ML071710047

Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study, Burke County, Georgia from January, 1977, Through December, 1978 Operating License Stage Environmental Report Technical Document.

ML071710047
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle, 05200011
Issue date:	10/31/1982
From:	Wiltz J Georgia Power Co
To:	Office of New Reactors
References
+reviewedcja, AR-07-0924
Download: ML071710047 (39)

Text

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY, BURKE COUNTY, GEORGIA FROM JANUARY, 1977, THROUGH DECEMBER, 1978 OPERATING LICENSE STAGE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TECHNICAL DOCUMENT J. WAYNE WILTZ PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR GEORGIA POWER COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS CENTER OCTOBER, 1982

VEGP - OLSER TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ii LIST OF FIGURES tv INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS 2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3 CONCLUSIONS 5 REFERENCES 6 TABLES 7 FIGURES 34 i

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF TABLES

1. Family, Scientific, and Common Names of Fishes Collected 7 in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

2. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in January, 9 1977, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

3. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in February, 10 1977 , in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

4. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in March, 11 1977 , in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

5. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in May, 12 1977 , in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

6. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in June, 13 1977 , in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

7. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in August, 14 1977, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

8. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in September, 15 1977 , in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

9. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in November, 16 1977, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

10. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in December, 17 1977, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

11. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in March, 18 1978, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

12. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in June, 19 1978, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

13. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in September, 20 1978, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

14. Species and Number of Individuals Collected in December, 21 1978, in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

15. Species and Total Number of Individuals Collected in 1977 22 by Month ii

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF TABLES CONTINUED

16. Species and Total Number of Individuals Collected in 1978 23 by Month

17. Percent Composition of Game and Commercial Species 24

18. Percent Composition of Non-Game and Non-Commercial Species 25

19. Percent Composition of Each Family of Fishes Collected 26

20. Biomass and Percent Composition of Game and Commercial and 27 Non-Game and Non-Commercial Species Collected in the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

21. Mean Lengths in Millimeters with the Range in Parenthesis 29 for Each Species for the Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

22. Range of Physicochemical Data for Each Station for the 33 Beaverdam Creek Resident Fish Study

VEGP - OLSER Beaverdam Creek is located approximately six miles north-northwest of Girard, Burke County, Georgia. The creek is approximately six miles in length and flows east-northeast to its confluence with the Savannah River at approximate river mile 148.4. Daniels Branch, a creek approxi-mately five miles in length, flows southeast and High Head Creek, approxi-mately one mile in length, flows northeast with both joining Beaverdam Creek in Telfair Pond (figure 1). Telfair Pond originated with the damming of Beaverdam Creek below the confluence of the three creeks.

METHODS Six permanent stations were selected to monitor drainage from the two construction debris basins (figure 1). Stations 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 were located in Beaverdam Creek downstream from Telfair Pond. Stations 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 were in Daniels Branch upstream from Telfair Pond. Descrip-tions of each sampling station are given below:

Station 3.0: Beaverdam Creek approximately 1.5 miles upstream from the Savannah River. The stream substrate was composed of sand with scattered areas of detritus.

Station 3.5: Beaverdam Creek approximately 1.6 miles upstream from the Savannah River and immediately upstream from Station 3.0. Stream substrate was composed of sand and detritus.

Station 4.0: Beaverdam Creek approximately 1.6 miles upstream from the Savannah River and immediately upstream from Station 3.0. Station 4.0 was in a tributary connecting sediment retention basin #1 with Beaverdam Creek. Stream substrate was composed of sand.

Station 6.0: Daniels Branch approximately 0.4 miles upstream from Telfair Pond. The station was below the confluence of Daniels Branch and a small stream draining sediment retention basin #2. It was also located immediately be-low Ebenezer Church Road. Stream substrate was composed of sand, gravel, and a few scattered areas of detritus.

Station 7.0: Daniels Branch approximately 0.5 miles upstream from Telfair Pond. The station was above the confluence of Daniels Branch and the small stream draining sediment retention basin #2. Stream substrate consisted of sand and detritus.

Station 8.0: Daniels Branch approximately 0.5 miles upstream from Telfair Pond and immediately below Station 7.0. Station 8.0 was in a tributary connecting sediment retention basin

1. 2 with Daniels Branch. Stream substrate was composed of sand.

2

VEGP - OLSER Nine surveys were conducted in 1977 at approximately six-week intervals.

The surveys were conducted in January, February, March, May, June, Au-gust, September, November, and December. On completion, the data were analyzed; and because of the large number of individuals collected for some species, it was decided to reduce the sampling frequency from monthly to quarterly for 1978. It was felt that enough data were col-lected in 1977 and sampling pressure could cause damage to the population in the creek if the original sampling frequency was continued. The sur-veys for 1978 were conducted in March, June, September, and December.

Fish were sampled with a Smith-Root Model VIII-A backpack electro fisher and a l7-foot seine with a 1/16-inch mesh. Specimens were preserved in ten percent formalin and transported to the Environmental Center in Decatur, Georgia, for identification and enumeration. Dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, pH, and air and water temperatures were measured at the time of sampling to study possible changes in water chemistry.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The family, scientific, and common names of fishes collected during the Beaverdam Creek resident fish study are given in table 1. A total of 2435 individuals and 39 species were collected during the study (tables 2 through 14). The blackbanded darter (Perc ina nigrofasciata), red-breast sunfish (Lepomis auritus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) were most frequently collected in 1977 (table 15). Blackbanded darter, dusky shiner (Notropis cumming-sae), speckled madtom (Noturus leptacanthus), and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were most frequently collected in 1978 (table 16). The eastern mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea), rosyface chub (Hybopsis rubrifrons), speckled madtom, creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops), snail bullhead (Ictalurus brunneus), flat bullhead (Ictalurus platycephalus), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), and swamp darter (Etheostoma fusiformes) were collected only once during the entire study. Game and commercial species, listed in table 17, comprised 20.8 percent of the total number of individuals collected with bluegill making up the largest portion (12.4 percent).

