ML20108A348
| ML20108A348 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley |
| Issue date: | 12/31/1995 |
| From: | Cody W, Kenderes G, Shema R AQUATIC SYSTEMS CORP. |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20108A316 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9605020232 | |
| Download: ML20108A348 (93) | |
Text
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT NON-RADIOLOGICAL DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION UNITS NO. 1 AND 2 LICENSES DPR-66 AND NPF-73 i
~
9605020232 960426 PDR ADQCK 05000334 R
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT NON-RADIOLOGICAL DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION UNITS MO. 1 AhD 2 LICENSES DPR-66 AND NPF-73 Prepared by:
Robert Louis Shema William R. Cody Gary J. Kenderes Michael F. Davison Gregory M. Styborski Aquatic Systems Corporation Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and J. Wayne McIntire Michael D. Banko Duquesne Light Company Shippingport, Pennsylvania
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT i
TABLE OF CONTENTS Paae f
LIST OF FIGURES.............................................
iii LIST OF TABLES..............................................
iv EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
vi I.
INTRODUCTION................................................
1 f
A.
SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM.....................
1 B.
SITE DESCRIPTION........................................
2 II.
SUMMARY
AND CONCLUSIONS.....................................
8 III. ANALYSIS OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE................
14 IV.
MONITORING NON-RADIOLOGICAL EFFLUENTS.......................
14 f
A.
MONITORING CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS...........................
14 B.
HERBICIDES..............................................
14
(
V.
AQUATIC MONITORING PROGRAM..................................
15 A.
INTRODUCTION............................................
15 B.
BENTHOS.................................................
15 Objectives...........................................
15 f
Methods..............................................
15 Habitats.............................................
19 Results..............................................
19
{
Community Structure and Spatial Distribution.........
29 Comparison of Control and Non-Control Stations...........................................
31
[
Comparison of Preoperational and Operational i
Data...............................................
31 Summary and Conclusions..............................
33 f
C.
PHYTOPLANKTON...........................................
36 D.
ZOOPLANKTON.............................................
36 E.
FISH....................................................
36 Objectives...........................................
36
[
Methods..............................................
37 I
Results..............................................
39 Comparison of Control and Non-Control Stations...........................................
46 Summary and Conclusions..............................
46 I
l L
i i
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
EA9ft F.
ICHTHYOPLANKTON.........................................
47 Objectives...........................................
47 Methods........................-
47 Results..............................................
48 Summary and Conclusions..............................
52 G.
IMPINGEMENT.............................................
52 Objectives...........................................
52 Methods..............................................
52 Results..............................................
54 Summary and conclusions..............................
54 H.
PLANKTON ENTRAINMENT....................................
55 1.
Ichthyoplankton......................................
55 Objectives...........................................
55 Methods..............................................
55 Results..............................................
56 Summary and Conclusions..............................
56 2.
Phytoplankton........................................
57 3.
Zooplankton..........................................
57 I.
Corbicula MONITORING PROGRAM............................
57 Introduction.........................................
57 1.
Monitoring...........................................
58 Objectives...........................................
58 Methods..............................................
58 Results..............................................
61 Summary..............................................
69
- 2. Larvae Study.........................................
72 Objectives...........................................
72 Methods..............................................
72 Results..............................................
73 Summary..............................................
75 l
J.
ZEBRA MUSSEL MONITORING.................................
75 l
Introduction.........................................
75
- 1. Monitoring...........................................
76 Objectives...........................................
76 Methods..............................................
77 Results..............................................
78 Summary..............................................
78 VI.
REFERENCES..................................................
80 ii
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY-1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT j
i LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Pace I-1 VIEW OF THE BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, BVPS..........
3
)
I-2 LOCATION OF STUDY AREA, BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, SHIPPINGPORT, PENNSYLVANIA....................
4 I-3 OHIO RIVER FLOW (cfs) AND TEMPERATURE ('F)
RECORDED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL, 1995, BVPS........................
5 V-A-1 SAMPLING STATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION............................
16 V-B-1 BENTHOS. SAMPLING STATIONS, BVPS.........................
18
--V-B-2 MEAN PERCENT COMPOSITION OF THE BENTHOS COMMUNITY IN THE OHIO RIVER NEAR BVPS DURING PREOPERATIONAL-AND OPERATIONAL YEARS, BVPS............................
30 V-E-l' FISH SAMPLING STATIONS, BVPS...........................
38 V-F-1 ICHTHYOPLANKTON SAMPLING STATIONS, BVPS................
49
-V-G-1 INTAKE STRUCTURE, BVPS.................................
53 V-I-1
SUMMARY
OF Cprbicula COLLECTED FROM THE INTAKE STRUCTURE TRAVELING SCREENS DURING IMPINGEMENT SURVEYS, 1985 THROUGH 1995, BVPS.......................
62 V-I-2 Corbicula DENSITIES AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN SCRAPER SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM UNITS 1 AND 2 COOLING TOWERS, 1995, BVPS.............................
64 V-I-3 APPROXIMATE POPULATIONS OF CORBICULA LOCATED IN UNITS 1 AND 2 COOLING TOWERS DERIVED FROM SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN 1986 THROUGH 1995, BVPS...................
67 V-I-4 RESULTS OF Corbicula LARVAE STUDY, SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN THE INTAKE STRUCTURE, 1995, BVPS....................
74 1
I iii
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT LIST OF TABLES TABLE Pace I-1 OHIO RIVER FLOW (cfs) AND TEMPERATURE (*F)
RECORDED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL, 1995, BVPS....................
6 V-A-1 AQUATIC MONITORING PROGRAM SAMPLING DATES, 1995, BVPS...................................................
17 V-B-1 SYSTEMATIC LIST OF MACROINVERTEBRATES COLLECTED FROM 1973 THROUGH 1995 IN THE OHIO RIVER NEAR BVPS..........
20 j
V-B-2 MEAN NUMBER OF MACROINVERTEBRATES (Number /m*) AND PERCENT COMPGSITION OF OLIGOCHAETA, CHIRONOMIDAE, MOLLUSCA AND OTHER ORGANISMS, 1995, BVPS...............
24 i
i V-B-3 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES ( Number /m* ),
MEAN OF TRIPLICATE FOR BACK CHANNEL AND DUPLICATE g ll g
SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE MAIN CHANNEL OHIO RIVER, 4
MAY 8,
- 1995, BVPS......................................
25 i
V-B-4 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES ( Number /m* ),
j MEAN OF TRIPLICATE FOR BACK CHANNEL AND DUPLICATE SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE MAIN CHANNEL OHIO RIVER, SEPTEMBER 12, 1995, BVPS...............................
27 V-B-5 MEAN DIVERSITY VALUES FOR BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES COLLECTED IN THE OHIO RIVER, 1995, BVPS................
32
]
V-B-6 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES (Number /m*) FOR STATION 1 (CONTROL) AND STATION 2B (NON-CONTROL)
DURING PREOPERATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL YEARS, BVPS......
34 V-E-1 FAMILIES AND SPECIES OF FISH COLLECTED IN THT !iEW l'
CUMBERLAND POOL OF THE OHIO RIVER, 1970 THROUGH 1995, m
BVPS...................................................
40 V-E-2 NUMBER OF FISH COLLECTED AT VARIOUS STATIONS BY GILL NET (G), ELECTROFISHING (E), AND SEINING (S)
IN THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL OF THE OHIO RIVER,
- 1995, BVPS.............................................
43 V-E-3 NUMBER OF FISH COLLECTED BY MONTH BY GILL NET (G),
ELECTROFISHING (E), AND SEINING (S) IN THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL OF THE OHIO RIVER, 1995, BVPS..........
44 V-F-1 COMBINED DENSITIES FOR FISH EGGS, LARVAE, JUVENILES AND ADULTS (Numbers /100 m*) COLLECTED WITH A 0.5 m PLANKTON NET IN THE OHIO RIVER MAIN CHANNEL (STATION 2)
AND BACK CHANNEL OF PHILLIS ISLAND (STATION 2B) DURING NIGHT SURVEYS, 1995, BVPS..............................
50 iv
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT LIST OF TABLES
~(Continued)
TABLE Pace V-F-2 TAXA OF FISH AND YEARLY TOTAL DENSITIES FOR FISH EGGS, LARVAE, JUVENILES, AND ADULTS (Numbers /100 nP)
COLLECTED DURING THE NIGHT ICHTHYOPLANKTON SURVEYS,
- 1995, BVPS.............................................
51 V-I-1 Corbicula COLLECTED IN UNIT 1 COOLING TOWER LOWER RESERVOIR, JANUARY 12, 1995, BVPS................
66 V-I-2 Corbicula COLLECTED IN UNIT 2 COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR, MARCH 27, 1995, BVPS........................
68 V-I-3 Corbicula DENSITIES (Clams /100 nP) PRESENT IN ICHTHYOPLANKTON SAMPLES COLLECTED AT' NIGHT WITH A 0.5 m PLANKTON NET IN THE OHIO RIVER 1988 THROUGH
- 1995, BVPS.............................................
70
)
I l
l i
V
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The 1995 Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) Units 1 and 2 Non-Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program consisted of an I
Aquatic Program covering surveillance and field sampling of Ohio River aquatic life.
The Aquatic Program is an annual program conducted by Duquesne Light Company to assess both the impact of the operating BVPS on the aquatic ecosystem of the Ohio River, and the potential impacts of biofouling organisms (Corbicula and zebra mussels) on BVPS operations.
This is the twentieth year of operational environmental monitoring for Unit 1 and the ninth for Unit 2.
As in previous years, no evidence of adverse environmental impact to the aquatic life in the Ohio River was observed.
I The 1995 benthic macroinvertebrate surveys indicated normal community structure upstream and downstream from BVPS.
These benthic surveys are a continuation of a Fate and Effects Study (1990 through 1992) conducted for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to assess ecosystem impacts of the molluscicide CT-1.
The molluscicide CT-1 is used to control biofouling organisms at BVPS.
To date, these studies have shown that the continued use of CT-1 at the BVPS has not been detrimental I
to the aquatic community below the BVPS discharge.
In 1995, five new species were added to the cumulative taxa list of m2croinvertebrates collected near BVPS.
The fish community of the Ohio River in the vicinity of BVPS was scmpled in 1995 by gill nets, night electrofishing and seining.
R:sults for the 1995 fish surveys indicate normal community otructure based on species composition and relative abundance.
Since monitoring began in the early seventies, the number of fish taxa has increased from 43 to 77 for the New Cumberland Pool.
[
The results of the 1995 ichthyoplankton surveys showed normal f
apawning cycles for the fish species inhabiting the Ohio River in the vicinity of BVPS.
Freshwater drum (eggs) dominated the 1995
[
ichthyoplankton surveys total catch.
vi
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT i
The ichthyoplankton surveys also serve as a monitoring technique for detecting the presence of juvenile Corbicula and zebra mussels in the Ohio River water column, which can be drawn into the BVPS intake structure.
In 1995, juvenile Corbicula were first detected in the ichthyoplankton samples collected on April 26, and peak densities were observed in the July 31 samples.
No zebra mussels were collected in the 1995 ichthyoplankton samples, f
In 1995, Corbicula were first detected in the larval cages removed from the BVPS intake structure in June (colonization period April 21 to June 23 ).
The presence of larger juvenile Corbicula in the June cages indicates that the larval forms of those individuals probably entered the cages in late April or May.
Corbicula densities in the larval cages peaked in August, then gradually declined in September and October.
As river water temperatures declined in late October through December, the number of Corbicula colonizing the larval cages decreased and their growth rate also decreased.
No zebra mussels were found in the intake structura larval cages in 1995.
The Corbicula impingement total for 1995 was the second highest since 1985 (combined total of 7,352 live and dead clams).
The greatest number of Corbicula were collected from the BVPS traveling screens in August.
In general, the population of Corbicula in the Ohio River has remained high and continues to provide large numbers of larvae, juvenile and adult Corbicula into BVPS.
No zebra mussels were collected from the 1995 impirgement surveys.
Since 1991, zebra mussels have been moving progressively upstream in the Ohio River.
In 1993, zebra mussels were id: tified at the Pike Island Locks and Dam (mile point 84.2), fif ty m. les downstream of BVPS.
In 1994, zebra mussels were identified in the Ohio River upstream from the BVPS at the Emsworth Locks and Dam (mile point 6.2) and at Lock & Dam 4 and 7 on the Allegheny River.
The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers reported zebra mussels at the New Cumberland Locks and Dam (Ohio River) on May 11, 1995 and on July vii
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 28, 1995, sixteen zebra mussels were reported at the Maxwell Locks Gnd Dam (Monongahela River).
l The 1995 Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program indicated the presence of live zebra mussels at BVPS.
In 1995, live zebra mussels were found by divers in the BVPS main intake structure and auxiliary intake structure during scheduled cleaning operations conducted on October 25 (main intake) and November 2 (auxiliary intake).
Twenty-four zebra mussels were collected, fourteen from the inner Bay C of the main intake structure and ten from the auxiliary intake structure.
The largest zebra mussel found measured 16 mm in length.
I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
ll viii
~
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT I.
INTRODUCTION This report presents a
summary of the Non-Radiological Environmental Program conducted by Duquesne Light Company (DLC) during calendar year 1995, for the Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) Units 1 &
2, Operating License Numbers DPR-66 and NPF-73.
This is a
voluntary
- program, since the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on February 26, 1980, granted DLC's request to delete all of the Aquatic Monitoring Program, with the exception of the fish impingement (Amendment No. 25), from the Environmental Technical Specifications (ETS), and in 1983, dropped the fish impingement studies from the ETS program of required sampling along with non-radiological water quality requirements.
However, in the interest of providing a non-disruptive database DLC is continuing the Aquatic Monitoring Program.
A.
SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM The objectives of the 1995 environmental program were:
(1) to assess the possible environmental impact of BVPS operation on the benthos and fish communities in the Ohio River,
}
(2) to provide a sampling program for continuing a non-disruptive database for the Ohio River near BVPS, preoperational to
- present, (3) to protect BVPS from the biofouling organisms, to evaluate the presence, growth and reproduction of Corbicula at BVPS, monitor for the infestation of the zebra mussel at BVPS.
a i
1
B.
SITE DESCRIPTION BVPS is located on the south bank of the Ohio River in the Eorough of Shippingport, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, on a 501 acre tract of land.
The Shippingport Atomic Power Station once shared the site with BVPS before being decommissioned.
Figure I-1 shows an aerial view of BVPS.
The site is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from Midland, Pennsylvania; 5 miles (8 km) from East Liverpool, Ohio; and 25 miles (40 km) from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Figure I-2 shows the site location in relation to the principal population centers.
The population within a 5 mile (8 km) radius of the plant is approximately 18,000.
The Dorough of Midland, Pennsylvania, has a population of approximately 3,500.
I The site lies along the Ohio River in a valley which has a gradual slope extending from the river (elevation 665 ft. (203 m) above sea level) to an elevation of 1,160 ft. (354 m) along a ridge south of BVPS.
Plant entrance elevation at the station is approximately 735 ft. (224 m) above sea level.
The station is situated on the Ohio River at river mile 34.8, at a location on the New Cumberland Pool that is 3.3 river miles (5.3 km) downstream from Montgomery Lock and Dam and 19.4 miles (31.2 km) upstream from New Cumberland Lock and Dam.
The Pennsylvania-Ohio-West Virginia border is 5.2 river miles (8.4 km) downstream from the site.
The river flow is regulated by a series of dans and reservoirs on the Beaver, Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries.
The average flow in 1995 was 28,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
The range of flows in 1995 is shown on Figure I-3, as well as Table I-1.
