5 0.1282 1.15 0.0295 i Yellow bass 3 0.0769 0.64 0.0164 Striped bass 0.0256 0.80 1
0.0205 i Bluegill 2 0.0513 0.16 0.0041 Redcar sunfish 13 0.3333 1.82 0.0467 j Sauger 6 0.1538 3.52- 0.0903 j Total 414 10.6154 180.63 4.6315 J 4 O 9 dB 94 i
. _ - _ . .- - -. _ . - . . . - - . - - _ - - , - . . _ , - . . c --.
TABLE 16 GILL NET CATCH STATION III, TRM 294.0 SUMMERQUApTER, AUGUST 5-8, 1980, 40 NET NIGHTS, Species, No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/_E_(wt . ), Spotted gar 13 0.3250 10.54 0.2635 Gizzard shad 553 13.8250 93.97 2.3492 Skipjack herring 222 5.5500 97.41 2.4352 Mooneye 166 4.1500 Spotted sdeker 39.94 0.9985 3 0.0750 1.85 0.0462 Smallmouth buffalo 1 0.0250 1.26 0.0315 Colden redhorse 14 0.3500 13.12- 0.3280 Blue catfish' 17 0.4250 5.76 0.1440
' Channel catfish 55 1.3750 30.63 -0.7657 Flathead catfish 1 0.0250 0.40 0.0100 Freshwater drum 91 2.2750 20.49 White bass 0.5122 21 0.5250 5.73 0.1432 Yellow bass 2 0.0500 0.47 Bluegill 0.0117 1 0.0250 0.10 0.0025 Redear 6 0.1500 0.82 0.0205 White crappie 24 0.6000 3.87
-Sauger 0.0967 16 0.4000 10.63 0.2657 Total 1,206 30.1500
. 336.98 8.4246 3 4 -r O i 9 95
TABLE 17 GILL NET CATCH STATION IV, TRM 294.0 (HEATED DISCl!ARGE) SUMMER QUARTER, AUGUST 12-15, 1980, 19 NET NIGilrS Species No. (fisy C/E (field _ W t,., _(k ),3, C/E (wt.), Spotted gar 1 0.0526 0.72 0.0379 Cizzard shad 14 0.7368 2.95 0.1553 Skipjack herring 11 0.5789 4.94 0.2600 Mooneye 57 3.0000 14.41 0.7584 Smallmouth buffalo 1 0.0526 2.32 0.1221 Golden redhorse 3 0.1579 3.63 0.1911 Blue catfish 26 1.3684 7.70 0.4053 Channel catfish 15 0.7895 5.33 0.2805 Freshwater drum 10 0.5263 2.17 0.1142 White bass 7 0.3684 2.54 0.1337 Bluegill 2 0.1053 0.25 0.0132 Sauger 7 0.3684 5.15 0.2711_ Total 154 8.1053 52.11 2.7426 O l 6 e 96
V TABLE 18 GILL NET CATCH STATION I, TRM 293.0 FALL QUARTER, NOVEMBER 1980, 37 NET NIGHTS S2ecies No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.) Spotted gar 2 0.0541 Gizzard shad 2.63 0.0711 24 0.6486 4.84 Skipjack herring 0.1308 343 9.2703 123.17 3.3289
- Mooneye 17 Spotted sucker 0.4595 4.58 0.1238 17 '0.4595 8.93 Golden redhorse 0.2414 24 0.6486 22.75 Blue catfish 0.6149 8 0.2162 3.03 Channel catfish 0.0819 20 0.5405 9.23 Flathead catfish 0.2495 2 0.0541 0.92 Freshwater drum 0.0249 9 0.2432 2.11 White base 0.0570 12 0.3243 4.19 Yellow bass 0.1132 19 0.5135 3.87 Bluegill 0.1046 1 0.0270 0.10 0.0027 Redear sunfish 7 0.1892 Smallmouth bass 0.98 0.0265 2 0.0541 0.28 Spotted bass 0.0076 2 'O.0541 White crappie 0.59 0.0159 2 0.0541 Sauger 0.57 0.0154 50 1.3514 24.84 0.6713 Total 561 15.1623 217.61 5.8813 A
9 97
l TABLE 19 GILL NET CATCH STATION II TRM 299.0 FALL QUARTER, NOVEMBER 1980, 34 NET NIGHTS Species No. (fish) _C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C[E, _,(w t .), Spotted gar 3 0.0882 2.67 0.0785 Gizzard shad 54 1.5882 10.92 0.3212 Skipjack herring 66 1.9412 24.09 0.7085 , Mooneye 108 3.1765 26.21 0.7709 Spotted sucker 19 0.5588 10.43 0.3068 Smallmouth buffalo 1 0.0294 1.36 0.0400 Golden redhorse 115 3.3824 88.43 2.6009 Channel catfish 38 1.1176 21.08 0.6200 Freshwater drum 3 0.0882 ' O.56 0.0165 White bass 9 0.2647 2.78 0.0818 Yellow bass 2 0.0588 0.35 0.0103 Redear sunfish 13 0.3824 2.12 0.0624 Spotted bass 0.0294 0.40 1 0.0118-White crappie 1 0.0294 0.25 0.0074 l Sauger. 4 0.1176 1.68 0.049_4 Total 437 12.8528 193.33 5.6864 e d D 98
TABLE 20 CILL NET CATCH STATION III, TRM 294.0 FALL QUARTER, NOVEMBER 1980, 40 NET NIGHTS Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.). Gizzard shad 15 0.3750 3.76 0.0940 Skipjack herring 114 2.8500 51.42 1.2855 Mooneye 7 0.1750 1.93 0.0482 Carp 1 0.0250 0.56 0.0140 Spotted sucker 24 0.6000 13.63 0.3407 Golden rednorse 25 0.6250 24.50 0.61?5 Blue catfish 10 0.2500 3.22 0.0805 Channel catfish 10 0.2500 4.83 0.1207 Freshwater drum 21 0.5250 4.18 0.1045 White bass 5- 0.1250 1.48 0.0370 Bluegill 2 0.0500 0.20 0.0050 Redear sunfish 17 0.4250 2.03 0.0507 Smallmouth bass 3 0.0750 0.51 0.0127 Largemouth bass 2 0.0500 0.68 0.0170 White crappie 8 0.2000 3.51 0.0877 Sauger 148 3.7000 66.56 1.6640 Total - 412 10.3000 183.00 4.5747 e 4 1 m 4 99
TABLE 21 < CILL NET CATCH STATION IV, TRM 294.0 (HEATED DISCHARGE)- FALL QUARTER, NOVEMBER 1980, 16 NET NIGHTS l Species No. (fish) C/E (fish) Wt. (kg) C/E (wt.) Gizzard shad 5 0.3125. 1.06 0.0662 , Skipjack herring 123 7.6875 46.61 2.9131 Spotted sucker 2 -0.1250 1.04 0.0650 Colden redhorse 1 0.0625' 1.55 0.0969 Blue catfish 40 2.5000 16.36 1.0225
- Channe1' catfish 4 0.2500 2.61 0.1631 4
' Freshwater drum 1 0.0625 0.22 0.0137 White bass 3 0.1875 1.10 0.0687 Sauger 121 7.5625 60.42 3.7762 Total 300 18.7500 130.97 8.1854 4 9 I L 4
~
T
, 100
, m,.. ,,.c , , - .-
TABI.E 22
SUMMARY
OF WINTER QUARTER GILL NET CATCH (TOTAL FIS11)
.PREOPERATIONAL (1969-1973) AND OPERATIONAL (1974-1980)
Preoperational (Values = i for 1969-1973) Operational iN N Station (fish) SE C/E _i_jgt SE Station Year (fish) C/E Wt kg C/E I 10.05 4.63 3.50 1.91 1 1974 418 10.45 165.53 4.14' 1975 308 8.10 137.46 3.62 1976 253 6.32 90.09 2.26 1977 594 14.85 185.74 19.49 1978 -416 10.40 93.75 2.34 1979 420 10.50 95.56 2.39 1980 .55 1.38 23.29 0.58 11 10.09 1.17 3.84 0.61 11 1974 231 6.42 96.03 2.67 1975 NO SAMPLE 1976 433 10.62 10.82 3.36 1977 39 1.39 12.19 0.44 1978 45 1.61 14.44 0.52 1979 78 2.17- 32.12 0.89 1980 203 5.08 81.42 -2.04 III 8.14 4.06 3.09 1.55 III 1974 292 7.30 124.41 3.11 1975 414 10.61 161.95 4.15 1976 151 3.77 47.15 1.18 1977 40 1.67 12.78 0.65 1978 22 '1.22 7.87 0.43 1979 13 0.35 5.71 1.54 1980 3 1.00 1.23 0.41 IV 1975 38 1.90 13.09 0.65 1976 160 8.00 55.24 2.76 1977 406 25.37 147.02 9.19 1978 239 11.95 117.05 5.85 1979 211 13.19 94.16 5.89 1980 188 15.67 79.57 6.63 4 101
TABLE 23 SUPSARY t.T SPRING QUARTER GILL NET CATCH (TOTAL FISH) ~ PREOPERAT10NAL (1969-1973) AND OPERATIONAL (1974-1980) Preoperational (Values = i for 1969-1973) Operational iN N Station (fish) SE C/E j_kg SE Station Year (fish) C/E Wt kg C/E I 18.83 3.92 6.05 0.80 I 1974 985 24.62 269.18 6.73 1975 997 26.24 285.57 7.51 2 1976 1344 33.60- 435.75 10.89 1977 376 9.40 140.26 3.51 1978 932 23.90 360.97 9.26 1979 628 15.70 281.03 7.03 1980 450 12.50 180.71 5.02 . II 11.81 3.81 3.61 0.98 II 1974 164 4.10 92.37 2.31 1975 405 10.12 87.35 2.18 1976 835 20.87 312.82 7.82 , 1977 324 8.53 146.00 3.84 1978 343 8.57 186.90 4.67 1979 767 7.22 103.18 2.79 1980 310 7.75 117.89 2.95 III 22.98 16.52 5.88 3.44 III 1974 686 22.87 158.61 5.29 1975 423 10.57 96.33 2.41 1976 829 10.72 254.16 6.35 1977 546 13.65 185.22 4.63 - 1978 1787 44.67 470.74 11.27 1979 856 21.40 272.89 6.82 1980 780 19.50 248.61 6.22 IV 1975 180 10.59 54.99 3.23 1976 538 26.90 159.46 7.97 1977 204 12.00 87.86 5.17 1978 469 23.45 150.23 7.51 7.06 44.49 2.62 1979 120 1980 294 19.60 84.03 5.60 W 102 a
TABLE 24
SUMMARY
OF SUte(ER QUARTER GILL NET CATCH (TOTAL FISH) PREOPERATIONAL (1969-1973) AND OPERATIONAL (1974-1980) Preoperational (Values = 5 for 1969-1973) Operational iN N Station (fish) SE C/E %_Jyt SE Station Year (fish) C/E Wt kg C/E I 29.42 6.34 3.29 1.90 I 1974 316 7.90 101.75 2.54 1975 735 19.34 164.56 4.33 1976 897 22.43 240.70 6.02 1977 823 21.10 300.94 7.72 1978 735 18.38 270.56 6.76 1979 305 7.62 107.71 2.69 1980 232 7.73 79.84 2.66 II 23.18 14.64 3.44 1.27 II 1974 85 2.83 64.82 2.16 1975 114 2.55 45.46 1.14 1976 1.79 5.42 82.26 2.49 1977 167 4.39 87.42 ' %.30 1978 345 10.15 167.53 '4.19 1979 305 9.53 99.11 3.10 1980 414 10.62 180.63 4.63 III 41.90 11.15 9.77 3.25 III 1974 643 16.08 174.92 4.37 1975 1111 27.78 178.01 4.45 1976- 990 24.75 272.47 6.81
- 1977 2346 58.65 703.40 16.s>
1978 2367 59.18 597.00 14.93 1979 405 10.12 160.98 4.02 1980 1206 30.15 336.9E , 8.43 IV 1975 99 5.82 36.18 2.13 1976 246 12.30 103.84 5.19 1977 307 17.06 137.99 7.67 1978 91 8.27 37.85 3.44 1979 174 10.88 61.08 3.82 1980 154 8.11 52.11 2.74 103
t TABLE 25 4 SU)8tARY OF FALL QUARTER GILL NET CATCH (TOTAL FISH)
- PREOPERATIONAL (1969-1972) AND OPERATIONAL (1973-1979)
~ Preoperational (Values = E for 1969-1973) Operational
~
5N . N l j[jgt Station Year (fish)_ C/E Wt kg C/E ! Station (fish) SE C/E SE 9.88 1.53 ~2.80 0.37 I 1973 476 11.90 166.22- 4.16 l I 3.47 1974 252 8.55- 138.97 1975 252 6.70 94.28 2.38 ' 1976 486 12.15 178.74 4.47-1977 464 11.60 215.74 5.39 1978 305 7.63 145.71 3.64 1979 250 6.41 96.80 2.48 1980 561 15.16 217.61 5.88 3.16 0.64 II 1973 169 4.23 96.72 2.42 II 7.98 1.87 1.09 1974 129 3.23 43.62 1975 237 ~5.93 89.55 2.24 ' 1976 323 8.08 126.07 3.15
-1977 547 15.63 231.00 6.60 1978 485 12.13 209.04 5.33 1979 129 6.14 '57.64 2.74
'1980 437 12.85 193.30 5.69 i
7.01 2.37 III 1973 304 7.60 117.60 2.90 III 8.10 9.73 1974 822 20.55. 246.78 6.17 ' i 1975 475 11.86 159.73 3.99 1976 610 15.25 253.58 6.34 1977 742 18.55 335.36 8.38 1978 897 22.43 355.78 8.89 -- 1979 263 6.57 127.01 3.17 1980 412 10.30 183.00 4.57 IV 1974 156 9.75 49.94 3.12 1975 183 10.17 77.22 4.29 1976 320 16.00 143.58- 7.18 1977 198 9.90 91.68 4.58 ' 1978 218 12.82 103.43 6.08- ' 1979 192 10.67 85.95 4.78 ' 1980 300 18.75 130.97 8.19 l 1 i
~
d j I
- 1 104 4
