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Email: (PA) Ecological Report 31 (April 2002)
	ML062920329
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	10/12/2006
From:	Dewald L; Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee
To:	Flemming J; Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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SRichard Emch - Report 31 attached (p Page 1 From: "DeWald, Lynn" <ddewald@entergy.com>

To: <jlf2@nrc.gov>

Date: 10/12/2006 4:30:33 PM

Subject:

Report 31 attached Jason, Hope this helps. Lynn Lynn DeWald Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC 320 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 802-258-5526 (phone) 802-258-5865 (fax) 802-380-4493 (cell)

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Report 31 attached Creation Date 10/12/2006 4:29:31 PM From: "DeWald, Lynn" <Idewald@entergy.com>

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ECOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VERNON, VERMONT REPORT 31 January - December 2001 VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION Brattleboro, Vermont Prepared by:

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station PO Box 157 Brattleboro, VT 05354-0157 And Normandeau Associates Inc.

25 Nashua Road Bedford, NH 03110-5500 APRIL 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

1.0 INTRODUCTION

............................................................................................................ 1 2.0 COMPLIANCE WITH THERMAL STANDARDS ........................................................ 2 2.1 THERMAL STANDARDS ......................................................................... .2 2.2 METHODS OF DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE ................ t................... 2 2.3 THERMAL IMPACT ......................................................................................... 4 3.0 WATER QUALITY ....................................................................................................... 12 3.1 COPPER, IRON AND ZINC CONCENTRATIONS ....................................... 12 3.2 WATER TEMPERATURE............................................................................... 13 4.0 MACROINVERTEBRATE COLLECTIONS ................................................................ 30 4.1 METHODS OF COLLECTION AND PROCESSING .................................... 30 4.1.1 Dredge Collections ......................................................................... 30 4.1.2 Macroinvertebrate Rock Basket Collections ................................. 30 4.2

SUMMARY

..................................................................................................... 31 5.0 FISH COLLECTIONS .................................................................................................. 43 5.1 METHODS OF COLLECTION AND PROCESSING .................................... 43 5.1.1 Electrofishing - General Sampling ....................... 43 5.1.2 Electrofishing - Anadromous Fish ................................................... 43 5.1.3 Impingement .................................................................................. 43 5.1.4 Larval Fish ...................................................................................... 44 5.1.5 Scale Samples for Age Determination ............................................ 44 5.2 SUMM ARY ......................................................................................................... 44 5.2.1 Fish - Trapnets, NPDES General Electr6fishing, and Impingement ...... 44 5.2.2 Anadromous Fish Electrofishing ................................ 45 5.2.3 Ichthyoplanktoi' .............................................................................. 45 6.0 2001 ZEBRA MUSSEL AND ASIATIC CLAM MONITORING ................................. 58 6.1 METHODS OF COLLECTION AND PROCESSING ..................................... 58 6.1.1 Laboratory Identification Procedures ............................................... 58 6.2

SUMMARY

..................................................................................................... 59 7.0 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................. 61 i

LIST OF FIGURES Page 2-1. Vermont Yankee Core Thermal Power and Plant Discharge Flow 2001 ............................ 6 2-2. Vermont Yankee Hourly Average Heat Rejected by the Condenser, 2001 ........................ 7 2-3. Hourly Average Connecticut River flow rate for the year 2001 ......................................... 8 2-4. Simulated Connecticut River temperature increase at Monitor 3, 2001 .............................. 9 2-5. Hourly average Connecticut River temperatures at Monitor 3 and Monitor 7, 2001 .......... 10 3-1. Vermont Yankee NPDES sampling stations ....................................... 14 3-2. Connecticut River water concentrations of Total Copper observed in monthly samples from the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont ................................................ 16 3-2a. Connecticut River water concentrations of Soluable Copper observed in monthly samples from the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont ............................................... 17 3-3. Connecticut River water concentrations of Total Iron observed in monthly samples from the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont ....................................................... 18 3-3a. Connecticut River water concentrations of Soluable Iron observed in monthly samples from thevicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont ................................................ 19 3-4. Connecticut River witer concentrations of Total Zinc observed in monthly samples from the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont ................................................... 20 3-4a. Connecticut River water concentrations of Soluable Zinc observed in monthly samples from thevicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont ............................................... 21 3-5. Vernon Dam Fishway temperature, 2001 ............................................................................ 29 4-1. Vermont Yankee NPDES macroinvertebrate dredge and rock basket sampling Stations 2, 3, 4 and 5........................................................................................................ 42 5-1. Vermont Yankee NPDES sampling Stations ...................................................................... 57 6-1. Zebra Mussel and Asiatic Clam monitoring stations .......................................................... 60 ii

LIST OF TABLES IPage 2-1. Daily and Monthly Average Connecticut River Discharge (CFS) At Vernon Station D uring 2001 ............................................................................................................................... 11 3-1. Summary of 2001 Monthly Connecticut River Water Concentrations of Copper (Cu),

1Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) Observed at Vermont Yankee Monitoring Stations 3, Z and LPlant Discharge .................................................................................................................... 15 3-2 Average ConnecticutRiver Temperature (*F) at Station 7 During 2001 .............................. 22 3-3. Average Connecticut River Temperature (*F) at Station 3 During 2001 .............. 23 3.4 Average Heat Rejected by the Condenser (MWt) During 2001 ........................................... 24 3-5. Hourly and Daily Average Temperature at the Vernon Dam Fishway During 2001 ....... 25 4-la Checklist of Macroinvertebrates Collected from the Connecticut River Near Vernon, V ermont in June 2001 ................................................................................................................ 33 4-1b Checklist of Macroinvertebrates Collected from the Connecticut River Near Vernon, Vermont in August and October 2001 .................................................................................. 36 4-2. Composition of Macroinvertebrates Collected by Ponar Dredge in June 2001 Downstream and Upstream of Vernon Dam .............................................................................................. 39 4-3a. Composition of Macroinvertebrates Collected by Rock Baskets in June 2001 Downstream and Upstream of Vernon Dam .............................................................................................. 40 5.-.

. 4-3b. Composition of Macroinvertebrates Collected by Rock Baskets set in August and October 2001 at Downstream Stations 2 and 3 .......................................................................................... 41 5-1. Checklist of Fishes (AFS 1991) Collected During 2001 ..................................................... 47 5-2. Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for electrofishing collections in the Connecticut River in the vicinity of Vernon, Vermont ...................................................................................................... 48 5-3. Number and weights of fishes collected in the Connecticut River upstream and downstream of Vernon Dam in 2001 .............................................. 49 5-4. Numbers and weights of fishes captured upstream of Vernon Dam in 2001 in impingement and general electrofishing ................................................................................................. : .............. 50 5-5. Numbers and weights of fishes captured downstream of Vernon Dam in 2001 in general electrofishing and trapnet programs ...................................................................................... 51 5-6. Monthly impingement of fish on Vermont Yankee's circulating water travelling screens in 2001 ........................................................................................................................... 52 1.:

LIST OF TABLES CONTINUED Page 5-7. Summary of 2001 Anadromous Fish Collections at Stebbins Island, Station 3, and 0.1 Mile Below Vernon Dam ................................................................................................... 53 5-8. Vermont Yankee Ichthyoplankton Sampling Effort in 2001 ................................................... 54 5-9. Collection Dates and Total Number of Ichthyoplankton Collected Near the Vern"ont Yahkee Intake in 2001 ............................................................................................................... 55 5-10. Ichthyoplankton Density per 100 Cubic Meters at Vermont Yankee Intake by Depth in 2001 ....................................................................................................................................... 56 iv

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report is submitted on behalf of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, and fulfills the requirements of the Final Discharge Permit #3-1199 (NPDES number VT0000264).

This is the first annual report submitted under the five-year discharge permit issued in 2001.

Presented in this report are the results of the monthly thermal compliance monitoring and the methods and results of the environmental monitoring program, includingwater quality, macroinvertebrates, fish, and zebra mussels. The NPDES permit environmental sampling stations referred to in this report are presented on the NPDES sampling stations map (Figure 3rl).

On March 19, 2001 at 12:27 PM the plant turbine tripped and reactor scram occurred due to faulty auxiliary contacts in a Reactor Protection System relay. Following a complete investigation into this event the plant began a reactor start-up on March 20, 2001at 22:55. On March 21, 2001 at 17:53 the plant turbine was phased onto the grid and return to 100% power was initiated.

On April 27, 2001 at 11:00 AM the plant was shut down for a maintenance and refueling outage.

The plant start up progressed as scheduled. The circulating water system was started up on May 18, 2001 at 1000. The reactor went critical on May 19, 2001 at 1247. On May 20, 2001 at 1639 the turbine-generator was phased to the grid and a return to full power was initiated. Larval fish and impingement sampling was not conducted during the outage.

Prior to the issuance of the current NPDES Permit in August 2001, the monitoring was completed as outlined in the previous Permit (1996-2000). Following are the changes of Part IV -Environmental Monitoring Studies, Connecticut River: reflected in the current Permit:

A. Macroinvertebrate cage (rock basket) sampling at the upstream stations (4 and 5) in the Vernon pool was discontinued. Sampling below Vernon Dam will continue once a month at Stations 2 and 3 in June, August, and October.

B. Macroinverteb'rate dredge sampling was discontinued.

C. Juvenile American shad collections via seine and trawl and adult American shad monitoring at the Vernon Dam Fish ladder (with direction from the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife), are included in the Permit required monitoring.

D. One task-oriented macroinvertebrate study is identified to occur during 2002 and 2003.

E. Age determination of fishes was discontinued.

The juvenile and adult American shad studies were conducted during 2001, the final reports outlining these studies are submitted under separate cover to the Environmental Advisory Committee in spring 2001 as Analytical Bulletin Nos. 77 and 78. The bulletins were titled "Composition of Adult American Shad at the Vernon Dam Fishway during 2001," Vermont Yankee/Connecticut River System Analytical Bulletin 77, and "Abundance of Juvenile American Shad in the Vernon pool during 2001"Vermont Yankee/Connecticut River System Analytical Bulletin 78. There were no special studies conducted during 2001.

This report was produced as a collaborative effort on the part of Vermont Yankee and Normandeau Associates.

I

2.0 COMPLIANCE WITH THERMAL STANDARDS 2.1 THERMAL STANDARDS The operational mode of Vermont Yankee's cooling water system is related to calendar dates and ambient Connecticut River water temperatures as specified in Vermont Yankee's discharge permit (PermitNo. 3-1199, NPDES Number VT0000264) effective 29 August2001. During the 16 May through 14 October period of each year, Vermont Yankee is permitted to discharge heat to the river within the following thermal standards (A.6.b of the NPDES permit):

Connecticut River Temperature Calculated Increase in River at Station 7 (T7) Temperature above Ambient T7>63°F 2 0F 63°F(T7>59°F 3 0F 59°F(T7>55°F 4 0F 55°F(T7 50F During the period of 15 October through 15 May of each year, Vermont Yankee is permitted to discharge heat to the Connecticut River within the following thermal standards (Section A.6.a of the NPDES permit):

1. The temperature at Monitor Station 3 during open cycle operation shall not exceed 650F

2. The rate of change of temperature at Monitor Station 3 shall not exceed 5°F per hour, and,

3. The increase in temperature above ambient at Monitor Station 3 shall not exceed 13.4 0F.

The river discharge near Vernon is regulated by Vernon Dam Hydroelectric Station to remain at or above 1250 cubic feet per second (cfs) or inflow if less than 1250 cfs. Since the theoretical maximum increase in temperature due to Vermont Yankee's thermal discharge at a river flow of 1250 cfs is 12.9 'F, these standards, in effect, permit open cycle condenser cooling without'cooling tower operation when ambient river temperatures are less than 52.1 OF during 15 October through 15 May. If ambient river temperatures are greater than 52.1 °F, the amount of heat discharged to the river can be reduced by using the cooling towers if the river flow is low.

2.2 METHODS OF DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE Compliance with the criterion that limits open cycle operation to times when the downstream temperature is less than 65*F was demonstrated by examination of Connecticut Riler temperature and plant operating data. Rate of change of temperature is defined in the NPDES permit as the difference between consecutive hourly average temperatures. Measurements recorded in the Connecticut River below the Vemoni Dam (Station 3) were used to calculate these differences.

2

Increase in temperature above ambient is defined in the NPDES permit as a plant-induced temperature increase as calculated by equation 1-I in the report 316 Demonstration (Binkerd 1978, Downey and Binkerd 1990). This equation is based on the principle of conservation of energy, a principle which is integral to the computer simiflation of the Vermont Yankee/Connecticut River system. Using measured upstream river temperature, plant operating data and core thermal power, the amount of heat discharged to the river was calculated. Then, using thermodynamic and hydrodynamic principles and river discharge information, the mixed river temperature increase was calculated and compared with thermal standards.

Equation 1-1, rearranged for ease of computer computation using input from the plant environmental thermal sensor network, is as follows:

Equation 1: DELTA -T = (H _RIV + H -TOWER)IQ Equation la: HTOWER=(TC1Tr.I-TCITT)*472727.3/3600 Equation lb: HRIV = (267.38 *CWPT) * ((TCOr - TCIT) - (CWBPT/CWPT)*

(TCOt- (TETO1 + TWTOr)/2)))

where, DELTA_T = hourly simulated Connecticut River temperature increase at Station 3 in OF H _RIV = caloric heat content of the cooling water discharge H_TOWER . caloric heat content of the circulating water system and cooling towers Q = hourly Connecticut River discharge (cfs) observed at Vernon Dam TCIr.m = condenser inlet temperature in OF at time interval t-1 TCIO = condenser inlet temperature in OF at time interval t CWPT = number of circulating water intake pumps operating in time interval t CWBPT = number of cooling tower booster pumps operating in time interval t TCOT = condenser outlet temperature in OF at time interval t TETOr = east cooling tower outlet temperature in OF at time interval t TWTOr = west cooling tower outlet temperature in oF at time interval t Vermont Yankee implemented a design change during the month of May 2000, which linked the Azonics temperature monitoring systems at Stations 3 and 7 to the plant process computer. This allowed Vermont Yankee operators to utilize real time accurate temperature data for thermal compliance. It also allowed Vermont Yankee Environmental Group an opportunity to generate thermal compliance reporting. The WaDaR units remain in the river at Stations 3 and 7 as the back-up temperature recorders to the Azonics. The simulation is based on electronically acquired five-minute river discharge data from the Vernon Dam and Vermont Yankee's five minute observations of thermal temperatures at Stations 3 and 7 and thermal heat discharge to the river.

