NRC-95-0035, Annual Nonradiological Environ Operating Rept 1994. W/ & Two Oversize Encl

Annual Nonradiological Environ Operating Rept 1994. W/ & Two Oversize Encl

ML20082S882
Person / Time
Site:	Fermi
Issue date:	12/31/1994
From:	Mckeon R DETROIT EDISON CO.
To:
References
CON-NRC-95-0035, CON-NRC-95-35 NUDOCS 9505030262
Download: ML20082S882 (150)

Text

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Robert McKeon

-a Assistara Vce Prem and Manager, Operations

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April 28,1995 i' NRC-95-0035 a

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington D.C. 20555

Reference:

Fermi 2 NRC Docket No. 50-341 NRC License No. NPF-43 *

Subject:

Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operatine Reood Pursuant to Section 5.4.1 of the Environmental Protection Plan, please find attached the 1994 Annual Non-Radiological Environmental Operating Report for Fermi 2.

If there are any questions, please contact Elizabeth A. Hare, Compliance  !

Engineer, at (313) 586-1427.

Sincerely, Enclosum cc: T. G. Colburn (w/o Appendix 1 and 2)  ;

J. B. Martin (w/o Appendix 1 and 2) I M. P. Phillips (w/o Appendix 1 and 2)

T. Vegel (w/o Appendix 1 and 2)

Region HI (w/o Transparencies) ,

9505030262 941231 PDR ADDCK 05000341 R PDR l

- .,; j Enclosure to '

NRC-95-0035 - l April 28,1995

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t ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT.  :

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Table of Contents Section 1 Report l

Appendix 1 1994 Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground '  ;

Truth Program Final Report  ;

Appendix 2 Aerial Photographs within 2.5 km Radius  !

Around the Fermi 2 Cooling Towers

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Enclosure to NRC-95-0035 April 28,1995 Page 2 i-ANNUAL NON-RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING REPORT 1994 The Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) provides for protection of environmental mues during any additional construction and the operation of Fermi 2. The principal afectives of the EPP are as follows:

1. Verify that Fermi 2 is operated in an environmentally acceptable manner, as established by the Final Environmental Statement (FES) and envircamental impact assessments.

2. Coordinate NRC requirements and maintain consistency with other Federal, State and local requirements for environmental protection.

3. Keep the NRC informed of the environmental effects of facility construction and operation and of actions taken to control those effects.

Environmental concerns identified in the FES which relate to water quality matters are i regulated by way of Fermi's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. As such, water quality issues are not required to be addressed in this report.

The components of the EPP are:

1. A terrestrial monitoring program to detect long-term or sudden changes in vegetation due to operation of Fermi 2.

2. A program to establish the controlled use of herbicides on transmission rights-of-way.

3. A program to ensure that changes to Fermi's design or operation and potential tests or experiments are adequately reviewed prior to implementation to avoid adverse environmental impacts not previously evaluated. Changes in plant design, operation or the performance of tests or experiments which do not effect the environment or which are required to achieve compliance with other Federal, State or local environmental regulations, are not subject to the equirements of this EPP.

4. Routine monitoring for evidence of unusual or important environmental events.

The following describes the plant operations summary and the EPP description and current status of the programs.

Enclosure to NRC-95-0035 April 28,1995 Page 3 PLANT OPERATION

SUMMARY

Fermi 2 remained in an outage for 1994. The reactor was returned to criticality on December 19,1994 and operated for 0.14 effective full power days in 1994. The turbine-generator was not synchronized to the grid before the end of the year.

TERRESTRIAL MONITORING Following startup of the Fermi 2 facility, a terrestrial monitoring program was conducted per the EPP to measure key terrestrial parameters for comparison with corresponding measurements obtained prior to startup. This study focuses on effects due to the operation of the cooling towers at Fermi 2. The EPP also requires aerial remote sensing during the first July-September period after the station has been in operation for one year.

Because this type of study focuses on effects caused by the operation of the cooling towers at the Fermi 2 site, Detroit Edison's first post-operational survey was performed during the July-September 1987 period. All four required follow-up surveys were performed in 1988,1990,1992 and 1994. The following discusses the results of the 1994 study.

Color infrared aerial photographs were used to delineate cover types, vegetation stress patterns, and crop land use in the 39 square-mile Fermi 2 survey area. Soil samples were collected and analyzed from areas expected to receive a wide range of cooling tower salt drift deposition on soils. These analyses provided the fifth opportunity since the plant began operation to evaluate vegetation stress that could be attributable to plant operation.

In 1994, the signs of vegetation stress were distributed in such a way as to suggest no correlation with the predicted pattern of solid deposition from the cooling towers as described in the Environmental Report-Operating License Stage, Section 5.1.4.2.6. The vegetation stress found in this 1994 survey was primarily due to:

Inter- and intra-specific vegetation competition for growth

• Water level management program at Point Mouillee State Area i

Soil analysis conducted in this survey varied within acceptable limits. No correlation l

between pH and conductivity values and their respective zones of deposition could be found. The pH and conductivity of the samples continue to be consistent with fertility .

and low ionic stress. Again, no correlation of the 1994 values with deposition zones J could be found.

I A copy of the 1994 REMOTE SENSING AND VEGETATION GROUND TRUTH i PROGRAM report and a set of aerial photograph transparencies covering the area within a 2.5 kilometer radius around the Fermi 2 cooling towers are enclosed (Appendix 1 and Appendix 2). Aerial photography was performed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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Enclosure to NRC-95-0035 April 28,1995 Page 4 HERBICIDE CONTROL The use of herbicides at Fermi 2 must conform to the approved use of selected herbicides  ;

as registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, approved by State authorities, and  ;

applied in accordance with State requirements. Records are maintained at the site ,

concerning herbicide use. These records include the following information: commercial  ;

and chemical names of material used, concemration of active material in formulations diluted for field use, diluting substances other than water, rates of application, method and frequency of application, location, and the date of application.

DESIGN OR OPERATIONS CHANGES IMPACTING ENVIRONMENT Before engaging in additional construction or operational activities which might affect the !

environment, Fermi 2 would prepare and record an environmental evaluation of such -

activity. If the evaluation should indicate that the proposed activity would involve an  ;

unreviewed environmental question, Detroit Edison would provide a written evaluation of the activity and obtain prior approval from the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor i Regulation. Activities are excluded from this requirement if all measurable, non-radiohcical effects are confined to the on-site areas previously disturbed during site preparation and plant construction.

During the period covered by this report, there was one change to station design which was evaluated to determine if an unreviewed environmental issue or question would have been created by the change. Due to the turbine generator failure on December 25,1993, a surplus of 1.5 million gallons of water was discharged to Lake Erie. Since the normal radwaste discharge pathway was inoperable due to basement flooding, a temporary processing and internal discharge path was constructed. This change in condition was communicated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in accordance with the NPDES permit. The modification was reviewed under Safety Evaluation 94-0003 and Detroit Edison determined that no unreviewed environmental issues existed.

UNUSUAL OR IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS Any unusual occurrence or important event which indicates, or could result in, significant i environmental impact causally related to plant operation is reported to the NRC within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> followed by a written report. The following are considered examples of unusual or important environmental events: excessive bird impaction events, onsite plant or animal disease outbreaks, monality or unusual occurrence of any species protected by the Endangered Species Act, fish kills, and an increase in nuisance organisms or conditions.

No unusual or important environmental events occurred during the reporting period.

Accordingly, no non-routine reports were submitted.

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t I FERMI 2 POWER PLANT l REMOTE SENSING l- AND VEGETATION GROUND TRUTH PROGRAM l 1994 FINAL REPORT I

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I Prepared for DETROIT EDISON COMPANY 2000 Second Avenue ,

Detroit, Michigan I Prepared by NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES i 25 Nashua Road Bedford, New IlampsMre 03110-5500  !

