ML11347A439

OL - FW: TVA Letter to NRC_11-21-11_NRC Environmental Review

ML11347A439
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	12/01/2011
From:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Division of Operating Reactor Licensing
References
Download: ML11347A439 (30)

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WBN2Public Resource From: Poole, Justin Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 5:31 PM To: Imboden, Andy; Fells, Carmen Cc: WBN2HearingFile Resource

Subject:

FW: TVA letter to NRC_11-21-11_NRC Environmental Review Attachments: 11-21-11_NRC Environmental Review_Final.pdf Attached is a copy of the letter that TVA sent to document control last week. This was the letter they said corrected some errors in their aquatic report.

Justin C. Poole Project Manager NRR/DORL/LPWB U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (301)415-2048 email: Justin.Poole@nrc.gov From: Boyd, Desiree L [1]

Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 9:17 AM To: Epperson, Dan; Poole, Justin; Raghavan, Rags; Milano, Patrick; Campbell, Stephen Cc: Arent, Gordon; Hamill, Carol L; Boyd, Desiree L

Subject:

TVA letter to NRC_11-21-11_NRC Environmental Review Please see attached TVA letter that was sent to the NRC today.

Thank You,

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Désireé L. Boyd WBN 2 Licensing Support Sun Technical Services dlboyd@tva.gov 423-365-8764 1

Hearing Identifier: Watts_Bar_2_Operating_LA_Public Email Number: 600 Mail Envelope Properties (19D990B45D535548840D1118C451C74DC532CA46DC)

Subject:

FW: TVA letter to NRC_11-21-11_NRC Environmental Review Sent Date: 12/1/2011 5:31:15 PM Received Date: 12/1/2011 5:31:18 PM From: Poole, Justin Created By: Justin.Poole@nrc.gov Recipients:

"WBN2HearingFile Resource" <WBN2HearingFile.Resource@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Imboden, Andy" <Andy.Imboden@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Fells, Carmen" <Carmen.Fells@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: HQCLSTR02.nrc.gov Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 898 12/1/2011 5:31:18 PM 11-21-11_NRC Environmental Review_Final.pdf 1085405 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received:

Tennessee Valley Authority, Post Office Box 2000, Spring City, Tennessee 37381-2000 November 21, 2011 10 CFR 50.4 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 NRC Docket No. 50-390

Subject:

WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT (WBN) UNIT 2 - INFORMATION RELATED TO U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (TAC NO. MD8203)

Reference:

TVA Letter dated January 4, 2011, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 2 -

Additional Information Related To U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Request For Additional Information (RAI) Regarding Environmental Review (TAC No. MD8203)

The purpose of this letter is to provide an updated report to support NRCs Environmental Review. Enclosure 1 contains a revised TVA report titled: Comparison of 2010 Peak Spawning Seasonal Densities of Ichthyoplankton at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant at Tennessee River Mile 528 with Historical Densities during 1996 and 1997. As part of the effort to develop calculations for the annual report of the 2010-2011 WBN entrainment study (to be issued in December 2011), a clerical issue was discovered that prompted a thorough review of the raw data and calculations used to verify the density and entrainment rate estimates included in original report. After correcting the clerical issue, the original data were re-evaluated and density and entrainment estimates recalculated. Revised numbers collected and density and entrainment estimates are reflected in the enclosed report.

The results of this revised report confirm that the conclusion regarding entrainment in the original April 2011 report remains valid. Overall, low entrainment percentages for fish eggs and larvae transported past WBN and minimal hydraulic entrainment by WBN suggest no impact to the ichthyoplankton populations of Chickamauga Reservoir from the operation of WBN.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 November 21, 2011 bcc (Enclosure):

Stephen Campbell U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission MS 08H4A One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 Patricia Holahan, Acting Deputy Regional Administrator for Construction U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1257

ENCLOSURE Comparison of 2010 Peak Spawning Seasonal Densities of Ichthyoplankton at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant at Tennessee River Mile 528 with Historical Densities during 1996 and 1997

Comparison of 2010 Peak Spawning Seasonal Densities of Ichthyoplankton at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant at Tennessee River Mile 528 with Historical Densities during 1996 and 1997 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND RESOURCES APRIL 2011 REVISED NOVEMBER 2011

Revisions (11/04/2011)

This revision confirms that the following conclusion regarding entrainment in the original April 2011 report remains valid.

While performing calculations for the annual report of the 2010-2011 WBN entrainment study (to be issued in December 2011), a clerical issue was discovered that prompted a thorough review of the raw data and calculations used to verify the density and entrainment rate estimates included in original report. Along with several more minor issues, this review disclosed that when using the Sort function in Excel on the raw data early in the data compilation and calculation processes, some columns of data were unintentionally excluded resulting in mismatched data. These data were then used to calculate the densities and entrainment estimates included in the April 2011 report. To remedy the issue, the original data were re-evaluated and density and entrainment estimates recalculated. Revised numbers collected and density and entrainment estimates are reflected in the following report. Changes in the revision include:

Table 2 and 3 - Addition of Catostomidae egg and omission of gizzard shad and Lepomis eggs Table 3 - Changes in this revised table include higher numbers of freshwater drum eggs (+1,142), Lepomis larvae (+61), and unspecifiable Clupeidae larvae (+186) and lower numbers of gizzard shad (-19), Pimephales (-5), Morone (-76), white bass (-

32), black bass (not smallmouth bass) (-15), Pomoxis (-237), white crappie (-12),

freshwater drum (-199), and Atherinopsidae larvae (-20). Numbers collected of all other taxa remained the same. Total numbers of fish eggs increased (+583) while total numbers of fish larvae decreased (-364).

