Aquatic Resources Assessment Study

Claytor Hydroelectric Project

FERC No. 739

Aquatic Resources Assessment Study Scope

1. Fisheries• Desktop analysis

• Hydrodynamic model

• Resource assessment

2. Mussels• Desktop analysis

• Field surveys in reservoir and river

• Reservoir drawdown observations

• Resource assessment

3. Fringed Mountain Snail• Desktop analysis

• Field reconnaissance

• Resource assessment

Geographic Scope and Project Location

•The Aquatic Resources Assessment Study includes the headwaters of Claytor Lake near Allisonia, VA down to the US 460 bridge at Glen Lyn

•The Fringed Mountain Snail component also includes Project lands above the 1,850 foot NGVD contour

Aquatic Resources TeamKey Personnel

• Devine Tarbell & Associates– Scott Fletcher, Project Manager

– Kristi Miller, Aquatic Scientist

– Jon Knight, PhD, Limnologist

– Sarah Millington, GIS Specialist

• Alderman Environmental Services– John Alderman, Regional Mussel Expert

• Appalachian Conservation Biology – Ken Hotopp, Fringed Mountain Snail Expert

• Reservoir Environmental Mgt. Inc. (REMI)– Jim Ruane and Gary Houser, Water Quality Modeling

Related Experience

Devine Tarbell & Associates• Roanoke Logperch Study• Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Study• Littoral Habitat Study• Dam Removal Environmental Monitoring• Diadromous Fish Studies / Gillnetting Studies• Engineering Support, GIS Support

Alderman Environmental Services (John Alderman)• Former mussel expert for NCDWR / consultant for government agencies• Currently holds scientific collection permits in Virginia• Specialized in microhabitat preferences of L. subviridis after conducting numerous surveys for

this species

Appalachian Conservation Biology (Ken Hotopp)• Led previous surveys for the fringed mountain snail in the New River area• Published “A Field Guide to Land Snails in New York” and “Land Snails of Pennsylvania”

Reservoir Environmental Mgt. Inc• Jim Ruane has provided a Dynamic Stratification Model for over 25 hydro reservoirs• Gary Houser founded Loginetics, Inc.; has 30 years of water quality modeling experience

Fisheries Objectives

• Desktop Analysis of Current Fishery

• Quantify Deep-water Habitat• Dynamic Stratification Model• Characterize Phytoplankton

and Zooplankton • Assessment and Report

Morone saxatilis, Striped bass

Fisheries Approach

Desktop Analysis

• Literature Review: Perform literature review of fish occurring or potentially occurring in the reservoir and in the New River regulated reach. Gather information from federal and state agencies, scholastic papers, and other APCO relicensing studies

• Mapping: GIS maps of known fish distributions will be obtained and new GIS maps will be created using gathered information and results of other studies

Fisheries Approach cont.

Dynamic Stratification Model

• CE-QUAL-W2 Model: The “W2” model is a two dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model that will simulate velocity fields, temperature, and water quality

• The W2 model is especially suited for use on hydropower reservoirs

• The model will be calibrated for temperature using 2007 data, then calibrated for nutrients, three algal assemblages, organic matter, anoxic products, and DO using previously collected data

Fisheries Approach Cont.

Lake JamesWalleye Habitat

Preferred Habitat

T<24 DO>4

Tolerable Habitat

T<29 DO>20

50

100

150

200

250

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

1969 (Normal Yr)

Vo

lum

e (M

m3)

Baseline maximum tolerableMG maximum tolerableBaseline totalMG total

Maximum Tolerable HabitatT<29 DO>2

0

50

100

150

200

250

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

1969 (Normal Yr)

Vo

lum

e (M

m3)

Baseline preferredMG preferredBaseline totalMG total

Preferred HabitatT<24 DO>4

Fisheries Approach Cont.Example of graphical outputs from CE-QUAL-W2 model runs using the AGPM software for displaying results from model runs. A wide range of water quality conditions can be specified for fish habitat for specific species as well as different species. This display can be prepared for selected dates. The zones show where habitat is available for the specified temperature and DO conditions.