quarter catch was dominated in number by gizzard shad and biomass by channel catfish (tables 10-13). "teshwater drum were also prominent in th apring samples. Gizzard shad and skipjack herring were dominant in number and biomass respectively in the summer quarter catch. Fall quarter catch was dominated by skipjack herring, and sauger were common at most stations. Catch per effort varied seasonally and among stations in 1960 and was typical of previous years sampled (tables 22-25). High catch per effort values at the heated discharge station (station 4) during winter was consistent with a trend observed at this station since 1976 (table 22) and suggests an attraction of resident fishes to the heated discharge during winter. Trap Net Catches The primary purpose of trap nets as part of the BFNP monitoring l - program is to obtain fish for tagging and movement investigations. Trap l nets also provide selected species for radiological analyses. Water temperature is the criterion used to determine when quarterly samples are collected. Fall and spring samples are collected when reservoir surface temperatures are between 15 C and 24 C. Samples are not taken when water temperatures exceed 24 C (75 F) due to greater mortality from l handling captured fishes. Wheeler Reservoir water temperatures normally f approach 75 F in late spring and remain above 75 until mid October; consequently, no summer samples are taken. Winter samples are collected three months after the fall sampling begins. l Quarterly trap net data for 1980 are shown in tables 26 through
- 28. Fish catch in trap nets in 1980 increased 53.1 percent in number 105
~
TABLE 26 TRAP NET CATCH (ALL STATIONS)
- WINTER QUARTER, MARCH 4-7, 1980 Total of 4 Lifts Species Nu.nber (fish) weight (kg)
Paddlefish 1 0.75 Gizzard shad 315 35.37 Skipjack herring 6 1.75 Mooneye 10 2.22 Golden shiner 1 0.10 Spotted sucker 12 7.51 Smallmouth buffalo 20 22.94 Golden redhorse 8 7.13 River redhorse 1 0.52 Blue catfish 91 26.07 Channel catfish 124 51.33 Flathead catfish 6 13.54 Freshwater drum 622 100.16 White bass 77 15.42 Yellow bass 19 3.27 Bluegill 121 11.34 Redear sunfish 67 13.98 White crappie 698 83.48 Black crappie 8 0.66 . Sanger 2 0.87 Totals 2209 398.41 , 4 m O 106 f
TM E 27 TRAF NET CATCH (ALL STATIONS) SPRING QUARTER, MAY 6-9, 1980 r Species Number (fish) wt. (kg.) Spotted gar 1 0.50 Gizzard shad 160 28.39 Spotted sucker 2 1.00 Smallmouth buffalo 4 2.86 Golden redhorse 2 1.36 Blue catfish 2 0.95 Flathead catfish 4 7.99 Channel catfish 13 7.58 Freshwater drum 76 38.60 White bass . 30 6.39 Yellow bass 2 0.30 Bluegill 48 4.30 Redear sunfish 90 18.44 White crappie 393 42.34 Black crappie 1 0.75 Totals 828 161.75 e l l 4 107
TABLE 28 TRAP NET CATCH (ALL STATIONS)' , FALL QUARTER, DECEMBER 2-5, 1980 Species Number (fish) wt.'(kg.) Gizzard shad 187. 31.09 Skipjack herring 6 2.01 . Spotted sucker 9 .5.16 Golden redhorse 5 3.79 Smallmouth buffalo 6 '7.51 Freshwater drum 84 16.03 White bass 44 11.96 Yellow bass 131 17.21 Bluegill 190 16.02 Redear sunfish 102 24.03 White crappie' 135 31.65 Black crappie 4 1.20 Sauger 2 1.01 Totals 904 168.67 O a 1 i l 108
and 51.6 percent in biomass over 1979 totals (TVA 1979). Greatest catch increases (85.2 percent by number and 77.3 percent by biomass) .were observed in the winter quarter (tables 26-34 and TVA 1979). Number of species captured also increased (42.9 percent) over the total taken in winter of 1979. Number and biomass increased more than 50 percent in the spring quarter The fall quarter showed a 19.4 percent decrease in number and 16.7 percent reduction in biomass from that of 1979. Winter quarter catches were dominated by white crappie and freshwater drum, comprising 31.6 and 28.2 percent of total number and , 20.9 and 25.1 percent of total biomass respectively. The percentage of f reshwater drum decreased notably from 1979 surveys, when they comprised 67 and 38 percent of total number and biomass, respectively. Spring quarter catches were dominated by white crappie (47.5
~
percent of total number and 26.2 percent of total biomass). Total number and weight of gizzard shad decreased approximately 50 percent from the 1979 spring samples. In the fall quarter, no clear species dominance was evident. Four species (gizzard shad, bluegill, white crappie, and yellow bass) collectively comprised 71 percent of total number and 56.6 percent of total biomass. Tagging and Movement Results Tagging operations were initiated at BFNP in 1969. Originally 17 species of fish were utilized in tagging operations. In 1974 the number was reduced to six. These species ar. t allmouth buffalo, white crappie, white bass, and blue, channel, and flathead catfish. During 1980 576 fish were tagged. This is an increase of 69.5
, percent over the total tagged in 1979. White crappie and white bass 109
'\
comprised 68.9 and 25.2 percent respectively of total fish tagged in 1980. Channel catfish, flathead catfish, and smallmouth buffalo com- , prised the remaining 5.9 percent. The 32 specimens recaptured in 1980 included 22 white crappie, 5 white bass, 4 channel catfish, and I smallmouth buffalo (Table 29). This ' represents an increase of 90.6 percent over recaptures in 1979. Of 22 white crappie recaptured 14 (64 percent) moved upstream (from 1 to 65 miles from point of release). One-half (number) of those was recaptured upstream of BFNP. The rest either moved downstream (one to eight miles) from the point of release or were recaptured in the immediate area of release. Four of five white bass recaptured moved past BENP for distances ; of 14.5 to 21.5 miles upstream from the point of release. The cumulative total of fish tagged from the vicnity of BFNP tagging operations is 11,390 (table 30). Recaptures by fishermen have accounted for 397 fish or 3.5 percent of the total tagged to date. Recapture data from tagged fish reveal movement both upstream and down- , stream past BFNP, indicating that plant operation has not disrupted i normal migration patterns or movement of fishes in Wheeler Reservoir. Rotenone Continued assessment of fish populations in Wheeler Reservoir included three cove rotenone samples collected in summer of 1980. Results showed a typical warm water fish assemblage composed of 44 species (tables 31 and 32). Numbers and biomass of major fish groups collected in 1980 are shown in table 33. Dominant species by number were gizzard shad, bluegill, longear, and redear sunfish. These species comprised 89.4 percent of all-fish collected in the 1980 surveys (table . e I 110
TA3LE 29 FISH TAGGING RECAPTURES WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1980 Site Tag Date Site of Release Date ~ of Recapture Syecio,e Number' Released (TRM) Recaptured (TRM) _ _ _ White crappie 44245 3/ 7/79 283.0 4/28/80 TRM 301.0 44113 11/30/79 283.0 4/19/80 TRM 292.0 44189 12/ 3/79 287.0 1/26/80 TRM 294.0 44406 3/ 3/80 283.0 4/ 5/80 TRM 348.5 44410 3/ 3/80 283.0 5/15/80 TRM 296.0 44430 3/ 3/80 283.0 4/27/80 TRM 291.5 44447 3/ 3/80 287.0 5/ 2/80 TRM 330.0 44483 3/ 3/80 287.0 4/ t/80 TRM 297.0 44557 3/ 3/80 287.0 5/ -/80 TRM 298.5 44596 3/ 9/80 287.0
- TRM 298.0 44615 5/ 5/80 283.0 5/12/80 TRM 295.5 44683 5/ 8/80 292.0 5/ 9/80 TRM 294.0 44722 5/13/80 292.0 5/15/80 TRM 294.0 44831 5/19/80 283.0 5/22/80 TRM 310.0 44115 11/30/79 283.0 12/29/79 TRM 282.5 44547 3/ 3/80 287.0 4/29/79 TRM 286.0 44170 12/ 3/79 287.0 4/22/80 TRM 282.5 444193 12/ 4/79 287.0 3/26/80 TRM 284.0
- 44488 3/ 3/80 287.0 4/ 6/80 TRM 282.5 44567 3/ 3/80 287.0 4/11/80 ERM 4.0-44583 3/ 3/80 287.0 4/ 7/80 TRM 283.0 44719 5/13/80 292.0 5/15/80 TRM 284.0 White bass 44150 12/ 3/79 283.0 3/26/80 TRM 306.0 44434 3/ 3/80 283.0 4/16/80 TRM 305.0 44441 3/ 3/80 283.0 3/24/80 TRM 280.5 44631 5/ 5/80 283.0 5/26/80 TRM 325.0 44811 5/19/80 292.0 5/26/80 TRM 298.0 Channel catfish 44715 5/19/80 292.0 5/19/80 TRM 292.0 44817 5/19/80 292.0 5/28/80 TRM 293.0 44838 5/19/80 283.0 5/26/80 TRM 284.0 44891 11/12/80 284.0 11/18/80 TRM 283.5 44882 11/15/80 287.0 12/ 5/80 TRM 287.0 Smallmouth buffalo cDate of recapture unknown. e 111
TABLE 30
SUMMARY
OF TAGGING OPERATIONS TO DATE,
- WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1980 Total tagged Total tagged Total Percent Species this year (since 1969) returns returns Paddlefish 0 25 0 0.00 Smallmouth buffalo 12 1,473 15 1.10 Bigmouth buffalo 0 42 0 0.00 Blue catfish 0 804 19 2.37 Channel catfish 11 2,996 54 1.80 Flathead catfish 11 873 70 8.02 White bass 145 1,819 60 3.30 Bluegill 0 15 0 0.00 Redear sunfish 0 57 0 0.00 Spotted bass 0 8 1 12.50 Largemouth bass 0 29 0 0.00 Smallmouth bass 0 4 0 0.00
'4hite crappie 397 2,570 152 5.91 Black crappie 0 18 3 16.67 Sauger 0 174 16 9.19 Walleye 0 1 0 0.00 Freshwater drum 0 482 7 1.44 Total 576 11,390 397 3.48 O
112
TABLE 31 COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF FISH IN ROTENONE SAMPLES WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1980 Common Name Scientific Name C.ame Wh!te bass Morone chrysops Yellow bass Morone mississippiensis [Undidentified sunfish Lepomis sp.] Warmouth Lepomis gulosus Green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus Longear sunfish Lepomis megalotis Redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui Spotted bass Micropterus punctulatus Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides White crappie Pomoxis annularis Sauger Stizostedion canadense Commercial Spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus Skipjack herring Alosa chrysochloris Mooneye Hiodon tergisus Carp Cyprinus carpio Northern hogsucker Hypentelium nigricans Smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus Bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus Spotted sucker Minytrema melanops Silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum Black redhorse Moxostoma dequesnei Golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum Black bullhead Ictalurus melas Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens Prey Gizzard shad Dordsoma cepedianum Threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense Stoneroller Campostoma anomalum Silvee chub Hybopsis storeriana Golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides Spotfin shiner Notropis spilopterus Mimic siner Notropis volucellus Bullhead minnow Pimephales vigilax