Table 18 showed that dusky shiner composed the greatest portion of the non-game and non-commercial species with 40.3 percent of the total number of individuals. Twelve families of fishes were represented with the family Cyprinidae constituting 47.3 percent of the total number of in-dividuals collected. The family Centrarchidae were next, comprising 19.3 percent (table 19). The biomass of the game and commercial species comprised 59.8 percent of the total biomass, as shown on table 20, with bluegill contributing 20.2 percent. American eel (AngUilla rostrata) made up 6.8 percent of the non-game and non-commercial species biomass which totaled 41.8 percent of the total biomass.

The greater biomass of the game and commercial species was due to the size of the species as adults compared to the size of the non-game and 3

VEGP - OLSER non-commercial species as adults. Range and mean lengths are given in table 21 for each species according to each sample.

Dissolved oxygen concentrations were well within the limits for warm water species of ft~1' a minimum of 4.0 mg/l and a daily average of 5 mg/l for Georgia (table 22). The limits for pH are 6.0 to 8.5 for Georgia. Stations 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 7.0, and 8.0 were below the minimum during parts of 1977 (table 22). This was attributed to organic de-composition and the release of acids from vegett5ron. This was a normal occurrence in swampy terrain according to Reid. The pH at Station 6.0 was 9.0 in August, 1977, which could have been a normal occurrence or pH meter malfunction. The data from table 2 temperatures did not exceed the limit of 32.2 Ct l,how 5d that the water (90 F). The range of specific conductance in inland freshwaters supportin~81 diverse fish fauna was between 150 to 500 micromhos/cm at 25 C. The data showed that the specific conductance in the creek was relatively low and never exceeded the maximum of 500 micromhos/cm. The highest recorded conductivity was 349 micromhos/cm at Station 8.0.

The effects of siltation on aquatic organisms are numerous and varied.

Increased suspended sediment decreases the amount of available sunlight necessary for photosynthesis. Reduction of plant life (primary producers) will upset the energy flow or food chain in the environment, causing a decrease in the aquatic population. Elevated water temperatures may result due to heat absorbed by ~~, sediment. The effects previously mentioned, according to Cairns, are of little importance since the following effects are more direct and the action more acute. Oxygen depletion usually occurs due to organic decomposition, that reduces the available oxygen necessary for metabolic processes. Depending on stream conditions, low dissolved oxygen may have a drastic effect on aquatic organisms resulting in a population decrease with only tolerant species remaining. Changes in pH can affect organisms such as fish directly by reducing the protective mucous layer on the gills and body. The gills function in respiration and excretion of nitrogenous waste and chloride.

Breakdown of the mucous layer of the body allows for bacterial and viral infections. Silt also has a direct abrasive action on the gills. Heavy siltation can cause changes in spawning areas, damage to fish eggs, and possible increase in osmotic pressure due to an increase in dissolved salts.

In November, 1977, nearby transmission line right-of-way construction and off-site independent logging operations caused an increase in turbidity at Stations 7.0 and 8.0. Tree limbs and debris were scattered throughout the creek at Station 7.0, making sample collection impossible at certain times. Grass was planted on the right-of-way and a rip-rap and hay bale barrier constructed above Station 8.0. These techniques have proven to be effective in decreasing turbidity. Initially, the creek bed at Station 8.0 was shallow with very little suitable habitat for fish. After con-struction of the barrier, the creek deepened and additional species were collected due to more suitable habitat.

4

VEGP - OLSER As a result of the well-drained sandy soil, turbidity and run~off decreased quickly after heavy rainfalls. A diverse fish population was present in the creek as indicated from the study.

CONCLUSIONS Siltation was not a factor influencing the resident fish population in Beaverdam Creek. Turbidity and run-off decreased quickly after heavy rainfall because of the well-drained sandy soil. An increase in tur-bidity was noted at Stations 7.0 and 8.0 1n November, 1977, caused by transmission line right-of-way construction by Georgia Power Company and logging operations by an independent logger on property adjacent to company property. Grass was planted on the right-of-way and a rip-rap and hay bale barrier was constructed at Station 8.0. This proved to be effective in decreasing turbidity.

-

5

VEGP - OLSER REFERENCES

1. Environmental Protection Division, Water Quality Monitoring Data for Georgia Streams, Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, Georgia, 1981.

2. Patrick, R., Caiins, J. Jr., and Roback, S. S., "An Ecosystematic Study of the Fauna and Flora of the Savannah River," Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pp 109-407, 1967.

3. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary of Studies on the Savannah River 1951-1970 for E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1970.

4. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary Reports of Savannah River Cursary Surveys for E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company 1961-1972, 1974, and 1977, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1978.

5. Matthews, R. A., Biological Surveys on the Savannah River in the Vicinity of the Savannah River Plant (1951-1976), E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, 1982.

6. United States Atomic Energy Commission, Environmental Statement Related to the Proposed Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, 3, and 4, Parts 6 and 11, Washington, D.C., 1974.

7. Reid, G. K., Ecology of Inland Waters and Estuaries, Reinhold Book Corporation, New York, New York, p 375, 1961.

8. Ellis, M. M., Westfall, B. A., and Ellis, M. D., Determination of Water Quality, u.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice Resource Report 9, p 122, 1946.

