ML20087J857

Ecological Studies Progress Rept,Sept 1982 - Aug 1983

ML20087J857
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Issue date:	08/31/1983
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,

Ecological Studies l at Oyster Creek Xuclear Generating Station '

Progress Report September 1982 - August 1983 Prepared for GPU Nuclear Corporation Id *

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EA Report GPU41A ECOLOGICAL STUDIES AT OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, PROGRESS REPORT SEPTEMBER 1982 - AUGUST 1983 Prepared for GPU Nuclear Corporation -

Post Office Box 388 Route 9 South Forked River, New Jersey -

Prepared by Ecological Analysts, Inc.

15 Loveton Circle Sparks, Maryland 21152 l

January 1984

4 L

CCNTENTS Past e LIST OF TABLES l-LIST OF FIGURES '

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION 1-1

2. METHODS 2-1 2.1 Impingement 2-1 2.2 Water Quality Measurements 2-2 2.3 Data Processing 2-2

3. IMPINGEMENT OF FISH AND MACR 0 INVERTEBRATES ON THE INTAKE SCREENS 3-1 3.1 General Species Composition and Abundance 3-1 3.2 Occurrence and Abundance of Key Species 3-2 3.2.1 Bay Anchovy 3-2 3.2.2 Atlantic Silverside 3-3 3.2.3 Northern Pipefish 3-4 3.2.4 Winter Flounder 3-4 3.2.5 Weakfish 3-5 3.2.6 Blueback Herring 3-5 3.2.7 Atlantic Menhaden 3-6 3.2.8 Bluefish -

3-6 3.2.9 Northern Puffer 3-7 3.2.10 Summer Flounder 3-7 3.2.11 Northern Kingfish 3-8 3.2.12 Striped Bass 3-8 3.2.13 Sand Shrimp 3-8 3.2.14 Blue Crab 3-8 3.3 Water Quality Associated with Impingement Sampling 3-10 REFERENCES APPENDII: SPECIES LIST

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LIST OF TABLES Number Title 3-1 Total extrapolated number, percent composition, and cumulative percent of finfish, other vertebrates, and macroinvertebrates collected from the traveling screens at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station during 29 24-hour sampling periods, Sept ember 1982 - March 1983.

3-2 Total extrapolated weight, percent composition, and cumulative percent of finfish, other vertebrates, and macroinvertebrates collected from the traveling screens at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station during 29 24-hour sampling periods, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-3 Weekly estimated number of selected species impinged on the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station traveling screens, Sept ember 1982 - March 1983.

3-4 Weekly estimated weight of selected species impinged on the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station traveling screens, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-5 Day-night comparisons of numbers and weights of selected species ecliected from the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station traveling screens, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-6 Total estimated number and weight with 80 percent confidence intervals of key and abundant species impinged at the Oyster l Creek Nuclear Generating Station, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-7 Mean water-temperature values during day and night impingement sampling at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station ,

intake, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-8 Mean dissolved oxygen values during day and night impingement sampling at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station intake, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-9 Mean salinity values during day and night impingement sampling at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station intake, September 1982 - March 1983.

3-10 Range of pH readings among surf ace / bottom and day / night mea- i 1

surements, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station intake, September 1982 - 1983.

A-1 Scientific and common names of fishes, reptiles, and invertebrates encountered during impingement sampling, Sept ember 1982 - March 1983.

o 1

l LIST OF FIGURES Number Title 1-1 Map of the middle portion of Barnegat Bay.

2-1 Diagram of the intake and discharge of the circulating water system and the dilution pumps at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

3-1 Estimated weekly number of fish and macroinvertebrates impinged on the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station traveling screens, September 1982 - August 1983.

3-2 Estimated weekly weight of fish and macroinvertebrates impinged on the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station traveling screens, September 1982 - August 1983.

3-3 Estimated annual impingement catches for total organisms and key and abundant organisms at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

Aquatic monitoring was conducted at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Sta-tion (OCNGS) on Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, from September 1982 through March 1983. No samples were collected during the remainder of the reporting period, April through August 1983, because the OCNGS was shut down for service. The program consisted of sampling fish and macroinvertebrates impinged on the OCNGS traveling screens. The moni-toring program was carried out pursuant to Appendix B Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Technical Specifications, issued to Jersey Central Power & Light Company by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, effective 6 June.1979 and amended September 1981. This is the fourth annual progress report prepared by Ecological Analysts, Inc.' to fulfill the aquatic monitoring requirements of the OCNGS Technical Specifications.

Impingement collections were made for a 24-hour period once each week by securing all or known portions of the screenwash from all operat-ing screens. The extrapolated sampling catch for 29, 24-hour sampling periods totaled 811,403 organisms weighing 2,457.3 kg. This catch j included 74 species of fish,18 taxa of macroinvertebrates, and one reptile. Macroinvertebrates were most abundant with sand shrimp, grass shrimp, and blue crab composing 94 percent of the catch by num-ber. The most abundant single organism was the sand shrimp with 707,969 individuals (87 percent of total). The Atlantic silverside was the most abundant fish collected from the traveling screens; the nearly 17,000 individuals constituted 36 percent of the fish catch by number, but i only 2 percent of the combined fish and macroinvertebrate catch. Winter flounder, northern pipefish, and blueback herring followed in order of abundance.

For key and abundant species, weekly and annual estimates were made of the number bapinged during the 1982-1983 study year. The " annual" esti'mate was not a true annual estimate, but rather an estimate of the total catches during the 7-month period during which the OCNGS operated.

About half of the organisms analyzed increased in abundance compared to the previous year--sand shrimp, winter flounder, Atlantic silverside, blueback herring, and bluefish. Estimated " annual" impingement of blue crabs, bay anchovy, weakfish, northern puffer, Atlantic menhaden, and northern pipefish decreased compared to the previous (1981-1982) study year. Nearly all of the latter are typically more abundant during the warm season, a large portion of which (April-August) was not sampled during the study year. Conversely, of those species more abundant than in the previous year, all except the bluefish are more abundant during the winter. Therefore, " annual" estimates for these organisms were affected little by the spring-summer shutdown. In terms of the combined

" annual" catch of fish and macroinvertebrates, there was more than a two-fold increase in 1982-1983 compared to the previous study year. This was largely a result of a large increase in numbers of sand shrimp and, to a lesser extent, winter flounder and Atlantic silverside.

l r Mith the inclusion of the 1982-1983 impingement data set, a continuous, I 8 year set of impingement data was available for examination. Based on i these data, the bay anchovy and northern puffer remain in decline in Barnegat Bay while the other species fluctuate in abundance from year to year, apparently as a result of natural climatic factors that affect spawning success (Ecological Analysts 1982).

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1. INTRODUCTION This is the fourth in a series of annual reports prepared by Ecological Analysts, Inc. (EA) detailing results of aquatic biological monitoring conducted at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) from 1 September 1982 through 31 August 1983. Impingement data are prosented in this report only through late March 1983, at which time OCNGS was shut i down for an extended period. The studies described herein are based on Appendix B, Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Technical Specifica-i tions, issued to Jersey Central Power and Light Company (JCP&L) by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC 1978), effective 6 June 1979 and amended September 1981.

The generating station and surrounding area were described by Danila et al. (1979), based on literature reviews and their own studies. OCNGS is a 620-MWe boiling-water reactor, located 3.2 kilometers west of Barnegat

, Bay in Lacey Township, New Jersey (Figure 1-1). Barnegat Bay is a large,

shallow estuary created by offshore barrier beaches. A limited exchange of bay and ocean water occurs through narrow Barnegat Inlet and the Manasquan Cenal. During station operation, cooling water is withdrawn i

from Barnegat Bay through the lower part of the south branch of Forked i River, then into the dredged intake canal and into the plant. Heated I water is discharged into a dredged canal and flows into lower Oyster Creek and into Barnegat Bay.

The interaction of OCNGS and Barnegat Bay has been under study since 1963 l (Youglitois 1983, personal communication). Early preoperational studies were conducted by Rutgers University and concentrated on benthic inverte-brates , algae, and fish. These studies continued, with the inclusion of plankton, af ter commercial operation of OCNGS began in December 1969; most were carried out under the auspices of~either Rutgers University or the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game,-and 'She11 fish. Results of these studies were evaluated in the Final Environmental Statement published by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1974.- In 1978, Jersey Central ~

Power and Light Company produced 316(a) and .(b) demonstrations (JCP&L 1978) which evaluated the previous sYudies a including the first two years of aquatic monitoring studies done by-Ichthyological Associates (IA 1977, 1978). The IA studies c'ontinued until June 1979 when EA assumed monitor- .

ing, both as a continualion of previous programs and as the first Envi- l roamental Technical Specifications aquatic monitoring. EA has continued to conduct the monitoring programs 'and produced three previous annual i

reports (Ecological Analysts 1981, 1982, 1983). In September 1981 the NRC dropped requirements. for entiainmenti.and Barnegat Bay fisheries sampling, thus these, areas are not covered iri the present report.

