ML20205P247

Annual Environ Operating Rept for Jan-Dec 1998. with

ML20205P247
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	12/31/1998
From:	Warren W WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
WO-99-0026, WO-99-26, NUDOCS 9904200091
Download: ML20205P247 (15)

Text

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l W4$LF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION i

l Clay C. Warren i Vice President & Chief Operating Omcer APR 101999 l

WO 99-0026 i

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Mail Station Pl-137 Washington, D. C. 20555

Subject:

Docket No. 50-482: Annual Environmental Operating Report Gentlemen:

Enclosed is the Annual Environmental Operating Report, which is being submitted pursuant to Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) Facility Operating License NPR-42, Appendix B. This report covers the operation of WCGS for the period of January 1, 1998, to December 31, 1998.

If you should have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact me at (316) 364-4048, or Mr. Michael J. Angus at (316) 364-4077.

Very truly yours,

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C ay C. Warren CCW/rir Enclosure cc: W. D. Johnson (NRC), w/e E. W. Mershcoff (NRC), w/e Y K. M. Thomas (NRC), w/e Senior Resident Inspector (NRC), w/e h//

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9904200091 981231

PDR ADOCK 05000482 l

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P.O. Box 411/ Burhngton KS 66839 i Phone: (316) 364-8831 An Equal Opporturuly Employer M F HCVET

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT 1998 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SECTION WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION P.O. BOX 411 BURLINGTON, KANSAS 66839 March 1999 l

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1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report l

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Page 2 of 14 l f

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. . . . . . . . . .......3 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3 2.1 AQUATIC (EPP Section 2.1j . . . . . . . . . . ...........3 2.1.1 Impacts of Water Withdrawal on the Neosho River., .. . .....3 ,

2.1.2 Oxidizing Biocide Discharges to Wolf Creek Lake.. . .. .3 l 2.1.3 Cold Shock. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. ..4 l 2.1.4 Impingement and Entrainment.. ... . . .. . .. .5 2.1.5 Impacts of Wolf Creek Lake Discharges to the Neosho River.. .5 2.2 TERRESTRIAL [EPP Section 2.2].. .. . . . . . .. . ...5 l 2.2.1 Controi cf Vegetation in the Exclusion Zone.. ... . .. .. 5 2.2.2 Vegetation Buffer Zone Surrounding Wolf Creek Lake.. . .5 2.2.3 lierbicide Use for Maintenance of WCGS Structures. . . . . .6 2.2.4 Waterfowl Disease Contingency Plan and Monitoring.. . . . .. .6 2.2.5 Fog Monitoring Program [EPP Subsection 4.2.1].. . . . ... .6 2.2.6 Wildlife Monitoring Program [EPP Subsection 4.2.2]... . . . .7 2.2.7 Land Management Program [EPP Subsection 4.2.3]. ... . . .7 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. . 8 3.1 PLANT DESIGN OR OPERATING CIIANGES [EPP Section 3.1].. .. . . .8 3.2 NONROUTINE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS. . .. . . . . . . . .9 3.2.1 Submitted Nonroutine Reports..... . . . . . . . .. .9 3.2.2 Unusual or important Environmental Event Evaluations .. . ...9 3.3 Environmental Noncompliances [EPP Subsection 5.4.11.. . . . ..... . . . .9 ATTACIIMENT.. . .. . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . .10 l

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L 1998 Annual Environmental l .

Operating Report Page 3 of 14

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC) has committed to minimizing the impact on the environment from operating Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS). The 1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report is being submitted in accordance with the objectives of the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), Appendix B to the Facility Operating License NPF-42. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate that the plant operated during 1998 in an environmentally acceptable manner.

