ML20246B120

Remote Sensing & Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1988 Final Rept. W/Two Oversize Figures

ML20246B120
Person / Time
Site:	Fermi
Issue date:	12/31/1988
From:	NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES, INC.
To:
Shared Package
ML20246B101	List: ML20246B120 NRC-89-0097, Forwards Fermi 2 Power Plant Remote Sensing & Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1988 Final Rept. No Environ Protection Plan Noncompliances Occurred During Period.Terrestrial Monitoring Performed on Area Around Plant
References
NUDOCS 8905080409
Download: ML20246B120 (47)

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FERMI 2 POWER PLANT I

REMOTE SENSING i AND VEGETATION GROUND TRUTil PROGRAM -j l 1988 FINAL REPORT l

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Prepared for .

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l DETROIT EDISON COMPANY 2000 Second Avenue -j l Detroit, Michigan l

1 Prepared by l 1 i l NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES INC.  !

25 Nashua Road  ;

Bedford, New llampshire  !

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R-4174 March 1989' l

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FOREWORD l Normandeau Associates Inc. (NAI) is pleased to submit this f report for 1988 summarizing the method and results of the most recent remote-sensing and vegetation ground-truth exercise conducted within the prescribed survey area in the vicinity of the Fermi 2 power plant, Enrico Fermi Energy Center, Monroe County, Michigan. Four pre-operational reports were prepared as part of this program, the first three by the Ecological Services Group of Texas Instruments Incorporated, the last by NAI. These reports are cited as TI 1978, TI 1979, TI 1980 and NAI 1983, respectively. Their findings were described and discussed in a report (NAI 1984) that served as a pre-operational baseline summary of all work done up to that point. Following com-mencement of limited plant operation in November 1985, the first study to look for operational impacts on surrounding vegetation was conducted by NAI in 1987 and described in a report cited as NA1 1987. The present report is its successor, and covers the first growing season during which the plant was licensed to operate at full capacity.

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i TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE l

FOREWORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv LIST OF TABLES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

SUMMARY

, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

1.0 INTRODUCTION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 l

.1.1 PROGRAM HISTORY AND OBJECTIVE. . . . . . . . . . 1 2.0 METHOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.1 AERIAL CIR PHOTOGRAPHY , . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.2 VEGETATION COVER TYPE MAPPING. . . . . . . . . . 2 2.3 VEGETATION STRESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2.4 CR0P TYPE MAPPING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.5 SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2.6 PROGRAM SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3.1 COVER TYPE AND LAND USE. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3.2 VEGETATION STRESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.2.1 Physical Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.2.2 Blotic Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 3.2.3 Chemical Factors. . . . . . . . . . . 27 3.3 CR0P SURVEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 3.4 SOIL DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYTIC RESULTS . . . . . 29 3.5 SIGNIFICANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

4.0 REFERENCES

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 111

LIST OF FIGURES PAGE 2-1. Fermi 2 site, survey area, and flight line map of color infrared photograph coverage, 1 September

! 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2-2. Fermi 2 site, projected dissolved solids deposition isopleths, and soil sampling stations. . . . . . . . 7 3-1. (folded map, back pocket) Vegetation cover types in the vicinity of the Fermi 2 power plant. . . . . . . (map pocket) l 3-2. Mean annual water level of Lake Erie at Stony Point, Michigan for the period 1981-1988, compared with the 78 year mean for 1900-1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 3-3. Color infrared photograph of the Enrico Fermi energy center including the Fermi 2 power plant . . . . . . . 12 3-4. Soy bean crop destroyed by drought, near intersec-tion of Post Road and Route 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 3-5. Leaf browning, dieback and death in Sugar Maple and White Ash grown as shade trees in open site, Lilac Country Club, Armstrong Road . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 3-6. Marginal leaf browning and associated chlorosis in American Elm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 3-7. Marginal and terminal Icar browning and associated chlorosis in White Ash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3-8. Early autumn color in drought-stressed hardwoods . . . 22 3-9. Infrared aerial view of stressed woodlot shown in Figure 3-8 . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . 22 3-10. Dead Black Willow and American Elm showing effect of long-term lake-level rine. Dead Cattall shows dessicating effect of recent (1987-88) drop in lake icvel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3-11. Dead lowland hardwoods showing effect of long-term lake-level rise. Leaf-scorched Water Lily interspersed in foreground with larger Spatterdock shows effect of recent (1987-88) drop in lake level. Vigorous growth of yellow-flowered Sticktight and other wet meadow plants in between. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 iv

1 f PAGE l

3-12. Close-up of drought-stressed Cattall . . . . . . . . . 25 3-13. Drought-stressed Cattall, showing its replacement by .

