ML071710066

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Survey of the Plankton Community of the Savannah River, Burke County, Georgia, from January, 1981, to September, 1981, Operating License Stage Environmental Report Technical Document.

ML071710066
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle, 05200011
Issue date:	02/28/1983
From:	Collins T D Georgia Power Co
To:	Office of New Reactors
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+reviewedcja, AR-07-0924
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{{#Wiki_filter:VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT SURVEY OF THE PLANKTON COMMUNITY OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER, BURKE COUNTY, GEORGIA, FROM JANUARY, 1981, TO SEPTEMBER, 1981 OPERATING LICENSE STAGE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT TECHNICAL DOCUMENT TANYA D.COLLINS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR GEORGIA POWER COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS CENTER FEBRUARY, 1983 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 4 7 9 11 19-- VEGP-OLSER LIST OF TABLES 1.Phytoplankton Taxa in the Savannah River Between River Miles 150.6 and 151.22.Number of Taxa of Major Phytoplankton Groups for Each Station 3.Densities (Organisms Per Liter)of Major Phytoplankton Taxa for Each Station 4.Percent Composition of Major Phytoplankton Taxa for Each Station 5.Zooplankton Taxa in the Savannah River Between River Miles 150.6 and 151.2 6.Number of Taxa of Major Zooplankton Groups for Each Station 7.Densities (Organisms Per Liter)of Major Zooplankton Taxa for Each Station 8.Percent Composition of Major Zooplankton Taxa for Each Station ii 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 VEGP-OLSER LIST OF FIGURES Page 1.Location of VEGP Plankton Survey Stations 19 2.Plankton Densities and River Velocities for January, 1981 20 3.Plankton Densities and River Velocities for April, 1981 21 4.Plankton Densities and River Velocities for June, 1981 22 5.Plankton Densities and River Velocities for September, 1981 23 6.Zooplankton Densities and River Velocities for January, 1981 24 7.Zooplankton Densities and River Velocities for April, 1981 25 8.Zooplankton Densities and River Velocities for June, 1981 26 9.Zooplankton Densities and River Velocities for September, 27 1981 iii 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 of 1977 with excavation activities beginning in February.The plant site is approximately 3169 acres and located in Burke County, the southwest side of the Savannah River, a natural boundary between Georgia and South Carolina.The site is at river mile 150.9 across from the Savannah River Plant (SRP)operatedbyE.I.DuPont DeNemours and Company for the U.S.Department of Energy.The plant site is approximately 26 milessoutheast 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,mately 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 scheduled to go into service in March, 1987, and Unit 2 in September, 1988.The exhaust steam will be cooledbya closed-cycle cooling system employing natural draft cooling towers using make-up water from the Savannah River.Low volume waste and b10wdown 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 contami(l) nants.Stream classification near the VEGP is listed as"Fishing". The river near the plant site is typical of large southeastern coastal plain rivers except that a dredge 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.Thement of the river above Augusta, Georgia, has reduced the transport of sediments and allochthonous particulate organic material, 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 been condut2 yd periodically since 1951 and were detailed et a1., (5)Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and Matthews.GeorgiaPowerCompanywas required by Chapter 2.2 of the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guide 4.2, Revision 2, 1976, to conduct a biological study to describe the flora and fauna in the vicinity of the site, their habits, and distribution. The study should also identify organisms defined to be"important" because of commerical or recreational value, threatened or endangered status, effects on other"important" species, or being a biological indicator of radionuclides in the environment. In addition, food chains and other interspecies relationships were to be identified. 