3

2.3 THERMAL IMPACT Figures in this section illustrate the principle of conservation of energy as applied to the Vermont Yankee/Connecticut River system. Figure 2-1 depicts core thermal power produced and plant discharge flow by Vermont Yankee in 2001. This data was obtained from five minute records supplied by Vermont Yankee. The licensed maximum reactor core thermal power is limited to 1593 megawatts. About one-third of this power was converted to electrical power, while the remainder was transferred as heat to the atmosphere via the cooling towers, or discharged to the river (Figure 2-2). The plant shutdown on March 19, 2001 at 12:27 PM. The plant turbine tripped and reactor scram occurred due to faulty auxiliary contacts in a Reactor Protection System relay."Following a complete investigation into this event the plant began a reactor start-up on March 20, 2001 at 22:55.

On March 21, 2001 at 17:53 the plant turbine was phased onto the grid and return to 100% power was initiated. On April 27, 2001 at 11:00 AM the plant was shut down for a maintenance and refueling outage. The plant start up progressed as scheduled. The circulating water system was started up on May 18, 2001 at 1000. The reactor went critical on May 19, 2001 at 1247. On May 20,2001 at 1639 the turbine-generatorwas phased to the grid and a return to full power was initiated. Otherwise the plant remained at full power throughout 2001, with occasional brief periods of power derating.

Figure 2-3 is a plot of hourly Connecticut River discharge for the Vernon Hydroelectric Station Dam in Vernon, Vermont during 2001. The hourly average Connecticut River discharge was computed using five minute observations obtained by Vermont Yankee through their computer system from sensors installed at the Vernon Darn. When the flows were above 32,000 cfs this data was obtained from hourly logs obtained from records at Vernon Dam.

Table 2-1 lists the average daily and monthly Connecticut River discharge computed from the hourly observations obtained for 2001 as described above. For discharge greater than 12,000 cfs, a rating curve was used by Vernon Dam to convert stage height to discharge. The rating curve was the same one used by the USGSprior to abandoning the Vernon gaging station (Aquatec 1995). This curve is believed to be sufficiently accurate because backwater from the Northfield Mountain Pump Storage Facility and the modification at Turners Falls Dam have had little impact on stage height near Vernon Dam during times of high discharge (Aquatec 1995). Below 12,000 cfs, discharge data were obtained from turbine rating curves at Vernon Station. The peak daily Connecticut River average flow for 2001 was 69,762 cfs, which occurred on 23 April 2001 compared to 57,943 cfs on 05 April 2000. The second highest peak daily average flow (other than in April) was 35,013 cfs on 2 May 2001. The hourly average flows are represented in Figure 2-3. The peak hourly average Connectcuit River flow occurred on 23 April 2001 at 71,544 cfs. The lowest daily Connecticut Riverflows at Vernon Dam was 1275 cfs observed on 11, 12 and 27 August 2001.

The simulated increases in Connecticut River temperature at Station 3 due to Vermont Yankee's operation are plotted for each hour of operation in Figure 2-4. Vermont Yankee's discharged heat remains dependant upon reactor power and plant operational mode. During normal full power operations these values range from 1035 to 1081 mwt. Connecticut River discharge (Figure 2-3),

Vermont Yankee daily average discharge flow (Figure 2-2) and river temperature increase (Figure 2-

4) illustrates that for a constant heat rejection rate to the river, the temperature increase is inversely proportional to the river discharge. Vermont Yankee's operation remained at or below the permit standards for all of 2001 except in July when there was one instance where Vermont Yankee operators did not respond promptly to changing river conditions by quickly shifting the Recirculation Gate Position and going to Closed Cycle. This event was:

5 Jul 2001 2300-2359 DST, +0.12 degrees F (above permit limit), Permit Limit + 2.0 degrees F.

4

During the cold water period when the permit limit was 13.48F, the maximum simulated river temperature increase observed was 12.668F on 21 December 2001 at 0400 when the river flow was low at 1250 cfs.

Hourly average temperatures are measured at Station 7 and Station 3 are plotted on Figure 2-5.

Station 7 is well upstream of the plant, and water temperatures there were unaffected by the plant's thermal discharge. Heat discharged from the plant was well mixed at Station 3, due to passage through the Vernon Dam. Temperatures measures at Station 3 reflected both the natural and plant-induced changes in temperature between the upstream and downstream locations, and never exceeded the 658F during the periods of 1 January through 15 May 2001 and 15 October through 21 December 2001 (Figure 2-5). At no time during the month for all of the data availabledid the temperature change observed at Station 3 exceeded the +/-50F permitted change per hour.

5

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[ 7.7. -.7 71 ""ý,9-it.

Figure 2.1 Vermont Yankee Core Thermal Power and Plant Discharge Flow 2001 1800 600.000 16( 0O 1A4 I I I

500.000

)0 400.000 12(

10(

F-300.000 2 8C000 Ii-6C00 -200.000 4(

I MWTh -100.0 00 2C00 - Disch Flow MGD 0 :' .. . ....... I ' . .. ........ ..................................... 0.0 00 1 13 25 37 49 61 73 85 97 109121133145157169181193205217229241253265277289301313325337349361 January March May June August October December Day of Year 6

Figure 2-2 Hourly Average Heat Rejected by the Condenser for the Year 2001 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

0 50 March January 100 May 150 June 2 0 ýugust 250 October 350 December 300 Day of Year 7

Figure 2-3 Hourly Average Connectcut River Flow Rate for the Year 2001 80000.-

70000 60000 50000-(n

.9-U 0 40000-0 30000 20000-ri 10000-.lt r 4iI!fOk.

RI u 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 January March May June August October December Day of Year 8

'. 71

.. -"I . 1' " '- r-"2*1

.n .... ,. . J. * . 9 ,.t":' °%' r'-l Figure 2-4 Simulated Connecticut River Temperature Increase at Monitor 3 2001 14 12 10 U-C-

E 6 4

0.

2 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 January March May June August October December Day of Year 9

Figure 2-5 Hourly Average Connectcut River Temperature at Monitors 3 and 7 for the Year 2001 90 80 70

'tM 1..

.9. 60 60 CL.

E 50 40 30 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 January March May June August October December Day of Year 10

r..nflV" Jtl.." ¶.*

'CY*( iV ~ '

Table 2.1 - Average Connecut River Discharge (cfs) at Vernon Station for the Year 2001 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 1 6786 4605 4470 4983 34204 8766 2958 1809 1675 1572 2379 4810 2 6692 5275 4341 5475 35013 11209 4393 1309 1665 1625 1616 5757 3 8476 6095 3830 5326 33369 27870 5218 1322 1670 2570 1866 7165 4 9274 5193 2770 4111 31417 28926 3978 1285 1628 1998 1734 6951 5 8597 3923 5947 6043 28540 26436 3923 1314 1610 1614 2944 6795 6 7582 6046 3361 7675 19940 21232 6829 2157 1598 1595 2074 4886 7 7392 5357 . 3441 9802 17700" 15918 3456 2940 1404 1580 5358 3928 8 6796 6291 6695 10816 13373 12624 2550 2117 1297 1571 5401 4348 9 5193 7518 4974 16801 9853 9109 5338 3966 1328 1609 3893 3240 10 7332 7534 2718 23513 10102 8053 5278 2842 1332 1630. 1848 2933 11 7548 4851 3973 34621 11045 7609 4467 1275 1333 1433 3343 2126 12 6124 4656 5531 34178 10443 17137 3820 1275 1350 1337 2874 2472 13 7574 7109 6523 34178 8465 16751 2643 1754 1357 1329 2391 3127 14 7303 8228 5620 53405 9700 11262 3784 1319 1325 1343 1964 3914 15 6989 7437 2620 54044 9643 7738 2003 1362 1334 1329 1735 5894 16 3008 8317 5736 49524 9585 7001 5629 -1306 1331 1322 1426 6781 17 6503 8478 4263 47553 7714 7183 6963 1302 1314 1324 1331 4810 18 6454 6181 5005 43501 5895 7193 6154 1297 1325 1321 1282 5361 19 4708 4827 5883 36919 7324 6674 4914 1288 1327 1725 2369 3433 20 3260 4909 4544 32086 6939 6925 3564 1312 1315. 1359 3920 2669 21 3030 6094 6971 36119 7199 8259 4118 1325 1327 1356 3532 2645 22 4095 6884 6572 51227 8780 4757 3178 1327 2813 1677 1758 3129 23 5303 6605 7221 69762 8462 3640 4170 1644 1571 1571 2186 4403 24 4874 6263 11027 68212 7202 3563 4405 1854 1467 2618 1884 3509 25 5034 5224 10727 66856 4163 4186 6035 1279 2731 2861 1722 3373 26 5743 4249 9726 64434 5478 4441 3228 1276 4456 2988 3479 3056 27 7198 4591 8604 64492 5805 2570 2003 1275 3488 2315 4314 4125 28 -3088 5275 6528 61191 6851 2202 2224 1286 2716 2723 3959 3410 29 5224 6188 52807 8105 1896 1611 1306 3399 3435 5659 2331 30 6003 7023 40757. 9147 2607 1748 1277 1578 1628 6329 2471 31 5549 6549 9754 1633 1451 2334 2026 Monthly Av 6089 6001 5786 36431 12942 10124 3942 1609 1805 1824 2886 4058 11

3.0 WATER QUALITY 3.1 COPPER. IRON AND ZINC CONCENTRATIONS Beginning in April 1996, and continuing through 2001, monthly grab samples of Connecticut River water from Stations 3, 7; and the plant discharge (Figure 3-1) were analyzed for total copper, iron, and zinc, as outlined in the NPDES permit #3-1199. Results of the analysis are presented in Table 3-I and Figures 3-2, 3-3 and 3-4. Additionally, as discussed at the EAC meeting in 2001 additional samples were monitored for soluable copper, iron andzinc. These values are includedoon Table 3-1 and are depicted Figures 3-2a, 3-3a, and 3-4a.

Copper concentrations were observed at or below the detection limit of 0.010 ptg/i in nearly all months of 2001 at Connecticut River water sampling Station 7 and in the Vermont Yankee discharge (Table 3-1, Figure 3-2). The highest concentration of copper observed at Station 7 was 0.0093 mg/1 on 16 February 2001. The highest concentration of copper observed in the Vermont Yankee Station discharge was 0.064 mg/i on 17 September 2001. Connecticut River water sampling at Station 3, below the Vernon Dam tailrace, had slightly higher copper concentrations during most of the 2001 sampling events, with a maximum copper concentration of 0.308mg/i observed on 14 March 2001, when there was noted on the chain of custody that heavy sediment wa present in the sample. (Table 3-1, Figure 3-2).

Stations 3 and 7 had relatively high iron concentrations during 2001 (Table 3-1, Figure 3-3). Iron concentrations were relatively low throughout 2001 in the Vermont Yankee Station discharge. The highest concentrations in Vermont Yankee Discharge was 1.23 rngfL occurring on 17 April 2001.

The highest iron concentration of 5.02 mg/1 was observed at Station 7 on 16 February 2001. The highest iron concentration at Station 3 was 12.2 mg/L mg/i observed on 17 April 2001, during the high flow events.

Zinc concentrations in Connecticut River water samples were generally less than 0.020 mg/i during 2001. (Table 3-1, Figure 3-4). The highest zinc concentration at Station 7 was 0.0286 mg/i observed on 16 February 2001.The highest zinc concentration of 2.89 mg/I was observed at Station 3 on 16 February 2001. The highest zinc concentration in the Vermont Yankee discharge was 0.0129 mg/i observed on 16 January 2001.

A possible explanation for the variability in the results is that turbulence, associated with sampling methodolgy, rain storms and other high flow events, is also a factor which re-suspends sediments and increases the sediment concentration in the samples. Turbulent flow through the Vernon Dam and power station during high flow events may also re-suspend river sediments, contributing to the high metals concentrations generally observed at Station 3 (below the Vernon Dam) compared to Station 7 (upstream) or the Vermont Yankee discharge. This is evident in the total metals data versus the soluable metals data.

12

3.2 WATER TEMPERATURE

Water temperature was measured continuously in the Connecticut River at Station 7 and Station 3 during 2001, and at the Vernon Dam fishway during fishway operation. Daily and monthly average temperature data for Station 7 and Station 3 are summarized-in Tables 3-2 and 3-3 and .were discussed in Section 2.3; the hourly average temperature data for both stations are plotted on Figure 2-5. Hourly and daily average temperature data from the fishway are presented in Table 3-5 and Figure 3-5. The fishway operated daily from 22 May at 1400 DST to 5 July 2001 at 0900 DST. During this 2001 period of fishway operation, the hourly water temperature ranged from a low of 52.04°F on 23 May 2001 at 0400 and 0500 to a high of 79.7 0 °Fon 30 June 2001 at 1100.

Calibration of the primary temperature probes linked to the Azonix boxes occurred on April 240 from 0800 to 1600 and on December 12 from 0700-1300. Temperature probe calibrations on December 12'b created a spike on Figure 2-5 due to the probes being taken out of the water and placed into the calibration equipment. No WaDaR data was available due to Normandeau swapping calibrated WaDaR temperature monitor at the same time. Review of the plant operations logs indicates no plant setting changes were made during this calibration Additionally, WaDar data was used form Station 3 was used from April 8 at 0700 to April 18 at 1300, due to the modem loss from a thunderstorm. The data obtained from the WaDar at Station 3 was very erratic and required manual interpretation. There were many data points that were completely unusable.

Points that were used were hand selected based on upstream rivet water temperatures, plant condenser outlet temperatures and hourly average river flows. There is also a data gap for Station 3 from 30 June at 0700 to 11 July at 1200 due to a lightening storm, which caused a modem failure to the Azonix temperature probe system. WaDar data was not available for this period; there was an equipment malfunction, which caused ell data to be lost.

13

L 0 .1 Mile k' s t ati ons NK owrl ne

~N Setb ac.k

'Nuclea Station-

'; Vernon"Dam *

StuationVT5oat Ist"o 4v a*-. NU .

FigurtYanee31 emn akeNDSSmln ttos I~.. Vvr outhinl Lo Figure 3-1. Vermont Yankee NPDES Sampling Stations.