Phragmites reed and Purple Loosestrife . . . . . . . 26 3-14. (folded map, back pocket) Crop cover types in the vicinity of the Fermi 2 power plant. . . . . . . . (map pocket) l

, 3-15. Relation of the percent salt in the soil to.the ,

electrical conductivity of the saturation extract and to crop response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 3-16. Monthly thermal capacity factor values at the Fermi 2 power plant for 1987 and 1988, expressing percentage of full power production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 o

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I LIST OF TABLES PAGE 3-1. Estimated Iforizontal Acreage for Each Cover Type in Fermi 2 Survey Area, 1 September 1988. . . . . . . . . 9 f 3-2. Estimated Horizontal Acreage for Each Cover Type in 1

Fermi 2 Site Area, 1 September 1988. . . . . . . . . . 13 3-3. Summary of Vegetation Stress Areas Observed Within the Fermi 2 Survey Area, September 1988. . . . . . . . 16 3-4. Summary of 1988 Crop Survey, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 1

3-5. Mean Values for Soil Parameters from Each Sampling Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 vi

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SUMMARY

I Color infrared aerial photographs were used in 1988 to deli-i neate cover types, vegetation stress patterns, and crop land-use in'the 39-square-mile Fermi 2 Survey Area. Soil samples were collected and j analyzed frc n areas expected to receive a wide range of cooling-tower salt deposition. These analyses provided a second opportunity since the plant began operation to evaluate the effect of cooling-tower salt drift f

on soils, and to evaluate vegetation stress that could be attributable to plant operation.

Results showed slight changes in cover types since 1987.

Land-use patterns resemble those described in the previous NAI reports; however, there was a continuing decline in the cropland under active cultivation. Areas of stressed natural vegetation were more extensive than in previous years, owing to lake-level change and drought.

Lake-level fluctuations continued to strongly influnnce the distribution of vegetation cover types and patterns of vogotation stress. Falling water levels were implicated as the cause of stressed and dying emergent marsh and floating-leaved plant species. 'Ihe only other major stress-causing agent was prolonged heat and drought. from sprirg into July. Insect infestations were well below pest proportions.

Other than falling lake levels and the gradual encroachment of urban land use, no stress producing f actors were considered severe or perva-sive enough to contribute significantly to future shifts in cover-type boundarios or changes in plant species composition. No positive corre-Intion could be detected bntween vegetation stress and the predicted  !

pattern of salt. drif t deposition.

Over 13,000 acres of croplands were mapped. The major crops in descend'.og order of importance were: soybeans; hay, pasture and fallow; recent tillage; and corn. l l

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Soil sampling indicated no significant changes from the 1987 data. The pil and conductivity of the samples were consistent with good

, fortility and low lonic stress.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

[ 1.1 PROGRAM IIISTORY AND ODJECTIVE From 1978 to 1980 the condition of natural vegetation was l annually surveyed within a five-mile radius of the Fermi 2 cooling towers. Maps of vegetation cover types were prepared, including delineation of all areas under apparent stress. Where'possible, causes of stress were identified. This baseline study was resumed in 1983, l when two new objectives were added: a crop cover-type survey and soils I

analysis. Taken together, all of these data provided the background information against which to measure the effects of dissolved-solids deposition resulting from plant operation (NAI 1984).

Following commencement of limited plant operation in 1985, a repeat was made in 1987 of the 1983 survey. This, survey afforded the first opportunity to observe changes in selected parameters that were possibly attributable to plant operation. In January 1968, the Fermi 2 plant completed its commercial test run (100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> at maximum power) and became licensed to commence routino operation. The plant operated at MS/ M capacity during 1988 (Terrasi 1989). The 1988 survey thus was in a yh d.nn IN2veY position to record stress effects on vegetation at a potentially higher level than previously would have been possible.

• 1988 Capacity Factor was 45% 1

2.0 HETil0D Aerial color infrared photography provided the data base for delineating vegetation cover type, vegetation stress, and crop type.

Interpretation of the photographs was checked in the field, and neces-

sary adjustments were made to the original base map. Soil samples were collected at the same time.