Table 4 - Changes to densities of fish eggs were observed during fourth week of March (increases of 1/1000m3 in reservoir and combined samples), first week of May (decrease of 1/1000m3 in reservoir sample), third week of May (increase of 5/1000m3 in intake sample and decreases of 1 and 2/1000m3 in reservoir and combined samples, respectively), first week of June (increases of 43, 672, and 407/1000m3 in intake, reservoir, and combined samples, respectively), second week of June (decrease of 1/1000m3 in reservoir sample), and fifth week of June (increases of 2, 9, and 5/1000m3 in intake, reservoir, and combined samples, respectively).

Changes in densities of fish larvae were observed during the fourth week of April (decrease of 4/1000m3 in intake sample and increase of 2/1000m3 in reservoir sample), third week of May (increases of 32/1000m3 in intake samples and decreases of 93 and 28/1000m3 in reservoir and combined samples, respectively), first week of June 2010 (decreases of 111, 354, and 252/1000m3 in intake, reservoir, and combined samples, respectively), and the fifth week of June (an increase of 6/1000m3 in intake samples and decreases of 17 and 7/1000m3 in reservoir and combined samples, respectively).

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Table 5 - There were increases in the average (+20) and peak densities (+312) of fish eggs and decreases in the average (-65) and peak densities (-460) of fish larvae.

Table 6 - Changes to numbers collected are same as those listed above for Table 3.

Occurrence by sample period was updated to reflect revised data.

Table 7 - Because of the changes in densities, there were corresponding changes in estimated number entrained and estimated number transported. Percentages of fish eggs entrained increased during the weeks of May 16 (+0.54%), June 1 (+0.02%), and June 28 (+0.04%). Fish larvae densities increased the weeks of May 16th (+0.05%),

June 1st (+1.32%), and June 28th (0.89%). Total estimated number of fish eggs entrained and total number fish eggs transported increased (+8.2 x 103 and +1.3 x 107, respectively), but total percent for the season decreased 0.02%. For fish larvae, total number entrained and total number transported decreased (-1.2 x 104 and -1.0 x 107, respectively), but total percent entrained increased 0.02%.

This revision confirms that the following conclusion regarding entrainment in the original April 2011 report remains valid. Overall, low entrainment percentages for fish eggs and larvae transported past WBN and minimal hydraulic entrainment by WBN, suggest no impact to the ichthyoplankton populations of Chickamauga Reservoir from the operation of WBN.

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Table of Contents Revisions (11/04/2011) .................................................................................................................... i

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ ii

List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. ii

List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii

Abbreviations and Acronyms ........................................................................................................ iii

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Plant Description ......................................................................................................................... 1

Materials and Methods .................................................................................................................... 1

Data Collection ............................................................................................................................ 1

Laboratory Analysis .................................................................................................................... 1

Data Analysis............................................................................................................................... 2

Results and Comparison with Historical Data (1996 through 1997) .............................................. 3

Fish Eggs ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Fish Larvae .................................................................................................................................. 3

Estimated Entrainment ................................................................................................................ 4

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 4

References ....................................................................................................................................... 5

List of Figures Figure 1. Locations of intake (Intake Pumping Station) and reservoir transects and sampling stations used to collect ichthyoplankton (fish eggs and larvae) during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Chickamauga Reservoir, Rhea County, TN. ............................................................................................................... 6

Figure 2. Weekly densities of fish eggs collected from sampling stations located in the Intake Pumping Station canal and in the Reservoir transect (combined) in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Rhea County, TN, during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010. . 7

Figure 3. Weekly densities of larval fish collected from sampling stations located in the Intake Pumping Station (IPS) canal and in the Reservoir transect (combined) in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Rhea County, TN, during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010..................................................................................................................................... 8

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List of Tables Table 1. Total volume of water filtered weekly April through June 2010-2011 at stations at the Intake Pumping Station canal and the reservoir transect near Watts Bar Nuclear Plant to estimate densities and entrainment of fish eggs and larvae. ............................................... 9

Table 2. List of fish eggs and larvae by family collected near Watts Bar Nuclear Plant during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010, and lowest level of taxonomic resolution for each family. ....................................................................................................................... 10

Table 3. Actual numbers and percent composition of fish eggs and larvae collected in impingement samples during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.................................................................................................... 12

Table 4. Densities (number/1,000 m3) by sample period of fish eggs and larvae collected at reservoir, intake, and reservoir and intake combined during April through June 1996 and 1997 (biweekly) and 2010 (weekly) at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. .................................... 13

Table 5. Average and peak density (number per 1,000 m3) of fish eggs and larvae (reservoir and intake combined) with mean water temperatures collected in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010. ..................................... 15

Table 6. Species list, total number collected, percent composition and occurrence spans of fish eggs and larvae collected during operational monitoring at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010. ................................................................................. 16

Table 7. Estimated entrainment results of fish eggs and larvae during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant including intake and reservoir flow, sample periods, average densities, and total numbers and percent entrained and transported past WBN. ................................................................................................................................ 18

Abbreviations and Acronyms cfs cubic feet per second CTB cooling tower blowdown fps feet per second msl mean sea level SCCW Supplemental Condenser Cooling Water TRM Tennessee River Mile TVA Tennessee Valley Authority WBH Watts Bar Hydroelectric Dam WBN Watts Bar Nuclear Plant iii

Introduction Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is conducting additional monitoring during 2010-2011 in Chickamauga Reservoir to estimate entrainment mortality of fish in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) due to the proposed operation of an additional nuclear reactor (Unit 2) at the Plant site. This monitoring began March 2010 and will serve to update and verify historical monitoring conducted in 1996 and 1997. This report will present taxonomic composition, densities and estimated entrainment during April through June 2010 and compare these data from the same period during 1996 and 1997.

