ML20062A318

Rept:Const Monitoring Broad River Study Area,Parr,Sc 1977, Prepared for Sceg:Studies Const Activities Effect on Air Water,Fish,Birds & Other Organisms in Study Area

ML20062A318
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	12/31/1977
From:	SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO.
To:
Shared Package
ML20062A321	List: ML20062A318 ML20062A327
References
5182-087-09, 5182-87-9, NUDOCS 7810120070
Download: ML20062A318 (144)

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REPORT h' ' h ~ '/ d /[  ;

. CONSTRUCTION MONITORING' BROAD RIVER iTUDY AREA i PARR, SOUTH CAROLINA l 1977  ;

FOR SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS COMPANY l i.

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5182-087-09 i

.' 1977 f p k To f A / cec. DA Ho B 7712,3

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SUMMARY

A summary of the findings for data acquired during 1977 indicates that the average water temperatures were similar to those measured in 1976 but

[' lower than those measured in 1974/75. Lower air temperatures in the pe-riod 1975-1977 were possibly responsible for the downward trend in water temperatures. Dissolved oxygen levels have been higher during each of the 3 years at all stations. This may have been partially due to the greater solubility of oxygen in water at lower temperatures.

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,_ The basic structure of the plankton (phytoplankton and zooplankton) popu-lations was similar to that of the baseline program. Plankton biomass varied considerably throughout the 1977 sampling program.

f Construction activities appear to have had little impact on the vascular hydrophytes, although two species identified in the baseline study were not found during this study. The absence of these species may be linked

p. to increased turbidity due to construction activity associated with the

[, Fairfield Pumped Storage Facility (FPSF).

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities remained similar to those sampled during the previous studies with the exception of Transect B. At Tran-

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sect B there was evidence of physical stress on the benethic macroin-vertebrates from the very active dredging which occurred throughout the yea r. The dredging was associated with preparation of the tailrace canal for operation of the FPSF.

The standing crop estimate of the fish populations in Cannons Creek was low compared to previous years. This was possibly due to the reduction

[, of habitat along the shoreline. The banks were cleared of vegetation to the anticipated high water level for operation of the FPSF.

L No evidence of terrestrial plant mortality was determined from evaluation of aerial photography.

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Avian populations in selected areas declined during the winter and summer surveys, possibly due to the clearing of land for transmission line corridors. Waterfowl were attracted to the Monticello Reservoir and wood

_ duck reproduction was recorded for the first time since construction began in the area.

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l' TABLE OF CONTENTS EBEe

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SUMMARY

i TABLE OF CONTENTS iii F

LIST OF TABLES vi  :

LIST OF FIGURES x

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.0-1 r- 2.0 AQUATIC SURVEY 2.1-1 2.1 SAMPLING LOCATIONS 2.1-1 2.2 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS 2.2-1

[' 2.

2.1 INTRODUCTION

2.2-1

! 2.2.2 METHODS AND MATERIALS 2.2-1 2.2.3 FINDINGS 2.2-2 2.2.3.1 Temperature 2.2-2 2.2.3.2 Transparency 2.2-3 s

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2.2.3.3 Dissolved Oxygen 2.2-3 2.2.3.4 pH 2.2-4

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Other Water Quality Parameters 2.2-4

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2.2.4 DISCUSSION 2.2-6

, 2.2.5

SUMMARY

2.2-9

p. 2.3 PLANKTON 2.3-1 2.

3.1 INTRODUCTION

2.3-1 2.3.2 METHODS AND MATERIALS 2.3-1

b. 2.3.2.1 Sampling Stations 2.3-1 2.3.2.2 Phytoplankton 2.3-1 2.3.2.3 Zooplankton 2.3-2

_ 2.3.2.4 Net Plankton Biomass 2.3-3 }

,( 2.3.3 FINDINGS 2.3-4 2.3.3.1 Phytoplankton 2.3-4 e

2.3.3.1.1 Qualitative Analysis 2.3-4 i

t. 2.3.3.1.2 Quantitative Analysis 2.3-4 2.3.3.2 Zooplankton 2.3-5 2.3.3.2.1 Qualitative Analysis 2.3-5

r. 2.3.3.2.2 Quantitative Analysis 2.3-6 *

v. 2.3.3.2.3 Net Plankton Biomass 2.3-7  !

