ML071710050

Savannah River Adult Fish Study, Burke, County, Georgia from September, 1977, Through December, 1978 Operating License Stage Environmental Report Technical Document

ML071710050
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: ML071710050 (32)

Text

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY, BURKE, COUNTY, GEORGIA FROM SEPTEMBER, 1977, THROUGH DECEMBER, 1978 OPERATING LICENSE STAGE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TECHNICAL DOCUMENT J.

WAYNE WILTZ PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR GEORGIA POWER COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS CENTER OCTOBER, 1982

LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES TABLES FIGURES VEGP - OLSER TABLE OF CONTENTS i

Page ii iii 1

2 3

6 7

8 28

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF TABLES 1.

Family, Scientific, and Common Names of Fishes Collected 8

in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 2.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 10 September, 1977, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 3.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 11 December, 1977, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 4.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 12 April, 1978, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 5.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 13 June, 1978, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 6.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 14 August, 1978, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 7.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 15 October, 1978, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 8.

Species of Fish and Number of Individuals Collected in 16 December, 1978, in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 9.

Species of Fish and Numbers of Individuals Collected for 17 Each Month in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 10.

Percent Composition of Each Family of Fishes Collected in 19 the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 11.

Percent Composition of Game and Commercial and Non-Game 20 and Non-Commercial Species Collected in the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 12.

Mean Lengths in Millimeters With the Range in Parenthesis 22 for Each Species for the Savannah River Adult Fish Study 13.

Biomass of Game and Commercial Species for the Savannah 26 River Adult Fish Study 14.

Biomass of Non-Game and Non-Commercial Species for the 27 Savannah River Adult Fish Study ii

VEGP - OLSER LIST OF FIGURES 1.

Station Location for the Savannah River Adult Fish Study iii Page 28

VEGP - OLSER INTRODUCTION Construction of the Vogt1e 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 Savan-nah 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 construction, 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 employ-ing natural draft cooling towers using make-up water from the Savannah River.

Low volume waste and b10wdown from both cooling towers will ulti-mately 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 c~~5aminants.

Stream classifi-cation near the VEGP is listed as "Fishing."

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 influence on the river.

The impoundment of the river above Augusta, Georgia, has reduced the trans-port of sediments and allochthonous particulate organic material, and the dredging of the channel has reduced the natural shallow areas and back-waters that would normally support a diverse flora and fauna.

Studies on the Savannah River flora and fauna have bet~)conducted periodically since 1951 and were de{jt~~1 in Patrick, t§)a1.,

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and Matthews.

Georgia Power Company was required by the Plant Vogt1e Final E~~tronmenta1 Statement issued by the United States Atomic Energy Commission to com-plete the following requirements.

The first requirement was to determine the extent of use of the projected areas of sedimentation by fishes for spawning and the effects of construction on spawning and on the suitability of the affected areas for future spawning.

The second requirement was to predict the environmental impact of the intake canal and intake structure 1

VEGP - OLSER on the adult population of resident and anadromous fish in the Savannah River.

A study began in September, 1977, and ended in December, 1978.

METHODS Five sampling stations were selected on the west bank of the river.

Each was approximately 100 m in length and was similar to the shoreline of the proposed intake site.

Stations I and II were located downstream from the proposed intake site (Station III), and Stations IV and V were located upstream (figure 1).

Descriptions of each sampling station are given as follows:

Station I:

Located at river mile 149.7 approximately 1.2 miles down-stream from the proposed site of the intake structure.

The station consisted of sand bars, fallen trees, submerged tree stumps, and spurdikes.

(Spurdikes are pilings placed in the river by the Corps of Engineers to control the meandering of the river channel).

Station II:

Located at river mile 150.3 approximately 0.6 miles down-stream from the proposed intake structure.

The station consisted of scattered overhanging tree limbs and submerged logs with very little additional cover for fish.

Station III:

Located at river mile 150.9 and at the proposed site of the intake structure.

The station was characterized by fallen trees. overhanging tree limbs, and a relatively straight shoreline with areas of shallow and deep water.

Station IV:

Located at river mile 151.4 approximately 0.5 miles up-stream from the proposed intake structure.

The station was a sandy beach-like area with no trees or submerged logs.

During the study, the area was used as a spoil area as part of the periodic dredging of the channel by the Corps of Engineers.

Station V:

Located at river mile 152.2 approximately 1.3 miles up-stream from the proposed intake structure.