Plant Description WBN is located on the right descending (west) bank of upper Chickamauga Reservoir at Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 528 approximately 1.9 miles downstream of Watts Bar Hydroelectric Dam (WBH; TRM 529.9) and one mile downstream of the decommissioned Watts Bar Fossil Plant (Figure 1). Unit 1 went into commercial operation on May 27, 1996 and is designed for a net electrical output of 1,160 megawatts (gross electrical output of 1,218 megawatts).

Materials and Methods Data Collection Ichthyoplankton samples during 1996 and 1997 monitoring of Unit 1 were collected biweekly, on a diel schedule (day and night), during April through June. Reservoir samples were collected at five stations along a transect located at TRM 528.4, which was perpendicular to river flow just upstream of the cooling tower make-up water intake channel (Figure 1). Four intake samples were collected within the Intake Pumping Station (IPS) canal located at TRM 528 (Figure 1).

Samples were taken with a beam net (0.5 m square, 1.8 m long, with 505 micron nitex mesh netting) towed upstream at a speed of 1.0 m/s for ten minutes. The volume of water filtered through the net was measured with a large-vaned General Oceanics Inc. flowmeter.

Approximately 150 m3 of water were filtered per ten-minute sample. Water temperature was recorded using a mercury thermometer calibrated to the tenth degree. Ichthyoplankton samples during 2010 monitoring were collected using the same methods, diel schedule (day and night),

sampling period (April through June), and at the same sampling locations as those used in 1996 and 1997 monitoring, with one exception. During 2010 monitoring, samples were collected weekly instead of biweekly. Detailed ichthyoplankton sampling procedures used during 1996, 1997, and 2010 monitoring are outlined in S&F OPS-FO-BR-23.5 (TVA, 2010a).

Laboratory Analysis Laboratory analyses also followed the same procedures in 2010 as in 1996 and 1997. Larval fish were removed from the samples, identified to the lowest possible taxon, counted and measured to the nearest millimeter total length following procedures outlined in S&F OPS-FO-BR-24.1 (TVA, 2010b). Taxonomic decisions were based on TVAs Preliminary Guide to the Identification of Larval Fishes in the Tennessee River, (Hogue et al., 1976) and other pertinent 1

literature (Wallus et al., 1990; Kay et al., 1994; Simon and Wallus, 2003; Simon and Wallus, 2006; Wallus and Simon, 2006; and Wallus and Simon, 2008).

The term unidentifiable larvae applies to specimens too damaged or mutilated to identify, while unspecifiable before a taxon implies a level of taxonomic resolution (i.e., unspecifiable catastomids designates larvae within the family Catostomidae that currently cannot be identified to a lower taxon). The category unidentifiable eggs applies to specimens that cannot be identified due to damage or lack of taxonomic knowledge. Taxonomic refinement is a function of specimen size and developmental stage. Throughout this report, the designation unspecifiable clupeids refers to clupeids less than 20 mm in total length and could include Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad), D. petenense (threadfin shad), and/or Alosa chrysochloris (skipjack herring) (Table 2). Any clupeid specimen identified to species level represents a postlarva or juvenile 20 mm or longer in total length.

Developmental stage of moronids also determines level of taxonomic resolution. Morone saxatilis (striped bass) hatch at a larger size than either M. chrysops (white bass) or M.

mississippiensis (yellow bass). Although it is currently impossible to distinguish between larvae of the latter two species, M. saxatilis can be eliminated as a possibility based on developmental characteristics of specimens 5 mm or less in total length (hence, the taxonomic designation Morone not saxatilis). Specimens identified as Morone sp. are those greater than 5 mm total length that could be any of the three species.

Data Analysis Temporal occurrence and relative abundance of eggs and larvae by taxon are presented and discussed for 1996, 1997, and 2010 monitoring periods. Densities of fish eggs and larvae were expressed as numbers per 1,000 m3 and were calculated using the equation:



D=



Estimated entrainment of fish eggs and larvae was calculated by the following equation:

where Ent is estimated entrainment of fish eggs and larvae, D is the mean density (number/1,000 m3) of fish eggs or larvae and Q is the flow (m3/d). To calculate estimated entrainment of fish eggs and larvae that were transported past WBN (from reservoir samples), densities of fish eggs and larvae from all stations along reservoir transect at TRM 528 were averaged and multiplied by the corresponding 24-hour river flow past the plant. Entrainment estimates for intake samples were calculated using the same method, except densities of fish eggs and larvae from the intake samples and plant intake (IPS) water demand were used.

Percentage of transported ichthyofauna entrained by the plant was estimated using the formula:

2

where Di is the mean density (number/1,000 m3) of fish eggs or larvae in intake samples; Dr is the mean density (number/1,000 m3) of fish eggs or larvae in the river transect at TRM 528; Qi is the plant intake water demand (m3/d); and Qr is the river flow past WBN (m3/d).

Results and Comparison with Historical Data (1996 through 1997)

During thirteen sample periods in 2010, the average volume of water filtered was 608 m3 for intake samples and 781 m3 for reservoir samples (Table 1). A list of families of fish eggs and larvae collected April through June during 1996, 1997, and 2010, including the lowest level of taxonomic resolution, is presented in Table 2.

Fish Eggs A total of 1,585 fish eggs was collected in weekly sampling during April through June 2010.