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2.1 AERIAL CIR Pil0TOGRAPilY l

Aerial color infrared (CIR) photographs used in this survey of the 39-square-mile study area (5-mile radius) surrounding the Fermi 2 Power Plant were taken 1 September 1988 (11:40-13:01 hours). Cloudy weather accounted for a two-to-three-week delay in photography.

Specifications included a 30-percent side everlap and a 60 percent forward overlap to provide optimum stereoscopic viewing resolution.

Seven flight lines were required to cover the designated study area at the desired degree of overlap (Figure 2-1). Kodak 2443 Color Infrared Ektachrome film was used to take the photographs, which were proceued as positive transparencies from a 9-inch roll. The photographs were taken with a Zeiss camera, with 6-inch focal length lens from a local altittide of 5,000 feet, assuring a working scale of 1:10,000 (1 inch =

833 feet).

Additional CIR photographs were taken of the immediate power plant area at an altitude of 8,000 feet, as a special record of the operational zone.

2.2 VECETATION COVER TYPE HAPPING Each Ektachrome transparency was separated from the others on the roll, placed in a protective acetate sleeve, and labelled with flight line and exposure number. A mirror stereoscope was used, as 2

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described in the 1978 report (TI 1978), to establish each type boundary.

Land use and vegetation cover types were as defined in Texas Instruments l

t (1978). The 1988 cover type map and base map were prepared from optically reduced and corrected composites of the 1988 CIR photographs, using the methods described previously (TI 1978). Areas of each cover l type were measured by dot count method or digital planimeter from the 1:24,000 scale map (1 inch = 2,000 feet; 1 square inch = 91.82736 l er.res).

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2.3 VEGETATION STRESS l

l Areas lacking infrared reflectance on the CIR photographs were interpreted as containing stressed vegetation. Due to increasing stress to green leaves, the reddish photographic appearance, characteristic of healthy vegetation, grcdes to magenta, purple, green, and yellow as infrared reflectance is progressively lost. Areas with more than 50 percent of the plants under stress were delineated by the photo-interpreter on the even-numbered acetate sleeves with a fine-tipped drafting pen. Where accessible, areas so delineated were checked during ground truthing to determine the species affected and the most probable causal agent (s). To further document vegetation stress, color photo-graphs were taken of typical examples of stressed species and of con-spicuous causal agents (e.g. fluctuating lake level). Where identifica-tion of plants was questionable, specimens were collected using methods previously described (TI 1980).

Stressed areas delineated in the ground-truthed aerial photo-graphs were optically transferred to the cover type map, and the affected area measured by dot count method.

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I 2.4 CROP TYPE MAPPING The CIR photographs were also used to delineate crop types in the survey area. Within 20 days of the overflight, approximately 30% of the land supporting crops was field checked. Aerial photographs cannot I be used to differentiate among crops of the same morphology, such as various grains, hay, and other narrow-leaved members of the grass family i (Gramineae). Consequently, cover-type categories were used which represented the greatest degree of differentiation practical for the l

study area. The change in cover-typing Impicmented in the 1987 survey was perpetuated in 1988. Thin change reflects the federal government's Set-Aside Program, offective from 1985 with the passage of the farm bill of that year. Since then, up to 5% of each farmer's crop acreage has lain fallow each year, as a means of controlling surplus production. In many cases it proved difficult to distinguish between a late-season field in which a small crop species like alfalfa was being overgrown with robust weeds, and a fallow field grown up to a mixture of about equal parts corn, hay, soy and pioneer weed species. On the assumption that much of this heterogeneous growth represented potential fodder, it was collectively easigned to the crop type redesignated as " Hay, other grass crops, pasture and fallow." All plots greater than five acres and many of the smaller plots were delineated on the odd-numbered aerial photographs and assigned to type. These areas were then optically transferred to the same base map used for cover types, at a 1 inch =

2,000 feet scale (1:24,000). Acreage of each plot was determined by dot counting (for plots less than 25 acres) and by digital planimeter (for larger plots). The two methods were cross-checked and calibrated against areas of known acreage for accuracy and precision. Errors in the dot counts were found not to exceed five acros; errors in the digital planimeter were less than five acres for small parecis and less than 1% for larger plots.

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l 2.5 SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS i

Soil samples were taken from the same stations as in 1983 and 1987 (see Figure 2-2). The same methods for sampling and analysis were used (NAI 1983). As before, two locations were sampled in each of the three zones of predicted impact: .01 .1 pounds of dissolved solids per acre per year, .1 .5 lb/ac/yr, and greater than .5 lb/ac/yr.