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Following this introductorylchapt'er, Chapters 2 and 3. treat, in turn,

field and laboratory methodologies and impingement results. Tabular and graphical presentation's are in consecutive or' der at the end of each-chapter. A combined reference section is., presented 'at the end of the report. .', s.-

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2. METHODS 2.1 D{PINGEMENT Impingement sampling uas performed in the sluiceway pit , an open cuboid area downstream of all intake screens, at the point in the sluiceway where the screenwash conduit leads under the adjacent roadway to the adjacent discharge area (Figure 2-1). Samples were collected in a 101.6-cm x 101.6-cm x 121.9-cm wire basket with 10.7-mm mesh. Wheri the larger basket was removed for emptying, a smaller basket with identical mesh was placed in the sluiceway pit.

Impingement collections were made over a 24-hour period once per week.

Each collection consisted of a 2-hour time period in which either

1. all organisms were collected (2-hour collection and screenwash cycle), or

2. sample duration was reduced to one hour and the number of organisms caught was doubled to represent the 2-hour period, or

3. some fraction of organisms less than one-half were collected (continuous screenwash mode).

In the latter two cases, the total catch for the 2-hour time period was an estimate based on the ratio of the time period sampled to the entire 2-hour period.

This sampling approach was necessitated by the variation in the amount of organisms and debris encountered. Case 1 usually held for daylight -

hours when organism and debris loads were relatively light, and screens were routinely washed every two hours. Because of greater debris and organism loads at night, the screens normally were washed once per hour.

Only one of the two screenwashes was collected in any nighttime 2-hour block (Case 2), because of physical limitations of the sampling system.

The Case 3 approach was necessary at times when the debris load was so great that the screens were operated continuously. At these times, attempts were made to obtain at least 1/2-hour subsamples for each 2-hour sample block.

After each sample, the catch was sorted and all organisms identified and enumerated. Also, the total weight of each species was recorded.

Subsampling of shrimp was carried out when large amounts of debris were present. Any organisms of questionable identity were preserved for subsequent laboratory examination. Records were kept of any organisms that had external parasites, disease, or morphological abnormalities.

2-1

i j 2.2 WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENTS i

Water quality measurements made in conjunction with routine biological sampling, included water temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Measurements were made at the surface and bottom in the OCNGS intake during each impingement collection. A Yellow Springs Instrument Company (YSI) Model 57 Do meter was used to measure dissolved oxygen; the instrument was calibrated weekly before each use. Water temperature i and salinity were measured with a YSI Model 33 Salinity-conductivity-

] Temperature (S-C-T) meter that was calibrated semimonthly. Measurements of pH were made with a Corning 610A meter, calibrated at least once per week.

2.3 DATA PROCESSING All field and laboratory data were recorded on standard data sheets and

< checked for accuracy. The data were entered to computer-disk memory via a Hewlett-Fackard 9830A terminal and verified against the original data sheets. Various summary programs then were run to reduce the data for analysis and presentation. Annual impingement estimates were also computed on the 9830A.

The impingement sampling program at OCNGS employed a multistage sampling design. In the first stage, sampling days were selected once a week; these sampling days were grouped sequentially into strats so that no stratum had fewer than two sample days. In the second stage, the sample day was partitioned into two 12-hour periods roughly representing day and night. In a third stage, the 12-hour periods were subdivided further l

into six 2-hour periods. In some cases, all fish impinged in the 2-hour period were collected and counted giving an exact count for impingement.

During periods of heavy impingement, a fcurth stage was employed whereby a subinterval of the 2-hour period was sampled.

Using data collected by this sampling design, impingement estimates were computed with the following formulas:

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where

! I = estimated total number (or weight) of organisms impinged L = total number of strata i = ordinal number for strata Ng = number of days in the i stratum Y.i = 1n "i aY..

E (Equation 2-2) 3,y 1]

= average daily impingement for i ' stratum 2-2 i

where l

n g = number of sample days in i stratum j = ordinal number for sample day ,

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Y., = E Y.. (Equation 2-3) 1J k=1 *3

= estimated impingement for j sample day of i stratum where 2 = number of diel periods k = ordinal number for diel period

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Y = I Biiki Y (Equation 2-4) i k1 l=1 Tstj ..k1

= estimated impingement of the k' diel period of the j' sample day of the i' stratum where 6 = number of blocks within diel periods 1 = ordinal number for block T

Bijkl

= engt n m nutes) of block T

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= time sampled (in minutes) in block Y = c unt f rganisms for the sample collected in ijkl the ijk1 block The estimated variance of I that was used for computing confidence intervals was computed by the formula (Equation 2-5)

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sijk1 The 80 percent confidence intervals then were computed using the normal approximation i ! 1.645 YVir(i)

The weekly impingement estimates were computed by multiplying the esti-mated impingement for the j* sample day of the i th stratum by se m .

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3. IMPINGEMENT OF FISH AND MACR 0 INVERTEBRATES ON THE INTAKE SCREENS 3 .1 GENERAL SPECIES COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE Impingement collections from September 1982 through March 1983 yielded 93 taxa of fish, macroinvertebrates , and reptiles (Table 3-1). Of these, 74 were finfish,18 were invertebrates , and one was a reptile. The total number of all organisms collected during the study period was 811,403. Of these, 763,968 (94 percent) were macroinvertebrates , 47,430 (6 percent) were finfish, and 5 were reptiles. The catch was heavily dominated by the sand shrimp which, togethe with the grass shrimp, con-stituted over 90 percent of all organisms caught. Ninty-nine percent of the catch was reflected in the 12 most abundant species.

The total weight of all organisms collected was 2,457.3 kilograms (Table 3-2). In contrast to the numbers, the weight of invertebrates (1,559.4 kg) constituted only 64 percent of the combined weight of all organisms.

By virtue of their relatively small size, the sand shrimp and grass shrimp composed only 30 percent of the total catch weight, whereas these organisms represented over 90 percent of the numerical catch.

Seasonal distribution of estimated weekly numbers and weight of all organisms combined is illustrated in Figures 3-1 and 3-2. These data are tabulated in Table 3-3 and 3-4 along with a breakdown by species.

The estimated weekly number of organisms impinged was relatively low from early September to mid-Novembcr. Impingement rates increased dramatic-ally af ter that, with two large peaks during 13 December and 24 January.

Catches remained relatively high until late March when OCNGS was shut down. The data in Table 3-3 reveal that the increased total catches beginning in mid-November were due primarily to increased catches of sand shrimp.

The distribution of estimated weekly weight of all organisms impinged (Figure 3-2) is markedly different than the weekly distribution of the numerical catch. Whereas numerical catches were consistently low from early September to mid-November, the total weekly weights during this period, although variable, were generally as high or higher than later in the study period. The high weights during this period were mostly the result of blue crabs, which, although relatively few in number, are relatively larger and heavier organisms. Af ter blue crab numbers dimin-ished in November, the weekly estimated weight of impinged organisms was maintained primarily by sand shrimp (by virtue of their large numbers) and winter flounder (by virtue of their relatively high weight per fish).

The numbers and weight of organisms impinged was consistently g mater at night (Table 3-5); nearly 90 percent by number and 77 percent by weight. The only notable exception was the Atlantic menhaden (drevoortia tyrannus) which was 2.5 times more abundant in day catches. However, 80 percent of menhaden weight was collected at night. This seeming dis-crepancy is a result of smaller fish (i = 6 gm) being impinged during the day and larger fish (i = 63 gm) at night. The reverse was true for the American eel (Anguilla rostrata); by number, three-fourths were impinged 3-1

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f i at night but only one-half of the 9eight was recorded at night. Although

there were more than three times the number of eels impinged at night l compared to day, the average size of eels at night (31 gm) was only one-

third the average weight per eel during day (91 gm). In other cases, j e.g., bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) and summer flounder (Paralichthys

dentatus), the average weight per organism was the same during day and l night.

I

! 3.2 OCCURRENCE AND ABUNDANCE OF KEY SPECIES i

} The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has defined 11 fish species and 2 invertebrates species as " Key Species" of finfish and shellfish in j Barnegat Bay (NRC 1978). The designated species are: summer flounder, j winter flounder, Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic silverside, bay anchovy, j bluefish, weakfish, striped bass, northern pipefish, northern puffer, i northern kingfish, blue crab, and sand shrimp. All of the 11 defined key

! fish species, except striped bass, were collected from the OCNGS screens; j both key invertebrates species were collected. The key fish species com-1 posed 69 percent of the fish collected from the traveling screens. The i two key invertebrate species accounted for 93.5 percent of the inverte-

! brate catch by number and 86.9 percent of the catch by weight.