Composition was approximately 96 percent freshwater drum, 2.7 percent moronids (not striped bass), 1.3 percent clupeids (not skipjack herring), and 0.1 percent catostomids. During this same period in 1996 and 1997 (biweekly sampling), 2,929 and 1,605 fish eggs were collected, respectively (Table 3). Nearly 100 percent of eggs collected in 1996 and 1997 were mutilated and unidentifiable; this was most likely due to turbine passage through Watts Bar Dam. During 2010 monitoring, densities of eggs peaked on 05/16 at 117/1,000 m3 in intake and on 06/01 at 1,356/1,000 m3 in reservoir samples (Table 4). Average seasonal density for eggs was 75/1,000 m3 in the intake and reservoir samples combined and peaked the week of 06/01 at 811/1,000 m3 (Table 5; Figure 2).

Fish Larvae A total of 5,885 larval fish was collected in weekly samples during April through June 2010, compared to 4,926 and 9,849 during the same period 1996-1997 (biweekly samples) respectively. Relative abundance for all taxa of larval fish collected during the thirteen weekly sample periods of 2010 was dominated by clupeids (68%) (gizzard and threadfin shad and skipjack), centrarchids (14%), and Morone (11%). Table 3 provides a comparison of relative abundance of eggs and larvae by taxon during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010.

Clupeids were the dominant family of larvae all three years. Occurrence by sample period for all taxa of eggs and larvae is presented for April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 in Table 6.

Larval Morone and percids (darters and sauger) were the first taxa to be collected all three years (Table 6).

Average densities (525, 924, 282), peak seasonal densities (1,387; 1,699; 828) and dates of peak densities (06/03, 05/15, 05/16) for larvae during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010, respectively, are presented in Table 5. All of these values for samples collected during 2010 were slightly lower than the range of the two previous years (1996 and 1997) of monitoring.

During 2010, average seasonal density for larvae was 282/1,000 m3 in the intake and reservoir 3

samples combined and the peak density occurred on the week of 5/16 (Table 5; Figure 3). It should be noted that this peak density of fish larvae on 05/16 was coincidentally the date that there was no turbine flow through WBH to accommodate a hydrothermal survey of the WBN SCCW thermal plume under no-flow condition (TVA, 2011).

Estimated Entrainment Entrainment estimates for fish eggs and larvae by sample period during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 and total percent entrainment for the period sampled are presented in Table 7.

Highest seasonal entrainment recorded for eggs was 0.29% and for larvae 0.57% both in 1996.

During April through June 2010, seasonal entrainment for fish eggs and larvae was estimated to be 0.12% and 0.40%, respectively. During one sample period (May 16) in 2010, density of fish eggs in intake samples (117/1,000 m3) was significantly higher than in reservoir samples (13/1,000 m3) and resulted in a higher entrainment estimate (4.1%) for that period. Similarly for fish larvae in 2010, during sample periods 9 through 12 (06/01 through 06/21) densities were higher in intake samples and entrainment estimates ranged from 0.79% to 8.65% (Table 7).

Conclusion Seasonal entrainment percentages for both fish eggs and larvae during April through June 2010 were similar to those estimated for previous operational monitoring during the same period 1996 and 1997. It was concluded in the report on those data (TVA, 1998) that those entrainment levels would not be detrimental to the ichthyoplankton population of upper Chickamauga Reservoir. Therefore, the April through June 2010 ichthyoplankton population in upper Chickamauga Reservoir was not adversely affected due to entrainment by WBN.

Historically, adult fish communities measured by TVAs Reservoir Fish Assemblage Index in the vicinity of WBN have averaged a Good rating annually since monitoring began in 1999 (TVA, 2010c). This is further evidence that operations of WBN have not adversely affected the fish community in Chickamauga Reservoir.

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References Hogue, Jacob J., Jr., Robert Wallus, and Larry Kay. 1976. Preliminary guide to the identification of larval fishes in the Tennessee River. TVA Tech. Note B19. 67pp.

Kay, L.K., R. Wallus, and B.L. Yeager. 1994. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage. Volume 2: Catostomidae. Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, TN, USA.

Simon, T.P., and R. Wallus. 2003. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage. Volume 3: Ictaluridae-Catfish and Madtoms. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

Simon, T.P., and R. Wallus. 2006. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage. Volume 4: Percidae. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

Tennessee Valley Authority. 1998. Aquatic environmental conditions in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant during two years of operation, 1996-1997. Norris, TN.

Tennessee Valley Authority. 2010a. Standard Operating Procedures (S&F OPS-FO-BR-23.5) for Ichthyoplankton Sampling. Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee Valley Authority. 2010b. Standard Operating Procedures (S&F OPS-FO-BR-24.1) for Ichthyoplankton Sample Processing. Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee Valley Authority. 2010c. Biological Monitoring of the Tennessee River Near Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Discharge, Autumn 2009. Chattanooga, TN.

Tennessee Valley Authority. 2011. Hydrothermal Effects on the Ichthyoplankton from the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Supplemental Condenser Cooling Water Outfall in Upper Chickamauga Reservoir. Biological and Water Resources, Knoxville, TN, USA.

Wallus, R., B.L. Yeager, and T.P. Simon. 1990. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage. Volume 1: Acipenseridae through Esocidae. Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, TN, USA.

Wallus, R. and T.P. Simon. 2006. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage. Volume 5: Aphredoderidae through Cottidae, Moronidae, and Sciaenidae. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

Wallus R. and T.P. Simon. 2008. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage. Volume 6: Elassomatidae and Centrarchidae. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

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Figure 1. Locations of intake (Intake Pumping Station) and reservoir transects and sampling stations used to collect ichthyoplankton (fish eggs and larvae) during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Chickamauga Reservoir, Rhea County, TN.