The maximum flow occurred in January (101,000 cfs) and the minimum in August and September (4,000 cfs).
Ohio River water temperatures generally vary from 32* to 84*F (0* to 29 C). Minimum and maximum temperatures generally occur in January and July / August, respectively.
During 1995, minimum temperatures I
2
DUQUESNE LIGiff COMPANY ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
('3 ',. -
' -[f,
- -f-s,..a
?
,e j.
I L, r' c..<
l,-
' s,., -
...,j 1:
F l ';..
g:
L' l'-
n T,
V ft ! II s
n
.3 4
as 4.
- - '4
(~#
4 c,
c.
.. ;).
2
[
T
,e.
n.
m f,
' ';~
(
s'{
,-(
s
'l n,._
L.
0 t
g.
- 1 r
Q s-r
.s 7 : -
- j
,< m
.hl blf\\
0f.
!. ).'[ )
$f w
4:m s
s anrs e 3..
4 e
- 3. p ) 2.;,
y
, u.. <. c.
w y.I
\\
y..A_. 3.,..,.t.y{.
/
.f; g, +1 g'.3
.f v.,
2..
y, y
7 t-l5.,
..%..f;
^
p'.''
' "3 F
i
,[A
.g p,
ec p
1 4
.) l
^ ~\\'
.it\\
i w;.a, Q4 r#~8
]
f,::Q }i r.y ]% ;.: f
& y, v.1g(o yxy p.
Q
}
3* p p
1
, 4
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY g
ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT g
5"&YSEY R
g g
WARREN gp f..NON
~
)Y SEEN
~
YOUNGS TOWN NE CASTLE ALLIANCE t
CANTON V
I l
/
[ LfVE RPOOt. MIOLAND t
wELLsviLLE g
g, 4tiovipj a BEAVER VALLEY l i
"I* "E"5'"UION POWER STATION' I
i 9 WILKINSBURG wrinTON PITTS URGH l
I sfru'9tNVfLLE
.N I
ucKt(SPORT 4
o/
//
,,<J i
I
.A,_ e,0N v
l
/
\\
s l
.f h j
A i
l 1.j u\\otono j
p oraven vai.try o
20 40 rowen sTatron UNil i
\\
cp It!PPINGPoRT i.
j~ --.. '
h l1 44
._.1 1
%3
, P,,,.. ]
I I
statt tu nitts FIGURE I-2 LOCATION OF STUDY AREA, BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION i
SHIPPINGPORT, PENNSYLVANIA l
BVPS i
4
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
{
{
FLOW (cfs X 1000) 150
[
120 90
{
(
60 g
A 30 N
{
m O'
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP vCT NOV DEC
{
TEMPERATURE ( F) 100 D
7 Ng
~
///
4
-hl 20 0
(
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC MONTH
(
MONTHLY MIN MONTHLY AVE
+ MONTHLY MAX
^
FIGURE I-3 OHIO RIVER FLOW (cfs) AND TEMPERATURE (*F)
RECORDED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS r
FOR THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL, 1995 L
BVPS 5
l TABLE I-1 l
l OHIO RIVER FLOW (cfs) AND TEMPERATURE (*F) RECORDED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL, 1995 BVPS J_aB Feb
}Lar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Seo Oct Egv Dec Flow (cfs x 10_')_
$e*
Monthly Maximum 101 65 87 63 98 49 34 50 11 18 57 56 bb Monthly Average 49 33 48 33 44 24 12 10 6
10 34 28 g
> tn Monthly Minimum 17 11 17 12 16 7
5 4
4 5
8 15 P@
E<: t*
cn Temocrature (?F) y$
O.C Monthly Maximum 40 37 50 55 66 80 86 86 82 71 57 41
)d Eo Monthly Average 36 33 42 49 60 71 78 82 74 65 45 35 gg t~ >
Monthly Minimum 33 32 34 45 54 65 75 81 68 56 38 33 g$
8e M
M M
M M
m
-m r
.. - ~
i DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY
)
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ware observed in February and maximum temperatures in July and August (Figure I-3 and Table I-1).
BVPS Units 1 & 2 have a thermal rating of 2,660 megawatts (Mw).
Units 1 & 2 have a design electrical rating of 835 Mw and 836 Mw, ranpectively.
The circulcting water systems are a closed cycle cystem using a cooling tower to minimize heat released to the Ohio River.
Commercial operation of BVPS Unit 1 began in 1976 and Unit 2 began operation in 1987.
4 1
i f
l l
i l
I 1
f 7
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT II.
SUMMAP.Y AND CONCLUSIONS The following paragraphs summarize the findings for each section of the BVPS Aquatic Program:
Benthos I
Substrate was probably the most important factor controlling the distribution and abundance of the benthic macroinvertebrates in the Ohio River near BVPS.
Soft muck-type substrates along the shoreline were conducive to worm and midge proliferation, while limiting macroinvertebrates which require a more stable bottom. At I
the shoreline stations, Oligochaeta accounted for 77% of the macrobenthos collected, whereas Chironomidae and Mollusca each accounted for about 18% and 4%, respectively.
I In 1995, five new species were added to the cumulative taxa list of macroinvertebrates collected near BVPS. This included four species collected in the benthos samples, plus the zebra mussel Dreissena nolvmoroha, which was collected by divers in the BVPS main and auxiliary intake structures during scheduled cleaning operations.
Community structure has changed little since preoperational years and there was no evidence that BVPS operations were affecting the benthic community of the Ohio niver.
Phytonlankton/Zoonlankton The plankton communities (phyto-and zooplankton) have been sampled and analyzed at the BVPS on a monthly basis from 1973 through 1992.
The results of this twenty year study showed that the long term trends for the plankton communities were consistent from year to year.
Annual variations were attributable to either extremes in precipitation and/or temperature.
- Overall, the plankton communities, both phytoplankton and zooplankton were considered typical of those in temperate climates (Hutchinson 1967).
8
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUhL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Therefore, having compiled an extensive plankton database for the Ohio River, BVPS modified the plankton program, effective January 1993.
Currently, samples are still collected from the same intake etructure at monthly intervals and properly preserved as in previous years.
- However, these preserved samples have been archived pending a need for future laboratory analysis.
Fish The fish community of the Ohio River in the vicinity of BVPS was ccmpled in 1995 by gill nets, electrofishing and seining.
The results of the 1995 fish surveys show normal community structure based ' on species composition and relative abundance.
Forage cpecies were collected in the highest numbers, particularly gizzard chad and emerald shiners.
This indicates a normal fish community, cince game species (predators) rely on this forage base for their curvival.
Variations in total annual catch are a
natural occurrence and are attributable primarily to fluctuations in the population size of the forage species.
Forage species, such as gizzard _ shad and emerald shiner with high reproductive potentials frequently respond to changes in natural environmental factors (competition, food availability, cover, and water quality) with large fluctuations in population size.
1 Although variations in total catch occurred from station to stration in 1995, species composition remained fairly stable.
Common taxa collected in the 1995 surveys by all methods included gizzard shad, cmsrald shiner, redhorse species, spottail shiner, channel catfish, common carp,
- sauger, freshwater drum, quillback and flathead cntfish. Differences observed in catch between the control (1) and Non-Control Stations (2A, 2B and 3) were probably caused by habitat prsferences of individual species.
Habitat preference is probably the most influential factor that affects where the different ep:cies of fish are collected and in what relative abundance.
I 9
I DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Jchthyoolankton Freshwater drum dominated the 1995 ichthyoplankton catch from the back channel of Phillis Island.
Common carp and gizzard shad ranked next in terms of abundance.
Ichthyoplankton densities were
]
low during April and early May, then moderately increased in late May prior to the peak in early June.
Densities gradually decreased through late July, and remained low through the final survey.
This represents normal spawning cycles for the fish species inhabiting the Ohio River in the vicinity of the BVPS.
Fish Impinaement i
The results of the 1995 impingement surveys indicate that during the month of August large numbers of Corbicula were collected off of the traveling screens.
Although this trend has occurred in previous years, the August 1995 total was the second highest in the period since 1985.
The number of fish collected from the 1995 impingement surveys at BVPS was within the range observed for previous operational years and indicates that withdrawal of river water at BVPS intake for cooling purposes has very little effect on the fish populations.
No zebra mussels were collected from the 1995 impingement surveys.
Plankton Entrainment 1.
Ichthyoplankton Freshwater drum (eggs) dominated the 1995 ichthyoplankton catch from the main channel of the Ohio River in front of the BVPS.
The most common fish larvae collected were freshwater drum, common carp and gizzard shad.
Ichthyoplankton densities began to increase in May, peaked in early June and decreased in late July.
This represents normal spawning cycles for the fish species inhabiting the Ohio River in the vicinity of the BVPS.
l l
s 10 i
1
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1993 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2./3. Phytoplankton / Zooplankton The plankton communities (phyto-and zooplankton) have been sampled and analyzed at the BVPS on a monthly basis from 1973 through 1992.
The results of this twenty year study showed that the long term trends for the plankton communities were consistent from year to ysar.
Annual variations were attributable to either extremes in precipitation and/or temperature.
- Overall, the plankton communities, both phytoplankton and zooplankton were considered typical of those in temperate climates (Hutchinson 1967).
Therefore, having compiled an extensive plankton database for the Ohio River, BVPS modified the plankton program, effective January
-1993.
Currently, samples are still collected from the same intake
. structure at monthly intervals and properly preserved as in previous years.
- However, thesa preserved samples have been archived pending a need for future laboratory analysis.
Corbicula Monitorina The weekly screen washing data for 1995 showed that juveniles and Edult Corbicula float into BVPS.
A trend that has been observed every year since 1985 is that the August and September screen washing collections produce the highest number of Corbicula.
The Corbicula screen washing total for 1995 was the second highest since 1985.
The montN1y reservoir sc. aper samples collected in Units 1 and 2 cooling towers during 1995 indicated when'Corbicula were entering and colonizing the reservoirs.
Corbicula entered the Units 1 and 2 cooling towers through the circulating water systems primarily in July and August of 1995.
Stdiment samples were collected in the Unit 1 cooling tower (Jcnuary 12, 1995) and Unit 2 cooling tower (March 27, 1995) lower roservoirs during the scheduled outages in order to estimate the 11
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY l
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT E
Corbicula populations within those structures.
The estimated number of.corbicula inhabiting the Units 1 and 2 cooling towers at the time of the surveys were 382 million and 7 million clans, respectively.
Population surveys of both BVPS cooling tower reservoirs conducted during scheduled outages (1986 through 1995) have resulted in lower densities of Corbicula in the Unit 2 tower compared to the Unit 1 cooling tower.
This can be attributed to differences in cooling tower design and the faster water currents 1
in the Unit 2 cooling tower reservoir, which decrease sediment i
deposition.
The collection of juvenile Corbicula from the ichthyoplankton samples demonstrates that Corbicula are typically present in the water column of the Ohio River during the late spr!ng/ summer period. These small clams are carried downstream by river currents and enter BVPS through the intake structure. The highest densities of Corbicula in 1995 occurred in the July 31 ichthyoplankton samples collceted from both the main and back channel stations.
Juvenile Corbicula were first detected in the larval cages removed g
from the BVPS intake structure in June.
This late spring /early 5
summer spawning period typically occurs in the Ohio River near BVPS each year.
The Corbicula larvae entering the larval cages during the summer months exhibited rapid growth, attaining a maximum length of 15.17 mm (colonization period July 21 to September 15).
The presence of juvenile Corbicula in the December larval cages suggests that Corbicula were still spawning up to the end of October.
As the river temperatures dropped below 50 'F in mid November, the growth rate of Corbicula in the intake structure g
larval cages decreased.
No zebra mussels were found in the intake E
structure larval cages in 1995.
I Zebra Mussel Monitorina_
I The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is an exotic freshwater mollusk that is believed to have been introduced into Lake St.
Clair in 1987 via ballast water of ocean-going cargo vessels.
12
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Since then, they have spread rapidly to the other Great Lakes and are infesting riverine systems in the United States.
l Due to the proximity of the Ohio River to Lake Erie, BVPS initiated a Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program in January 1990.
From 1991 through 1993, zebra mussels moved progressively upstream from the lower to upper Ohio River.
In 1994, there were confirned zebra I
mussel sightings at locations both upstream and donnstream from BVPS, including the Allegheny River.
The July 1995 sighting of zebra mussels at Maxwell Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River establishes the presence of these organisms within the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers in Western Pennsylvania.
The 1995 Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program indicated the presence of live zebra mussels at BVPS.
In 1995, live zebra mussels were found I
by divers in the BVPS main intake structure and auxilfary intake structure during scheduled cleaning operations conducted on October 25 (main intake) and November 2 (auxiliary intake).
Twenty-four zebra mussels were collected, fourteen from the inner Bay C of the main intake structure and ten from the auxiliary intake structure.
The largest zebra mussel found measured 16 mm in length.
I I
I I
13
I DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT l
III.
ANALYSIS OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE The BVPS Unit 1 ETS, Appendix B to Operating License No. DPR-66, initially required that significant environmental change analyses g
be performed on benthos, phytoplankton, and zooplankton data.
m
)
However, on February 26, 1980,'the NRC granted DLC a request to delete all of the Aquatic Monitoring Program, with the exception of the fish impingement, from the ETS (Amendment No. 25, License No.
DPR-66).
Consequently, the requirements for Analysis of Significant Environmental Change was deleted by the NRC, and is not applicable to the present Aquatic Monitoring Program.
In 1983, the NRC also deleted the requirement for fish impingement studies.
However, in the interest of providing a non-disruptive database, DLC is continuing the Aquatie Monitoring Program.
El IV.
MONITORING NON-RADIOLOGICAL EFFLUENTS A.
MONITORING CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS The Environmental Technical Specifications (ETS) that were developed and included as part of the licensing agreement for the BVPS, required that certain non-radiological chemicals and the temperature of the discharges be monitored and if limits were exceeded they had to be reported to the NRC.
During 1983, th: NRC (Amendment No. 64, License No. DPR-66) deleted these water quality requirements.
The basis for this deletion is that the reporting requirements would be administered under the NPDES permit.
However, the NRC requested that if any NPDES permit requirements were exceeded, that a copy of the violation be forwarded to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
B.
HERBICIDES Monitoring and reporting of herbicides used for weed cont' rol during 1995, is no longer required as stated in Amendment No. 64; thus,
)
this information is not included in this report.
14
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT i
V.
AQUATIC MONI7ORING PROGRAM I
A.
INTRODUCTION Tha environmental study area, established to assess potential impacts, consisted of four sampling stations each having a north cnd south shore (Figure V-A-1).
Station 1 is located at river mile (RM) 34.5, approximately 0.3 mi (0.5 km) upstream of BVPS and is the Control Station.
Station 2A is located approximately 0.5 mi (0.8 km) downstream of the BVPS discharge structure in the main channel.
Station 2B is located in the back channel of Phillis Icland, also 0.5 mi downstream of the BVPS discharge ctructure.
Station 2B is the principal Non-Control Station because the majority of aqueous discharges from BVPS Units 1 and 2 ar.e released to the back channel.
Station 3 is located approximately 2 mi (3.2 km) downstream of BVPS.
1 Sempling dates for each of the program elements are presented in Tcble V-A-1.
.+
l The.following sections of this report present a summary of findings for each of the program elements.
B.
BENTHOS Objectives The objectives of the benthic surveys were to characterize the macroinvertebrates of the Ohio River near BVPS and to determine the impacts, if any, of BVPS operations.
Methods BInthic surveys were performed in May and September,1995.