In addition to the abundance of each of the key species, blueback herring j (Alosa aestivalis) abundance is discussed because of this species' abun-

dance on the screens (8 percent of the total fish catch). In discussing j the key species, reference is made to weekly estimates of abundance for

{ both numbers and weights (Tables 3-3 and 3-4, respectively). The " annual i estimates" presented in Table 3-6 are not true annual estimates but are f estimates for the 7-month period during which OCNGS operated.

In the presentations to follow, the use of the terms " collected" and

" sampled" refer to the 24-hour extrapolated totals based on (usually)

{ 18 hours2.083333e-4 days <br />0.005 hours <br />2.97619e-5 weeks <br />6.849e-6 months <br /> of actual sampling. The terms " estimate" or " estimated" imply j the weekly or annual projected impingement catches.

3.2.1 Bay Anchovy (Anchos mitchilli) l The bay anchovy ranked ninth in overall abundance and was the fif th most j abundant fish species impinged (Table 3-1). The 3,642 specimens collec-ted from the screens represented 7.7 percent of the total number of fish collected. The small average size of individual bay anchovy relegated i the species to the 19th position in terms of total weight collected.

i Night catches accounted -for 85 percent of the catch (Table 3-5). .When

! the sampling catch of bay anchovy was extrapolated over the 7-month study period (" annual estimate"), the result was 26,187 specimens weighing 86.4 kilograms (Table 3-6).

l Bay anchovy were most abundant in impingement catches during the first

half of the study period.(September - early December). Over 90 percent 4 of the total estimated catch for the 7-month period was impinged during i the first half (Table 3-4). The highest weekly estimate of 3,921 fish (13.08 kg) occurred during the week of 11 October, i

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The annual impingement catch of this species during 1982-1983 was the lowest in eight years of record (Figure 3-3). Part of the reason involves the shutdown of OCNGS from early spring through August; the spring and summer months are typically periods of relatively high impingement of bay anchovy. The shutdown is not the sole reason for the icwer abundance in 19F2-1983, however. During the first 14 weeks of 1982, approximately 3,400 individuals were estimated to have been l impinged. During the same period in the previous study year (1981-1982),

l nearly 55,000 bay anchovy were estimated to have been impinged (Ecologi-cal Analysts 1983). By inference, the number of bay anchovy available in Barnegat Bay was considerably lower in 1982. Whether or not this signals a continued decline in the Bay population is not evident from the impingement data. Previous annual reports (Ecological Analysts 1981, 1982, 1983) discussed possible reasons for the apparent decline in the bay anchovy population. Possible contributing factors considered were predation on early life stages by etenophores or Atlantic silverside, and the ef fects of entrainment of eggs and larvae into the OCNGS cooling system, but nothing was substantiated. The situation remains unresolv-able because of the lack of information on bay anchovy populations out-side of Barnegat Bay. That is, because chere are no comparable data for other nearby estuaries during the period in question, it is not clear whether the apparent decline in the population is limited to Barnegat Bay or whether it is symptomatic of a more widespread population decline.

3.2.2 Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia)

Atlantic silverside was the most abundant fish in the impingement collec-tions during 1982-1983 (Table 3-1) . The 16,841 individuals r(presented 36 percent of the fish catch by number, but only 8 percent by weight (Table 3-2) because of their relatively small size. Catches were slightly greater at night (60 percent). The estimated number impinged during the period early September - late March was 117,009 (528.5 kg)

(Table 3-6).

The distribution of weekly estimated impingement catches (Tables 3-3 and 3-4) show greater abundance during fall and winter. This is a typi-cal pattern for the Atlantic silverside based on previous study years.

Substantial numbers were impinged beginning in mid-October, with a peak of 29,064 individuals (132.81 kg). Later catches were variable, but remained relatively high through the remainder of the study period.

Insofar as the rate of impingement of a species reflects its population level in Barnegat Bay, the Atlantic silverside has increased in number substantially compared to the previous study year (Figure 3-3). Because they are relatively few in impingement collections during the warm sea-sons, the estimated annual catch would not have been much higher had the plant operated from April through August of 1983. The total estimated catch for 1982-1983 was the fourth highest in the eight years of record.

The pattern of annual abundance depicted in Figure 3-3 suggests that impingement catches reflect natural annual fluctuations in abundance of the species in Barnegat Bay.

3-3

1 3.2.3 Northern Pipefish (Synanathus fuscus) l l

l The northern pipefish was the third most abundant fish; 4,069 individuals I

weighing 8.3 kilograms were collected from the OCNGS screens (Tables 3-1, and 3-2). Eighty percent of the pipefish were impinged at night (Table

3-5). Extrapolation of the weekly collection numbers over the entire

7-month study period yielded an " annual" estimate of 28,021 individuals (57.17 kg) (Table 3-6).

1

Northern pipefish were present during the entire study period (Table 3-3). Pipefish were consistently abundant from late October through November, with episodic periods of relative abundance af ter that. The greatest estimated catch of 3,901 individuals occurred during the week of 13 December. Generally greater abundance during the late October through November period is consistent with data from previous study years (Ecological Analysts 1981, 1982, 1983).

i l The representation of the annual catch of northern pipefish in 1982-1983 in Figure 3-3 is misleading because the April - August period is not i

included. Had that period been sampled, the annual catch would likely have been greater than the previous year; this would have made it one of the higher annual catches of the 8-year record. The variability in annual impingement catches among the eight years may reflect normal pop-ulation level fluctuation in Barnegat Bay.

i 3.2.4 Winter Flounder (Pseudooleuronectes americanuc)

In terms of numbers impinged, the winter flounder was second only to j the Atlantic silver.<ide (Table 3-1), and was first among fish species in total weight (Table 3-2) . The winter flounder catch composed 11 q~ percent of the number and 39 percent of the weight of all impinged fish, i Over 80 percent were collected in night samples. A total of 37,170 winter flounder weighing 2,398.8 kilograms were estimated to have been impinged during the 7-month study period (Table 3-6).

i The species was absent during the early part of the study period but began to appear in impingement collections in October (Table 3-3).

Low to moderate numbers were estimated to have been impinged on a weekly basis through the week of 6 December. Weekly impingement esti-mates increased dramatically af ter that and stayed relatively high except for several weeks in February and March. This pattern of few or no fish

! in September then increasing numbers to a winter peak has been documented i in previous study years. It represents the migration of adults into - the 2

Bay for the purpose of spawning.

The estimated " annual" impingement catch of winter flounder is the third largest in the 8-year record (Figure 3-3). Since the period in 1983 dur-ing which OCNGS was shut down (late March - August) is typically a period of relatively low abundance, the 1982-1983 annual estimate would not have been much greater had the plant operated through the period in question. ,.

The factors af fecting abundance of winter flounder in impingement samples from year to year have been discussed in previous reports (Ecological Analysts 1981, 1982, 1983). To a large extent, the annual impingement of this species is influenced by plant operating schedules. Because it 3-4

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i is only abundant in winter, winter outages of OCNGS can have a great I influence on the annual estimate. Significantly , the 1982-1983 estimate, third largest in eight years, is for a year in which OCNGS operated throughout the normal period of winter flounder abundance.

3.2.5 Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)

Weakfish ranked ninth in abundance and tenth in weight among fish

! impinged on the OCNGS screens (Tables 3-1 and 3-2). The 913 individuals impinged constituted 2 percent of all fish collected. Most of those collected were taken during nighttime sampling (Table 3-5). Extrapola-tion of weekly estimates over the 7-month study period yielded 6,372 individuals weighing 102 kilograms (Table 3-6) .

Based on weekly estimates of numbers and weight impinged (Table 3-3 and 3-4), weakfish displayed a typical pattern of abundance. The population is primarily juveniles that migrate into the Bay as larvae and quickly grow to a size vulnerable to impingement. Their movement out of the Bay in autumn reduces impingement numbers to zero. The peak weekly estimate of 1,823 individuals and 36 kilograms occurred during the week of 11 October.

The " annual" estimate of the number of weakfish impinged was the second lowest in the 8-year record (Figure 3-3). It can only be conjectured what annual total would have resulted had OCNGS operated from late March through August 1 83. Given a catch distribution in 1983 similar to 1981-1982, a 12 d'th annual estimate would have been little different than that for 7-month period, September 1982 - March 1983. This is because only 5 percent of the annual total impingement for 1981-1982 occurred af ter March (Ecological Analysts 1983, Table 3-4). Conversely, during the 1980-1981 study year, fully 75 percent of the impingement catch occurred af ter March (Ecological Analysts 1982, Table 4-5). Were the latter scenario to have been realized in the present study year, the annual estimate for 1982-1983 would have been four times as large. This illustrates the effect of year-class strength on the annual estimates.