The station had many submerged logs and stumps. fallen trees. over-hanging tree limbs. and a combination of shallow and deep water.

Eight surveys were scheduled for alternating months.

Samples were taken in September and December. 1977. and April, June. August, October. and December. 1978.

Samples were not taken in February. 1978, because heavy rains resulted in high water levels.

Sampling was done with a Smith-Root Vl-A e1ectrofisher mounted on a Va1co boat.

Most species were identified. weighed, measured, and released in the field.

Specimens which could not be identified in the field were preserved with ten percent 2

VEGP - OLSER formalin and transported to the Georgia Power Company Environmental Affairs Center Laboratory in Decatur for analysis.

Dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, pH, air and water temperatures were mea-sured at the time of sampling to determine possible changes in water chemistry.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The family, scientific, and common names of fishes collected in the Savannah River are given in table 1.

Thirty-nine species and 1109 indi-viduals were collected.

The monthly results are presented in tables 2 through 9.

The six species collected on all surveys were bowfin (Amia calva), redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus), spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops), spottail shiner, (Notropis hudsonius), bannerfin shiner, (Notropis leedsi), and whitefin shiner (Notropis niveus).

The following species were collected only once during the entire study:

flier (Cen-trarchus macropterus), threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense), chain pickerel (Esox niger), white catfish (Ictalurus catus), dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), taillight shiner (Notropis maculatus), and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis).

This may have been caused by spawning migrations, as in the case of anadromous species; low numbers of individuals within a species; habitat preference; or the selectivity of the electrofisher.

The family Cyprinidae comprised 69.0 percent of the total number of individuals, with the Centrarchidae comprising 10.7 percent.

The family Percichthyidae comprised only 0.1 percent and was represented by one specimen (table 10).

Seventeen game and commercial species were collected, constituting 16.2 percent of the total number of individuals; whereas, the non-game and non-commercial species comprised 83.1 percent (table 11).

Table 12 presents the mean lengths in millimeters and the range of total lengths for each species for the months sampled.

The total biomass for the game and commercial species was 23,718.0 grams (g) (table 13).

Striped bass comprised 4.3 percent of the biomass, while dollar sunfish comprised only a trace of the biomass.

Biomass of non-game and non-commercial species was 124,417.0 g, or 83 percent of the total biomass which was 148,135 g (table 14).

The greatest portion of the non-game and non-commercial species biomass was made up of bowfin with 43,099.5 g, or 29 percent, of the biomass.

Dahlberg and Scott(7)listed 100 species ~§ fish in the Savannah River drainage in Georgia.

McFarlane, et al.,

)reported 69 species occurring (8) in riverine habitats in the vicinity of the plant site.

McFarlane, et al.,

found the resident fish community of the intake canals of SRP similar to the river in terms of species composition.

In terms of relative abundance, a distinct difference was noted from the community of the intake canals and the riverine community.

The data from the SRP and Georgia Power Company studies showed the family Cyprinidae (minnows) to be the dominant family in 3

VEGP - OLSER the river.

The dominant species in the SRP canals were the Centrar-chidae (sunfishes), which preferred slow-moving currents in lake-like habitats produced by the canals.

Under the stream classification of "Fishing,,,(l)dissolved oxygen concentration for warm water species of fish is a daily average of 5.0 mg/1 and no less than 4.0 mg/l.

The required pH range is 6.0 to 8.5 with water temperatures not to exceed 32.2 C (90.0 F).

Air tem-perature data recorded during the study ranged from 13.8 to 39.0 C.

Water temperature ranged from 13.3 to 26.0 C.

Dissolved oxygen con-centration ranged from 5.6 to 7.5 ppm.

The pH ranged from 6.0 to 6.9, and conductivity ranged from 38.0 to 65.0 micromhos/cm.

The data for dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and water temperature were all within the limits for the State of Georgia.

Construction of the intake structure began in March, 1981, with com-pletion scheduled for the end of 1982.

The site of the intake is in a narrow portion of the Savannah River floodplain covered by second-growth vegetation.

Construction consisted of clearing approximately 9 acres of land and digging a canal 414 feet long, 140 feet wide, and 13 feet deep at normal river elevation (80 feet ms1).

Sheet piling positioned between the mouth of the intake canal and the river will prevent most sediment from entering the river during construction.

The construction of the barge slip has been cancelled, and a barge docking facility was constructed instead.

The cancellation of the barge slip construction should reduce the amount of area affected by sediment deposition.

Spawning habitats may be al-tered temporarily or new spawning areas created.

