FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Project No. 405 ...

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20100204-3055 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 02/04/2010 Project No. 405-087 7 be successfully used to predict future run numbers when at least some of the basic assumptions of the model would be scientifically unverifiable. 3.5 Upstream Fish Passage Effectiveness Study Exelon proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing Conowingo East fish lift by tracking radio-tagged adult shad released into the river below the dam. Maryland DNR, SRBC, Pennsylvania DEP, and the Fish & Boat Commission recommend several modifications to the revised study plan as follows: 1) consider both operational as well as structural factors that may be affecting successful and/or timely passage; 2) not allow recreational anglers to participate in the collection of test fish because differences in fish handling procedures could introduce bias into the study; 3) monitor all radio-tagged fish until August 1 to better understand their ultimate fate; 4) consider the results of this study’s applicability to study 3.6 Conowingo East Fish Lift Attraction Flows and discuss this study in the report generated for study 3.6; 5) change the study location designation “10” to “11” to prevent it from being confused with the location near Port Deposit; 6) conduct a second season of tracking radio-tagged fish after the results of the first season have been provided to the agencies, thus allowing the agencies to suggest structural or operational manipulations that they believe should be tested. In addition to modification (3) from the list above, Interior also recommends that Exelon assess the influence of all independent variables on radio-tagged fish movement and behavior, determine the location of all tagged fish before, during, and after changes to project operation and plot the hourly locations on plan view maps, add additional monitoring stations between stations 1 and 8 as well as an additional station along the spillway immediately downstream of the dam, and require mobile tracking on a weekly basis from the mouth of the Susquehanna River up to Holtwood dam in order to locate “lost fish.” Staff believe that modification (1) is necessary and would be helpful in evaluating the range of potential measures which may be proposed, recommended, or required. Modification (2) makes sense because without this clarification, data may be biased and misinterpreted due to differences in fish handling practices. Modification (3) as well as Interior’s recommendation to track fish weekly from the mouth of the river up to Holtwood dam, are both necessary to determine the ultimate fate of radio tagged fish. Without these study criteria, conclusions about the effectiveness of the upstream fish passage facilities may be unclear.
20100204-3055 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 02/04/2010 Project No. 405-087 8 Modification (4) would coordinate the results of this study with those from study 3.6. Because studies 3.5 and 3.6 both address the effectiveness of upstream passage at the Conowingo dam, the findings of each study may be useful in the interpretation and conclusions drawn in the other. Therefore, the study reports from each of these two studies (3.5 and 3.6) should discuss the relevant findings from both studies, to the extent they are useful in interpreting the data and making recommendations for improving the effectiveness of upstream passage at the east fish lift. Staff recommends incorporation of modification (5) in order to avoid confusion in the study results. Modification (6) addresses the possible need for additional field study in 2011 based on the results of 2010 studies. Staff do not consider it appropriate at this time to assume that additional study will be necessary. However, Exelon should clarify that additional tests of agency-recommended project manipulations may be required in 2011 if the Commission determines that the information would be needed to evaluate any proposed, recommended, or required measures. Interior’s recommendations to assess the influence of all independent variables on radio-tagged fish movement and behavior, determine the location of all tagged fish before, during, and after changes to project operations, and plot the hourly locations on plan view maps would all add to the value of the study for evaluating the need for any additional 2011 field work and, ultimately, evaluating any proposed, recommended, or required measures. Interior’s recommendation to add additional remote monitoring stations to detect radio-tagged fish has merit because Interior’s recommended new locations would otherwise be unsampled under Exelon’s proposed study design. Placing a station directly below the spillway would help identify if fish get lost and/or stranded in this area. By placing a station somewhere between the tailrace and Port Deposit (the site of station 8), additional information about shad behavior may be learned, especially as it relates to passage delays which could be affecting upstream passage effectiveness. 3.6 Conowingo East Fish Lift Attraction Flows In this study, Exelon plans to study the relationship between shad passage and attraction flow velocities during the 2010 shad passage season (and possibly 2011). Exelon also plans to review 2008 and 2009 “historical data” from the East fish lift and produce a report discussing the historical and current data along with data gathered during study 3.5 Upstream Fish Passage Effectiveness Study.
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