For example, the highest annual impingement estimate in the 8-year record (1979-1980) was a result cf large catches, both in the fall (1979 year-class) and the following summer (1980 year-class).

3.2.6 Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis)

The 4,069 specimens of blueback herring collected composed 8.5 percent of the fish catch. The corresponding total weight of the sampling catch was 20.5 kilograms (2 percent of total). Seventy-seven percent of the nurloers and 62 percent of the weight was impinged at night (Table 3-5).

T'ae " annual" 7-month estimate of numbers and weight impinged were 26,044 individuals and 143.2 kilograms (Table 3-6) .

Blueback herring were present in impingement collections during all but a few weeks of the study period (Table 3-3). Their greatest abundance occurred from mid-December through mid-January. Nearly 9,000 were esti-mated to have been impinged during the week of 3 January.

3-5

l Based on impingement collections, there were more blueback lerring in Barnegat Bay in 1982-1983 than the previous year.(Figure 2-3). With the 4 exception of 1978-1979, annual estimates have been relatively consistent.

The impingement catch is mainly composed of young of the year that use Barnegat Bay as a nursery ground during their first summer.

3.2.7 Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)

The impingement catch of Atlantic menhaden was essentially identical to i

that of weakfish; 909 individuals were collected that togethe; weighed 20.2 kilograms (Tables 3-1 and 3-2), or 2 percent of both tottal number and weight of fish impinged. The day-night distribution of the catch is curious because, whereas 72 percent of the individuals were impinged during the day, these only composed 20 percent of the weight impinged (Table 3-5). When the average weight per individual is calculated from the data in Table 3-5, the results are 6 and 63 grams for day and night respec tiv ely . This is a result of a large influx of young of the year during daylight sampling periods in the week of 17 January. This one i spate accounted for 60 percent of all menhaden collected during the study period. The estimated total impinged during the 7-month study period was 6,324 individuals (140.2 kg) (Table 3-6).

Atlantic menhaden were moderately abundant from November through mid-January, af ter which only a few were impinged (Table 3-3). As mentioned above, the peak catch in the week of 17 January was attributable to an influx of young-of-the-year individuals. Typically there is a peak occurrence in the fall-winter and again, sometimes smaller, in summer.

Comparison of Atlantic menhaden annual impingement estimates over the eight years of record (Figure 3-3) reveals little change in the last five years. Had the summer of 1983 been sampled, the estimate may have been higher, but probably not much higher. As inferred from impingement sam-pling, the populations that enter the Bay have been stable in size over the last five years.

3.2.8 Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)

The sampling catch of bluefish totaled 520 individuals weighing 4.8 kilo-grams (Tables 3-1 and 3-2). Seventy percent of these were impinged at night. The total estimated number impinged during the 7-month study period was 3,960 (Table 3-6) .

The entire catch occurred in the first 11 weeks of the study period.

The bluefish in Barnegat Bay are juveniles that enter the Bay in spring, and leave again in fall. The catch distribution in Table 3-3 reflects the availability of the 1982 year-class. When the plant operates year-round, there is a second period of abundance from spring through August (end of August being the arbitrary cutoff point for each study year).

The preceding three study years (1979-1980,1980-1981, and 1981-1982) produced 61, 83, and 60 percent, respectively, of the total bluefish

, catch during the second half of the study year. Had the OCNGS operated i

through this period in 1983, the catch could have been considerably

higher than illustrated in Figure 3-3, perhaps the highest on record.

t i 3-6

\

l i As pointed out (Ecological Analysts 1983), the final annual estimate would have been determined by the size of the 1983 year-class that  ;

entered Barnegat Bay.

3.2.9 Northern Puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus)

Northern puffer were uncommon in impingement samples during the study period-only 94 individuals weighing 10.9 kilogram were collected

. (Tables 3-1 and 3-2). There was little differences between day and night catches. The " annual" (7-month) estimated impingement total was

< 658 individuals and 72.5 kilograms (Table 3-6).

! i All of the northern puffer were impinged during the first three months of i the study period (Table 3-3); the peak estimated number impinged per week (182) occurred during the week of 11 October. The impingement of north- .

ern puffer is typically a warm season phenomenon. In previous study l years, when OCNGS operated through spring and summer, the species would begin to show up on the screens again in the spring.

The " annual" estimate of number impinged was similar to the low estimates in all study years except 1977-1978 and 1980-1981. The estimate would undoubtedly have been higher had OCNGS operated from April through August 1983. However, the estimate would still have been low, compared to 1977-1978 and 1980-1981, had OCNGS operated all year. By comparing trawl and seine catches and impingement rates for six study years beginning in 1975-1976, Ecological Analysts (1982) concluded that impingement catches directly reflect abundance of northern pufrer in Barnegat Bay. The rela-tively large catches in 1977-1978 and 1980-1981 were attributed to large young-of-the-year classes. These year-classes had no apparent effect on the subsequent years' abundances, and the species continues in decline.

3.2.10 Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)

, A total of 372 summer flounder, or < 1 percent of total, were collected from the OCNGS screens during the study period. Although 16th in num-erical abundance among fish, they were 4th in abundance in terms of weight (Tables 3-1 and 3-2). They were slightly more abundant in night samples (58 percent). The estimated total number impinged for the 7-

, month study period was 2,566 (44.0 kg).

Summer flounder were present in impingement samples through mid-January ,

but were abundant only in October (Table 3-3). The peak of abundance l occurred during the week of 19 October when 1,145 flounder were estimated to have been impinged. Based on sampling data from previous study years, summer flounder are typically most abundant in impingement catches in the fall.

i The " annual" estimate of the number impinged at OCNGS was nearly three i times higher than the previous study year (1981-1982), but was yet one i of the lower estimates of record (Figure 3-3). Discussions by Metzger (1978) seem to suggest that the year-to-year fluctuations in abundance )

, of summer flounder in Barnegat Bay may be a result of variable spawning success in the ocean.

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3.2.11 Northern Kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis)

Four northern kingfish were collected during the period, September 1982 i through March 1983. This species has been rare since impingement collec-

,' tions began in 1975. Boyle (1978) outlined the historical catch of this species in Barnegat Bay and examined the reduction of numbers collected in the Bay after 1967.

3.2.12 Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)

No striped bass were collected from the OCNGS screens during the study period, nor have any been collected since EA began impingement monitoring

! in 1979. Metzger (1979) reported that the species is rarely encountered in Barnegat Bay in recent years.

3.2.13 Sand Shrimp (Crannon septemspinosa)

The sand shrimp was the most abundant organism impinged at OCNGS in terms of both number and weight (Tables 3-1 and 3-2). Sand shrimp made up nearly 90 percent of the total number of individuals of fish and macro-invertebrates collected. Due to the relatively small size, the sand

shrimp accounted for only 28.5 percent of the total weight of impinged organisms. Ninety-one percent of the sand shrimp were collected in night samples. The " annual" estimate of numbers and weight impinged was 4,912,601 individuals and 4,869.7 kilograms (Table 3-6) .

1 The sand shrimp was virtually absent during the first month of the study period, with numbers beginning to increase in October (Table 3-3).

Numbers remained high throughout the remainder of the study period with peaks in mid-December and late January. Based on previous years' results, the organisms probably remained relatively abundant in the vicinity of OCNGS until July or August, when there was probably a sharp reduction in abundance. This has been a typical pattern in previous study years.

The " annual" estimate of nearly 5 million sand shrimp impinged is one of the highest in the eight years of record (Figure 3-3). Had the April -

August period been sampled in 1983, the estimate might have approached that of the 1980-1981 study period. Annual abundance of sand shrimp in the vicinity of OCNGS has been variable over the last eight years.

Although some of this variability can be attributed to shutdowns of OCNGS

. during periods of abundance, not all of it can be thus explained. Moore (1978) cited the severe winter of 1976-1977 and/or the presence of anoxic bottom waters off the coast of New Jersey in late summer - early fall 1976, as possible reasons for the low impingement catch in 1976-1977.

Ecological Analysts (1983) cited severe winter conditions in 1982 as one possible reason for the relatively low catch. The fact that the 1982-1983 winter was relatively mild and impingement of sand shrimp was much -

greater than the previous year gives some credence to severe cold weather

. as at least one factor contributing ' to low rates of impingement of sand shrimp.

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3.2.14 Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

The bice crab ranked fourth in number and second in ueight among all organisms collected from September 1982 to March 1983 (Tables 3-1 and 3-2). A total of 6,321 specimens weighing 654.6 kilograms were collee-ted. Although the total number represents <1 percent of all organisms collected, the total weight of blue crab composed nearly 27 percent of the total weight. Three-fourths of the crabs appeared in night samples.