2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 2.1 AQUATIC [EPP Section 2.1]

2.1.1 Impacts of Water Withdrawal on the Neosho River The owners of WCGS have contracted with the Kansas Water Resources Board to pump 9.672 billion gallons per calendar year to Wolf Creek Lake (WCL) from the tailwaters of the John Redmond Reservoir (JRR). A total of 1.448 billion gallons, or 15 percent of the contracted allotment, was pumped during 1998. Of that total,0.447 billion gallons,31 percent of the total pumped, were used for auxiliary raw water. The remainder was transferred via the make-up pumps operated from December 2 through December 23, 1998. Measurements taken during 1998 by the United States Geological Survey indicate that flows downstream of the WCGS withdrawal station in the Neosho River, measured at Burlington, Kansas, were not affected by makeup pumping activities. Consequently, there were no adverse impacts to the Neosho River attributable to 1998 WCGS pumping activities.

The WCGS Final Environmental Statement / Operating License Stage (FES/OLS, Section 5.6), NUREG-0878, postulated that make-up water withdrawal of 41 cfs during drought conditions would extend the duration and severity of low-flow conditions below JRR.

This, in turn, was expected to reduce riffle habitat which would adversely affect the Neosho madtom, a federally listed threatened species. No make-up water withdrawal during very low river flows occurred during 1998. Therefore, there was no impact to this habitat from WCGS water withdrawal during 1998.

2.1.2 Oxidizing Biocide Discharges to Wolf Creek Lake Circulating Water System Discharge:

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Biocide use at WCGS was predicted to cause periodic, appreciable mortality in a conservatively estimated 40 acres of the discharge area to WCL. Ilowever, these impacts were not expected to meaningfully affect the overall biological productivity of the lake 1

(FES/OLS, Section 5.5.2.2). The postulated biocide levels expected to cause the impacts were from 0.68 to 1.08 mg/l of total residual chlorine at the Circulating Water System (CWS) discharge (FES/OLS, Section 4.2.6.1). Three 30-minute doses per day of 411 pounds of chlorine per dose were projected to produce these concentrations.

{ 1998 Annual Environmental i .

Operating Report Page 4 of 14 l Gaseous chlorine was used to control biological fouling in WCGS cooling water systems until 1995, when replaced by Betz Bio-Trol 88P Microbiocide. Use of the Bio-trol 88P was discontinued on December 21, 1998, when WCNOC began using a sodium hypochlorite and sodium bromide formulation (Betz Spectrus OX-1201). Evaluations completed by WCNOC demonstrated that the sodium hypochlorite and sodium bromide q l formulation, as with the Bio-Trol 88P, would not have greater impacts to the cooling lake i environment than those expected from the level of chlorine use identi6ed in the FES/OLS. A summary of the biocide evaluation is presented in Section 3.1 of this report.

All changes were reviewed and approved by the KDilE prior to implementation.

The WCGS National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES, Number I-NE07-P002) permit limits biocide discharges to levels lower than postulated in th FES/OLS.

This permit was administered by the Kansas Department of llealth and Environment (KDilE). The biocide levels were limited to a maximum of 0.2 mg/1, total residual oxidant (TRO). Biocide dose duration was limited to two hours per day. During 1998, WCGS has kept TRO well below the NPDES allowable limits. Actual oxidizing biocide dosages to the CWS averaged approximately 17.9 pounds per day during 1998. The daily average TRO concentration was <0.1 mg/l. Compliance with the permit for daily maximum TRO and dose duration during 1998 was 100 percent. Because the actual values during CWS biocide treatments were well below the evaluated levels, and no fish mortality attributable to oxidizing biocides was observed, permitted biocide discharges during 1998 did not have appreciable effects on the cooling lake environment.

Essential Service Water System Discharge:

The WCGS Service Water System (SWS) was discharged with the CWS, and treated with identical biocides as the CWS. During 1998, a continuous diversion of approximately 17,000 gpm of SWS flow to the Essential Service Water System (ESWS) was completed to provide microbiologically induced corrosion protection and sedimentation control. The KDilE established a 1.0 mg/l TRO limit for the SWS flow diversion through the ESWS. Measurements of TRO averaged <0.13 mg/1, and compliance with the NPDES limit in 1998 was 100 percent. No fish mortality or water quality changes attributable to ESWS biocide discharges were observed.