~
Blackspotted topminnow Fundulus olivaceus Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis Orangespotted sufnish Lepomis Humilis
. Stripetail darter Etheostoma kennicotti Logperch Percina caprodes River darter 113 Percina shumardi Brook silverside Labidesthe_S_ sicculus
TABLE 32 . SPECIES COMPOSITION OF COVE ROTENONE SAMPLES WHEELER RESERVOIR,1980 . Percent of Percent of Species Total Numbers Total Weight Gizzard shad 50.10 47.43 Bluegill 23.51 9.14 Longear sunfish 10.91 2.92 Redear sunfish 4.85 2.68 Threadfin shad 2.35 0.52 Warmouth 1.91 0.47 Orangespotted sunfish 1.55 0.23 Green sunfish 0.95 0.38 Freshwater drum 0.61 9.36 Logperch 0.59 0.19 Largemouth bass 0.58 1.65 Yellow bass 0.38 0.08 Smallmouth bass 0.26 0.37 Smallmouth buffalo 0.20 12.66 0.19 T Bullhead minnow Silver chub 0.18 0.33 Spotted sucker 0.18 4.10 Channel catfish 0.10 1.21 Spotted bass 0.09 0.07 ' Skipjack herring 0.09 0.08 Blackspotted topainnow 0.07 T Golden redhorse 0.07 2.26 Flathead catfish 0.05 0.54 . Sauger 0.05 0.14 0.05 T Brook silverside White crappie 0.02 0.12 Silver redhorse 0.02 0.45 Stripetail darter 0.02 T I White bass 0.01 0.02 Spotted gar 0.01 0.14 T T Emerald shiner Carp T 2.19 Bigmouth buffalo T , 0.47 Black redhorse ,T 0.04 j Longnose gar T 0.02
- T T River darter T i
Golden shiner' T Northern hognucker T 0.01 T T Mosquitofish T T Stoneroller 0.01 Mooneye T T T Black bullhead T Spotfin shiner T Mimic shiner T T. , 100.00 100.00 Total 114
TABLE 33 MAJOR FISH CROUPS BY SAMPLE COVE, WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1980 Fish Number of Number of Fish Weight of Fish __ Sample Area Group species Hectare Acre Kg/ha Lbs/ac Second Creek Game 12 9,087.0 3,677.4 98.4 87.8 Commercial 12 322.0 130.3 253.0 255.7 Prey 13 14,792.0 5,986.2 595.1 531.0 Total 37 24,201.0 9,793.9 ~946.5 844.5 Elk River Game 9 23,421.7 9,478.5 142.5 127.1 Commercial 9 256.7 103.9 131.6 117.4 Prey 9 29,778.3 12,051.0 210.6 187.9 Total 27 53,456.7 21,633.4 484.6 432.4 Lawrence County Park Game 12 5,321.4 2,153.5 97.8 87.2 h Commercial 14 594.3 240.5 245.5 219.0 Prey 15 3,313.6 1,341.0 103.8 92.6 Total 41 9,229.3 3,735.0 447.1 398.9 All Areas C-. 12 12,610.0 5,103.2 112.9 100.7 Commercial 16 391.0 158.2 210.0 187.4 Prey 16 15,961.3 6,459.4 303.2 270.5 Total 44 28,962.3 11,720.8 '626.1 558.6
34). Gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, freshwater drum, bluegill, and spotted sucker accounted for 82.7 percent of the total biomass. Percentage .- biomass of prey fishes continued to increase while game roccies biomass continued to decline from 1978 through 1980 (TVA 1978 and 1979). Biomass of consercial fishes increased from 1979 surveys. Number and biomass per hectare of young-of-year, intermediate, and harvestable fish of each species are shown in table 34. Young-of-year
' fish from all coves combined increased approximately 64.5 percent in number and 40.8 percent in biomass over 1979 totals (TVA 1979). A decrease of over 50 percent was observed in the intermediate group as compared to 1979 surveys. Number of harvestable fish decreased 20
. percent, but biomass increased 25 percent from 1979 to 1980. A decrease in young-of-year biomass was noted in 1980 surveys over that of 1978 and 1979 surveys (TVA 1978 and 1979). Smaller fish and unusually late observation of eggs in larval fish samples, along with prolonged low water temperatures during early spring of 1980 suggested late spawning. . Young-of-year totals (all species) showed considerable variation from year to year, but were generally dominated by either gizzard or threadfin shad (table 33). In 1976 threadfin comprised over 56 percent of young-of-year fish numbers (TVA 1976). Following the severe winter of 1977, threadfin shad stocks were reduced to less than 0.5 (first draft) percent of young-of-year fish (TVA 1977). In 1978 young-of-year threadfin shad increased slightly (0.32 percent of total young-of-year), then rebounded to more than 46 percent in 1979 (TVA 1978 and 1979). In the 1980 survey, standing stock of threadfin shad decreased to 3 percent of total young-of-year fish. O 116
l TABLE 34 l l SIZE DISTRIBUTION PER HECTARE BY SPECIES FROM ROTENONE SAMPLES WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1980 Young-of-Year Intermediate Harvestable Total Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg) Species Number Gizzard shad 8,784.00 38.67 - - 5,725.02 258.29 14,509.02 296.95 Bluegill 5,642.08 11.65 701.11 11.63 466.05 33.97 6,809.24 57.25 Longear sunfish 2,657.03 5.64 404.76 7.95 97.98 4.70 3,159.78 18.29 Redear sunfish 1,280.13 4.97 29.44 0.56 94.83 11.23 1,404.40 16.77 Threadfin shad 679.43 3.23 - - - - 679.43 3.23 W:rmouth 483.41 0.94 52.52 0.87 16.17 1.15 552.11 2.96 Ortngespotted sunfish 150.63 0.19 274.87 1.08 22.62 0.17 448,13 1.44 Gr2en sunfish 211.87 0.44 42.83 0.76 19.19 1.15 273.89 2.35 Frzshwater drum 72.46 0.66 12."2 0.85 89.90 57.08 175.29 58.59 Logperch 170.98 1.21 - - - - 170.98 1.21 L rgemouth bass 51.78 0.38 102.38 3.66 15.03 6.33 169.19 10.31 108.40 0.28 2.86 0.19 - - 111.25 0.47 MYallow bass 1.49 74.27 2.32 "Smallmouth bass 49.90 0.30 18.62 0.53 5.75 Smallmouth buffalo - - - - 57.37 79.23 57.37 79.23 Bullhead minnow 56.05 0.06 - - - - 56.05 0.06 53.16 0.18 - - - - 53.16 0.18 Silver chud 0.48 T 2.79 0.47 48.02 25.21 51.29 25.68 Spetted sucker 20.57 0.15 1.43 0.03 3.40 7.40 30.40 7.58 Channel catfish 0.43 Spotted bass 17.76 0.10 7.62 0.20 0.71 0.13 26.10 19.33 0.26 6.29 0.25 - - 25.62 0.51 Skipjack herring 20.25 0.03 - 20.25 0.03 Blackspotted toi, minnow - - - 0.24 0.03 19.27 14.10 19.51 14.13 Golden redhorse - 3.41 Fathead catfish 7.27 0.04 3.11 0.36 4.75 3.00 15.13 12.24 0.26 1.52 0.22 1.14 0.37 14.90 0.85 Stuger
TABLE 34 (Continued) Young-of-Year Intermediate Harvestable Total Weight (kg) Number Weight (kg)__ Number Weight (kg)_ Number Weight (kg)_ Species Number 0.01 - - 13.29 0.01 Brook silverside 13.29 - - 0.76 0.56 T 4.35 0.75 6.10 White crappie 1.19 T 2.81
- - 0.95 0.14 4.60l 2.67 5.56 Silver redhorse - 4.90 T Stripetail darter 4.90 T - - -
4.71 T
- - 4.71 T Unidentified sunfish - -
0.05 0.24 0.06 4.10 0.11 White bass .3.86 - - 0.71 0.04 1.27 0.30 1.11 0.51 3.10 0.85 Spotted gar - - 2.86 T Emerald shiner 2.86 T - -
- 2.56 13.73 2.55 13.73 carp - - -
1.48 2.97 0.24 0.02 - 1.24 2.95 Bigmouth buffalo - 0.16 1.43 0.26 0.71 0.09 0.71 Black redhorse - - 0.24 0.06 0.81 0.11 Longnose gar 0.33 T 0.24 0.05 T - - - - 0.81 T [ River darter 0.8: - 0.71 0.04
" Golden shiner 0.71 0.04 - - -
0.07
- - 0.67 0.07 - - 0.67 Northern hog sucker - - 0.67 T Mosquitofish 0.67 T - -
- - 0.57 T Stoneroller 0.57 T - -
0.48 0.09 Mooneye - - 0.48 0.09 - -
- - 0.33 T Black bullhead 0.33 T - -
0.24 0.24 T - - - -
.T Spotfin shiner - - 0.24 T Mime shiner 0.24 T - -
30.40 6,707.24 525.89 28,962.32 626.06 Total 20,584,89 69.77 -1,670.19 T = Less than 0.01 per hectare. l
Similar patterns of abundance were noted for young-of-year gizzard shad. Number of young-of-year gizzard shad increased from 0.19 percent in 1976 to more than 64 percent in 1977, then decreased tc 55 percent in 1978. In 1979, numbers decreased to 3 percent but rebounded to 43 percent in 1980. Rotenone <!ata for 1980 are presented in tables 31-35 and compared with past surveys in table 36. Data from previous rotenone surveys indicated numbers rad biomass per hectare at all cove sites have shown much variability. Table 35 shows composition by number and weight of major fish groups. Totals 35 and 36 indicate that while there is much variability in samples among year-to-year, the fish community in Wheeler Reservoir remains relatively stable. Impinsement Impingement ramples were comprised of 44 species (14 families) of fish from screens at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in 1980 (table 37) compared to 42 species in 1979. Chestnut lamprey (Ichthyomyzon castanens), bowfin (Asia calva), fathead sinnow (Pinephales promelas), hogsucker (Hypentelium sp.), warmou.h (Leposis gulosus), and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) were collected in 1980 but not in 1979 impingement samples. l Bignouth b2ffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), black redhorse (Moxostoma duquesnei), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolonieui), and spotted bass I (Micropterus punctulatus) were collected in 1979 but not in 1980. Three species considered to be exotic were impinged at >0.01 Percent of the 1980 total catch. These three species, goldfish (Carassius auratus), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and walleye have been introduced into resident fish population as either baitfish or during past stocking
, programs in the Tennessee River or tributary waters.