Extrapolation of weekly sample totals over the entire 7-month period yielded an annual estimate of 46,259 individuals and 4,745.6 kilograms.

The blue crab exhibited a typical pattern of abundance during the warmer season and variable, but lesser, numbers during the winter (Table 3-3).

The greatest weekly estimate of abundance (9,246 individuals) occurred during the first week of the study period. Numbers remained relatively high into November, at which time they began to decline and became scarce or absent by mid-December.

The " annual" abundance estimate for the blue crab of 46,259 individuals was the lowest in eight years of record (Figure 3-3). This is largely misleading because the period during which OCNGS was shut down (April -

August 1983) is typically a period of high abund:n=e of blue crab. For example, in the 1981-1902 stuoy year, o3 percent of blue crabs were inpinged during this period. The total number impinged during 1982-1983 would undoubtedly have been larger had OCNGS operated through spring and summer 1983; how much larger is impossible to estimate lacking sampling data for the spring-summer period.

In previous annual reports, Ecological Analysts (1981,1982) identified an inverse relationship between the average size of crabs impinged and the total estimated number impinged in a given year. It was theorized that when the blue crabs in the vicinity of OCNGS were larger, and thus less vulnerable to impingement, fewer were impinged. This relationship was consistent for the first seven years of record and is further sub-stantiated when data from the present study year are included:

Mean Weight (z)

Year Per Crab 1975-1976 9.1 1976-1977 47.0 1977-1978 18.0 1978-1979 52.8 1979-1980 64.7 1980-1981 21.2 1981-1982 58.8 1982-1983 103.6 When these data are compared with Figure 3-3, it is clear that the three highest annual estimates were for study years in which the average weight per crab was lowest. The average weight for 1982-1983 was the highest in i eight years. This is consistent with the relatively low annual estimate.

However, as pointed out above, a significant portion of the annual esti-mate would have come from the April - August 1983 period when CCNGS was 3-9

not operating. No estimate can be made for impingement during this period, but the pattern shown thus far with regard to impingement numbers and size of crabs suggests that a 12-month estimate of impingement for 1982-1983 would not have been much larger than the 7-month estimate shown in Figure 3-3, at least not comparable to the 1975-1976, 1977-1978, and 1980-1981 study years.

3.3 WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH IMPINGEMENT SAMPLING Water temperature at the OCNGS intake ranged from -0.80C on 17 January 1983 to 23.80C on 13 September 1982 (Table 3-7) . The winter was rela-l tively mild in that water temperature fell below 20C during only one l week (17 January) of the study period. In contrast, there was a 4-week period in the 1981-1982 study period during which intake water tempera-tures remained below 20C (Ecological Analysts 1983).

Dissolved oxygen values followed a typical pattern of lower readings in the warm season and high readings in the winter (Table 3-8). The range was from 6.1 mg/ liter on 19 September 1982 to 13.6 mg/ liter on 21 February 1983.

Salinity values (Table 3-9) ranged from 12.2 ppt or.14 February 1983 to 27.1 ppt on 20 December 1982. The salinity values were rather consistent through the study period except in the last few weeks when there was a noticeable lowering of values due to freshwater runoff. The surface water salinities on 14 February are dramatically lower than the values recorded during the previous or following week. The fact that this sharp drop was not also seen in bottom waters suggests it was a result of dilu-tion of surf ace water with rain runoff.

Daily ranges of pH measurements are shown in Table 3-10.

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TABLE 3-1 TOTAL EXTRAPOLATED NUMBER, PERCENT COMPOSITION, AND CUMULATIVE PERCENT OF FINFISH, OTHER VERTEBRATES, AND MACR 0 INVERTEBRATES COLLECTED FROM THE TRAVELING SCREENS AT THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION DURING 29 24-HOUR SAMPLING PERIODS, SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 Cumulative Species Name Number Percent Percent Cranton septemspinosa 707,969 87.2$ 87.25 Palaemonetes vulgaris 43 ,1 27 5.32 92.57 Menidia menidia 16,841 2.08 94.65 Callinectes sapidus 6,321 0.78 95.43 Pseudopleuronectes americanus 5,374 0.66 96.09 Phylum Nemertea 4,700 0.58 96.67 Synanathus fuscus 4,069 0.50 97.17 Alosa aestivalis 3,732 0.46 97.63 Anchos mitchilli 3,644 0.45 98.08 Leiostomus xanthurus 3,205 0.39 98.47 Etropus microstomus 1,771 0.21 98.68 ovalipes ocellatus 1,071 0.13 98.81 Gobiosoma bosci 1,056 0.13 98.94 Cynoscion regalis 913 0.11 99.06 Brevoortia tyrannus 90 6 0.11 99.17 Apeltes cuadracus 725 0.09 99.26 Hippocampus erectus 53 0 0.07 99.32 Pomatomus saltatrix 520 0.06 99.39 Prionotus evolans 485 0.06 99.45 Anguilla rostrata 462 0.06 99.51 Cancer irroratus 447 0.06 99.56 Paralichthys dentatus 372 0.05 99.61 Myoxocephalus aenaeus 355 0.04 99.65 00sanus tau 347 0.04 99.69 Tautora onitis 191 0.02 99.72 Penaeus aztecus 173 0.02 99.74 Gasterosteus aculeatus 146 0.02 99.76 Alosa pseudoharenaus 142 0.02 99.78 Sconhthalmus acuosus 138 0.02 99.79 Trinectes maculatus 128 0.02 99.81 Urophycis chuss 120 0.01 99.82 Caranx hinoos 113 0.01 99.84 cvorinodon variegatus 110 0.01 99.85 Anchos hepsetus 109 0.01 99.86 Ammodytes americanus 103 0.01 99.88 Note: See Appendix for scientific and common name list.

TABLE 3-1 (CONT. )

1 Cumulative Species Ncme Number Percent Percent Fundulus heteroclitus 101 0.01 99.89 Sphoeroides maculatus 94 0.01 99.90 Alosa sapidissima 65 0.01 99.91 Ophidion marrinatum 65 0.01 99.92 chaetodon ocellatus 54 0.01 99.92 Class Scyphozoa 50 0.01 99.93 Morone americana 47 0.01 99.94 Astroscopus guttatus 30 0.00 99.94 Libinia dubia 30 0.00 99.94 centropristis striata 30 0.00 99.95 Muril curema 29 0.00 99.95 Neopanone savi 25 0.00 99.95 Dorosoma cepedianum 24 0.00 99.96 conter oceanicus 24 0.00 99.96 Merluccius bilinearis 23 0.00 99.96 Urophycis rezius 22 0.00 99.97 Prionotus carolinus 21 0.00 99.97 Panurus lonzicarpus 18 0.00 99.97 carcinus maenas 16 0.00 99.97 Peorilus triacanthus 14 0.00 99.97 l l

Limulus polvphemus 14 0.00 99.98 Family Ianthidae 13 0.00 99.98 Stronavlura marina 12 0.00 99.98 Tautorolabrus adspersus 12 0.00 99.98 Chilomycterus schoepfi 11 0.00 99.98 Chasmodes bosauianus 10 0.00 99.98 Lutianus ariseus 10 0.00 99.98 Menidia beryllina 9 0.00 99.99 Class Holothuroiden 9 0.00 99.99 Cobiosoma rinsburti 8 0.00 99.99 Sphyraena borealis 8 0.00 99.99 Membras martinica 6 0.00 99.99 Muril cephalus 6 0.00 99.99 Dasvatis savi 6 0.00 99.99 Enneacanthus obesus 6 0.00 99.99 callinectes similis 5 0.00 99.99 Malaclemys terrapin 5 0.00 99.99 Fistularia tabacaria 4 0.00 99.99 Portunus gibbesi 4 0.00 99.99 Bairdiella chrysura 4 0.00 99.99 caranx crysos 4 0.00 99.99

TABLE 3-1 (CONT.)

Cumulative Species'Name Number Percent Percent Menticirrhus saxatilis 4 0.00 100.00 Hvoorhamphus unifasciatus 4 0.00 100.00 Engraulis eurystole 4 0.00 100.00 Stenotomus chrysoes 4 0.00 100.00 Sohyraena muachancho 3 0.00 100.00 i

A1 uterus schoepfi 2 0.00 100.00 Alosa mediocris 2 0.00 100.00 i Mustelus canis 2 0.00 100.00 Enneacanthus gloriosus 2 0.00 100.00 Penaeus setiferus 2 0.00 100.00 Phylum Invertebrata 2 0.00 100.00 Selar crumenochthalmus 2 0.00 100.00 Selene vomer .