Dissolved solids from cooling-tower emissions could be expected to accumulate here, if anywhere, in concentrations roughly proportional to this theoretical zonation.

2.6 PROGRAM SCIIEDULE The completion dates for each major task of the 1988 program were:

Aerial CIR Photography 1 September 1988 Photointerpretation 9 December 1988 Ground Truth and Soil Sampling 20 September 1988 Analysis of Soils 16 December 1988 Reports Draft 10 March 1989 Final 11 April 1989 Aerial CIR photography was delayed more than two weeks owing to bad weather. On receipt, the photographs were given a partial cover typing and crop typing and full vegetation stress appraisal prior to ground truthing on site. The ground truthing took two days. It included verification of cover and crop typing and vegetation stress delineations; soil sampling; and further photographic documentation by hand camera. Photointerpretation was then completed in office.

Analysis of the soll samples was completed in mid-December, the result of a delay imposed by necessary repairs to the sulfate testing equip-ment.

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3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 COVER TYPE AND LAND USE i Results of the 1988 cover-type survey are recorded in Figure 3-1 (see the folded 1:24,000 scele map in the back pocket) and Table 3-1. Since the enclosure or quasi-enclosure of an estimated additional l 1,400 acres of water was noted in the 1983 NAI report, no further change in total survey area has occurred. The difference of 262 acres between the 1987 total and that of 1988 represents an increase of 1%, small enough to be attributed to cumulative variation in approach and execu-tion f' rom one survey to the next.

The 1988 decrease in total acreage of open water, following a nine-year upward trend, confirms expectations based on the mean annual lake level recorded for that year. Figure 3-2 shows the most recent data for Stony Point, from 1981 to 1988. Steady increases in lake level from 1981 to 1986 have been reversed by sharp declines in 1987 and 1988.

The 1988 mean is approximately six inches below any other annual mean since 1981. This vertical drop of two feet over two years along such a gently sloping shoreline would have undoubtedly led to measurable reduction of the open water type.

Encroaching and receding lake water has not significantly affected the total acreage of lowland or riparian hardwoods, or the total acreage of wetland. Trees may survive years of protracted flood-ing during the growing season before they die completely. In the case of wetlands, there has been a recent shift toward proportionally less of the " wettest" type, deep marsh (2C). In response to rising and falling lake levels, change from one to another herbaceous cover type can occur more quickly than can the alternation between herbaceous and woody life forms. The present lake level would have to continue dropping or at least hold steady for years before trees could establish themselves nearer the shore 11ne. The slight recorded decrease in the lowland 8

TABLE 3-1. ESTIMATED !!ORIZONTAL ACREAGE FOR EACH COVER TYPE IN FERMI 2 SURVEY AREA, 1 SEPTEMBER 1988.

CODE LAND USE/ COVER TYPE 1978 1980 1983 1987 1988 1 Deciduous Forest 1A Upland Hardwoods 468 462 465 372 536 IB Riparian Hardwoods 258 257 347 345 356 1C Lowland Hardwoods 360 354 477 498 415 1,086 1,073 1,289 1,215 1,307 2 Hetlands 2A Harshland Headow 331 268 517 427 416 2B Shallow Harsh 6 94 361 543 520 615 2C Deep Harsh 413 237 10 148 112 1,438 866 1,090 1,095 1,143 3 Inactive 3A Early Successional 333 351 329 531 516 3B Advanced Successional 305 280 86 109 154 3C Transitional 250 248 192 241 122 3D Abandoned Orchard to 10 0 0 0 898 889 607 881 792 4 Nater 606 1,208 2,697 2,730 2,411 5 Haintained Pasture and Crop 16,858 16,713 16,139 14,902 14,968 6 Transportation Rights of Way 422 422 422 618 617 7 Recreational 160 160 168 170 202 8 Industrin1 193 193 244 175 333 9 Residential / Commercial 1,819 2,005 2,181 2.544 2,725 10 Barren Land 153 104 248 230 324 TOTAL 23,633 23,633 25,084 24,560 24,822 9

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forest type for 1988 may reflect the final loss of trees already debilitated beyond recovery by the recent seven-year period of high water. The herbaceous understory can only benefit from the additional light resulting from removal of the forest canopy.

The acreage of upland hardwoods has increased considerably, some 164 acres or 44%, from 1987 to 1988. Much of this increase reflects the maturation of the transitional cover type into forest.