1 VEGP-OLSER In the aquatic community, phytoplankton and zooplankton serve an important function as a basic food source for many animals.plankton serves an equally important function as a primary producer of energy and oxygen through the photosynthesis process.Certain algae, such as Some blue-green phytoplankton, contribute essential nitrogenous compounds to the environment. A study of the plankton comm.unity of the Savannah River near the VEGP was conducted between January, 1981, and September, 1981.METHODS Plankton samples were collected quarterly from six station locations in the Savannah River between river miles 150.6 and 151.2 near the VEGP site (figure 1).Two stations were located 0.3 mile upstream of the site;two stations were located at the intake;and two stations were located 0.3 mile downstream of the site.Stations were located approximately 40 feet from the east or west bank.A standard plankton net with a mouth diameter of 4.5 in.was used for collection of all plankton samples.The net frame and cod end collecting jar were equipped withNo.20 cloth withamesh size of approximately 76 microns.Plankton samples were collected at each station by suspending the net in the river to approximately 1.5 ft depth for ten minutes.Thecentrated sample in the net was transferred to a labeled sample jar and preserved with four percent formalin.Subsurface sampling was sufficient since no significant differences in the plankton population could be expected throughout the water column in this area of river due to depth and velocity which facilitates complete mixing.Air and water temperature, water velocity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, light penetration, and sampling duration were recorded for each station.Field samples were returned to the GeorgiaPowerCompany (GPC)Environmental Center for laboratory processing, identification, and enumeration. In the laboratory, each sample was transferred to a graduated cylinder.If the sample volume was less than 200 ml, distilled water was added to bring the volume up to 200 ml.If the sample volume was greater than 200 ml, the sample was left undisturbed for at least 24 hours to allow the plankton to settle.The excess was decanted offbymeans of a suction tube.Phytoplankton and zooplankton counts were made from a measured Rafter (S-R)counting chamber.Diatom identifications were made from permanent slides.Acompound microscope equipped with a calibrated Whipple grid ocular micrometer was used for all identifications and enumerations. 2 VEGP-OLSER Phytoplankton enumeration and identificationwasmadeby examining a one ml aliquot sample in the S-R counting chamber withacompound microscope at 200X.Two strips, the width of a Whipple grid and length of the counting chamber, were examined.All phytoplankton falling on or within the image of the grid were enumerated and identified to the lowest practical taxon.Diatoms were identified only as centrics or pennates.The scientific names and numbers of phytoplankton for each station were recorded on phytoplanktontory sheets.Diatom identi{fJations were made from permanent slides prepared accord-ing to Weber.Random strips of slides from each station were examined at 200X.All diatoms encountered during 4S minutes of scanning were identified to the lowest practical taxon and were recorded on laboratory used t§f w:re (12)Palmer, Prescott,' V1nyard, Ward and Wh1pple andWeber*Zooplankton identifications weremadeby examining a one m1 aliquot sample in the S-R counting cell at 100X.Ten strips the width of a Whipple grid and length of the S-R counting chamber were scanned.All zooplankton falling on or within the image of the grid were identified to the lowest used to zooplankton were:Wardand Whipple, Barnes, and Pennak.The scientific names and numbers of zooplankton were recorded on laboratory sheets.Phytoplankton and zooplankton data were converted to number ofisms per liter as follows: Number of organisms per ml of sample Where: cx1000 mm 3 L x W x D x SCNumber of organisms counted L Length of strip, mm (length of S-R chamber)W Width of strip, mm (width of Whipple grid)D=Depth of strip, mm (depth of S-R chamber)SNumber of strips counted The number of organisms per ml of sample was multiplied by the volume of the sample to obtain the total number of organisms in the sample.The total number of organisms was divided by the total volume of water filtered to obtain the number of organisms per liter.The percent composition of the major taxonomic groups of phytoplankton and zooplankton was determined by dividing each taxon's