2 0.00 100.00 Fundulus diaphanus 2 0.00 100.00 Lolliguncula brevis 2 0.00 100.00 4

Monacanthus hispidus 2 0.00 100.00 Vomer setaninnis 1 0.00 100.00 Lucania parva 1 0.00 100.00 4

1

TABLE 3-2 TOTAL EXTRAPOLATED WEIGHT, PERCENT COMPOSITION, AND CUMULATIVE PERCENT OF FINFISH, OTHER VERTEBRATES, AND MACR 0 INVERTEBRATES COLLECTED FROM THE TRAVELING SCREENS AT THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION DURING 29 24-HOUR SAMPLING PERIODS SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 Cumulative Species Name Weight (Rm) Percent Percent Cranzon septemspinosa 701,255 28.54 28.54 Callinectes sapidus 654,622 26.64 55.18 Pseudopleuronectes americanus 349,683 14.23 69.41 Leiostomus xanthurus 144,404 5.88 75.29 Menidia menidia 76,150 3.10 78.39 Phylum Nemertea 69,108 2.81 81.20 Paralichthys dentatus 63,489 2.58 83.78 Cancer irroratus 54,719 2.23 86.01 Tautoga onitis 43,173 1.76 87.77 Palaemonetes vulgaris 27,178 1.11 88.88 Lieulus polyphemus 21,782 0.89 89.77 4 Anguilla rostrata 20,562 0.84 90.61 -

Alosa aestivalis 20,527 0.84 91.45 Brevoortia tyrannus 20,198 0.82 92.27 Opsanus tau 20,094 0.82 93.09 Ovalipes ocellatus 20,025 0.81 93 .90 Cynoscion regalis 14,658 0.60 94.50 Etropus microstomus 14,310 0.58 95.08 Anchoa mitchilli 11,956 0.49 95.57 Schoeroides maculatus 10,857 0.44 96.01 Prionotus evolans 9,338 0.38 96.3 9 Svngnathus fuscus 8,324 0.34 96.73 Trinectes maculatus 8,305 0.34 97.07 Scophthalmus aquosus 6,479 0.26 97.33 Merone americana 5,6 91 0.23 97.56 Libinia dubia 5,194 0.21 97.77 Pomatomus saltatrix 4,833 0.20 97.97 Alosa pseudoharengus 4,375 0.18 98.15 Caranx hippos 4,185 0.17 98.32 centropristis striata 4,082 0.17 98.49 Myoxocephalus aenaeus 3 ,927 0.16 98.65 l Hippocampus erectus 3,058 0.12 98.77 Class Scyphozoa 2,787 0.11 98.88 Ophidion marginatum 2,758 0.11 98.99 Penaeus aztecus 2,268 0.09 99.08

TABLE 3-2 (CONT.)

Cumulative Species Name Weight (gm) Percent Percent Dasvatis savi 2,144 0.09 99.17 Urophycis chuss 2,069 0.09 99.26 Prionotus carolinus 1,804 0.08 99.34 Urophycis regius 1,343 0.06 99.40 Malaclemys terrapin 1,260 0.05 99.45 Mustelus canis 1,233 0.05 99.50 Astroscopus Ruttatus 1,014 0.04 99.54 Conner oceanicus 995 0.04 99.58 Chilomycterus schoepfi 90 0 0.04 99.62 Carcinus maenas 813 0.03 99.65 Apeltes cuadracus 811 0.03 99.68 Alosa sapidissima 806 0.03 99.71 Gobiosoma bosci 762 0.03 99.74 Caranx crysos 666 0.03 99.77 Anchoa hepsetus 575 0.02 99.79 Merluccius bilinearis 508 0.02 99.81 Dorosoma cepedianum 500 0.02 99.83 Fundulus heteroclitus 484 0.02 99.85 Gasterosteus aculeatus 374 0.02 99.87 Muril curema 337 0.01 99.88 Stenotomus chrysops 319 0.01 99.89 Cyprinodon varieratus 228 0.01 99.88 A1 uterus schoepfi 225 0.01 99.89 Sphyraena borealis 221 0.01 99 .90 Tautorolabrus adspersus 212 0.01 99.91 Alosa mediocris 211 0.01 99.92 Menticirrhus saxatilis 208 0.01 99.93 Ammodytes americanus 205 0.01 99.94 l Chaetodon ocellatus 179 0.01 99.95  !

Strongylura marina 161 0.01 99.96 Peorilus triacanthus 148 0.01 99.97 Class Holothuroidea 136 0.01 99.98 Neopanone savi 116 0.00 99.98 Bairdiella chrysura 112 0.00 99.98 Hyporhamphus unifasciatus 111 0.00 99.98 Muril cephalus 94 0.00 99.98 Selar crumenophthalmus 85 0.00 99.98 Selene vomer 75 0.00 99.98 Fistularia tabacaria 63 0.00 99.98 Monacanthus hispidus 62 0.00 99.98

, s s TABLE 3-2'(CONT.)

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, Cumulative Species Name Weight (am) Percent Percent Panurus longicarpus 48 0.00 99.99 Lucianus ariseus 44 0.00 99.99 0.00 Chasmodes bosauianus s x41 99.99 Lollinuncula brevis 38 0.00 99.99 Sohyraena ruachancho 31 0.00 99.99 Membras martinica 30 0.00 99.99 Family Ianthidae 26 0.00 99.99 Entraulis eurystole 26 0.00 100.00 Phylum Invertebrata 22 0.00 100.00 Enneacanthus obesus 19 0.00 100.00 callinectes similis 16 0.00 100.00 Fundulus diaohanus 14 0.00 100.00 Portunus ribbesi

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12 0.00 100.00 Menidia bervilina 9 0.00 100.00 Gobiosoma minsburri 8 0.00 100.00 Penaeus setiferus 4 0.00 100.00 Ennescanthus rioriosus 2 0.00 100.00 Vomer setaninnis 2 0.00 100.00 Lucania parva '

1 0.00 100.00

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TABLE 3-5 DAY-NICitT COMPARISONS OF NUMBERS AND WE1 gilts (gm) 0F SELECTED SPECIES COLLECTED FROM THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION TRAVELING SCREENS, SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARC 11 1983 Pe,rcent Percent Number Collected Catch WeiRht Collected Catch Night Night Day Night Night Species Day callinectes sapidus 1 ,5 90 4,731 74.84 182,473 472,149 72.13 Pseudopleuronectes americanus 933 4,441 82.63 81,116 268,567 76 .80 Crangon septemspinosa 61,059 646,909 91.3 8 59,266 641,989 91.55 Cynoscion regalis 112 80 1 87.72 2,077 12,582 85.83 Paralichthys dentatus 156 216 58.16 26,566 36,924 58.16 6,639 10,202 60.58 29,544 46,606 61.20 Menidia menidia Anguilla rostrata_ 105 357 77.37 9,592 10,970 53.35 Tautoga onitis 93 98 51.43 19,924 23,249 53 .85 Class Scyphozoa 26 25 49.28 2,104 683 24.51 Brevoortia tyrannus 648 257 28.39 3,943 16,251 80.47 Opsanus tau 83 264 75.99 2,163 17,932 89.24 Prionotus evolans 82 403 83.18 2,363 6,976 74.70 Anchoa mitchilli 53 1 3,112 85.43 1,730 10,227 85.53 Alosa aestivalis 851 2,881 77.20 7,796 12,730 62.02 Trinectes maculatus 29 100 77.71 1,632 6,674 80 .3 5 Leiostomus xanthurus 1,176 2,028 63.30 53 ,910 90,494 62.67 Etropus microstomus 368 1,403 79.23 2,621 11,689 81.68 Pomatomus saltatrix 156 364 69.95 992 3,840 79.46 Palaemonetes vulgaris 5,494 37,633 87.26 3,371 23 ,806 87.60 Synanathus fuscus 807 3,262 80.17 1,480 6,845 82.23 Cobiosoma bosci 26 9 787 74.57 192 570 74.78 Schoeroides maculatus 40 54 57.37 5,738 5,119 47.15 Menticirrhus saxatilis 0 4 100.00 0 208 100.00 Ovalipes ocellatus 173 898 83.82 4,232 15,793 78.87 Other Organisms 1,298 7,455 85.17 65,653 143,968 68.68 Totals 82,718 728,685 89.81 570,478 1,886,841 76.78

TABLE 3-6 TOTAL ESTIMATED NUMBER AND WEIGHT (kg) WITH 80 PERCENT CONFIDENCE INTERVALS OF KEY AND ABUNDANT SPECIES IMPINGED AT THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR g ERATING STATION. SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 Species Number Weight Blueback herring 26,0441.10,003 143.22170.33 Atlantic menhaden 6,324 1.5,691 140.221.56.44 Bay anchovy 26,1871.5,831 86.041,20.04 Atlantic silverside 117,0091,50,603 528.851.232.49 Northern pipefish 28,021!.9,732 57.171.18.36 Bluefish 3,960!.740 33.191.19.21 Weakfish 6,3721.2,890 101.971.55.54 Northern kingfish 291.34 1.4911.66 Summer flounder 2,5661.1,071 439.801.195.76 Winter flounder 37,1701.17,248 2,398.791.845.19 Northern puffer 6581.349 72.531.44.10 Grass shrimp 295,3551.83,758 186.441.47.93 Sand shrimp 4,912,6011.1,308,227 4,869.681.1,455.44 Blue crab 46,2591.9,683 4,745.631,1,037.22 Total (b) 5,629,917 .1,316,351 17,231.91 1,2,798.71 (a) Because of station outage in 1983, the " annual" estimates represent only a 7-month period.