14 V

Table 3.1 2001 NPDES River Water Metals (mg/L)

Station 7 Station 3 Discharge Total Metals Date . Copper Iron Zinc Copper Iron Zinc Copper Iron Zinc 01/16/2001 0.0009 0.223 0.0026 0.0026 0.362 0.0106 0.0041 0.23 0.0129 02/16/2001 0.0093 5.02 0.0286 0.283 0.152 2.89 0.00581. 0.227 0.0137 Heavy 03/14/2001 Sediment In 0.0015 0.215 0.0046 0.308 1.77 1.56 0.0044 0.209 0.0088 the samples 04/17/2001 0.0026 0.567 0.0086 0.0639 12.2 0.134 0.0059 1.23 0,014 Flows high 05/14/2001 0.0007 0.458 0.0044 0.0007 0.315 0.006 0.0011 0.314 0.0038 06/14/2001 0.0024 0.332 0.0029 0.0033 0.362 0.0029 0.0109 0.369 0.0029 07/13/2001 0.0024 0.278 0.0007 0.0064 0,274 0.0269 0.0078 0.169 0.0063 08/13/2001 0.0022 0.158 0.0062 0.0063 0,146 0.0124 0.019 0.139 0.01 09/17/2001 0.0021 0.103 0.0189 0.0191 0.163 0.0636 0.0164 0.0982 0.0091 10/16/2001 0.0018 0.614 0.0059 0.0077 0.142 0,0109 0.0091 0.146 0.0044 11/13/2001 0.00059 0.152 0.0017 0.0034 0.172 0.006 0.0054 0.147 0.0052 12/14/2001 0.0018 0.217 0.01 0.0039 0.255 0.0097 0.0045 0.185 0.0109

' ' Station 7 Station 3 Discharge Soluabie Metals Date Copper Iron Zinc Copper Iron Zinc Copper Iron Zinc 05/14/2001 0.0007 0.12 0.0056 0.0007 . 0.0451 0.0036 0.0007 0.0852 0.0041 06/14/2001 0.0024 0.0779 0.0029 0.0071 0.0483 0,0029 0.0008 0.0472 0.0029 07/13/2001 0.0024 0.0561 0.0073 0.0035 0.0435 0.007 0.0049 0.0532 0.007 08/13/2001 0.0018 0.034 0.0117 0.0033 0.0239 0.0079 0.0126 0.0221 0.0057 09/17/2001 0.0005 0.0269 0.0032 0.0058 0.0257 0.0174 0.0122 0.0188 0.0079 10/16/2001 0.0026 0.16 0.0052 0.0067 0.0432 0.0103 0.0083 0.0457 0.0051 11/13/2001 0.0017 0.0634 0.006 0.0032 0.0571 0.0049 0.0049 0.051 0.0076 12114/2001 0.00093 0.084 0.0104 0.0026 0.104 0.0142 0.0043 0.0749 0.009,4 I q equals concentrations below detection limits.

15

Figure 3-2 Connecticut River water concentrations of Total Copper observed In monthly samples from the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 0.35 0.3 0.25

~0.2 rimStation 7 Et0Dscag 0*2 *IStation 3 0.1 0.05 b

'ns S

Date 16

r r., f [~~' P~"2!

Figure 3-2a Conneticticut River water concentrations of SoluableCopper observed in monthly samples in the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 0.014 0.012 0.01 0.008 MStation 7

Station 3 o 0.006

Discharge 0.

0.004 0.002 0

11-K UP '\sz d)\N qzo'ý D'Se 17

I ~ .bF r~i :' i Figure 3-3 Connecticut River water concentrations of Total Iron observed in monthly samples from the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 14 12 10 8

5 E

Station 7

Station 3 6

13 Discharge 4

2 0

N 0N at N Al NP 10 ki00ý P ldb`ý Date

.14, 18

Figure 3-3a Conneticticut River water concentrations of Soluable Iron observed in monthly samples In the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12

Station 7 U Station 3 0.1

Discharge 0

M 0.084-0.06-i 0.04-0.02-0 -

08/13/2001 09/17/2001 10/16/2001 05/14/2001 06/14/2001 07/13/2001 11/13/2001 12/14/2001 Date

.19

FIR, I "I F*19 E 7 "r ,,.

Figure 3-4 Conneticticut River water concentrations of Total Zinc observed in monthly samples in the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 3.5 I 3 I 2.5 i 2

" Station 7

Station 3 Ni 1.5 O3Discharge 1

0.5 0 -~- -,

U- I N NP

IN 10.zz, toP Ov

&`1 4te NO 20

Figure 3-4a Conneticticut River water concentrations of Soluable Zinc observed In monthly samples in the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 0.02 0.018 0.016 0.014 0.012 INStation 7 MStation 3 0

O3 Discharge iq 0.01 0 0.008

(/)

0.006 0.004 0.002 0

05/14/2001 0611412001 0711312001 08/13/2001 09/17/2001 10/16/2001 11/13/2001 12/14/2001 Date 21

Table 3.2 -Average Connecticut River Temperature (deg F) at Station 7 for the Year 2001 Month Jan Feb Mar Ar May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 1 33.96 33.61 33.50 33.35 44.54 58.21 73.18 74.52 75.07 63.40 .49.94 43.61 2 33.96 33.63 33.48 33.49 46.34 58.26 73.16 74.53 74.42 63.02 50.27 44.62 3 33.91 33.50 33.34 33.71 48.11 55.59 72.65 74.75 73.83 62.80 51.03 44.01 4 33.90 33.62 33.42 33.97 50.25 55.93 71.64 75.05 73.28 63.17 51.15 43.02 5 33.87 33.64 33.45 34.46 51.89 55.91 71.51 75.47' 72.55 63.90 50.25 43.48 6 33.90 33.58 33.50 35.27 52.21 ~57.18 .71.39 75.85 71.94 64.09 49.22 44.00 7 33.91 33.58 33.41 35.20 52.33' 58.43 70.83 76.43 72.00 63,07 48.80 44.05 8 33.92 33.60 33.36 35.01 52.51 59.43 70.39 77.15 71.74 61.63 47.83 43.63 9 33.87 33.55 33.44 34.92 52.99 60.77 70.13 77.87 72.08 60.39 47.16 42.50 10 33.85 33.33 33.40 35.80 54.30 61.90 71.00 79.14 72.38 59.94 47.36 41.52 11 33.79 33.52 33.39 37.01 55.68 62.79 71.71 79.34 72.55 59.62 47.04 41.27 12 33.82 33.20 33.47 36.83 57.32 62.62 72.23 79.26 72.21 59.82 45.83 42.75 13 33.74 33.61 33.48 36.51 58.07 61.92 72.00 78.82 71.94 59.73 44.38 41.06 14 33.76 33.52 33.42 36.64 58.22 82.79 71.58 78.59 71.64 59.67 43.80 40.91 15 33.73 33.48 33.44 37.05 57.67 64.45 70.97 78.14 70.76 59.73 43.73 40.32 16 33.78 33.48 33.50 37.73 56.87 67.06 71.62 77.87 70.12 59.66 43.97 39.01 17 33.78 33.43 33.49 38.22 56.37 69.02 72.18 77.58 69.77 59.49 43.61 37.88 18 33.77 33.49 33.48 38.64 56.51 69.37 71.74 76.96 69.32 58.87 43.06 37.23 19 33.77 33.49 33.39 38.74 56.50 70.43 71.91 76.72 69.36 57.79 43.15 37.46 20 33.78 33.56 33.35 39.01 57.33 71.57 72.04 76.91 69.11 57.24 .43.62 37.16 21 33.75 33.15 33.37 39.78 58.57 72.02 72.70 76.90 68.78 58.80 43.15 37.28 22 -33.70 33.61 33.35 40.60 59.09 70.76 73.04 76.77 68.27 56.37 42.39 36.75 23 33.64 33.53 33.23 41.46 58.89 70.26 73.91 76.73 68.40 55.47 42.33 36.33 24 33.64 33.49 33.44 42.33 58.29 70.15 .74.74 76.63 68.54 55.04 42.14 36.35 25 33.63 33.48 33.52 42.52 57.83 170.65 75.68 75.95 68.54 55.87 42.13 35.77 26 33.60 33.49 33.48 42.59 57.78 ~71 .56 76.29 75.75 67.63 55.88 42.75 35.12 27 33.60 33.49 33.53 42.09 57.51 72.24 75.78 75.50 66.90 54.93 43.20 34.96 28 33.64 33.52 33.53 42.53 57.06 72.70 75.22 75.32 65.98 53.68 43.36 34.83 29 - -33.62 - -33.60 42.82 57.89 73.26 74.93 75.48 65.21 52.67 43.76 34.65 30 33.57 33.60 43.10 58.68 72.98 74.75 75.17 . 64.02 51.50 43.11 34.46 31 -- 33.59-- - .33.45 58.67 74.63 75.07 50.72 34.47 Motl v 33.77 33.51 33.44 38.06 55.36 65.37 72.76 76.65 70.27 58.60 45.45 39.36 22

Table 3.3 - Average Connecticut River Temperature (deg F) at Station 3 for the Year 2001 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 1 34.45 35.28 35.17 34.75 45.32 61.85 0.00 80.44 78.01 64.82 56.09 46.81 2 34.14 34.92 35.27 34.73 47.12 61.12 0.00 80.03 76.53 64.67 56.52 46.58 3 33.96 34.78 35.91 35.24 49.16 58.42 0.00 79.53 75.87 64.93 58.11 46.40 4 33.72 34.84 36.64 35.76 51.51 57.71 0.00 80.08 75.71 65.09 58.28 45.62 5 33.86 35.54 35.31 35.42 53.15 57.93 0.00 80.77 75.58 65.32 56.90 45.64 6 33.99 34.78 35.42 35.86 53.70 59.70 0.00 81.68 74.17 65.21 54.91 46.30 7 34.49 34.91 35.87 36.76 53.83

62.02 0.00 82.38 73.79 64.71 52.49 46.27 8 34.30 34.67 34.97 36.14 53.85 64.38 0.00 82.14 73.74 62.86 50.78 45.51 9 34.87 34.31 34.72 38.04 54.56 66.81 0.00 82.26 74.22 61.94 50.82 45.72 10 34.15 34.23 35.53 40.75 55.71 68.56 0.00 82.48 74.38 62.16 51.14 45.42 11 34.35 34.92 35.48 41.21 57.19 68.70 80.25 82.12 75.13 62.20 51.92 46.22

.12 34.25 35.13 34.97 38.73 59.14 66.56 80.91 81.35 75.24 62.29 50.18 47.79 13 34.16 34.75 34.41 40.32 59.51 66.10 81.77 81.44 74.37 62.53 50.15 45.91 14 34.33 34.07 35.01 41.24 59.88 68.12 82.24 82.31 73.89 62.29 50.26 44.73 15 34.23 34.38 36.33 41.86 59.01 70.66 82.76 81.96 72.42 63.40 50.53 43.01 16 35.63 34.06 35.43 40.36 58.54 72.82 82.39 81.33 71.91 64.12 51.41 41.33 17 34.86 34.11 35.41 43.24 58.50 75.33 80.90 80.37 71.52 63.30 52.29 40.99 18 34.48 34.43 35.24 40.16 58.30 76.82 78.18 80.13 71.49 62.74 50.21 40.60 19 34.79 34.79 34.03 39.47 58.63 78.11 75.61 81.44 71.81 61.68 50.76 41.27 20 36.41 35.37 32.45 39.85 59.96 79.16 76.20 80.65 70.78 61.92 49.34 42.23 21 35.68 34.88 32.42 40.58 61.72 79.48 76.78 80.62 70.65 62.33 47.06 42.53 22 35.63 34.48 33.86 41.53 62.79 80.28 77.40 81.11 71.70 62.86 47.83 41.95 23 34.82 34.50 34.83 42.04 62.08 79.74 77.93 80.68 71.18 62.42 49.17 40.18 24 34.87 34.41 33.88 43.05 61.87 79.11 79.06 80.54 70.62 61.87 49.09 39.74 25 34.75 34.81 33.87 43.65 61.85 80.26 80.02 80.80 70.64 61.32 49.12 40.19 26 34.95 35.56 33.84 43.36 61.89 79.23 79.42 79.48 70.86 60.52 48.43 40.22 27 34.33 35.28 33.86 42.35 61.28 78.16 78.88 78.64 68.91 59.88 46.59 38.36 28 35.68 35.00 34.19 42.91 60.89 79.17 78.92 78.40 67.55 59.65 46.79 37.80 29 35.12 34.53 43.30 60.79 78.25 79.49 79.03 66.94 57.12 46.21 38.96 30 34.63 34.21 43.76 61.42 54.57 79.20 80.41 65.69 57.29 45.57 39.80 31 34.80 34.44 61.74 79.69 79.67 57.04 39.78 Monthly Av 34.67 34.76 34.79 39.89 57.58 70.99 79.41 80.78 72.50 62.29 50.96 43.02 23