Whichever the case may be, the areas should be recolonized within a short period of time.

The Savannah River bottom is sandy and routinely dredged by the Corps of Engineers to maintain a depth of 9 feet for barge navigation.

The turbidity and sediment movement produced by the Corps of Engineers dredging may be as much or slightly less than produced by the construc-tion of the intake canal and barge docking facility.

Those species which construct nests for spawning, such as the Centrarchidae and Ictaluridae, may be most affected by sedimentation.

The nests could be covered by sediment destroying eggs and larvae.

Georgia Porfif Company concurs with the staff of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission that no significant long-term adverse effects would result from activities associated with construction of the intake and discharge structures.

This decision was based upon consideration of the periodic dredging activity by the Corps of Engineers and its effects on the fish community and the probability of recolonization of the effected areas downstream from the intake canal construction within a period of time.

An attempt to predict impingement losses at the VEGP was based on impingement studies conducted at the SRP.

This was considered an 4

VEGP - OLSER appropriate approach since it would provide a better picture of potential impingement at the VEGP.

The data for the SRP showed that 36 species and a total of 469 fish were impinged in a twelve-month period for the three canals designated as lG, 3G, and 5G.

Impingement rate~9yere estimated to be 11.2 fish per day, or 4,088 fish f~§ one year.

In their study published in 1978, McFarlane, et al.,

)noted that for a ten-month period, 35 species and 347 fishes were impinged in the three canals.

Eighteen American shad (Alosa sapidissima) were impinged during{IBj study.

Spawning mortality of American shad was noted by Cheek in coastal streams of the South Atlantic states which may have been the reason for the dead fish on the intake screens.

The most common species impinged were the bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), warmouth (Lepomis gulosus),

channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and yellow perch (Perea flavescens).

Twelve species of Centrarchidae were impinged constituting 46.0 percent of the sample; while five Ictaluridae and three Clupeidae compri~81 13.0 percent and 15.0 percent, respectively.

McFarlane, et al.,

further stated that while the 35 species were not impinged equally, there was no single species which predominated.

In addition, the dominant species found in the canal did not constitute a corresponding fraction of the impingement samples.

River discharge is controlled by the four dams located upstream and operated by the Corps of Engineers.

The SRP operates three pumping stations, two ten-pump units (lG and 3G), and one six-pump unit (5G).

The lG canal is 1640 ft. long, 98.4 to 229.7 ft. wide, with a minimum depth of 6.6 ft., depending on river elevation.

The 3G canal is 1345 ft. long, 88.6 to more than 295.3 ft. wide, with a minimum depth of 6.6 ft.

The 5G canal is in a cove 39.4 ft. wide and 65.6 ft. from the river to the trash racks.

Minimum depth is 6.6 ft.

Intake velocity (9) in front of the intake screens for the lG and 3G canals is 1.2 ft./s.

The proposed intake canal at the VEGP is 414 ft. long, 140 ft. wide, and 13 ft. deep at normal river elevation.

At a river elevation of 80 feet msl, the velocity through the trash rack will be less than 0.5 ft./s, and through the traveling screens less than 0.7 ft./s.

The intake structure will house four pumps (2 pumps per unit), each with a capacity of 22,000 gpm.

Under normal conditions, approximately 40,000 gpm of water will be pumped from the river.

In a comparison of the impingement of fish at SRP with 33 power plants, only two plants had lower impingement.

"The virtual absence among the impingement samples of small fishes commonly encountered in the intake canals, such as mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus), and several minnows, indicate that ma~g)small, resident fishes have little problem in avoiding impingement."

The NPDES 3l6{b) demonstration at the SRP was successful in demonstrating the adequacy of the plant's cooling water intake structures to meet the requirements of Section 3l6{b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

5

VEGP - OLSER Based on a combination of a single intake structure, lower intake velocities and short intake canal impingement at VEGP should be even less than experienced at SRP.

Fish will be impinged at VEGP, but pre-dictions are that the number of individuals impinged will be low and that no single species will dominate the impingement sample.

CONCLUSIONS Georgia Power Company concurs(~tth the conclusion of the staff of the U.S.

~omic Energy Commission that no significant long-term adverse effects will result from activities associated with the construction of the intake and discharge structures.

The areas of sediment depo-sition should be recolonized within a short period of time.

Fish will be impinged at VEGP, but predictions are that the number of individuals impinged will be low and that no single species will dominate the im-pingement sample.

6

VEGP - OLSER REFERENCES 1.