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) fage 2.3.4 DISCUSSION 2.3-7 2.3.4.1 Phytoplankton 2.3-7

! I~ 2.3.4.2 Zooplankton Il 2.3-8 2.3.4.3 Net Plankton Biomass 2.3-9 r-2.3.5

SUMMARY

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2.3.5.1 Phytoplankton 2.3-10

,, 2.3.5.2 Zooplankton 2.3-10 2.3.5.3 Net Plankton Biomass 2.3-10 2.4 VASCULAR HYDROPHYTES 2.4-1

} 2.

4.1 INTRODUCTION

2.4-1 2.4.2 METHODS 2.4-1 2.4.3 FINDINGS '

2.4-1 2.4.4 DISCUSSION 2.4-2 2.4.5

SUMMARY

2.4-2 2.5 BENTH0S 2.5-1 2.

5.1 INTRODUCTION

2.5-1 J- 2.5.2 METHODS AND MATERIALS 2.5-1

2.5.3 FINDINGS 2.5-3 2.5.3.1 Benthic Macroinvertebrates 2.5-3 8

2.5.3.1.1 Qualitative Analysis 2.5-3

, 2.5.3.1.2 Quantitative Analysis 2.5-5 2.5.4 DISCUSSION 2.5-9

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2.5.5

SUMMARY

2.5-10 2.6 FISH 2.6-1 2.

6.1 INTRODUCTION

2.6-1 2.6.2 METHODS AND MATERIALS 2.6-1 i_

2.6.2.1 Collection 2.6-1

{ 2.6.2.2 Age and Growth 2.6-1

. t. 2.6.2.3 Length-Weight Relationships 2.6-2 2.6.2.4 Condition Factor 2.6-2 r- 2.6.2.5 Sex Ratio 2.6-2

[, 2.6.2.6 Standing Crop Estimates 2.6-2 menig s n--

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

- Pagg 2.6.3 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 2.6-3

_ 2.6.3.1 Species Composition and Relative Abundance 2.6-3 2.6.3.2 Age and Growth 2.6-4 2.6.3.3 Length-Weight Relationships 2.6-4 r

2.6.3.4 Condition Factor 2.6-4 2.6.3.5 Sex Ratio 2.6-4 2.6.3.6 Standing Crop 2.6-4 r

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SUMMARY

2.6-5 La 3.0 TERRESTRIAL SURVEY p 3.1 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE BROAD RIVER AREA 3.1-1 3.1-1 i.

3.1.1 CHANGES IN THE BROAD RIVER STUDY AREA - 1976, 1977 r-i" 3.1-1 3.2 BIRDS 3.2-1 I~

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2.1 INTRODUCTION

3.2-1

b. 3.2.2 METHODS AND MATERIALS 3.2-1 F 3.2.2.1 Strip Census 3.2-1 1~ 3.2.2.2 Game Bird Call Count 3.2-1 3.2.2.3 Avian Auto Survey 3.2-2 3.2.2.4 Waterfowl Survey 3.2-2 3.2.3 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 3.2-2 3.2.3.1 Strip Census 3.2-2 L. 3.2.3.2 Game Bird Call Count 3.2-5 3.2.3.3 Avian Auto Survey 3.2-6 3.2.3.4 Waterfowl Survey 3.2-7 3.2.3.5 Additional Findings 3.2-9 3.2.4

SUMMARY

3.2-10

4.0 REFERENCES

4.0-1 APPENDIX A Phytoplankton Data Collected From the is Broad River Study Area During 1977 r' APPENDIX B Zooplankton Data Collected From the ,

[, Broad River Study Area During 1977 r

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LIST OF TA7.ES Table Page 2.2.1 Sampling station locations, parameters, and

r~ frequency of sampling for the surface water

,l monitoring program, 1977. 2.2-10

,r 2.2.2 Water quality analyses methods for the surface water monitoring program,1977. 2.2-11 2.2.3 Summary of chemical analyses of the Broad River Study