119
TABLE 35 SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR FISH CROUPS WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1980 Percent by Number Percent by Weight Young Inter- Harvest- Young Inter- Harvest-4 Fish Group of Year mediate able Total of Year mediat_e able Total Game 36.3 4.7 2.5 43.5 4.0 4._ 9.8 18.0 Commercial 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.3 0.2 0.4 32.9 33.5 Prey 34.3 0.9 19.8 55.1 7.0 - 0.2 41.3 48.4 Total 71.1 5.8 23.2 100.0 11.2 4.9 84.0 100.0 ( ) . 120
TABLE 36 COMPARISON OF ROTENONE SURVEY RESULTS IN THREE COVES OF WHEELER RESERVOIR, 1961-1980 Sample Area No. Fish Pounds Fish Cove Year Size (Acres) Per Acre Per Acre Lawrence County 1968 3.70 2,175 190.0 Park 1969 2.94 4,917 491.0 1970 3.54 5,724 684.0 1971 3.54 21,836 472.0 1972 3.54 5,444 508.0 1973 3.54 4,347 267.0 1974 1.96 5,300 417.0 1975 3.54 10.516 256.0 1976 2.94 24,177 1,459.3 1977 3.50 6,751 432.0 1978 3.50 6,809 321.7 1979 3.50 6,791 480.5 1980 3.50 3,735 398.9 Second Creek 1961 1.65 2,988 168.0 1969 2.36 37,345 965.0 1970 2.75 6,518 985.0 1971 2.75 5,440 657.9 1972 2.75 6,024 854.0
. 1973 2.75 9,782 252.0 1974 2.75 2,584 192.0 1975 2.75 3,198 236.0 1976 2.37 9,448 410.3 1977 2.50 6,848 683.3 1978 2.70 5,365 398.6 1979 2.50 9,437 457.7 1980 2.50 9,794 844.5 l Elk River 1961 1.25 5,520 370.0 l
1969 1.55 28,804 1,033.0 1970 1.60 8,123 429.0 1971 1.60 10,398 453.1 1972 1.60 15,399 400.0 1973 1.60 19,331 333.0 1974 1.60 8,722 393.0 1975 1.58 10,174 358.0 g 1976 1.56 13,891 406.9 l 1977 1.50 23,055 1,027.5 j 1978 1.60 13,067 326.5 1979 1.50 9,489 532.4 1980 21,633 432.4 i i ? i i 121
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TABI.E 37 Continued Cossacn Scientific Name t;ar.e Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 14ponis aulosus Warmouth 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
- h. cyane11ue Creen sunfish 10 2 25 23 34 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 97
- h. macrochirus Bluegill 22 23 494 271 114 42 16 20 22 20 67 142 1.253 L. meaalotis 1.ongear sunfish 1 3 13 23 10 3 0 4 0 1 8 4 70 L. microlophus Redear sunfish 1 4 41 19 15 7 7 12 2 2 0 6 116 Micropterus salmoides 1.argenouth bass 0 2 4 2 O O 2 3 4 1 0 2 20 Pomonts annularis is'hite crappie !! 16 40 27 16
- 30 16 3 7 14 193 340 P_. niaromaculatus Black crapple 1 0 3 4 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 13 Percina caprodes Logperch 0 0 8 16 1 5 43 13 7 4 0 2 99 Stimostedton canadense Sauger 4 5 11 9 4 1 1 3 2 2 0 18 60 S. vitreum vitreus We11 eye 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Aplodinotus arunniens Freshwater drun 409 374 3.740 4.750 846 359 271 159 181 424 401 978 12.892
" 162.350 707AL 7.350 3.548 34.659 23.442 1.602 531 852 2.788 3.067 6,778 16.380 61.353
The four deminant species by nunber in 1980, as in 1979, vere gizzard shad (Dornsoma cepedianum), threadfin shad (D. petenese), skipjack herring (Alona c hrysochloris), and f reshwater drium (Aplodinotus grunniens). . Ther.e spec ter. comprised 65.0, 14.9, 8.0, and 7.9 percent of the total sample, respectively (table 38). Samples indicated impingement in 1980 was greatest during March (34,659 fish--21.3 percent), April (23,442 fish--14.4 percent), November (16,3SO fish--10.1 percent), and December (61,353 fish--37.8 percent) (table 37). _Results of Creel Survey
'* heeler Reservoir creel census data during 1980 are su=narized in tables 39 to 46. In 1980 fishing pressure was estfruted at 148,400 1.ours conpared te 299,200 hours in 1979 (TVA 1979). As in 1979, fishing prensure fluctuateil considerably throur,hout 1980 (table 40). Minimum .
efforts were recorded f or January, August. and September (table 43). Estimated success rate was 0.9 fish per hour and 1.47 kg per hour. ' Vhite crappie was the dominant species harvested in terms of number and biomass. Bluegill, channel catfish, and largemouth bass were also harvested f requent ly. Two species were recorded in 1980 that were absent from 1979; they were walleye (area 4-1), and bu11 heads (area 2-1) (table 44). Black crappie were recorded in 1979 but absent in 1980 (1979). Entrying gt, Met!nids useet in est imat in;; t ransport and entrainment of fish r eggs and larvae at Brow s F+rry Nuclear Plant in 1980 vere established In 1978 (TVA 1979) and modified by Buchanan and Barr (1980). Buchanan 124
- TABLE 38
. SPECIES COMPOSITION OF FISHES IN INPINGEMENT SAMPLES AT BROWNS FERRY N'ICLFAR PIA JANUARY-DECEMBER, 1980 Percent Species Dorosoma cepedianum 64.97 14.87 D. petenense Alosa chrysochloris 8.03 Aplodinotus grunniens 7.94 Morone mississippiensis 1.38 Leposis macrochirus 0.77 Ictalurus punctatus 0.60 Morone chrysops 0.45 0.23 Pomoxis annularis 0.20 Pylodictis olivaris Notropis atherinoides 0.13 0.43 Others*
- This group includes 33 species; no individual species comprised more than 0.1 percent.
O l l l I l i I e r
i t TABLE 39 FISHING PRESSURE ESTIMATES BY MONTH t WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA . JANUARY 1, 1980 - DECEMBER 31, 1980 - Inclusive Fishing Period Dates Pressure (hrs) 1 Jan. 1 - 31 2,640 2 Feb. 1 - 29 6,044-3 Mar. 1 - 31 14,066 4 Apr. 1 - 30 25,337 ] 5 May 1 - 31 33,106 i 6 June 1 - 30 21r?66
! 7 July 1 - 31 18,'L7 8 Aug. 1 - 31 3,909 -
9 Sep. 1 - 30 4,003 >
; 10 Oct. 1 - 31 8,396 l 11 Nov. 1 - 30 4,420 ;
12 Dec. 1 - 31 6,996 I 1 i 1 4 l - 1 i 8 9 f 1 a I r i e 126 l .; I
l TME 40 SEASONAL FISHING PRESSURE PER HECTARE FOR EACH SAMPLING AREA JANUARY 1, 1980, THROUGH DECEMBER 30, 1980, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA Hours of Pressure per Hectare Sampling Area Entire Season 1-1 + 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Reservoir Winter 0.76 0.17 0.92 1.30 5.42 1.15 Spring 1.41 8.68 2.28 6.01 10.85 4.02 Summer 0.29 2.59 1.95 1.51 2.06 1.32 Fall 0,18 1.40 0.91 2.35 2.11 1.00 O
TABLE 41 PERCENT OF TOTAL ESTIMATED FISHING PRESSURE FOR EACH SAMPLING AREA BY SEASONS WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA . JANUARY 1, 1980 - DECEMBER 30. 1980 i Sample Area i 1-1 & 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Winter 26.4 2.0 19.1 17.7 34.8 Spring 14.0 29.4 13.4 23.4 19.9 Summer 8.9 26.8 35.0 17.3 11.5 Fall 7.2 19.0 21.5 36.8 15.5 4 i 2 t 9 17A
TABLE 42 ESTIMATED TOTAL SPORTFISHING CATCH BY SPECIES WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA JANUARY 1, 1980 - DECEMBER 31, 1980 Percent Percent Rank Rank Species Number Biomass (kg) by Number by Biomass by Number by Bi> mass Blue catfish 54 88.20 1,38 3.13 8 5 Channel catfish 396 595.70 10.15 21.16 3 2 Flathead catfish 8 13.50 .21 0.48 12 12 White bass 58 63.60 1.49 2.26 7 7 Largemouth bssa 166 239.00 4.25 8.49 4 3 Smallmouth bass 48 72.90 1.23 2.59 9 6 Bluegill 520 126.30 13.33 4.48 2 4 Longear sunfish 91 21.10 2.33 0.75 5 10 Redear sunfish 82 23.00 2.10 0.82 6 9 Other sunfish 4 .90 0.10 0.03 15 18 White crappie 2,412 1,507.80 61.81 53.58 1 1 Sauger 2 2.50 0.51 0.08 17 15 Walleye 1 0.40 0.02 0.01 19 19 Drum 13 27.60 0.33 0.98 11 8 Rock bass 30 9.30 0.76 0.33 10 13 Bullhead 2 4.00 0.05 0.14 16 14
. Spotted gar 6 15.00 0.15 0.53 14 11
( Warmouth 8 1.80 0.20 0.06 13 16 Spotted bass 1 1.30 0.20 0.04 18 17 Total 3,902 2,813.90 l l l l 129
r TABLE 43 ESTIMATED SPORTFISH HARVEST PER HOUR AND HECTARE JANUARY-DECEMBER 1980, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA Catch per hour Catch per hectare Species Number Biomass Number Biomass Spotted gar 0.001 b.007 0.010 0.056 Blue catfish 0.014 0.050 0.102 0.373 Channel catfish 0.094 0.338 0.701 2.577 Flathead catfish 0.003 0.010 0.019 0.076 Bu11 heads 0.001 0.095 0.009 0.040 White and yellow bass 0.015 0.037 0.114 0.277 Bluegill 0.141 0.076 1.053 0.565 Other sunfish 0.060 0.038 0.452 0.281 Smallmouth bass 0.010 0.036 0.078 0.268 Spotted bass TR TR 0.001 0.002 , Largemouth bass 0.037 0.117 0.273 0.879 White crappie 0.531 0.737 3.975 5.510 Sauger TR 0.001 0.003 0.007 Walleye TR TR 0.001 0.001 Drum 0.004 0.019 0.027 0.144 Total 0.911 1.471 6.818 11.006 i G 130
TABLE 44 ESTIMATED TOTAL SPORTFISH CATCH FROM EACH SAMPLE AREA BY SPECIES WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA JANUARY 1, 1980 - DECEMBER 31, 1980 Number Areas Biomass Areas 1-1 & 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 1-1 & 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Species 1,535 82 144 26 424 2,412 189 279 52 Blue catfish 237 773 10,888 1,624 1,651 58 1,448 15,988 2,540 2,716 51 Channel catfish 0 345 0 32 0 0 635 0 48 Flathead catfish 0 677 357 303 794 63 826 288 254 1,059 White bass 126 1,589 942 Bluegill 1,826 4,683 4,017 6,065 4,299 465 1,253 837 1,207 2,863 1,465 90 672 291 668 307 Other sunfish 407 1,237 23 233 638 646 0 23 256 1,021 1,112 Smallmouth bass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 l Spotted bass Largemouth bass 0 747 524 0 15 1,065 1,320 1,933 911 832 1,433 1,635 3,098 13,105 6,457 14,799 21,113 17,571 9,595- 3,877 9,324 12,812 10,781 White crappie 0 0 0 0 39 23 0 0 Sauger 26 23 0 99 33 51 1,198 0 248- 50 Drum 87 413 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 10 Walleye 0 0 220 99 6 173 104 79 40 Rock bass 42 536 369 0 0 0 357 0 0 0 Bullheads 0 185 0 0 0 0 0 503 0 0 Spotted gar 0 0 201 Total 17,376 27,526 23,969 34,448 26,950 13,092 28,269 15,785 21,349 17,502