Table 3.4 - Average Heat Rejected by the Condenser (Mwt) for the Year 2001 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 1 1041 1042 1042 1043 0 1043 1057 1055 1053 1050 . 1043 . 1037 2 1042 1042 1042 1043 0 1043 1050 1061 1036 1050 1043 1043 3 1041 1041 1042 1043 0 1042 1050 1063 . 1054 1051 1044 1026 4 1041 1041 1042 1044 0 1042 1050 1061 1057 1054 1043 1027 5 1042 1041 1041 1044 *0 1043 1053 1061 1054 1055 1043 1046 6 991 1041 1042 1044 0 1041 1049 1061 1054 1054 1043 . 756 7 1041 1041 1042 1044 9 1044 1049 1060 1057 1049 1043 652 8 1041 1041 1042 1044 0 1043 1052 1065 1060 1046 1044 658 9 1041 1041 1042 i044 0 1044 1053 1066 1062 1046 1044 763 10 1041 1034 897 1024 0 1045 1052 1062 1063 1048 1044 987 11 1041 1040 1041 1040 0 1046 1051 1060 1059 1051 1044 900 12 1041 1040 1041 1044 0 1045 1052 1060 1056 1053 1043 1040 13 1041 1041 1042 1044 0 1045 1052 1061 1057 1055 1043 1042 14 1041 1041 1042 1043 0 1047 1050 1059 1052 1055 1044 971 15 1041 1041 1041 1043 0 1047 1052 1058 1051 1049 1039 641 16 1041 1041 1039 1044 0 1056 1051 1015 1052 1046 1044 731 17 1041 1042 1041 1044 0 1051 1050 1031 1054 1045 1044 943 18 1041 1042 1042 1044 0 1051 1051 1060 1054 1045 1045 895 19 1041 1042 558 1044 0 1052 1030 1061 1057 1044 1045 1020 20 1041 1041 5 1044 199 1052 1051 1063- 1058 1045 1044 1031 21 1041 1042 112 1044 504 1052 1053 1062 1059 1045 1043 1042 22 1041 1042 861 1045 881 1051 1054 1060 1054 1045 1044 1041 23 1015 1042 1027 1044 1023 1055 1055 1059 1055 1045 1044 1042 24 1041 1033 1042 1040 1044 1055 1056 1057 1056 1045 1044 1035 25 1041 1037 1042 1041 1043 1054 1056 1056 1056 1044 1043 1042 26 988 1042 1043 1026 1043 1051 1055 1059 1047 1044 1043 1042 27 1041 1042 1043 90 1043 1057 1053 1063 1048 1044 1043 1042 28 1041. 1042 1043 0 1042 1058 1053 1064 1048 1044 1043 1042 29 1041 1043 0 1042 1053 1054 1059 1047 1043 1046 1042 30 1041 1043 0 1042 1057 1055 1058 1048 1043 909 1042 31 - 1038 1037 1042 1054 1062 1043 1036 MonthlyAvg 1037 1041 960 1013 909 1049 1052 1058 1054 1048 1039 957 24

Table 3.5 - Hourly and Daily Average Temperature at the Vernon Dam Fishway During 2001 Day 22-May 23-May 24-May 25-May 26-May 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 01-Jun 02-Jun 03-Jun Hour 0 55.04 61.29 61.07 61.98 60.98 61.26 60.52 61.01 61.51 60.39 61.02 58.62 1 54.73 60.78 61.50 61.92 60.95 61.22 60.35 60.98 60.89 61.21 61.38 58.68 2 54.42 61.07 61.37 61.79 61.17 61.06 60.33 60.93 61.29 61.32 61.47 58.58 3 54.16 61.12 61.36 61.54 61.19 60.88 60.33 61.22 60.36 61.24 61.49 58.41 4 54.02 61.15 61.40 61.67 61.28 61.03 60.25 61.24 60.45 61.35 61.55 57.98 5 54.02 61.27 61.36 62.04 61.44 61.00 60.47 61.27 60.98 61.30 61.46 57.66 6 54.15 60.89 61.45 62.06 61.50 60.46 60.77 60.94 61.09 61.38 61.60 57.38 7 54.38 61.22 61.41 61.89 61.38 61.10 60.99 60.94 61.42 62.07 61.72 57.21 8 54.80 61.00 61.20 61.95 61.27 61.71 61.19 60.94 61.41 62.17 61.55 57.12 9 55.54 60.76 61.48 62.18 61.04 61.74 60.74 61.43 61.70 *62.43 60.94 57.08 10 55.94 61.21 61.55 62.24 61.21 62.00 61.05 61.89 61.97 62.34 60.70 57.15 11 56.41 61.37 61.73 62.25 61.15 62.14 61.21 61.81 61.60 63.65 60.55 57.34 12 57.66 62.08 62.00 62.53 61.47 62.04 61.44 61.60 62.19 63.79 60.89 57.44 13 61.23 62.10 62.25 62.08 61.57 61.42 61.72 62.08 62.34 64.31 60.97 57.63 14 64.30 61.11 61.35 62.82 61.86 61.62 61.37 62.06 62.49 62.57 64.25 61.13 57.73 15 63.51 61.30 62.28 63.24 61.87 61.59 61.52 62.35 62.44 62.48 63.58 60.88 57.82 16 62.41 62.12 62.06 63.20 61.49 61.45 61.74 62.15 62.14 62.51 62.82 60.15 57.85 17 61.11 61.55 62.07 63.53 61.28 61.54 61.36 62.04 61.94 62.17 62.40 59.69 57.73 18 59.71 61.99 62.08 62.95 61.42 61.65 61.09 62.14 61.49 62.42 62.35 59.38 57.55 19 58.47 62.09 61.90 63.21 61.47 61.75 61.06 61.83 61.49 61.93 62.42 59.07 57.35 20 57.47- 62.30 61.79 63.10 61.35 61.68 61.14 61.45 61.57 61.88 62.16 58.85 57.22 21 56.61-: 61.53 61.88 62.77 61.41' 61.52 61.24 61.50 61.51 61.49 62.02 58.73 57.24 22 - 55.90 61.93 61.37 62.42 61.31 61.41 61.10 61.09 61.63 61.07 61.77 58.69 57.22 23 55.40 61.50 60.95 62.49 61.31 61-34 60.87 61.09 61.47 60.45 61.59 58.60 57.27 MonthlyAvg 59.49 58.08 61.46 62.12 61.79 61.38 61.31 61.21 61.52 61.59 62.26 60.52 57.64 25

Table 3.5 - Hourly and Daily Average Temperature at the Vernon Dam Flshway During 2001 Day 04-Jun 05-Jun 06-Jun 07-Jun 08-Jun 09-Jun 10-Jun 11-Jun 12-Jun 13-Jun

14-Jun 15-Jun 16-Jun Hour 0 57.41 57.10 57.94 58.80 60.30 63.64 64.79 65.63 66.28 64.08 64.13 68.08 69.59 1 57.47 56.90 57.96 58.83 60.23 63.39 64.83 65.27 66.02 64.05 64.17 67.80 69.36 2 57.31 56.78 58.01 58.87 60.18 62.98 64.80 65.69 65.63 63.92 64.21 67.72 69.35 3 57.12 56.68 58.07 58.80 60.15 62.83 64.65 65.89 64.79 63.85 64.17 67.55 69.29 4 56.98 56.63 58.12 58.64 60.09 62.67 64.59 65.46 64.25 -63.86 64.01 67.50 69.40 5 56.92 56.59 58.14 58.67 60.06 62.22 64.69 64.74 63.93 63.74 63.98 "67.65 69.31 6 56.92 56.58 58.22 58.96 60.14 62.37- 65.02 64.24 64.20 63.58 64.01 67.85 69.79 7 56.83 56.69 58.35 59.38 60.23 62.74 65.51 65.51 64.46 63.42 64.59 67.82 70.18 8 56.77 56.87 58.47 59.57 60.41 63.14 65.70 65.98 64.66 63.25 65.66 67.49 70.02 9 56.82 57.13 58.54 59.86 60.66 63.74 66.63 66.32 64.66. 63.27 '65.99 67.73 70.17 10 56.88 57.19 58.64 60.09 60.83 65.22 67.51 66.68 64.67 63.28 66.69 68.80 71.01 11 56.85 57.19 58.74 60.36 61.12 65.42 67.33 67.21 64.45 63.49 67.02 69.79 71.83 12 56.85 57.17 58.79 60.58 62.17 64.94 . 66.75 67.07 64.27 63.64 67.18 70.63 73.39 13 56.90 57.30 58.87 60.87 62.92 65.34 67.10 67.36 64.28 63.92 68.43 70.80 74.40 14 56.95 57.29 59.02 61.07 62.91 65.44 66.87 67.65 64.32 64.67 68.86 70.68 74.49 15 57.10 57.33 59.09 61.18 63.27 66.15 66.84 67.52 64.33 64.74 69.02 71.17 74.76 16 57.14 57.31 59.02 61.08 63.46 65.66 66.86 67.57 64.27 64.76 68.99 72.26 74.43 17 57.26 57.32 58.96 60.95 63.39 65.93 66.80 67.51 64.32 64.00 68.99 72.44 74.18 18 57.28 57.30 58.87 60.86 63.57 66.15 67.01 67.27 64.40 63.96 68.47 71.30 74.15 19 57.18 57.36 58.81 60.84 64.02 65.71 66.79 66.95 64.40 64.02 68.05 70.47 74.16 20 57.17 57.43 58.73 60.66 64.11 65.77 66.42 66.79 64.41 64.08 68.04 70.25 74.00 21 57.22 57.56 58.71 60.57 63.81 65.26 66.11 66.59 64.39 64.14 67.44 71.06 73.94 22 57.24 57.73 58.70 60.47 63.69 64.91 65.82 66.56 64.28 64.14- 67.97 70.81 73.59 23 " 57.20 57.87 58.77 60.40 63.20 64.75 65.80 66.29 64.13 64.12 68.34 70.33 73.19 Monthly Avg 57.0736 57.14 58.56 60.01 61.87 64.43 66.05 66.41 64.57 63.92 66.60 69.50 72.00 26

Table 3.5 - Hourly and Daily Average Temperature at the Vernon Dam Fishway During 2001 Day 17-Jun 18-Jun 19-Jun 20-Jun 21-Jun 22-Jun 23-Jun 24-Jun 25-Jun 26-Jun 27-Jun 28-Jun 29-Jun Hour 0 72.64 73.84 73.81 75.42 76.50 75.74 75.18 74.60 75.42 75.41 76.77 78.29 77.74 1 72.44 73.64 73.55 75.19 76.31 75.66 74.88 74.62 75.37 75.15 76.81 78.07 77.51 2 72.40 73.76 73.34 75.36 76.13 75.45 74.70 74.50 75.19 75.06 76.71 77.82 77.33 3 73.04 73.30 73.28 75.28 75.97 74.99 74.98 74.37 75.04 74.86 76.76 77.69 77.20 4 73.43 72.22 73.24 75.09 75.58 74.79 75.01 74.52 74.94 74.79 76.52 77.59 77.07 5 73.41 71.44 73.22 75.00 74.18 74.65 74.98 74.61 74.76 74.72 76.48 77.50 77.04 6 72.48 71.19 73.62 75.11 73.94 74.56 74.96 74.87 74.45 74.79 76.22 77.37 76.97 7 72.79 72.36 73.98 75.46 74.25 74.59 74.96 74.88 74.12 74.91 76.14 77.36 76.91 8 72.85 72.92 74.84 75.95 75.35 74.66 74.87 74.91 74.88 75.18 77.07 77.76 76.89 9 72.91 73.16 75.78 76.64 75.37 74.76 74.85 74.72 75.06 75.70 '77.57 78.39 76.88 10 73.47 73.43 76.07 77.11 75.53 75.13 75.38 74.88 75.57 76.26 78.31 78.59 76.81 11 72.97 73.78 76.37 77.29 75.69 75.87 76.45 75.42 75.95 76.69 78.30 78.73 76.77 12 72.86 74.14 76.75 77.71 75.51 75.87 76.52 76.11 76.27 76.76 78.18 78.92 76.86 13 72.64 74.55 77.04 78.71 75.97 76.08 76.40 76.78 76.45 77.39 78.34 79.28 76.90 14 72.94 74.69 76.79 78.51 76.30 76.26 76.14 76.45 76.65 78.01 78.56 79.45 76.95 15 73.25 74.76 76.51 78.10 76.43 76.72 75.25 76.41 76.77 78.62 78.81 79.50 77.11 16 73.34 75.28 76.03 78.39 75.95 76.77 75.28 76.17 76.89 79.22 79.52 79.37 77.38 17 73.30 75.28 76.04 78.93 75.75 76.33 75.33 76.46 76.88 77.99 79.68 79.23 77.44 18 73.49 75.39 76.03 78.08 75.92 76.13 75.01 76.24 76.98 77.62 79.39 79.20 77.17 19 73.62 75.34 75.59 77.01 75.85 76.26 74.91 76.04 76.88 77.50 78.78 79.05 77.31 20 73.59 74.82 75.64 76.93 75.79 75.96 75.06 75.67 76.51 77.19 78.73 78.79 77.49 21 73.47 74.97 75.79 77.12 75.71 75.83 75.19 75.11 76.31 76.91 78.64 78.63 77.38 22 73.46 74.54 75.80 76.70 75.90 75.83 75.08 74.93 76.03 76.81 78.64 78.44 77.29 23 73.64 74.25 75.72 76.32 75.87 75.54 74.76 75.18 75.77 76.71 78.35 78.14 77.22 Monthly Avg 73.10 73.88 75.20 76.73 75.66 75.60 75.25 75.35 75.80 76.43 77.89 78.46 77.15 27

.....-1,.r,-1.. 1 .:.*., ,.....: . . . .. I.. .. ... ....

Table 3.5 - Hourly and Daily Average Temperature at the Vernon Dam Fishway During 2001 Day 30-Jun 01-Jul 02-Jul 03-Jul 04-Jul 05-Jul Hour 0 77.13 78.19 77.14 76.23 75.96 75.49 1 77.03 78.15 77.12 76.03 75.38 75.24 2 77.15 77.82 76.67 75.90 75.44 75.06 3 77.18 77.83 76.31 75.73 75.29 75.22 4 77.08 77.63 75.46 75.67 75.03 75.44 5 77.03 . 77.60 74.31 75.69 74.91 75.33 6 77.14 77.58 73.74 75.65 74.86 75.10 7 77.34 77.55 74.75 75.56 75.04 74.92 8 77.65 77.57 75.50 75.84 75.49 75.62 9 78.10 77.70 75.81 75.51 75.95 76.64 10 79.13 77.87 76.00 76.07 76.00 11 79.70 77.95 75.83 76.69 76.73 12 79.14 77.83 75.73 76.60 77.13 13 79.45 77.48 75.76 76.06 77.56 14 79.00 77.43 75.83 75.81 77.46 15 78.73 78.37 75.92 76.16 77.48 16 78.22 79.07 75.94 76.44 77.28 17 78.29 78.42 75.86 76.49 76.97 18 78.35 78.92 76.28 76.61 76.77 19 78.89 79.11 76.39 76.69 76.48 20 79.17 78.80 76.10 76.64 76.26 21 78.86 78.47 76.23 76.54 75.99 22 78.76 77.71 76.68 76.45 75.86 23 .78.32 77.19 76.58 76.17 75.84 Monthly Avg 78.20 78.01 75.91 76.13 76.13 75.40 28

V... 1 "1-, w", FW.A.M. Pl. A rl M I r-1*111.1 " .: r-M PýA 1ýý" 1ýý" fhblýI' "'. P'Il Cr Figure 3-5 Vernon Dam Fishway Temperatures, 2001 90 70 0) d)

cc

~50 E

~40 20 Date 29

4.0 MACROINVERTEBRATE COLLECTIONS 4.1 METHODS OF COLLECTION AND PROCESSING 4.1.1 Dredge Collections Although dredge sampling is discontinued in the current Permit, Vermont Yankee and Noifnandeau Associates conducted sampling as outlined in the previous Permit until the current Permit was issued in August 2001. Therefore, benthic macroinvertebrates were collected with a 9-inch ponar dredge in June 2001 at Stations 2, 3, 4, and 5 (Figure 4-1). Dredge samples were collected at three locations per station (near the New Hampshire shore, mid-stream, and near the Vermont shore) and three replicates were collected at each location for a total of 36 samples. All dredge samples were sieved through a standard USGS number 30 sieve in the field, prior to being preserved in 70% ethanol for later identification in the laboratory. Sampling of benthic rnacroinvertebrates, by dredge, was not continued after June, as permit modifications eliminated the task.