[' _, Area (Broad River) from selected stations,1977. 2.2-13

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2.2.4 Summary of chemical analyses of the Broad River i.4r- Study Area from selected stations, 1977. 2.2-17

L g' 2.2.5 Physical and chemical parameters from the Broad

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River Study Area during biological construction monitoring field surveys, April, August, and October 1977. 2.2-19

- )" 2.2.6 Trace metal analysis of surface waters of the Broad

' L. River Study Area from selected stations, 1977. 2.2-20

. p- 2.2.7 Trace metal analysis of surface waters of the Broad

{ River Study Area from selected stations, 1977. 2.2-22

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2.3.1 List of phytoplankton present in surface plankton samples from the Broad River Study Area in 1977. 2.3-11 b

2.3.2 Summary of phytoplankton data collected at transects

[ in the Broad River Study Area,1977. 2.3-15

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g, 2.3.3 Species list of zooplankton present in surface

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plankton samples from the Broad River Study Area in 1977. 2.3-16

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2.3.4 Summary of zooplankton data collected at transects in the Broad River Study Area,1977. 2.3-18 s ..

2.3.5 Biomass analysis from net plankton collected e

in the Broad River Study Area,1977. 2.3-19 2.3.6 Mean values and 95% confidence limits for phytoplank-

,. ton and zooplankton densities and for biomass of net plankton collected in the Broad River Study Area, 1977. 2.3-20

2.4.1 Vascular hydrophytes found during a shoreline survey L. of the Broad River Study Area, 1977. 2.4-4 vi

LIST OF IABLES (Continued) l

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2.5.1 Species list of benthic macroinvertebrates present during 1977 in the Broad River Study Area. 2.5-12 c- 2.5.2 Quantitative comparison (numbers per square meter, i

' diversity indices and equitability) of benthic macroinvertebrates, Broad River Study Area, April 1977,

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2.5-15 i

t. 2.5.3 Quantitative comparison (numbers per square meter, diversity indices and equitability) of benthic j' macroinvertebrates, Broad River Study Area,

, August 1977. 2.5-17 c- ['-

• 2.5.4 Quantitative comparison (numbers per square meter,

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' diversity indices and equitability) of benthic macroinvertebrates, Broad River Study Area, October 1977. 2.5-19 r

2.5.5 Number of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa by group and mean number of organisms per square meter on transects in the Broad River Study Area during April 1977.

2.5-21 2.5.6 Number of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa by group I

and mean number of organisms per square meter on l-transects in 'the Broad River Study Area during August 1977. 2.5-22

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[, 2.5.7 Number of beathic macroinvertebrate taxa by group g- and mean number of organisms per square meter on

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~ transects in the Broad River Study Area during October 1977. 2.5-23 2.5.8 Numbers of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and mean number of organisms per square meter on transects

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in the Broad River Study Area during April 1976. 2.5-24 c' 2.5.9 Number of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and mean

," number of organisms per square meter on transects in the Broad River Study Area during July 1976. 2.5-25 2.5-10 Number of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and mean number of organisms per square meter on transects in the Broad River Study Area during October 1976. 2.5-26 i

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LIST OF IABLES (Continued)

Table Page

[~ 2.5.11 Species diversity (I) and equitability (e) indices for benthic macroinvertebrate collections from the '

Broad River Study Area, 1975 - 1977. 2.5-27 c- ,

2.5.12 Species diversity (d) and equitability (e) indices for benthic macroinvertebrate collections from the Broad River Study Area, 1971 - 1973. 2.5-28 2.6.1 Fishes collected from Cannons Creek with gill and fyke nets, 1977. 2.6-6 f, ~

s. 2.6.2 Fishes collected from Cannons Creek with boom electroshocker, 1977. 2.6-7 r' ",

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2.6.3 Fishes collected from Frees Creek with gill and fyke nets, 1977. 2.6-8 2.6.4 Fishes collected from Frees Creek with boom

. electroshocker, 1977, 2. 6-9

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2.6.5 Fishes collected from above Parr Dam with gill and hoop nets, 1977. 2.6-10