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

2.

Patrick, R., Cairns, 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, Philadel-

phia, Pennsy~~ia, pp 109-407, 1967.

3.

Academy of N2tural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary of Studies on the Savanna~ River 1951-1970 for E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Pennsyl-vania, 1970.

4.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary Reports of Savannah River Cursory 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.

Dahlberg, M. D., and Scott, D. C., The Freshwater Fishes of Georgia, Bulletin of the Georgia Academy of Science, 29(1), pp 1-64, 1971.

8.

McFarlane, R. W., Frietsche, R. F., and Miracle, R. D., Impingement and Entrainment of Fishes at the Savannah River Plant:

An NPDES 3l6(b) Demonstration, E. I. DuPont DeNemours and Company, Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, p 68, 1978.

9.

McFarlane, R. W., Savannah River Laboratory, Personal Communication, 1978.

10.

Cheek, R. P., The American Shad, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fisheries Leaflet 614, p 13, 1968.

7

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 1 (PAGE 1 OF 2)

FAMILY, SCIENTIFIC, AND COMMON NAMES OF FISHES COLLECTED IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Scientific Name Lepisosteidae Lepisosteus osseus Amiidae Amia calva Anguillidae Anguilla rostrata Clupeidae Mosa aestivalis Alosa sapidissima Dorosoma cepedianum Dorosoma petenense Esocidae Esox niger Cyprinidae Cyprinus carpio Hybognathus regius Hybopsis rubrifrons Notemigonus crysoleucas Notropis chalybaeus Notropis hudsonius Notropis leedsi Notropis maculatus Notropis niveus Notropis petersoni Notropis spp.

Opsopoeodus emiliae Catostomidae Minytrema melanops Moxostoma anisurum Ictaluridae Ictalurus brunneus Ictalurus catus Belonidae Strongylura marina Poeciliidae Gambusia affinis Atherinidae Labidesthes sicculus Percichthyidae Marone saxatilis Centrarchidae Centrarchus macropterus 8

Common Name Longnose gar Bowfin American eel Blueback herring American shad Gizzard shad Threadfin shad Chain pickerel Carp Eastern silvery minnow Rosyface chub Golden shiner Ironcolor shiner Spottail shiner Bannerfin shiner Taillight shiner Whitefin shiner Coastal shiner Minnow Pugnose minnow Spotted sucker Silver redhorse Snail bullhead White catfish Atlantic needlefish Mosquitofish Brook silverside Striped bass Flier

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 1 (PAGE 2 OF 2)

Scientific Name Lepomis auritus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis marginatus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis punctatus Micropterus salmoides Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Percidae Perca flavescens Percina nigrofasciata Mugilidae Mugil cephalus 9

Cormnon Name Redbreast sunfish Bluegill Dollar sunfish Redear sunfish Spotted sunfish Largemouth bass White crappie Black crappie Yellow perch Blackbanded darter Striped mullet

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 2 SPECIES OF FISH ~1)

~~mER OF I~1)I\\~DUALS.COLLECTED IN SEPTE~mER. 1977. IN THE SAVA\\~AH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Species Stations I

II III IV V

TOTALS Amia calva 2

1 1

5 9

Anguilla rostrata 1

1 2

Alosa sapidissima 4

1 5

~niger 2

2 Hybognathus regius 2

2 Notropis cha1ybaeus 3

3 Notropis hudsonius 1

22 23 Notropis 1eedsi 3

1 9

21 34 Notropis niveus 4

4 Notropis petersoni 4

1 29 34 Notropis spp.

1 1

Opsopoeodus emi1iae 1

3 4

Minytrema me1anops 2

1 1

2 6

Gambusia affinis 1

2 3

Labidesthes siccu1us 1

1 8

10 Lepomis auritus 4

3 3

10 Lepomis macrochirus 2

2 4

Lepomis marginatus 1

1 Lepomis micro1ophu5 1

1 Lepomis punctatus 4

3 3

2 12 Micropterus sa1moides 2

2 Perea f1avescens 1

1 2

Percina nigrofasciata 1

1 MugH cepha1us 2

1 4

Totals 26 7

18 24 104 179 10

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 3 SPECIES OF FISH ~~

h~~mER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN DECE~mER, 1977. IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Species Stations I