9. Cairns, J., Jr., Suspended Solids Standards for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms, Purdue University Engineering Bulletin, p 129, 1967.

6

VEGP - OLSER TABLE I (PAGE I OF 2)

FAMILY t SCIENTIFIC t AND COMMON NAMES OF FISHES COLLECTED IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Scientific Name Common Name Anguillidae Anguilla rostrata American eel Umbridae Umbra pygmaea Eastern mudminnow Esocidae Esox americanus Redfin pickerel Esox niger Chain pickerel Esox spp.

Cyprinidae Hybopsis rubrifrons Rosyface chub Nocomis leptocephalus Bluehead chub Notemigonus crysoleucas Golden shiner Notropis chalybaeus Ironcolor shiner Notropis cummingsae Dusky shiner Notropis lutipinnis Yellowfin shiner Notropis petersoni Coastal shiner Semotilus atromaculatus Creek chub Catostomidae Erimyzon oblongus Creek chubsucker Minytrema melanops Spotted sucker Ictaluridae Ictalurus brunneus Snail bullhead Ictalurus natalis Yellow bullhead Ictalurus nebulosus Brown bullhead Ictalurus platycephalus Flat bullhead Noturus gyrinus Tadpole madtom Noturus ins ignis Margined madtom Noturus leptacanthus Speckled madtom Aphredoderidae Aphredoderus sayanus Pirate perch Cyprinodontidae Fundulus lineolatus Lined topminnow Poeciliidae Gambusia affinis Mosquito fish Atherinidae Labidesthes sicculus Brook silverside Centrarchidae Enneacanthus gloriosus Bluespotted sunfish Lepomis auritus Redbreast sunfish Lepomis cyanellus Green sunfish Lepomis gulosus Warmouth Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill 7

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 1 (PAGE 2 OF 2)

Scientific Name Common Name Lepomis marginatus Dollar sunfish Lepomis microlophus Redear sunfish Lepomis punctatus Spotted sunfish Micropterus salmoides Largemouth bass Pomoxis nigromaculatus Black crappie Percidae Etheostoma fricksium Savannah darter Etheostoma fusiforme Swamp darter Etheostoma olmstedi Tessellated darter Percina nigrofasciata Blackbanded darter Percidae (juvenile) 8

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 2 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN J&~ARY, 1977, IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Esox spp- (j uvenile) (a) 1 (a) 1 Notropis chalybaeus 2 2 Notropis cummingsae 11 11 Notropis 1utipinnis 4 1 1 6 Notropis petersoni 6 6 Icta1urus nebulosus 1 1 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 Noturus leptacanthus 1 2 3 Gambusia affinis 4 2 1 2 9 Lepomis auritus 1 1 Lepomis macrochirus 1 11 5 17 Etheostoma olmstedi 2 2 1 5 Percina nigrofasciata 1 1 2 Totals 12 26- 0 17 0 10 65

a. No samples taken at Stations 3.0 and 8.0 in January, 1977

• 9

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 3 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN FEBRUARY.

1977 , IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 2 (a) 2 Notemigonus crysoleucas 1 1 Notropis cummingsae 3 13 16 Notroeis petersoni 1 1 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 Noturus leptacanthus 3 1 2 2 1 9 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 1 4 6 Gambusia affinis 6 2 2 10 Labidesthes sicculus 1 1 Lepomis auritus 3 4 7 Lepomis gulosus 1 1 Lepomis macrochirus 2 15 4 21 Lepomis punctatus 1 1 Etheostoma fricksium 3 1 4 Etheostoma olmstedi 2 1 3 1 7 Perc ina nigrofasciata 2 4 1 7 Totals 14 8 34 32 0 7 95

a. No samples taken at Station 8.0 in February, 1977 .

10

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 4 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN MARCH, 1977 , IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 8 3 11 Umbra pygmaea 1 1 Esox americanus 1 2 3 Esox niger 1 1 Notropis cha1ybaeus 1 1 Notropis cummingsae 2 2 Notropis lutipinnis 2 2 Ictalurus brunneus 1 1 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 Noturus ins ignis 1 1 Noturus leptacanthus 3 3 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 2 1 4 Fundulus lineolatus 1 1 Gambusia affinis 5 1 6 Lepomis auritus 13 2 15 Lepomis macrochirus 4 1 35 1 41 Etheostoma fricksium 1 1 Etheostoma olmstedi 1- 1 Perc ina nigrofasciata 1 1 Totals 31 11 8 6 37 4 97 11

-.

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 5 SPECIES &~D NU~rnER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN MAY, 1977, IN THE BEA\~RDAH CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 1 3 4 Esox niger 1 1 Ictalurus nata1is 2 2 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 2 Noturus ins ignis 1 1 2 Noturus 1eptacanthus 1 1 3 1 6 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 2 3 Gambusia affinis 1 1 Lepomis auritus 5 2 7 Lepomis cyane11us 1 1 Lepomis gu10sus 1 1 Lepomis macrochirus 1 2 1 4 Lepomis punctatus 1 2 3 Micropterus sa1moides 1 1 Etheostoma fricksium 1 2 2 5 Etheostoma olmstedi 1 1 4 6 Percina nigrofasciata 1 1 1 3 Totals 9 6 19 11 3 4 52 12

-

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 6 SPECIES A.~D NUNBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN JUNE.