Preferred HabitatT<24 DO>4

Tolerable HabitatT<29 DO>2

Walleye Habitat – August 28, 1969

Mussels Objectives

• Literature Review• Reservoir Survey• Riverine Reconnaissance and

Survey• Reservoir Drawdown• Assessment

Lasmigona subviridis, Green floater

Mussels Approach

Lake Survey

• 10 sampling zones chosen, each zone contains two rectangles, each rectangle contains 200 1/4 m² quadrats

• One rectangle between 0-5 vertical feet deep to represent shallow littoral zone habitat, other rectangle from 5-10 vertical feet deep to represent deeper littoral zone habitat

• 20 rectangular sections x 200 quadrats each= 4,000 sampled quadrats throughout the lake

• Wading, snorkeling, or SCUBA will be used

• All mussels will be identified and condition, shell length, and habitat depth will be recorded

• GIS maps will accompany the final report to document the locations of all mussels found during this survey

•Preliminary mapping of available sampling shoreline using topography maps and recent aerials

•Approximately 60 out of 100 miles were found to have gentle enough slope for sampling (available littoral zone)

Mussels Approach Cont.

Riverine Survey

• A literature review will be performed to compile data including known mussel locations, specifically locations of the Green floater

• A field reconnaissance will occur throughout the 57-mile stretch using canoes and kayaks to locate Green floater habitat. The area of Project influence on Walker and Wolf Creeks will be determined and mapped

• A sampling protocol will be submitted to show proposed sample sites, present the habitat data collected form the reconnaissance, and show the area of Project influence on Walker and Wolf Creeks

• Field Sampling: If available, six of the best Green floater habitat sites will be sampled using methods similar to the reservoir survey. CPUE will be recorded during the reservoir and riverine surveys

• Muskrat Middens will be searched for mussel shells during the riverine reconnaissance and sampling

Mussels Approach Cont.

Drawdown Observations

• Literature Review: A review of abundances, distribution, and mortality from past drawdowns will be performed

• Observations: During 2007 drawdown, observations of the exposed shoreline will be made at six locations (one site per 10 miles of exposed shoreline). At each site at least 12,000 square feet will be observed

• Mapping: Locations and conditions of all mussels on the shoreline will be recorded and mapped. Pistolgrip and pocketbook mussels will be targeted and their locations will be mapped separately

Fringed Mountain Snail Objectives

• Literature Review• Mapping• Field Reconnaissance• Mini-Report• Assessment

Polygyriscus virginianus, Fringed mountain snail

Drawing from: Solem A. 1975; Nautilus 89(3):80-86

Fringed Mountain Snail Approach

Literature Review: Published literature and county soil surveys, topographic maps and aerial maps will be reviewed

Preliminary Mapping: Maps will be created showing known locations and possible suitable habitat areas

Reconnaissance: The area within the Project boundary, including Project lands above the 1,850-foot NGVD contour, will be searched for suitable habitat and evidence of P. virginianus populations. No physical excavating of habitat areas will occur

Mini-report: A small report providing maps and identifying suitable habitat will be written and given to the stakeholder team. A full survey would only occur if the stakeholder team and APCO decided that it is needed

Fisheries Reporting

• Account of all known fish species, abundances, and locations occurring in the lake and regulated river reach including raw data, graphs, maps, and tables

• Assessment of Project effects on the current fishery in and downstream of the Project

• A quantification of deep-water habitat as it relates to Striped bass summer habitat

• An assessment of the plankton community and Project effects on plankton movement in the reservoir

Mussels Reporting

• A list of all mussels historically found in the Project area, along with distributions, current status, habitat preference, and drawdown data

• Maps showing reservoir and riverine sample sites, locations of all sampling zones/sites, abundances at each zone/site, separate maps for each species found in the lake and river, locations of pocketbook and pistolgrip individuals, locations of green floater individuals, any new populations, and significant areas of mussel mortality

• Report will include CPUE at each site, species abundances, shell lengths, mussel conditions, relative abundance of the green floater in the river and pistolgrip and pocketbook mussels in the lake, and sample site/zone characteristics

• An analysis of mussel trends within the Project area and an assessment of Project effects on mussels

Fringed Mountain Snail Reporting

• A comprehensive background section including life history and past habitat and species locations

• Maps showing historical habitat location data compared to current habitat locations discovered during this study

• An assessment of available habitat, relative suitability of the banks and bluffs in the Project area, and an assessment of the Project’s possible influence on this species

Schedule

Questions and Comments