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1200 1996 1000 1997 2010 800 600 Density(number/1000m3) 400 200 0

Week4 Week5 Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week5 March April May June Figure 2. Weekly densities of fish eggs collected from sampling stations located in the Intake Pumping Station canal and in the Reservoir transect (combined) in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Rhea County, TN, during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010.

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1800 1600 1400 1200 1996 1997 1000 2010 800 Density(number/1000m3) 600 400 200 0

Week4 Week5 Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week5 March April May June Figure 3. Weekly densities of larval fish collected from sampling stations located in the Intake Pumping Station (IPS) canal and in the Reservoir transect (combined) in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Rhea County, TN, during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010.

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Table 1. Total volume of water filtered weekly April through June 2010-2011 at stations at the Intake Pumping Station canal and the reservoir transect near Watts Bar Nuclear Plant to estimate densities and entrainment of fish eggs and larvae.

2010 Month Week Intake Reservoir Total March 4 577 729 1,306 5 588 744 1,332 April 1 595 744 1,339 2 612 751 1,363 3 623 760 1,383 4 609 809 1,418 May 1 618 801 1,419 2 588 774 1,362 3 588 771 1,359 4 621 798 1,419 June 1 594 816 1,410 2 587 814 1,401 3 628 799 1,427 4 647 813 1,460 5 647 787 1,434 Total 9,122 11,710 20,832 Average 608 781 1,389 9

Table 2. List of fish eggs and larvae by family collected near Watts Bar Nuclear Plant during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010, and lowest level of taxonomic resolution for each family.

1996 1997 2010 Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Fish Eggs Eggs Catostomidae spp. eggs Unidentifiable catostomid eggs Unidentifiable fish eggs Unidentifiable fish eggs Clupeidae spp. eggs Unidentifiable clupeid eggs Moronidae spp. eggs Temperate bass eggs Aplodinotus grunniens eggs Freshwater drum eggs Aplodinotus grunniens eggs Freshwater drum eggs Aplodinotus grunniens eggs Freshwater drum eggs Fish Larvae Clupeidae Clupeidae Clupeidae Unspecified shad and/or Unspecified shad and/or Unspecified shad and/or Unspecifiable clupeids herring Unspecifiable clupeids herring Unspecifiable clupeids herring Alosa chrysochloris Skipjack herring Alosa chrysochloris Skipjack herring Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard shad Dorosoma petenense Threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense Threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense Threadfin shad Cyprinidae Cyprinidae Cyprinidae Unspecifiable cyprinids Unspecified minnow or carp Unspecifiable cyprinids Unspecified minnow or carp Cyprinus carpio Common carp Cyprinus carpio Common carp Notropis volucellus Mimic shiner Cyprinella spp. Various shiners Fathead, bullhead or bluntnose Pimephales spp. minnow Catostomidae Catostomidae Unspecified Ictiobines Ictiobinae (buffalofish)

Minytrema melanops Spotted sucker Ictaluridae Ictaluridae Ictalurus punctatus Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus Channel catfish Moronidae Moronidae Mornidae Morone sp. Unspecified temperate bass Morone sp. Unspecified temperate bass Morone sp. Unspecified temperate bass Morone chrysops White bass Morone chrysops White bass Morone chrysops White bass Morone mississippiensis Yellow bass Morone mississippiensis Yellow bass Morone (not saxatilis) Unspecified temperate bass(not Morone (not saxatilis) Unspecified temperate bass(not Morone (not saxatilis) Unspecified temperate bass striped bass) striped bass) (not striped bass)

Centrarchidae Centrarchidae Centrarchidae Lepomis sp. Unspecified sunfish Lepomis sp. Unspecified sunfish Lepomis sp. Unspecified lepomid Micropterus sp. Unspecified black bass Micropterus (not dolomieu) Unspecified black bass (not smallmouth bass) 10

Table 2. (Continued) 1996 1997 2010 Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Pomoxis sp. Unspecified crappie Pomoxis sp. Unspecified crappie Pomoxis sp. Unspecified crappie Pomoxis annularis White crappie Percidae Percidae Percidae Unspecifiable darter Unspecified darter Unspecifiable darter Unspecified darter Unidentifiable darter (not Unidentifiable darter Percina caprodes)

Unidentifiable darter Unidentifiable darter, (Percina caprodes type) Logperch type Perca flavescens Yellow perch Perca flavescens Yellow perch Sander sp. Walleye or sauger Sander canadensis Sauger Sciaenidae Sciaenidae Sciaenidae Aplodinotus grunniens Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens Freshwater drum Atherinopsidae Atherinopsidae spp. Unspecified silverside (brook or inland)

Menidia beryllina Inland silverside 11

Table 3. Actual numbers and percent composition of fish eggs and larvae collected in impingement samples during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

1996 1997 2010 Total Total Total Taxon Numbers  % Comp Numbers  % Comp Numbers  % Comp Collected Collected Collected EGGS Unidentifiable fish eggs 2,908 99.28% 1,591 99.13%