1977

• IN THE BEAVERDA}l CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 5 5 Eso" niger 1 1 Notropis chalybaeus 1 1 Notropis cummingsae 7 68 (a) (a) 75 Notropis petersoni 3 1 4 Erimyzon oblongus 1 1 Ictalurus nebulosus 1 1 Noturus leptacanthus 1 2 1 4 Aphredoderus savanus 1 1 2 Gambusia affinis 1 1 Labidesthes sicculus 1 1 Lepomis auritus 4 1 1 6 Lepomis macrochirus 1 1 Lepomis punctatus 1 1 Micropterus sa1moides 5 5 Etheostoma fricksium 1 2 3 Etheostoma olmstedi 3 2 19 24 Percina nigrofasciata 4. 27 31 Percidae (j uvenile) 1 1 Totals 11 9 19 129 a a 168

-

a. No samples taken at Stations 8.0 and 7.0 in June, 1977 , because of electro fisher malfunction and because of low water and detritis seining was impossible.

,.

13

-

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 7 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN AUGUST, 1977, IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 2 3 1 6 Esox americanus 2 2 1 5 Esox niger 1 1 Hybopsis rubrifrons 1 1 Notemigonus cryso1eucas 2 2 Notropis cha1ybaeus 1 1 2 Notropis cummingsae 2 6 1 238 247 Notropis petersoni 6 6 Icta1urus nebu10sus 1 1 2 Noturus ins ignis 1 1 Noturus 1eptacanthus 3 1 4 Aphredoderus sayanus 2 2 1 3 8 Gambusia affinis 2 4 14 11 31 Labidesthes siccu1us 3 3 Lepomis auritus 5 6 2 4 17 Lepomis gu10sus 1 1 Lepomis macrochirus 1 21 5 27 Lepomis punctatus 1 1 1 3 Micropterus sa1moides 3 1 4 Etheostoma fricksium 1 1 2 1 5 Etheostoma olmstedi 3 2 3 8 Perc ina nigrofasciata 2 3 6 11 Totals 24 22 18 285 16 30 395 14

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 8 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN SEPTEMBER.

1977. IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 1 5 6 1 13 Notropis cummingsae 17 5 310 1 333 Notropis 1utipinnis 14 14 Notropis petersoni 8 8 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 Noturus insignis 1 1 Noturus 1eptacanthus 2 1 4 7 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 1 1 3 Fundulus lineolatus 2 2 Gambusia affinis 3 7 12 4 75 4 105 Labidesthes siccu1us 4 4 Lepomis auritus 5 2 4 2 13 Lepomis gu10sus 1 1 2 Lepomis macrochirus 1 4 7 12 Lepomis punctatus 1 1 2 Micropterus sa1moides 1 1 Etheostoma olmstedi 3 1 2 1 7 Percina nigrofasciata 4 2 3 4 13 Totals 45 19 39 332 77 29 541 15

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 9 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN NOVEMBER.

1977. IN THE BEAVERDA}l CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 2 3 3 8 Esox americanus 1 1 Esox niger 1 1 Notropis chalybaeus 1 1 Notropis cummingsae 70 70 Notropis 1utipinnis 1 6 7 Notropis petersoni 5 7 12 Minytrema me1anops 1 1 Ictalurus platycepha1us 1 1 Noturus insignis 1 1 Noturus 1eptacanthus 4 4 1 9 Aphredoderus sayanus 4 1 *1 3 9 Fundulus 1ineo1atus 2 2 Gambusia affinis 2 1 34 4 41 Enneacanthus gloriosus 1 1 Lepomis auritus 1 4 3 4 12 Lepomis gu10sus 4 4 Lepomis macrochirus 1 3 1 104 5 114 Lepomis marginatus 2 2 Lepomis punctatus 1 3 4 Micropterus sa1moides 5 5 Etheostoma fricksium 1 5 6 Etheostoma olmstedi 1 2 2 5 3 13 Perc ina nigrofasciata 2 15 17 Totals 19 13 96 161 34 19 342 16

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 10 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN DECEMBER, 1977, IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 1 1 Notropis cummingsae 1 6 2 (a) (a) 9 Notropis petersoni 2 3 5 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 1  ?

Labidesthes siccu1us 3 3 Lepomis auritus 2 1 3 Lepomis macrochirus 13 1 14 Micropterus sa1moides 1 1 Etheostoma fricksium 2 2 Etheostoma olmsted! 1 1 Perc ina nigrofasciata 2 2 4 Totals 21 2 14 8 0 0 45

a. No samples taken at Stations 8.0 and 7.0 in December, 1977 *

-

17

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 11 SPECIES AND NU~rnER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN ~~CH.

1978. IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 5 5 Esox niger 2 ..

'1 Esox spp. (j uvenile) 1 1 Nocomis leptocephalus 2 2 Notemigonus cryso1eucas 35 35 Notropis cummingsae 38 7 33 78 Notropis 1utipinnis 26 -. 26 Notropis petersoni 8 8 Erirnyzon ob1ongus 4 2 6 Icta1urus brunneus 1 1 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 2 Noturus ins ignis 3 3 Noturus 1eptacanthus 1 9 10 20 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 1 5 6 4 17 Fundulus 1ineo1atus 1 1 Gambusia affinis 1 12 13 Labidesthes siccu1us 1 1 Enneacanthus gloriosus 1 1 Lepomis auritus 2 15 17 Lepomis gu10sus 2 2 Lepornis macrochirus 20 1 4 5 30 Lepornis rnarginatus 1 1 Lepomis rnicro1ophus 6 6 Lepomis punctatus 1 4 5 Micropterus sa1rnoides 2 2 Pomoxis nigromacu1atus 1 1 Etheostoma fricksium 1 1 2 4 Etheostoma fusiformes 1 1 2 Etheostoma olmstedi 2 2 4 2 10 Percina nigrofasciata 2 10 9 19 40 Totals 26 17 82 124 13 80 342 18