2.1.3 Cold Shock in the event of a rapid decline in plant power level during winter, fishes attracted to the WCGS heated discharge could experience mortality due to a quick reduction in body temperature (cold shock). In reference to licensing document evaluations, the WCGS EPP Section 2.1 (c) states," Cold shock effects on fish due to reactor shutdowns could cause significant mortality to aquatic species in the cooling lake." There were no reactor shutdowns or rapid power level reductions experienced at WCGS during 1998.

Therefore, there could not have been any cold shock fish kill events during 1998.

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1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 5 of 14 l 2.1.4 Jmpingement and Entrainment i

impacts of entrainment and impingement were projected to be signiHeant in the WCGS l EPP, Section 2.1 (d). Additionally, condenser mortality for entrained organisms was expected to approach 100 percent. Because of this, sampling efforts to monitor

, entrainment impacts were not required by the NRC and have not been implemented at I

WCGS. Through casual observations, fish impingement at the WCGS circulating water intake was considered minimal during 1998; thus, no sampling efforts to monitor impingement impacts have been initiated.

2.1.5 Impacts of Wolf Creek Lake Discharges to the Neosho River The NPDES permit requires that WCL discharges be sampled on the first day of each discharge and weekly thereaRer until the end of each respective discharge. Lake discharges in 1998 were from stormwater runoff at the service spillway. Discharge from the lake's blowdown spillway did not occur during 1998. Discharge limits were set for sulfates, chlorides, and pli(NPDES Outfall 004). In 1998, no NPDES violations at the lake's discharge occurred. There have been no detrimental effects identiGed to the Neosho River water quality due to take discharges since construction of WCL, Therefore, there were no adverse impacts to the Neosho River from WCL discharges identified during 1998.

2.2 TERRESTRIAL [EPP Section 2.2]

2.2.1 Control of Vegetation in the Exclusion Zone The composition and structure of vegetation in the 453 hectare (1120 acre) exclusion zone were selectively. controlled to be compatible with the function and security of station facilities. Most areas in the immediate vicinity of the power block have been planted and maintained in a lawn-type condition. Other areas within the exclusion area have been mowed for security and aesthetic purposes. There were no chav , in the management of the exclusion zone during 1998.

2.2.2 Vegetation Buffer Zone Surrounding Wolf Creek Lake To create a 500 acre buffer zone wound WCL, agricultural production activities were curtailed in 1980 below an approximate elevation of 1095' MSL, eight feet above WCL normal operating surface water elevation (1087' MSL). This border ranges from approximately 200 to 400 feet adjacent to the lake shoreline. Previously grazed or hayed native tallgrass areas were leR undisturbed. Previously cultivated lands were allowed to advance through natural successional stages, or native grasses were reestablished in these areas. Land management activities speciDed in an annual land management plan included controlled burning to enhance and/or maintain the designated bufTer zone with a naturally occurring biotic community. There were no changes in the area of this zone in 1998.

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1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 6 of 14 !

l l . 2.2.3 Herbicide Use for Maintenance of WCGS Structures l l 1

! l l Herbicides were used at WCGS on gravel areas, railroad easements, various land areas, i and transmission-line corridors. Application rates followed label instructions. All j herbicides used were registered by the Kansas Department of Agriculture when j purchased. No environmental impacts from herbicide treatment of WCGS facilities were '

identified. A summary of application is provided below.

In areas where bareground control was desired, a herbicide mix of Karmex DF (EPA Reg. No 352-508) and Oust (EPA Reg. No. 352-401) was used. Roundup Ultra (EPA Reg. No 524-475) was also used for problem weed areas. These herbicides were used on various gravel areas, including the switchyard, protected area boundary, meteorological tower, storage tank berms, railroad beds, and storage yards.