I R-14138.000

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< NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES I FOREWORD E This report summarizes the methods and results of the 1994 remote-sensing and i

vegetation ground-truth exercise conducted by Normandeau Associates Inc. (NAI) 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 NAl. These reports are cited as TI 1978, TI 1979, Tl 1980 and NAl 1983, respectively. Their findings were described and discussed in a report (NAl 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 NAl in 1987 and described in a report cited as NAI 1987. Its successor, NAl 1988, covered the first growing season during which the plant was licensed to operate at full capacity. The study was repeated biennially thereafter (NAI 1990 and 1992). The present report describes the findings from 1994 and, as the last in this requisite series, summarizes the entire vegetation monitoring exercise from its inception until the present.

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I PAGE FOREWORD ....................... . ..... . ........ ....... . . . ii

SUMMARY

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

. . . . . . . ............... .................... 2 B PROGRAM HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES 2 1.1 ....... ..............

I 2.0 METHOD . . . . . . . . . . . ...... ... ............................ 4 2.1 AERIAL CIR PHOTOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2.2 VEGETATION COVER TYPE MAPPING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2.3 VEG ETATION STRES S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 .

2.4 CROP TYP E MAPPING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.5 SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2.6 PROGRAM SCHEDULE ................................... 8 i 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . 11 i 3.1 COVER TYPE AND LAN D U S E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 3.2 VEG ETATION STRES S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 3.2,1 Physical Factors . . . . . . . . .. ... . . ...... .. ...... 17 3.2.2 Biotic Factors . . .. ..... .. . .... ................ 21 3.2.3 Chemical Factors . . 22 I

3.2.4 Species-specific Signatures . . . ................. ... .. 22 3.3 C RO P S U RV EY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3.4 SOIL DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYTIC RESULTS . . . . . . . ........ 32 g 3.5 SiGNisicANcE . . . . . . . . . ...... .......... ........ ..... se

4.0 REFERENCES

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LIST OF FIGURES I

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PAGE 2-1. Fermi 2 Site, survey area, and flight line map of color infrared photograph ,

coverage, 7, September, 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5-2-2 Fermi 2 site, projected dissolved solids deposition isopleths, and soil sam-pling stations ...................... ........................ 9 l 3-1. Vegetation cover types in the vicinity of the Fermi 2 power plant (map i pocket) . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ ........ ... ........ 42 i 3-2. Mean annual water level of Lake Erie at Stony Point, Michigan for the period 1981-1994, compared with the 78-year mean for 1900-197 8 . . . . . . . . . . 13 j

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= 3-3. Color infrared aerial photograph of the Fermi 2 site, showing generating station, cooling towers, and covu type areas, 7 September 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 3-4. Early fall color and leaf loss in Ash-leaved Maple (Acer negundo), the result of exposure and intense interplant competition on a droughty seil . . . . . . . . . . . 25 3 5. Early senescence in the smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) on a drou ghty site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 26 l 3 6. Maturation and natural senescence in soy field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... 26 3-7. Aerial color-infrared view of bottomland forest stand (see arrow) killed by water-level manipulation in the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, Lead Unit . . . 27 5

3-8. Mostly leafless bottomland forest trees, the same as in above photo, seen 1, from gro un d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 3-9. Aerial color-infrared view of Muskrat nesting sites (light spots ringed by dark water) . . . ......... ... . . .... .......... ......... 28 3-10. Muskrat lodge, showing associated destruction of cattail (Typha angusri-folia), already browning early fror.: low water .. ... ... .. ... . 28 3-11. Recently dead woody vegetation along railroad right-of-way, from herbicide applications to maintain low plant cover . . . . . . . . . . ....... ..... .... 29 3-12. Seasonal fall color in Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) ......... .. . ... 30 3-13. Seasonal senescence in the lakeshore marsh: Browning cattail (Typha) leaf tips . .... . ... .... .. . . ... . . ... ... .. 31 1413s ochtWTExsC Apra 4,1999 iv

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NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES I PAGE 3-14. Fencerow of dead American Elms (Ulmus americana), recent casualties of Dutch Elm Disease ............. ............. . .. ........ 31 3-15. Crop cover types in the vicinity of the Fermi 2 power plant (map pocket) . . . . . 42 3-16. 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) ....................... ...... ....... 35 1 I i4 l ..

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NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES LIST OF TABLES PAGE '

t 3-1. Estimated Horizontal Acreage for Each Cover Type in Fermi 2 Survey Area, September 1994, Compared With Data for Previous Years of Record . . . . . . . . . 12 I 3-2. Estimated Horizontal Acreage for Each Cover Type in Fermi 2 Site Area,7 September 1994 ...... ..................................... 16 3-3. Summary of Vegetation Stress Areas Observed Within the Fermi 2 Survey Area,19-21 September 1994 ................................. . 18 I 3-4. Summary of Agricultural Crop Cover-Type Surveys, 1983-1994 ............ 24 i

3-5. Mean Values for Soil Parameters from Each Sampling Station in 1994 . . . . . . . 33 3-6. Mean Values for Soil Parameters by Deposition Zone in 1994 .... ........ 34 3-7. Summary of Most Significant Stressors and Natural Vegetation Types Affected . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................................... 37  :

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SUMMARY

Color-infrared aerial photographs were used in 1994 to delineate cover types, vegetation stress patterns, and agricultural crop cover type distribution in the approximately I 39-square-mile Fermi 2 Survey Area. In addition, soil samples were collected and analyzed from selected, relatively undisturbed areas expected to receive a wide range of cooling-tower salt deposition. This information was used to determine whether any observed patterns of vegetation stress could be attributed to plant operation. It should be noted that the Fermi 2 power plant was out of operation for the entire 1994 growing season.

The survey data obtained in 1994 were consistent with several perceived trends established over the survey period beginning in 1978 (the first year for which acreage figures are available). The most consistent trends are the steady increase in exurban land uses, the most extensive of which is the residential / commercial land use category, and the steady decrease in pasture and crop areas. A somewhat surprising observation has been the general long-term increase in naturally vegetated areas. This increase is ascribed to a variety of factors, including wetland creation effons at the Pointe Mouillee State Game park and the l

abandonment of agricultural lands in anticipation of sale for exurban development.

The level of vegetative stress was apparently relatively low in 1994, since only approximately 95 acres of stressed vegetation were observed. This is approximately the same I level of stress which was observed in 1992, although the distribution of stressed areas varied somewhat between the two survey years. No correlation could be detected between vegetation I

stress and the predicted pattern of salt-drift deposition. About 12,600 acres of croplands were mapped. As usual, the major crops in descending order of acreage were: soybeans; hay, pasture and fallow; corn; and recent tillage.

Soil sampling indicated no significant changes from the 1990 data. The pH and conductivity of the samples were consistent with good fenility and low ionic stress. None of the data for the six soil parameters correlated positively or negatively with the three zones of I predicted salt deposition intensity.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PROGRAM HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES In January 1988, 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 routine operation. On average, the plant operated at 62% capacity during 198F (Terrasi 1989). Another survey conducted in 1988 also found no correlation between cooling tower vapor and adverse effects on vegetation. The most imponant stressor identified in the 1988 survey was drought, which accounted for 98%

of the observed vegetation stress.

I During 1990 and 1992, the plant operated at 86% and 96% capacity, respectively, up to the time each year that the corresponding surveys were conducted (Terrasi 1991, Lehman,1993). Again, however, no correlation was identified. The most important stressor identified in the 1990 survey was waterlogging, which primarily affected riparian hardwoods, and which accounted for 57% of the observed vegetation stress. The most important stressor identified in the 1992 survey was intense inter- and intra-species competition, which primarily affected successional areas, and which accounted for 41% of the observed vegetation stress.