Catostomidae eggs 1 0.06%

Clupeidae (not skipjack) eggs 20 1.26%

Moronidae (not saxatilis) eggs 43 2.71%

Aplodinotus grunniens eggs 21 0.72% 14 0.87% 1,521 95.96%

Total 2,929 100% 1,605 100% 1,585 100%

LARVAE Clupeidae Unspecifiable clupeids 4,132 83.88% 8,083 82.07% 3,991 67.86%

Alosa chrysochloris 8 0.08% 1 0.02%

Dorosoma cepedianum 74 1.50% 1 0.01% 197 3.35%

Dorosoma petenense 50 1.02% 2 0.02% 3 0.05%

Cyprinidae Unspecifiable cyprinids 2 0.04% 6 0.06%

Cyprinidae (Cyprinella group) 1 0.02%

Cyprinidae (Pimephales group) 21 0.36%

Cyprinus carpio 2 0.04% 2 0.02%

Notropis volucellus 2 0.02%

Catostomidae Ictiobinae 2 0.03%

Minytrema melanops 3 0.06%

Ictaluridae Ictalurus punctatus 2 0.04% 1 0.02%

Moronidae Morone sp. 41 0.83% 820 8.33% 51 0.87%

Morone chrysops 5 0.10% 2 0.02% 57 0.97%

Morone mississippiensis 16 0.32% 6 0.06%

Morone (not saxatilis) 161 3.27% 382 3.88% 560 9.52%

Centrarchidae Lepomis sp. 95 1.93% 130 1.32% 583 9.91%

Micropterus sp. 3 0.03%

Micropterus (not dolomieu) 4 0.07%

Pomoxis sp. 8 0.16% 125 1.27% 250 4.25%

Pomoxis annularis 3 0.05%

Percidae Unidentifiable darter 5 0.10% 8 0.08%

Unidentifiable darter (not Percina caprodes) 1 0.02%

Unidentifiable darter (Percina caprodes type) 4 0.07%

Perca flavescens 6 0.12% 7 0.12%

Sander sp. 2 0.02%

Sander canadensis 1 0.02%

Sciaenidae Aplodinotus grunniens 324 6.58% 267 2.71% 119 2.02%

Atherinopsidae Atherinopsidae sp. 23 0.39%

Menidia beryllina 1 0.02%

Total 4,926 100% 9,849 100% 5,885 100%

12

Table 4. Densities (number/1,000 m3) by sample period of fish eggs and larvae collected at reservoir, intake, and reservoir and intake combined during April through June 1996 and 1997 (biweekly) and 2010 (weekly) at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

Fish Eggs 1996 1997 2010 Month Week Intake Reservoir Combined* Intake Reservoir Combined* Intake Reservoir Combined*

March 4 --- --- --- 177 1,070 1,004 0 1 1 5 --- --- --- --- --- --- 0 0 0 April 1 17 382 354 --- --- --- 0 7 4 2 --- --- --- 0 16 15 0 48 26 3 109 1,528 1,095 --- --- --- 0 3 1 4 --- --- --- 0 11 10 0 0 0 May 1 59 26 28 --- --- --- 3 37 23 2 --- --- --- 0 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 84 78 --- --- --- 117 13 58 4 --- --- --- 0 3 3 6 105 62 June 1 9 10 10 --- --- --- 62 1,356 811 2 --- --- --- 0 0 0 49 104 81 3 0 7 7 --- --- --- 43 28 34 4 --- --- --- 9 18 17 2 22 13 5 --- --- --- --- --- --- 2 19 11 13

Table 4. (Continued)

Fish Larvae 1996 1997 2010 Month Week Intake Reservoir Combined* Intake Reservoir Combined* Intake Reservoir Combined*

March 4 --- --- --- 35 52 51 0 0 0 5 --- --- --- --- --- --- 0 0 0 April 1 0 1 1 --- --- --- 0 0 0 2 --- --- --- 232 319 312 278 264 270 3 0 22 15 --- --- --- 151 217 187 4 --- --- --- 427 1,115 1,063 402 374 386 May 1 294 426 419 --- --- --- 377 646 529 2 --- --- --- 1,822 1,689 1,699 663 570 610 3 1,348 594 648 --- --- --- 728 905 828 4 --- --- --- 625 550 555 488 465 475 June 1 5,575 1,065 1,387 --- --- --- 516 195 330 2 --- --- --- 2,260 1,032 1,107 380 230 293 3 2,354 551 682 --- --- --- 358 74 199 4 --- --- --- 2,646 1,600 1,683 221 14 106 5 --- --- --- --- --- --- 15 8 11

--- denotes no sample collected during sample period.

• Values in the Combined column are not sums of corresponding values in Reservoir and Intake columns. Densities in Combined column were calculated using total (reservoir and intake combined) numbers of fish eggs and/or larvae collected and total volumes sampled (see Data Analysis section).

14

Table 5. Average and peak density (number per 1,000 m3) of fish eggs and larvae (reservoir and intake combined) with mean water temperatures collected in the vicinity of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010.

1996 1997 2010 Fish Eggs Average Density 262 150 75 Peak Density 1,095 1,004 811 Date of Peak Density 4/22 3/21 6/01 Fish Larvae Average Density 525 924 282 Peak Density 1,387 1,699 828 Date of Peak Density 6/3 5/15 5/16 Mean Water Temperature (°C) 18.4 22.4 22.3 15

Table 6. Species list, total number collected, percent composition and occurrence spans of fish eggs and larvae collected during operational monitoring at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010.

1996 TOTAL PERCENT OCCURRENCE BY TAXON COLLECTED COMPOSITION SAMPLE PERIOD FISH EGGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 Unidentifiable fish eggs 2,908 99.28% X X X X X Aplodinotus grunniens eggs 21 0.72% X X X Total 2,929 100%

FISH LARVAE Clupeidae 4,132 83.88% X X X X Dorosoma cepedianum 74 1.50% X X Dorosoma petenense 50 1.02% X X Cyprinidae 2 0.04% X Cyprinus carpio 2 0.04% X X Minytrema melanops 3 0.06% X Ictalurus punctatus 2 0.04% X Morone sp. 41 0.83% X X X Morone chrysops 5 0.10% X Morone mississippiensis 16 0.32% X Morone (not saxatilis) 161 3.27% X X X Lepomis sp. 95 1.93% X X Pomoxis sp. 8 0.16% X X X Percidae (not Sander) 5 0.10% X X X Perca flavescens 6 0.12% X X Aplodinotus grunniens 324 6.58% X X X TOTAL 4,926 100%