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I Nuisance tree and brush growth was controlled with Tordon 22 K (EPA Reg. No. 62719-  !

6), Tordon RTU (EPA Reg. No. 62719-31) Remedy (EPA Reg. No. 62719-70), Weed l Pro 2,4-D (EPA Reg. No. 10107-31), and Roundup Ultra. Areas treated included the dam, spillways, railroad easements, and selected grassland areas around the cooling lake.

Four weeds listed as noxious weeds by the Kansas Department of Agriculture were  !

controlled on WCGS lands. These were serecia lespedeza, musk thistle, Johnson grass, and field bindweed. Serecia lespedeza was treated with Remedy and Weed Pro 2,4-D.

Musk thistle was controlled using Tordon 22K. Johnson grass was controlled with '

Roundup Ultra while field bindweed was controlled through normal farming practices by the tenants of the agrisultural leases.

Tree control was completed during 1998 within the right-of-ways for the Wolf Creek -

Benton and Wolf Creek -Rose Hill 345 Kv transmission-lines. Herbicides used consisted of Crenite (EPA Reg. No. 352-395), Tordon K (EPA Reg. No. 464-421), Garlon 4 (EPA Reg. No. 464-554), and Arsenal (EPA Reg. No. 241-273). In sensitive areas, such as water way crossings, Crenite and Escort (EPA Reg. No 352-439) were used.

2.2.4 Waterfowl Disease Contingency Plan and Monitoring A waterfowl disease contingency plan was maintained to provide guidance for station biologists in the event of suspected or actual disease outbreaks. The contingency plan lists appropriate federal and state wildlife agency contacts to be made by WCNOC in the event of such problems. During routine wildlife monitoring and surveillance activities taking place over this reporting period, no waterfowl mortality attributable to disease pathogens was identified.

2.2.5 Fog Monitoring Program [EPP Subsection 4.2.1]

Visibility monitoring was initiated in December 1983 and continued through 1987. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of waste heat dissipation from WCL on fog occurrence along U. S. 75 near New Strawn, Kansas. The program was required through one year of commercial operation that started in September,1985. Upon

1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 7 of 14 conclusion of 1987 data collection, sufficient information was available to evaluate cooling lake fogging, and all commitments relevant to fog monitoring had been satisfied.

The fog monitoring study concluded that operation of WCGS did not appreciably increase fogging incidents from that measured before operation. In 1998, there were no reports of such incidents from individuals or local agencies responsible for traffic safety.

Implementation of mitigative actions or further monitoring was not warranted.

2.2.6 Wildlife Monitoring Program lEPP Subsection 4.2.2l A wildlife monitoring program was initiated in 1982 to monitor and assess waterfowl, waterbird, and bald eagle usage of WCL. This program included transmission-line collision surveys to assess collision mortality and determine potential mitigation needs.

This wildlife monitoring program was to continue for at least two years following WCGS start-up (FES-OLS Section 5.5.1.2), which occurred during September,1985. Upon completion of 1996 monitoring, sufficient data had been collected to determine waterfowl, waterbird, and bald eagle usage of WCL. Consequently, the wildlife monitoring program scope was reduced. The program changes were transmitted to the NRC on April 29,1997 (Letter No. WO 97-0048). The current program consists of reviewing WCL waterfowl and bald eagle survey data collected by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). If review of the KDWP data indicates usage has changed from that previously documented, then additional monitoring will be initiated, if warranted. This additional monitoring may include collision mortality monitoring.

Review of waterfowl and bald eagle monitoring data from the KDWP indicate that no usage changes occurred during 1998. Survey data indicate usage in 1998 was similar to that typically observed during mild winter conditions when the larger concentrations of waterfowl and bald eagles use JRR, rather than WCL. No disease outbreaks or substantial crop depredation attributable to waterfowl use of WCL occurred in 1998. No changes to the wildlife monitoring program were warranted.