density by the total density at a station and multiplying by 100.A list of alltom taxa present at the station was compiled.3 Table 2 lists the number of taxa station for each quarter.There number of taxa for any quarter.of taxa among stations during a VEGP-OLSER RESULTS AND DISCUSSION I.Phytoplankton A total of 105 phytoplankton taxa were identified from samples collected in 1981 (table 1).A taxon is defined as the lowest level to which an organism could be identified. The number of taxa of each major group were: Chrysophyta, 61;Chlorophyta, 22;Cyanophyta, 15;Rhodophyta, 1;Euglenophyta, 1;and Pyrrophyta, 1.These numbers may not represent an accurate appraisal of the number of phytoplankton taxa present since many identifications were only to generic or major taxonomic levels.Four hundred species of phytoplankton and periphyton were identified in the Savannah River between river miles123and162 to1962by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (ANSP).of the major groups found at each were no large fluctuations in the Therewassome variation in the number sample period.Phytoplankton taxa occurring in at least two-thirds of the total samples collected in 1981 were considered common to the area.Common taxa were: Chrysophyta, Melosira spp., Surirella spp., and Pinnularia spp.;phyta, an unidentified unicell;Cyanophyta, Oscillatoria spp., Lyngba spp., and an unidentified blue-green filament.The diatom, Melosira spp."A", appeared in every sample.Melosira spp.liB" occurred in all samples but one.Melosira spp.was the most common phytoplankton. The average density of phytoplankton per liter for each quarter was: January, 532;April, 452;June, 347;and September, 274.The densityphytoplankton is usually expected to be the greatest during the spring.The greatest density, however, occurred in January.This could result from many factors.Chrysophytes have been reported to increase during the coltIl)months, and diatoms accounted for 80 percent of the January sample.Water discharge from upstream reservoirs, as measured at USGS river gauging station 02197320 near South Carolina, was greater the January su 3vey (8120 ft/sec)than the April (6330 ft/sec), June (5680 ft/sec), or September (5390 ft/sec)survey.This increase in water discharge could be responsible inocula from streams and lakes feeding into the river.During periods of high water, more individuals are carried downstream. This.numb:r, will decrease in time even if the water level remal.ns hl.gh.The average density per liter varied from station to station within a sampling period.The greatest difference occurred at Station 150.9-1 for all sampling periods except January.The density at this stationwasmuch greater than at any of the other five stations.During April, June.and September, the water velocity at the station was less than at the other stations.This lower velocity could allow a greater 4 VEGP-OLSER phytoplankton population to become established due to decreasedlence.C6 ttIg1 of low velocity usually exhibit greater planktontions.In January, the water velocity was more consistent between stations.This inverse relationship between water velocity and plankton densities is evident in figures 2 through 5.Table 3 lists the density of phytoplankton per liter for each major group at each station.Chrysophyta represented the majority of phytoplankton collected in each sampling period.Cyanophyta was second, except in June.Chlorophyta followed with the third greatest density.Chlorophyta exhibittg a peak density in June, which is common during the warmer months.)This peak resulted from an increase in the number ofdesmus spp.and Staurastrum spp.Increases in Staurastrum spp.during the summer is very common in the algae flora isnantly the cyanophyte-diatom type.Other density studies have been done on the Savannah River.Differences in sampling design and station locations make it impossible to make specific comparisons. However, some general observations can be noted.These studies showedable patchiness in the distribution of phytoplankton. The greatest number of were found where the current was slow and the water was less turbid.The percent composition of each major group for each station during each quarter is shown in table 4.Percent composition remained fairlytent throughout the sampling period with the exception of an increase in Chlorophyta in June.The percent composition of major taxa varied among stations during a sampling period.This may have resulted from normal