II III IV V

TOTALS A.~ia calva 1

1 Alosa sapidissima 1

1 Dorosoma petenense 1

1 Cyprinus carpio 1

1 Hybognathus regius 1

1 Notropis hudsonius 12 12 Notropis 1eedsi 3

13 4

4 19 43 Notropis nivcus 10 6

1 5

5 27 Opsopoeodus emi1iae 1

1 2

Minytrema me1anops 1

1 Gambusia affinis 2

2 Lepomis auritus 3

1 4

Lepomis punctatus 2

1 3

Pomoxis annu1aris 1

1 Percina nigrofasciata 1

1 Totals 37 21 8

9 26 101 11

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 4 SPECIES OF FISH ~~

~~mER OF

~1)IVIDUALS COLLECTED IN APRIL, 1978, IN THE SAVAl\\'NAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY S,2ecies Stations 1-II III IV V

TOTALS Amia~

3 3

Anguilla rostrata 1

1 1

3 Alosa aest1va1is 1

1 Cyprinus carpio 2

1 3

Hybognathus regius 1

2 27 30 Notropis hudsonius 1

1 Notropis 1eedsi.

1 1

1 2

5 Notropis niveus 10 1

11 Notropis petersoni 1

1 2

Minytrema me1anops 4

2 3

9 Strongv1ura marina 1

1 Morone saxati1is 1

1 Centrarchus macropterus 1

1 Lepomis auritus 2

1 1

4 Lepomis micro1ophus 1

1 Lepomis punctatus 2

2 4

Hicropterus sa1mo1des

....L 1

Totals 28 3

10 4

36 81 12

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 5 SPECIES OF FISH ~\\~

NL~mER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN JUNE, 1978. IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADm.T FISH STUDY Species Stations I

II III 1\\'

V TOTALS Lepisosteus osseus 1

4 5

Amia calva 1

2 3

Anguilla rostrata 3

3 A10sa aestiva1is 4

4 Dorosoma cepedianum 3

2 5

Hybognathus regius 4

4 Notropis hudsonius 1

1 Notropis 1eedsi 14 1

2 8

6 31 Notropis niveus 8

2 2

12 Notropis petersoni 1

2 3

Minytrema me1anops 6

1 7

Moxostoma anisurum 2

2 Strongy1ura marina 1

1 Lepomis auritus 2

1 1

2 6

Lepomis macrochirus 1

1 2

Lepomis micro1ophus 1

1 Lepomis punctatus 1

2 3

Micropterus sa1moides 1

1 1

1 4

Pomoxis nigromacu1atus 1

1 Perea f1avescens 1

1 Mugil cepha1us 2

1 1

4 Totals 51 3

8 20 21 103 13

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 6 SPECIES OF FISH AND

~1J}1BER OF I~"DIVIDUALS COLLECTED 11\\

AUGUST, 1978, IN THE SAVA."'~AH RIVER ADLLT FISH STL~Y Species Stations I

II III IV

\\'

TOTALS Lepisosteus osseus 2

1 1

2 6

Amia calva 1

1 Anguilla rostrata 1

1 1

3 Alosa sapidissima 2

5 1

8 Dorosoma cepedianum 2

4 2

1 9

Notemigonus crysoleucas 1

1 2

Notropis hudsonius 2

1 3

Notropis 1eedsi 12 1

7 20 7

47 Notropis niveus 4

4 Notropis petersoni 2

7 12 21 Minytrema me1anops 2

2 1

5 10 Ictalurus brunneus 1

1 Ictalurus catus 1

1 Labidesthes sicculus 1

1 2

4 Lepomis auritus 2

2 Lepomis macrochirus 1

1 Lepomis microlophus 1

1 Micropterus salmoides 1

2 3

Percina nigrofasciata 1

1 Mugil cephalus 2

2 Totals 34 5

20 33 38 130 14

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 7 SPECIES OF FISH AND N~mER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN OCTOBER, 1978, IN THE SAVA..tffiAR RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Species Stations I

II III IV V

TOTALS Amia calva

]

2 3

Alosa sapidissima 9

1 2

12 Dorosoma cepedianum 1

1 Hybognathus regius 1

4 12 17 Hybopsis rubrifrons 20 20

. Notemigonus crysoJ.eueas 1

3 4

Notropis cha1ybaeu5 3

3 Notropis hudsoniu5 31 31 Notropis 1eedsi 23 7

14 52 96 Notropis niveus 11 3

14 Notropis petersoni 4

10 16 58 88 Opsopoeodus emiliae 4

2 6

Minytrema melanops 3

1 1

5 Moxostoma anisurum 2

2 Gambusia affinis 1

1 Labidesthes siceu1us 1

4 5

Lepomis auritus 3

3 6

4 16 Lepomis macrochirus 1

1 1

2 5

Lepomis micro1ophus 1

1 Lepomis punctatus 2

3 5

Mieropterus sa1moides 1

2 2

2 7

Pomoxis nigromacu1atus 1

1 Perea f1avescens 2

2 Pereina nigrofaseiata 1

1 2

MugU cephalus 1

1 Totals 60 5

31 56 196 348 15

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 8 SPECIES OF FISH AND

~IBER OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED IN DECD-mER, 1978, IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY S£ecies Stations 11 III IV V