2.2.7 Land Management Program lEPP Subsection 4.2.3]

Land management activities on all company-owned lands except within the 453 hectare (1120 acre) WCGS exclusion area were designed to achieve balances between agricultural production and conservation values. An annual management plan addressed needs and accepted techniques for land maintenance, soil conservation, and wildlife management. These included the construction or establishment of fences, wetland areas, and permanent vegetative covers. An environmental education area was improved and maintained as part of the land management program. A summary of the 1998 land management activities appears in the attachment to this report. The land management program continued in 1998 to balance agriculture production and conservation values.

1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 8 of 14 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 3.1 PLANT DESIGN OR OPERATIONAL CHANGES [EPP Section 3.1l Proposed plant design and operational changes which have the potential to affect the environment must receive an environmental evaluation prior to implementation. A summary of each l modiGcation or operating change which required an environmental evaluation in 1998 is presented. There were no changes in station design or operation nor were there tests or experiments that involved an unreviewed environmental question during 1998. There were no events identined that required changes to the EPP.

l Evaluation: Changing Number of Anglers Allowed Per Day on Wolf Creek Lake (98-01) 1 i

l This evaluation demonstrated that no signiGcant adverse impacts should be expected from

! removing the current 250 anglers / day limit. This conclusion was based on the assumptions that l

current creel limits would be enforced, and that current angler exclusion from areas frequented by bald eagles be maintained.

The nshery serves to control gizzard shad numbers to prevent operational problems that could be caused by excessive impingement and clogging of the intake screens. For this reason, length limits were established for important Esh species in the lake. These length limits would protect most of the predater base from angler harvest by allowing only the largest and oldest fish to be kept. The 250 anglers / day restriction wts not relied upon to prevent angler impacts to the Oshery. Consequently, removing the 250 anglers / day limit would not increase impacts.

Potential adverse impacts from human disturbance to bald eagles was considered in lake access construction assessments, but removing the 250 anglers / day limit was not expected to increase l the impact potential. Anglers were excluded from a zone with a 300 yard radius and marked with buoys around the active bald eagle nest. Past monitoring also identified the heated discharge area to be an important feeding area for wintering eagles, and anglers were excluded from this area.

Evaluation: Procedure Change to Accommodate Use of Triton X-100 Resin Cleaner (98-02) l This evaluation addressed a procedure change providing for one time use of Triton X-100 to clean the condensate polisher system resins, and subsequent discharge. The use of Triton X-100,

. a surfactant, was to improve the rinse characteristics of the resin by removing a foulant that was

! causing the resin to clump. The discharge concentration was to be below the no-effect level of

l. 3.2 mg/l for fathead minnows. Approval was obtained from the KDHE for discharge through NPDES Outfall 003 to the lake. Actual discharge concentrations were non-detectable. No I adverse environmental impacts resulted from use of the Triton X-100.

Evaluation: Land Management Plan Changes for 1998 (98-03)

This evaluation addressed minor changes to the land management activities planned for 1998.

The changes w;ere consistent with the objectives of the EPP, which requires that agricultural and conservation values be balanced (EPP Section 4.2.3). Controlled burriing of the native grass l

1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 9 of 14

. areas was an accepted conservation and wildlife management technique, as were brush clipping, fence construction and pond repair. Slight grazing rate changes was not considered detrimental.

No grazing was allowed with the 500 acre minimum buffer strip around the lake. The land management plan changes represented ongoing activities required to balance agricultural production and conservation values, and as such , no detrimental environmental impacts resuhed.