Rising lake levels were also an important stress factor in 1992, primarily affecting lowland l

hardwoods and accounting for 39% of the observed vegetation stress.

Beginning in the 1987 survey report, agricultural cropland was not included in the vegetation stress analysis in recognition of the intentional manipulation of growing conditions i inherent in modern agricultural practice. This manipulation was deemed likely to obscure any adverse effects of cooling tower emissions. The agricultural crop cover type survey therefore served primarily as a record of agricultural use within the survey area with possible future application in identifying changes in agricultural practices. Analysis of vegetative stress was confmed to naturally vegetated areas, which encompass approximately 900-1,300 acres (3.5%

to 5.5%) of the survey area. No correlation could be detected in any of the surveys between observed areas of vegetation stress occurring in naturally vegetated areas and areas believed to e _,,, , _ .,sch ,ef_ th _ ,mgt _

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One of the possible adverse efTects on vegetation from cooling towers operating within marine environments is the deposition of abnormally high levels of salt, especially sodium chloride, on the soil or directly on vegetation (Moser 1974). Although the Fermi 2 l

power plant is located on the shores of a freshwater body, Lake Erie, the deposition of salt in the generic chemical sense was considered to be a potential result of plant operation, with possible adverse impacts on vegetation. The soil tests included in the survey beginning in 1983 were designed to monitor levels of three major salts (carbonate, sulfate and chloride) l within the soil. The soil tests showed no correlation between soil salt levels and plant operation.

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NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES 2.0 METIIOD Aerial color-infrared photography was used to identify land use, vegetation cover type, vegetation stress areas, and agricultural crop cover type. Areas identified from the infrared photographs were ten checked in the field and adjusted as necessary. Due to the L limitations of color-infrared photography in distinguishing between types of agricultural crops and in determining the nature and cause of plant stress, information on these parameters was

[ field-checked extensively. Soil samples were taken during field checks as required.

2.1 AERIAL CIR PIIOTOGRAPIIY Aerial color-infrared (CIR) photographs used in this survey of the approximately 39-square-mile study area (5-mile radius) surrounding the Fermi 2 Power Plant were taken 7 September 1994. Specifications included a 30% side overlap and a 60% 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 processed as positive transparencies from a 9-inch roll. The photographs were taken with a Zeiss Camera, with a 6-inch focal length lens from a local altitude 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, b 2.2 VEGETATION COVER TYPE MAPPING Each Ektachrome transparency was separated from the others on the roll, placed in a protective acetate sleeve, and labelled with the flight line and exposure number. A mirror y

! stereoscope was used to establish each land use and vegetation cover type boundary, as described in the 1978 report (TI 1978). The 1994 cover type map and base map were prepared from optically reduced and corrected composites of the 1994 CIR photographs, using methods described in the 1978 report (Tl 1978). Areas of each cover type were measured by

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NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES dot count method or digital planimeter from the 1:24,000 scale map (1 inch = 2,000 feet; I square inch = 91.82736 acres).

I 2.3 VEGETATION STRESS I

Areas of natural vegetation lacking spectral reflectance on the CIR photographs were interpreted as potentially containing vegetation stressed by morphological and/or physiological injuries (e.g., defoliation, limb breakage, disruption of photosynthesis). Both l types of injuries reduce spectral reflectance from an individual plant, producing differences in the color ofimages on infrared photographs. With injury, the reddish photographic appear-ance, characteristic of healthy vegetation, grades to pink, mauve, red-brown, white and yellow as infrared reflectance is progressively lost.

The precise levels of spectral reflectance from a plant, however, are also influ-enced by numerous other factors unrelated to the degree or type ofinjury. These factors include age cf both the plant and the foliage, season, and leaf type (Shipley et al.1979). For example, species with compound leaves will produce less spectral reflectance than simple-leaved species, thus appearing a shade of color different from that of the adjacent vegetation.

The leaves of some species (e.g., cottonwood) may naturally change color earlier than other m species, producing differences in spectral reflectance that are not necessarily a result of injury.

In addition, many herbaceous species naturally complete their life cycle within one or two years and die soon after flowering. Consequently, color differences among herbs may simply represent differences in life-cycle length and not areas of stressed vegetation.

7 j in order to accurately determine areas of stressed vegetation, several steps were m followed. Areas with more than 50% of the plants showing reduced spectral reflectance were y delineated by the photointerpreter as potential areas of stress. These areas were delineated on

- the even-numbered acetate sleeves with a fine-tipped drafting pen. All areas so delineated were field-checked to determine: (1) if the reduction in spectral reflectance represented stressed vegetation, (2) the species afTected, if applicable, and (3) the most probable causal agent (s). Only areas exhibiting recent or on-going stress symptoms were identified as stress e

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NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES areas. Areas of stressed vegetation showing signs of healthy regrowth or regeneration were assumed to represent areas recovering from previous injuries.

To funher document vegetation stress, color photographs were taken of typical examples of stressed species and of conspicuous causal agents (e.g., fluctuating lake level).

Color photographs were also taken to document species-specific spectral reflectance signatures that were tentatively identified as indicative of potential vegetation stress but later found to

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represent natural differences in life history or leaf characteristics. Where identification of plants proved difficult, specimens were collected using methods previously described (TI 1980).

' I Stressed areas delineated on the aerial photographs and verified in the field were optically transferred to the cover type map. The acreage of the affected areas was measured using the dot-count method.

2.4 CROP TYPE M. APP,5G The CIR photographs were also used to identify agricultural crop cover types in B the survey area. Within 30 days of the first overflight, approximately 30% of the land supponing crops was field-checked. Aerial photographs cannot be used to differentiate among I crops of the same morphology, such as various grains, hay, and other narrow-leaved members of the grass family (Gramineae). Consequently, cover type categories were used which represented the greatest degree of differentiation practical for the study area. The change in cover-typing implemented in the 1987 survey was continued in 1994. This change reflects the Federal govemment's Set-Aside Program, effective 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 smsll crop species like alfalfa was being overgrown with robust weeds, and a fallow field grown up to a mixture of about equal pans

[ corn, hay, soy and pioneer weed species. On the assumption tnat much of this heterogeneous growth represented poter;tial fodder or green manure, it was collectively assigned to the crop

} type redesignated as " Hay, other grass crops, pasture and fallow." All plots greater than five l l 14I.tK N7/DETin ac mu s. im 7 I

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES acres and many of the smaller plots were aclineated 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 deter-mined by dot count method (for plots less than 25 acres) and by digital planimeter (for larger plots). He two methcds were cross-checked and calibrated against arcas of known acreage for accuracy and precision. Errors in the dot counts were found not to exceed five acres; errors in the digital planimeter were less than five acres for small parcels and less than 1% for larger plots.

2.5 SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Soil samples were taken from the same stations as in 1983,1987,1988,1990 and 1992 (see Figure 2-2). He 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 dirsolved 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. l I

i 2.6 PROGRAM SCHEDULE The completion dates for each major task of the 1994 program were:

L Aerial CIR Photography 7 September 1994 Photointerpretation 10 February 1995 Ground Truth and Soil Sampling 21 September 1994

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Analysis of Soils 2 December 1994 Reports Draft April 1995 Final April 1995 Aerial CIR photography was delayed owing to recurrent mid-day cloud develop-ment over the study area. 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-Y m u m urtwc

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truthing took three days. It included verification of cover and crop typs; and vegetation stress delineations; soil sampling; and further photographic documentation by hand camera.