sampling variability or patchiness in distribution. In 1981, diatoms comprised approximately 71 percent of the total number of phytoplankton with Melosira spp., a centric diatom, the most abundant.Melosira spp.was one of the phytoplankton in ANSP studies from 1959 to 1962 and in 1968.Most studies conducted on have documented centric diatoms as the primary phytoplankton. The phylum Chlorophyta, comprising 11 percent of the total phytoplankton, generally had an even distribution of taxa with the exception of ancrease of Staurastrum spp.and Scenedesmus spp.in June.Oscillatoria spp., Lyngba spp., and an unidentified blue-green filament comprised the greatest percentage of Cyanophyta, which represented 14 percent of all phytoplankton. Euglenophyta was representedbya single genus, Euglena spp.Compsopogon spp.was the only Rhodophyta identified. Theflagllate, Ceratium spp., was the only Pyrrophyta identified. A literature review of studies done on the effects of power plant entrainment on phytoplankton and zooplankton was conducted by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)in 1976.Most of the studies reviewed indicated that changes in plankton standing stocks, viability, and/or productivitymaybe detectable in the immediate area of the discharge plume, but that the effects outside the discharge plume are difficult to detect.There was little indication that entrainment greatly affects 5 VEGP-OLSER phytoplankton species composition in the receiving body of water.The small amount of information found on the effects of chlorination on the distribution of phytoplankton in the receiving body of water indicated that tends to reduce phytoplankton standing stock andduction.II.Zooplankton A total of 32 zooplankton taxa were identified from samples collected in 1981 (Table 5).The number of taxa in each major group was:zoa, 7;Rotifera, 12;Copepoda, 3;Ostracoda, 1;Cladocera, 1;other Crustacea, 1;and miscellaneous, 7.These numbers may not represent an accurate appraisal of the species of zooplankton present, since many identifications were made only to generic or major taxonomic levelsandmany soft-bodied forms were destroyed by the formalinservative used.In studies conducted by the ANSP, 40 species of rotifers, 10 species of crustaceans,and440 species of protozoa have been identified Savannah River between river miles 123 and 162 from 1959 to 1962.Table6shows the number of taxa of the major groups found at each station for each quarter.No sampling period had a large fluctuation in total number of taxa.There was only a slight variation in the number of taxa between stations during any quarter.Zooplankton taxa occurring in at least two-thirds of the samples collected in 1981 were considered common to the area studied.Common taxa were Rotifera, Keratella spp,;Protozoans, Rhizopodea; Vorticella spp., and other ci1ates.Rhizopods occurred in all but two samples and cilates occurred in all but four samples.These two Protozoan groups were the most common zooplankton present.The average density of zooplankton per liter for each quarter were: January, 4;April, 6;June, 4;andber, 3.Such low densities made it impossible to correlate theties to any seasonal changes.Protozoan exhibited the greatest average density followed by rotifers.Table 7 lists the density of zooplankton per liter for each major group at each station.The density per liter varied among stations within a sampling period.The greatest difference occurred at Station 150.9-1 for all sampling periods except January.The density at this station was consistently greater for April, June, and September. This increase in zooplankton parallels the increase in phytoplankton densities at this station for the same sampling periods.The lower velocity and decreased turbulence could have resulted in a greater phytoplankton and zooplankton population (figures 6 through 9).Zooplankton are usually reduced in number in swift waters an11g1Y input from upstream inlets usually declines rapidly downstream. The velocity was not reduced at Station 150.9-1 during January..6 VEGP-OLSER Other density studies done on the Savannah River have shown similt18)densities of rotifers, copepod, copepod nauplii, and cladocerans. Differences in sampling design and station locations made it impossible to make specific comparisons. Table8shows the percent composition of the major groups for each station in 1981.The percent composition was fairly consistent throughout the sampling period.Protozoans