Evaluation: Change of Biocide Treatment Chemicals (98-04)

This evaluation demonstrated that no increase to previously evaluated impacts would result from replacement of Betz Bio-Trol 88P with sodium hypochlorite and sodium bromide (Betz Spectrus OX-1201). These chemicals would be used for biocide treatment of the circulating and service j water systems. These two chemicals, both oxidants, when used in conjunction with each other were similar in nature to the Dio-Trol 88P. Operational control through plant procedures would ensure all discharges to NPDES Outfalls 003 and 006 would be at or below the applicable l

discharge limit for the two chemicals. Approval for the biocide chemical change was obtained '

from the KDilE. No adverse impacts were expected.

3.2 NONROUTINE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS 3.2.1 Submitted Nonroutine Reports There were no environmental reports involving significant nonroutine impacts submitted to the NRC during 1998.

3.2.2 Unusual or Important Environmental Event Evaluations No unusual or important environmental events reportable according to specifications in the EPP were identified during 1998.

3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL NONCOMPLIANCES [EPP Subsection 5.4.11 At WCGS in 1998, nonradiological environmental noncompliances or noteworthy events were documented and evaluated in accordance with WCNOC's Corrective Action Program, using Performance Improvement Requests (PIRs). A PIR is WCNOC's administrative vehicle for corrective action. Events evaluated included monitoring plan deviations, commitment tracking form routing discrepancy, waste construction and demolition debris disposal issues, hazardous waste plan regulatory screening issues, NPDES procedure improvements, review of industry concerns with nonradiological waste disposal without monitoring, oil sheen at NPDES outfall, solvent rag disposal discrepancy, and health concerns with a cliff swallow nesting colony. All the documented events were determined not to be reportable pursuant to EPP criteria.

1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 10 of 14 ATTACilMENT  :

SUMMARY

OF ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS AT WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION,1998 Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Environmental Management i

P. O. Box 411 l

. Burlington, Kansas 66839 l l

Contenis

1. 1998 Land Management Activities  !

2. 1998 Zebra Mussel Monitoring Activities

3. 1998 Fishery Monitoring Activities l

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1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page11of14 1.1998 LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES This document presents the 1998 activities for the WCGS land management program. The EPP requires a land management program that will implement conservation and wildlife management techniques to at:empt to balance production and conservation values (EPP Section 4.2.3). Procedure At 07D-001,

" Resource Management Program," implements this requirement via a land management report and plan.

The program objectives are:

a. to maximize rent income from agricultural lands when practical,

b. to conserve or improve both agricultural and natural resources,

c. to foster good relations with local agricultural and natural resource communities,

d. to satisfy licensing requirements,

e. to improve the appearance of the company's lands,

f. to enhance the natural resources on the Environmental Education Area (EEA).

Grasslands at WCGS consist of areas leased for grazing and hay production and unleased areas maintained for regulatory compliance, soil conservation, and wildlife. Grass areas adjacent to WCL shorelines exceed the 500 acre buffer zone of" naturally occurring biotic communities" referenced in the EPP. Approximately 1,238 acres of native rangeland were leased for grazing in 1998. Leases specified rotation programs, season lengths, and maximum grazing rates. By controlling these variables, range quality was maintained at levels which provided optimum wildlife value and long term rent generation.

Approximately 392 acres were leased for hay production in 1998. Ilay meadows were managed for high quality production by requiring hay to be cut by July 31 and bales removed by August 31. Compliance in 1998 with these specifications was good. No late cutting was observed.

Fire has always been an integral part of the prairie and controlled burning was used on Wolf Creek land i to control woody brush invasion and less desirable cool-season grasses or weeds, increase wildlife value, I and to increase prairie vigor and production. It is a relatively inexpensive and environmentally compatible method of achieving these objectives.

Management of Wolf Creek cropland has strived to reduce soil erosion, maintain rent income, and increase wildlife benefits. A total of 1,355 acres of cropland was leased in 1998. Consistent with past years, the cropland lease contracts specified that common conservation practices be followed. On fields with appropriate terraces to follow, contour farming was required. Double-cropping, producing two crops on the same acreage during the same season, was generally prohibited because this practice usually increases soil loss. Fall tillage of crop residues was prohibited except for certain instances. These instances include tillage necessary for fall planting of wheat, plowing of terraces and deep tillage practices to improve productivity.