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 12 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN JUNE, 1978, IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH SrUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata 5 5 Esox americanus 1 1 3 1 6 Notropis cha1ybaeus 1 1 Notropis cummingsae 3 11 1 15 Notropis petersoni 1 1 Semoti1us atromacu1atus 3 3 Icta1urus nata1is 2 2 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 Noturus insignis 1 1 Noturus 1eptacanthus 1 1 4 7 13 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 4 5 13 2 25 Gambusia affinis 2 3 2 7 Enneacanthus gloriosus 1 1 Lepomis auritus 1 1 2 Lepomis macrochirus 5 3 5 13 Lepomis punctatus 3 3 Micropterus sa1moides 1 1 Etheostoma fricksium 1 1 Etheostoma olmstedi 1 4 5 Perc ina nigrofasciata 2 2 2 1 7 Totals 5 10 26 34 32 6 113 19

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 13 SPECIES AND ~mER OF I~~IVIDUALS COLLECTED IN SEPTEMBER, 1978, IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals Anguilla rostrata (a) 3 (a) (a) 3 Notropis curnmingsae 118 118 Notropis 1utipinnis 1 10 11 Noturus 1eptacanthus 4 4 Aphredoderus sayanus 1 1 Gambusia affinis 2 2 4 Labidesthes siccu!us 3 3 Lepomis macrochirus 3 5 8 Micropterus sa1moides 1 1 Percina nigrofasciata 11 11 Totals 11 0 3 150 0 0 164

a. No samples taken at Stations 3.5, 8.0, and 7.0 in September, 1978, because of an e1ectrofisher malfunction and because of low water and detritus seining was impossible.

20

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 14 SPECIES AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN DECEMBER, 1978, IN THE BEAVERDA}1 CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Stations Species 4.0 3.5 3.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Totals

~ americanus 1 (a) (a) (a) (a) 1 ....

Notropis cummingsae 3 4 7 Notropis lutipinnis 1 1 Noturus 1eptacanthus 2 2 Gambusia affinis 1 1 Etheostoma olmstedi 3 3 Percina nigrofasciata 1 1 Totals 12 4 0

° ° 0 16

a. No samples taken at Stations 3.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 7.0 in December, 1978, because of electrofisher malfunction and because of low

-

water and detritus seining was impossible.

-

-

21

VEGP ,.. OLSER TABLE 15 SPECIES AND TOTAL NU}lBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN 1977 BY MONTH Month Species 1/77 2/77 3/77 5/77 6/77 8/77 9/77 11/77 12/77 Anguilla rostrata 2 11 4 5 6 13 8 1 Umbra pygmaea 1 Esox americanus 3 5 1 Esox niger 1 1 1 1 1 Esox spp , (j uvenile) 1 Hybopsis rubrifrons 1 Notemigonus cryso1eucas 1 2 Notropis cha1ybaeus 2 1 1 2 1 Notropis cummingsae 11 16 2 75 247 333 70 9 Notropis 1utipinnis 6 2 14 7 Notropis petersoni 6 1 4 6 8 12 5 Erimyzon ob1ongus 1 Minytrema me1anops 1 Icta1urus brunneus 1 Icta1urus nata1is 2 Icta1urus nebu10sus 1 1 2 Icta1urus p1atycepha1us 1 Noturus gyrinus 1 1 1 2. 1 Noturus insignis 1 2 1 1 1 Noturus leptacanthus 3 9 3 6 4 4 7 9 Aphredoderus sayanus 6 4 3 2 8 3 9 2 Fundulus 1ineo1atus 1 2 2 Gambusia affinis 9 10 6 1 1 31 105 41 Labidesthes sicculus 1 1 3 4 3 Enneacanthus gloriosus 1 Lepomis aurit us 1 7 15 7 6 17 13 13 3 Lepomis cyane11us 1 Lepomis gu10sus 1 1 1 2 4 Lepomis macrochirus 17 21 41 4 1 27 12 114 14 Lepomis marginatus 2 Lepomis punctatus 1 3 1 3 2 4 Micropterus sa1moides 1 5 4 1 5 1 Etheostoma fricksium 4 1 5 3 5 6 2 Etheostoma olmstedi 5 7 1 6 24 8 7 13 1 Percina nigrofasciata 2 7 1 3 31 11 13 17 4 Percidae (j uvenile) 1 Totals 65 95 97 52 168 395 541 342 45 22

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 16 SPECIES AND TOTAL NUHBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN 1978 BY MONTH WITH 1977/1978 TOTAL NU}ffiER PER SPECIES Month Total Species 3/78 6/78 9/78 12/78 1977 /1978 Anguilla rostrata 5 5 3 63

~pygmaea 1 Esox americanus 6 1 16

~niger 2 7 Esox spp. (j uvenile) 1 2 Hybopsis rubrifrons 1 Nocomis leptocephalus 2 2 Notemigonus crysoleucas 35 38 Notropis chalybaeus 1 8 Notropis cummingsae 78 15 118 7 981 Notropis lutipinnis 26 11 1 67 Notropis petersoni 8 1 51 Semotilus atromaculatus 3 3 Erimyzon oblongus 6 7 Minytrema melanops 1 Ictalurus brunneus 1 2