represented approximately 61 percent of the total number of zooplankton; rotifers comprised about 18 percent;Crustacea, 10 percent;and other miscellaneous phyla, 10 percent. to be the primary zooplankton present in large rivers.Protozoans, however, represented the largest percentage of zooplankton in 1981.The predominant protozoan was the ciliate, Vorticella spp., which is generally considered an attached sessile organism and may have been scuffed up from the bottom and carried along with the drift.All microscopic organisms retained by the plankton net were included in this study.There was an increase in the percentage of rotifers in June and a slight decrease in September. These variations were not due to an increase or decrease in any particular species.All major zooplankton phyla were represented in the 1981 samples;however, the densities were low.Similar numbers of rotifers, copepods, crustacean nauplii were also observed in the 1959 to 1962 studies.In a literature review of studies conducted on power plant entrainment of phytoplankton and zooplankton, it was indicated that the distribution of zooplankton in time and space was highly variable.Differences in mean abundance or biomass among stations were often found to betically insignificant; however, differences among sampling dates were significant. Trends in spatial distribution were also apparent intions near the plant and stations farther away.The factors cited as responsible for these differences include discharge of organisms using inner-plant structures as substratum, mixing, and turbulence associated with the intake and discharge of relatively large amounts of water;and entrainment mortality. These effects varied among taxon, site, and season.In short, these effects do appear detectable, but the exact causemaybe taxon, site, and season specific.Both composition and seasonal cycles of abundance tended to be similar among preoperational and operational years.Limited information on the effects of chlorination suggests abundance and viability in the plume are reduced to a greater extent at times of chlorination. 7 VEGP-OLSER CONCLUSIONS The study conducted by GPC hasshowna plankton population dominated by the typical constituents of large rivers.Centric diatoms dominate the phytoplankton assemblage. Rotifers predominated over other zooplankton with the exception of the protozoans. The protozoans were dominated by the ciliate, Vorticella spp., which generally is not consideredtonic.Corbicula spp.was the only biological indicator of radionuclides identified in plankton samples collected in 1981.No species identified were considered important because of their uniqueness, recreational, or commercial"importance." All major groups of phytoplankton and zooplankton were represented in 1981.There seemed to be variation in the distribution and density of plankton in relation to current velocity and water discharge fromstream reservoirs. Station operation at the VEGP may cause changes in plankton standing stocks, viability, and/or productiVity within the immediate area of the discharge plume, but effects outside the discharge plume are expected to be insignificant. 8 VEGP-OLSER REFERENCES 1.Environmental Protection Division, Water Quality Monitoring Data for Georgia Streams, Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, Georgia, 1981.2.Patricks, R., Cairns, J., 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.DuPontDeNemours and Company, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia,vania, 1970.4.Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Summary Reports of Savannah River Cursory Surveys for E.I.DuPontDeNemours and Company 1961-1972, 1974, and 1977, Academy of Natural Sciences ofPhiladelphia,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1978.5.Matthews, R.A., Biological Surveys on the Savannah River in the Vicinity of the Savannah River Plant E.I.DuPontDeNemoursandCompany, Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, 1982.6.Palmer, C.M., Algae and Water Pollution, EPA-600!9-77-036, U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, December 1977.7.Weber, C.I., Methods of Collections and Analysis of Plankton and Periphyton Samples in the Water Pollution Surveillance System, U.S.Department of the Interior, June 1970.8.Needham, J.G.and Needham, P.R., A Guide to the Study of Freshwater Biology, Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, California, 1962.9.Prescott,G.W., Algae of the Western Great Lakes Area, Wm.C.Brown Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa, 1962.10.Prescott,G.W., How to Know the Freshwater Algae, Wm.C.Brown Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa, 1970.11.Vineyard, W.C., Diatoms of North America, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka, California, 1979.12.Ward,H.B.and Whipple, G.C., Freshwater Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1959.13.Weber,C.I., A Guide to Common Diatoms at Water Pollution Surveillance Systems Stations, U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1971 9 VEGP-OLSER REFERENCES (Con't.)14.Barnes, R.D., Invertebrate Zoology, W.B.Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1963.15.Pennak,R.W., Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, Ronald Press Company, New York, 1953.16.Whitton, B.A., ed., River Ecology, Vol 2, University of California Press, BerkeleyandLos Angeles, California, pp 81-105, 155-169, 1975.17.Hynes, H.B., The Ecology of Running Waters, University of Toronto Press, pp 94-111, 1970.18.GeorgiaPowerCompany,"Alvin W.Vogtle Nuclear Plant Environmental Report," Vol 1, GeorgiaPowerCompany, Atlanta, Georgia, pp2.7-104, August 1, 1972.19.Lawler, Matusky and Skelly Engineers,"Ecosystem Effects ofplankton and Zooplankton Entrainment," Electric Power Research Institute, EA-1038 Research Project 876, Palo Alto, California, April 1979.10-VEGP-OLSER TABLE 1 PHYTOPLANKTON TAXA IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER BETWEEN RIVER MILES 150.6 AND 151.2 CHLOROPHYTA (Green Algae)Chlamydomonas spp.Kirchneriella spp.Dictyosphaerium spp.Actinastrum spp.Scenedesmus spp.Hydrodictyon spp.Pediastrum spp.Ulothrix spp.Stigeoclonium spp.Oedogonium spp.Cladophora spp.Mougotia spp.Spirogyra spp , Desmidiaceae Closterium spp.Cosmarium spp.Staurastrum spp.Characeace Unidentified taxa (4)CYANOPHYTA (Blue-Green Algae)Coelosphaerium spp.Merismopedium spp.Microcystis spp.Oscillatoriales spp.Lyngba sp,"A" Lyngba sp,"B" Dscillatoria sp."A" Oscillatoria sp."B" Anabaena spp.Nostoc spp.Gloetrichia spp.Unidentified taxa (4)EUGLENOPHYTA Euglena spp.RHODOPHYTA (Red Algae)Compsopogon spp.PYRROPHYTA (Dinoflagellates) Ceratiumspp, 11 CHRYSOPHYTA (Yellow or Brown Algae)Coscinodiscus spp.Melosira sp."A" Melosira sp."B" Biddulphia spp.Terpsinoe spp.Stephanodiscus spp.Asterionella formosa Cocconeis spp.Eunotia spp.Surirella spp.Fragilaria spp.Navicula spp.Tabellaria spp.Pinnularia spp.Stauroneis spp.Gyrosigma spp.Unidentified pennates (44)Unidentified centrics (1)MISCELLANEOUS Unidentified phytoplankton taxa (4) VEGP-OLSER TABLE 2 NUMBER OF TAXA OF MAJOR PHYTOPLANKTON GROUPS FOR EACH STATION Total No.Station of Different 150.6-1 150.6-3 150.9-1150.9-3151.2-1 151.2-3 Taxa January, 1981 Chlorophyta 3 454 4 3 10 Cyanophyta 576 4 8 5 9 Eug1enophyta01 1 1 1 0 1 Rhodophyta00 0001 1 Chrysophyta231491414 11 16 Pyrrophyta11 000 0 1 Miscellaneous12211 1 2 Total 33 29232428 22 40 April, 1981 Chlorophyta 8 6565 5 12 Cyanophyta 6 765 5 6 9 Eug1enophyta01000 0 1 Rhodophyta100 0 1 0 1 Chrysophyta67 4 6 6 6 9 Pyrrophyta 000 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous22 2 2 2 2 2 Total 23 23 171919 19 34 June, 1981 Chlorophyta 7 6 8 698 17 Cyanophyta 534523 7 Eug1enophyta01100 1 1 Rhodophyta 1 0011 1 1 Chrysophyta55 5 5 6 6 7 Pyrrophyta 00000 0 0 Miscellaneous 2 2 2 0 2 1 3 Total 20 17 20 IT 20 20 36 September, 1981 Chlorophyta 10 65652 15 Cyanophyta 5 5 266 5 8 Euglenophyta00 000 0 0 Rhodophyta 111 1 1 1 1 Chrysophyta96 5 5 4 6 8 Pyrrophyta 000 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous 1 102 2 2 2 Total 26 19132018 16 34 12 VEGP-OLSER TABLE 3 DENSITIES (ORGANISMS PER LITER)OF MAJOR PHYTOPLANKTON TAXA FOR EACH STATION Average Station Density for150.6-1150.6-3150.9-1 150.9-3 151.2-1 151.2-3 all Stations January, 1981 Chlorophyta 6.08 20.05 9.80 10.33 7.49 6.61 10 Cyanophyta 69.91 69.57 83.89 67.18 114.91 83.33 81 Eug1enophyta 2.36 1.09 2.07 1.25 1 Rhodophyta 1.32<1 Chrysophyta 340.43 442.20 343.17 310.04 577.02 560.85 429 Pyrrophyta 1.01 1.18<1 Miscellaneous 8.11 16.51 9.80 4.13 5.00 13.23 9 Total 425.53 551.87 447.76 393.75 705.67 665.34 532 April, 1981 Chlorophyta 24.65 24.53 36.0921.1623.20 15.48 24 Cyanophyta 34.73 77.92 93.83 75.40 62.27 73.81 70 Eug1enophyta 1.44<1 Rhodophyta 1.12 4.88 1 Chrysophyta 281.23 337.66 546.74 292.33 269.84 315.48 341 Pyrrophyta Miscellaneous 13.45 20.20 14.44 14.55 17.09 19.05 16 Total 355.18 461.76 691.10 403.44 377.29 423.81 452 June, 1981 