ML18024B108

Water Quality & Biological Conditions in Wheeler Reservoir During Operation,Jan-Dec 1978. Suppl to Annual Operating Rept,App a

ML18024B108
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	10/31/1979
From:	Schneider R, Taylor M TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
To:
Shared Package
ML18024B107	List: ML18024B108
References
NUDOCS 7911200534
Download: ML18024B108 (19)

Text

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES WATER QUALITY AND BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN WHEELER RESERVOIR DURING OPERATION OF BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT JANUARY 1, 1978 DECENBER 31, 1978 (Subsequential Report)

Docket Numbers Unit 1:50-259 Unit 2:50-260 Unit 3:50-296 WATER QUALITY BRANCH Huscle Shoals, Alabama October 1979

COMPILED BY MAHLON P. TAYLOR PREPARED BY ROBERT W. SCHNEIDER

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

~Pa e Table 1 Estimated Quarterly Fishing Pressure, July 1, 1970, Through December 30, 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, Alab'ama ~ 2 I

Table 2 Fishing Pressure Estimates by Period January 1, 1977, through December 30, 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama 3 Table 3 Seasonal Fishing Pressure Per Hectare for Each Sampling Area, January 1, '1977, Through December 30, 1977, Wheeler, Alabama 4 Table 4 Percent of Total Estimated Fishing Pressure for Each Sampling Area by Season 5 Table 5 Estimates Total Sport Fishing Catch by Species, January-December 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama .. 6 Table 6 Estimated Sport Fish Harvest Per Hour and Per Hectare, January-December, 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, A labama 7 Table 7 Estimated Total Sport Fishing from Each Sampling Area by Species, January-December 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama.................. 8 Table 8 Estimates Number and Biomass of Sport Fish Harvest Per Hectare by Species, January-December 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Table 9 Estimated Harvest Rate of Sport Fish from Each Sampling brea, January 1, 1977 Through December 30, 1977, Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Creel and Harvest Data Creel census studies were conducted each month to establish catch rates, species composition, weights of fish caught, and hours of presence in each of six areas in Wheeler Reservoir. These data were not included in the annual report, "Water Quality and Biological Conditions in Wheeler Reservoir During Operation of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (January 1, 1978 - December 31, 1978)" because the analyses were not complete at the time of printing. These data are now complete and are included in this subsequential report as stated on page 78 of the 1978 rcport e Creel data for Wheeler Reservoir during calendar year 1977 is summarized in Table 1-9. Estimated fishing pressure during each quarter was substantially greater than in 1976, and the yearly total was more than double the 1976 estimate. The total number of fish caught was also more than double the previous years harvest with white crappie, bluegill, and white bass being the most frequently caught species. The largemouth bass harvest increased considerably in 1977, 'and this species'ank in order of abundance changed from eighth to I

fifth. The estimated overall catch rate per hour was down slightly from 1976, but the total number and biomass catch per hectare was more than 2.2 times as great.

Table 1. ESTItlATED QUARTERLY FIS!fIHG PRESSURE ~ JULY I, 1970 TlfROUGH DECEHBER 30 1977 ~ WilEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAffA Calendar Year 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 Winter (Jan.-ffar.) 40,606 155,221 135,016 22,077 6&,386 19,988 57,761 Spring (Apr.-June) 247,77l 152,658 238,257* 89,653 229,070 85,405 189,829 Summer (July-Sept. ) 102,864 113,477 71,549 105,883 43,570 76,532 52,393 '1,844 Fall (Oct.-Dec.) 47,577 31,946 36,412 19,601 22,934 24,164 12,118 68,523 Total 150,441 433,&00 415,840 498.757 178,234 398,152 169,904 407,957

+Beginning of creel survey procedures as described by the Institute of Statistics, .'forth Carolina State University, Raleigh, 'forth Carolina.

'l'nb1o 2. I ISIITN(l RRI'.SSIIRI; I STIHA'I'I".8 IIY l'I Rl()i) .IANIIARY I, l977, TIIROIIOII I)l?(:8~IIII';R 30, l977, I'll('.I';I I R Rl Sl'RVOTR ~ Al,AIIA~<4L.

Fishing

, Inclusive Pressure Period Dates (hr)

Jan. 1 - Jan. 31 27 Feb. 1 - Feb. 29 4,208 Har ~ 1 - lfar. 31 53,524 Apr. 1 Apr. 28 101,317

~lay 1 i!ay 31 63,867 June 2 - June 30 24,645 July 1 - July 31 36,077 Aug. 1 Aug,. 30 36;785 ~

Sept. 1 Sept. 30 2]., 798

].0 Oct. 1 Oct. 31 36,464 Nov. 1 - Nov. 29 18,992 12 Dec. 1 - Dec. 30 11,772

Table 3. SEASONAL FISHING PRESSURE PER HECTARE FOR EACH S QiPLING ARFA, .JANUARY l., 1977, THROIJGH DECEtfBER

'JO, l977, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAMA.