-

Ictalurus natalis 2 4 Ictalurus nebulosus 4 Ictalurus p1atycepha1us 1 Noturus gyrinus 2 1 9 Noturus insignis 3 1 10 Noturus 1eptacanthus 20 13 4 2 84 Aphredoderus sayanus 17 25 1 80 Fundulus 1ineo1atus 1 6 Gambusia affinis 13 7 4 1 229 Labidesthes sicculus 1 3 16 Enneacanthus gloriosus 1 1 3 Lepomis auritus 17 2 100 Lepomis cyanellus 1 Lepomis gul.osus 2 11 Lepomis macrochirus 30 13 8 302 Lepomis marginatus 1 3 ,,"

Lepomis microlophus 6 6 Lepomis punctatus 5 3 22 Micropterus sa1moides 2 1 1 21 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 1 1 Etheostoma fricksium 4 1 31

-

Etheostoma fusiformes 2 2 Etheostoma olmsted! 10 5 3 90 Percina nigrofasciata 40 7 11 1 148 Percidae (juvenile) 1 Totals 342 113 164 16 2435 23

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 17 PERCENT COMPOSITION OF GAME AND COMMERCIAL SPECIES Percent Species Composition Lepomis macrochirus 12.4 Lepomis auritus 4.1 Lepomis punctatus 0.9 Micropterus salmoides 0.9 Esox americanus 0.7 Lepomis gu10sus 0.5 Esox niger 0.3 Lepomis micro1ophus 0.2 Icta1urus natalis 0.2 Icta1urus nebu10sus 0.2 Icta1urus brunneus 0.1 Lepomis marginatus 0.1 Esox spp. (j uvenile) iepOmis cyanellus °rta)

Pomoxis nigromaculatus T Icta1urus platycephalus T Total 20.7

a. Trace 24

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 18 PERCENT COMPOSITION OF NON-GAME AND NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES Percent Species Composition Notropis cummingsae 40.3 Gambusia affinis 9.4 Percina nigrofasciata 6.1 Etheostoma olmstedi 3.7 Noturus 1eptacanthus 3.4 Aphredoderus sayanus 3.3 Anguilla rostrata 2.8 Notropis 1utipinnis 2.8 Notropis petersoni 2.1 Notemigonus cryso1eucas 1.6 Etheostoma fricksium 1.3 Labidesthes siccu1us 0.7

-

Noturus gyrinus 0.4 Noturus insignis 0.4 Erimyzon ob1ongus 0.3

-

Notropis cha1ybaeus 0.3 Fundulus 1ineo1atus 0.2 Nocomis leptocephalus 0.1 Semoti1us atromacu1atus 0.1 Enneacanthus gloriosus 0.1 Etheostoma fusiformes Umbra pygmaea O~ta)

Hybopsis rubrifrons T Mlnytrema me1anops T Percidae (juvenile) T Total 79.5

a. Trace 25

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 19 PERCENT COMPOSITION OF EACH FAMILY OF FISHES COLLECTED Percent Family Composition Cyprinidae 47.3 Centrarchidae 19.3 Percidae 11.2 Poeciliidae 9.4 Icta1uridae 4.7 Aphredoderidae 3.3 Anguillidae 2.8 Esocidae 1.1 Atherinidae 0.7 Catostomidae 0.3 Cyprinodontidae Umbridae °ita)

a. Trace 26

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 20 (PAGE 1 OF 2)

BIOMASS AND PERCENT COMPOSITION OF GAME AND COMMERCIAL AND NON-GAME AND NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES COLLECTED IN THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Game and Biomass Percent Commercial Species (Grams) Composition Lepomis macrochirus 1085.9 20.2

-

Lepomis auritus 868.1 16.2 Ictalurus natalis 285.7 5.3 Lepomis punctatus 240.1 4.5 Lepomis gulosus 201.2 3.7 Esox americanus 167.4 3.1 Ictalurus brunneus 94.6 1.8 Micropterus salmoides 77.9 1.5 Esox niger 52.7 1.0 Lepomis microlophus 25.4 0.5 Ictalurus platycephalus 19.8 0.4 Lepomis marginatus 18.8 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 3.5 °T~a)

Lepomis cyanellus 3.0 T Ictalurus nebulosus 2.6 T Esox s pp , (juvenile) 0.7 T Total 58.7 Non-game and Biomass Percent Non-commercial Species (Grams) Composition Anguilla rostrata 363.4 6.8 Aphredoderus sayanus 323.4 6.0 Erimyzon oblongus 285.9 5.3 Percina nigrofasciata 217.3 4.0 Notropis cummingsae 159.5 3.0 Noturus leptacanthus 144.0 2.7 Etheostoma olmstedi 105.3 2.0 Notropis petersoni 95.9 1.8 Notemigonus crysoleucas 92.8 1.8 Nocomis leptocephalus 86.7 1.6 Gambusia affinis 72.6 1.4 Noturus insignis 61.0 1.1 Etheostoma fricksium 46.0 0.9 Notropis lutipinnis 42.7 0.8 Noturus gyrinus 41.2 0.8 Semotilus atromaculatus 22.2 0.4 Labidesthes sicculus 13 .5 0.3 Minytrema melanops 12.5 0.2 Enneacanthus gloriosus 11.9 0.2 27

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 20 (PAGE 2 OF 2)

Game and Biomass Percent Commercial Species (Grams) Composition Umbra pygmaea 7.5 0.1 Fundulus lineolatus 6.9 0.1 Notropis chalybaeus 2.9 T Etheostoma fusiformes 1.9 T HYbopsis rubrifrons 1.2 T Percidae (juvenile) 0.1 T Total 41.3

a. Trace 28

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 21 (PAGE 1 OF 4)