- 2.6.6 Fishes collected from Parr Dam with boom electro-shocker, 1977. 2.6-11 2.6.7 Mean back-calculated total lengths (with 95 percent confidence intervals) of bluegill collected from u.,

Transects B, C, and D in the Broad River Study Area, 1977. 2.6-12 2.6.8 Mean back-calculated total lengths (with 95 percent confidence intervals) of redear sunfish collected from Transects B, C, and D in the Broad River Study Area, 1977. 2.6-13 w

2.6.9 Mean back-calculated total lengths (with 95 percent

[ confidence intervals) of gizzard shad collected

[.. from Transects C and D in the Broad River Study Area, 1977. 2.6-14 2.6.10 Mean back-calculated total lengths (with 95 percent confidence intervals) of black crappie collected from Transects C and D in the Broad River Study Area, 1977. 2.6-15 L

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LIST OF TABLES (Continued)

Table Page c'

2.6.11 Mean back-calculated total lengths (with 95 percent

(, confidence intervals) of white crappie collected from Transects B, C, and D in the Broad River r, Study Area, 1977. 2.6-16 2.6.12 Mean back-calculated total lengths (with 95 percent

_ confidence intervals) of largemouth bass collected

, from Transects B, C, and D in the Broad River i

Study Area, 1977. 2.6-17

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2.6.13 Length-weight regression equations for fishes

[, collected from the Broad River Study Arca, 1977. 2.6-18

, 2.6.14 Standing crop estimates of fishes from Parr Reservoir, South Carolina, 1972 - 1977. 2.6-19 i

3.1.1 Acreage utilization by year in the Broad River

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L, Study Area. 3.1-3 3.2.1 Results of avian strip censuses conducted on r- " control" sites during winter and summer of 1977. 3.2-12 i

3.2.2 Resi.its of avian strip censuses conducted on

,_ " test" sites during winter and summer of 1977. 3.2-13 L. 3.2.3 Birds observed during the Auto Survey - Summer, 1977. 3.2-14

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[ 3.2.4 Maximum waterfowl and shorebirds observed on any one day during the 1977 waterfowl survey. 3.2-16 N_.

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LIST OF FIGUPIS l-Figure Page F

[. 2.1.1 Sampling stations for the 1977 environmental I monitoring programs. 2.1-2 '

r 2.1.2 Depth profiles of sampling transects. 2.1-3 *

,.. 3.1.1 Map of project area showing land modifications from 1970 to 1976. 3.1-4 e

3.2.1 Avian density in selected habitats during strip censuses. 3.2-17 3.2.2 Avian diversity in selected habitats during strip C~ censuses. 3.2-18 ,

3.2.3 Comparison of game bird call counts. 3.2-19 i 3.2.4 Average number of birds recorded on avian auto survey - 1973 and 1977. 3.2-20 O

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report contains the results of the bioenvironmental monitoring pro-gram conducted during 1977. The purpose of the monitoring program was to identify environmental impacts resulting from construction of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station and the FPSF.

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The construction activities during 1977 included land clearing for Monti-

{~ cello Reservoir, transmission line corridors, new roadways, and borrow areas. Timber harvesting was conducted in selected areas. In addition, vegetation on the banks of Parr Reservoir and in the Cannons and Hellers Creeks embayments was removed to the anticipated high water level. Road f , and bridge construction took place through the Cannons and Hellers Creeks

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[ embayments. Dredging operations commenced in November 1976 in the Frees Creek embayment and continued until September 1977. A limited amount of construction took place on Parr Dam and in the vicinity of the Parr Hy-droelectric Station.

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c Included in this report are the results of three aquatic field surveys

p. (April, August, and October 1977), three terrestrial field surveys (Feb-

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ruary and June,1977; and January 1978), an aerial photogrammetric survey (June 1977), and the surface water hydrology program conducted by South

) Carolina Electric cnd Gas Company (SCE&G). The analyses were not re-e'

- \ stricted to 1977 data, but incorporated earlier construction monitoring N-data where appropriate.

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