In the laboratory, the three preserved replicate samples for each quarter point per location (NH, mid-stream, and VT), per station (2, 3, 4, and 5) were combined and the contents mixed yielding a total of 12 dredge samples. All samples were sorted in entirety under low magnification (2x), and specimens were removed from the combined sample residue. Permit conditions were met with respect to macroinvertebrate dredge sampling.

4.1.2 Macroinvertebrate Rock Basket Collections Rock baskets used in 2001 were made of one-inch square, 14-gauge galvanized wire with a PVC coating.

The cylindrical basket measured 6.5 inches in diameter and 11 inches in length. Each rock basket was filled with clean rocks from the Connecticut River.

The previous Permit required the deployment of two rock baskets in June, August, and October at each of stations 2 and 3 (downstream of Vernon Dam), and stations 4 and 5 (upstream of Vernon Dam). The current Permit requires the deployment of three rock baskets at downstream stations 2 and 3, with no required rock basket sampling at the upstream stations. Normandeau Associates conducted monitoring as stipulated in the previous Permit until the current Permit was issued in August 2001.

Two rock baskets were deployed along the Vermont shore in June at each Station (2, 3, 4, and 5) and sampled for 38 days. On 2 August 2001, Doug Burnham (Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation) and Lynn DeWald (Normandeau Associates) conducted a site visit to reexamine the downstream rock basket sampling stations and to deploy the August samplers. During this site visit, the sample duration of approximately 30 days in June, August, and October was established and implemented. After examination of the potential sampling sites below Vernon Dam, two sampling stations were identified. Station 2 near the Vermont shore will remain, as it was in previous Permits, the most downstream rock basket sampling station. The sampling site is approximately 10-12 ft deep with a substrate of cobble, boulders, and mud. Station 3 has been relocated from a deep pool area on the Vermont shore to more of a swift-water riffle area on the New Hampshire shore.

30

On 2 August and again on 27 September, three rock baskets were deployed each at stations 2 VT and 3 NH. The August and September rock baskets sampled for 37 days.

Upon retrieval, the rock baskets were placed into individual coolers and returned to the lab. The rocks were washed into a number 30 sieve and examined for attached organisms. Rock basket samples were preserved in 70% ethanol for later identification-in the laboratory.

The contents of all macroinvertebrate rock basket samples collected from each sampling period in June, August, and October were examined, in their entirety, under low magnification (2x), yielding a total of 20 rock basket samples. Eight samples from June (two cages each at Stations 2, 3, 4,and 5), and six samples each from August and October for a total of 12 samples from Stations 2 and 3 only.

Identification of organisms to the lowest possible taxonomic level, given their life stage and condition, was accomplished using dissecting (45x) and compound (1,000x) microscopes. Chironomids and oligochaetes were separated by subfamily, tribe, or recognizable type prior to identification to the genus/species level. All or representative subsamples from each grouping were prepared by clearing and mounting and identified with a compound microscope. Where subsampled, the number of specimens identified to genus/species was used to proportion the remaining individuals from each group into specific taxa. In instances where chironomid or oligochaete specimens could be identified to genus or species without the aid of a compound microscope, no preparation was necessary. Taxonomic keys used to identify all specimens in addition to chironomids and oligochaetes, were: Burks (1953), H-itchcock (1974), Burch (1975), McCafferty (1975), Brown (1976), Simpson and Bode (1980), Wiederholm (1983), Klenim (1985), Roback (1985), Brinkhurst (1986), Peckarsky (1990), Jokinen (1992), Merritt and Cummins (1996), Wiggins (1996).

4.2 Summary During June 2001, 12 dredge samples and 8 rock basket samples were processed after sampling at stations 2, 3, 4, and 5. From these samples, 789 macroinvertebrates were identified (Table 4-1a).

Organisms collected by dredge and cage sampling in June at Stations 2,3,4, and 5, comprised 39% and 61% of the total, respectively (Tables 4-2 and 4-3a).

In August and October, 12 cage samples were processed from downstream stations 2 and 3. From these samples 3,186 macroinvertebrates were identified (Table 4-1b).

June 2001 Dredge Collections - Stations 213, 4 and 5 Dipterans and oligochaetes accounted for 90% of the invertebrates collected by dredge downstream of the Vernon Dam at Stations 2 and 3 combined (Table 4-2). Dipterans, oligochaetes, isopods, and trichopterans accounted for 88% of the invertebrates collected by dredge upstream of the dam, at Stations 4 and 5 combined (Table 4-2). In general, a larger variety of invertebrates was collected at the upstream stations than at the downstream stations, including amphipods, gastropods, and bivalves which contributed an additional 8% to the total upstream abundance (Table 4-2). More invertebrates were collected by dredge upstream (268) of the Vernon Dam, than by dredge downstream (40) of the dam. The small numbers of invertebrates collected overall is likely due to the limited collection of only one sample in the month of June, prior to the Permit modifications which excluded macroinvertebrate dredge sampling.

31

Rock Basket Collections Because the upstream and downstream rock basket samples are not comparative for all three months, the results are presented in two tables. Table 4-3a displays the composition of macroinvertebrates collected in rock baskets at all stations (upstream and downstream) in June. Table 4-3b contains data from the downstream stations 2 and 3, in August and October, which are now the only sampling sites required per the modified Permit.

June 2001 Rock Basket Collections - Stations 2,3, 4, and 5 The number of invertebrates collected by rock basket during June, was greater upstream of'Vernon Dam (387) than downstream of the Dam (95) (Table 4-3a). Overall, 81% of the organisms collected from the downstream Stations consisted of gastropods, dipterans, oligochaetes, and amphipods (Table 4-3a). The upstream Stations 4 and 5 rock baskets collected a total of 192 and 195 organisms, respectively (Table 4-3a). Eighty-one percent of the June upstream rock basket collections were comprised of Turbellaria, oligochaetes, gastropods, dipterans, and trichopterans (Table 4-3a). Ephemeropterans and amphipods contributed an additional15% to the overall total collected upstream in June.

August and October 2001 Rock basket Collections - Stations 2 and 3 During August and October 2001, 12 rock basket samples were processed. From these samples, 3,186.3 macroinvertebrates were identified (Table 4-1b). Most of those organisms (3,008) were collected from Station 3 (55% of the total were collected in August and 45% in October). Seventy-nine percent of the macroinvertebrates collected at Station 3 during these two sampling periods consisted of trichopterans (Table 4-1b, 4-3b). Trichopterans, ephemeropterans, gastropods, amphipods, and dipterans contributed 95.0% to the relative abundance at Station 2 in August and October combined (Table 4-3b).

During August, 79% of the total catch at Station 2 was comprised of ephemeropterans, dipterans, and trichopterans while at Station 3, 86% of the collection were comprised of trichopterans.

During October, greater than half of the organisms collected at Station 2 were amphipods (Table 4-3b).

Ninety-four percent of the organisms collected at Station 3 in October were trichopterans (70%) and turberllirian worms (24%) (Table 4-3b).

32

Table 4-1a. Checklist of Macroinvertebrates Collected From the Connecticut River Near Vernon, Vermont in June of 2001. Abundance reflects an average over dredge (one replicate) and rockbasket (two or three replicates) samples.

Downstream Upstream Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Taxon Count %Of Count %Of Count- % Of Cunt %Of Total Total ToTal Total rlatynelmnuis Turbellaria Dugesia tigrina 0.5 100.0 21.0 100.0 86.5 100.0 Totals 0.5 100.0 21.0 100.0 86.5 100.0 Nematoda Nematoda Nematoda 1.0 100.0 Totals 1.0 100.0 Annelida I1irudinea Batracobdella phalera 0.5 100.0 Gloiobdclla elongata 2.0 100.0 Totals 0.5 100.0 2.0 100.0 Oligochaeta Aulodrilus americanus 1.0 0.9 10.0 27.8 Aulodrilus piqueti 1.0 2.8 Aulodrilus pluriseta 5.0 33.3 5.5 15.3 Branchiura sowerbyi 0.5 3.3 llyodrilus templetoni 1.0 6.7 Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri 1.0 0.9 Limnodrilus sp. 7.0 46.7 86.5 75.9 13.0 36.1 Luambricidae 3.0 8.3 Lumbriculidae 1.0 6.7 Nais sp. 5.5 64.7 3.0 2.6 1.5 4.2 Ripistes parasita 3.0 35.3 1.0 2.8 Stylaria lacustris 2.5 2.2 Tubificidae imm. w/ capilliform 19.0 16.7 1.0 2.8 chaetae Tubificidae imm. w/o capilliform O.5.. 3.3 1.0 0.9 chaetae Totals 15.0 100.0 8.5 100.0 114.0 100.0 36.0 100.0 Mollusca Gastropoda Amnicola grana 1.0 3.0 Amnicola limosa 18.5 67.3 Amnicola sp. 35.5 100.0 32.5 97.0 6.0 21.8 Gastropoda 1.5 60.0 Physa sp. 1.0 40.0 2.0 7.3 Planorbidae 1.0 3.6 Totals 2.5 100.0 35.5 100.0 33.5 100.0 27.5 100.0 Bivahia Bivalvia 1.0 33.3 Pisidium sp. 2.0 66.7 0.5 100.0 Totals 3.0 100.0 0.5 100.0 Arachnida Acarina Hydrachnida 1.0 100.0 1.0 100.0 Totals 1.0 100.0 1.0 100.0 (Continued) 33

Table 4-1a (Continued).

Downstream Upstream Taxon Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Cut %Of Count %Of Count % Of Cut% Of Count Total Total Total Count otal Crustacea Brachiopoda Cladocera' p p p p Totals P P P P Isopoda Caecidotea sp. 0.5 100.0 6.0 100.0 17.0 100.0 Totals 0.5 100.0 6.0 100.0 17.0 100.0 Amphipoda Hyalella azteca 1.5 100.0 10.0 100.0 25.0 100.0 15.5 100.0 Totals 1.5 100.0 10.0 100.0 25.0 100.0 15.5 100.0 Decapoda Crangonyx sp. 1.0 50.0 0.5 100.0 Orconectes sp. 0.5 100.0 1.0 50.0 Totals 0.5 100.0 2.0 100.0 0.5 100.0 Insecta Ephemneroptera Baetidae 1.0 4.8 Caenis sp. 2.0 9.5 Ephoron sp. 1.0 4.8 Eurylophella sp. 0.5 100.0 Leucrocuta sp. 2.5 29.4 0.5 2.4 Stenacron sp. 6.0 70.6 16.0 76.2 6.5 86.7 Stenonema sp. 0.5 2.4 1.0 13.3 Totals 0.5 100.0 8.5 100.0 21.0 100.0 7.5 100.0 Odonata Aeshna sp. 0.5 33.3 Boyeria sp. 1.5 50.0 0.5 33.3 Cocnagrionidae 1.0 33.3 Enallagma sp. 0.5 100.0 1.0 100.0 Libellulidae 0.5 16.7 0.5 33.3 Totals 0.5 100.0 3.0 100.0 1.0 100.0 1.5 100.0 Plecoptera Acroneuria lycorias 0.5 100.0 Totals 0.5 100.0 Coleoptera Dineutus sp. 0.5 14.3 Dubiraphia sp. 1.0 100.0 1.5 42.9 2.5 71.4 Haliplus sp. 2.0 57.1 0.5 14.3 Peltodytes sp. 1.0 100.0 Totals 1.0 100.0 1.0 100.0 3.5 100.0 3.5 100.0 Megaloptera Sialis sp. 1.0 100.0 0.5 100.0 Totals 1.0 100.0 0.5 100.0 Trichoptera Cheumatopsyche sp. 1.0 2.8 Hydropsyche sp. 0.5 1.4 Hydroptila sp. 2.0 5.6 2.0 4.9 Lepidostoma sp. 1.0 40.0 Mystacides sp. 1.0 66.7 Neureclipsis sp. 0.5 20.0 Oecetis sp. 0.5 1.4 1.0 2.5 Phylocentropus sp. 18.0 50.7 19.0 46.9 Polycentropus sp. 1.0 40.0 0.5 33.3 13.5 38.0 18.5 45.7 Totals 2.5 100.0 1.5 100.0 35.5 100.0 40.5 100.0 34

Table 4-1a (Continued).

Downstream Upstream Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Taxon Of Count % Of Count %Of count lOf count Total Total Total Total Insecta .