HEAN LENGTHS IN mlLIHETERS WITH THE RANGE IN PARENTHESIS FOR EACH SPECIES FOR THE BEAVERDAH CREEK RESIDENT rISH STUDY Months Species 1/77 2/77 3/77 5/77 6/77 8/77 9/77 nui 12/77 3/78 6/78 6/78 Anguilla r os t rar a 167.5 157.0 148.8 139.5 216.0 189.9 171.0 210.0 (158- (145- (110- (139- (145- (137- (125-177) 169) 205) 140) 303) 270) 245)

Umbra pygmaea 82.0 Esox americanus 46.7 129.0 120.0 85.7 126.0 (40- 000- (58-

59) 190) 102)

N

~ niger 160.0 72.0 66.0 85.0 136.0 135.0

\0 Esox spp. (j uvend l e) 22.0 38.0 Hybopsis rubrifrons 44.0 Nocomis leptocephalus 143.0 (133-153)

No temigonus cryso1eucas 91.2 100.5 90.0 (100- (82-101) 100)

Notropis cha Lybaeus 21. 5 42.0 58.0 27.0 42.0 48.0 (21- (25-

22) 29)

Notropls cummingsae 41.0 32.8 39.5 44.7 36.0 35.0 36.7 36.9 40.6 45.8 34.7 (35- (19- (39- (16- (28- 07- (29- (30- (35- ()9- (20-

46) 45) 40) 57) 52) 51) 43) 44) 45) 50) 43)

Notropis Lu t Lp i.nn Ls 33.6 48.0 47.7 46.4 50.0 46.0 (26- (43- (20- oo- ()9-

38) 53) 58) 68) 61)

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 21 (PAGE 2 OF 4)

Months Species 1/77 2/77 3/77 5/77 6/77 8/77 9/77 10/77 12/77 3/78 6/78 6/78 No tropis peterson! 57.2 53.0 60.8 51.8 53.1 59.0 58.0 60.4 61.0 (50- (58- (40- (49-' (48- (50- (53-

63) 65) 66) 59) 69) 62) 68)

Semotilus atromacu1atus 70.0 (28-93)

Erimyzon ob1ongus 235.0 100.3 (88-117)

Minytrema me1anops 110.0 Ictalurus brunneus 195.0 62.0 w

0 Icta1urus nat a l i s 192.5 134.0 (185- (126-200) 142)

Ictalurus nebulosus 32.0 19.0 31.0 (16-46)

Ictalurus p1atycepha1us 124.0 Noturus gyrinus 68.0 82.0 73.0 32.5 31.0 110.0 65.0 (16-49)

No t urus ins ignis 99.0 56.5 110.0 48.0 109.0 60.7 70.0 (56- (45-

57) 90)

Noturus Lep t ac an t hus 50.0 47.1 70.0 52.5 43.0 43.3 54.9 49.7 43.0 61.2 67.0 (35- (29- (56- (44- (18- (17- (29- 00- (32- (4/;- (51-

58) 88) 81) 80) 68) 72) 75) 71) 60) 87) 83)

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 21 (PAGE 3 OF 4)

Months Species 1/77 2/77 3/77 5/77 6/77 8/77 9/77 10/77 12/77 3/78 6/78 6/78 Aphredoderu5 sayanus 60.8 71.8 39.3 70.6 61.3 71.0 69.0 73.5 54.5 69.9 (43- (59- (18- (69- (27- (57- (43- (69- (48- (19-

83) 90) 72) 72) 77) 82) 90) 78) 55) 82)

Fundulus lineolatus 41.0 38.5 54.5 53.0 (35- (47-

42) 62)

Gambusia affinis 30.2 30.2 30.7 41.0 47.0 27.3 29.1 28.3 32.0 27.9 37.0 (16- (23- (29- 05- (14- (16- (13-

42) 46) 35) 46) 50) 49) 43)

Labidesthes sicculus 69.0 74.0 50.7 53.3 56.3 40.0 (50- (43- (53-

52) 59) 58)

""..... Enneacanthus gloriosus 61.0 67.0 48.0 Lepomis auritus 73.0 65.3 72.7 91.7 77.7 89.2 81.9 64.8 89.5 64.5 81.0 (33- (37- (62- (53- (57- (42- (42- (89- (42- (72-

83) 94) 150) 109) 133) 109) 87) 90) 87) 90)

Lepomis cyane11us 54.0 Lepornis gulosus 190.0 44.0 43.0 67.5 70.0 (56-76)

Lepomis macrochirus 74.8 75.1 72.5 55.5 62.0 66.3 80.3 67.6 41.6 39.9 67.2 (48- (48- (33- (47- (34- (32- (36- (23- (30- (47-120) 96} 105) 65) 120) 137) 94) 50) 52) 98)

Lepomis marginatus 72.0 72.0 (70-74)

Lepomis microlophus 62.8 (38-95)

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 21 (PAGE 4 OF 4)

Months Spedes 1/77 2/77 3/77 5/77 6/77 8/77 9/77 10/77 12/77 3/78 6/78 6/78 Lepomis punetatus 57.6 64.0 92.0 122.3 90.5 56.5 53.5 82.7 (53- (76- (72- (49- (28- (75-

75) 136) n)9) 68) 73) 90)

Hie rop te rU6 sa1moides 49.0 44.6 51.8 90.4 65.0 (39- (46- (60-

49) 59) 126)

Pomoxis nigromaeu1atus 75.0 Etheostoma frieksium 49.8 57.0 37.0 35.0 38.4 47.0 59.0 55.8 55.0 (47- (19- (18- (22- (43- (50- (53-