Additionally, some narrow field-edge forests previously ignored were included in this survey.

The method of listing acreage causes a slight exaggeration in cropland acreage. Since cropland is by far the predominant type, all other types are identified and enumerated first. The difference'in area between these and the total survey area gives the cropland area.

Ilowever, this remainder includes all areas of such a size or shape as to make their separate delineation impractical: secondary roads, roadside verges, small fields, etc. The actual cropland acreage is consequently a good deal smaller than the tabulated value. Its lower limit is indicated by the figure given in Table 3 13,268 - which results from a direct count of all cropland delineated (in general, all tracts five acres or more in size). This value, a 239-acre decrease from the counterpart 1987 total (13,607) is a more accurate reflection of cropland loss than the value from Table 3-1. New industrial development along Route 275 (129 acres), expansion of limestone quarrying operations and residential development within the study area have all replaced cropland acreage since 1987.

The immediate environs of the Fermi 2 site are illustrated in color infrared in Figure 3-3. Cover types delineated for this specific area are matched with the imagery on overlay and described in Table 3-2.

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12

TABLE 3-2. ESTIKATED HORIZONTAL' ACREAGE FOR EACH COVER TYPE IN-x FERMI 2 SITE AREA, 1 SEPTEMBER 1988.

j CODE LAND USE/ LAND COVER TYPE 1988

[ (acres) 1 Deciduous Forest 1C Lowland Hardwoods '162 TOTAL 162, 2 Wetlands 2A Marshland Meadow 3 2B Shallow Marsh 56 2C Deep Marsh 19 TOTAL 78 3 Inactive Land 3A Early Successional 131 3B Advanced Successional 33 3C Transitional 26 TOTAL 195 4 Water 350 8 Industrial 160 9 Residential 31 10 Barren Land 7 TOTAL 978 13

i 3.2 VEGETATION STRESS Ninety-one discrete areas of apparent vegetation stress were recorded during 1988, totalling 500 acres or about two per cent of the Fermi 2 survey aren (Table 3-3). The comparable figures for 1980, 1983

! and 1987, the three most recent years of record, are 335, 198 and 176 l'

acres respectively. The stressed areas for 1988 are shown on the cover-type map (Figure 3-1, see back pocket).

For the same reason that soll samples were taken where the f environment showed least sign of recent disturbance, notice of stress symptoms was confined to naturally vegetated ares = (see NAI 1987 for full discussion). These consist primarily of remnant lowland forest, meadow and marsh bordering Lake Erie, riverine forest along the lower reaches of major streams, and woodlots of varying maturity scattered throughout the upland farms.

3.2.1 Physical Factors Climatic conditions in the region of the study area during the 1988 growing season were similar to those for 1987: a dry spring and summer through most of July, followed by adequate rainfall in August, rather too late to save many crops. The 1988 crop yield for Monroe County was down by an estimated 30% from normal figures (Marks 1989).

To make things worse, late winter (January-March) in the region had also been dryer than normal, and the summer temperatures averaged much higher, attaining a maximum average July difference of 4.1 degrees F*

hotter in Toledo, 5.2 in Detroit (National Climatic Data Center 1988).

One typical result of the effect on crops can be seen in Figure 3-4.

Precipitation data from Monroe, nearest the study site, indicate less drastic growing conditions prevailed at least in the immediate vicinity of Lake Eric (Michigan State University 1988).

Drought-related stress effects noted in the natural vegetation were like 14

l those of the previous year (NAI 1987) - early autumn leaf color and leaf browning or chlorosis in many trees, especially those of younger age classes exposed along roadsides or at the edge of fields, with least l shelter from the wind and sun (Figures 3-5 to 3-9). As in the previous years of study, these signs of stress were distributed in such a way as to suggest no correlation with the predicted pattern of solids deposi-tion from the cooling towers.

The effect of rising lake water, the chief source of stress to plants in the study area during the past decade, was barely evident in f 1988. For the second consecutive year the icvel of Lake Erie receded.

In 1987 it went down only six inches. In 1988 the normal subsidence over summer left the lake in September one and one-half foot lower than it was in September 1987, based on a comparison of monthly means (Figure 3-2). Along the entire lake shoreline, trees that were gradually succumbing to inundation thus had a chance to recover. The injury of previous years was everywhere apparent in the form of standing dead trees. However, the prematurely coloring foliage noted (NAI 1987) as formerly so widespread along the retreating lake shoreline had become almost undetectable in 1988.