Benthos ennples were collected at Stations 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 (Figure V-B-1),
uging a Ponar grab sampler.
Duplicate samples were taken off the couth shore at Stations 1, 2A, and 3.
Sampling at Station 2B, in 15
I I
i.
.Y. y.'.
scata
, ear h "
,UlDLAND
(
9 z
m STATION 3 1,
e yo N
p C
i m esrIzz.n
==.
& e *,
My v4 a"
)
2 s
z NM j
f
-w z
e g
m v.
g STATION I EO
- ,e e
$g 0
STATION 2A 4
is p
i M'
b.
53 i
it Mw s
LEGEND k
I
- l l **
I I@
t-3 1
s,,.
D1 BEAVER VAILEY DISCHARGE es D2 INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGE
)
l t
e AID TO NAVIGATICN i
BEAVER i
TRANSMISSION LINE STATION 20 VALLEY 6,,,,.
POWER j
STATION l
i FIGURE V-A-1 l
SAMPLING STATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE i
BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION BVPS
{
1
i i
mumm mumme ummm umumm TABLE V-A-1 AQUATIC MONITORING PROGRAM SAMPLING DATES 1995 BVPS l
l Zebra Mussel and Corbicula Ichthvoolankton Phyto-and Month Benthos Monitorina")
Fish Imoincement Nicht Zooolankton January 6,29 6
13 y
o February 3,17 17,24 17 l
$b March 3,17,26,27,31 3,10,17,24,31 17 go
>M April 21 7,14,21,28 13,26 7
l MM May 8
5,19 8,"
5,19,26 9.26 19 Mr June 23,30 2,9,16,23,30 6,22 23 oy 2
July 7,21,23 10,11 7,14,21,28 7,18,31 14 y@
Nk August 4,18 4,11,18,25 14,30 11 p>
September 12 1,15,18 11,12 8,15,22,29 8
o October 6,20,27 6,13,20,27 20 y
i November 3,24 20,21 3,10,17,24 24 December 8,15,22 1
15 "8 Zebra Mussel and Corbicula Monitoring also includes all Impingement dates.
>=
"3' ;j?y;.f ,
.f scatt esti
... MIDLAND p.
'~
3 5
s 3
~a
- ar=
q c
v.
E@c N
"O s " '- }
.4
+e m c=
e msmz.o m
s*
k PLAlfT C (/)
a a
8 e
~~
<Q l
i#
H
$[
, s
./
==<= 3 N
/.,
=
ga t
8 m
i m
~8
,.. s.,
73 o
>o g-r2 "7
W y 't l
O\\.,
mE smns LIMND
[ gg g +<
D1 BEAVER VAI.I.EY DISCHARGE
[ """*,
$k $
A sAnrr.nto srArrow z
7
,_3 STATICM NUMBER
3 D2 INDUSTRIAI. DISCHARGE
.t es e
AID Io NAvIcArrow 2B
. h I
TnANsMrssIow r.INE i'
- g. '.....
STATION FIGURE V-B-1 i
BENTHOS SAMPLING STATIONS l
BVPS mum aus
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT the back channel of Phillis Island, consisted of a single Ponar grab at the south, middle and north side of the channel.
Each grab was washed within a U.S.
Standard No. 30 sieve and the remains placed in a bottle and preserved.
In the laboratory, macroinvertebrates were sorted from each sample, identified to the lowest possible taxon and counted. Mean densities (numbers /m') for cach taxon were calculated for each of the two replicates and three back channel samples.
Three species diversity indices were calculated:
Shannon-Weiner, evenness indices (Pielou 1969), and the number of species (taxa).
Habitats Substrate type was an important factor in determining the composition of the benthic community.
Two distinct benthic habitats exist in the Ohio River near BVPS.
These habitats are the result of damming, channelization, and river traffic.
Shoreline habitats were generally sof t muck substrates composed of sand, allt, and detritus.
An exception occurs along the north shoreline l
of Phillis Island at Station 2A where clay and sand predominate.
The other distinct habitat, hard substrate, is located at midriver.
The hard substrate is probably the result of channelization and ccouring by river currents and turbulence from commercial boat traffic.
(
Results Sixty-one macroinvertebrate taxa were identified during the 1995
{
monitoring program (Table V-B-1).
Species composition during 1995 was similar to that observed during previous preoperational (1973 through 1975) and operational (1976 through 1994) years.
The macroinvertebrate assemblage during 1995 was composed primarily of burrowing organisms typical of soft unconsolidated substrates.
Oligochaetes (worms) and chironomid (midge) larvae were abundant (Tables V-B-2, V-B-3, and V-B-4).
Common genera of oligochaetes were Limnodrilus, Nais, and Paranais. Common genera of chironomids 19
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-1 SYSTEMATIC LIST OF HACROINVERTEBRATES COLLECTED FROM 1973 THROUGH 1995 IN THE OHIO RIVF.R NEAR gl BVPS gi Collected in Collected in Tara Previous Years 1995 Porifera spong111a frgallis X
Cnidaria Hydrozoa Clavidae Cordvlochora lacustris X
Hydridas crasoedacusta sowerhil X
Hydra pp.
X X
Platyhelminthes i
Tricladida X
X l
Rhabdocoela X
Nemertea X
X Nematoda X
X Entoprocta Urnatella gracilis X
1 Ectoprocta Fredericella sp.
X X
Paludice113 articulata X
Pectinatella sp.
X Plumstella sp.
X Annelida oligochaeta Aeolosomatidae X
Enchytraeidae X
X Naididae A11onals pgggingt3 X
X Amohichnets Igyjilgi X
X Amohichagig sp.
X Arcteonals lgggndl X
X Aulochorus sp.
X CbAttocaster giinghanus X
X C. EllA11rQsbug X
QBIS dioitata X
DgIg flabellicer X
Q. nivea X
DnIn sp.
X X
HAig barbata X
H. behninal X
H. brtischgri X
X H. C.0mgunis X
X H. ElinguiA X
X H. cardalis X
X H. pseudobtusa X
H. simpieg X
H. yAriabilla X
X HAls sp.
X gphidonais serptnting X
X l
Paranais frici X
X l
Parangig sp.
X I
Piouetiella michloanensis X
X I
Pristina idrensis X
X
)
Pristina 1pngigggg X
Pristina lonaiseta X
E. nsborni X
X l
E. alma X
X l
EIlating sp.
X Ricisten gaggslig X
X i
slavirig nonendiculata X
l Etenhensoniana trivandrana X
Stvlaria fossularis X
X
- 5. lacustris X
Uncinais gnginata X
Vejoovskve11A Carata X
yeidovskyella intermedia X
X Veidovskvella sp.
X
... ~.
.~_
. = - - -
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
. TABLE V-B-1 (Continued)
Collected in Collected in Tara Previous Years 1995 Tubificidae
'i Autodrilus 11mnobius X
X
- 6. claueti X
X
- 6. olurinata X
X Bothrioneurum M Ovskvanum X
eranchiura 32Eerbyl X
X 1
11yodrilun %gspietoni X
Limnodrilus cervig X
X L. cervix (variant)
X L. elanaredianya X
L hoffmeisteri X
X L. AR1Iglia X
l L. udakagianus X
X L1Enodrilun sp.
X PelescoleX multimatosum lonaldentus X E. m. multimetQ195 X
Potamothrix 30MRViensia X
d E. veidovskvi X
Egggmorvetidqg gggy.13etosus X
Tubifex tubifex X
Unidentified immature format with hair chaetae X
X without hair chaetae X
X Lumbriculidae X
Hirudinea C1ossiphoniidae X
Halobdella glongatg X
- 11. stagnalig X
Halobdalla sp.
X Erpobdeltidae Erpobdella sp.
X Mooreobdella microatoma X
Arthropoda Acarina X
X Ostracoda X
Isopoda i
Anellus sp.
X Amphipoda Talitridae 11yalalla azteca X
1 Cammaridae cranconyx pagudoormellia X
CranannyX sp.
X Gammarus fasciatus X
cammarus sp.
X X
Decapoda X
Collembola X
Ephemeroptera a
Heptageniidae X
stenacron sp.
X
$1enonema sp.
X Ephemeridae Ephemera sp.
X Hexagania sp.
X X
Baetidae X
Caenidae CAgnis sp.
X Tricorythidae tricorvthodem sp.
X Hegaloptera sin 11s sp.
X odonata Comphidac Dromogomohus spoliatus X
Dromocomohus sp.
X G232hus sp.
X Libellulidae Lihallula sp.
X 21
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-1 l
(Continued)
W Collected in Collected in Taxa Previous years 1993_
Trichoptera Hydropsychidae X
C.tteumatoosvche sp.
X Hydroonycht sp.
X Hydroptilldes Hydropt.ijn sp.
X QXyethira sp.
X Leptoceridae CgInglea sp.
X Qecetis sp.
X X
polycentropodidae cvrnellus sp.
X Polveentr.gpyg sp.
X Coleoptera Hydrophilidae X
Elmidae Ancyronyx yariegatus X
Qub1I.Achia sp.
X X
litlisuus sp.
X Steneigin sp.
X X
Psephenidae X
Diptera Unidentified Diptera X
Psychodidae X
Pericana sp.
X Esychoda sp.
X Telmatescoppg sp.
X Unidentified Psychodidae pupae X
Chaoboridae Chaoborus sp.
X Simuliidae similium sp.
X Chironomidae Chironominae X
Tanytarsini pupa X
Chironominae pupa X
X AKRIE3 sp.
X Chironor,tg sp.
X X
Cladocelta sp.
X X
Cryptoch..ronomus sp.
X X
Dicrotennista nervosus X
Dierotendioes sp.
X X
Glyplotendices sp.
X Harnischia sp.
X X
Microchironomus sp.
X X
Hierocsentra sp.
X Microten11E12 sp.
X Egrachiron2543 sp.
X EAratendipts plhipanus X
PhaenoesfElta sp.
X i
E21Ypedilum (s.s.) convictum type X E. (s.s.) simulans type X
En1vpedilum sp.
X X
Eheetanvtarsus sp.
X glenochironemus sp.
X stietechironomus sp.
X Tanvtarsus sp.
X X
xenechironomus sp.
X Tanypodinae Tanypodinae pupae X
Ablebesmyla sp.
X C2elotanv221 Egapularis X
X Dialmnbat1113 ggicher X
Dialmabatista sp.
X j
Procladius (Procladiug)
X j
Erocladius sp.
X X
Tanypus sp.
X Thienemannimvia group X
Zavrelievia sp.
X 22
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-1 (Continued) l Collected in Collected in I
Tara Erevious years 1995 Orthocladiinae X
orthocladiinae pupas X
cricetoous hicinctus X
l C. (s.s.) trifascim X
cricotoous (Isociadium)-
-svivestris Group X
C. (Isocindius) sp.
X Cricatopus (s.s.) sp.
X X
Pukiefferiella sp.
X l
Hydrebaenus sp.
X 1imnochves sp.
X Nanocladium (3.3.) distinctus X
Hanocladius sp.
X X
ortheeladium sp.
X X
l Parametrinenemus sp.
X Parachaenocladium sp.
X Psectrocladius sp.
X Egggdorthociadius sp.
X Pseudosmittia sp.
X 1
Enittia sp.
X Diamesinae Diamesa sp.
X Potthastia sp.
X Ceratopogonidae X
1 Dolichopodidae X
Empididae X
wiedemannia sp.
X Ephydridae X
Muscidae X
Rhagionidae X
l Tipu11dae X
Stratiomyidae X
Syrphidae X
Lepidoptera X
Mollusca I
Gastropoda Ancy11dae terrissia sp.
X Pianorbidae X
Valvatidae i
Valvata eerdeeressa X
Pelecypoda X
Corbiculidas carbicula fluminea X
X Sphaeriidae X
Pisidium sp.
X 1
sohnerium sp.
X X
Unidentified immature Sphaeriidae X Dreissenidae Dreinsena polymorena X
Unionidae I
Anodonta grandis X
Anodonta immature X
Ellistig sp.
X Unidentified immature Unionidae X
l 1
M 23
TABLE V-B-2 MEAN NUMBER OF MACROINVERTEBRATES (Number /m") AND PERCENT COMPOSITION OF OLIGOCHAETA, CHIRONOMIDAE, MOLLUSCA AND OTHER ORGANISMS, 1995 BVPS STATION 1
2A 2B 3
- /m'
- /m2 y
- /m2
- /m2 e*
Mav 8 Oligochaeta 6938 86 4653 86 7225 78 7276 77 zo Chironomidae 1105 14 643 12 1774 19 1746 18 h@
Mollusca 0
0 30 1
99 1
266 3
t'g Others 40
<1 50 1
185 2
189 2
mM kta Total 8083 100 5376 100 9283 100 9477 100 gg Ok 2
September 12 gQ 82 Oligochaeta 1185 71 809 51 2112 55 2442 82
$5 Chironomidae 217 13 159 10 1570 41 227 8
Mollusca 257 15 611 39 164 4
286 10 Others 10 1
0 0
27
<1 10
<1 3
Total 1669 100 1579 100 3873 100 2965 100
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-3 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES ( Number /m'), MEAN OF TRIPLICATE FOR BACK CHANNEL AND DUPLICATE SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE MAIN CHANNEL OHIO RIVER, MAY 8, 1995 BVPS STATION Taxa 1
2A 2B 3
nideria Hydrozoa Hydridae Hydra sp.
10 26 N mortea 40 7
20 Namatoda 10 30 Annalida Oligochaeta Enchytraeidae 20 Naididae
+
+
Oligochaeta eggs Allonais pectinata 7
Amphichaeta leydigi 79 Arcteonais lomondi 7
Chaetoaaster diaphanus 85 40 72 10 Dero sp.
Nais bretscheri 10 Nais communis 40 20 112 20 Nais elinguis 10 50 Nais pardalis 1044 900 365 Nais pseudobtusa 1025 69 558 40 Nais variabilis 79 10 72 Ophidonais seroentina 33 Paranais f:ini 1892 1960 2522 2305 Piguetiella michicanencis 158 50 Pristina idrensis 20 20 Rinistes parasita 33 30 Stvlaria fossularis 30 250 138 7
10 Veidovskyella comata Veidovskyella intermedia 99 269 1369 Tubificidae Aulodrilus limnobius 306 13 50 Aulodrilus pigueti 10 72 10 Aulodrilus pluriseta 59 Branchiura sowerbyi 79 69 Limnodrilus cervix 79 30 Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri 867 118 184 611 Limnodrilus udekemianus 40 Unidentified immature forms:
with hair chaeta 197 670 125 99 without hair chaeta 2561 79 1825 1980 25
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-3 (Continued)
STATION Taxa 1
2A 2B 3
Arthropoda Amphipoda Gammaridae Gammarus sp.
10 125 99 Ephemeroptera Ephemeridae Hexaaenia sp.
20 30 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Oecetis sp.
20 Coleoptera Elmidae Dubiraphia sp.
7 Stenelmis sp.
10 Diptera Chironomidae Chironominae pupae 30 40 59 Chironomus sp.
158 20 131 178 Cryptochironomus sp.
79 109 53 119 Dicrotendines sp.
10 10 llarnischia sp.
10 Microchironomus sp.
10 Polvoedilum sp.
828 335 1471 1300 Tanypodinae Procladius sp.
40 26 Orthocladiinae Cricotopus sp.
129 53 40 Nanocladius sp.
10 10 Orthocladius sp.
10 Mollusca Polecypoda corbiculidae Corbicula fluminea 20 99 266 Sphaeriidae Schaerium sp.
10 Total 8083 5376 9283 9477
+ Indicates organisms present.