Hours nF Pressure~or Hectare Sam~lfn~~ Area 1-1 & Entire Season 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Reservoir Winter 2.2 06 10 22 187 2.9 Spring 3,6 10.0 11.4 12.7 28.2 9.6 Summer 1.0 6.8 4.5 6.1 21.2 4.6 Fall 0.8 1.8 0.8 6.5 22.1 3.5

Table 4. PERCENT OF TO'1'AL ESTINATf 13 FISHING PRESSURE FOR EACfl SA"fPLING AREA BY Sf:ASON, Jh!1UAPY I, 1977, THROUGH DECElfBER 30, 1977, 'MHFELER RESERVOIR ALABAMA.

Sam lin~Area l-l &

Season 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Winter 29. 7 2.9 8.3 11.9 47.2 Spring 15 ' 14.3 28.1 20.7 21.7 Summer 8.5 16.6 22.2 20.1 32.7 Fall 9.1 7.2 5.9 29.9 48.0

Table 5. ESTIHATED TOTAL SPORT FISHING CATCH BY SPECIES, JANUARY DECEi1BER 1977, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAi~IA.

Percent by Percent by Rank by Rank by Species Number Biomass Number Biomass(Kg) Number Biomass Carp Blue catfish 8,257 5,265 2.23 4.55 Bullhead catfish 172 30 0.05 0. 03 17 17 Channel catfish 19,106 9,651 5. 17 8. 34 5 Flathead catfish 553 408 0. 15 0. 35 16 14 White bass 47,444 14,259 12.84 12. 32 Yellow bass 6,941 1,251 l. 88 1. 08 Rock b'ass 889 166 0.24 0.14 14 16 Bluegill 71,044 '0,601 19.23 9. 16 Redear sunfish 16,721 3,266 4.53 2.82 Other sunfish* 35,699 8,884 9.66 7.67 Smallmouth bass 5,852 4,871 1. 58 4. 21 10 Spotted bass 3,385 1,413 0. 92 1. 22 12 10 Largemouth bass 28,728 20,028 7.78 17.30 White crappie 119,149 33,475 32. 25 28. 91 Black crappie 3,781 1,049 1. 02 0. 91 12 Sauger 561 228 0.15 0.20 15 15 Walleye Drum 1,174 931 0. 32 0.80 13 13 Other ** 0.

Totals 369,456 115,776 100.00 100.00

+Includes longear, green and orangespotted sunfish, warmouth, etc.

<*Includes all fisli not otherwise categorized.

Table 6. ESTP1ATED SPORT FISH HARVEST PER HOUR AND PER HECTARE, JANUARY DECEMBER 1977, !WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABAafA.

Catch er hour Catch er hectare Species Number Biomass Number Biomass Carp Blue catfish 0.020 0.013 0.416 0.265 Bullhead catfish 0.001 0.000 0.009 0.002 Channel catfish 0.047 0.024 0.963 0.487 Flathead catfish 0.001 0.001 0.028 0.021 White bass 0. 117 0.035 2.391 0. 719 Yellow bass 0.017 0.003 0.350 0.063 Rock bass 0.002 0.000 0.045 0.008 Bluegill 0. 175 0.026 3.581 0.534 Redear sunfish 0. 041 0.008 0.843 0.165 Other sunfish* 0. 088 0.022 1. 799 0.449 Smallmouth bass 0. 014 0.012 0. 295 0.246 Spotted bass 0. 008 0.004 0. 171 0.071 Largemouth bass 0.071 0.049 l. 448 l. 010 White crappie 0.293 0.082 6.006 1.687 Black crappie 0.009 0.003 0. 191 0.053 Sauger 0 F 001 0.001 0.208 0.012 Walleye Drum 0.003 0.002 0.059 0.047 Other

• Totals 0.907 0. 284 18.622 5.836

• Includes longear, green and orangespotted sunfish, warmouth, etc.

~

+~lncludes all fish not otherwise categorized.

Table 7. ESTBIATED TOTAL SPORT FISHING FRO>1 EACH S&1PLING AREA BY SPECIES, JANUARY - DECEHBER 1977, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALAB&1A.