Diptera Ablabesmyiajanta 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.3 Ablabesmyia mallochi 0.5 0.5 Ablabesmyia sp. 0.5 2.9 1.5 3.4 Bezzia/palpomyia sp. 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 Chironomini 1.0 5.9 1.0 2.3 Cladotanytarsus sp. 52.0 50.5 1.0 2.3 Cricotopus sp. 4.0 17.4 Cryptochironomus fulvus gr. 0.5 2.2 2.0 4.6 Cryptochironomus sp. 3.5 3.4 Demicryptochironomus sp. 8.0 7.8 Dicrotendipes sp. 1.0 5.9 6.5 6.3 1.5 3.4 Endochironomus sp. 4.5 4.4 4.0 9.2 Eukdefferiella sp. 1.0 5.9 Glyptotendipes sp. 6.5 14.9 Micropsectra sp. 1.0 5.9 3.5 8.0 Microtendipes pedelus gp. 2.0 4.6 Microtendipes sp. 2.0 8.7 1.0 5.9 2.0 1.9 0.5 1.1 Nilothauma sp. 1.0 1.0 0.5 1.1 Orthocladiinae 2.5 2.4 0.5 1.1 Paratendipes sp. 1.0 4.3 1.0 5.9 Polypediltum fallax 1.0 5.9 Polypedilum flavum 2.0 8.7 Polypedilum halterale gr. 0.5 1.1 Polypedilum scalaenum gr. 1.0 4.3 Polypedilum sp. 1.0 4.3 0.5 0.5 1.5 3.4 Polypedilum tritum 1.5 6.5 0.5 2.9 Proeladius sp. 2.0 1.9 3.5 8.0 Pseudochironomus sp. 1.0 5.9 1.0 1.0 Rheotanytarsus sp. 2.0 8.7 0.5 2.9 Sphaeromias sp. 1.0 5.9 6.0 5.8 8.0 18.4 Stempellinella sp. 0.5 1.1 Synorthocladius sp. 5.0 21.7 1.5 8.8 2.5 2.4 0.5 1.1 Tanytarsini 2.0 1.9 Tanytarsus sp. 4.0 23.5 4.0 3.9 Thienemannimyia gr. 1.0 43 Tribelos sp. 2.0 8.7 1.0 5.9 3.0 2.9 2.5 5.7 Totals 23.0 100.0 17.0 100.0 103.0 100.0 43.5 100.0 Grand Total (all taxa) 48.0 100.0 86.5 100.0 371.0 100.0 283.5 100.0 1 Zooplankton taxon that was present but not enumerated.

35

Table 4-1b. Checklist of Macroinvertebrates Collected from the Connecticut River Near Vernon, Vermont in August and October of 2001 Downstream-of Vernon Dam.

Abunance reflects an average over dredge (one replicate) and rockbasket (two or three replicates) samples.

Station 2 Station 3 Taxon %Of Count %Of Count Total ATotal Cnidaria Hydrida Hydra sp. 0.7 100.0 Totals 0.7 100.0 Platyhelminthes Turbellaria Dugesia tigrna 2.0 100.0 328.0 100.0 Totals 2.0 100.0 328.0 100.0 Nematoda Nematoda Nernatoda 0.3 100.0 Totals 0.3 100.0 Nemertinea Anopla Prostoma graescense 2.7 100.0 Totals 2.7 100.0 Annelida Oligochaeta Limnodrlus sp. 0.3 100.0.

Naididar 1.3 100.0 Totals 0.3 100.0 1.3 100.0 Mollusca Gastropoda Amnicola sp. 0.7 3.8 0.3 100.0 Ferrissia sp. 0.7 3.8 Physa sp. 16.0 92.3 Totals 17.3 100.0 0.3 100.0 Bivalvia Elliptio complanata 0.7 100.0 Totals 0.7 100.0 Crustacea Brachiopoda Cladocera 0.0 Totals 0.0 Amphipoda Hyalella azteca 32.0 100.0 5.3 100.0 Totals 32.0 100.0 5.3 100.0 Decapoda Crangonyx sp. 2.7 80.0 Orconectes sp. 0.7 20.0 Totals 3-3 100.0 Cydopoida Argulus sp. 0.3 100.0 Totals 0.3 100.0 Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae 1.3 *2.8 Bactis sp. 0.3 0.3 Caenis sp. 0.3 0.3 Ephemerelidae 0.3 0.3 Eurylophella sD. 1.3 1.0 1.0 (Continued) 36

Table 4-1b (Continued)

Station 2 Station 3 Taxon Count %Of Count %Ot Total Total Insecta Ephemeroptera Isonychia sp. 5.7 4.4 Stenacron interpunctatum 1.3 1.0 Stenacron sp. 12.3 25.9 1.7 1.3 Stenonema interpunctatum 2.7 5.6 Stenonerna sp. 31.3 65.7 101.3 79.2 Tricorythodes sp. 15.7 12.2 Totals 47.7 100.0 128.0 100.0 Odonata Argia sp. 1.7 29.4 Coenagrionidae 0.3 5.9 Neurocordulia sp 3.7 64.7 Totals 5.7 100.0 Plecoptera Acroneuria abnormis 0.3 20.0 Acroneuria lycorias 1.0 60.0 Acroneuria sp. 0.3 20.0 Totals 1.7 100.0 Coleoptera Ancyronyx variegata 0.3 100.0 Optioservus sp. 1.3 12.9 Stenelmis humerosa-sinuata gr. 4.0 38.7 Stenelmis sp. 5.0 48.4 Totals 0.3 100.0 10.3 100.0 Trichoptera Ceraclea sp. 9.3 0.4 Ceratopsychie bronta 14.3 0.6 Ceratopsyche phalerata 9.3 .0.4 Cheunatopsyche sp. 4.7 15.6 1839.7 77.6 Helicopsyche sp. 0.3 0.0 Hydatophylax sp. 0.3 1.1 Hydropsyche frisoni 1.7 0.1 Hydropsyche phalerata 1.3 4.4 68.3 2.9 Hydropsyche valanis 4.7 0.2 Hydroptila sp. 0.7 2.2 Lepidostoma sp. 7.0 0.3 Leptoceridae 0.3 1.1 0.7 0.0 Macrosternum carolina 254.0 10.7 Mystacides sp. 1.3 0.1 Neureclipsis sp. 0.3 1.1 94.7 4.0 Oecetis avara 24.0 1.0 Occetis sp. 2.0 6.7 38.3 1.6 Orthotrichia sp. 0.3 1.1 Oxyethira sp. 1.0 3.3 Polycentropus sp. 19.0 63.3 2.0 0.1 Protoptila sp. 1.3 0.1 Totals 30.0 100.0 2371.0 100.0 37

Table 4-1b (Continued)

Station 2 Station 3 Taxon %Of CountCount %oC Total Total Insecta Diptera Ablabesmyia mallochi 7.3 17.3 1.3 0.9 Ablabesmyia sp. 1.0 2.4 Dernicryptochironomus sp. 0.3 0.8 Dicrotendipes neomodestus 1.3 0.9 Dicrotendipes sp. 9.3 22.0 23.7 15.3 Eukieffedella sp. 2.0 1.3 Nanocladius sp. 0.7 0.4 Orthocladiinae 3.3 2.2 Orthocladius sp. 5.3 3.4 Paratanytarsus sp. 1.7 3.9 2.7 1.7 Polypedilum flavum 2.7 6.3 833 53.9 Polypedilum sp. 0.7 1.6 Procladius sp. 0.3 0.2 Rheotanytarsus sp. 2.0 1.3 Sphaeromias sp. 0.3 0.8 Stenochironomus sp. 1.3 0.9 Synorthocladius sp. 8.3 19.7 4.0 2.6 Tanytarsini 1.7 1.1 Tanytarsus sp. 4.3 10.2 Thienemanniella sp. 0.3 0.2

.Thienemannimyia gr. 17.7 11.4 Tribelos sp. 6.3 15.0 2.0 1.3 Tvetenia sp. 1.7 1.1 Totals 42.3 100.0 154.7 100.0 Bryozoa Bryozoa Bryozoa 0.0 Totals 0.0 Grand total (all taxa) 178.3 100.0 3008.0 100.0-38

4-2. Composition of macroinvertebrates collected by ponar dredge in June 2001 upstream and downstream of Vernon Dam.

DOWNSTREAM UPSTREAM Taxonomic STATION 2 STATION 3 STATION 4 STATION 5 Group % OF %OF % OF %OF TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL Nematoda 1 10 Hirudinea 2 2.2 Oligochaeta 10 33.3 1 10 66 36.9 22 24.7 Gastropoda 3 1.7 8 9.0 Bivalvia 3 1.7 Brachiopoda' P P P Isopoda 5 2.8 15 16.9 Amphipoda 6 3.4 4 4.5 Decapoda 1 0.6 Ephemeroptera 1 0.6 Odonata 1 0.6 Coleoptera 1 3.3 2 1.1 2 2.2 Trichoptera. .1 3.3 1 10 10 5.6 19 21.3 Diptera 18 60.0 7 70 81 45.3 17 19.1 Totals 30 100.0 10 100.0 179 100.0 89 100.0 1Colonial taxon that was present but not enumerated.

39

Table 4-3a. Composition of macroinvertebrates collected by rock baskets in June 2001, downstream and upstream of Vernon Dam (counts reflect the mean of two rock baskets that were deployed at each station sampled as stipulated in previous NPDES Permit).

Downstream Upstream Taxonomic Group Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station S

% of % Of % of % of Count Total Count Total Count Total Coupt Total Turbellaria 0.5 2.8 21.0 10.9 86.5 44.5 Hirudinea 05 0.3 Oligochaeta 5.0 27.8 7.5 9.8 48.0 25.0 14.0 7.2 Gastropoda 2.5 13.9 35.5 46.4 30.5 15.9 19.5 10.0 Bivalvia 0.5 0.3 Acarina 1.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 Brachiopoda' P P P P Isopoda 0.5 2.8 1.0 0.5 2.0 1.0 Amphipoda 1.5 8.3 10.0 13.1 19.0 9.9 11.5 5.9 Decapoda 0.5 2.8 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 Ephemeroptera 0.5 2.8 8.5 11.1 20.0 10.4 7.5 3.9 Odonata 0.5 2.8 3.0 3.9 1.5 0.8 Plecoptera 0.5 0.7 Coleoptera 1.0 1.3 .1.5 0.8 1.5 0.8 Megaloptera 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 Trichoptera .1.5 8.3 0.5 0.7 25.5 13.3 21.5 11.1 Diptera 5.0 27.8 10.0 13.1 22.0 11.5 26.5 13.6 Totals 18.0 100.0 76.5 100.0 192.0 100.0 194.5 100.0 Zooplankton taxon that was present but not enumerated.

40

Table 4-3b. Composition of macroinvertebrates collected by rock baskets in August and October at downstream stations 2 and 3 (counts reflect the mean of three rock baskets that were deployed at each station sampled as stipulated in the current NPDES Permit issued in August 2001).

Time period August October Taxonomic Group Station 2 Station 3 Station 2 Station 3

% of % of % of " % of Count Total Count Total Count Total Count Total Bryozoat P Hydrida 0.7 2.0 Nematoda 0.3 <0.1 Turbellaria 0.3 0.2 1.3 0.1 1.7 5.1 326.7 24.0 Oligochaeta 0.3 0.2 1.3 0.1 Gastropoda 12.0 8.3 0.3 <0.1 5.3 16.2 Bivalvia 0.3 <0.1 0.3 <0.1 Brachiopoda2 P P Amphipoda 12.0 8.3 1.3 0.1 20.0 60.6 4.0 0.3 Decapoda 3.3 0.2 Cyclopoida 0.3 <0.1 Ephemeroptera 45.0 31.0 102.7 6.2 2.7 8.1 25.3 1.9 Odonata 5.0 3.4 0.7 2.0 Plecoptera 1.7 0.1 Coleoptera 0.3 0.2 10.3 0.6 Trichoptera 28.3 19.5 1420.3 86.4 1.7 5.1 950.7 69.7 Diptera 42.0 28.9 104.0 6.3 0.3 1.0 50.7 3.7 Anopla 2.7 0.2 Totals 145.3 100.0 1644.3 100.0 33.0 100.0 1363.7 100.0 Colonial taxon that was present but not enumerated.

2Zooplankton taxon that was present but not enumerated.

41

Figure 4-1. NPDES Macroinvertebrate dredge and rock basket sampling stations 2, 3, 4, and 5.

42

5.0 FISH COLLECTIONS The electrofishing samples were-collected at the Stations specified in the NPDES permit and outlined in Figure 5-1. Larval fish were collected weekly from 21 May through 18 July 2001 in the vicinity of the Vermont Yankee intakes, and fish impinged on the circulating water traveling screens were collected weekly from 2 April through 12 June, and again from 30 July through 30 October. A refueling outage occurred from 30 April through 18 May. No impingement or larval fish samples were collected during the Plant outage. Electrofishing specifically for anadromous fish was conducted twice a month in July through October, at the specified Stations.

5.1 METHODS OF COLLECTION AND PROCESSING 5.1.1 Eiectrofishing - General Sampling Electrofishing was conducted utilizing a boat-mounted Coffelt Electronics Model VVP-15 electroshocker. Monthly sampling was conducted during May, June, September, and October in the evening beginning approximately 0.5 h after sunset at the following Stations: Rum Point, Station 5, Station 4, NH Setback, 0.1 mi. below Vernon Dam, Station 3, Stebbin Island, and Station 2 (Fig. 5-1).

All fish collected were identified to species, weighed to the nearest gram (wet weight), and measured to the nearest millimeter (total length). NPDES permit conditions were met with respect to the general fisheries electrofishing program.

5.1.2 Electrofishing - Anadromous Fish Juvenile American shad electrofishing collections were conducted twice a month during July through October at Stations 0.1 mi south of Vernon Darn, Station 3, and Stebbin Island (Figure 5-1). Non-target fish (non-clupeids) were not collected during the juvenile American shad electrofishing runs. Collected juvenile shad were weighed (to the nearest gram wet weight) and measured (mm total length). All anadromous fish electrofishinig samples were successfully collected as outlined in the NPDES permit.

5.1.3 Impingement Weekly and 24 h spring and fall impingement samples were collected on each Monday and Tuesday, respectively, between 2 April and 30 April, 21 May and 12 June, and 30 July through 30 October 2001.

During the refueling outage (30 April - 18 May), impingement sampling was not conducted. Weekly samples (i.e., Monday collections) consisted of back-washing the traveling screens into the collection bin. The debris was then examined for Atlantic salmon (spring) or American shad (fall). The screens were again back-washed approximately 24 hours2.777778e-4 days 0.00667 hours 3.968254e-5 weeks 9.132e-6 months later (i.e., Tuesday collections) and all fish were removed, identified to species, weighed (to the nearest gram wet weight), and measured (nun total length). The Atlantic salmon and American shad impingement limits of 231 Atlantic salmon and 1,666 shad were not exceeded during 2001. Permit compliance was met with respect to impingement sampling.

43

5.1.4 Larval Fish Larval fish sampling is required annually per the NPDES Permit starting in May through July 15'h, when Vermont Yankee is in an operational mode.. When the plant is non-operational (i.e. in an outage), larval fish sampling is not required. During 2001, larval fish sampling commenced three days after the spring Plant outage ended, and were collected weekly thereafter between 21 May andl8 July in the vicinity of the Vermont Yankee intake structure (Fig. 5-1). No larval fish were collected during the first two weeks of May 2001.