TOTALS

.. Lep1sosteus osseus 1

1 Amia calva 3

1 1

5 Anguilla rostrata 1

1 Alosa aest1valis 3

I 4

Alosa sapidissima 2

2 4

Dorosoma cepedianum 2

I 3

Cyprinus carpio.

1 1

Hybogn8thus regius 2

3 5

Hybopsis rubrifrons 1

1 Notropis cha1ybaeus I

1 Notropis hudsonius 3

3 Notropis leeds1 19 9

64 92 Notropis maculatus 1

1 Notropis niveus 4

1 5

Notropis peterson!

3 6

9 OpsOpOeodu5 emiliae 1

1 Hinytrema melanops 2

1 1

2 6

lctalurus brunneus 1

1 Lab1desthes sicculus 2

6 3

11 Lepom.i.s "auritus 1

1 2

1 5

Lepoms macrochirus 1

1 2

Lepomis microlophus 2

2 Kicropterus sa1moides 2

2 Percina nigrofasciata

...L 1

Totals 45 I

S 21 9S 167 16

,.'.......4.

to"_*

VEGP -

OLSER TABLE 9 (PAGE 1 OF 2)

SPECIES OF FISH AND NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS COLLECTED FOR EACH

~IONTH IN THE SAVAi'l,"NAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Species Dates 9/77 12/77 4/78 6/78 8/78 10/78 12/78 TOTALS Lepisosteus osseus 5

6 1

12 Amia calva 9

1 3

3 1

3 5

25 Anguilla rostrata 2'

3 3

3 1

12 Alosa aestiva1is 1

4 4

9 Alosa sapidissima 5

1 8

12 4

30 Dorosoma cepedianum 5

9 1

3 18 Dorosoma petenense 1

1 Esox niger 2

2 Cyprinus carpio 1

3 1

5 Hybognathus regius 2

1 30 4

17 5

59 Hybopsis rubrifrons 20 1

21 Notemigonus crysoleucas 2

4 6

Notropis cha1ybaeus 3

3 1

7 Notropis hudsonius 23 12 1

1 3

31 3

74 Notropis 1eedsi 34 43 5

31 47 96 92 348 Notropis maculatus 1

1 Notropis niveus 4

27 11 11' 4

14 5

77 Notropis peterson!

34 2

3 21 88 9

157 Notropis spp.

1 1

Opsopoeodus emi1iae 4

2 6

1 13 Minytrema me1anops 6

1 9

7 10 5

6 44 Moxostoma anisurum 2

2 4

Ictalurus brunneus 1

1 2

Ictalurus catus 1

1 Strongy1ura-mirina 1

1 2

Gambusia affinis 3

2 1

6 Labidesthes sicculus 10 4

5 11 30 Morone saxatilis 1

1 Centrarchus macropterus 1

1 Lepomis auritus 10 4

4 6

2 16 5

47 Lepomis macrochirus 4

2 1

5 2

14 Lepomis marginatus 1

1 Lepomis microlophus 1

1 1

1 1

2 7

Lepomis punctatus 12 3

4 3

5 27 Micropterus-salmoides 2

1 4

3 7

2 19 Pomoxis annu1aris 1

1 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 1

1 2

Perca f1avescens 2

1 2

5 17

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 9 (PAGE 2 OF 2)

Species.

Dates

. 9/77 12/77 4/78 6/78 8/78 10/78 12/78 TOTALS Percina nigrofasciata 1

1 1

2 1

6 Mugil cephalus 4

4 2

1 11 Totals 179 101 81 103 130 348 167 1109

/I of Species 23 15 17 21 20 25 24 18

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 10 PERCENT COMPOSITION OF EACH FAMILY OF FISHES COLLECTED IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Family Cyprinidae Centrarchidae C1upeidae Catostomidae Atherinidae Amiidae Lepisosteidae Anguillidae Mugilidae Percidae Poeciliidae Icta1uridae Be10nidae Esocidae Percichthyidae.