I 26
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY l
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-4 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES (Number /m'), MEAN OF TRIPLICATE FOR BACK CHANNEL AND DUPLICATE SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE MAIN CHANNEL OHIO RIVER, SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 BVPS STATION Taxa 1
2A 2B 3
Platyholminthes Triclcdida 7
Ectoprocta Fredericella sp.
+
Annalida Oligochaeta Noididae Oligochaeta eggs
+
Dero sp.
30 Nais communis 60 39 Nais nardalis 20 217 10 Nais variabilis 59 Piauetiella michicanensis 10 Pristina idrensis 89 Pristina lonaisoma 7
Pristina osborni 20 10 Pristina sina 10 Tubificidae Aulodrilus limnobius 20 10 217 10 Aulodrilus piaueti 131 20 Aulodrilus pluriseta 13 Branchiura sowerbyi 79 40 Limnodrilus cervix 20 Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri 99 49 309 522 Limnodrilus udekemianus 20 13 10 Unidentified immature forms with hair chaeta 40 99 49 without hair chaeta 926 444 1244 1583 Arthropoda Accrina Hydracaria sp.
10 10 Trichoptera l
Polycentropodidae Cvrnellus sp.
20 Diptora Chironomidae Chironominae pupae 10 20 Chironomus sp.
10 Cladocelma sp.
7 27
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT I
TABLE V-B-4 (Continued)
Taxa 1
2A 2B 3
Cryptochironomus sp.
69 40 46 50 Dicrotendipes sp.
20 Harnischia sp.
26 l
Microchironomus sp.
164 E
Polycedilum sp.
118 69 1103 177 Tanytarsus sp.
98 Tanypodinae Coelotanvpus scapularis 66 Procladius sp.
53 Orthocladiinae Cricotoous sp.
10 10 Nanocladius sp.
7 Mollusca Palecypoda corbiculidae Corbicula fluminea 257 611 164 286 Total 1669 1579 3873 2965
+ Indicates organisms present.
I 28
l DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY
[
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
{
were Polvoedilum, Cryotochironomus, and Chironomus.
The Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), has been observed in the Ohio River near BVPS from 1974 to present.
In 1995, no zebra mussels were collected in the BVPS benthos samples, however, they were detected by divers in the BVPS main and auxiliary intake structures during scheduled cleaning operations.-
(
In 1995, five new species were added to the cumulative taxa list of macroinvertebrates collected near BVPS (Table V-B-1).
In May, the
[
oligochaete Nais pagudobtusa was collected at all four sampling
- stations, whereas Vejdovskvella comata was collected only at Stations 2B and 3 (Table V-B-3).
In September, the oligochaete Pristina lonais_Qma and a Trichoptera, Cyrnellus sp. were collected at Station 2B (Table V-B-4).
In late October /early November, the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha was detected by divers in the BVPS main intake structure and auxiliary intake structure.
No f
threatened or endangered macroinvertebrate species were collected during 1995.
Community Structure and Soatial Distribution
[
Oligochaetes accounted for the highest mean percentage of the macroinvertebrates at all sampling stations in May and September (Figure V-B-2).
Among the individual stations for both sampling dates, oligochaetes were always the dominant organisms.
Density and species composition variations observed within the BVPS study area were due primarily to habitat differences and the tendency of certain types of macroinvertebrates (e.g.,
{
oligochaetes) to cluster.
OverE.ll,
abundance and species composition throughout the study area were similar.
[
In general, the mean density of macroinvertebrates during 1995 was lowest at Station 2A in May and September.
Higher mean densities occurred at Stations 2B and 3 in May and September.
Higher mean dansities usually occur at Stations 1, 2B, and 3 where substrates near the shore were composed of soft mud or various combinations of 29
PERCENT COMPOSITION
_/
\\
- u
- isu aaaaa% u u huasaaaa l
I CHIRONOMIDAE OTHERS E OLIGOCHAETA
"""2?30T!F@Idifil"i!!~""
l 1
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT snnd and silt.
The lower abundances at Station 2A were probably related to substrate conditions (clay and sand) along the north choreline of Phillis Island.
Comoarison of Control and Non-Control Station No adverse impact to the benthic community was observed during 1995.
This conclusion is based on a comparison of data collected et Station 1 (Control) and 2B (Non-Control) and on analyses of cpecies composition and densities.
I D::.ta indicate that oligochaetes were usually predominant throughout I
the study area (Figure V-B-2),
(Tables V-B-3 and V-B-4).
In May, common taxa at both stations were the oligochaetes Nais oseudobtuga cnd Paranais frici, and the midges Polyoedilum and Chironomus.
In 1
S:ptember, the oligochaete Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, and the midges Polyoedilun and Cryptochironomus were the common organisms collected at both stations.
Several taxa were collected in May and September at Station 2B, that were not found at Station 1 (Tables V-B-3, V-B-4).
I In May and September 1995, more taxa were collected at Non-Control Station 2B than at control Station 1 (Table V-B-5).
This has occurred several times during the past surveys. The mean number of I
taxa for the back channel (2B) usually exceeded the values observed for other stations in the study area.
In May and September, only Station 3 had higher mean number of taxa that those at Station 2B.
Shannon-Weiner indices were the highest at Station 2B compared to Station 1 and other stations in 1995.
Differences observed between Station 1 (Control) and 2B (Non-Control) and between other etations could be related to the differences in habitat.
None of the differences were attributed to BVPS operation.
Comoarison of Precoerational and Operational Data Composition, percent occurrence and overall abundance of m;croinvertebrates has changed little from preoperational years 31
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-B-5 MEAN DIVERSITY VALUES FOR BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES COLLECTED IN THE OHIO RIVER, 1995 BVPS STATION 1
2A 2B 3
DATE:
May 8 No. of Taxa 8
15 21 23 Shannon-Weiner Index 2.38 2.97 3.17 2.85 Evenness 0.67 0.67 0.73 0.67 I!
DATE:
Seotember 12.
No. of Taxa 11 10 11 14 i
Shannon-Weiner Index 1.33 2.26 2.46 2.26 Evanness 1.46 0.70 0.75 0.60 l
I 32
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT through the current study year.
Oligochaetes have been the predominant macroinvertebrate in the community each year and they comprised approximately 77% of the individuals collected in 1995
( Figure V-B-2 ). A similar oligochaete assemblage has been reported each year.
Chironomids and mollusks have composed most of the remaining fractions of the community each year.
The Asiatic clam, Corbicula, had increased in abundance from 1974 through 1976, but declined in number during 1977.
Since 1981, Corbicula have been collected in all benthic surveys, including 1995 when their d:nsities were greater in September than in May.
Total macroinvertebrate densities for Station 1 (Control) and 2B (Non-Control) for each year since 1973 are presented in Table V-B-6.
Mean densities of macroinvertebrates gradually increased from 1973 through 1976 (BVPS Unit 1 start-up) to 1983.
In 1995, i
densities were greater at Station 2B than those at Station 1.
These higher mean densities at Station 2B in 1995 were in the upper range of previous data from preoperational and operational years.
Thnre does not appear to be a consistent' trend of higher or lower maan densities between the back channel of Phillis Island (Non-Control 2B) when compared to densities at Station 1 (Control).
In yacrs such as 1994, 1993, 1991, 1990, 1985, 1984, 1983, and 1979, mean densities were lower at Station 2B than at Station 1, whereas in other years mean densities were slightly higher at Station 2B.
Thnse differences could be related to substrate variability and randomness of sample grabs.
Summary and Conclusions Substrate was probably the most important factor controlling the diotribution and abundance of the benthic macroinvertebrates in the Ohio River near BVPS.
Soft muck-type substrates along the choreline were conducive to worm and midge proliferation, while limiting macroinvertebrates which require a more stable bottom. At tha shoreline stations, Oligochaeta accounted for 77% of the macrobenthos collected, whereas Chironomidae and Mollusca each cccounted for about 18% and 4%, respectively.
33
TABLE V-B-6 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES (Number /m') FOR STATION 1 (CONTROL) AND STATION 2B (NON-CONTROL) DURING PREOPERATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL YEARS BVPS PreoDerational Years ODerational Years 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Month 1
_2E_
1
_2R_
1 A
1 A
1 A
_1_
A
_1_
A 1
A H
January y
February 205 0
703 311 358 200 312 1,100 1,499 2,545 1,029 1,296 March 425 457 C
April hm C
em May 248 508 1,116 2,197 927 3,660 674 848 351 126 1,004 840 1,041 747 MM hp June 5
40 507 686 HH W
July 653 119 421 410
%Q
^
O lI:
hd August 99 244 143 541 1,017 1,124 851 785 591 3,474 601 1,896 1,185 588 Mn September 175 92 1,523 448 ZO H 3:
October 256 239 November 149 292 318 263 75 617 388 1,295 108 931 386 1,543 812 806 y
M December
]w Mean 231 206 483 643 546 871 631 1,485 421 1,588 709 1,528 857 673 1,198 830 m
M M
M M
M
TABLE V-B-6 (Continued)
Operational Years 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Month 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B May 209 456 3,490 3,026 3,590 1,314 2,741 621 2,256 867 601 969 1,971 2,649 H
September 2,185 912 2,956 3,364 4,172 4,213 1,341 828 1,024 913 849 943 2,910 2,780 e
e*
Mean 1,197 684 3,223 3,195 3,881 2,764 2,041 725 1,640 890 725 956
'2,440 2,714 2:0 h
Ooerational Years 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
("* C/)
Month 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B 1
2B g
May 1,804 1,775 3,459 2,335 15,135 5,796 7,760 6,355 7,314 10,560 8,435' 2,152 6,980 2,349 t*
HH September 1,420 1,514 1,560 4,212 5,550 1,118 3,855 2,605 2,723 4,707 4,693 2,143 1,371 2,93G hh g
ze Mean 1,612 1,645 2,510 3,274 10,343 3,457 5,808 4,480 5,D19 7,634 6,564 2,148 4,176 2,640 g
2O 83:
> '(d U*
Operational Years gg 1995 tej Month 1
2B
'OOg May 8,083 9,283 8
September 1,669 3,873 Mean 4,876 6,578
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Il In 1995, five new species were added to the cumulative taxa list of macroinvertebrates collected near BVPS. This included four species collected in the benthos samples, plus the zebra mussel Dreissena nolvmorpha, which was collected by divers in the BVPS main and auxiliary intake structures during scheduled cleaning operations.
Community structure has changed little since preoperational years and there was no evidence that BVPS operations were affecting the benthic community of the Ohio River.
C./D. PJiX.TOPLANKTON / ZOOPLANKTON The plankton communities (phyto-and zooplankton) have been sampled g
and analyzed at the BVPS on a monthly basis from 1973 through 1992.
5 The results of this twenty year study showed that the long term trends for the plankton communities were consistent from year to year.
Annual variations were attributable to either extremes in precipitation and/or temperature.
- Overall, the plankton communities, both phytoplankton and zooplankton were considered typical of those in temperate climates (Hutchinson 1967).
Therefore, having compiled an extensive plankton database for the g
Ohio River, BVPS modified the plankton program, effective January 5
1993.
Currently, samples are still collected from the same intake structure at monthly intervals and properly preserved as in previous years.
- However, these preserved samples have been archived pending a need for future laboratory analysis.
E.
FISH Obiective Fish sampling was conducted in order to detect any changes which might occur in the fish populations in the Ohio River near BVPS.
I 36
I DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT I
Methods Adult fish surveys were performed in May, July, September, and November 1995.
During each survey fish were sampled at four stations (Figure V-E-1) utilizing gill nets and electrofishing.
Seining was performed at Station 1 (north shore) and Station 2B I
(south shore).
The gill nets consisted of five 25 ft. panels of 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 inch square mesh.
Two nets were positioned at each station, one angled along each shoreline, with the small mesh positioned inshore.
The Ohio River is divided by Phillis Island into two separate channels, the nain channel (2A) and the back channel (2B).
Two gill nets were set in each of these channels, resulting in a total of eight gill nets set per sampling date.
The gill nets were set in late afternoon /early evening (preferred sampling period),
left in place overnight, then pulled the following morning.
Night electrofishing was conducted using a boat-mounted boom electroshocker and underwater lights mounted to the bow of the boat.
Direct current of 220 volts at two amperes was generally used.
The north and south shoreline areas at each station were shocked for ten minutes (five minutes each shore) during each survey.
Juvenile fish seining was performed at Station 1 (control) and Station 2B (non-control) during each 1995 BVPS fishery survey.
A twenty foot long seine (1/4" nylon mesh) was used to collect fish located close to shore in a water depth of one to four feet.
Three seine hauls were performed at both Station 1 (north shore) and Station 2B (south shore) during each survey.
Fishes collected using gill nets, electrofishing equipment and the seine were processed according to the following procedures:
All game fishes were identified, counted, measured for total length (mm), and weighed (g) individually.
Non-game fishes were counted
t t
l i
l l
,m, hg M-h
- 'MIDLAN 3
(
ho
- 3 ce.
m
' Jn. _..
A
>8 i
v%
e kNdis T e4 suce E
I
'4 7.*
G g, m'svrztn
!$ v3 l
e PLWr
- .c
'y M
w n
a n.g o
g Z o i
hy I
O i
z i
r..
gg r,-
e'
'g l
. '!j!2A sanom O*
LEGEND D1 BEAVER VALLEY DISCHARGE
/ "O q
m e
AID to xxvicAT:oM 28
, e o2 m m m orSC m o, i cILL NEr j
AVER TRANSMISSI N LINE t
y
- c..._
STATION i
FIGURE V-E-1 FISH SAMPLING STATIONS BVPS l
f aus sums uns
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT and lengths estimated and recorded as <6 inches, 6-12 inches, >l2-18 inches, >18-24 inches, and >24 inches.
Live fish were returned to the river immediately af ter processing was completed.
All fishes which were unidentifiable or of questionable identificatic '
i were placed in plastic sample bottles, preserved, labeled at returned to the laboratory. Any fish which has not previously been collected at BVPS was retained for the voucher collection.
A threatened or endangered species (if collected),
would be photographed and released.
Results Fish population surveys have been conducted in the Ohio River near BVPS from 1970 through 1995.
These surveys have collected 69 fish species and four hybrids (Table V-E-1).
Various agencies (PAF&BC, ORSANCO) have also conducted fishery surveys in the New Cumberland Pool in recent years resulting in the identification of taxa not collected in previous BVPS surveys.
These additional fish taxa (goldeye, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed-redear sunfish hybrid, and alcWife) are included on Table V-E-1, bringing the total number of fish taxa to 77 for the New Cumberland Pool of the Ohio River.
In 1995, 3,073 fishes representing 32 taxa were collected during BVPS surveys by gill nets, electrofishing, and seining.
The largest fish collected was a muskellunge measuring 770 mm total length (30 inches).
A total of 139 fishes, representing 20 taxa were collected by gill nots in 1995 (Table V-E-2).
The gill net results varied by month with the highest catch (50 fishes) in September (Table V-E-3). The most common fish species collected by gill nets in 1995 were chcnnel catfish (18%),
common carp (11%),
sauger (11%)
and l
quillback (11%).
All other taxa accounted for 6% or less of the l
1995 gill net catch, i
I A total of 2,518 fishes, representing 21 taxa were collected during 1995 BVPS surveys by electrofishing (Table V-E-2).