Photointerpretation was then completed in the office. Analysis of the soil samples was completed in early December.

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y NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES I 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 [OVER TYPE AND LAND USE The results of the 1994 cover type survey are recorded in Figure 3-1 (see the folded 1:24,000-scale map in the back pocket) and Table 3-1. The total survey area,24,508 acres, is within the range of total area established by the five most recent survey reports. The total area may be expected to vary somewhat from year to year due to fluctuations in the lake shoreline, the filling or impoundment of additional areas of Lake Erie, or normal irreducible inaccuracies in the mapping and tabulation effort. The relatively large increase in the total survey area observed between 1980 and 1983 reflects the impoundment of a large area of Lake Erie for the creation of wetlands at the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.

I The combined area of natural vegetation (deciduous forest, wetlands and inactive lands) was greater in 1994, at 4,586 acres, than during any other survey year since 1978. This combined area has been generally increasing since 1980, presumably due in part to the continued creation of wetland and the reversion of pasture and crop area to inactive land.

The creation of wetland at the Pointe Mouillee State Game area is reflected in a general increase in combined wetland area beginning in 1983, the first year to reflect wetland I

creation activities at the park. The combined area of wetland in 1994, at 1,688 acres, is greater than in any other survey year since 1978.

1 I

One significant anomaly in the general trends discussed above is the loss of 972 acres of wetland between 1978 and 1980. This loss is largely responsible for the reduction in the total area of natural vegetation observed between 1978 and 1980. The loss may be due to )

unidentified differences in photointerpretation techniques and/or the drowning of deep and l shallow marsh areas due to a rise in lake level during this period. Since the water levels in the wetland areas created since 1980 are artificially controlled, the area of these new wetlands is relatively independent of fluctuations in lake water levels. The variations in lake water levels since 1981 are presented in Figure 3-2. The relatively steady increase observed since 1980 in the shallow marsh vegetation type predominant within the created wetland areas reflects the managed character of these new wetlands. The areas of deep marsh and marsh-  ;

April 25.1991 11

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES TABLE 3-1. ESTIMATED HORIZONTAL ACREAGE FOR EACH COVER TYPE IN FERMI 2 SURVEY AREA, SEPTEMBER 1994, COMPARED WITH DATA FOR PREVIOUS YEARS OF RECORD.

LAND USE/

CODE COVER TYPE 1978 1980 1983 1987 1988 1990 1992 1994 NATURALLY VEGETATED AREAS DECIDUOUS FOREST IA Upland Hardwoods 468 462 465 372 536 533 522 488 IB Riparian Hardwoods 258 257 347 345 356 353 270 350 IC Lowland Hardwoods. 2p6,9 354 477 498 415 464 495 482 SUBTOTAL 1,086 1,073 1,289 1,215 1,307 1,350 1,287 1,320 WETLANDS 2A Marshlands Meadow 331 268 517 427 416 514 495 373 2B Shallow Marsh 694 361 563 520 615 697 821 827 2C Deep Marsh 413 237 10 148 _.112 - 316 124 488 SUBTOTAL 1,438 866 1,090 1,095 1,143 1,527 1,440 1,688 INACTIVE 3A Early Successional 333 351 329 531 516 531 860 890 3B Advanced Successional 305 280 86 109 154 258 79 367 3C Transitional 250 248 192 241 122 545 309 321 3D Abandoned Orchard J.9 10 0 0 0 0 0 -

SUBTOTAL 898 ,;389 607 881 792 1.334 1.248 1.578 SUBTOTAL NATURALLY VEGETATEP, AREAS 3,422 2,828 2,966 3,191 3,242 4,211 3,975 4,586 j 4 Water 606 1,208 2,697 2,730 2,411 2,201 2,349 2,118 5 Maintained Pasture '

ad Crop 16,858 16,713 16,139 14,902 14,968 13,472 12,993 12,617 EXURBAN LAND USES 6 Transponation  !

R.ights of Way 422 422 422 618 617 712 849 786 l

7 Recreational 160 160 168 170 202 161 157 178 8 Industrial 193 193 244 175 333 343 388 201 l

9 Residential /

Commercial 1,819 2,005 2,181 2,544 2,725 3,120 3,451 3,707 10 Barren Land _lil 104 248 230 _3.M 261 281 298 SUBTOTAL EXURBAN LAND USES 2.747 2.884 M 2137 3 4.201 4.597 5.126 5.170 TOTAL S'JRVEY 23,633 23.633 25,084 24.560 24,822 24,481 24.392 24.508

-- )

AREA

/ mu mverwc L w v.stof 12

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES land meadow, located primarily outside the managed wetlands, continue to fluctuate widely in response to clw:s in lake water levels.

i The progressive loss of pasture and crop area, except for a slight gain in area during the 1987-1988 period, probably reflects the increasing encroachment of exurban development. The area of maintained pasture and crop observed in 1994, at 12,617 acres, is the smallest since the 1978 survey. Development pressures on farmland are typically manifest in higher property values and taxes, resulting in the loss of cropland either directly to develop-ment, or abandonment of cropland in anticipation of sale. Both of these effects are evident in the data, which show a doubling of residential / commercial land use since 1978, and a general L

increase in inactive land area. Other land-use categories associated with exttrban development

1. (industrial, recreational, transportation right-of-way, and barren land), have either remained fairly constant over the survey period or have increased. Areas of barren land and transporta-tion rights-of-way, in particular, have nearly doubled since 1978. The relatively wide fluctuations in the total area of inactive land reflect the transitory nature of these areas, and their spasmodic conversion to developed area or croplar.d in response to economic or climatic L,

factors.

F The total area of deciduous forest observed in 1994, at 1,320 acres, remained r within the general range established by the five most recent survey reports. No general trend 1

is readily discernible in the data to indicate long-term gains or losses of deciduous forest area.

During years of high lake-water levels, lowland forest areas are subject to considerable stress as observed in 1987 and 1992 (NAl 1987 and NAI 1992). It is possible that prolonged periods of high take water levels would lead to a long-term reduction in lowland forest area.

L The agricultural crop cover type distribution is discussed in Section 3.3 of this L report. The immediate environs of the Fermi 2 site are illustrated in color infrared in Figure j 3-3. Cover types delineated for this specific area are matched with the imagery on overlay and described in Table 3-2.

f u

)

w n007 Der wc L Apwd 4. I999 l<$

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES TABLE 3-2. ESTIMATED IIORIZONTAL ACREAGE FOR EAC01 COVER TYPE IN FERMI 2 SITE AREA,7 SEPTEMBER 1994.

l l CODE LAND USE/ LAND COVER TYPE 1994 P (acres) l 1 Deciduous forest j IC Lcwland Hardwoods 202 SUBTOTAL 262 l 2 Wetlands 2A Marshland Meadow 7 l 2B Shallow Marsh 100 2C Deep Marsh 26 SUBTOTAL 133 3 Inactive Land 3A Early Successional 105 3B Advanced Successional 29 3C Transitional 90 SUBTOTAL 224 I 4 Wate- 254 8 Industrial 162 9 Residential 12 SUBTOTAL 428 TOTAL 987 1 14In H1.DETDtsC L en <. im 16 s

E NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES I 3.2 VEGETATION STRESS Nineteen discrete areas of apparent vegetation stress were recorded during 1994, totaling 94.9 acres (Table 3-3), or almost exactly the same as the total for 1992, the previous survey year. With the single exception of the 1992 data, the 1994 stress acreage is the lowest figure reported this decade, despite the fact that the acreage of natural vegetation available for analysis showed an overall increase from previous years of record. The 1994 stress areas are shown on the general cover type map (Figure 3-1, back pocket).