Areas Areas Species l-l and 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 l-l and 1-2 2-1 3-1 "r-2 4-1 Number Biomass (Vg) - -

Carp Blue catfish 1,084 6,455 134 73 511 550 4,216 99 383 Bullhead catfish 46 126 0. 10 20 Channel catfish 5,650 5,149 3,536 2>911 l,@60 1,945 3,044 2,371 1,476 815 Flathead catfish 99 94 71 289 211 45 32 120 White bass 2,3.::> lo,739 6,009 7,491 15,051 710 5, 157 1,338 2,224 4,830 Yellow bass 663 1,527 2,137 1,306 1,308 120 271 398 273 189 Rock bass 130 29 0 318 412 27 59 7/

Bluegill 18,083 6,351 9,697 9,046 27,867 3, 616 699 1,305 1,174 3,807 Redear sunfish 3 222 626 553 3,195 9,125 594 98 187 610 1,777 Other sunfish

• 8,710 1,761 6,658 5,328 13,242 915 207 862 523 1,668 Smallmouth bass 38 1,205 2,353 2,256 26 860 2,008 1,977 Spotted bass 389 160 1,064 618 1,154 140 392 228 605 Largemouth bass 1,264 860 6,158 6,053 14,393 830 492 3,682 4,628 10,396 White crappie 23,828 6,764 31,612 29,226 27,719 7, 105 2,104 7,276 9,349 7 >641 Black crappie 1,962 254 389 1,022 154 530 133 269 5>>

Sauger 98 135 79 110 121 22 53 50 60 43 Walleye Drum 253 134 138 154 445 215 277 180 70 189 A>>:

Other To tais 67,635 47,202 69,419 69, 75 115,907 17,540 16,823 19,133 23>noo 3>>,571

• Includes longear, green and orangespotted sunfish, warmouth, etc.

• • Includes all fish not otherwise categorized.

Table 8- ESTIa'LATED:':L':1BER AND BIOg'fASS OF SPORT FISH HARVEST PER HECTARE BY SPECIES ~ JANUARY DECViBER 1977, WHEELER RESERVOIR, ALABf&1A.

Areas Areas Species 1-1 and 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-'P 4-1 l-l and 1-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-1 Number Biomass ((g.)-

Carp Blue catfish 0.14 2.39 0.03 0.02 0.35 0.07 1.56 0.02 0.01 0.26 Bullhead catfish 0.01 ,0.05 0 0.01 Channel catfish 0.72 1.91 0.75 0.94 1.28 0.25 1 ~ 13 0.51 0.48 0.56 Flathead catfish 0. 01 0.04 0.02 0.20 0.03 0.02 0- 0.01 0.08 White bass 0.27 6.20 1.28 2.42 10.31 0.09 1.91 0.29 0.72 3.31 Yellow bass 0.08 0.57 0;46 0.42 0.90 0.02 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.13 Rock bass 0.02 0.01 0 0.10 0.28 0.02 0.05 Bluegill 2 29 2.35 2.07 2.92 19.09 0.46 0.26 0.28 0.38 2.61 Redear sunfish 0.41 0.23 0.12 1.03 6.25 0.08 0.04 '0.04 0.20 1.22 Other sunfish* 1.10 0.65 1.42 1.72 9.07 0.12 0.08 0.18 0.17 1.14 Smallmouth bass 0.01 0.26 0.76 1.55 0.01 0.18 0.65 1.35 Spotted bass 0.05 0.06 0.23 0.20 0.79 0.02 0.02 0.08 0.07 0.41 Largemouth bass 0.16 0.32 1.31 1.95, 9.86 O.ll 0.18 0. 79 1.49

. 7. 12 White crappie 3.02 2.51 6.74 9.43 18.99 0.90 0.78 1.99 3.02 ) ~ 23 Black crappie 0.25 0.09 0.08 0.33 0.11 0.07 0.02 0.03 0.09 0.04 Sauger 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.04 0.08 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.03 Walleye Drum 0.03 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.31 0.03 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.13 Other To tais 8.57 17.49 14.81 22.35 79.42 2. 13 6. 23 4.08 7.42 23.68

~Includes longear, green and orangespotted sunfish, warmouth, etc.

• • Includes all fish not otherwise categorized.

. <k8,<

TABLE 9. ESTIMATED HARVEST RATE UF SPORT FISH FROM EACH SAMPLING AREA, JANUARY 3, 1977, THROUGH DECEMBER 30> 1977'HEELER RESERVOIRS ALABQIA~

Hcrvcst per Hour Sampling Area Number Kilogram l-l 8c 1-2 1.13 0.29 2-1 0.91 0.32 3-1 o.84 0.23 3-2 0.81 0.27 4 1 o.88 O.26 All areas combined 0.90 o.28 10