19

% Composition 69.0 10.7 5.2 4.4 2.7 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 11 (PAGE 1 OF 2)

PERCENT COMPOSITION (BY NUMBER) OF GAME AND COMMERCIAL AND NON-GAME AND NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES COLLECTED IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Game and Commercial Species Lepomis auritus Alosa sapidissima Lepomis punctatus Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus MugH cephalus Alosa aestivalis Lepomis microlophus Perca flavescens Ictalurus brunneus Pomoxis nigromaculatus

~ niger Centrarchus macropterus Pomoxis annularis Ictalurus catus Morone saxatilis Lepomis marginatus Non-game and Non-Commercial Species Notropis leedsi Notropis petersoni Notropis niveus Notropis hudsonius Hybognathus regius Minytrema melanops Labidesthes sicculus Amia calva Hybopsis rubrifrons Dorosoma cepedianum Opsopoeodus emiliae Lepisosteus osseus Anguilla rostrata Notropis chalybaeus Notemigonus crysoleucas Percina nigrofasciata Gambusia affinis Cyprinus carpio Moxostoma anisurum Strongylura marina 20

% Composition 4.2 2.7 2.4 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 16.3%

% Composition 31.4 14.2 6.7 6.6 5.3 4.0 2.7 2.0 1.9 1.6 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 11 (PAGE 2 OF 2)

Non-Game and Non-Commercial Species Notropis macu1atus Notropis spp.

Dorosoma petenense 21

% Composition 0.1 0.1 0.1 83.0%

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 12 (PAGE 1 OF 4)

MEAN LENGTHS IN MILLIMETERS WITH THE RANGE IN PARENTHESIS FOR EACH SPECIES FOR THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Speciea Month 9/1977 12/1977 4/1978 6/1978 8/1978 10/1978 12/1978 Lepisosteus oaseus 500.7 479.R 670.0 (360-560)

(15:3-535)

Arnia calva 553.8 450.0 524.0 643.8 570.0 570.7 (420-662)

. (405-602)

(525-760)

(500-600)

(462-696)

Anguilla rostrata 485.0 398.0 (a)

(a)

N (430-540)

(203-508) to..)

A10aa aestiva1is 310.0 44.8 68.7 (43-47)

(68-70)

Aloaa sapidiasima 81.0 115.0

48. :1 87.4 103.8 (33-(,5)

(61-100) 000-105)

Dor090ma cepedianum 332.9 343.5 368.0 355.0 (220-420) (320-315)

(266-402)

Dorosoma petenense 51.0 Esox.niger 287.5 (190-385)

Cypdnus carpio 575.0 697.5 703.0 (670-720)

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 12 (PAGE 2 OF 4)

Species Month 9/1977 12/1917 4/1978 6/1978 8/19!..~

.1.91.l978 12/1978 lIybognathus regius 70.5 67.0 73.8 64.8 62.7 152.2 (70-71)

(72-78)

(36,...76 )

(46-72 )

(fi7":85)

Hybopsis rubrifrons 56.8 60.0 (41-fi:J)

NotemJg"nus_ crysolclIc;ls 94.0 148.0 35.0 (57-131 )

(60-210)

N Notrop1s cha1yb:leU1~

51.7 JIl.O w

(47-58)

(33-40)

Not ro~ hudsonillR 70.5 80.3 78.0" 95.0 47.3 60.2 62.3" (59-76)

(55:-110)

(J8-52)

(1.4-71)

(54-70)

Notropis leeds!

46.5 49.1 67.9 62.7 62.7 55.6 46.6 (29-69)

(21-76)

(55-79)

(41-90)

(40-88)

(25-79)

(27-80)

Notropis macu1atus 38.0 Notro.l'1.!. niveus 36.3 62.2 53.6 flO.3 61.5 (lL7 62.4 (34-42)

(37-89)

(39-77)

(46-105)

(55-66)

(44-90)

(37-103)

Notropis

~eterson~

49.0 60.0 45.0 39.0 52.5 51.8 (44-52)

(58-62)

(42-47)

(18-6R)

(27-67)

(32-65)

Notropis

~pp.