8 The relatively low acreage of apparent stress in 1994 probably results from (1) the relative stability of Lake Erie water levels during the previous two years and (2) the normality of the 1994 growing season. There would undoubtedly have been even less evidence of stress l

in 1994 if the aerial photography had suffered less delay (until 7 September). Because observations began so near the end of the growing season, both photointerpretation and ground-truthing had to allow for more than the usual amount of natural senescence in herbaceous growth and of species-specific foliage color change in woody plants. With negligible lake-level impacts during 1994, the incidence of apparent stress dispersed quite uniformly, much of it far from the historic northeast-southwest stress axis parallel to the lake shoreline. Some of the shoreline vegetation stress detected in 1994 woody plant communities

I undoubtedly. represents a complex of both current and previous (pre-1994) stress effects.

i Other shoreline stress was clearly attributable to water regulation for game management t purposes. Away from the shoreline, signs of stress typically occurred in small tracts of young l woodland exposed in a predominantly agricultural environment. Physical, biotic and chemical factors are discussed further below.

I 3.2.1 Physical Factors As recorded at Detroit, Toledo and Monroe (Michigan), temperature and precipita-tion data for the 1994 growing season indicated no protracted departure from the 30-year ]

averages for these parameters (National Climatic Data Center 1994; Michigan State University 1994). At Detroit Metropolitan Airport, April, June, July and September registered somewhat warmer than the average, May the same, and August slightly cooler than average. At Monroe 14138.00' der bt<

Apedt d.1985 17

W W W W W W W W W W W W W W M W W M W TABLE 3-3.

SUMMARY

OF VEGETATION STRESS AREAS OBSERVED WITIIIN Tile FERMI 2 SURVEY AREA,19-21 SEPTEMilER 1994. AREAS <1 ACRE NOT MAPPED. MAP LOCATION COORDINATES FROM FIGURE 3-1.

LOCATION COVER NUMHER TOTAL STRESSED SYMPTOMS PROBAHLE CAUSE OF STRESS  !

TYPE OF AREAS ACRES PLANTS IG I C,2A 1 4.3 Multiple herbaceous Foliage browning Seasonal senescence in herbaceous and hardwood Early color change community. Seasonal color change species accelerated by marginal stresses of water-level fluctuation in riparian zone.

til 2A,3B 1 7.7 Young hardwoods; Foliage browning Water-level manipulations in game wet-meadow species Early color change management area.

Early leaf loss Some dead hardwoods 2C 3C 1 2.9 Young hardwoods Early color change Intense interplant competition in small, y exposed woodlot.

cn 2D 1A i 1.4 liardwoods Early color change Exposure efTects on small woodlot.

2G IC 1 2.6 liardwoods, esp. Early color change Fencerow exposure efTects. Possible soil-hickory water deficit from pumping in adjacent quarry pits.

211 2A i 13.5 All trees and shrubs Necrosis Inundation of root zone from water-level manipulation for game management.

3B 3B 1 5.7 Young hardwoods Early color change Intense interplant competition in mid-Shrubs successional conditions.

3D/E, 4D 3C 1 5.5 Young hardwoods Early color change Intense interplant competition with fence-Shrubs row exposure.

4D IB 1 9.2 liardwoods, shrubs Early color change Exposure elTects in small woodlot. Water-level fluctuation in riparian zone.

(continued)

TABLE 3-3. (CONT';NUED)

LOCATION COVER NUMllER TOTAL STRESSED SYMPTOMS PROBAHLE CAUSE OF STRESS TYPE OF AREAS ACRES PLANTS 4G IA 1 3.2 Cottonwood Early color change Species-specific early color changes accelerated by fence row exposure.

5B IA i 1.1 Young hardwoods Early color change Intense interplant competition in mid-Early leaf loss successional conditions, aggravated by Foliage browning small-woodlot exposure, waterlogging and probable road-salt accumulation.

6A lA I 3.2 Young hardwoods Early color change Fencerow exposure efTects. Water-level fluctuations along drain.

6B 3B I 4.0 Cottonwood Foliage browning Intense interplant competition in mid-saplings and young Early color change successional conditions, in a droughty g Ilawthorn landscape position (old-field knoll).

6B/C 3C i 4.3 Young hardwoods Some trees dead Fencerow exposure efTects. Water-level Shrubs Some die-back fluctuations along drain.

Early color change 6E IC 1 5.7 Young hardwoods Foliage browning Exposure efTects on droughty site (quarry Early color change bank).

l 7A 1A I 2.3 Young hardwoods Early color change Intense interplant competition in early-successional conditions, aggravated by exposure.

7E IC, 2B 2 17.2 Green Ash Early color change Possibly cumulative impainnent from years American Elm (only marginal efTect) of fluctuating lake levels, more a lag efTect Silver Maple than current stress.

7E/F 3A,3C I 1.1 Cottonwood Early color change Species-specific carly color change Silver Maple (only marginal effect) somewhat accelerated by exposure efTects.

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES over the same period, most temperatures approximated the same pattern, but tended to be warmer than the Detroit records for the same dates. Precipitation data comparing Detroit with Monroe differed somewhat more. For instance, although the statistically hottest month, July, averaged warmer than usual at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, precipitation for July also exceeded the 30-year average, thus helping to alleviate potential drought effects. Such was not the case at Monroe, where the temperature not only averaged higher than at Detroit during July, but the precipitation also failed to compensate, producing only half of Detroit's rainfall over the same period. It may be inferred with good reason that plant growth on droughty sites in the study area probably responded with somewhat premature foliage color change (or senescence in the case of herbs: Figure 3-5), browning and leaf loss (Figure 3-4).

The renewed rise in Lake Erie levels that began in 1989 finally crested in 1993 at 572.5 feet above mean sea level (msl), and fell back six inches to 572 feet in 1994. This lake-l level decline must have facilitated the recovery of some shoreline forest. As Table 3-3 I

records, however, the ill effects on lakeshore woody vegetation of stress events prior to 1994 l may take more than one growing season to eradicate, for some residual woody stress effects appeared to linger. In the herbaceous lakeshore plant community some injury may have I coincided with the 1994 lake-level decline, the result of dessication during the growing season.

Figure 3-13 shows extensive browning of cattails near the lake. It was ultimately decided not l

to count this as an example of abnormal vegetation stress, however, because the mid-Septem-ber date of observation introduced the probability of seasonal senescence as another major cause of the browning observed.

In addition to the purely natural fluctuations in lake level are those deliberately imposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in the Pointe Mouillee Game Management area. As Figures 3-7 and 3-8 show, regulated impoundment of inlet streams (flooding primarily over winter, drawdown in late summer) still is taking its toll of woody plant communities not yet in equilibrium with the new regimen (since 1992). The net effect is to replace woody with herbaceous plants, for the improvement of waterfowl and Muskrat habitat. Since the water-level manipulation further seeks to promote growth conditions favorable to some herbaceous species (e.g., cattails) but inhibitory of others (e.g., the Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria), signs of vegetation stress I 14138 007DETlW wa s. lm 20 1

MORMAMDEAU ASSOCIATES in the game management area may be expected to appear periodically long after the last woody plant has died out of the zone of deep flooding.

3.2.2 Biotic Factors L

Previous reports by TI (1980) and NAl (1980 et seq.) have mentioned the long-M I term effects of Dutch Elm Disease on American Elm populations, and the short-term effects of defoliating agt:nts like Fall Webworm on deciduous trees in general. Neither of these sources of stress by itself appears to have caused damage at levels detectable in the 1994 CIR imagery of the study area. However, American Elms continued to die at an early age in otherwise relatively healthy plant communities (Figure 3-14).

l At least some young woody communities exhibited signs of stress, most likely L

resulting from the intense intra- and interspecific competition that occurs during mid-succes-

{ sion. In general, establishment and growth of new individuals dominates the initial succes-sional process. However, after a relatively short period, a dense stand of trees develops, precluding funher establishment. From this point, forest succession becomes a thinning process, in which the less vigorous trees are out-competed for nutrients and light and subse-quently die (.Peet and Christensen 1980). Those individuals in the Fermi 2 study area that had been weakened by previous insect infestations or physico-chemical factors were most suscepti-ble to the intense competition, thereby exhibiting stress effects.