TABLE 45 ESTIMATED NUMBER AND BIOMASS OF SPORTFISH HARVEST PER HECTARE BY SPECIES JANUARY-DECEMBER 1980, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA Number /ha Areas Biomass (kg)/ha Areas Species 1-1 2-1 3-1 3-2 41 _ 1-1 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Spotted gar 0 0 0.04 0 0 0 0 0.24 0 0 Blue catfish 0.03 0.57 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.12 1.97 0.09 0.21 0.08 Channel catfish 0.10 4.03 0.35 0.53 0.04 0.41 13.06 1.19 1.93 0.08 Flathead t.tfish 0 0.13 0 0.01 0 0 0.62 0 0.03 0 Bullheads 0 0.07 0 0 0 0 0.29 0 0 0 h White bass 0.02 0.25 0.08 0.10 0.54 0.02 0.67 0.14 0.18 1.60 Bluegill 0.23 1.73 '0.86 1.96 2.95 0.13 1.02 0.39 1.13 1.42 Other sunfish 0.06 0.66 0.45 0.10 1.07 0.03 0.69 0.23 0.53 0.70 Smallmouth bass 0 0.01 0.05 0.21 0.44 0 0.02 0.12 0.73 1.68 Spotted bass 0 0 TR 0 0 0 0 0.01 0 0 Largemouth bass 0.10 0.19 0.19 0.43 1.32 0.26 0.68 0.67 1.16 4.68 White crappie 2.39 2.39 3.18 6.81 12.04 3.58 3.17 4.38 9.11 15.84 Sauger TR 0.01 0 0 0 0.01 0.02 0 0 0 Walleye 0 0 0 0 0.02 0 0 0 0 0.02 Drum 0.01 0.15 0 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.98 0 0.18 0.08 Totals 2.94 10.19 5.22 10.23 18.46 4.57 23.09 7.46 15.19 26.18
. . . I . 4
TABLE 46 ESTIMATED HARVEST RATE OF SPORITISH FROM ' EACH SAMPLING AREA WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA
. JANUARY 1, 1980 - DECEMBER 30, 19R0 I
Ha rves t. Sampling Area Number / Hour Kilogram / Hour l-1 & 1-2 1.11 0.24 l 2-1 0.79 0.42 3-1 0.86 0.24 3-2 1.00 0.32 4-1 0.92 0.26 All areas combined 0.92 1.48 l. U 4 9 9 133
and Barr considered the variability of current velocitien across the . sample transect and established weighting factore, which provided a more accurate method of estimating transport. Numbers of fish eggs transported in 1980 (table 47) increased and larval transport decreased from 1979
~
estimates. In 1979, numbers of fish eggs and larvae transported were 2.30 x 10 cnd 2.97 x 10 , respectively, compared to 5.23 x 10 and 2.83 x 10 in 1980. Weekly estimates of eggs and larvae transported and entrained are in tables 48 and 49 respectively. Ilydraulic entrainment by BFNP averaged 9.6 percent during 1980 sampling period. M --Estimated entrainment of fish eggs was 6.1 percent in 1980 (table 4 7) . This was a decrease from 8.2 percent in 1979 but higher than 3.7 percent estimated for 1978. Fish eggs transported by BFNP were over 90.0 percent freshwater drum eggs and greater densities were recorded at the plant transect (TRM 293) and in the intake than at TRM 294.5 upstream of the intake. This indicated freshwater drum spawned near the plant intake. This phenomenon was also observed in 1979, (TVA . 1980), and,as stated in that report, artificially inflated estimated entrainment. Larvae--Estimated entrainment of fish larvae was 13.6 percent in 1980 (table 51). This was the highest percent entrainment estimated since initiation of 3-unit plant operation in 1977 ( Sie 51). The correlat ion between hydraulic (9.6%) and Larval (13.6%) entrainment l is somewhat biased, in that peak larval entrainment occurred during an eight-week period when hydraulic entrainment was lowest. This also occurred in previous years sampled (table 50). In 1980, highest flows occurred during the earlier sample periods and during the latter periods (hot summer months). Although high river flows during early spring are typical, unusually high flows also occurred during, July and August as a result 134
1 TABLE 47 ESTINATED ENTRAINNENT OF ICHTilYOPLANKTON AT BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, 1980 Fish Egas 4
- 1. Entrained 3.20 E8
- 2. Transported 5.23 E9
- 3. Percent Entrained 6.1 Fish Larvae
- 1. Entrained 3.85 E9
- 2. Transported 2.83 E10
- 3. Percent Entrained 13.6 i
f O I i k i o .f 135
TABLE 48 WEEKLY ESTIMATES OF NUMBER AND DENSITY OF FISH EGGS AND LARVAE TRANSPORTED PAST BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD, 1980 (ESTIMATED FROM SAMPLES AT TRM 294.5) Period Total No. Eggs Density /1000 m Total No. Larvae Density /1000 m 3/10 0 0 0 0 3/17 158,082 0.8 0 0 3/25 0 0 0 0 1/11 0 0 40,720,611 116.9 4/7 23,093,507 177.8 9,085,231 69.9 4/16 0 0 152,469,508 679.5 4/21 541,661 4.1 29,820,046 226.6 4/28 2,817,967 23.3 303,004,879 2,506.2 5/5 6,001,236 69.5 609,498,220 7,054.4 5/12 21,797,536 282.7 613,162,300 7,952.8 5/19 140,162,623 896.8 818,718,299 5,238.1 5/27 173,375,991 1,262.8 306,842,071 2,234.8 6/3 73,165,936 780.9 334,021,250 3,564.8 6/9 60,885,497 736.2 474,345,948 5,735.7 6/16 46,357,456 560.6 133,224,207 1,610.9 6/23 33,332,758 491.4 144,963,914 2,016.2 6/30 9,512,233 108.3 11,114,891 126.6 - 7/7 4,462,104 48.8 5,398,276 59.0 7/15 9,139,176 79.5 3,971,694 34.5 7/21 61,351,369 654.8 2,570,781 27.4 , 7/28 42,809,558 605.5 900,986 12.7 8/4 16,919,400 259.9 3,025,290 46.4 8/11 2,060,693 26.8 1,418,356 18.4 8/18 4,861,921 61.9 1,120,754 14.3 8/25 435,702 6.1 846,535 11.9 ? 4 136
TABLE 49 WEEKLY ESTIMATES OF NUMBER AND DENSITY OF FISH EGCS AND LARVAE ENTRAINED IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD AT BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, 1980 (ESTIMATED FROM SAMPLES IN INTAKE BASIN) Period Total No. Egga Density /1000 m 3 Total No. Larvae Density /1000 m 0 0 0 0 3/10 0 0 10,035 1.2 3/17 3/25 0 0 15,676 1.9 3/31 0 0 86,250 10.3 4/7 9,771 1.2 239,381 28.5 4/16 1,815 0.2 2,058,764 245.3 4/21 0 0 876,239 104.4 4,025 0.5 16,037,366 1,910.8 4/28 367,741 34.1 22,795,546 2,112.5 5/5 5/12 3,049,570 282.6 119,053,150 11,032.6 1,194,441 110.7 117,663,394 10,903.8 5/19 13,978.3 5/27 5,744,150 532.3 150,840,242 16,141,594 1,495.8 68,940,624 6,383.7 6/3 6/9 2,032,280 188.3 21,757,550 2,016.3 6/16 1,514.527 140.4 10,154,212 941.0 287,186 26.6 4,405,429 408.3 6/23
~
6/30 5,109.721 473.5 447,690 41.3 1,589,179 165.7 567,277 59.1 7/7 7/15 1.392,713 145.2 229,468 23.9 6,058,495 631.6 207,398 21.6
. 7/21 7/28 76,163 7.9 25,388 2.6 524,611 48.6 223,110 20.7 8/4 1,582,904 146.7 377,381 35.0 8/11 160,952 14.9 152,904 14.2 8/18 5.4 8/25 51,269 4.8 58,593 i
l i 137
. . ~ . . _ - - -- - - ~~-- ., .-, + ... . -_ .- .- ~ . .
TABLE 50 , 6
) AND INTAKE (Q ) FIDWS (m x 10 ) 37 RESERVOIR BROWNS (Q, FERRY NUCLEAR T. 1977-1980 i
(Flows are 24-hour totals). . (Q gr Q ) " Pr portion Hydraulic Entratament Sampling 1977 1978 1979 1980 , Period Q, Qg Qg /Q, Q, Qg Qg/Qr Nr 91 91 Sr Nr 91 91/9e 1 296.06 7.19 0.024 86.12 7.19 0.083 303.37 10.79 0.035 239.0 6.00 0.025 2 95.91 8.39 0.087 64,10 7.19 0.112 119.21 ' 10.79 0.077 275.; 8.39 0.0 30 3 87.10 10.79 0.123 64.59 7.19 0.111 128.44 10.79 0.084 463.10 8.39 0.018 4 511.88 10.79 0.021 39.15 7.19 0.1 84 111.56 10. 79 0.096 348.40 8.39 0.024 5 189.87 9.59 0.050 45.51 7.19 0.158 100.30 10.79 0.107 129.90 8.39 0.065 4 6 119.65 8.39 0.070 60.92 7.19 0.118 224.84 10.79 0.047 224.40 8.39 0.037 7 118.76 9.59 0.081 143.37 7.19 0.0 50 92.48 10.79 0.116 131.60 8.39 0.064 8 98.85 9.59 0.097- 103.49 9.59 0.093 98. 84 9.59 0.097 120.90 8.39 0.069 i 9 95.91 10.79 0.112 77.80 7.19 0.092 79.51 9.59 0.1 20 86.04 10.79 0.124 i
- 10 77.56 10.79 0.139 47.95 9.59- 0.200 80.73 9.59 0.118 77.10. 10.79 0.140 a 11 - 82.54 10.79 0.130 57.25- 8.99 0.157 75.35 7.19 0.095 153.30 -10.79 0.0 70 12 76.83 10.79 0.140 100.80 9.59 0.095 179.08 9.59 0.053 137.30 - 10.79 0.079-
. 13 73.65 10.79 0.146 56.52 8.99 0.159 213.09 10.79 0.050 93.70 10.79 0.115 14 92.98 9.55 0.103 76.09 8.39 0.110 106.91 10.79 0.100 82.70 10.79 0.1 30 15 88.08 7.19 0.081 92.97 8.39 0.090 83.67 10.79 0.128 82.70 10.79 0.130 16 66.06 -1 - 70.46 8.39 0.119 83.18 10.79 0.129 71.90 10.79 0.150 17 78.05 -1 - 63.37 8.39 0.132 85.87 10.79 0.125 87.80 10.79 0.118 18 60.68 7.19 0.118 96.40 8.39 0.087 87.09 10.79 0.123 91.50 9.59 0.105 19 70.71 9.59 0.135 33.52 8. 39 0.250 108.38 10.79 0.099 115.00 9.59 0.083 20 73.40 9.59 0.130 43.67 8.39 0.192 221.65 10.79 0.048 . 93.70 9.59 0.102 r 21 48.93 10.79 0.220 59.33 8.39- 0.141 185.69 10.79 0.058 70.70 9.59 0.136 22 48.44 9.59 0.197 57.98 8.39 0.145 117.43 10.79 0.091 65.10 10.79 0.166 23 62.39 9.59 0.153 50.89 9.59 0.1 88 110.82 10.79 0.097 '76.80 10.79 0.140
- 24. 39.15 10.79 0.275 94.92 9.59 0.101- 78.50 10.79 0.137 25 119.39 7.79 0.065 71.20 10.79 0.137 Mean Seasonal Hyd. Ent. 0.12 0.133 0.09 0.096 !
- 1. Data are not available due to plant operational characteristica.
I
. . . , + .