Gizzard shad 39
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-E-1 (SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAME)2 g
FAMILIES AND SPECIES OF FISH COLLECTED IN THE NEW CUMBERLAND g
POOL OF THE OHIO RIVER, 1970 THROUGH 1995 BVPS Family and Scientific Name Common Name i
LOpisosteidae (gars)
Lepisosteus osseus Longnose gar Hiodontidae (mooneyes)
Hiodon alosoides Goldeye H. tergisus Mooneye Clupeidae (herrings)
Alosa chrysochloris Skipjack herring A. oseudoharenaus Alewife Dorosoma ceoedianum Gizzard shad Cyprinidae (carps and minnows)
Camoostoma anomalum Central stoneroller Carassius auratus Goldfish Ctenonharvnaodon idella, Grass carp Cyorinella soiloptern Spotfin shiner Cvorinus carpio Common carp C. caroio x C. auratuq Carp-goldfish hybrid Luxilus chrysocechalus Striped Shiner E
Macrhvbopsis storeriana Silver chub E
Nocomls micronogon River chub Notemiconus crvsoleucas Golden shiner Notropis atherinoidga Emerald shiner H. buccatus Silverjaw minnow H. hudsonius Spottail shiner H. rube 11us Rosyface shiner H. stramineus Sand shiner H. volucellus Mimic shiner Pimeohales notatus Bluntnose minnow i
E. promelas Fathead minnow Rhinichthys ptratulus Blacknose dace Eemotilus g.tromaculatus Creek chub j
Catostomidae (suckers)
Carpioden caroio River carpsucker C. cyprinus Quillback C. yelifer Highfin carpsucker Catostomus commersoni White sucker Hvoentelium niaricans Northern hog sucker Intiobus bubalus smallmouth buffalo I. nicer Black buffalo Rinvtrema melancos Spotted sucker 40
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY
(
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
{
TABLE V-E-1 (Continued) fFamily and Scientific Name Common Name Moxostoma anisurum Silver redhorse
[
H. carinatum River redhorse H. duguesnei Black redhorse H. erythrurum Golden redhorse
[
'H. macrolepidotum Shorthead redhorse Ictaluridae (bullhead catfishes)
Ameiurus catus White catfish f
A. melas Black bullhead A. natalis Yellow bullhead A. nebulosus Brown bullhead
[
Ictalurus punctatus Channel catfish Noturus flavus Stonecat Pylodictis olivaris Flathead catfish Ezocidae (pikes)
Esox lucius Northern pike f
E. masquinonov Muskellunge
{
E. lucius x E. masquinongy Tiger muskellunge
(
21monidae (trouts)
S Oncorhynchus mykiss Rainbow trout Parcopsidae (trout-perches)
{
Percopsis omiscomaycus Trout-perch Cyprinodontidae (killifishes)
Fundulus diaphanus Banded killifish Athsrinidae (silversides)
Labidesthes sicculus Brook silverside
[Parcichthyidae(temperatebasses)
Morone chrysons White bass
[
H. saxatilis Striped bass H. saxatilis x H. chrysons Ftriped bass hybrid
[CIntrarchidae(sunfishes)
A=hloolites rupestris Rock bass Lepomis evanelius Green sunfish L. gibbosus Pumpkinsee(
(
L. macrochirus Bluegill L. microlophus Redear sunfish L. gibbosus x L. microlophus Pumpkinseed-redear sunfish hybrid
[
Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth bass H. punctulatus Spotted bass H. salmoides Largemouth bass r-Pomoris annularis White crappie L
E. nigromaculatus Black crappie r
l 41
l DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-E-1 (Continued)
Egmily and Scientific Name Common Nag Psrcidae (perches)
Etheostoma blennioides Greenside darter E. nierum Johnny darter E. zonale Banded darter E
Perca flavescens Yellow perch E
Percina caorodes Logperch E. copelandi channel darter 3
Stizostedion canadense Sauger E
- g. vitreum Walleye S. canadense x g. vitreum Saugeye Scioenidae (drums)
Aulodinotus grunniens Freshwater drum
- Nomenclature follows Robins, at al. (1991) j l
I-42
TABLE V-E-2 NUMBER OF FISH COLLECTED AT VARIOUS STATIONS BY GILL NET (G), ELECTROFISHING (E),
AND SEINING (S) IN THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL OF THE OHIO RIVER, 1995 BVPS Percent 1
2A 2B 3
Crand Total Annual Annual Taxa
_G._ _E_ 1
_G_
_E_
_G_ _E_ _s_
_q_
_E_
_q_ _E_ 1 Total Total Longnose gar 1
3 5
8 1
9 0.3 g
Mooneye 2
1 1
2 3
0.1 e
Gizzard shad 1 1348 2
304 1 472 4
201 6 2225 2
2233 72.7 Spotfin shiner 4
4 4
0.1 Common carp 3
11 3
5 5
4 1
15 17 32 1.0
>c Striped shiner 1
1 1
<0.1 2: C y@
Silver chub 2
2 1
5 5
0.2 Emerald shiner 3 130 10 2 191 1
16 321 337 11.0
- , M Spottail shiner 1 66 2
4 3 70 73 2.4 t" (12 Sand shiner 15 2
1 2 16 18 0.6 Shiner spp.
30 30 30 1.0 2:
Bluntnose minnov 2
2 2
0.1
< t*
HH A
Fathead minnow 1
1 1
<0.1 hh River carpsucker 1
1 1
3 3
0.1 W
Quillback 6
5 1
3 15 15 0.5 8
Highfin carpsucker 1
1 1
<0.1 hh Smallmouth buffalo 2
1 1
2 3
2 3
1 9
6 15 0.5 Silver redhorse 3
1 2
2 8
8 0.3 8 ;g Golden redhorse 1
12 2
15 4
2 13 5
44 49 1.6 1(
Shorthead redhorse 1
1 1
2 1
3 2
7 9
0.3 Redhorse spp.
10 10 4
19 43 43 1.4 mg Channel catfish 3
3 7
4 1
2 14 6
25 15 40 1.3 M
Flathead catfish 1
1 1
1 5
1 7
3 10 0.3 9O Muskellunge 1
1 1
<0.1 White bass 1
1 1
3 3
0.1 8
Striped bass 1
1 1
<0.1 Striped bass hybrid 2
3 4
9 9
0.3 Smallmouth bass 4
4 8
8 0.3 Spotted bass 1
1 1
1 3
1 4
0.1 Black crappie 1
1 1
<0.1 Sauger 6
4 3
3 1
2 5
3 15 10 25 0.8 Walleye 3
2 5
5 0.2 Saugeye 2
3 1
6 6
0.2 Freshwater drum 2
3 5
2 3
2 6
11 17 0.6 Unidentified 13 1
10 21 7
1 51 52 1.7 Total 27 1421 218 32 380 20 557 198 60 160 139 2518 416 3073
TABLE V-E-3 NUMBER OF FISH COLLECTED BY MONTH BY GILL NET (G), ELECTROFISHING (E), AND SEINING (S)
IN THE NEW CUMBERLAND POOL OF THE OHIO RIVER, 1995 BVPS Percent May Jul Sen Nov Grand Total Annual Annual Taxa
_q_ _E.__s._
g__E
_s_
_G__E__s_
_q_ _E__s_
_q_ _E__s_
Total Total Longnose gar 1
1 4
3 8
1 9
0.3 Mooneye 1
1 1
1 2
3 0.1 Gizzard shad 2
8 1 304 2 332 1 1581 2
6 2225 2
2233 72.7 p
Spotfin shiner 4
4 4
0.1 e
t'ommon carp 1
1 9
3 4
1 1
12 15 17 32 1.0 Striped shiner 1
1 1
<1.0 Silver chub 4
1 5
5 0.2
>O Emerald shiner 8
1 6
7 275 40 16 321 337 11.0 ZC Spottail shiner 53 3 15 2
3 70 73 2.4 hOg Sand shiner 5
2 10 1
2 16 18 0.6 y p3 Shiner spp.
30 30 30 1.0 t* In Bluntnose minnow 2
2 2
0.1 Z
$M Fathead minnow 1
1 1
<0.1 River carpsucker 1
2 3
3 0.1
<: t*
A Quillback 5
7 3
15 15 0.5 HH
^
Highfin carpsucker 1
1 1
<0.1 hh Smallmouth buffalo 1
9 3
2 9
6 15 0.5
- >.3 Silver redhorse 4
3 1
8 8
0.3 3
Golden redhorse 10 3
14 1
12 1
8 5
44 49 1.6 hh Shorthead redhorse 2
1 1
2 3
2 7
9 0.3 p.3 ;g Redhorse spp.
9 27 2
5 43 43 1.4 gD T
Channel catfish 5
6 8
4 11 5
1 25 15 40 1.3 Flathead catfish 2
1 3
2 2
7 3
10 0.3 mQ Muskellunge 1
1 1
<0.1 M
White bass 1
2 3
3 0.1 T
Striped bass 1
1 1
<0.1 O
Striped bass hybrid 3
3 2
1 9
9 0.3
>-3 Smallmouth bass 5
2 1
8 8
0.3 Spotted bass 3
1 3
1 4
0.1 Black crappie 1
1 1
<0.1 Sauger 2
3 3
5 1
8 3
15 10 25 0.8 Walleye 5
5 5
0.2 Saugeye 3
2 1
6 6
0.2 Freshwater drum 4
1 1
4 6
1 6
11 17 0.6 Unidentified 27 14 1
9 1
1 51 52 1.7 Total 18 124 6 48 384 73 50 392 293 23 1618 44 139 2518 416 3073
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT cccounted for the largest percentage (88%) of the electrofishing cctch in 1995.
Redhorse species accounted for 4%
of the olectrofishing catch.
All other fish species each comprised less than 3% of the total catch.
It should be noted that " observed" fishes are typically included in the electrofishing total catch.
This category is sometimes nzcessary because of the turbidity and swiftness of the water, although these conditions were minimal in 1995.
When these conditions do exist, it is often not physically possible for the collectors to net these stunned fishes.
Therefore, they are identified to genus level (if possible), and lengths are estimated and recorded. Additionally, during summer months, gizzard shad are often encountered in very high densities during electrofishing, at which time the numbers and size ranges for these " observed" fish cre estimated and recorded.
A total of 416 fishes representing seven taxa were collected by coining in 1995 (Table V-E-2).
Fish taxa collected included emerald shiner (77%), spottail shiner (17%), sand shiner (4%), and epotfin shiner, gizzard shad, bluntnose minnow and fathead minnow (totaling 2%).
The September seining survey produced the most fishes (293 fishes).
Fewer fish were collected in July, November f
and May with totals of 73, 44 and 6 fishes, respectively (Table V-E-3).
Spotfin shiner, bluntnose minnow and fathead minnow were the
[
only fish species collected exclusively by seining.
j The most common species collected in 1995 BVPS surveys through the uce of gill nets, electrofishing and seining included gizzard shad (73%), emerald shiner (11%), redhorse species (4%), and spottail chiner (2%).
The remaining species each accounted for 1% or less of the total catch.
Game fishes collected during the 1995 fish 0
curveys included:
muskellunge, white bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, t auger, walleye and saugeye.
I 45
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Comoarison of Control and Non-Control Stations The gill net results for 1995 indicate that all four stations had similarities in fish taxa.
The number of fish taxa collected at Stations 1,
2A, 2B and 3 by gill nets were 11, 12, 10 and 18, respectively.
Channel catfish (18%) and common carp, sauger and guillback (each 11%) were the fishes most frequently collected by gill nets.
Game fishes such as muskellunge, walleye and black crappie were collected less frequently at the four stations.
The most fishes (60) were collected from gill nets located at Station 3 (Table V-E-2).
The electrofishing data (Table V-E-2) reflects relatively minor differences in species composition between the Control Station (1) and Non-Control Stations 2A, 2B, and 3.
- However, total electrofishing catch varied widely among the stations due to the highly fluctuating gizzard shad populations during the July, September and November surveys (Table V-E-3).
Electrofishing collects mostly small forage species (minnows and gizzard shad).
Gizzard shad was the most abundant fish species collected by electrofishing at all four stations, however, the highest numbers were collected at Stations 1 and 2B.
The seining data for 1995 indicated minor variations in species composition and relative abundance between Stations 1 and 2B.
Emerald shiner was the most abundant species collected at Stations 1 and 2B, with 130 and 191 individuals, respectively l Table V-E-2).
Spottail shiner and sand shiner were more abundant at Station 1 than at Station 2B.
Summary and conclusions The fish community of the Ohio River in the vicinity of BVPS was sampled in 1995 by gill nets, electrofishing and seining.
The results of the 1995 fish surveys show normal community structure based on species composition and relative abundance.
Forage species were collected in the highest numbers, particularly gizzard 46
f DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT chad and emerald shiners.
This indicates a normal fish community, since game species (predators) rely on this forage base for their curvival.
Variations in total annual catch are a
natural occurrence and are attributable primarily to fluctuations in the population size of the forage species.
Forage species, such as
[
gizzard shad and emerald shiner with high reproductive potentials frequently respond to changes in natural environmental factors
(
(competition, food availability, cover, and water quality) with large fluctuations in population size.
(
Although variations in total catch occurred from station to station in 1995, species composition remained fairly stable.
Common taxa collected in the 1995 surveys by all methods included gizzard shad, emerald shiner, redhorse species, spottail shiner, channel catfish, f
common carp,
- sauger, freshwater drum, quillback and flathead catfish. Differences observed in catch between the Control (1) and
[
Non-Control Stations (2A, 2B and 3) were probably caused by habitat preferences of individual species.
Habitat preference is probably the most influential factor that affects where the different cpecies of fish are collected and in what relative abundance.
F.
ICHTHYOPLANKTON Objective
[
Ichthyoplankton sampling was performed in order to monitor the extent to which fishes utilize the back channel of Phillis Island
[
es spawning and nursery grounds.
Methods The ichthyoplankton night surveys were conducted twi'ce a month from April through August, which is the primary spawning season for most resident fish species.
Each survey was started two hours after
[
dusk and was completed within four hours after dusk.
u 47
f DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY l
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
=
One surface tow and one bottom tow were performed simultaneously at Station 2B (back channel of Phillis Island) during each survey g
(Figure V-F-1).
The two tcws were conducted for nine minutes, E
proceeding in an upstream direction.
The near bottom sample was collected with a conical 505 micron mesh plankton net with a 0.5 m diameter mouth, mounted on a bottom sled.
The surface sample was collected with an identical size net which was connected to a 0.5 m metal ring with an attached buoy.
A Ceneral Oceanics Model 2030 digital flowmeter was mounted centrically in mouth of each net to determine the volume of water filtered in each sample. A preservative containing rose bengal dye was added to the samples while in the field.
I In the laboratory, ichthyoplankton was sorted from each sample and counted.
Each specimen was identified as to its stage of development (egg, yolk-sac larvae, early larvae, juvenile, or adult) and to the lowest possible taxon.
Densities of ichthyoplankton (numbers /100 m') were calculated for each sample using flowmeter data.
Results Ii Combined densities for fish eggs, larvae, juveniles and adults collected in the 1995 ichthyoplankton samples from the back channel of Phillis Island are presented in Table V-F-1.
No ichthyoplankton were collected in the April 13 survey samples.
Ichthyoplankton densities remained low in the April 26 and May 9 samples, then moderately increased in the May 26 samples.
The peak density
( 325/100 m') was obtained in the back channel surface sample for June 6.
Ichthyoplankton densities gradually decreased through the July 31 survey and remained low through the final survey in August.
Species composition and yearly total densities for ichthyoplankton samples collected in the back channel of Phillis Island are presented in Table V-F-2.
Twelve fish species were identified from the back channel samples.
Freshwater drum eggs and larvae I
48
r--,
c-m rm r,
m rm rm e-rm r~ m r-rm r,
cm r-
.c r-m l
==
s g
MIDLAN g
g go
(
+
.a
- s
=
=
u e 9*
E=en navez
.- $ e +.