L

- The high population of Muskrat (Ondatra ribethica) first noted in the 1992 aerial photography (NAI 1992) may have caused some animals to disperse from the lakeshore wetlands into suboptimal habitat. Figures 3-9 and 3-10 show a lodge several miles inland that

_ has been left high and dry by receding water beside a major highway interchange. The presence of several small cut tree stumps in the photograph suggests that this shallow wetland r

u was recently created, whether by accident or design, during roadway construction. If such drastically low water levels prove to be a chronic late-summer phenomenon in this marsh, I

cattail damage of this nature and extent will occur only during major muskrat irruptions, when some animals have nowhere else to settle. Meanwhile, in many of the big lakeshore cattail 14138 007,DETDOC

, April 4,1991 1}

H

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES marshes of the Pointe Mouillee Game Management area, Muskrat activ1es appear to be maintaining cattail biomass at an estimated 10-25% below maximum potential.

3.2.3 Chemical Factors Few stress effects on the natural vegetation of the study area could be attributed to chemical factors during 1994. Road salt runoff into a small depression may have contributed to observed stress symptoms in one instance (Table 3-3, Location SB). Dead woody vegeta-tion bordered some railroad rights-of-way, the apparent result of herbicide applied since the last survey was conducted (Figure 311). These essentially linear landscape features defied accurate area quantification and were not listed or mapped. Since the Fermi 2 cooling water system including the towers was out of operation in the 1994 growing season, the cooling water was not treated with any biocides in 1994 and therefore could have contributed nothing recent to the stress effects observed (see discussion in NAI 1992).

3.2.4 Species-specific Sienstures l

Many of the potential stress areas originally delineated represented species-specific i

L spectral reflectance signatures rather than areas of actual injury. Two types of species-specific signatures were identified by NAI during the 1994 field survey:

L p (1) Species uniformly exhibiting natural end-of-season color changes.

• Herbaceous species naturally terminating their life cycles.

(2)

Few of the areas exhibiting primarily species-specific spectral reflectance signa-

) tures were considered stress areas (e.g., Figure 3-13). The close dependence of crop matura-tion on time of planting was one of the many considerations that made the reflectance of short. lived crop species unusable, as the photograph of a ripe (hence yellow) soy field exemplifies (Figure 3-6). Areas of yellowing Cottonwood had to show pronounced color and preferably leaf loss as well in order to indicate convincingly the presence of stress additional HIJL00tt>ET.LMK' wa n. nes 22

E NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES to the normal end-of-season signs, which include color change earlier in this species than in

most other hardwoods. Such areas of marginal stress typically occur away from water and bottomlands, in small, isolated groves or in fencerows (Figure 3-12). These areas can be designated as stressed with greater confidence the more the component species of a stand all indicate at least some injury. Table 3-3 gives several examples.

I 3.3 CROP SURVEY I The mapped results of the 1994 crop survey are shown in Figure 3-15 (see map in second back pocket). Acreage figures by crop type are given in Table 3-4.

Approximately 55 percent of the total crop acreage observed in 1994 consisted of soybeans, up about 2 percent from 1992. This represents the greatest percentage of soybean cultivation observed since 1983. Hay, other grass crops, pasture and fallow together consti-tuted the next largest crop cover type, at 20.7 percent, down almost 10 percent from 1992.

The percentage area of corn cultivation remained nearly unchanged from 1992, at 14.5 percent, while the percentage area of bare or plowed earth rose from 2.1 percent in 1992 to .

I 9.9 percent in 1994.

The distribution of agricultural crop cover types reflects numerous factors, I including agricultural market forces, development pressures, climatic trends, government incentive programs, and differing management decisions by individual farmers. Two long-term trends, however, are suggested by the data. The first is the reduction in agricultural land use from a high of 13,902 acres in 1983 to a low of 12,617 in 1994. This trend probably i reflects exurban development pressures on agricultural land within the survey area and is discussed in Section 3.1 of this report. The second long term trend is the general increase in i the percent of soybean cultivation. This may reflect a reponed practice by owners of large residential lots of maintaining some acreage in soybean cultivation (Birkey 1994). Soybean is deemed by these owners to be more compatible with residential use than corn or pasture, since it grows low enough to the ground to permit unobstructed vision from the residence while providing a modest economic retum.

I HUtN11WT.fmc April 4. ins 23 l

M W W M E M M M W E E W W W E~W E' E W-TABLE 3-4.

SUMMARY

OF AGRICULTURAL CROP COVER TYPE SURVEYS, 1983-1994.

1983 1987 1988 1990 1992 1994 TOTAL PEHCENT TOTAL PERCENT ' TOTAL PERCENT TOTAL PERCENT TOTAL PERCENT TOTAL PERCENT ACREAGE OF TJI AL ACREAGEOF TOTAL ACREAGE OF TOTAL ACREAGE OF TOTAL ACREAGEOF 10TAL ACREAGE OF 10TAL Soybean 5,610 40.4 4,997 36.7 5015 37.8 6,717 50.3 6,840 52.4 6,934 54.9 Ilay, Other 4,576 32.9 5,147 37.8 3,413 25.7 3,282 24.6 4,003 30.5 2,606 20.7 Grass Crops, Pasture and Fallow Earth, 1,097 7.9 1,465 10.8 2,868 21.6 1,434 10.7 274 2.1 1,246 9.9 Plowed or n Bare e

Corn, All 2,423 17.4 2,002 14.7 1,972 14.9 1,911 14.8 1,940 14.9 1,831 14.5 Varieties Alfalfa 192 1.4 - - - - - - - - - --

Orchard & 4 <l - - - -- - - - - - -

Nuscries TOTAL 13,902 100 13,607 100 13,268 100 13,344 100 13,057 100 12,617 100

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES I

3.4 SOIL DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYTIC RESULTS

{

Soils selected for sampling belong to the Lenawee and the Toledo series, both siity clay loams with restricted drainage. These two soil series have many properties in common (NAI 1983). Both soils are very fine-grained, level, and often wet, with mottles in the

! subsoils. The land capability classification of Lenawee soils is llW; that of Toledo soils IllW.

These correspond to moderate and severe limitations, respectively, that reduce the choice of I 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 underlaia by bedrock of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, which help to buffer the soils and 2 2 provide dissolved ions of calcium (Ca *), magnesium (Mg *), bicarbonate (HCOi) and sulfate (SO/-) in the surface and groundwater (NUS Corporation 1974).

L, Results from the 1994 sample analysis varied within acceptable limits (Table 3-5).

E' Values for pH ranged from 6.65 at Sample Stations 1 and 7 to 7.13 at Sample Station 5.

When the six sample station pH values were averaged as pairs by zone of predicted deposition intensity (Table 3-6), the range narrowed from a mean of 7.03 in the zone of highest predicted intensity to a mean of 6.70 in the zone of intermediate predicted intensity. Since the highest paired mean .comes from the zone of intermediate predicted deposition intensity, there is no detectable trend in values by zone. In all three zones, the recorded mean pH remains well within the range of roughly 6 to 7 that favors the most ready availability of nutrients to plants.