(b)

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 12 (PACE 3 OF 4)

Species Month 9/1977 12/1977 4/1978 6/1978 8/1978 10/1978 12/1978 Minytrema me1anops 338.1 205.0 424.0 334.8 405.1 325.8 396.1 (70-495)

(342-475)

(149.,.456 )

.(305-502)

(79-495)

.(268-445)

Moxostoma anisurum 412.5 416.5 (413-420)

(395-430)

Icta1urus brunneus 137.0 225.0 Icta1urus ~

385.0 N

Strongy1ura marina 435.0

~

403.0 Gambusia affinis 27.3 36.5 47.0 (27-28)

(31-42)

Labidesthes sicculus 52.6 54.7 56.5 57.4 (40-67)

(33-7'l)

(53-66)

(42-65)

Morone saxati1is 700.0 Centrarchu9. macropterus 120.0 Lepomis auritus 80.2 89.7 130.2 13:\\.6 166.1l 102.2 R8.3 (35-152)

(55-103)

(51-170)

(65-220)

(150-182)

( 102-l80)

(45-103)

Lepomis ma~rochlrus 79.5 100.5 160.0 105.3 139.0 (67-88)

(81-120)

(55-1.50)

(126-152)

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 12 (PAGE 4 OF 4)

Species Month 9/1977 12/1977 4/1978 6/1978 8/1978 10/1978 12/1978 Lepomis marglnatuR 70.0 Lepomis micro1ophus 130.0 59.0 86.0 205.0 140.0 165.5 (165-166)

Lepomis punctatus 84.3 105.0 81.3 92.5 92.2 (44-144)

(43-135)

(53-100)

(75-140)

(I~5-130)

Micropterus salmoides 267.5 118.0 198.3 191.5 203.8 245.0 N

(75-460)

(110-280)

(68-315)

(80-320)

(237-253) l/I Pomoxis annularis 273.0 Pomoxis nigromaculatus (a) 300.0 (a)

Perea flaveRcens 147.5 130.0 131.5 (95-200)

(103-160)

Percina nigrofascintil 62.0 44.0 69.0 63.5 (58-69)

MugU cephalus 341.7 339.2 235.0 44.0 (295-375)

(250-395)

(230-2l,0) a.

Specimen released without measurements.

b.

Specimen damaged.

VEGP -

OLSER TABLE 13 BIOMASS OF GAME AND COMMERCIAL SPECIES FOR THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Species Weight in Grams

%of Total Biomass Morone saxati1is Micropterus sa1moides MugU cepha1us Lepomis auritus Lepomis punctatus Icta1urus ~

Esox niger Pomoxis nigromacu1atus Lepomis macrochirus Alosa aestiva1is

~s micro1ophus Pomoxis annu1aris Perca f1avescens Ictalurus brunneus Alosa sapidissima Centrarchus macropterus Lepomis marginatus a.

Trace 26 6,350.0 5,016.5 4,801.0 2,206.0 818.7 800.0 643.6 628.4 624.4 512.1 430.2 280.0 192.2 155.9 152.0 100.0 7.0 23,718.0 4.3 3.4 3.2 1.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

--i&

15.9%

VEGP - OLSER TABLE 14 BIOMASS OF NON-GAME AND NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES FOR THE SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH STUDY Species Amia calva MinYtrema me1anops Cyprinus carpio Dorosoma cepedianum Lepisosteus osseus Moxostoma anisurum Anguilla rostrata Notropis 1eedsi Strongy1ura marina Notemigonus cryso1eucas Notropis niveus Notropis hudsonius Notropis petersoni Hybognathus regius Hybopsis rubrifrons Labidesthes siccu1us Opsopoeodus emi1iae Percina nigrofasciata Notropis cha1ybaeus Gambusia affinis Dorosoma petenense a.

Trace Weight in Grams 43,099.5 33,922.2 27,262.8 9,505.0 4,513.3 3,800.0 563.2 516.4 307.2 225.6 203.2 149.5 146.1 101.0 34.5 32.5 13.1 10.9 5.8 3.6 1.3 124,417.0 27

% of Total Biomass 29.0 23.0 18.0 6.4 3.0 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 (a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

~

83.5%

AIKEN COUNTY 4

SOUTH CAROLINA o

BARNWELL COUNTY o

GIRARD

/

/

/

/

V it Station IV

~ Station III

~ Station II

~ Station I BURKE COUNTY River Mile VEGP SITE GEORGIA Station No.

I II III IV V

149.7 150.3 150.9 151.4 152.2 Scale in Miles Georgia PowerA VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNIT 1 AND \\,INIT 2 SAVANNAH RIVER ADULT FISH SAMPLING STATIONS FIGURE 1 433*9 28