1997 TOTAL PERCENT OCCURRENCE BY SAMPLE TAXON COLLECTED COMPOSITION PERIOD FISH EGGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unidentifiable fish eggs 1,591 99.13% X X X X X Aplodinotus grunniens eggs 14 0.87% X X Total 1,605 100%

FISH LARVAE Clupeidae 8,083 82.07% X X X X X X X Alosa chrysochloris 8 0.08% X X Dorosoma cepedianum 1 0.01% X Dorosoma petenense 2 0.02% X X Cyprinidae 6 0.06% X X Cyprinus carpio 2 0.02% X Notropis volucellus 2 0.02% X X Morone sp. 820 8.33% X X X X X X Morone chrysops 2 0.02% X X Morone mississippiensis 6 0.06% X X X Morone (not saxatilis) 382 3.88% X X X X X Lepomis sp. 130 1.32% X X X Micropterus sp. 3 0.03% X X Pomoxis sp. 125 1.27% X X X X X Percidae (not Sander) 8 0.08% X X X Sander sp. 2 0.02% X Aplodinotus grunniens 267 2.71% X X X X TOTAL 9,849 100%

16

Table 6. (Continued) 2010 TOTAL PERCENT OCCURRENCE BY SAMPLE PERIOD TAXON COLLECTED COMPOSITION FISH EGGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Catostomidae eggs 1 0.06% X Clupeidae (not skipjack) eggs 20 1.26% X X X X Moronidae (not M. saxatilis) eggs 43 2.71% X X X Aplodinotus grunniens eggs 1,521 95.96% X X X X X X TOTAL 1,585 100%

FISH LARVAE Unspecifiable clupeids 3,991 67.86% X X X X X X X X X Alosa chrysochloris 1 0.02% X Dorosoma cepedianum 197 3.35% X X X X X Dorosoma petenense 3 0.05% X X X Cyprinidae (Cyprinella group) 1 0.02% X Cyprinidae (Pimephales group) 21 0.36% X X X X X X Catostomidae (Ictiobinae) 2 0.03% X Ictalurus punctatus 1 0.02% X Morone sp. 51 0.87% X X X X X X X X Morone chrysops 57 0.97% X X X X X Morone (not saxatilis) 560 9.52% X X X X Lepomis sp. 583 9.91% X X X X X Micropterus (not dolomieu) 4 0.07% X X X X Pomoxis sp. 250 4.25% X X X X X X X X Pomoxis annularis 3 0.05% X X X Unidentifiable darter (not Percina caprodes) 1 0.02% X Unidentifiable darter (Percina caprodes type) 4 0.07% X X X Perca flavescens 7 0.12% X X X X Sander canadensis 1 0.02% X Aplodinotus grunniens 119 2.02% X X X X X X Atherinopsidae sp. 23 0.39% X X X X X Menidia beryllina 1 0.02% X TOTAL 5,885 100%

17

Table 7. Estimated entrainment results of fish eggs and larvae during April through June 1996, 1997, and 2010 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant including intake and reservoir flow, sample periods, average densities, and total numbers and percent entrained and transported past WBN.

1996-Eggs Intake Reservoir Water Estimated River Estimated Sample Density/ Demand Number Density/ Flow Number Percent Date Period 1,000 m3 m3/d Entrained 1,000 m3 m3/d Transported Entrained Di Qi Dr Qr April 8 1 17.1 1.27E+05 2.18E+03 382.2 2.04E+07 7.80E+06 0.03%

April 22 2 108.9 7.10E+04 7.73E+03 1527.5 6.29E+07 9.61E+07 0.01%

May 6 3 58.8 1.62E+05 9.54E+03 25.7 2.41E+07 6.17E+05 1.55%

May 20 4 0.0 1.54E+05 0.00E+00 83.6 4.36E+07 3.64E+06 T June 3 5 8.8 1.17E+05 1.03E+03 9.5 8.20E+07 7.80E+05 0.13%

June 17 6 0.0 2.26E+05 0.00E+00 7.0 6.94E+07 4.84E+05 T Total: 2.05E+04 Total: 1.09E+08 0.29%*

1996-Larvae Intake Reservoir Water Estimated River Estimated Sample Density/ Demand Number Density/ Flow Number Percent Date Period 1,000 m3 m3/d Entrained 1,000 m3 m3/d Transported Entrained Di Qi Dr Qr April 8 1 0.0 1.27E+05 0.00E+00 1.4 2.04E+07 2.93E+04 T April 22 2 0.0 7.10E+04 0.00E+00 22.1 6.29E+07 1.39E+06 T May 6 3 294.1 1.62E+05 4.77E+04 426.2 2.41E+07 1.03E+07 0.47%

May 20 4 1348.2 1.54E+05 2.08E+05 594.2 4.36E+07 2.59E+07 0.80%

June 3 5 5575.2 1.17E+05 6.51E+05 1065.3 8.20E+07 8.73E+07 0.75%

June 17 6 2354.0 2.26E+05 5.32E+05 550.6 6.94E+07 3.82E+07 1.39%

Total: 1.44E+06 Total: 1.63E+08 0.57%*

1997-Eggs Intake Reservoir Water Estimated River Estimated Sample Density/ Demand Number Density/ Flow Number Percent Date Period 1,000 m3 m3/d Entrained 1,000 m3 m3/d Transported Entrained Di Qi Dr Qr March 21 1 177.0 1.03E+05 1.82E+04 1069.8 1.09E+08 1.17E+08 0.02%