~ The 1994 values for conductivity represent the lowest yet recorded at every sample station except No. 2, where two previous values (those for 1990 and 1992) are lower. As for pH, values averaged by predicted deposition zone for conductivity ranked the lowest ever.

Similarly, no apparent correlation with deposition zone existed, the highest mean value falling in the low-intensity location. The hypothetical teaching action associated with low pH also probably accounts for the prevalence of low conductivity in 1994. The actual values (76.5 to 285 mhos) lie far below the stress level of 2,000 to 4,000 mhos (Figure 3-16), the upper limit of which is widely recognized as the threshold of salinity (Richards 1954).

wnwurwe Aprd 4. ItH b2

TA 1.E 3-5. BIEAN VALUES

• FOR SOIL PAR.OIETERS FRO %I EACII SAMPLING STATION IN 1994.1992,1990,1988,1987 AND 1983 DATA IN PARENTilESES CllRONOLOGICAl LY ORDERED bel.OW.

PROJECIED DISSOLVED PERCENT WATER-sot.UBl.E CONCENTRATIONS IN mgig SOI.lDS DEPOSITION ORGANIC S.OIPLE RA1 E (Ib/sc/yr) DURING CONDUCTIVITY LOSS ON cal.CIUni SUITATE Clit.ORIDE N O. PIANT OPERATION SOIL TYPE pil umho/cm IGNITION Ca" SO? CT i tess than .I Toledo 6 65 92.5 11.66 87.93 5733 3 05 (6.74) (227) (13.10) (47.00) (5.45) (6 35)

(7 12) (398) (13.90) (40 30) (7.00) (10 70)

(7.75) (530) (12.00) (49 85) (14 50) (5.20)

(7.60) (240) (12.80) (21.20) (16 00) (3 40)

(7 30) (262) (13.00) g4 70) (35.50) (15 40) 2 less than .I Toledo 6.90 285 13.42 54 62 6 89 3.72 (6 85) (149) (16.70) (37.40) (10.85) (8.90)

(6.73) (208) (16 00) (34 85) (6 45) 4445 (6 80) (550) (15.80) (55.90) (66.95) (12.701 (6.90) (339) (15.25) (3I.60) (9 00) (5.10)

(6 80) (170) (14.50) (330) (9.70) (4 90) 3 Gr. than .5 lxnawee 6.75 91 1537 68 60 49.54 2% l u (5.61) (165) (1530) (36 05) (4.15) (5 65) 1 (6.70) (198) (13.70) (32 65) (6.50) (10 20)

(6.55) (485) (13.80) (55.60) (137.20) (8 40)

(6.50) (325) (13.95) (46 55) (102.00) (4 10)

(7.10) (227) (16.10) (430) (ND) (4 30) .l 5 .I to .5 lenawee 7.13 118 9.78 127.26 39 68 5 04 (7.00) (317) (9.50) (79.45) (3.55) (5 10) i (7.47) (285) (9.55) (55.75) (4.45) (20.70)

(8.20) (505) (10 85) (74 05) (4030) (9 15)

(7.95) (710) (7.25) (63 10) (72.50) (3 05)

(7.70) (194) (8.40) (8 00) (5 20) (3 80) 7 Gr. than .5 Toledo 6 65 101 14 15 30 23 46 46 5 80 (6 91) (231) (1635) (46 60) (4 20) (6 50)

(736) (255) (17.90) (47.55) (5.70) (2230) {

(7.20) (635) (13.25) (75.50) (55 15) (9 15) .

(6 95) (298) (14.05) (36 00) (45 50) (3 60)

(6.90) (244) (15.10) (4.50) (23.50) (4 60) 8 .I to .5 Toledo 6 93 77 14.06 57.27 7136 4 83 (6 82) (182) (1530) (37.65) (2.70) (4 85)

(7.09) (253) (14.15) (40 05) (5.20) (13 00)

(6 60) (520) (15.75) (6235) (38 90) (12 65)

(6 40) (223) (13.70) (1235) (41 00) (2 65)

(6 60) (216) (I4.10) (3 80) (7 30) (490)

'Mean based e two replicates per station. Soil types based on NCS mapping.

Sampling stainms 4 and 6 were not used. ND = name detected (less than 0.5 mg/kg).

E E O E E E E E E E E E E E E E O TA;1.E J-6. MEAN VALUES

• FOR SOII. PARA %IE1ERS BY DEPOSITION ZONE IN 1994. FIGURES IN PARENTIIESES ARE Tile FIVE-YEAR MEANS OF PREVIOUS DATA FOR EACil 54MPLE STATION.

PERCENT WATER-SOLUBLE CONCENTRATIONS IN mg&g ORGANIC ZONE OF PREDICTED CONDUCTIVITY LOSS ON CALCIUM SULFATE CllLORIDE DEPOSII~ ION INTENSITY pil umbofcm IGNITION Ca'* SO/' Cl-low 6.77 I89 I2.54 71.27 32.11 3.38 (7.06) (307) (143.0) (32.61) (18.14) (11.71)

Moderate 6.70  % 14.76 49.41 48 00 4.38 (71.8) (360) (12.22) (43 65) (22.11) (8.48) liigh 7.03 98 11.92 92.26 55.52 4 93 (6.78) (306) (14.94) (38.53) (42 65) (8 48)

• Mean based on two sample stations per zone.

. .. . _-_ , ~- . - . ~. - --___ _ - . - _ _ - _ _ _ - _ - _ _ - - - - _ . _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _ _

I

.I i l

I )

CROP PLANT RESPONSE TO SALINITY

• A D E I

B C _

1 \1 / _

d m

0.s -

100 SATURATION PEACENTAGE g -

E E j' ~

h m

,/ -

'. n 0.4

/ -

5 a., c.2 ,e l -

0.1

/ \ l 0 4.000 8.000 12.000 1s.000 > 16.000 CONOUCTIVITY OF SATURATION EXTRACT (Micrombos/cm at 25'C)

"A. Negligible Effects on Yields

• 8. Restricted Yields of Only Very Sensitive Crops C. Restncted Yields of Many Crops I D. Restricted Yields of All but Tolerant Crops E. Satisfactory Yield of Only a Few very Tolerant Crops I

I I

I Figure 3-16. 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.)

35 1

n_____ _

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES Percent organic matter underwent no marked change from the values recorded for previous years. All values were within or close to the previous range. No correlation with the predicted deposition gradient is apparent (Table 3-6).

The above soil analysis is intended as a largely qualitative adjunct to the primary evidence of plant stress. For rigorous statistical validation of soils data, as many as 80 samples, each in triplicate, have been required to show significance for one. parameter at the 5% confiaence level in one 1/40-acre plot (Temple et al.1979). The present 'nethod permits efficient scanning of a relatively large area in sufficient detail to detect environraental trends over several years. Considerable variations in one or another parameter in any onc year are to

• - expected, and must be cross-checked against the data for all parameters in other y tars in order to determine the possible significance. In any case, none of the data showed any correlation, positive or negative, with the zones of predicted deposition intensity (Table 3-6).

3.5 SIGNIFICANCE A summary table of the most significant vegetation stressors observed in each year l

and the natural vegetation types most affected is presented in Table 3-7. The most significant stressors varied from year to year depending upon climatic conditions and lake water level. In 1994, neither of these factors was very pronounced, revealing inter- and intra-specific competition and the water level management program at the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area 3 1

as the most significant stressors.

j Each stressor afTected different vegetation types with differing degrees of specifici-ty. Lake-level rise was the most specific, primarily affecting lowland hardwood forests.

i Falling lake levels affected shallow marsh areas, while inter- and intra-specific competition was most visible in successional areas. The water level management program at the Pointe

?

L Mouillee State Game Area primarily affected hardwood forest areas within the zone of inundation. Drought was one of the least specific stressors, affecting numerous different vegetation types.