Such a drastic reversal of an environmental trend must have its consequences. Instead of further injury to the trees there has been a great expansion in the area of injured herbaceous wetland species. By late summer whole marshes of Cattail (Typha species) had turned brown in response to a second year of insufficient wetting (Figure 3-10). Other herbaceous species, tolerant of the new drier conditions, were beginning to invade: notably the Reed (Phragm/tes), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum sallcarla) (Figures 3-12 and 3-13), and Sticktight (several Bldens species). Farther out in the receding lake water, deep marsh species like Water Lily (Nymphaca) were being stranded in the mud or hung up on other plants to wither in the sun (Figure 3-11).

15

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Figure 3-5. Leaf browning, dieback and death in Sugar Mapic and White Ash grown as shade trees in open site, Lilac Country Club, Armstrong Road. Green grass shows effect of August rains in alleviating drought in upper root zone.

19

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21

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23

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Figure 3-11. Dead lowland hardwoods showing effect oflong-term lake-level rise. Leaf-scorched Water Lily interspersed in foreground with larger Spatterdock shows effect of recent (1987-88) drop in lake level. Vigorous growth of ycitow-flowered Sticktight and other wet meadow plants in between. Near Pointe aux Peaux.

24

l Figure 3-12. Close-up drought-stressed Cattail. Sulphur Springs Road at 25

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26

Until the lake level achieves relative stability once again for three or four consecutive years, damage to wetland plant communities can be expected to continue. Since most marsh emergent species like Cattail and floating-leaved species like Water Lily are perennials, they thrive only where growth c'nditions o remain similar from year to year.

Drastic water-level fluctuations favor submergent species during times of high water, mud-flat and meadow emergents when the water is low (Knighton 1985).

3.2.2 Biotic Factors Previous reports (TI 1980, NAI 1983, NAI 1987) have mentioned the long-term effects of Dutch Elm Disease on American Elm populations, and the short-term effects of defo11ating agents like Fall Webworm on deciduous trees in general. Neither of these sources of stress, nor any other biotic factor, appears to have caused damage at levels detectable in the 1988 CIR imagery of the study area.

3.2.3 Chemical Factors While no stress attributable to chemical factors was noted by the 1988 or previous surveys, continued monitoring is appropriate.

During 1988 two new chemical agents were added to the cooling water used at the Fermi 2 power plant: gaseous chlorine, a blocide, and Powerline 3451, a non-volatile scale inhibitor of proprietary composition.

Neither of these compounds is anticipated to cause measurable impacts beyond the immediate cooling system environment.

3.3 CROP SURVEY The mapped results of the 1987 crop survey are shown in Figure 3-14 (see map in second back pocket). Acreage figures by crop type are given in Table 3-4.

27

l f

4 TABLE 3-4.

SUMMARY

OF 1988 CROP SURVEY.

CROP TYPE TOTAL ACREAGE PERCENT OF TOTAL Soybean 5,015 37.8 Hay, other grass crops, 3,413 25.7 H l~

pasture and fallow

. Earth, plowed or bare 2,868 21.6 l

l -

Corn, all varieties 1,972 14.9 TOTAL 13,268 100.0 l

l c

p I

28

l The greatest crop change between 1987 and 1988 was the propor-tional and absolute increase in plowed earth and a roughly corresponding decrease in hay, other grass crops, pasture and fallow. This change I reflects plowing in preparation for increased cultivation of winter wheat. Cultivation of winter whaat in the area was up considerably in l

1988 in response to high wheat prices (Marks 1989). Total cropland acreage decreased some 239 acres since 1987, due to conversion to industrial, quarrying and residential uses. The changes in soybean and corn cultivation between 1987 and 1988 were insignificant.

3.4 S0IL DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYTIC RESULTS Soils selected for sampling belong to the Lenawee and the Toledo series, both silty clay loams with restricted drainage. These two soil series have many properties in common (NAI 1983). Both soils are very f.ine grained, level, and quite wet, with mottles in the subsoils. The land capability classification of Lenawee soils is IIW; that of Toledo soils IIIW. Theso correspond to moderate and severe limitations, respectively, that reduce the choice of crop plants due to wetness, or that require conservation practices. These soils are derived from lacustrine deposits of fine particles, carried by the continental glacier, which settled in still, ponded water during the Wisconsin glaciation (SCS 1981). These soils are typically underlain by bedrock of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, which help to buffer the soils and provide dissolved ions of calcium (Ca 2 +), magnesium (Mg 2 +),

~ ~

) in the surface and groundwater bicarbonate (HCO3 ) and sulfate (SO4 (NUS Corporation 1974).