< =u n.urr t
}=
g "gC
\\
=
e gE
'~'...
1 q n y
1; 2 a N
tt STATION tn $
g<
""" L8
//
4%e LrcEnn w
A AU N
- 3 D1 BEAVER VALLEY DISCHARGE O ! ! """*
I a-m oz INousTRIAL nISenAncE
' 'A O 2B e
AID TO NAVIGATION BEAVER TRANSMISSION LINE STATION yant,gy zwEn STATION FIGURE V-F-1 ICHTHYOPLANKTON SAMPLING STATIONS BVPS
TABLE V-F-1 COMBINED DENSITIES FOR FISH EGGS, LARVAE, JUVENILES, AND ADULTS (Number /100 m') COLLECTED WITH A 0.5 m PLANKTON NET IN THE OHIO RIVER MAIN CHANNEL (STATION 2) AND BACK CHANNEL OF PHILLIS ISLAND (STATION 2B) DURING NIGHT SURVEYS, 1995 BVPS Location and Denth of Collection y
Main Channel Back Channel e
Date Surfuce Bottom Surface Bottom Mean Density bO April 13 0
0 0
0 0
go M
April 26 1
0 2
0
<1 MM May 9
1 0
2 0
<1
$e
$5 o
May 26 77 87 87 27 70 om b
June 6
275 261 325 321 296
@Q 83 June 22 243 182 101 178 176 July 7
91 103 25 79 75 o
July 18 52 51 8
15 32 y
July 31 10 6
2 24 11 August 14 1
7 1
6 4
August 30 6
9 0
6 5
m M
TAXA OF FISH AND YEARLY TOTAL DENSITIES FOR FISH EGGS, LARVAE, JUVENILES, AND ADULTS (Number 100/m') COLLECTED DURING THE NIGHT ICHTHYOPLANKTOW SURVEYS, 1995 BVPS Location and Denth of Collection Main Channel Back Channel Taxa Surface Bottom Surface Bottom Mean Density Eggs Freshwater drum (EE) 32 31 26 28 29 Unidentified (EE) 1 1
1
<1
<1 Larvae P
Gizzard shad (YL) 3 1
3 1
2 Gizzard shad (EL) 6 4
1 4
4 ut Minnows & Carps (YL)
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1 ya Common carp (YL)
<1 1
0
<1
<1
%C Common carp (EL) 15 7
8 2
8 sO Shiner spp. (EL) 4 2
4 2
3
>M Minnow spp. (EL) 0
<1 0
0
<1 White bass (YL)
O
<1
<1
<1
<1 MM Perches (YL)
<1 0
<1
<1
<1 kp
- in Perches (EL)
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1 HH Darter spp.
(EL) 0 0
<1 0
<1
- P Yellow perch (EL) 0
<1
<1 0
<1 Z 'i Sauger/ Walleye spp. (YL)
<1
<1
<1 0
<1 hn Freshwater drum (YL) 1 1
1 1
1 2O Freshwater drum (EL) 5 14 7
16 11 hh Juveniles td g Gizzard shad (JJ) 1
<1
<1 4
1 33,<
Emerald shiner (JJ)
<1
<1
<1 3
<1 M.
Sand shiner (JJ) 0 0
0
<1
<1 3
Shiner sp. (JJ)
<1
<1
<1 2
<1 23 Channel catfish (JJ) 0
<1 0
<1
<1 Darter sp. (JJ) 0 0
0
<1
<1 Freshwater drum (JJ)
<1
<1 0
<1
<1 Adults Sand shiner (00)
O
<1 0
0
<1 Total Density 68 62 51 62 Developmental Stages YL - Hatched specimens with yolk and/or oil gobules present.
EL - Specimens with no yolk and/or oil gobules and with no development of fin rays and/or spiny elements.
LL - Specimens with developed fin rays and/or spiny elements and evidence of a fin fold.
JJ - Specimens with complete fin and pigment development, i.e.,
immature adult.
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT dominated the ichthyoplankton catch (70%), with common carp larvae and gizzard shad larvae accounting for 9% and 8%, respectively, Juvenile fish collected in ichthyoplankton samples from the back channel included gizzard shad, emerald shiner, channel catfish, and freshwater drum.
There were no adult fish collected during the 1995 ichthyoplankton surveys in the back channel of Phillis Island.
I Summary and Conclusions Freshwater drum dominated the 1995 ichthyoplankton catch from the back channel of Phillis Island.
Common carp and gizzard shad ranked next in terms of abundance.
Ichthyoplankton densities were low during April and early May, then moderately increased in late May prior to the peak in early June.
Densities gradually decreased through late July, and remained low through the final survey. This represents normal spawning cycles for the fish species inhabiting the Ohio River in the vicinity of the BVPS.
G.
IMPINGEMENT Objective Impingement surveys were conducted to monitor the quantity of fish and Corbicula impinged on the traveling screens.
These surveys were also conducted to monitor for the infestation of the zebra mussel to BVPS.
Methods The surveys were scheduled weekly throughout 1995 for a total of 41 weeks (Table V-A-1).
Weekly impingement sampling was conducted on Friday mornings. A collection basket of 0.25 inch mesh netting was placed at the end of the screen washwater sluiceway (Eigure V-G-1).
One screen was washed for 15 minutes (one complete revolution of the screen) and the aquatic organisms and associated debris were collected.
All other screens were then war.hed as a pre-wash for the following week's impingement.
Each week's screen wash Ii 52
eftistAs 90tett (titt RAtt itA13 CAG SLWICE feevs3 et rie.e er sCittu meestas erfei
( THREE DIMENSIONAL: CUTAWAY VIEW )
Bfte!! Cettttites SAttfi (L ge6.e FT
/[$ttAIRt3 WAfft trygtets 78 t[ Tit) k
, alm ferttfes Fet (Ostratst, is I -
e i
f tAal Ato eCBiti atRetAL d,M' 4
etttt1 CetttCTiet 7tvCt i
r
[ EL 475 Ff e A
ACCESS Ane statICI teas T
5U'
},
W x 1 9 k
'.e N
i 7 4
Ptf Fleet Rtvene s_
l
['. )
SCatta (L 64e.e FT jlllI e:;
~
[L 659.1 FT y,
v, lit r. #
i "t.!! 11 i ) l 2
step tes stor (rve)
._J.
O C
UtM y s t_f{3 E t
$113 g *!,
p-l':
~
U C
>o tt ses.e-j Q
C etttCilen er Etttt Flow gg gy.g gfg gg.
14 FT Witt itAtttLlms uAftt m
N g yAgCE Z (f) stutte ttve er Festi s
z rr.. Tse.o*
sen, ten rian, et Tse.o*
M M WD f
wattit M
d m
M o H DIESET. r!RR 2 g
= =
Z, m,,o m,. m,m,, m,es.o.
n-m.,es.e-2e n/
E
\\
i
- !o O
M Z c= c'"
wy
\\
-i m
z T*"'"
T o
M
- y r.eottener nac,u g
m ri..
s s.e-N 8
( mim ver ri.. see.s msii
- n. es,.s-g emerm now O
vam n. see.s-( TWO DIMENSIONAL: SIDE VIEW )
g
\\ er.. ses.e-
\\ n. see.e-FIGURE V-G-1 INTAKE STRUCTURE BVPS 1
_________j
1 DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT collection represents, under normal operations, one week (7 days) of impinged sample.
The impingement sample was sorted for g!
corbicula and fish, and examined for zebra mussels.
E Results A total of 1,838 corbicula (87% alive) were collected in 1995 from the 41 weekly impingement surveys, when one screen per week was washed.
If all four screens had been washed each week during the year (as in 1981 through 1992), approximately 7,352 clams would have been collected in 1995, as illustrated in Figure V-I-1.
The shell lengths for the largest and smallest corbicula collected 1
during impingement surveys in 1995 were 21.85 mm and 3.90 mm, respectively.
The greatest mtmber of live corbicula (3,752 clams) were collected during the weekly irpingement surveys conducted in August (Figure V-I-1). No zebra mussels.mre collected in the 1995 impingement surveys.
A total of 51 fishes were collected in 1995 during the impingement survey.
Fish species collected included gizzard shad, channel catfish, green sunfish, flathead catfish, bluegill, smallmouth bass and freshwater drum.
The most frequently collected species was bluegill.
The largest fish collected was a smallmouth bass (210 mm total length) and the smallest fish was a gizzard shad (23 mm total length).
Total weight of fish collected from impingement surveys in 1995 was 1.1 pounds (510 grams).
No endangered or threatened species were collected (commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1994).
Summary and Conclusions The results of the 1995 impingement sarveys indicate that during g
the month of August large numbers of Corbicula were collected off 5
of the traveling screens.
Although this trend has occurred in previous years, the August 1995 total was the second highest in the period since 1985.
The number of fish collected from the 1995 impingement surveys at BVPS was within the range observed for previous operational years and indicates that withdrawal of river I
54
I DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT-water at BVPS intake for cooling purposes has very little effect on
'thn fish populations.-
No zebra mussels were collected from the 1995-impingement surveys.
)
H.
PLANKTON ENTRAINMENT 1.
Ichthyoplankton obiectives The ichthyoplankton surveys conducted in the Ohio River main channel are designed to determine the species composition, relative abundance, and distribution of ichthyoplankton near the BVPS intake structure.
Methods j
Previous studies have demonstrated that species composition and relative abundance of ichthyoplankton samples collected in front of.
ths. intake structure were very similar to those ichthyoplankton
'entrainment samples taken at BVPS (DLC 1976,1977,1978, and 1979).
Thsrefore, for survey years 1980 through 1995, ichthyoplankton-l sntrainment samples have been collected from the Ohio River near
-tha BVPS intake structure.
The BVPS ichthyoplankton sampling program consisted of sampling in the main channel. adjacent to the BVPS intake structure at Station 2 (Figure V-F-1, Section F).
One surface tow and one bottom tow ware performed simultaneously at Station 2 during each survey for nine minutes proceeding in an upstream direction.
Sampling at Station 2 in the main channel was performed immediately after the I.
ichthyoplankton sampling in the back channel of Phillis Island.was f
completed for each survey.
Sampling methodologies used for ichthyoplankton collection in the main channel were identical.to the. methodologies outlined in the Methods section of Section F -
Ichthyoplankton.
55
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY l
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT E
In the laboratory, eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults were sorted from the samples, identified to the lowest possible taxon and stage of development, and counted.
Densities of ichthyoplankton (number /100 m*) were calculated using appropriate flowmeter data.
I Results Combined densities for fish eggs, larvae, juveniles and adults i
collected in the 1995 ichthyoplankton samples from the main channel l
(Station 2) of the Ohio River are presented in Table V-F-1 (Section l
F, Ichthyoplankton).
No ichthyoplankton were present in the samples collected on April 13, 1995, and very low numbers were present in the April 26 and May 9 samples.
The sharp increase in number of ichthyoplankton in the May 26 samples (average 82/100 m')
indicated that the spawning season was in progress in the Ohio River.
Ichthyoplankton densities peaked in the samples collected on June 6
(average 268/100 m' ).
Ichthyoplankton densities l
gradually decreased through the July 31 survey and remained low through the end of August.
The number of fish eggs, larvae, juveniles and adults collected from the 1995 ichthyoplankton samples from the main channel (Station 2) are identified according to taxa in Table V-F-2 (Section F).
These taxa represented eleven fish species.
Freshwater drum eggs accounted for the 48% of the total catch.
Common carp larvae and gizzard shad larvae accounted for 18% and 16%
of the total
- catch, respectively, Juvenile specimens, collected in the main channel, accounted for four species.
Sand I
shiner was the only adult fish species collected in the main j
channel during the 1995 ichthyoplankton surveys.
g!
E Summary and conclusions i
Freshwater drum (eggs) domiriated the 1995 ichthyoplankton catch from the main channel of the Ohio River in front of the BVPS.
The most common fish larvae collected were freshwater drum, common carp and gizzard shad.
Ichthyoplankton densities began to increase in i
56 i
-DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
- May, peaked in early June and decreased in late July.
This represents normal spawning cycles for the fish species inhabiting the Ohio River in the vicinity of the BVPS.
2./3. Phytoplankton / Zooplankton
(
The plankton communities (phyto-and zooplankton) have been sampled
{
Gnd analyzed at the BVPS on a monthly basis from 1973 through 1992.
The results-of this twenty year study showed that the long term trends for the plankton communities were consistent from year to year.
Annual variations were attributable to either extremes in precipitation and/or temperature.
- Overall, the plankton communities, both phytoplankton and zooplankton were considered typical of those in temperate climates (Hutchinson 1967).
Therefore, having compiled an extensive plankton database for the Ohio River, BVPS modified the plankton program, effective January 1993.
Currently,-samples are still collected from the same intake structure at monthly intervals and properly preserved as in previous years.
- However, these preserved samples have' been Grchived pending a nead for future laboratory analysis.
I.'
CORBICULA MONITORING PROGRAM
(
Introduction
{
The introduced Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea was first detected
{
in the United States in 1938 in the Columbia River near Knappton, Washington (Burch 1944).
It has since spread throughout the country, inhabiting any suitable freshwater habitat.
Information from prior aquatic surveys has demonstrated the presence of Corbicula in the Ohio River in the vicinity of the BVPS, and the plant is listed in NUREG/CR-4233 (Counts 1985).
One adult clam is capable of producing many thousands of larvae called veligers.
These veligers are very small (approximately 0.2 I
am) and will pass easily through the water passages of a power L
57
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT plant.
Once the veliger settles to the substrate, growth of the clam occurs rapidly.
If clams develop within a power plant's water E
- passages, they impair the flow of water through the plant.
m Reduction of flow may be so severe that a plant shutdown is necessary.
The clams are of particular concern when they develop undetected in emergency systems where the flow of water is not constant (NRC, IE Bulletin 81-03).
The Corbicula Monitoring Program includes the Ohio River and the circulating river water system of the BVPS (intake structure and cooling towers). This report describes this Monitoring Program and the results obtained during field and plant surveys conducted through 1995.
1.
Monitoring I
obiectives The objective of the Monitoring Program was to evaluate the presence of Corbicula at BVPS and the Ohio River in the vicinity of the intake structure, in order to evaluate the potential for infestation of the BVPS.
Methods (Intake structure - Screen Washing)
The weekly screen washing surveys (impingement surveys) at the intake structure monitored the number of corbicula which enter the BVPS from the Ohio River.
Corbicula obtained during the washing of
-l the traveling screen (see Section G, Impingement Methods), were i
returned to the laboratory for size analysis.
These clams were l
rinsed through a series of stacked U.S. Standard sieves ranging in mesh size from 16.0 mm to 0.6 mm.
The number of live and dead clams retained on each sieve was recorded.
I se
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (Cooling. Towers - Reservoir Scraper Sampling)
Corbicula enter the BVPS from' the Ohio River by passing through the water intakes, and eventually settle out in the lower reservoirs of Units 1 and 2 cooling towers.
The density and growth development of these Corbicula are monitored by collecting monthly samples from
-the lower reservoir sediments by using a scraper sampler.
The campler consists of a D-frame net attached behind a foot long metal scraping edge.
This device is connected to a pole long enough to allow the sampler to extend down into the reservoir sediment area from the outside wall of the cooling tower.
During each monthly sampling event, five scraper pulls (each 4 ft.
length) were taken along the bottom of the reservoir, scraping up sediment covering approximately 20 square feet of area for each cooling tower.
The sample collected from each tower was returned to the laboratory and processed.