I4138 001DETJMDC 7 April 4. I993 b6 m

-- T r- -1 r u u 1__f u m TABLE 3-7.~

SUMMARY

OF MOST SIGNIFICANT STRESSORS AND NATURAL VEGETATIONTYPES AFFECTED.

NATURAL VEGETATION TOTAL AREA OF STRESSED YEAR STRESSOR TYPE MOST AFFECTED VEGETATION 1980 Excessive moisture (51%)* Lowland hardwood 347'*

1983 Drought (80%) Shallow marsh (cattail) 198 1987 Lake Icvel rise (60%) Lowland hardwood 176 1988 Drought (98%) Multiple vegetation cover types 500 1990 Waterlogging (57%) Riparian hardwoods 366 1992 a) Intense inter- and intra- (41%) a) Mid-successional areas 93 specific competition b) Lowland hardwoods b) Rising take levels (39%)

1994 a) Intense inter- and intra-specific a) Mid-successional areas 95 w competition (23%) b) Shallow marsh, upland hardwoods

" b) Water-level manipulation in game I management area (22%)

Percentage of total stressed vegetation resulting from identified stressor

• • For 1980 only, assumes all areas <l acre = 1 acre l

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES In the 1983 survey, severe drought-related " scorch" effects were observed in areas of cattail marsh. The specificity of this drought impact contrasts with the expected widespread distribution of stress caused by drought. The disproportionate effect on cattail marsh may have been due to additional factors not emphasized in the 1983 survey.

No stress associated with cooling tower emission was obsened in any of the survey reports. The distribution of stressed areas varied from year to year in accordance with the most significant stressor and the associated vegetation type affected. The distribution of stressed areas in those years experiencing rapid change in lake-water levels was generally oriented along the shoreline of the lake. The distribution of stressed areas in years experienc-ing drought was generally scattered throughout the survey area. No correlation was observed

( between the distribution of stressed areas and the calculated deposition of salts and other materials contained within the vaporous cooling tower discharge.

Owing to turbine generator failure in late 1993, ne Fermi 2 power plant was not in operation for the entire 1994 growing season, in contrast with the near maximum-capacity operational record of the preceding icw years (Shields 1995). No acute vegetation stress due to the cooling towers could therefore have appeared in the 1994 data. The observed differenc-es in the vegetation stress distribution patterns between 1992 and 1994 are most easily l 1

correlated with water level manipulation in the Point Mouillee State Game Area, however, rather than any plausible cooling tower effects (see Section 3.2 of this report for a discussion of stress patterns observed in 1994). The total area of stress actually varied very little between 1992 and 1994. I The absence of observed impacts attributable to the cooling towers is consistent with findings in the scientific literature. For example, the predicted maximum impact of L dissoived-solid deposition from the cooling towers has been estimated at about 0.5 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 0.9 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.

\ mn wurzw h en e. i 5 38 L- ..

i E NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES I At the Chalk Point, Maryland power plant, which used brackish cooling water, no changes in sodium and chloride deposition rates above baseline values were detectable beyond I 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, l

with its burden of relatively innocuous calcium, carbonate and sulfate, would have even less impact.

The absence of conchmive data is acknowledged in both of the above studies. The chronic effects of long-term cooling tower operation are not known (Talbot 1979). Since salts l can accumulate in the soil and affect vegetation over several years, periodic monitoring may still be necessary. It should be noted, however, that no long-term accumulation of salt has been detected in any of the soil samples collected within the survey area (see Section 3.4 for further discussion of soils). There also appears to be a dearth of recent data on other cooling-tower environments. In a comprehensive search of electronic data bases for published references since 1988 to cooling-tower impacts on vegetation, NAl could find no relevant citation as of 20 March 1995.

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 I to pink). These occurred in no pattem that could indicate cooling-tower emissions to be the cause. Other explanations appeared more probable.  ;

I I

I I

.I I . . . . _

4pril 4. I999 39

E NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES I

4.0 REFERENCES

I Birkey, Ned.1994. pers. com. Agricultural Agent's Office, Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service, Raisinville Township, MI.

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 Con-structors, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

.I Lehmann, Fritz. 1993. pers. comm. Nuclear Operations Center, Enrico Fermi Power Plant, Unit 2, Detroit Edison Company, Newport, MI.

Michigan State University.1994. Local Climatological Data for Raisin River, Monroe. State of Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Moser, D.C.1974. Airborn Sea Salt: Techniques for Experimentation and Effects on Vegetation. In Cooline Tower Environment. Symposium Proceedings, University of I Maryland Adult Education Center. Available as CONF-740302, Technical Information .

Center, Energy Research and Development Administration.

I Mulchi, Charles L., J.A. Armbmster, 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 Femii Atomic Power Plant, Unit II (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and I 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 I

I Vegetation Ground Tmth Program 1987 Final Report. Normandeau Associates Inc.,

Bedford, NH. l 1988. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 11 (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1988 Final Report. Normandeau Associates Inc.,

Bedford, NH. -

I .1990. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit II (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1990 Final Report. Normandeau Associates Inc.,

l l

Bedford, NH.

1

.1992. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit II (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and ]

I Vegetation Ground Truth Program 1992 Final Report. Normandeau Associ~ates Inc.,

Bedford, NH.

j j

1 I mumversoc wa s. im 40 I 1

[~ l l

9 NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES National Climatic Data Center. 1994. Local climatological data for Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Toledo Express Airport. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-tion, U.S. Depanment of Commerce.

NUS.1974. The 1973-1974 Annual Report of the terrestrial ecological studies at the Fermi site. Prepared for Detroit Edison Co., Detroit, M1. NUS Corporation,1910 Cochran I Road, Pittsburgh, PA.

Peet, R.K. and N.L. Christensen.1980. Succession: a population process. Vegetation I 43:131-140.

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

SCS.1981. Soil survey of Monroe County, Michigan. U.S. Department of Agriculture and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

Shields, Kathy. 1995. pers. com. Detroit Edison Company.

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 I prepared for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by INTERA Environmental Consul-tants, Inc., Houston, TX.

I 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.

Temple, Patrick J. and Ronald Wills.1979. Sampling and analysis of plants and soils. In I Methodology for the Assessment of Air Pollution Effects on Vegetation, ed. W.W. Heck et al.,' Air Pollution Control Association.

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

. 1991, pers. com. as above.

TI.1978. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2 (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegeta-I tion Ground Truth Program. Final Report, March 1979. Texas Instruments, Inc.,

Ecological Services, Dallas, TX.

I . 1979. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2 (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program. Final Report, May 1983. Texas instruments, Inc.,

Ecological Services, Dallas, TX.

1980. Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2 (Fermi 2) Remote Sensing and Vegetation Ground Truth Program. Draft Report, November 1980. Texas Instruments, Inc., Ecological Services, Dallas, TX.

I 1413100 t1)ET IMK' April 4,1999 4}

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Elm Disease. Sterling State Park.

I I

1 1

OVERSIZE

~

DOCUMENT ~

l PAGE PULLED . .

. l SEE APERTURE CARDS  !

NUMBER OF OVERSIZE PAGES FILMED ON APERTURE CARDS O,

'l5 0 5 03 0a 9 4 al l

APERTURE CARD /HARD COPY AVAILABLE FROM RECORDS AND REPORTS MANAGEMENT BRANCH 4

J l

Fermi 2 Power Plant t Vegetation Stress Survey (1994 Phase)

Aerial Color-Infrared Photographic Coverage  !

Within a 2.5-km Radius of the Cooling Towers t

Normandeau Associates 25 Nashua Road Bedford, New Hampshire 03110-5500 i

i April 1995