Chlorophyta 61.25 40.40 234.13 64.67 93.21 99.68 99 Cyanophyta 22.41 10.10 234.13 8.23 6.08 16.61 50 Eug1enophyta 1.44 3.97 1.38 1 Rhodophyta 1.40 1.18 1.01 6.92 2 Chrysophyta 142.86 154.40 317.46 79.95 116.51 91.37 150 Pyrrophyta Miscellaneous 9.80 7.22 27.78 8.11 8.31 10 Total 236.69 238.10 892.86 188.12 267.48 261.65 347 September, 1981 Chlorophyta 16.57 17.84 58.62 11.44 14.42 2.29 20 Cyanophyta 30.12 82.5229.3125.17 29.95 22.93 37 Eug1enophyta* Rhodophyta 3.01 4.46 1.14 6.88 3 Chrysophyta 227.40 124.89 476.31 124.73 136.46 130.68 203 Pyrrophyta Miscellaneous 15.06 6.69 21.98 3.43 14.42 5.73 11 Total 289.15 236.40 586.22 165.92 195.25 168.51 274 13 VEGP-OLSER TABLE 4 PERCENT COMPOSITION OF MAJOR PHYTOPLANKTON TAXA FOR EACH STATION Station Average 150.6-1150.6-3150.9-1 150.9-3 151.2-1 151.2-3 Percent January, 1981 Chlorophyta 1 3 22112 Cyanophyta 16 13 19 17 16 13 16 Eug1enophyta<1<1<1<1<1 Rhodophyta<1<1 Chrysophyta8080 77 79828480 Pyrrophyta <1<1<1 Miscellaneous 2 221<122 April, 1981 Chlorophyta 755564 5 Cyanophyta 101714 191617 16 Eug1enophyta <1<1 Rhodophyta <1 1<1 Chrysophyta 79 73 79 72 727475 Pyrrophyta Miscellaneous 4424544 June, 1981 Chlorophyta 261726 34 35 38 29 Cyanophyta9426 426 9 Eug1en ophyta<1<1<1<1 Rhodophyta <1<1<1 3<1 Chrysophyta 607544 54594957 Pyrrophyta Miscellaneous 4 3 3 3 3 3 September, 1981 Chlorophyta68 10 7 7 1 7 Cyanophyta935515151416 Eug1enophyta Rhodophyta 1 2<1 4 1 Chrysophyta7953 81 75 70 77 73 Pyrrophyta Miscellaneous 5 3 4 2 7 3 4 14 VEGP-OLSER TABLE 5 ZOOPLANKTON TAXA IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER BETWEEN RIVER MILES 150.6 and 151.2 PROTOZOA Mastigophora Rhizopodea (3 taxa)Actinopodea Ciliatea Vorticella spp.ROT I FERA Keratella spp.Unidentified Rotifers(ll taxa)CRUSTACEA Copepoda Cyclopoida Nauplii Ostracoda Cladocera Unidentified Crustacean MISCELLANEOUS Hydroida Nematoda Tardigrada Annelida Insecta Gastropoda Pelecypoda Corbicula sp.15 VEGP-OLSER TABLE 6 NUMBER OF TAXA OF MAJOR ZOOPLANKTON GROUPS FOR EACH STATION Total No.Station of Different 150.6-1 150.6-3 150.9-1 150.9-3 151.2-1 151.2-3 Taxa January, 1981 Protozoa 33434 3 5 Rotifera344132 5 Crustacea Copepoda 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 Branchipoda 1 1 Ostracoda11 1 Miscellaneous 3 1 1 333 5 Total 10 9 11 8" 121219 April, 1981 Protozoa 5 3 3 3 4 4 5 Rotifera 4 33534 9 Crustacea Copepoda 23113 2 3 Branchipoda 1 1 Ostracoda 1 1 Miscellaneous 333 3 1 3 6 Total 14 TI 11 12 11 13 25 June, 1981 Protozoa44 3 5 3 4 6 Rotifera 5 3 434 3 10 Crustacea Copepoda 1 1 1 2 2 Branchipoda 1 1 Ostracoda Miscel1aneo us 2 1 1 1 2 3 Total IT 8 91010 9 22 September, 1981 Protozoa 3 1 3 4 4 4 4 Rotifera32 1 1 1 6 Crustacea Copepoda 2 111 1 3 Branchipoda Ostracoda 1 1 Miscellaneous 311 2 4 1 7 Total 1155 8 9 8 21 16 VEGP-OLSER TABLE 7DENSITIES (ORGANISMS PER LITER)OF MAJOR/'".\ZOOPLANKTON TAXA FOR EACH STATION f Average Station Density for 150.6-1 150.6-3 150.9-1 150.9-3 151.2-1 151.2-3 all Stations January, 1981 Protozoa2.732.71 2.29 1.962.372.52 2 Rotifera 0.71 1.06 0.44 0.41 0.87 0.26 1 Crustacea Copepoda 0.20 0.47 0.65 0.10 0.37 0.66<1 Branchipoda 0.40<1 Ostracoda 0.12 0.13<1 Miscellaneous 0.30 0.35 0.11 0.42 0.49 0.65<1 Total 3.85 4.60 3.49 2.89 4.25 4.63 4" April, 1981 Protozoa 3.47 3.90 5.05 4.36 4.88 3.57 4 Rotifera 1.34 0.43 1.44 0.93 0.98 0.71 1 Crustacea Copepoda 0.22 0.43 0.54 0.53 0.73 0.48<1 Branchipoda 0.14 0.12.<1 Ostracoda 0.18<1 Miscellaneous 0.33 0.57 0.54 0.39 0.24 0.36<1 Total 5.38 5.48 7.76 6.22 6.96 5.12 6 June, 1981 Protozoa 1.82 2.30 4.361.301.10 1.80 2 Rotifera 0.98 0.87 2.38 0.59 0.71 0.69 1 Crustacea 0.14<1 Copepoda 0.42 0.40 0.35 0.20<1 Branchipoda 0.40<1 Ostracoda Miscellaneous 0.28 0.29 0.24 0.10 0.28<1 Total 3.50 3.46 7.54 2.47 2.13 2.91 4" September, 1981 Protozoa 1.65 0.69 5.13 0.92 1.49 1.55 2 Rotifera 0.60 0.45 0.73 0.34 0.34 0.22<1 Crustacea Copepoda 0.45 0.22 0.11 0.23 0.33<1 Branchipoda Ostracoda 0.60 0.11<1 Miscellaneous 0.45 0.44 0.73 0.22 0.34 0.44<1 Total 3.76 1.78 6.60 1.602.522.55 3 17 VEGP-OLSER TABLE 8 PERCENT COMPOSITION OF MAJOR ZOOPLANKTON TAXA FOR EACH STATION Station Average 150.6-1 150.6-3 150.9-1 150.9-3 151.2-1 151.2-3 Percent January, 1981 Protozoa6859 6668565462 Rotifera 18 23 13 14 20616 Crustacea Copepoda 5 10 19 3914 10 Branchipoda Ostracoda Miscellaneous 8 8 3 14 121510 April, 1981 Protozoa 64 71 65 69 707068 Rotifera 25 81915 14 14 16 Crustacea Copepoda487 9 10 9 8 Branchipoda 3 2 1-<Ostracoda 2<1 Miscellaneous 6 11 663 6 6 June, 1981 Protozoa 52 66 5853526257 Rotifera282532 24 33 24 28 Crustacea51 Copepoda 12 5 10 9 6 Branchipoda 5 1 Ostracoda Miscellaneous88105 10 7 September, 1981 Protozoa4439 7758596156 Rotifera 16 25 11 21 13 9 13 Crustacea 12 2 Copepoda 12 7 9 13 7 Branchipoda Ostracoda 16 4 3 Miscellaneous1224 11141317 15 18 TRANSMISSION LINES 151.2-1 151.2-3 PROPOSED'J.Fr----DISCHARGE 150.9-1 ,'--"...