A 50-cm diameter, 363-pum nitex nylon plankton net was towed behind the boat, at surface (approx. 0.3 m), mid (approx. 1.8 m), and near bottom (approx. 3.7 m) depths. A flume-calibrated, General Oceanics Inc. Model 2030R mechanical flow meter was mounted in the net mouth and used to estimate the volume of each tow.

The contents of the retrieved plankton nets were washed into a collection cup on the end of the net.

Larval fish samples were preserved in 5% formalin for-laboratory sorting and identification.

Ichthyoplankton was separated from debris using an 8x to 80x variable magnification dissecting microscope. Larval fish were identified to the lowest feasible taxonomic level utilizing the following published larval keys: Fish (1930), Lippson and Moran (1974), Jones et al. (1978), and Auer (1982). All larval fish samples were collected in compliance with the NPDES permit requirements.

5.1.5 Scale Samples for AMe Determination Collection of scale samples for use in age determination was removed from the permit in 2001.

5.2

SUMMARY

Twenty-seven. species of fish were collected during 2001 (Table 5-1). This total number is similar to recent years (Aquatec 1993, 1995, and Normandeau Associates 1997- 2000). All collected species were typical of the Connecticut River drainage; no federally listed threatened or endangered species were collected.

5.2.1 Fish NPDES General Electrofishinz, and Impingement During 2001, a total of 40 electrofishing collections were completed at the ten locations within the eight NPDES permit designated Stations (Fig. 5-1, Table 5-2). The total number of fish collected by electrofishing was 1,760 (Table 5-2). The average catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the 40-electrofishing collections was 264.0. The total electrofishing effort was 7.0 hours0 days 0 hours 0 weeks 0 months .

There were 2,460 fish collected in 2001 during impingement and general electrofishing (including electrofishing stations above and below Vernon Dam) (Table 5-3). Numerically, the most abundant species were bluegill (24.5%), yellow perch (24.3%), and sea lamprey (10.1%). Largemouth bass (22.7%, bluegill (20.3%), white sucker (14.3%), yellow perch (12.5%), and smallmouth bass (11.9%)

accounted for the majority of the biomass of collected fishes (Table 5-3) 44

Upstream of Vernon Dam, yellow perch, bluegill, and sea lamprey, accounted for 69.6% of all fish collected (Table 5-4). Twenty-five American shad and nine Atlantic salmon were collected upstream of Vernon Dam from the circulating water traveling screens at the Plant Intake structure. American shad and Atlantic salmon contributed 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively, to the total upstream catch. Other fish contributed 7.2% (spottail shiner) or less to the total relative abundance. Largemouth bass (28.1%),

bluegill (25.3%), yellow perch (16.0%), and white sucker (11.4%) accounted for the majority of the biomass of the fish collected at the upstream Stations (Table 5-4).

Downstream of Vernon Dam, smallmouth bass, rock bass, spottail shiner, bluegill, and Ainerican shad accounted for 82.0% of the total catch (Table 5-5). Thirty-four American shad were collected downstream of Vernon Dam during the general electrofishing collections (i.e., not including anadromous species electrofishing collections conducted specifically for American shad). Smallmouth bass (48.6%),

white sucker (23.8%), and rock bass (6.0%), contributed the greatest biomass to the downstream collections.

Nineteen American shad were collected on the traveling screens in September and six in October (Table 5-6). Nine Atlantic salmon were collected on the traveling screens, five in April, and four in June 2001.

The American shad and Atlantic salmon impingement limits of 1,666 shad and 231 salmon were not exceeded during 2001. The June, the first half of July, and the August, and September impingement samples consisted of a total of 130, 6, 16, and 25 fish collected, respectively. Sea lamprey, bluegill, and American shad were numerically the most abundant species in the impingement samples during those three and one half months (Table 5-6).

5.2.2 Anadromous Fish Electrofishing In fulfillment of the NPDES permit requirements for anadromous fish sampling, electrofishing samples were collected twice a month duiring July through October 2001 at Stebbin Island, Station 3, and 0.1 mile below Vernon Dam (Fig. 5-1). Results reported in this section include American shad collected during the anadromous fish collections only and not those shad reported above in the general electrofishing section.

A total of 476 American shad was collected via electrofishing between July and October (Table 5-7).

September yielded the highest catch of shad (282) compared to the other three months. Shad lengths recorded in September ranged from 65 - 108 num total length and weight ranged from 4 - 10 g (Table 5-7). The twice-monthly collections during July, August, and October resulted in the collection of 1, 118, and 75 American shad, respectively. The American shad collected in July measured 46 mm total length.

The American shad collected during August ranged in length from 49 - 103 mm. October shad collections produced a catch ranging in length from 80 - 117 ram. The CPUE in September was highest at the Station 0.1 Miles south of Vernon Dam (168.0) followed by Station 3 (153.0) and Stebbin Island (131.3)(Table 5-7). The CPUE in August was highest at 0.1 miles south of Vernon Dam (134.0) and the CPUE in October was highest at Stebbin Island (51.3).

5.2.3 lehthivoplankton Twenty-seven ichthyoplankton samples were collected near, but outside of the Vermont Yankee intakes between 21 May and 18 July 2001 (Table 5-8). A total of 1,690 ichthyoplankters were identified (Table 45

5-9). Irrespective of the volume sampled, spottail shiner represented 57.9% of the ichthyoplankton captured, followed by white sucker (37.90%), white perch-(1.8%) and unidentified centrarchidae (1.8%)

(Table 5-9). Other species collected included walleye, tesselated darter, common carp, yellow perch and golden shiner. Table 5-10 provides a breakdown of extrapolated ichthyoplankton estimates presented as density (noJ100 cubic meters). Most fish were collected at the 0.3 meters depth; with respect to time, most fish were collected in June.

46

Table 5-1. Checklist of fishes (AFS 1991) collected during 2001.

Scientific Name Common Name CHORDATA AGNATHA PETROMYZONTIFORMES Petromyzontidae Petromyzon marinus Sea lamprey OSTEICHTHYES ANGLLLf=ORM*ES Anquillidae Anguilla rostrata American eel SILURIFORMES Ictaluridae Ameiurussp. Ameiurus sp. 1 Amefurus natalis Yellow bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus Brown bullhead SALMONIFORMES Salmonidae Salmo salar Atlantic salmon Esocidae Esox lucius Northern pike Esox niger Chain pickerel Diaphanusfundulus Banded killifish CYPRINIFORMES Cyprinidae Catostomidae Catostomus commersoni White sucker Cyprinidae Cyprinidae Cyprinus carpio Common carp Hybognathus regalis Eastern silvery rriinnow Nofemigonus crysoleucas Golden shiner Notropis hudsonius Spottail shiner Notropis sp. Notropis sp.

Semotilus corporalis Fallfish CLLUPEIFORMES Clupeidae Alosa sapidissima American shad Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad PERCIFORMES Percidae Percaflavescens Yellow perch Stizostedion vitreum Walleye Percicthyidae Morone americana White perch Centrarchidae Ambloplites rupestris Rock bass Lepomis gibbosus Pumpkinseed Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill Micropterusdolomieu .Smallmouth bass Micropterussalmoides Largemouth bass Pomoxis nigromaculatus Black crappie Etheostoma olmstedi Tesselated darter 47

Table 5-2. Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for electrofishing collections in the Connecticut River in the vicinity of Vernon, Vermont in 2001.

Electrofishing Stations Number of Hours Fish CPUE Collections Station 3 - Vermont 4 0.7 256 384.0 Station 5 - New Hampshire 4 0.7 143 214.5 Station 5 - Vermont 4 0.7 191 296.5 New Hampshire Setback 4 0.7 228 342.0 Rum Point 4 0.7 390 585.0 Station 2 - New Hampshire 4 0.7 76 114.0 Station 4 - New Hampshire 4 0.7 155 232.5 Station 4 - Vermont 4 0.7 189 .283.5 Stebbin Island - New Hampshire Side 4 0.7 69 103.5 0.1 Miles south of Vernon Dam 4 0.7 63 94.5 TOTAL 40 7.0 1760 264.0 48

Table 5-3. Number and weights of fishes collected in the Connecticut River upstream and downstream of Vernon Dam in 2001 (electrofishing and impingement sampling).

Relative Relative Weight Species Total (#) Total Weight (g)

Number(%) (%)

Carps and Minnows 6 0.2 10 0.01 Banded Killifish 4 0.2 7 0.01 Sea lamprey 248 10.1 711 0.56 American shad 59 2.4 5oo "0.39 Atlantic salmon 9 0.4 233 0.18 Northern pike 2 0.1 1290 1.01 Chain pickerel 15 0.6 2129 1.66 Silvery minnow 1 0.0 1 <0.01 Common Shiner 2 0.1 5 <0.01 Golden shiner 71 2.9 1116 0.87 Spottail shiner 191 7.8 694 0.54 Notropissp. 3 0.1 13 0.01 Fallfish 24. 1.0 286 . 0.22 White sucker 34 1.4 18350 14.34 Yellow bullhead 5 0.2 630 0.49 Brown bullhead 4 0.2 129 0.10 White perch 1 0.0 360 0.28 Rock bass 114 4.6 4145 3.24 Pumpkinseed 121 4.9 5973 4.67 Bluegill 602 24.5 25912 20.25 Smallmouth bass 206 8.4 .15179 11.87 Largemouth bass 103 4.2 28971 22.65 Black crappie 22 0.9 699 0.55 Tesselated darter 6 0.2 23 0.02 Yellow perch 597 24.3 15988 12.50 Walleye 10 0.4 4575 3.58 TOTAL 2460 100.0 127929 100.00 i

49

Table 5-4. Numbers and weights of fishes captured upstream of Vernon Dam in 2001 in impingement and general electrofishing.

Electrofishing CWTS

Summary Total Total Relative Relative Species Number Weight Number Weight Total Number Total Weight (g) (g) (#) (%) (g)

Banded Killifish 4 7 4 0.2 7 <0.1 Sea lamprey . 4 19 241 680 245 12.3 699 0.7 American shad 25 303 25 1.3 303 0.3 Atlantic salmon 9 233 9 0.5 233 0.2 Northern pike 1 500 1 0.1 500 0.5

-hain pickerel 11 1726 3 263 14 0.7 1989 2.0 3ilvery minnow. 1 1 1 0.1 1 <0.1 Common Shiner 1 1 1 0.1 1 <0.1 Golden shiner 55 801 15 308 70 3.5 1109 1.1 Spottail shiner 141 449 2 9 143 7.2 458 0.5 White sucker 21 11179 2 7 23 1.2 11186 11.4 Yellow bullhead 5 630 5 0.3 630 0.6 Brown bullhead 2 14 2 115 4 0.2 129 0.1 Rockbass 21 1217 33 1108 54 2.7 2325 2.4 Pumpkinseed 104 5457 12 412 116 5.8 5869 6.0 Bluegill 360 15803 201 8925 561 28.1 24728 25.3 Smallmouth bass 2 9 7 515 9 0.5 524 0.5 gemouth bass 91 27336 4 144 95 4.8 27480 28.1 Black crappie 9 454 12 241 21 1.1 695 0.7 Fesselated darter 4 15 2 8 6 0.3 23 <0.1 Yellow perch 454 11918 128 3720 582 29.2 15638 16.0 Walleye 7 3245 7 0.4 3245 3.3 total 1296 80779 700 16993 1996 100.0 97772 100.0

CWTS = Circulating Water Travelling Screens 50

Table 5-5. Numbers and weights of fishes captured downstream of Vernon Dam in 2001 in general electrofishing (i.e. non-anadromous fish specific electrofishing runs).

Electrofishing Summary Species Total Total Relative Total Relative Weight (g) (#) Number (%) (g) Weight (%)

arps and Minnows 6 10 6 1.3 10 <0.1 Sea lamprey - 3 12 3 0.6 12 <0.1 American shad 34 197 34 7.3 197 0.7 Northern pike 1 790 1 0.2 790 2.6 hain pickerel 1 140 1 0.2 140 0.5 Common Shiner 1 4 1 0.2 4 <0.1 Golden shiner 1 7 1 0.2 7 <0.1 Spottail shiner 48 236 48 10.3 236 0.8 qotropis sp. 3 13 3 0.6 13 <0.1

ýallfish 24 286 24 5.2 286 0.9 White sucker 11 7164 I1 2.4 7164 23.8 White perch 1 360 1 0.2 360 1.2 Rock bass 60 1820 60 12.9 1820 6.0 uumpkinseed 5 104 5 1.1 104 0.3

'luegill 41 1184 41 8.8 1184 3.9 imallmouth bass 197 14655 197 42.5 14655 48.6 gemouth bass 8 1491 8 1.7 1491 4.9 mlack crappie 1 4 1 0.2 4 <0.1 ellow perch 15 350 15 3.2 350 1.2 Walleye 3 1330 3 0.6 1330 4.4 Total 464 30157 464 100.0 30157 100.0 51

Table 5-6. Monthly impingement of fish on Vermont Yankee's circulating water traveling screens in 2001.

[ 1. April 'May June July August September October avlecie No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt Sea lamprey 126 338 2 6 113 336 tlantic salmon 5 233 4 hain pickerel 2 240 1 23 1 1 .

3ilvery minnow oommon Shiner 1 1 3olden shiner 14 289 1 19 Spottail shiner 2 9

ýVhite sucker 2 7 Brown bullhead 2 115 Rock bass 20 807 1 10 3 36 1 115 2 75 1 45 5 20 Pumpkinseed 8 397 4 15 Bluegill 87 6427 4 45' '5 65 4 665 12 1136 4 346 85 241 Smallmouth bass .6 462 1 53 Largemouth bass 2 122 1 17 1 5 Black crappie 5 206 7 35 Yellow perch 122 3641 3 65 1 3 2 11 Tesselated darter 1 4 1 4 American shad 19 241 6 62 Total 405 13295 8 84 130 5741 6 784 [16 1218 25 649 150 389 Note: weight is in grams.

52

Table 5-7. Summary of 2001 anadromous fish collections (American shad) at Stebbin Island, Station 3, and 0.1 mile below Vernon Dam.

No. Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum

~onth and Station Fish Fis Hours CPUE Length Length Weight Weight (mm) (mm) (g) (g) fuly Station 3 0 0.33 0.0 - -

Stebbin Island 1 0.67 1.5 46 46 1 1 0.1 Miles south of Vernon Dam 0 0.33 0.0 - - -

August Station 3 44 0.56 88.0 49 93 1 7 Stebbin Island 7 2.00 3.5 72 85 3 5 0.1 Miles southof Vernon Dam 67 0.50 134.0 57 103 1 9 September Station 3- 51 0.33 153.0 81 108 4 9 Stebbin Island 175 1.33 131.3 65 97 4 7 0.1 Miles south of Vernon Dam 56 0.33 168.0 74 106 4 10 October Station 3 6 0.33 18.0 90 103 6 7 Stebbin Island 65 1.27 51.3 80 117 4 10 0.1 Miles south of Vernon Dam 4 0.33 12.0 80 94 4 6 53

Table 5-8. Vermont Yankee ichthyoplankton sampling effort in 2001.

Number of samples collected, by month Depth (m) May June July Total 0.3 2 4 3 9 1.8 2 4 3 9 3.7 2 4 3 9 Totals 6 12 9 27 54

Table 5-9. Collection dates and total number of ichthyoplankton collected near the Vermont Yankee Intake in 2001.

Species Earliest Capture Latest Capture Volume Sampled (Cubic Meters) Number Nme Percent ecn Common carp 22-Jun-O1 26-Jun-01 390.68 3 0.2 Golden shiner 31-May01 31-May-01 257.95 1 0.1 Spottail shiner 04-Jun-01 18-Jul-O1 1952.72 978 57.9 White sucker 31-May01

22-Jun-01 1106.81 640 37.9 White perch 21-May01 03-Jul-01 1676A 31 1.8 Centrarchidae 22-Jun-01 18-Jul-01 1373.88 31 1.8 Tesselated darter 04-Jun-01 04-Jun-01 284.46 2 0.1 Yellow perch .21-May01 04-Jun-O1 713.23 2 0.1 Walleye 21-May01 21-May-01 170.82 2 0.1 1690 100.0 55

Table 5-10. Ichthyoplankton density per 100 cubic meters at the Vermont Yankee Intakes by depth in 2001 (An outage occurred from 30 April - 18 May).

Date and Taxon DEPTH (n) _TOTALS 0.3 1.8 3.7 Walleye .1.15 1.20 2.34 21-May-01 White perch 1.15 1.15 Yellow perch 1.20 1.20 Golden shiner 0.86 ni'86 31-May-01 White perch 0.71 0.71 White-sucker 1.42 1.42 Spottail shiner 2.21 2.21 Tesselated darter 1.93 1.93 White sucker 706.35 706.35 Yellow perch 1.11 1.11 0.90 0.90 12-Jun-01 Spottail shiner White perch 2.21 17.17 3.61 22.99 Centrarchidae 3.10 2.21 1.21 6.52 Common carp 1.03 1.03 22-Jun-01 Spottail shiner 558.78 69.47 1.21 629.46 White perch 1.10 1.10 White sucker 1.03 1.03 Common carp 4.38 4.38 26-Jun-01 Spottail shiner 174.79 19.69 194.48 White perch 10.94 10.94 Centrarchidae 3.90 3.90 03-Jul-01 Spottail shiner 2.48 5.85 11.59 19.92 White perch 1.05 1.05 1.68 0.93 2.61 11-Jul-01 Centrarchidae 29.73 Spottail shiner 26.06 2.79 0.88 18-Ju.01 Centrarchidae 8.75 3.45 0.99 13.19 Spottail shiner 117.79 1.72 119.51 Totals 1607.31 148.09 26.62 1782.02 56

Figure 5-1. NPDES Sampling Sations 57

DRAFT 6.0 2001 ZEBRA MUSSEL AND ASIATIC CLAM MONITORING 6.1 METHODS OF COLLECTION AND PROCESSING Larval (veliger) sampling was conducted bi-weekly between 25 May and 24 October 2001. Collections were made at quarter points (NH and VT shores, and mid-river) at Vermont Yankee stations 4 and 5 (Fig 6-3). Approximately 1,000 liters of river water was pumped through a 64 micron plankton net at each quarter point. Six samples were collected during each bi-weeldy collection trip for a totalfof 60 veliger samples. Samples were preserved in 70% ethanol for examination in the lab.

Juvenile/adult (settling stage) zebra mussel sampling was conducted between 25 May and 24 October 2001 near the New Hampshire and Vermont shores at Vermont Yankee stations 4 and 5 (Fig 6-3). Two settlement plate samplers were deployed at each station for a total of eight samplers. Settlement plates were made of six, 6 in X 6 in plates of PVC strung onto a bolt with approximately 0.5 in between plates.

The sampler was suspended in the water column at 2-3 m below the surface, depending on river depth at the sampling station. The plate sampler at each Station was examined approximately every two weeks with a hand-held magnifying lens for newly settled zebra mussels. One plate from each sampler was then randomly selected and cleaned into a number 64 micron sieve. The sample was then preserved in 70%

ethanol for examination in the laboratory.

One plate sampler deployed at Station 4 New Hampshire on 4 June 2001, could not be located two weeks later when retrieval was attempted. A new plate sampler was deployed at that location on the day the plate sampler was determined to be gone and was checked approximately 2 weeks later for settlement.

Therefore, one zebra mussel settling plate sample was not collected between 25 May and 5 June 2001.

Asiatic clam samples were collected with a 9 inch ponar dredge in June 2001 at Stations 2, 3, 4, and 5 (Figure 6-1). Dredge samples were collected at three locations per Station (near the New Hampshire shore, mid-stream, and near the Vermont shore) and three replicates were collected at each location (for a total of 36 dredges). All dredge samples were sieved through a standard USGS number 30 sieve in the field, prior to being preserved in 70% ethanol for later identification in the lab.

Samples were not collected after June because dredging was dropped from the program, however additional sampling for Asiatic clams will be conducted during the 2002 sampling season.

6.1.1 Laboratory Identification Procedures Zebra mussel veliger samples were emptied into a petri dish and examined in entirety with cross polarized light on a dissecting microscope with 40x magnification. The use of cross polarized light allows zebra mussel veligers to be distinguished from other planktonic organisms that are also collected in the samples, as the larval shells stand out as bright spots against a dark background (Johnson 1996).

In the laboratory, the three preserved replicate corbicula ponar dredge samples for each quarter point per location (NH, mid-stream, and VT), per station (2, 3, 4, and 5) were combined and the contents mixed (for a total of 12 dredge samples), then examined in entirety under low magnification (2x).

58

6.2

SUMMARY

River water temperatures ranged from 15.3' to 29.00 C, dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.8 to 10.8 mg/l, and pH ranged from 6.9 to 8.2 during veliger and settlement plate sampling in the vicinity of the Vermont Yankee Plant (Stations 4 and 5).

There were no Asiatic clams or any life stages of zebra mussels found in any samples collected during the 2001 Vermont Yankee monitoring program.

In addition to the zebra mussel sample collections, 5 zebra mussel awareness programs were presented during 2001 to groups in New Hampshire and Vermont including Rotary clubs, Kiwinas aid Lions clubs, the Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and to members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. One program was presented at a quarterly meeting in February 2002 to board members and guests of the Connecticut River Joint Commission.

59

Figure 6-1. Zebra mussel and Asiatic clam monitoring Stations 2,3 (downstream of Vernon Dam),

and Stations 4 and 5 (upstream of Vernon Dam).

60

7.0 LITERATURE CITED AFS (American Fisheries Society) 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes: Special Publication 20. Bethesda, Maryland.

Aquatec. 1993. Ecological studies of the Connecticut River, Vernon, Vermont. Report 22, January December 1992. Report prepared for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp., Brattleboro, VT.

Aquatec. 1995. Ecological studies of the Connecticut River, Vernon, Vermont. Report 24, January December 1994. Report prepared for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp., Brattleboro, VT.

Auer, N.A. (ed.). 1982. Identification of larval fishes of the Great Lakes basin with emphasis on the Lake Michigan drainage. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Ann Arbor, MI. Special Publication.

744 pp.

Binkered, R.C. 1978. 316 Demonstration, Engineering, Hydrological & Biological Information and Environmental Impact Assessment. Aquatec, Inc. for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation.

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1986. Guide to the freshwater aquatic microdrile oligochaetes of North America.

Departnient of Fisheries and Oceans. Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Vol. 84. Ottawa, Canada.

Brown, H.P. 1976. Aquatic dryopoid beetles (Coleoptera) of the United States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. Water Pollution Control Research Series 18050 EID04/72. Cincinnati, OH.

Burch, J.B. 1975. Freshwater unionacean clams (Mollusks: Pelecypoda) of North America. Revised edition. Malacological Publications. Hamburg, Michigan.

Burk.s, B.D. 1953. The mayflies of Ephemeroptera of Illinois. Bull. Ill. Nat. Hist. Survey 26(1).

Downey, P.C. and R.C. Binkered. 1990.316 Demonstration, Engineering, Hydrological &

Biological Information and Environmental Impact Assessment. Aquatec, Inc. for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation.

Fish, M.P. 1930. Contributions to the early life histories of sixty-two species of fishes from Lake Erie and its tributary waters. U.S. Bur. Fish. Bull. 47(10): 293-398.

Hitchcock, S.W. 1974. Guide to the insects of Connecticut, part VII. The Plecoptera, or stoneflies of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut. Department of Environmental Protection. Bulletin Number 107. Hartford, CT.

Johnson, L.E. 1996. Enhanced early detection and enumeration of zebra mussel (Dreissena spp.)

veligers using cross-polarized light microscopy. Hydrobiologia. 312(2). pp. 139.

Jokinen, E.H. 1992. The freshwater snails (Mollusks: Gastropoda) of New York State. New York State Museum Bulletin 482.

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63

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | number = ML062920329
 | issue date = 10/12/2006
-| title = 2006/10/12-EMAIL: (PA) Ecological Report 31 (April 2002)
+| title = Email: (PA) Ecological Report 31 (April 2002)
 | author name = Dewald L
 | author affiliation = Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC
@@ Line 196: / Line 196: @@
                                                           .19
-                                                                                                                       * -,:
-                                                                                                                         ..  .     .. . ..:. :,;
 FIR,  I "I                                   F*19     E 7              "r       ,,.
 Figure 3-4 Conneticticut River water concentrations of Total Zinc observed in monthly samples in the vicinity of Vermont Yankee, Vernon, Vermont 3.5 I 3 I 2.5 i 2
@@ Line 322: / Line 320: @@
 Twenty-seven. species of fish were collected during 2001 (Table 5-1). This total number is similar to recent years (Aquatec 1993, 1995, and Normandeau Associates 1997- 2000). All collected species were typical of the Connecticut River drainage; no federally listed threatened or endangered species were collected.
-.2.1     Fish NPDES General Electrofishinz, and Impingement
+.2.1     Fish NPDES General Electrofishinz, and Impingement During 2001, a total of 40 electrofishing collections were completed at the ten locations within the eight NPDES permit designated Stations (Fig. 5-1, Table 5-2). The total number of fish collected by electrofishing was 1,760 (Table 5-2). The average catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the 40-electrofishing collections was 264.0. The total electrofishing effort was 7.0 hours.
-               .
-During 2001, a total of 40 electrofishing collections were completed at the ten locations within the eight NPDES permit designated Stations (Fig. 5-1, Table 5-2). The total number of fish collected by electrofishing was 1,760 (Table 5-2). The average catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the 40-electrofishing collections was 264.0. The total electrofishing effort was 7.0 hours.
 There were 2,460 fish collected in 2001 during impingement and general electrofishing (including electrofishing stations above and below Vernon Dam) (Table 5-3). Numerically, the most abundant species were bluegill (24.5%), yellow perch (24.3%), and sea lamprey (10.1%). Largemouth bass (22.7%, bluegill (20.3%), white sucker (14.3%), yellow perch (12.5%), and smallmouth bass (11.9%)
 accounted for the majority of the biomass of collected fishes (Table 5-3) 44

v t e Letter Sequence Other
TAC:MD2297, (Approved, Closed)
Initiation Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request, Request Acceptance... Supplement, Supplement, Supplement, Supplement, Supplement, Supplement, Supplement, Supplement Administration Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting, Meeting Questions 24 October 2007 2 June 2006 7 June 2006 27 April 2006 10 May 2006 27 September 2006 11 January 2007 4 September 2007 4 October 2007 Answers 15 August 2006 20 September 2006 30 July 2007 20 September 2006 11 December 2007 Results Approval, Approval, Approval, Approval, Approval Other: BVY 06-009, 2006/01/25-Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Applicant'S Environmental Report Operating License Renewal Stage, Appendix E, BVY 06-076, 2006/08/10-Vermont Yankee - License Renewal Application, Amendment 8, BVY 06-079, 2006/08/22-Vermont Yankee License Renewal Application, Amendment 11, BVY 06-083, 2006/09/05-Vermont Yankee License Renewal Application, Amendment 12, BVY 06-095, E-mail: (PA-LR) Copy of SAMA Response, BVY 06-096, 2006/10/20-Vermont Yankee - License Renewal Application, Amendment No. 17, BVY 06-097, 2006/10/31-Vermont Yankee License Renewal Application, Amendment 19, BVY 06-098, E-mail: (PA-LR) Copy of Vhs RAI Response, BVY 07-003, Email: (PA-LR) Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station License Renewal Commitment List, Rev. 5, BVY 07-009, License Renewal Application, Amendment 24, BVY 07-018, License Renewal Application, Amendment 26, BVY 07-034, License Renewal Application Annual Update, BVY 07-035, (PA-LR) Bvy 07-035 VY Lr SER Comments, BVY 07-047, License Renewal Application, Amendment 27, Submitted on January 25, 2006, BVY 07-058, License Renewal Application, Amendment 29, BVY 07-062, License Renewal Application, Amendment 30, BVY 07-066, License Renewal Application, Amendment 31, BVY 08-016, (PA-LR) Emailing Bvy 08-016 Final SER Review Comments, BVY 10-069, License Renewal Application Annual Update Information, ML060950195, ML060950215, ML060950218, ML060950220, ML060950224, ML060950235, ML060950250, ML060950258, ML060950262, ML060950269, ML060950271, ML060950277, ML060950279, ML060950284, ML060950290, ML060950301, ML060950311, ML060950323, ML060950328, ML060950331, ML060950347, ML060950351, ML060950356, ML060950364, ML060950370, ML060950372, ML060950375, ML060950540, ML060950549, ML060950559, ML060950567... further results
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