Results from the sample analyses varied little from those of 1987 (Table 3-5). The pH values ranged from 6.55 to 8.2, or slightly acidic to slightly basic. These values conform with typical pH levels in soils derived from limestone (7.5 to 8.0) and gypsum (6.0 to 7.0).

For each year of record (1983, 1987, 1988) Station 5 has registered the 29

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highest value. Although this year's figure (8.2) is the highest ever and lies just above the typical pH range for these soils, most (4 out of

5) of the other values were also higher than last year. Of these five, two (Station 1, in the zone of predicted least deposition and Station 7, in the zone of predicted most deposition) were also the highest ever for i their particular locations, suggesting a general tendency of the data regardless of deposition zone.

As was the case in 1987, five of the six values for conduc-f tivity showed an increase over those of the previous year of record. As l

In the case of the pH data, no correlation between these values and i their respective zones of deposition can be found. In fact, the 1988

'1 values express a far smaller range than those for 1987 - 485 pmhos/cm to 635 mhos/cm, or 150, compared with 222.5 pmhos/cm to 710 pmhos/cm, or 487.5. In both years, the maximum range was found between stations in the same zone of deposition. As before, all values are still an order of magnitude below the level (2,000 to 4,000 pmho/cm) where stress may becomo apparent in a drought year (Figure 3-15). The widely recognized threshold of salinity is 4,000 pmhos/cm (Richards 1954).

Results for percent organic content varied within an accepta-ble range compared with each other and the corresponding previous values for each sample station. Four were within one percentage point of their 1987 counterparts. Predictably, such minor changes betokened no defi-nite trend. Whereas both values for the zone of predicted intermediate deposition decreased in 1987, they increased in 1988. On the other hand the values for the zone of predicted maximum deposition decreased for the second year in a row, but by less than one percentage point in both Cases.

Of the three water-extractable inorganic ions analyzed (cal-cium, sulfate and chloride), the last is most stressful to plant life and demands the closest watching. Chloride in sandy soll water concen-trations of > 300 ppm (mg/kg) can impair the health of many plants, i

31

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• A. Negligible Effects on Yields B. Restricted Yields of Only Very Sensitive Crops C. Restricted Yields of Many Crops D. Restricted Yields of All but Tolerant Crops E. Satisfactory Yield of Only a Few very Tolerant Crops Figure 3-15 Relation of the percent salt in the soil to the electrical conductivity of the saturation extract and to crop response (in the conductivity ranges designated by letters A, B, C, D, E). (These ranges are related to crop response by salinity scale, after Richards,1954, p. 9),

32

l especially woody species in times of stress, such as during a dry summer (Jackson 1965). In heavier soil with lower permeability, chloride at an average annual concentration of 268 ppm (mg/kg) appeared to be lethal to Silver Maples as a result of chloride persistence in the root zone during the growing season (Zelazny oc al. 1970). Although with one exception chloride values are higher for 1988 than those for previous years, even the highest (12.7 ppm) remains an order of magnitude below the threshold of lethality suggested by the above references. There is also no correlation of the 1988 values with zone of deposition.

i As in 1983 and 1987, sulfate values varied widely, again according to no pattern that could be attributed to deposition predic-tions. Calcium registered consistently higher at each site than the previous values, but also without pattern.

The above soil analysis is intended as a largely qualitative adjunct to the primary evidence of plant stress. For rigorous statis-tical validation of soils data, as many as 80 samples, each in trip 11-cate, have been required to show significance for one parameter at the 5% confidence level in one 1/40-acre plot (Temple oc al. 1979). The present method permits officient scanning of a relatively large area in sufficient detail to detect environmental trends over several years.

Considerable variations in one or another parameter in any one year are to be expected, and must be cross-checked against the data for all parameters in other years in order to determine the possible significance.

3.5 SIGNIFICANCE An exercise of this nature needs to be kept in perspective.

In this survey, the majority of stress symptoms consisted of relatively slight changes in infrared reflectance (red to pink). These occurred in no pattern that could indicate cooling-tower emissions to be the cause. -

Other explanations appeared more probable.