~
O TABLE 51 ANNUAL ENTPAINMENT (PERCENT) 0F FISH EGGS AND IARVAE BY FAMILY AT BRGiNS FERRY NUCLEAR FIANT FROM 1977-1980 Estimated Entrainment (Percent) Family 1977* 1978** 1979** 1980** Unidentifiable eggs 0.7 5.9 114.9 8 1.2 Clupeidae eggs I NC NC NC Cyp rinidae NC NC NC 0.8 Catostomidae eggs NC NC NC I Sciaenidae eggs 2.7 3.6 8.0 6.5 Unidentifiable larvae 12.1 5.9 5.5 18.0 Petromyzontidae NC NC I NC Lepisosteidae NC I NC NC Clupeidae 9.1 5.3 4.3 15.0 Hiodontidae 1.2 2.1 4.5 1.2 Cyprinidae 2.9 2.3 7.8 6.0 Catos tomidae 4.1 19.2 3.1 3.0 Ictaluridae 31.5 16.4 6.4 12.2 Cyprinodontidae NC I 25.9 I Poeciliidae NC I NC NC
, Percichthyidae 11.8 14.7 5.3 7.9 Centrarchidae 3.5 2.2 3.6 14.8 Percidae 12.7 14.7 13.8 6.2 Sciaenidae 6.3 4.4 8.5 7.1 Atherinidae R R I NC Total Eggs 2.7 3.6 8.1 6.1 Total Fish 9.0 5.4 4.5 13.6 Mean Hydraulic Entrainment 12.0 13.3 9.0 9.6 1
- Based on densities and weighting factors from TRM 293.0
** Based on densities and weighting factors from TRM 294.5.
" Seventy-six specimens collected in intake basin, six collected in reservoir sampling; thus high entrainment estimate.
I - Collected in intake samples but not in reservoir (TRM 293.0-1977; TRM 294.5-1978-1980) samples, entrainment estimate not possible. R - Collected in reservoir samples but not in intake samples, entrain-ment estimates effectively zero. NC - None collected in either reservoir or intake samples. 139
4 of increased discharges from upstream reservoirs necessary .for cooling ' water requiremente at flFNP. The most significant factor contributing
; to the higher estimate in 1980 was entrainment for clupeida. In 1979, I-BFNP entrained an estimated 4.4 percent of the transported 1crval i ,
cinpeldn compared to -15.0. percent in 1980. llaned on rotenoim data, the 14/9 y e.n clann of t he e.nll in niunt w.us n l y,n l l ir,ml l y l a r y.e than i any year since BFNP began operation (table 52). The high entrainment estimate of clupelds in 1980 is possibly the result of heavy spawning i
- activity by the 1979 year class of threadfin shad,especially in the-1 l vicinity of the plant. Data collected during May 1980, when peak clupeld- I 4 r densities were observed, supports this theory. Creater densities were I
} recorded in samples from the plant intake and TRM 293 than from T101 294.5 (figure 36). Peak densities of clupeids during the week of May 2'7 , 3 1980 were 1.36 x 10 /1,000 m in the intake, 6.94 x 10 /1,000 m3 at i TIO! 293, and 4.02 x 103 /1,000 m 3 at TRM 294.5. ' Since clupeids densities-were greater in the intake and at TRM 293 than at the upstream station (from which transport estimates were calculated), estimates of percent ! entrainment were artificially inflated. Estimated entrainment of centrarchids and ictalurids in 1980 was 14.8 and 12.2 percent, respectively (table 53). This represents a substantial increase from 1979, when entrainment was 3.7 percent-for centrarchids and 6.4 percent for ictalurids (table- 51). Centrarchid
- and ictalurid larvae, after_ leaving the nest, remain in dense schools l - (Lippson and Moran 1974) resulting in clumped or patchy distribution.
I' This behavior can effect estimates of reservoir density as well'as entrainment. Centrarchid litrvae. are relatively invulnerable to entrainment i due to their preference for shallow, littoral habitat thus avoiding - i-140
- l l
,- - - .v, . , - , - - - , . - - -,,,,,rw-wet , --- v.- w rw - r y <-wr-
'f TABLE 52 ESTIMATED NUMBER OF YOUNG-OF-YEAR THREADFIN AND G1ZZARD SHAD PER HECTARE FROM COVE ROTENONE SAMPLES WHEEIIR RESERVOIR,- 1977-1979 Species 1979 1980 1977 _ 1978 Threadfin shad 8.10 67.40 4,329.97 679.43 Gizzard shad 10,434.40 11,769.90 315.11 8784.00 4 e d 4 e e 141
5 - 4 -
. s '\
/ x.'N- %.
, ./' N\,.
d 3 - i f,y ) TRW 293 ------ f i TRM 2943 --- - r f, .\ x ~ 1 e s I e r.f , _s Ei ~
.N .N'l '. N' 9 '
g, so
/
\. ./ rs' ~s
/. ,'
/ \
./
O - n k 47 b ba 'T # 16 21 28 S 12 b3 b $6 bb30 7 # # 15 tt #28 4 kit kt8 k25 SAMPLE DATE FIGU;( 36 DENSITIES OF LARVAL CLUPEIDS COLLECTED IN LARVAL FISH MONITORING AT BR0 eel *$ FEMtY NUCLE AR PLANT,1980
, , , e *
- TABLE 53 ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENT ENTRAINMENT BY FAMILY AT. BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, 1980 Family Total No. Percent E,ntrained Eggs Unidentifiable fish eggs 3,770,538 1.2 Cyprinidae 82,438 0.8 Catostomidae 12,708
- Sciaenidae 316,543,518 6.5-Larvae Unidentifiable fish larvae 1,503,451 18.0 Clupeidae 3,489,150,390 15.0 Hiodontidae 240,457 1.2 Cyprinidae 19,441,451 6.0 Catostomidae 24,340,679 3.0 Ictaluridae 1,519,966 12.2 Cyprinidontidae 59,755
- Percichthyidae 214.599,129 7.9 Centrarchidae 43,203,665 14.8 Percidae 7,616,152 6.2 Sciaenidae 47,293,531 7.1
- Families having specimens collected in the intake samples but were not present in reservoir samples.
i I l l l 143 l
8 mass reservoir transport. Ictalurid larvae, usually collected in much -* j i smaller numbers, are subject to considerable variability with respect ' l to transport and entrainment estimates.
.1 -
From the above analys'is and. discussion of transport and , entrainment estimates for fish' eggs and larvae in 1980 at BFNP, 'It is concluded . that the -plant is not significant1y' impacting the ichthyoplankton community of Wheeler Reservoir. I t-a 8 4 f I ~ i i i 4 )r 4 9 144 b
o VI. TRANSMISSION LINE RIGHT-OF-WAY MAINTENANCE i The transmission lines connected to Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant are indicated in figure 37. Since herbicides were not applied on these trans-mission line rights-of-way during the reporting period, this section is inapplicable. e 1 9 145
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146
. VII. EVALUATION OF ELEVATED TEMPERATURES ON AQUATIC BIOTA 0F WHEELER RESERVOIR DURING TEMPORARY 93 F MIXED RIVER TEMPERATURE LIMITATION Introduction On July 1,1980, . regular quarterly BFNP monitoring was conducted and included plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and water quality samples. Within the following two weeks unusually high air temperatures elevated water temperatures in Wheeler Reservoir sufficiently to require substantial load reductions at BFNP to meet the 90 F mixed temperature limit in effect. Because of extreme load demands on the TVA power erstem, TVA asked EPA and AWIC for a temporary relief allowing mixed river temperatures up to 93 F. On July 14, 1980, EPA approved TVA's request, and on July 15, 1980, AWIC concurred with EPA's approval. On ~
July 18,1980 (17 days af ter regular sampling), additional plankton, benthic, and water quality samples were collected to assess possible effects of operation during the 93 F relief period. Supplemental fisheries sampling (gill net) was initiated on July 16 and continued through July 24, 1980. A new gill net station was added for this sampling at TRM 287 (station 5). This chapter reports results of these samples. Water quality data are included in appendix B. In addition, a preliminary assessment of the BFNP operation with a I l 93 F mixed (or downstream) river thermal limit was transmitted to EPA I and AWIC on July 30, 1980. Water Quality l Calculated river flows in the vicinity of BFNP were similar (approximately 37,500 cfs) an July 1 and July 18, 1980, as shown in figure 6. 147
9 vosesses TEf9ERATURE(DEC F1 QIS90LVED OXYCEN(mg/II pH 8t1M filLA an.es " 9 D " 9 " H ? 9 9 '# "9?99's m ,<- . e- e- e-
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FICURE 38 BROWNS FERRY WATER QUALITY DATA OH JLA.Y I .1988 (CON'Tl 3 O 150
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f Af ter the first week in July, air temperatures reached 100 F or above almoat every day for the remainder of July. Historically, this exceeded the average daily maximum air temperature by over 10 F. Therefore, solar radiation increased water temperature in the Tennessee River. Figure 38 shows results of water quality data collected July 1, 1980, and July 16, 1980. Temperature on July 18, 1980, at corresponding depths and stations ranged from 5-10 F higher downstream from BFNP and 5-9 F higher in the control area than on July 1,1980. Only at depths of one and three feet on the overbank area at TRM 291.76 was the temperature 10 F greater than on July 1,1980. Significant thermal stratification had not- developed on either date. Dissolved oxygen (DO) values throughout the photic zone were from approximately 1-2 mg/l greater from TRM 277.98 upstream to TRM 293.70 on July 18, 1980, than on July 1,1980. These ' increases were generally not as great farther upstream and the values were about the same at TRM 295.87 and TRM 301.06 on the two dates. At 1 } TRM 307.52, dissolved oxygen values were slightly higher on July 1, 1980, than on July 18, 1980. The DO values were supersaturated in some areas at depths of up to 10 feet at all stations except TRM 293.20 and 307.52 on July 18, 1980. The pH values ranged from about 7.0 to 9. 7 with higher values generally nearer Wheeler Dam. The time of day that DO and pH samples were taken was similar on the two sample dates. Greater DO and pH values on July 18, 1981, which occurred upstream and downstream of BFNP are attributed to greater photosynthetic activity. On both sample dates the values were higher downstream. Based on these data the O 154 l l
temporary discharge temperatures above 90 F did not cause any impact on downstream water uses in Whpeler Reservoir. However, temperature regimes such as those experienced during summer of 1980 were expected to result in D0 supersaturation and high pH. These conditions which were observed in lower Wheeler Reservoir were probably not caused by BFNP, but could have been complicated by the additional heat from the plant. Phytoplankton Abundance-Table 54 compares the total phytoplankton standing crop of July 1,1980, and July 18, 1980. All stations during the special study of July 18, 1980, had substantially more phytoplankton than during the regular study. Five stations had the highest phytoplankton cell counts recorded since monitoring was initiated in 1969. Four of these stations (TEM's 277.98, 283.94, 291.76, and 293.70) are downstream from BFNP, and TEM 307.52 is the control atation farthest upstream. Cell counts at control station TRM 295.87 would also have exceeded historic levels except for'a bloom of Merismopedia which occurred during 1978 causing cell counts to exceed 110,000,000 cells /l at that location. t l Table 55 lists temperature and total phytoplankton data for 1 the regression of temperatures and phytoplankton cell numbers shown in figure 39. This figure shows a highly significant (F = 50.69) relation-ship between temperature (x) and plankton numbers (y). In addition 52.4 percent of the variability in cell numbers is explained by temperature. The remaining 47.6 percent of the variability in cell numbers is caused I by other variables such as time (retention time due to flow), cloud cover, nutrients, depth, sampling error, etc. It is assumed that much D 155
m Table 54 PHYTOPIANKTON POPUIATION AND PERCENTAGE COMPARISON BY STATIONS REGULAR STUDY - JULY 1,1980, AND SPECIAL STUDY - JULY 18, 1980 July 1, 1980 July 18, 1980 TRM Group Phytoplanktons/l % Composition Phytoplanktons/1 % Composition 277.98 Ch rysophyta 3,246,961 14 2,337,848 7 Chlorophyta 3,015,035 13 2,671,826 8 Cyanophy ta 16,930,584 73 28,388,151 85 Total 23,192,581 33,397,825 283.94 Chrysophyta 4,014,869 21 2,070,116 6 Chlorophyta 3,058,595 16 3,450,193 10 Cyanophyta 12,044,005 63 28,981,622 84 To tal 19,117,469 34,501,931 288.78 Ch rysophyta 4,334,130 24 2,833,116 11 Chlorophyta 4,695,306 26 6,438,900 25 Cyanophyta 9,029,435 50 16,483,584 64 To tal 18,058,871 25,755,600 291.76 Chrysophyta 2,623,990 32 2,492,000 6 Chlorophyta 1,639,993 20- 9,552,669 23 Cyanophy ta 3,935,984 48 29,488,673 71 - To tal 8,199,967 41,533,342 293.70 Chrysophyta 1,051,663 24 1,337,998 5 _ Chlorophyta 920,206 21 2,408,396 9 Cyanophy ta 2,410,063 55 23,013,564 86 To tal 4,381,932 26,759,958 4
- 295.87 Ch rysophyta 835,353 34 1,137,201 4 Chlorophyta 540,523 22 1,705,800 6 Cyanophyta 1,081,045 44 25,587,007 90 Total 2,456,921 28,430,008 301.06 Chrysophyta 557,171 22 460,509 5 Chlorophyta 506,518 20 1,289,424 14 Cyanophy ta 1,468,903 58 7,460,241 81 To tal 2,532,592 9,210,174 307.52 Chrysophyta 323,934 16 339,218 5 Chlorophyta 344,181 17 1,289,030 19 Cyanophyta 1,356,477 67 5,156,120 76 Total 2,024,592 6,784,368 m
156
~
- of the 47.6 percent variability is caused by the short retention time due to flow of the lotic habitat at TRM's 301.06 and 307.52, as illus-trated in figure 39. Although the regression is shown for total phyto-plankton numbers, it actually represents Cyanophyta numbers since blue-greens were dominant. Tables 54 and 55 show that the Cyanophyta increases on July 18, 1980, over those of July 1,1980, were probably related to increased water temperature. Chrysophyta cell counts were similar on the two sample dates, while Chlorophyta cell counts on July 18, 1980, showed an increase at all stations except TRM 277.98 over those of July 1, 1980.