60) 59) 66) 62) 51) 68) 58)

Etheostoma fusiformes 47.5

... (47-N 48)

Etheostoma olmstedi 45.4 52.0 45.0 39.8 30.5 43.4 52.6 57.7 46.0 57.0 47.0 64.0 (41- (39- (26- (19- (18- (41- (43- (54- (26- (43-

48) 90) 64) 52) 59) 71) 83) 60) 62) 75)

Pereina nigrofaseiata 58.5 56.1 65.0 72.7 39.6 49.5 58.6 56.1 59.5 57.2 65.1 69.0 (54- (34- (65- (18- (33- (34- (40- (46- (26- (43-

63) 78) 79) 100) 76) 94) 81) 70) 95) 88)

Pereidae (juvenile) 12.0

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 22 RANGE OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL DATA FOR EACH STATION FOR THE BEAVERDAM CREEK RESIDENT FISH STUDY Parameters Range Station 3.0 Air Temperature (C) 0.0 to 30.0 Water Temperature (C) 2.5 to 26.0 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration (mg/l) 6.8 to 12.0 pH 5.5 to 7.6 Conductivity (micromhosl cm) 25.0 to 95.0 Station 3.5 Air Temperature 0.0 to 30.0 Water Temperature 2.5 to 27.0 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration 6.7 to 11.8 pH 5.9 to 7.7 Conductivity 25.0 to 150.0 Station 4.0 Air Temperature 0.0 to 30.0 Water Temperature 1.5 to 27.0 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration 6.5 to 12.2 pH 6.2 to 7.1 Conductivity 50.0 to 175.0 Station 6.0 Air Temperature 1.1 to 34.0 Water Temperature 4.0 to 28.0 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration 4.7 to 11.4 pH 6.3 to 9.0 Conductivity 30.0 to 62.0 Station 7.0 Air Temperature 7.0 to 30.0 Water Temperature 5.2 to 27.7 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration 5.9 to 12.6 pH 5.7 to 7.6 Conductivity 28.0 to 50.0 Station 8.0 Air Temperature 7.0 to 30.2 Water Temperature 5.5 to 29.0 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration 5.6 to 12 .8 pH 5.7 to 7.7 Conductivity 20.0 to 349.0 33

SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT SITE SEDIMENT RETENTION BASIN #2 SEDIMENT RETENTION BASIN #1 DANIELS BRANCH BEAVERDAM CREEK

" \ II I

\ ,I

"

\

,,' ' ...

, ~"l

, "

.11"--- ....

",~

"< "'----..

" 3.0 " ,,

.. "

r ,."

" ,

....

" I ....

', .... , TELFAIR POND

' ...

BEAVERDAM CREEK HIGH HEAD CREEK

... ,

,

'- ' .......

....... _---

• SAMPLING STATIONS

~--- ROADS VOGTLE STATION LOCATIONS FOR THE RESIDENT FISH ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT STUDY IN BEAVERDAM CREEK AND DANIELS Georgia Power . \ UNIT 1 ANO UNIT 2 FIGURE 1 433-9 34

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF FIGURES

1. Station Locations for the Resident Fish Study in 34 Beaverdam Creek and Daniels Branch iv

VEGP - OLSER INTRODUCTION Construction of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) began in June, 1974, and was discontinued in September, 1974, as a result of unfavorable economic conditions. Construction resumed in January, 1977, with excavation activities beginning in February. The plant site is approximately 3169 acres and located in Burke County, on the southwest side of the Savannah River, the natural boundary between Georgia and South Carolina. The site is at river mile 150.9 across from the Savannah River Plant (SRP) operated by E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company for the U.S. Department of Energy. The plant site is approximately 26 miles south-southeast of Augusta, Georgia. The site is located in the coastal plain which is characterized by sandy or sandy loam soil with rolling hills and mixed pine-hardwood association. Since the onset of construc-tion, approximately 1391 acres of the site have been cleared for plant construction.

The original plans proposed a generating plant consisting of four units, but construction of two units has been cancelled. The plant will employ two pressurized water reactors producing 1160 MW each. Unit 1 is sche-duled to go into service in March, 1987, and Unit 2 in September, 1988.

The exhaust steam will be cooled by a closed-cycle cooling system em-ploying natural draft cooling towers using make-up water from the Savan-nah River. Low volume waste and blowdown from both cooling towers will ultimately be discharged back into the river.

The Savannah River below Augusta, Georgia, and above the VEGP site receives wastewater discharges from municipalities and industries that add organic wastes, nutrients, metals, and other trace conttYfnants.

Stream classification near the VEGP is listed as ItFishing." The river near the plant site is typical of large southeastern coastal plain rivers except that a dredged channel is maintained by the Corps of Engineers for barge traffic. The biological community of the river is similar to that of other large southeastern rivers but has been affected by man's influ-ence on the river. The impoundment of the river above Augusta, Georgia, has reduced the transport of sediments and allochthonous particulate organic materials, and the dredging of the channel has reduced the natural shallow areas and backwaters that would normally support a diverse flora and fauna. Studies on the Savannah River flora and fauna have be~2 conducted periodically since 1951 and were d~3rt!Td in Patrick'(5J al., )

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and Matthews.

Georgia Power Company was required by the Plant Vogtle Final Envt6~nmental Statement, issued by the United States Atomic Energy Commission, to com-plete the'requirement that sampling stations in Beaverdam Creek be estab-lished to evaluate the effects on the resident stream fauna of sediment entering the stream from the silt and sediment retention basins. A study began in January, 1977, and ended in December, 1978.

1