Samples were individually washed and corbicula removed and rinsed through a series of stacked U.S.
Standard sieves ranging in mesh size from 16.0 mm to 0.6 mm.
Live end dead clams on each sieve were counted and the numbers were recorded.
The size distribution data obtained using the sieves refJects clam width, rather than length.
(Cooling Towers - corbicula Density Determination)
Population surveys of both BVPS cooling tower reservoirs have been
{
conducted during scheduled outages (1986 through 1995) in order to catimate the number of corbicula present in these structures.
In 1995, both BVPS cooling towers were sampled during their respective scheduled outages to estimate the Corbicula population.
The
~stdiment and Corbicula were removed from the drained cooling tower basin after the population survey sampling was completed for each respective outage.
59
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (Unit 1 Cooling Tower)
I, The Corbicula population in the lower reservoir of the Unit 1 cooling tower was estimated based on sampling performed during a scheduled outage.
Seventeen samples were collected at designated sampling locations within the drained reservoir basin on January 12, 1995, using a (6" x 6") petite ponar dredge.
These sampling locations were consistent with previous Unit 1 cooling tower population surveys (DLC, 1993).
The substrate of each sample was characterized at the time of collection. The samples were returned to the laboratory and sorted for Corbicula within 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> of collection.
This procedure increased overall sorting efficiency because a preservative was not needed, and live Corbicula could be seen moving in the sorting trays.
Counts were made of live and dead Corbicula in each dredge sample.
These sample counts were converted to densities (clams /m )
2 1
based on the surface area sampled by the dredge.
An average density was then calculated for each cooling tower sample.
An estimate of the area of the cooling tower basin covered by sediment was calculated, since the Corbicula were concentrated almost entirely in the sediment.
The estimated population was calculated by multiplying the average density times the area of sediment coverage.
(Unit 2 Cooling Tower)
The Corbicula population in the lower reservoir of the Unit 2 cooling tower was estimated based on sampling performed during a scheduled outage.
Ten samples were collected at designated sampling locations within the drained reservoir basin on March 27, 1995, using a petite ponar dredge.
These sampling locations were consistent with previous Unit 2 cooling tower population surveys (DLC, 1993).
The methods used for sample processing and the calculation of the estimated Corbicula population are identical to those described in the Unit 1 cooling tower population survey section.
60
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (Ohio River - Ichthyoplankton Surveys)
The ichthyoplankton surveys (April through August) performed in front of the intake structure also served to monitor for the number of Corbicula which could potentially enter BVPS from the Ohio River.
Corbicula can become suspended in the water column and are carried by river currents downstream to new habitats.
While
{
parforming the ichthyoplankton surveys, these clams are often collected in the samples along with the ichthyoplankton.
The 1995
{
ichthyoplankton samples were sorted at the laboratory for Corbicula and numbers recorded.
Corbicula densities (clams /100 m' water filtered) were calculated based on the volume of water filtered.
Results (Intake Structure - Screen Washing Surveys)
[
A total of 1,838 Corbicula were collected during the 1995
{
impingement surveys, when one traveling screen was washed each week.
Monthly totals for Corbicula collected during impingement surveys for the years 1985 through 1995 are presented in Figure V-I-1.
The monthly totals for 1995 have been multiplied by four to account for the fact that in 1995 only one screen was washed during
[
cach weekly survey, in contrast to previous years' surveys (1985 through 1992) when all four screens were typically washed.
[
The majority of Corbicula were collected in the impingement
{
surveys conducted in August, with the monthly total (live and dead) cxceeding 3,900 clams.
The 1995 results represent the second highest collection of Corbicula from the traveling screens since 1985, with the highest number occurring in 1989 (Figure V-I-1).
Eighty-seven percent of the Corbicula collected from the screens in 1995 were alive. The largest and smallest live Corbicula collected during 1995 impingement surveys were 21.85 mm (length) and 3.90 mm f
(length), respectively, r
L r
61
BVPS INTAKE STRUCTURE 4000 g
DEC. Corbicuta y 3500 --
M AX. CLAM SIZE y
NO LIVE CLAMS
$ 3000--
COLLECTED a
O 2500--
m y 2000 --
a U
1500 -
H 1000 --
5 m
M 500 --
go O
t C
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC yQ 1995 2
MM Z
- DEAD
+ ALIVE
$[
f ' * **
- uJ 3.752 g
2400 y8 2100
$o J
O nx 1800 O
> 'O Q
1600 t"' &
yQ r
M J
1200 4
'O o
l O
h u.
900 O
r MO
++
}$
f t%
1-k b
)~
....:t tt:.
..,nt
- :..:N 6
JPleAMJJASOB80 JPMAndJJASOND JPMAndJJASOND JPMAMJJASONO.JPMAMJJASONO JPMAsdJJ ASONO JPMAMJJASONO JPtfAntJJ ASONO JP1sAndJJ ASONO JPttAndJJ AGGtO JPMAMJJ ASONO es se er et se so et es es u
os A DATA NOT COLLECTED DUE TO PLANT OPERATIONS FIGURE V-I-1
SUMMARY
OF Corbicula COLLECTED FROM THE INTAKE STRUCTURE TRAVELING SCREENS DURING IMPINGEMENT SURVEYS, 1985 THROUGH 1995 BVPS M
M M
M M
M E
M
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (Unit 1 Cooling Tower - Reservoir Scraper Sampling)
In 1995, a total of 149 Corbicula (70% alive) were collected from tha Unit 1 cooling tower basin using the scraper sampler.
The lcrgest live Corbicula collected measured 17.44 mm in length.
In 1995, DLC continued its Corbicula Control Program (sixth year) which included the use of a molluscicide (CT-1) to prevent the proliferation of Corbicula within BVPS.
BVPS was granted parmission by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to use CT-1 in the BVPS Units 1 and 2 river water systems.
In 1990 through 1993, the molluscicide applications (CT-1) focused on reducing the Corbicula population throughout the entire river water system of each BVPS plant (Units 1 and 2).
In 1994 and 1995, the CT-1 applications targeted the internal water
- systems, th refore the CT-1 concentrations in the cooling towers were rcduced during CT-1 applications. Consequently, adult and juvenile Corbicula in the cooling towers often survived the CT-1 Gpplications.
Reservoir scraper samples taken after CT-1 cpplications represent mortality of Corbicula in the cooling tower only and do not reflect mortality in BVPS internal water systems.
Subsequent to the Unit 1 scheduled outage in January / February 1995, Corbicula had not recolonized the cooling tower reservoi:. as of the June 23,1995 sampling date (Figure V-I-2, top graph).
However, on June 27, 1995, the Unit i river water system was dosed with CT-1 baned on the data from the Corbicula larval cages and impingement curveys which indicated that Corbicula were currently spawning in tha Ohio River, and could potentially enter BVPS internal water cystems.
The Corbicula scraper sample collected from the Unit 1 l
cooling tower reservoir three days after the CT-1 dosing contained I
no Corbicula.
Unit 1 was dosed again with CT-1 on October 17, 1995.
The October 20 scraper sample indicated 7% mortality in the cooling tower reservoir, with survival of both adult and larger juvenile Corbicula (Figure V-I-2, top graph).
63
~
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT j
UNIT 1 COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR SCRAPER SAMPLE DATA l
LIVE CLAMS / SIEVE SIZE / 20 SQ.FT. SAMPLE 1
l
/
700 /
\\
/
600-
/
600-400-p: ap ::sa/c/a/a/a/a/a/a/a/c/- 16, O mm 300*
fin:nWi!:.?!!/a/a/a/c/c/c/a/a/a/af- } 2,5 mm fiiiiiiifiniiii:Vc/a/c/a/a/c/a/a/e=9/Q/- 9. 5 mm 200 -
/!ii nwi iiva/a/a/a/a/a/w/w/c/a/- 6. 3 mm fiu.i! A!!.u!if af c/a/a/c/_G/a/a/a/ af-4.15 mm Hi
/
/=/=/=/'=/*/= /"/='~ 3 3 5 ""
'H '%' 'ra' /c/a/c/a/t=9/a/c/c/c/- 2. 0 0 mm 100-l
/n. iwiinisi 0 fuiiilwiiiiiva/c/a/a/a/L=r/c/a/a/af- $1. 00 mm i
i i
1/20 2/17 3/17 4/21 6/10 6/237/23 8/18 9/1810/2011/2412/15 OUTAGE 1995 SAMPLING DATE UNIY 2 COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR SCRAPER SAMPLE DATA LIVE CLAMS / SIEVE SIZE / 20 SQ.FT. SAMPLE
/ /
700-600-600-400-
}3pju..inyo/o/o/e#2F2; Q i
/or ::v o/ c/o/c/o/
- r/ c s.16.0 mm 300_
y Pfuuliv o / o / o / a 3
2
' J 9.5 mm
- 12. 5 mm j
a 200-p fuliv = / o / o / o /
r
- 6. 3 mm A...!!nt o / c / o 4. 7 5 mm
.. ~/
- 3. 35 mm
/H i u7=/=/o 100-
~
. funyo/ofo/L vyw 2,00 mm
\\
7,L7Ev;p :n of o/w/t=r/w/,
/l=9)- f1,0 0 mm 0.,
1/20 2/17 3/17 ouT-5/10 6/23 7/23 8/18 9/1810/2011/2412/15 AGE 1995 SAMPLING DATE FIGURE V-I-2 Corbicula DENSITIES AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN SCRAPER SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM UNITS 1 AND 2 COOLING TOWERS, 1995 BVPS 64
l DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (Unit 2 Cooling Tower - Reservoir Scraper Sampling))
In 1995, a total of 3,412 Corbicula (90% alive) were collected from I
the Unit 2 cooling tower reservoir using the scraper sampler.
The largest Corbicula collected measured 22.08 mm in length. Af ter the scheduled outage in April 1995, Corbicula larvae had begun to recolonize the cooling tower at the end of July and the beginning of August (Figure V-I-2, bottom graph).
I The Unit 2 river water system was dosed with CT-1 on June 20, 1995.
There were no Corbicula collected in the June 23 scraper sample from the Unit 2 cooling tower.
Unit 2 was dosed with CT-1 again on October 3,1995.
I The scraper sample collected three days af ter CT-1 dosing indicated 19% mortality, with survival of both adult and juvenile Corbicula.
(Cooling Towers - Corbicula Density Determination)
I (Unit 1 Cooling Tower)
The results of the January 12, 1995 Corbicula density determination in the Unit 1 cooling tower (lower reservoir) are presented in Table V-I-1.
Based on the seventeen ponar dredge samples collected from the lower reservoir, the estimated number of Corbicula inhabiting this area was 382 million clams, of which 74.3% were alive (Figure V-I-3).
The largest Corbicula collected measured 14.24 mm in length.
No zebra mussels were found in the seventeen samples collected from the Unit 1 cooling tower reservoir.
I (Unit 2 Cooling Tower)
I The results of the March 27, 1995 Corbicula density determination in the Unit 2 cooling tower reservoir are prosented in Table V-I-2.
Based on the ten ponar dredge samples collected from the reservoir, the estimated number of Corbicula inhabiting this area was 7 7
million clams, of which 93% were alive (Figure V-I-3). The largest Corbicula collected measured 20.01 mm in length.
No zebra mussels I
65
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-I-1 Corbicula COLLECTED IN UNIT 1 COOLING TOWER LOWER RESERVOIR, JANUARY 12, 1995 BVPS Clams Collected Station Density Station Substrate Alive Dead Live Clams /m*
Lower Reservoir 1
1 silt 1098 1197 47,324 2
silt 117 205 5,043 3
silt 2114 385 91,113 ll 4
silt 686 48 29,567 5
5 silt 655 96 28,231 6
silt 471 125 20,300 7
silt 264 27 11,378 8
silt 805 76 34,696 9
silt 16 2
690 10 silt 220 153 9,482 11 silt 362 92 15,602 12 silt 513 102 22,110 13 silt 226 177 9,741 g
14 silt 283 116 12,197 m
15 silt 480 77 20,688 16 silt 9
0 388 g
17 silt 170 57 7,327 g
Estimated number of Corbicula present in the lower reservoir of the Unit 1 cooling tower at the time of sampling was 382 million clams, of which 74.3% were alive.
Size rance (Lenath)
Samolina Location Small Larae Lower Reservoir 1.52 mm 14.24 mm I
I 66
I I
~l n
n R.
R R
R M
I i-I' M M --' '-
l l
CLAM POPULATION (Millions) 400 /
(2s.7%)382 l
~
(1.7 %)
~
8
.. - 3 0 0
{$
300-O o
E (1.8%)
b e'
17 8
,i (es.esi t
en E 200-160 4e 0
a MM
- f e5 i
q" g,,,,,3 gg
~0i~aw m
100-70 7
(sa.as)
(48.5%)
e :s (4.4%)
30
( 7 5)
(85 55)
(7 5)
E" f-,
11 24 3
7 xk a
W : 4~
ian /w
/m n
20 o / e 6 ~/
/ a, /
/a/
/a/
/w/
/
a i
i i
i i
i i
i i
i i
i e
MAY APR. DEC. MAR. SEP. SEP. APR. APR. APR. SEP. JAN. MAR.
86 87 87 89 89 90 91 92 93 93 95 95 R UNIT 1 UNIT 2
( ) - Indicates percentage of dead Corbicula in estimated total.
FIGURE V-I-3 APPROXIMATE POPULATION OF Corbicula LOCATED IN UNITS 1 AND 2 COOLING TOWERS DERIVED FROM SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN 1986 THROUGH 1995 BVPS l
'ME IMnM m
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-I-2
)
Corbicula COLLECTED IN UNIT 2 COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR, MARCH 27, 1995 BVPS Clans Collected Station Density Station Substrate Alive Dead Live clams /m*~
i Reservoir 1
silt 80 13 3,448 2
silt 100 8
4,310 3
silt 82 10 3,534 4
silt 85 8
3,664 5
silt 93 3
4,008 6
silt 46 2
1,983 7
silt 120 11 5,172 I
8 silt 88 5
3,793 9
silt 79 3
3,405 10 silt 100 6
4,310 I
Estimated nurdaer of Corbicula present in the reservoir of the Unit 2 cooling tower at the time of sampling was estimated at 7 million clams, of which 93% were alive.
gg Size rance (Lenath)
Sanplina Location Small Larce Reservoir 1.91 mm 20.01 mm 68
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT were found in the ten samples collected from the Unit 2 cooling tower basin.
(Ohio River)
Table V-I-3 summarizes Corbicula densities (clams /100 m' volume water filtered) in ichthyoplankton samples collected at night once a month in May and July for 1988 through 1992, and twice each month for April through August in 1993 through 1995.
However, in survey year 1994, only one ichthyoplankton survey was conducted in both I
April and August, due to high river conditions, and one survey cdded in early September.
In 1995, Corbicula were first detected in the Ohio River water column in the April 26 samples (Table V-I-I 3).
Corbicula densities peaked in the samples collected on July 31, 1995.
The Corbicula collected in the ichthyoplankton samples ware very small, typically two to four millimeters in length.
Summary l
The weekly screen washing data for 1995 showed that juveniles and cdult Corbicula float into BVPS.
A trer.d that has been observed every year since 1985 is that the August and September screen I
washing collections produce the highest number of fd2rbicula.
The Corbicula screen washing total for 1995 was the second highest since 1985.
The monthly reservoir scraper samples collected in Units 1 and 2 cooling towers during 1995 indicated when Corbicula were entering cnd colonizing the reservoirs.
Corbicula entered the Units 1 and 2 cooling towers through the circulating water systems primarily in July and August of 1995.