Composition-Cyanophytes were dominant on both sample dates and comprised a greater proportion of total community number on July 18,
- 1980, than on July 1,1980, at every station. Contrasting 1y, Chrysophyta percentages decreased at each station on July 18, 1980, as does the numerical value at most stations. Chlorophyta percentages were larger on July 1,1980, at every station except TRM's 291.76 and 307.92.
Melosira was the dominant chrysophyte on both dates and in most cases represented over 50 percent of the Chrysophyta cells. In most cases Scenedesmus generally was the dominant chlorophyte on both dates and was not as clearly defined as the Chrysophyta or Cyanophyta l genera. Anacystis was the dominant Cyanophyta genus in all cases comprising over 50 percent af the cells except July 1,1980, at TRM 291.76 when Merismopedia was dominant. Each summer large numbers of Merismopedia are observed in the vicinity of 291.76 to TRM 295.87. These data are similar to those collected during the summers from 1969 through 1980 and showed that the increases apparently resulted 157
Table 55 TEMPERATURE AND TOTAL PHYTOPLANKTON CELLS PER LITER NEAR BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT ON JULY 1, 1981, AND JULY 18, 1981 Depth Temperature Total Phytoplankton Dste River Mile (meters) (OF) (cells / liter-1) July 1, 1990a 277.98 0.3 85 22,131,338 3.0 84 23,328,313 5.0 83 26,481,088 283.94 0.3 84 22,320,250 3.0 84 23.090,188 5.0 83 18,040,350 288.78 0.3 82 19,653,250 3.0 82 19,205,575 5.0 82 15,317,788 291.76 0.3 81 8,218,488 3.0 81 9,688,513 5.0 81 6,692,900 293.70 0.3 84 3,870,325 3.0 84 4,810.125 5.0 82 4,465,638 - 295.87 0.3 80 2,579,688 3.0 80 2,867,025 5.0 80 1,924,050 . 301.06 0.3 81 2,565,400 3.0 81 1,727,200 5.0 81 3,305,175 307.52 -0.3 81 1,763,713 j 3.0 81 2,114,550 5.0 81 2,195,513 July 18,1980b 277.98 0.3 90 34,375,725 l 3.0 90 39,827,200 l 5.0 90 34,648,775 ! 283.94 0.3 91 43,070,000 l 3.0 90 34,569,400 5.0 90 30,870,525 288.78 0.3 89 22,860,000 3.0 89 24,933,275 5.0 88 29,473,525 291.76 0.3 90 56,381,650 3.0 90 47,980,600 5.0 88 10,297,775 l 293.70 0.3 91 29,070,300 3.0 91 29,902,150 ~ 5.0 90 21,307,425 l 158 i
Table 55(Cont.) Depth Temperature Total Phytoplankton Date River Mile (meters) (DF) (cells / liter-1) July 18, 1980b 295.87 0.3 88 29,575,125 (continued) 3.0 88 33,083,500 5.0 88 22,631,400 301.06 0.3 .88 10,089,360 3.0 88 9,992.826 5.0 88 7,548,336 307.50 0.3 88 4,969,944 3.0 88 8,927,838 5.0 88 6,455,322
- a. Regular study
- b. Special study m
G S e 9 159
60 - O REGULAR STUDY (7-1-80) 9 SPECI AL STUDY (7- 18-80) , 50 - o = - 207. 3 x 10 8 b= 2.6 x 106 9 2 r= 0.524 F= 50.69" 9 40 - e o y = a + bx 9 a: 30 -
$ 9(2) $ .J en O -! O " e **
2 o 9
$ 20 -
g 9 ' s O b . 8 V k 10 TRM 291.76 -0 0~ TRM'S O 301.06 TRM'S 307.52 293.70 -- 0 0 0-295.87 O O 301.06 307.52 8g 0; 75 80 85 90 95 TEMPERATURE (*F) Figure 39. Regression of temperature and total phytoplankton, including data from regular and spec.ial studies of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Tennessee River, July 1 and 18, 1980. 160
from factors other than the thermal discharge from BFNP since parallel , changes occurred both upstream and downstream of the plant. It is probable that temperature regimes during the 93 F limit l would stimulate cyanophytes, the dominant algae present. Hwever, since temperatures greater than 90 F were intermittent and lasted for relatively short periods, any cyanophyte production which may have occurred was short term and was probably mitigated by special (high) reservoir releases by TVA to minimize temperature increases. No irreversible effacts are expected. Zooplankton Total zooplankton numbers and percentage composition of each group (Cladocera, Copepoda, and Rotifera) are listed in table 56 Total counts were higher on July 1,1989, than on July 18, 1980, from TRM 277.98 through TRM 293.70 but this trend reversed from TRM 295.87 upstream through TRM 307.52. On both sample dates Rotifera concentra-2 tions were lower in the three upstream stations (TM's 297.87, 301.06 and 307.52). Rotifers were dominant at all stations on both dates except on July 1,1980, at TRM 307.52, where Copepoda nauplii representen over 56 percent of the number. Rotifers were more dominant nearer Wheeler Dam. I ( On July 1, 1980, there was no distinctly dominant rotifer. Brachionus caudatus, Brachionus budapestinensis, Brachionus calyciflorus, and Synchaeta stylata were dominant ac aifferent locations with the highest percentage at any of these locations not comprising over 32 percent of the total rotifer number. On July 18, 1980, conochiloides 161
sp. was the dominant rotifer at all stations except TRM 301.06 where Brachionus angularis was dominant. The dominance of Conochiloides is - evident in that its percentage of rotifer numbers ranged from 39-65 percent. Nauplii larvae were always dominant in the copepod group and usually represented over 70 percent of this group. Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum was the dominant cladoceran on July 1,1980, from TRM 277.98 through TRM 301.06 and from TRM 277.98 through TRM 283.94 on July 18, 1980. In all other cacen, Bosmina longirostris was dominant. Each of these species usually composed over 60 percent of the Cladocera numbers at stations where they were dominant. Some mortality and species compositional changes may have occurred during the period that the 93 F limit was in effect. However, not all species were affected. Any effects to zooplankton from a short-term 93 F limit are also expected to be reversible. , Benthic Macroinvertebrates Corbicula -anilensis (Asiatic clam)-Corbicula populations were similar on both sampling dates except at TRM 283.94 where none were collected on July 18, 1980. This is probably due to sa=pling error, since Corbicula were found at all othcr incations (table 57). Hexagenia bilineata--All of the stations that are typically heavily populated by Hexagenia (TRM 277.98 through TRM 293.70) showed a large decline on July 18, 1980, and July 1,1980. These declines were normal since severs 1 large mayfly hatches occurred between the sampling dates, and the 1980 nymph population was depleted (table 57) . e. 162
, Tabic 56 200PIANKTON POPULATION AND PERCENTAGE COMPARISONS BY STATIONS REGULAR S2UDY - JULY 1,1980, AND SPECIAL STUDY - JULY 18, 1980 July 1, 1980 July 18, 1980 TKH Group No./1 % Composition No./1 % Composition 277.98 CJsdocera 12,509 1.8 16,585 8.7 Copepoda 15,289 2.2 17,728 9.3 Rotifera 667,152 96.0 156,314 82.0 Total 649,950 190,627 283.94 Cladocera 2,873 0.7 5,205 3.1 Copepoda 4,105 1.0 6,045 3.6 Rotifera 403,474 98.3 156,654 93.3 To tal 410,452 167,904 288.78 Cladocera 2,202 0.4 2,449 2.4 Copepoda 3,854 0.7 1,225 1.2 Rotifera 544,529 98.9 98,381 ' 96.4 To tal 550,585 102,055 291.76 Cladocera 6,524 3.4 10,952 10.4 Copepoda 21,874 11.4 4,318 4.3 Rotifera 163,481 85.2 89,828 85.3 To tal 191.879 105,308 293.70 Cladocera 4,021 2. 7 17,242 28.1 Copepoda .15,341 10.3 5,706 9.3 Rotifera 129,578 87.0 38,410 62.6 Total 148,940 61,358 295.87 Cladocera 3,763 17.9 11,946 33.7 Copepoda 7,821 37.2 3,935 11.1 Rotifera 9,440 44.9 19,567 55.2 Total 21,024 35,448 301.06 Cladocera 2.792 18.8 10,751 33.6 Copepoda 4,962 33.4 4,224 13.2 i Rotifera 7,101 47.8 17,022 53.2 To tal 14,855 31,997 307.52 Cladocera 1,416 16.8 5,536 28.1 Copepoda 4,726 56.1 3,487 17.7 Rotifera 2,283 27.1 10,678 54.2 Total 8,425 19,701 163
4 Chironomidae--Midges showed the same trend as Hexagenia, although not as a dramatic change. This is true because several species of Chironomidae are present, and these would not all emerge at the same time (table 57) . Oligochaeta-The aquatic worms were generally more abundant on July 1,1980, than on Jaly 18, 1980, at most stations. There is no explanation for these differences except variability in sampling' and comparison of two different summer dates (table 57). The principal avenue of direct effect of 93 F temperatures would be to drifting organisms or to insects which must pass through the water column prior to emergence (e.g., Hexagenia and Chironomid midges). Water temperatures of 93 F should not have affected these organisms because of their high thermal tolerance and their short exposure time. Because of the nature of the BFNP diffusers, water temperatures near . bottom were ord slightly warmer than ambient and should not have affected Corbicula or Oligochaeta. Nonfisheries Summary D0 and pH values were hiener on July 18 than July 1,1980. These increases were probably related to increased algal numbers and increased photosynthetic activity. Cyanophyta populations increased both up- and downstream of BFNP, apparently due to elevated temperatures. This was more evident in the pooled area of the reservoir. Any effects to zooplankton from a short-term 93 F limit are expected to be reversible, if they occurred. Benthic macroinvertebrates were not affected by the temperature differential on the two sampling dates. It is concluded that operation of BFNP had little or no effect on phytoplankton during the - 164
9 9 a variance period of 93 F temperature limitation. This is due to the slmilar changes up- and downstream of BFNP in respect to environmental limitations for maximum responses and also due to extremely hot daya 4 during July overridiag any BFNP cause. Fisheries Summary A total of 2,563 fish (21 species) weighing 923.89 kg was coll
;d in gill nets from July 16, 1980, through August 12, 1980 (126 I