Utilization of existing weed and grass strips and the practice ofleaving edge grain, both of which provide wildlife benefits, were continued. A two acre food plot _was maintained in a predominately brome grass area. This area was not used for agricultural production and was lacking in habitat diversity.

Land management activities on the EEA were designed with natural resource education in mind.

Improvement of wildlife habitat in the area to increase the public's chances of viewing a greater variety of wildlife was an objective. Tree and shrub planting, wildlife food plots, and controlled burning were a

1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 12 of 14

, few of the techniques employed. The EEA has drawn a large amount of attention and lends itself well to educational purposes. Continued modifications and habitat improvements are ongoing which will constantly change the area, keeping it attractive for wildlife and interesting for visitors.

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r 1998 Annual Er'vironmental Operating Report Page 13 of 14 2.1998 ZEBRA MUSSEL MON'TORING ACTIVITIES No zebra mussels were detected in 1998 at three search locations on the Neosho River and 15 search i locations in WCL. Searches were conducted in the Neosho River on September 2, and in WCL on July 31, September 28, and Omber 22. The immediate river bank or lake shore at each location was searched

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for zebra mussel shells anu natural substrates were searched for the presence of attached adults. Zebra 1

, mussels have not been reported in Kansas or any closer to Kansas than navigation locks in the Ver/igris l River in northeastern Oklahoma (Benson,1997). Because zebra mussels can be dispersed by overland transport of recreational boats, monitoring for the presence of zebra mussels near WCGS will continue in 1999.

Literature Cited Benson, Amy J., Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey. "An overview of Non-Indigenous Aquatic Organisms," Presentation at Seventh International Zebra Mussel and Aquatic  !

Nuisance Species Conference (January 28-31,1997 New Orleans, Louisiana). I 1

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1998 Annual Environmental Operating Report Page 14 of 14 3.1998 FISIIERY MONITORING ACTIVITIES The primary objective of WCL fishery monitoring program was to measure fish population dynamics to determine shad impingement potential. The fishery assessments targeted gizzard shad, the predator i species that feed on them, and the predator-prey interactions. The results obtained from fishery I monitoring of WCL during 1998 indicate that the potential for gizzard shad impingement at the cooling I water intake screens has remained low. {

f Gizzard shad density was again low enough during 1998, especially for young-of-year, that impingement problems did not develop. This was evidenced by declining catch rates during fall sampling.

Recruitment of 1994 and 1995 shad to the larger, reproductive sized shad increased. This increase indicated the potential for greater production of shad vulnerable to impingement, but this did not develop in 1998. Enough of each year's production of young shad continue to be consumed to keep imping: ment potential to a minimum.

The population dynemics of the predator species supports the conclusion that gizzard shad density remained low in 1998. Predator populations, as a whole, showed signs of being pre-limited. Growth rates and body conditions tended to be lower in 1998. Continuous declines in these areas would raise concerns, because it is important that the predator populations remain viable so that shad control I continues. The 1998 monitoring revealed that, although pressured, the predator populations showed sigr favorable for continued shad control. Catch rates remained similar to past years, 2nd recruitment wa good for sany predator species. Still, stocking a wiper year class during 1999 was not recommended dui to the combination of lower shad density rad lower predator body conditions. Predator populations focused on were white bass, wiper hybnds, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white crappie, and walleye.

With the addition of recreational angling to the lake in 1996, impacts to the predator's shad control benefits were also assessed. The catch-and-release philosophy being stressed at WCL has made the limited harvest compatible with continued shad control. Angler use arid /or harvest has had no observable ,

impact to the fishery, increased harvest of white bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye were justified and  !

new regulations allowiw this were planned to take effect beginning in 1999.