(b) Total includes all species collected from screens.

_m.,. _

1 l

l TABLE 3-7 MEAN WATER-TEMPERATURE VALUES (C) DURING DAY (INTD)

AND NIGHT (INTN) IMPINGEMENT SAMPLING AT THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION INTAKE, SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 Surface Bottom Date INTD INTN Mean INTD INTN Mean 7 SEP P2 21.5 20.4 20.9 21.5 20.4 20.9 13 SEP 82 23 .8 23 .8 23.8 23.8 23.7 23.7 19 SEP 82 21.7 19.S 20.7 21.7 19.7 20.7 27 SEP 82 20.3 19.7 20.0 20.3 19.7 20.0 4 OCT 82 20.1 19.2 19.7 20.2 19.2 19.7 11 OCT 82 15.9 15.8 15.8 15.9 15.8 15.9 19 OCT 82 12.8 15.1 14.0 12.7 15.1 13.9 26 OCT 82 10.7 11.0 10.8 10.7 11.1 10.9 1 NOV 82 18.1 16.2 17.2 17.8 15.9 16.8 8 NOV 82 10.8 12.1 11.4 10.7 11.8 11.2 15 NOV 82 8.4 9.0 8.7 8.3 8.9 8.6 22 NOV 82 12.1 11.1 11.6 12.0 11.1 11.5 29 NOV 82 7.9 9.0 8.4 7.8 8.9 8.4 6 DEC 82 11.1 13.8 12.4 11.0 13.7 12.4 13 DEC 82 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.3 20 DEC 62 2.4 3.3 2.8 2.2 3.2 2.7 27 DEC 82 9.3 6.6 7.9 9.2 6.3 7.7 3 JAN 83 4.2 4.4 4.3 4.0 4.5 4.2 10 JAN 83 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.8 6.9 6.8 17 JAN 83 -0.4 1.9 0.7 -0.8 1.9 0.5 24 JAN 83 2.0 2.2 2.1 1.9 1.9 1.9 31 JAN 83 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1 7 FEB 83 1.5 2.2 1.9 1.4 2.2 1.8 14 FEB 83 2.1 0.3 1.2 0.9 -0.1 0.4 21 FEB 83 5.6 4.9 5.2 5.3 4.7 5.0 1 MAR 83 4.5 6.2 5.4 4.4 6.1 5.2 7 MAR 83 6.5 6.9 6.7 6.3 7.0 6.6 14 MAR 83 7.5 7.0 7.3 7.4 7.0 7.2 22 MAR 83 8.3 6.3 7.4 8.4 6.1 7.3 Mean 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.5 9.6 9.6

TABLE 3-8 MEAN DISSOLVED OXYGEN VALUES (mg/1) DURING DAY (INTE)

AND HIGHT (INTN) IMPINGE}ENT SAMPLING AT THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GLNERATING STATION INTAKE, SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 Surface Bottom Date INTD INTN Mean INTD INTN Mean 7 SEP 82 6.6 7 .4 7.0 6.5 7.4 7.0 13 SEP 82 6.9 7.3 7.1 6.9 7.3 7.1 19 SEP 82 6.7 6 .1 6.4 6.7 6 .1 6.4 27 SEP 82 7.6 6.9 7.2 7.6 6.9 7.2 4 OCT 82 7.9 8.1 8.0 7.9 8.1 8.0 11 OCT 82 8.3 8.5 S.4 8.2 8.5 8.4 19 OCT 82 8.6 8.1 8.4 8.6 8.1 8.4 26 OCT 82 8.9 8.9 8.9 8.9 9.0 8.9 1 NOV 82 8.4 9.5 8.9 8.4 9.5 9.0 8 NOV 82 8.9 8.8 8.9 8.9 8.9 8.9 15 NOV 82 8.5 7.7 8.1 8.5 7.7 8.1 22 NOV 82 8.0 9.4 8.7 8.0 9.5 8.8 29 NOV 82 9.0 9.1 9.0 9.1 9.1 9.1 6 DEC 82 9.7 8.5 9.1 9.7 8.5 9.1 13 DEC 82 11.2 10.9 11.1 11.5 11.0 11.2 20 DEC 82 10.7 10.4 10.5 10.9 10.6 10.8 27 DEC 82 9.0 10.0 9.5 9.1 10.1 9.6 3 JAN 83 11.1 11.0 11.0 11.3 11.2 11.2 10 JAN 83 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.7 9.5 9.6 17 JAN 83 12.1 11.7 11.9 12.4 11.8 12.1 24 JAN 83 12.1 12.4 12.3 12.2 12.5 12.3 31 JAN 83 11.4 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.2 11.3 7 FEB 83 11.9 11.8 11.9 12.1 11.8 12.0 14 FEB 83 11.6 12.3 11.9 12.1 12.5 12.3 l 21 FEB 83 12.3 13.3 12.8 12.6 13.6 13.1 1 MAR 83 11.3 9.9 10.6 11.4 9.9 10.7 7 MAR 83 10.7 10.8 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.8 14 MAR 83 12.0 11.5 11.7 12.1 11.6 11.8 22 MAR 83 11.1 11.6 11.3 10.7 11.4 11.0 Mean 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.8 9.8 9.8

TABLE 3-9 MEAN SALINITY VALUES (ppt) DURING DAY (INTD) AND NIGHT (INTN) IMPINGEMENT SAMPLING AT THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERITING STATION INTAKE, SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 _

Surface , Bottom Date INTD INTN Mean INTD INTN Mean 7 SEP 82 24.2 23.0 23.6 24.2 23 .0 23 .6 13 SEP 82 24.1 23 .9 24.0 24.1 24.0 24.0 19 SEP 82 26 .3 26 .0 26 .1 26.3 26 .0 26 .1 27 SEP 82 24.3 25.7 25.0 24.2 25.7 24.9 4 OCT 82 23 .0 25.3 24.1 23 .0 25.2 24.1 11 OCT 82 25.6 25.9 25.8 25.6 25.9 25.8 19 OCT 82 25.2 25.1 25.1 25.2 25.0 25.1 26 0CT 82 23.5 24.2 23 .9 23.5 24.2 23 .9 1 NOV 82 24.9 24.8 24.8 24.8 24.6 24.7 8 NOV 82 25.3 25.1 25.2 25.2 24.9 25.1 ,

15 NOV 82 25.2 25.1 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.2 22 NOV 82 24.4 21.9 23 .1 24.4 21.9 23.2 29 NOV 82 23 .9 24.9 24.4 23 .9 24.9 24.4 6 DEC 82 23.8 23.9 23 .9 23 .8 23 .8 23 .8 13 DEC 82 24.1 26 .0 25.1 24.1 26.1 25.1 20 DEC 82 25.2 27.3 26 .2 25.2 27.1 26 .2 27 DEC 82 24.0 23 .2 23.6 24.0 23 .2 23.6 3 JAN 83 24.6 25.6 25.1 24.5 25.4 24.9 10 JAN 83 25.5 23 .9 24.7 25.5 23 .9 24.7 17 JAN 83 24.2 25.4 24.8 24.2 25.4 24.8 24 JAN 83 23 .2 22.0 22.6 24.4 27.0 25.7 31 JAN 83 24.2 27.3 25.7 24.2 27.3 25.7 7 FEB 83 24.9 24.3 24.6 25.0 24.3 24.7 14 FEB 83 12.2 14.8 13.5 23 .8 23.3 23 .5 l 21 FEB 83 21.0 21.6 21.3 22.0 22.4 22.2 1 MAR 83 23.8 21.9 22.8 23 .8 22.4 23.1 7 MAR 83 19.1 22.1 20.6 19.6 22.1 20.8 14 MAR 83 20.8 20.6 20.7 20.9 20.7 20.8 22 MAR 83 18.1 20.6 19.2 19.5 20.5 20.0 Mean 23 .4 23 .9 23.6 23.9 24.3 24.1 1