net nights). Catch data by station are shown in tables 58-62. Five species (gizzard shad, skipjack herring, mooneye, channel catfish, and freshwater drum) dominated the catch by number and biomass at all stations. Combined totals for all stations showed gizzard shad (26.8 and 12.6 percent by number and biomass, respectively) and skipjack herring (20.4 and 23.3 percent by nuabar and biomass) were the two dominant species. , Catch rates during relief monitoring were compared with the i 1980 summer quarter sample catch rates. During the relief period, increased catches were observed over those of routine monitoring at stations 1 and 4; catches were similar at station 3, and lower at station 4 2. During the relief period, catch at stacion 1 (TRM 293) was 38 percent by number and 39 percent by biomass greater than in routine summer quarter samples. Catch-per-effort (C/E) data also reflected the same percentage increases as total catch at station 1 (table 61) . During the a relief period, total catch at station 2 (TRM 299) decreased 37 percent in number and 41 percent in biomass when compared with the 1980 summer sample. These decreases are somewhat misleading because a comparision of C/E rates reveals that only small decreases (2 percent by number and I d 165
9 8 percent by biomass) occurred. At station 3 (TRM 294) total numbers differed by only 0.3 percent, although biomass increased by 20.8 percent during the relief period when compared with the routine summer sample. During the relief, C/E at station 3 reflected sustantial increases in number (65 percent) and biomass (68 percent) when compared with the routine summer sample rate. Catches at station 4, the diffuser discharger station, during the relief period increased 47 percent by number and 68 percecc by biomass over that of the routine summer sample. The C/E at station 4 also showed increases of 40 percent by number and 47 percent by biomass over the rate of the routine summer quarter sample. Total catch and C/E results at stations 1 and 4 (thermally influenced areas) during the routine summer sample and the relief period indicated increased water temperature did not result in avoidance of the diffuser area by any of the five dominant species, in fact gill net - catches were actually higher at stations 3 and . during the relief period than during the routine summer quarter s.tmple. i 6 I 166 1
~
, Table 57 BENTHIC POPUIATION COMPARISONS BY STATIONS # REGULAR STUDY - JULY 1,1980, AND SPECIAL STL"JY - JULY 18, 1980 July 1, 1980 July 18, 1980 Group Organisms /l Organisms /l TRM 277.98 Hexagenia 18 2 Corbicula 92 76 Chironomidae 196 137 Oligochaets 69 13 TRM 283.9 Hexagenia 603 0 Corbicula 102 0 Chironomidae 275 61 011gochaeta 81 68 TKH 288.7 Hexagenia 221 139 Corbicula 128 137 Chironomidae 126 76 Oligochaeta 45 45 TRM 291.7 Hexagania 79 16 + corbicula 88 76 Chironomidae 47 52 011gochaeta 50 25 TRM 293.7 Hexagenia 420 275 Corbicula 72 65 Chironomidae 79 43 011gochaeta 31 9 TRM 295.8 Hexagenia 14 13
.Corbicula 52 25 Chironomidae 18 7 Oligochaeta 11 18 TRM 301.1 Hexagenia 2 5 Corbicula 4 7 Chironomidae 0 9 011gochaeta 9 9 TRM 307.5 Hexagenia 4 0 Corbicula 7 2 Chirononidae 61 6 Oligochaeta 4 2 O
E 167
_~ 4 TABLE 58 e GILL NET CATCH, STATION I, TRM 293 3 VARIANCE, JULY 16-AUG 12, 1980 30 NET NIGHTS Species No. C/E (fish) Wt (Kg) C/E (wt) Longnose gar 1 _0.0333 0.81 0.0270 Spotted gar 12 0.4000 10.71 0.339n Gizzard shad 83 2.7667 15.53 0.51,. Skipjack herring 41 1.3667 17.78 0.5927 Mooneye 48 1.6000 11.65 0.3883 Carp 1 0.0333 1.60 0.0533 Spotted sucker 9 0.3000 3.89 0.1297 Smallmouth buffalo 2 0.0667 2.33 0.0777
- Golden redhorse 22 0.7333 16.75 0.5583 Blue catfish 21 0.7000 9.17 0.3057 Channel catfish 41 1.3667 21.72 0.7240 Flathead catfish 3 0.1000 1.38 0.0460 Freshwater drum 10 0.3333 1.98 0.0643 White bass 13 0.4333 4.28 0.1427 Yellow bass 2 0.0667 0.38 0.0127 Bluegill 12 0.4000 1.06 0.0353 Redear sunfish 37 1.2333 4.42 0.1473 '
Spotted bass 3 0.1000 1.22 0.0407 White crappie 10 0.3333 1.91 0.0637 Sauger 3 0.1000 1.08 0.0360 Total 374 12.4666 129.06 4.2954 i I l l 1 . l 168 l
TABLE 59 GIIg NET CATCH, STATION II TRM 299.0 3 VARIANCE, JULY.16-AUG 12, 1980 25 NET NIGHTS Species No. C/E (fish) We (Kg) C/E (wt) Longnose gar 5 0.2000 21.30 0.8520 Spotted gar 1 0.0400 0.81 0.0324 Gizzard shad 79 3.1600 15.46 0.6184 Skipjack herring 18 0.7200 8.21 0.3284 Mooneye 33 1.3200 7.89 0.3156 Spotted sucker 5 0.2000 2.14 0.0856 Golden redhorse 41 1.6400 26.45 1.0580 Blue catfish 1 0.0400 0.50 0.0200 Channel catfish 13 0.5200 7.68 0.3072 Flathead catfish 4 0.1600 2.89 0.1156 Freshwater drum 10 0.4000 2.39 0.0956 Stripe bass 1 0.0400 0.45 0.0180 White bass 8 0.3200 1.86 0.0744 Bluegill 12 0.4800 1.14 0.0456 Redear sunfish 22 0.8800 2.76 0.1104
. White crappie 1 0.0400 0.20 0.0080 Sauger 7 0.2800 4. 2;8 0.1712 . Total 261 10.4400 106.41 4.2564 I .
l 169 l 1
TABLE 60 GILL NET CATCH, STATION III TRM 294 s 3 VARIANCE, JULY 15-AUG 12, 1980 30 NET NIGHTS Species No. _C/E (fish) Wt (Kg) C/E (wt) Longnose gar 1 0.0333 Spotted gar 0.81 0.0270 23 0.7667 21.08 Gizzard shad 0.7027 455 15.1667 72.06 Skipjack herring 264 2.4020 8.8000 108.10 3.6033 Mooneye 172 5.7333 42.78 1.4260 Carp 1 0.0333 0.50 0.0167 Spotted sucker 4 0.1333 2.04 0.0680 Smallmouth buffalo 2 0.0667 2.40 Golden redhorse 15 0.0800 0.5000 12.24 0.4080 Blue catfish 32 1.0667 14.11 Channel catfish 84 0.4703 2.8000 55.30 1,8433 Freshwater drum 88 2.9333 71.96 White bass 2.3987 26 0.8667 7.37 Yellow bass 0.2523 3 0.1000 0.73 Bluegill 0.0243 3 0.1000 0.26 0.0087 Redear sunfish 6 0.2000 0.69 White crappie 0.0230 12 0.4000 2.32 Sauger 11 0.0773 0.3667 7.96 0.2653 , Total 1202 40.0667 425.25 14.1749 I i 170
. s TABLE 61 GILL NET CATCH, STATION IV, TRM 294 3 VARIANCE, JULY 16-AUG 12, 1980 32 NET NIGHTS Species No. C/E (fish) Wt (KR) C/E (wt) Longnose gar 1 0.0313 2.20 0.0688 Spotted gar 13 0.4063 10.26 0.3206 Gizzard shad 45 1.4063 8.60 0.2688 Skipjack herring 111 3.4688 44.48 1.3900 Mooneye 25 0.7813 6.47 0.2022 Smallmouth buffalo 1 0.0313 0.68 0.0213 Golden redhorse 9 0.2813 8.56 0.2673 Elue catfish 94 2.9375 25.68 0.8025 Channel catfish 53 1.6563 22.40 0.7000 Flathead catfish 1 0.0313 0.45 0.0141 Freshwater drum 39 1.2188 14.23 0.4447 White bass 15 0.4688 5.20 0.1625 Yellow bass 2 0.0625 0.42 0.0131 Bluegill 3 0.0938 0.24 0.0075 Redear sunfish 2 0.0625 0.22 0.0069 White crappie 2 0.0625 0.38 0.0119 Sauger 19 0.5938 14.02 0.4381 Total 435 13.5944 164.49 5.1405 6 4 e 4 171
~
~
TABLE 62 GILL NET CATCH, STATION V, TRN 287 3 VARIANCE, JULY 23-AUG 12, 1980 9 NET NIGHTS Species No. C/E (fish) Wt (Kg) . pE (wt) Spotted gar i 7 0.7778 5.92 0.6578 Gizzard shad 25 2.7778 5.07 0.5633 Skipjack herring 89 9.8889 36.85 4.0944 Mooneye 52 5.7778 12.25 1.3611 Spotted sucker 1 0.1111 .40 0.0444 Smallmouth buffalo 1 0.1111 2.75 0.3056 Channel catfish 28 3.1111 13.43 1.4922 Flatte2d catfish 1 0.1111 1.15 0.1278 Fresh. aster drum 45 5.000 10.34 1.1489 White bass 11 1.2222 2.81 0.3122 Yellow bass 2 0.2222 .45 0.0500 Bluegill 12 1.3333 1.25 0.1389 Redear sunfish 5 0.5556 0.88 0.0978 White crappie 7 0.7778 1.44 0.1600 0.5556 3.69 0.4100 Sauger J Total 291 32.3334 98.68 10.9644 4 i i e . e d 172 l i
/
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' LITERATURE CITED 0
Buchanan, J. P. and W. C. Barr. 1980. Fish Entrainment and Impingement at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in 1978 and 1979. Supplement to: Effects of the Browns Ferry Cooling Water Intake on the Fish Populations of Wheeler Reservoir. Volume 4: Biological Effects of Intake, Browns Ferry Plant. Norris, Tennessee: Division of Water Resources, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Branch. Lippson, A. J. and R. L. Moran. 1974. Manual for Identification of Early Developmental Stages of Fishes of the Potomac River Estuary. PPSP-MP-13, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 282 p. Shelton, W. 1972. Comparative Reproductive Biology of the Gizzard Shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, and the Threadfin Shad, Dorosoma petenense in Lake Texons, Oklahoma, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Oklahoma. 232 p. Tennessee Valley Authority. 1976. Water Quality and Biological Conditions in Wheeler Reservoir During Operation of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. January 1,1976-December 31, 1976. Tennessee Valley Authority. 1977. Water Quality and Biological Conditione in Wheeler Reservoir During Operation of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. January 1, 1977-December 31, 1977. Tennessee Valley Authority. 1978 Water Quality and Biological Conditions in Wheeler Reservoir During Operation of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. January 1, 1978-December 31, 1978. Tennessee Valley Authority. 1978A. Analysis of Flow Patterns in the Vicinity of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Intake. WM28-1-63-100, Nevris, Tennessee. Tennessee Valley Authority. 1978B. Biological Effects of Intake, Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Volume 4: Effect of the Browns Ferry Cooling Water Intake of Fish Populations of Wheeler Reservoir. Norris, l Tennessee: Division of Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife Development, Fisheries and Waterfowl Resources Branch. Tennessee Valley Authority. 1980. Water Quality and Biological Conditions in Wheeler Reservor During Operation of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. January 1, 1979-December 31, 1979. l l = l 4 173 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ __}}