April 14 2 0.0 1.24E+05 0.00E+00 16.0 2.38E+07 3.80E+05 T April 28 3 0.0 1.01E+05 0.00E+00 10.5 5.43E+07 5.72E+05 T May 15 4 0.0 1.04E+05 0.00E+00 0.7 4.96E+07 3.35E+04 T May 27 5 0.0 1.10E+05 0.00E+00 2.7 4.63E+07 1.25E+05 T June 9 6 0.0 1.19E+05 0.00E+00 0.0 7.49E+07 0.00E+00 T June 23 7 9.1 1.23E+05 1.12E+03 18.1 9.99E+07 1.81E+06 0.06%

Total: 1.94E+04 Total: 1.20E+08 0.02%*

1997-Larvae Intake Reservoir Water Estimated River Estimated Sample Density/ Demand Number Density/ Flow Number Percent Date Period 1,000 m3 m3/d Entrained 1,000 m3 m3/d Transported Entrained Di Qi Dr Qr March 21 1 35.4 1.03E+05 3.65E+03 52.1 1.09E+08 5.70E+06 0.06%

April 14 2 232.1 1.24E+05 2.89E+04 318.5 2.38E+07 7.59E+06 0.38%

April 28 3 427.4 1.01E+05 4.30E+04 1115.3 5.43E+07 6.05E+07 0.07%

May 15 4 1822.0 1.04E+05 1.89E+05 1688.9 4.96E+07 8.37E+07 0.23%

May 27 5 625.0 1.10E+05 6.88E+04 550.0 4.63E+07 2.55E+07 0.27%

June 9 6 2260.4 1.19E+05 2.70E+05 1032.2 7.49E+07 7.74E+07 0.35%

June 23 7 2645.5 1.23E+05 3.25E+05 1600.0 9.99E+07 1.60E+08 0.20%

Total: 9.28E+05 Total: 4.20E+08 0.22%*

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Table 7. (Continued) 2010-Eggs Intake Reservoir Fish Eggs Water Estimated River Estimated Sample Density/ Demand Number Density/ Flow Number Percent Date Period 1,000 m3 m3/d Entrained 1,000 m3 m3/d Transported Entrained Di Qi Dr Qr April 4 1 0.0 9.82E+04 0.00E+00 6.7 2.14E+07 1.44E+05 T April 11 2 0.0 9.68E+04 0.00E+00 47.9 1.74E+07 8.34E+05 T April 18 3 0.0 8.98E+04 0.00E+00 2.6 1.48E+07 3.89E+04 T April 25 4 0.0 1.01E+05 0.00E+00 0.0 2.55E+07 0.00E+00 T May 2 5 3.2 1.56E+05 5.05E+02 37.5 1.19E+08 4.47E+06 0.01%

May 9 6 0.0 1.59E+05 0.00E+00 1.3 3.08E+07 3.98E+04 T May 16 7 117.3 1.64E+05 1.93E+04 13.0 3.65E+07 4.73E+05 4.08%

May 23 8 6.4 1.64E+05 1.06E+03 105.3 2.88E+07 3.03E+06 0.03%

June 1 9 62.3 1.62E+05 1.01E+04 1,356.1 1.85E+07 2.51E+07 0.04%

June 7 10 49.4 1.65E+05 8.13E+03 104.5 3.46E+07 3.62E+06 0.22%

June 14 11 43.0 1.66E+05 7.12E+03 27.5 3.04E+07 8.36E+05 0.85%

June 21 12 1.5 1.66E+05 2.57E+02 22.1 3.14E+07 6.96E+05 0.04%

June 28 13 1.5 1.65E+05 2.55E+02 19.1 3.11E+07 5.94E+05 0.04%

Total: 4.67E+04 Total: 3.99E+07 0.12%*

2010-Larvae Intake Reservoir Fish Larvae Water Estimated River Estimated Sample Density/ Demand Number Density/ Flow Number Percent Date Period 1,000 m3 m3/d Entrained 1,000 m3 m3/d Transported Entrained Di Qi Dr Qr April 4 1 0.0 9.82E+04 0.00E+00 0.0 2.14E+07 0.00E+00 T April 11 2 277.7 9.68E+04 2.69E+04 263.7 1.74E+07 4.58E+06 0.59%

April 18 3 150.9 8.98E+04 1.35E+04 217.2 1.48E+07 3.21E+06 0.42%

April 25 4 402.2 1.01E+05 4.06E+04 374.4 2.55E+07 9.55E+06 0.43%

May 2 5 376.9 1.56E+05 5.89E+04 645.7 1.19E+08 7.70E+07 0.08%

May 9 6 663.2 1.59E+05 1.05E+05 569.8 3.08E+07 1.76E+07 0.60%

May 16 7 727.7 1.64E+05 1.20E+05 905.0 3.65E+07 3.30E+07 0.36%

May 23 8 487.9 1.64E+05 8.00E+04 465.1 2.88E+07 1.34E+07 0.60%

June 1 9 515.5 1.62E+05 8.37E+04 195.0 1.85E+07 3.61E+06 2.32%

June 7 10 379.8 1.65E+05 6.25E+04 229.8 3.46E+07 7.96E+06 0.79%

June 14 11 358.4 1.66E+05 5.93E+04 73.8 3.04E+07 2.24E+06 2.65%

June 21 12 220.9 1.66E+05 3.68E+04 13.5 3.14E+07 4.25E+05 8.65%

June 28 13 15.5 1.65E+05 2.55E+03 7.6 3.11E+07 2.37E+05 1.08%

Total: 6.90E+05 Total: 1.73E+08 0.40%*

T=less than 0.01 percent composition

• Total percent entrainment is calculated by dividing total Estimated Number Entrained by total Estimated Number Transported.

19