------STA. 150.9-3___... 150.6-1 I..-STA.150.6-3SAVANNAH RIVER 43,3-9 Georgia Power.\VOGTLE I ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNIT1AND UNIT 2 19 LOCATION OF VEGP PLANKTON SURVEY STATIONS FIGURE 1 O£NSITY_.VE1.IJCTTV _*EI 51*f;I rsI*f;I f;I r.f;I EI m D1 z u l-*'i l'Z[J U.f;I*0 EI m l-N>-I n.rt n: u*l-N J\U1 r ri U1 z[l!l n:*0 U1 r u W l-Ul WV*n lit t J U1 W Z>W It uiw>Ir" V W U1\('l r u I 5:0.6*-1.I 5:0.6-3.'5:0.9-I.I 5:0.9-3.I 5: 1.2-J.I 5: 1.2-3.STATIONS JANUARY Georgia Power.\VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTUNIT1AND UNIT 2 PHYTOPLANKTON DENSITIES AND RIVER VELOCITIES FOR JANUARY 1981 FIGURE 2 433-9 20 VEl.DffiV_\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\, ,,"-----I I , , , I , , , , , , , , I I I I I I I I I OE:N5rTY_.51 r In W u1+U1 Z-w iii 0.z oti.Z[J n.*0 mI.n.m-n It hi*N_J\In r*In M_Z[l!l*It In r 0 w uV o J W>It hi>lr: n V W U1\f'I r u I!i"0.5**r.I!i"0.5-3.I!i"0.9-I.I!i"12f.9-3.I!i" 1.2-1.I!i" 1.:::-3.STATIONS APRIL Georgia Power.\VOGTLE I ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 PHYTOPLANKTON DENSITIES AND RIVER VELOCITIES FOR APRIL 1981 FIGURE 3 433-9 21 n It I'i w 6i t-n J 61 V\m tal'In m I: fiI\Pi U1 fiI M Z r-I:[u t!l.*It 61 m r 0 61 W u lD t-mV*tal 5i n 14 i-N J In 14 W Z>w 5i*It m A fiI W Z J>" 0 II"*l-.r-51 Z 61[('\J*n.51 m 0 51 I-}N I.n.OJ s VE1.DCfn__"_DENSITY_1\1'1\1\1'1\I\1\I\l'\\.t ,\\\\\\\\\I I I I I I I I\I\I V I I I S"0.6-1.I S"3.E-3.I 5:121.9-1. I S"t3.9-3.I s 1.2-I.I S" 1.2-3.STATIONS LlUNE 433-9 Georgia Power.\VOGTLE IELECTRICGENERATINGPLANT UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 22 PHYTOPLANKTON DENSITIES AND RIVER VELOCITIES FOR JUNE 1981 FIGURE 4 A DDlSrrY_11 I 1 I 1 I 1I\I 1I\" 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I I I 1 I\/'I 1 I , I 1 I 1 I 1 I\\\, I 1 1\VEUlOTY_--.fiI fiI lD N i fiI: w..fiI lSI r n.It W PiJ\U1 r UI z[l!l It o u.U1 r u-l-UlV.LJ o L1 1-J U1 LJ Z>W It iii C1 w Z>0 Ir*1-I'!i Z[J n.lSI ai 0 lSI 1-N)0-I n.n V LJ*U1\..1'1 I'l r u.m I S'0.6**1.I S'0.6-3.I 5:0.9-I.I 5:0.9-3.I S'1.2-1.I S'1.2-3.STATIONS SEPTEMBER Georgia Power.\VOGTLE I ELECTR rc GENERATING PLANTUNIT1 AND UNIT 2 PHYTOPLANKTON DENSITIES AND RIVER VELOCITIES FOR SEPTEMBER 1981FIGURE5 433*9 23 "-*at VE.l.DCliY ___n D£NSrrV_.{(*N IJ m J-J\*ri Ul r-1:.Ul n V Z IJ[*U1*l!J lD 1'1\r n: r n u u'.UI*U1 111 111 td td t J--UlV*Z*OlD IJ r J c IJ>Z OCr-a*l-1'1 , W ,'1.....,>>Z r-I a:[I.J*m N I 0.J 0 J 0."....I N." , I." , I m." ,.." ,." ,..----T -I.I3.I I.I S'0.9-3.I s t.2-1.I s 1.2-3.STATIONS LlANUARY 433-9 Georgia Power.\VOGTlE , ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTUNIT1 ANDUNIT2 24 ZOOPLANKTON DENSITIES D RIVER VELOCITIES FOR JANUARY 1981 FIGURE 6

• m VEUlcrTV_--DOlSrry_n*It*III W m...J\*U1 r-1'1 r.ill n V Z W[m*l!l In M\r It r 0 u u*In*m U1 L1 I'W W...I'l-I'Ul I'V Z*I\*r I\om III I\J Cl I , W I ,>'Z I , I*0 I , Itt"...M I" III ,I ,>, Z I , I ,-It[--I--J*.N I m n.I 0 0 N.m 1 S:0.Ei-t.I S:0E-3.15:12t9-1.

15:0.9-3.IS: 1.2-t.1 s 1.2-3.STATIONS APRIL 433*9 Georgia Power.\VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 25 ZOOPLANKTON DENSITIES AND RIVER VELOCITIES FOR APRIL 1981 FIGURE 7 VEI..Ocrn_1'1 r.L1//////I//DD6rTV_.N n.It.N W m t.J\*U1 r-: M t ri*Ul V: Z.'1[m....r I!l 1'1" It r 9 u Ul iiii=t iii V,n*Z oW.JW>.Z It I'Q W...>'1._Z rr I[m[o Q N m 15:121£-3. 15:121.9-1. 15:0.9-3.15:1.2-1.15:1.2-3.STATIONS JUNE Georgia Power.\'VOGTLE I ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTUNIT1ANDUNIT2 ZOOPLANKTON DENSITIES MiD RIVER VELOCITIES FOR JUNE 1981FIGURE8 433*9 26 "-,*m VElDaTV___I t n I>D6ITV_I t.n:*I t N W m I t....I t J I t I , U1*/I.r-PI 1: I I.Ul/t n/1 V-W Z/t Ul*[.*/I.,r l!l m/t 1'1.It/t 0 , I r I u I I u*U1 lti U1 iii I I I t W W I 1....I t....Ul I I V I t.Z*Iom w r I I J 0 1 W t>Z t.0*I n: t'-...J1l\W\Z t I[[[\."",.-----.J*.....N m n.0 0 N iii r S'0.E-r.r S'0.6-3.J S'0.9-r.r S'l2J.9-3.J S'1.2-r.I S'1.2-3.STATIONS SEPTEMBER 433*9 Georgia Power.\VOGTLE I ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 27 ZOOPLANKTON DENSITIES AND RIVER VELOCITIES FOR SEPTEMBER 1981 FIGURE 9}}