TABLE 3-10 RANGE OF pH READINGS AMONG SURFACE / BOTTOM AND DAY / NIGHT MEASUREMENTS, OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION INIAKE, SEPTEMBER 1982 -

MARCH 1983 _

Week of pH Measurement Range 7 SEP 82 7.7 - 8.0 13 SEP 82 7.6 - 7.9 19 SEP 82 7.1 - 8.1 27 SEP 82 7.4 - 8.1 4 OCT 82 7.7 - 8.2 11 OCT 82 7.8 - 8.1 19 OCT 82 7.7 - 8.3 26 OCT 82 7.9 - 8.1 1 NOV 82 7.7 - 8.2 8 NOV 82 8.1 - 8.2 15 NOV 82 8.1 - 8.2 22 NOV 82 7.8 - 8.1 29 NOV 82 8.0 - 8.2 6 DEC 82 7.8 - 8.2 13 DEC 83 8.0 - 8.2 20 DEC 82 8.1 - 8.3 27 DEC 82 7.8 - 8.3 3 JAN 83 8.0 - 8.1 10 JAN 83 7.9 - 8.3 17 JAN 83 8.0 - 8.2 24 JAN 83 8.0 - 8.2 31 JAN 83 8.0 - 8.2 7 FEB 83 7.9 - 8.1 14 FEB 83 7.0 - 7.9 21 FEB 83 8.1 - 8.3 1 MAR 83 7.8 - 8.3 7 MAR 83 7.8 - 8.1 14 MAR 83 8.0 - 8.2 22 MAR 83 7.8 - 8.2 W. g - , - ~ . < s

1 l

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REFERENCES Boyle, M.F. 1979. Commercial fisheries, in Ecological Studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station. Progress Report for the Period ,

September 1977 - August 1978 (D.J. Danila and C.B. Milstein and i Associates, eds.), pp. 88-89. Ichthyological Associates, Inc.

Ithaca, N.Y.

Danila, D.J. , C.3. Milstein, and Associates , eds. 1979. Ecological Studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station. Progress Repo-t for the Period September 1977 - August 1978. Ichthyological Associates, Inc., Ithaca, N.Y.

Ecological Analysts, Inc. 1981. Ecological Studies at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Progress Report, September 1979 - August 1980. EA, Sparks, Md.

Ecological Analysts, Inc. 1982. Ecological Studies at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Progress Report, September 1980 -

August 1981. EA, Sparks, Md.

Ecological Analysts, Inc. 1983. Ecological Studies at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Progress Report, September 1981 - August 1982. EA, Sparks, Md.

Ichthyological Associates. 1977. Ecological Studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station, Vols. 1 and 2. Progress Report for the Period September 1975 - August 1976 (T.R. Tatham, D.J. Danila, and D.L. Thomas, eds.). IA, Ithaca, N.Y.

Ichthyological Associates. 1978. Ecological Studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station, Vols. I and 2. Progress Report for the Period September 1976 - August 1977 (T.R. Tatham, D.J. Danila, and D.L. Thomas, eds.). IA, Ithaca, N.Y.

Jersey Central Power and Light company. 1978. 316(a) and (b) Demonstra-tion for the Oyster Creek and Forked River Nuclear Generating Stations.

, Jersey Central L, Morristown, N.J.

! Metzger, F., Jr. 1979. Life history studies, in Ecological Studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station. Progress Report for the Period September 1977 - August 1979 (D.J. Danila and C.B. Milstein, eds.),

pp. 6 9-87. Ichthyological Associates, Inc. Ithaca, N.Y.

Moore, D.W. 1978. Sand shrimp, in Ecological Studies for the Oyster Creek Generating Station. Progress Report for the Period September 1976 - August 1977 (T.R. Tatham, D.J. Danila, and D.L. Thomas , eds . ) ,

pp. 242-250. Ichthyological Associates, Inc., Ithaca, N.Y.

Tatham, T.R., D.L. Thomas, and G.L. Miller. 1978. Survival of fishes and macroinvertebrates impinged at Oyster Creek Generating Station, in Fourth National Workshop on Entrainment and Impingement (L.D. Jensen, ed . ) , pp. 23 5-243. EA Communications, Melville, N.Y. 424 pp.

l U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. 1974. Final Environmental Statement Related to Operation of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

l Washington.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 1978. Oyster Creek Nuclear l Generating Station Technical Specifications, Appendix "B" to License  !

No. DPR-16. Washington.

Vouglitois, J.J. 1983. GPU Nuclear Corporation. Personal communication. January 1983.

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. - - - - - - - _ _ , w e-

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APPENDIX:

SPECIES LIST

TABLE A-1 SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES OF FISHES, REPTILES, AND INVERTEBRATES ENCOUNTERED DURING IMPINGEMENT SAMPLING, SEPTEMBER 1982 - MARCH 1983 Seieneific Name Common Name FISH:

i

! Mustelus canis Smooth dogfish Dasvatis savi Bluntnose stingray Annuilla rostrata American. eel Conner oceanicus Conger eel Alosa aestivalis Blueback herring Alosa mediocris Hickory shad i

Alosa oseudoharennus Alewife Alosa sapidissima American shad Brevoortia tyrannus Atlantic menhaden Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad Anchoa hepsetus Striped anchovy

Anchoa m_itchilli Bay anchovy l Enaraulis eurystole Silver anchovy Oosanus tau Oyster toadfish Merluccius bilinearis Silver hake Uroohycis chuss Red hake Urophycis regia Spotted hake Ophidion marginatum Striped cusk-eel Hvoorhamphus unifasciatus Halfbeak Stronavlurs marina Atlantic needlefish Cvorinodon varieratus Sheepshead minnow Fundulus diachanus Banded killifish Fundulus heteroclitus Mummichog Lucania parva Rainwater killifish Membras martinica Rough silverside i

Menidia bervilina Tidewater silverside Menidia menidia Atlantic silverside Aceltes cuadracus Fourspine stickleback Gasterosteus,aculeatus Threespine stickleback l Fistularis tabacaria Bluespotted cornetfish Hinoocamous erectus Lined seahorse Synanathus fuscus Northern pipefish Morone americana White perch Centropristis striata Black sea bass i

Enneacanthus obesus Banded sunfish Ennescanthus rioriosus Bluespotted sunfish Pomatomus saltstrix . Bluefish 4

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TABLE A-1 (CONT.)

Scientific Name Common Name Caranx hippos Crevalle jack

! Caranx crysos Blue runner i Selene vomer Lookdown l Selene setsoinnis Atlantic moonfish Selar crumenophthalmus Bigeye scad l i Lutianus ariseus Gray snapper Stenotomus chrysops Scup Bairdiella chrysura Silver perch Cynoscion reaalis Weakfish Leiostomus xanthurus Spot i

Menticirrhus saxatilis Northern kingfish Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin butterflyfish Tautora onitis Tautog Tautomolabrus adspersus Cunner Mutil cephalus Striped mullet l'

Muril curema White mullet Sohyraena borealis Northern sennet Sohyraena guachancho Guaguanche Astroscopus auttatus Northern stargazer Chasmodes bosouianus Striped blenny Ammodytes americanus American sand lance Gobiosoma bosci Naked goby i Gobiosoma ainsburai Seaboard goby Peorilus triacanthus Butterfish Prionotus carolinus Northern searobin l Prionotus evolans Striped searobin

Myoxocephalus aenaeus Grubby Etropus microstomus Smallmouth flounder

. Paralichthys dentatus Summer flounder Scophthalmus acuosus Windowpane Pseudooleuronectes americanus Winter flounder

! Trinectes maculatus Hogchoker A1 uterus schoeofi Orange filefish 4

Monacanthus hisoidus Planehead filefish Sohoeroides maculatus Northern puffer Chilomycterus schoeofi Striped burrfish REPTILES :

Malaclemys terrapin Diamondback terrapin INVERTEBRATES:

Class Scyphozoa True jellyfishes Class Holothuroidea Sea cucumbers Phylum Nemertea Ribbon worms t

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l TABLE A-1 (CONT.)

Scientific Name Common Name Lolliguncula brevis Squid Limulus polyphemus Horseshoe crab Penaeus aztecus Brown shrimp l Penaeus setiferus White shrimp Palaemonetes vulgaris Grass shrimp Crangon septemspinosa Sand shrimp Pagurus longicarpus Long-armed hermit crab Portunus Ribbesi Portunid crab Callinectes sapidus Blue crab Callinectes similis Lesser blue crab _

Ovalipes ocellatus Lady crab Carcinus maenas Green crab j Cancer irroratus Rock crab Family Xanthidae Mud crabs Neopanope texana savi Mud crab Libinia dubia Spider crab