33

l Figure 3-16 shows the Fermi 2 power plant record of operation for 1988. It is evident that for the year of record power was being .

generated at levels far short of full capacity. The predicted maximum impact of dissolved-solids deposition from the cooling towers has been estimated at about .5 lb/ac/yr. Shipley et al. (1979) estimate that -

stress effects on vegetation are not readily discernible by the best remote-sensing imagery (color infrared) at a deposition rate of less than .9 kg/ha/ day. This figure is the equivalent of about 293 lb/ac/yr, or nearly 600 times higher than the maximum rate of deposition predicted for Fermi 2.

g At the Chalk Point, Maryland power plant, which uses brackish

! cooling water, no changes in sodium and chlorido deposition rates above baseline values were detectable beyond about 1.6 km from the drift emission source (Mulchi et al. 1982). Other studies indicate that cooling tower drift from saltwater cooling towers apparently does not have a significant environmental impact (Hu et al. 1981). It may be inferred that freshwater drift from Fermi 2, with its burden of relatively innocuous calcium, carbonate and sulfato, would have even less impact.

The absence of conclusive data is acknowledged in both the above studies. The chronic effects of long-term cooling-tower operation are not known (Talbot 1979). Since salts can accumulate in the soil and ,

affect vegetation over several years, periodic monitoring still may be necessary during the time the power plant runs at full operation levels.

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4.0 REFERENCES

Hu, M.C., G.F. Pavlenco, G.A. Englerson. 1981. Executive summary for power plant cooling system water consumption and nonwater impact reports. United Engineers and Constructors, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Jackson, M.L. 1965. Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentice-Hall, Inc.,

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

l Knighton, M. Dean. 1985. Vegetation Management in Water Impoundments:

Water Level Control. In Water impoundments for wildlife: a habitat management workshop. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-100. St. Paul, t MN, US Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station.

Marks, Paul. 1989. pers. com. ' Agricultural Agent's Office, Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service, Raisinville Township,'MI.

Michigan State University. 1988. Local Climatological Data for Raisin River, Monroe. State of Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Mulchi, Charins L., J.A. Armbruster, D.C. Wolf. 1982. Chalk Point: a case study of the impact of brackish-water cooling towers on an agricultural environment. J. Environ. Quality 11:(2)212-220.

NAI. 1983. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit II (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1983 Final Report.

Normandeau Associates Inc., Bedford, NH.

. 1984. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit II (Fermi 2)

Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program -- Four-year Summary Report. Normandeau Associates Inc., Bedford, NH.

. 1987. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit II (Fermi 2)

Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1987 Final Report. Normandeau Associates Inc., Bedford, NH.

National Climatic Data Center. 1988. Local climatological data for Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Toledo Express Airport. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

NUS. 1974. The 1973-1974 Annual Report of the terrestrial ecological studies at the Fermi site. Prepared for Detroit Edison Co.,

Detroit, MI. NUS Corporation, 1910 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh, PA.

Richards, L.A. ed. 1954 Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA Handbook, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

36

1 i

i SCS. 1981. Soil survey of Monroe County, Michigan. U.S. Department of Agriculture and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. i Shipley, B.L., S.B. Pahwa, M.D. Thompson, R.B. Lantz. 1979. Remote sensing for detection and monitoring of salt stress on vegetation:

evaluation and guidelines. Final Report prepared for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by INTERA Environmental Consultants, Inc.,

Houston, TX.

Talbot, J.J. 1979. A review of potential biological impacts of cooling tower salt drift. NAS, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C.

Atmospheric Environment 13(3):395-405. j Temple, Patrick J. and Ronald Wills. 1979. Sampling and analysis of plants and soils. In Methodology for the Assessment of Air .

Pollution Effects on Vegetation, ed. W.W. Heck et al., Air Pollution Control Association.

l Terrasi, William. 1989. pers, com. Nuclear Operations Center, Enrico i Fermi Power Plant, Unit 2, Detroit Edison Company, Newport, MI.

TI. 1978. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2 (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program. Final Report, March 1979. Texas Instruments, Inc., Ecological Services, Dallas, TX. I l

. 1980. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2 (Fermi 2)

Reriote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program. Draft Report, November 1980. Texas Instruments, Inc., Ecological Services, Dallas, TX.

I j

Zelazny, L.W., R.E. Blaser and R.E. Hanes. 1970. Effects of de-icing )

salts on roadside soils and vegetation. Highway Research Record No. 335. Highway Research Board, Washington, D.C.

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37

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