1 Stdiment samples were collected in the Unit 1 cooling tower (January 12, 1995) and Unit 2 cooling tower (March 27, 1995) lower reservoirs during the scheduled outages in order to estimate the Corbicula populations within those structures.
The estimatcd number of fd2rbjeula inhabiting the Units 1 and 2 cooling towers at 69
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY g
1995 ANNUAL E!EIIRONMENTAL REPORT g
TABLE V-I-3 Corbicula DENSITIES (Clams /100 m') PRESENT IN ICHTHYOPLANKTON SAMPLES COLLECTED AT NIGHT WITH A 0.5 m PLANKTON NET IN THE OHIO RIVER, 1988 THROUGH 1995 BVPS Samole Location Main Channel Back Channel Date Surface Bottom Surface Bottom 1988 May 11 0
1 22 19 July 14 0
15 1
9 1989 May 24 1
0 1
6 July 13 2
3 5
10 1990 May 25 0
0 1
3 July 26 35 30 38 27 1991 May 14 1
1 14 22 g
July 25 139 36 9
6 g
1992 May 19 36 100 71 62 July 9
49 130 38 205 1993 g
April 14 0
0 0
0 E
29 0
0 0
0 May 13 3
4 44 57 27 0
1 0
6 June 10 0
0 0
0 23 0
0 0
0 July 7
7 19 0
1 21 54 89 31 68 August 4
8 8
4 5
18 0
0 0
5 70
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 APNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TABLE V-I-3 (Continued)
Samole Location Main Channel Back Channel pate Surface Botton Surface Bottom 19.E.4.
April 25 0
0 0
0 May 11 0
0 0
0 24 2
1 4
9 June 9
7 2
11 24 22 1
1 2
4 July 3
0 1
1 3
20 1
4 11 35 30 29 47 106 125 August 16 0
9 2
5 September 8 6
6 5
10 19.25 April 13 0
0 0
0 26 4
9 45 19 May 9
5 21 46 69 26 2
3 2
7 June 6
3 12 19 35 22 0
2 5
15 July 7
2 3
0 5
18 6
18 15 42 31 26 103 0
99 August 14 6
52 0
6 30 2
9 0
3 71
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY l,
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT E
the time of the surveys were 382 million and 7 million clams, respectively.
Population surveys of both BVPS cooling tower reservoirs conducted during scheduled outages (1986 through 1995) have resulted in lower densities of C_orbicula in the Unit 2 tower compared to the Unit 1 cooling tower (Figure V-I-3).
This can be attributed to differences in cooling tower design and the faster water currents in the Unit 2 cooling tower reservoir, which decrease sediment deposition.
l The collection of juvenile Corbicula from the ichthyoplankton samples demonstrates that Corbicula are typically present in the water column of the Ohio River durir.g the late spring / summer period. These small clams are carried downstream by river currents l
and enter BVPS through the intake structure. The highest densities of Corbicula in 1995 were present in the July 31 ichthyoplankton samples collected from both the main and back channel stations.
2.
Corbicula Larvae Study Obiective I
The Corbicula larvae study was designed to collect data on spawning l
activities in the Ohio River.
Methods Specially constructed clam cages were utilized for this study.
Each cage was constructed of a one square foot durable plastic frame with fiberglass screening (1 mm mesh) secured to cover all I
open areas.
Each cage contained approximately ten pounds of 3
industrial glass beads (3/8" diameter) to provide ballast and a uniform substrate for the clans.
The clam cage mesh size permits i
only very small clams or pediveliger larvae to enter and colonize the cage.
Larval cages were maintained in the BVPS intake structure in 1995 according to the following procedure.
Each month, two empty clam 72
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT cages were placed in the intake structure bays.
Each cage was left in place for two months, after which time it was removed and examined for clams.
Four clam cages were maintained in the intake structure bays each month throughout 1995.
The rotation schedule used in 1995 for the clam cages differed from that used in 1988 through 1994, when the cages were left in place for five months following initial placement.
This change in procedure was made to better define the time period when Corbicula were spawning in the Ohio River, thereby releasing larvae that could enter BVPS through the intake structure.
Each clam cage removed after the two month colonization period was I
returned to the laboratory where it was processed to obtain the clams which had colonized inside the cage. Corbicula obtained from cach cage were rinsed through a series of stacked U.S.
Standard cleves ranging in mesh size from 9.5 mm to 0.6 mm.
Live and dead clams on each sieve were counted and the numbers were recorded.
The largest and smallest clams were measured using Vernier calipers to establish a length range for the sample.
The size distribution data obtained using the sieves reflects clam width, rather than length.
I Results Figure V-I-4 illustrates size distribution data which represents the average for the two larval cages which were removed each month from the intake structure.
Larval cages removed from January to May 1995 contained no Corbicula.
The two intake structure larval cages removed in June 1995 contained juvenile Corbicula (average 15 live clams, Figurc V-I-4 ). The presence of larger juveniles in the June larval cages indicates that the larval forms of those individuals probably entered the cages in late April or May.
Corbicula densities increased in cages removed during July, then
[
peaked in August (average 281 live clams).
Corbicula densities gradually declined in September and October.
As river water r
~
73
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT WATER TEMPERATURE (OF)
RIVER ELEVATION (f t.)
100 679.0 I
80
- 676.0 7
60
- - -/
- 673.0
\\
y/
/
40
- 670.0 20
- V
- 667.0
+
V h -H+F+++
+++9+- [4 0 ' ' ' ' 8 1 ' ' ' ' ' ' 'h 8 8 ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' L 2 8 J- ' 6 6 4.0 E
1/6 2/3 3/3 4/7 6/5 6/2 7/7 8/4 9/1 10/0 11/3 12/1 E
1995 WATER TEMPERATURE RIVER ELEVATION NUMBER OF CLAMS PER SIEVE SIZE INTAKE STRUCTURE LARVAL CAGE
~
U VE CFF6icUla
~ ~ ~ ~
~
60-
/m/a/=/=/a
=r/o/c/ 9. 5 mm AO-
/w/w/c/o/a fo/c/ 6. 3 mm fo/w/o/a/m
/of 4. 75 mm fo/c/w/c/c
?cf 3. 35 mm 20*
fo/a/c/a/c/nmS
' 2. 0 0 mm
/m/afo/a/ofo/m Y 1. 00 mm 0
P'P'P'P'P'f'f'f!
f
- 0. 6 mm i
1/20 2/17 3/17 4/21 8/19 8/23 7/21 8/18 9/1510/2711/2412/15 E3 1995 CAGE REMOVAL DATE I
FIGURE V-I-4 RESULTS OF THE Corbicula LARVAE STUDY SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN THE INTAKE STRUCTURE, 1995 BVPS 74
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
(
temperatures declined in late October through December, the number of Corbicula colonizing the cages decreased and their growth rate also decreased.
The largest Corbicula collected in 1995 measured 15.17 mm in length and was removed from one of the September larval cages.
(
Summary
[
Juvenile Corbicula were first detected in the larval cages removed from the PVPS intake structure in June.
This late spring /early summer spawning period typically occurs in the Ohio River near BVPS each year.
The Corbicula larvae entering the larval cages during the summer months exhibited rapid growth, attaining a maximum length of 15.17 mm (colonization period July 21 to September 15).
The presence of juvenile Corbicula in the December larval cages suggests that Corbicula were still spawning up to the end of October.
As the river temperatures dropped below 50 F in mid
{
November, the growth rate of Corbicula in the intake structure larval cages decreased.
No zebra mussels were found in the intake structure larval cages in 1995.
J.
ZEBRA MUSSEL MONITORING PROGRAM Introduction Zebra mussels (Dreissena Dolvmorpha) are exotic freshwater mollusks that look similar to marine barnacles, and have brown shells marked with alternating zig-zag yellowish bands.
They are believed to have been introduced into North America through the ballast water of ocean-going cargo vessels probably from Eastern Europe.
They first appeared in Lake St. Clair in 1987, spread rapidly to other Great Lakes, and have become increasingly abundant in the lower,
[
middle and upper Ohio River in r60ent years.
Adult zebra mussels can live up to five years and grow to two inches in length. Recent research suggests that each female may be 75
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT capable of producing one million microscopic (veliger larvae) offspring per year, that can easily pass through water intake screens.
They use adhesive hairlike (byssus) threads to attach themselves to any hard surfaces (e.g., boat hulls, intake pipes and other mussels).
Transportation of these organisms between water bodies is accomplished in part by boats that have adult mussels attached to their hulls or larvae in their live wells and/or bilges. In anticipation of zebra mussel infestation and responding to NRC Notice No. 89-76 (Biofouling Agent-Zebra Mussel, 21 November 1989), BVPS instituted a Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program in January 1990.
The Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program includes the Ohio River and the circulating river water system of the BVPS (intake structure and cooling towers).
This section describes this Monitoring Program and the results obtained during Ohio River and BVPS surveys conducted through 1995.
1.
Monitoring Obiectives i
The objectives of the Monitoring Program were:
(1) to identify if zebra mussels are in the Ohio River adjacent to BVPS and provide early warning to operations personnel as to their possible infestation.
1 (2) to provide data as to when the larvae are mobile in the Ohio River and insights as to their vulnerability to potential treatments.
I (3) to provide data as to their growth rates under different water temperatures and provide estimates as to the time it requires for these mussels to reach clogging size.
76
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Bethods (Intake Structure)
Three surveillance techniques used in the intake structure were:
(1) the weekly screen washing (impingement) monitoring program.
(2) observatiocs of the divers during regularly scheduled cleaning operat: tons.
(3)
Corbicula larval clam cages inspected for zebra mussel colonization.
The cooling towers were monitored for zebra mussels using three techniques:
(1) the monthly reservoir scraper sample collected in each cooling tower.
(2) the bi-monthly wall scraper sample collected in each cooling tower.
(3) the Corbicula population survey conducted during regularly scheduled outages.
(Ohio River Shoreline)
Each week, in conjunction with the regular impingement survey, the BVPS discharge area was observed for fish, waterfowl and beaver activities.
In 1995, the discharge area, along with the barge slip next to the Unit 1 cooling tower, and the intake structure were designated as observation zones for zebra mussels.
The barge slip wall and intake shore wall support were sampled bi-monthly using a scraper (with net attached).
Approximately 12 square feet of the barge slip wall and intake wall were scraped twice each month.
The pilings and rocks were also checked for colonization since these organisms will attach to hard surfaces.
l l
l
\\
77
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (Communications Network)
Ii The informal communication network established in 1992 for monitoring zebra mussel movements within the Ohio River was continued in 1995.
This included an exchange of information between the
- DEP, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers,
- ORSANCO, universities, industrial water users, and other electric utilities.
l BVPS cooperated in this communications program from 1992 through 1995.
Results The 1995 Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program revealed that live zebra mussels were found by divers at BVPS in the main intake structure (14 individuals) and auxiliary intake structure (10 individuals) during scheduled cleaning operations conducted on October 25, 1995 (main intake) and November 2, 1995 (auxiliary intake).
The zebra mussels collected ranged up to 16 mm in length.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that twenty-five zebra mussels were identified at New Cumberland Locks and Dam (Ohio River M.P.
54.4) on May 11,
- 1995, and sixteen zebra mussels were identified at the Maxwell Locks and Dam (Monongahela River M.P.
61.2).
These reports confirm the continued dispersal of this organism throughout the upper Ohio River Basin.
Summary The zebra mussel (Dreissena polvmorcha) is an exotic freshwater mollusk that is believed to have been introduced into Lake St.
Clair in 1987 via ballast water of ocean-going cargo vessels.
Since then, they have spread rapidly to the other Great Lakes and are infesting riverine systems in the United States.
I Due to the proximity of the Ohio River to Lake Erie, BVPS initiated a Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program in January 1990.
From 1991 through 1993, zebra mussels moved progressively upstream from the 78
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT lower to upper Ohio River.
In 1994, there were confirmed zebra mussel sightings at locations both upstream and downstream from BVPS, including the Allegheny River.
The July 1995 sighting of zebra mussels at Maxwell Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River establishes the presence of these organisms within the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers in Western Pennsylvania.
The 1995 Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program indicated the presence of live zebra mussels at BVPS.
In 1995, live zebra mussels were found by divers in the BVPS main intake structure and auxiliary intake structure during scheduled cleaning operations conducted on October 25 (main intake) and November 2 (auxiliary intake).
Twenty-four zebra mussels were collected, fourteen from the inner Bay C of the main intake structure and ten from the auxiliary intake structure.
The largest zebra mussel found measured 16 mm in length.
79
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY E
1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT E'
VI.
REFERENCES Burch, J. Q., 1944.
Checklist of West American Mollusks. Minutes, g i Conchology Club of Southern California 38:18.
E!
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1994.
Pennsylvania's Endangered
- Fishes, Reptiles and Amphibians.
Published by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission.
t
- Counts, C.
C.
III, 1985.
Distribution of Corbicula fluminea at E
Nuclear Facilities.
Division of Engineering, U.S.
Nuclear E
Regulatory Commission.
NUREGLCR. 4233. 79 pp.
- Dahlberg, M.
D.
and E.
P.
Odum, 1970.
Annual cycles of species occurrence, abundance and diversity in Georgia estuarine fish populations.
Am. Midl. Nat. 83:382-392.
DLC, 1976.
Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological Volume
- 1.
Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station.
132 pp.
DLC, 1977.
Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological Volume
- 1.
Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station.
123 pp.
Eg DLC, 1979.
Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological Volume
- 1.
Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station.
149 pp.
DLC, 19 80. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne 4
Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No.
1.
160 pp.
DLC, 1981. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1.
105 pp. + Appendices.
DLC, 19 8 2. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No.
1.
126 pp.
DLC, 1983. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No.
1.
124 pp. + Appendix.
4 DLC, 198 4. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No.
1.
E 139 pp.
E DLC, 1985. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne g
Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1&
2.
g 106 pp.
80
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT DLC, 198 6.
Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
152 pp.
DLC, 1987. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Vdlley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
I 145 pp.
DLC, 1988. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne I
Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
161 pp.
I DLC, 1989. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
145 pp.
DLC, 1990. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 &
2.
181 pp.
DLC, 1991. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1& 2.
165 pp.
DLC, 1992. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
I 164 pp.
DLC, 1993. Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne I
Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
90 pp.
I Annual Environmental Report, Non-radiological. Duquesne DLC, 1994.
Light Company, Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 1 & 2.
78 pp.
Hutchinson, G.
E.,
1967.
A treatise on limnology.
Vol.
2, Introduction to lake biology and the limnoplankton.
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.
1115 pp.
- Hynes, H.
B.
N.,
1970.
The ecology of running waters.
Univ.
Toronto Press, Toronto.
NRC, IE Bulletin 81-03:
Flow Blockage of Cooling Tower to Safety System Components by Corbicula sp.
( Asiatic Clam) and Mvtilus sp. (Mussel).
- Pielou, E.
C.,
1969.
An introduction to mathematical ecology.
Wiley Interscience, Wiley & Sons, New York, NY.
81
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
- Robins, C.
R.,
R.
M.
- Bailey, C.
E.
- Bond, J.
R.
- Brooker, E.
A.
- Lachner, R.
N.
Lea, and W.
B.
- Scott, 1991.
Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada (fifth edition).
American Fisheries Society Special Publication No. 20:1-183.
- Shiffer, C.,
1990.
Identification Guide to Pennsylvania Fishes.
Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Bureau of Education and Information.
51 pp.
Winner, J.
M.,
1975.
Zooplankton.
In:
B. A. Whitton, ed.
River ecology.
Univ. Calif. Press, Berkely and Los Angeles.
155-169 pp.
i Ii 4
I I
--