MIG 1 Fish and Wildlife Study Plan Review

1
MIG 1 Fish and WildlifeStudy Plan Review

• April 2, 2008

2
MIG 1 Agenda

• Introductions
• Comments Received
• Summary of Revisions to the MIG 1 Draft Study
  Plans
• Next Steps in the Process

3
MIG 1 Studies

• Migratory Fish - Tallapoosa Basin Literature
  Review
• Lake Martin - Assessment of Fish Density and
  Species Composition Associated with Various
  Shoreline Types
• Evaluation of Minimum Flows downstream of Martin
  Dam
• Fish Entrainment/Turbine Mortality
• Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Surveys
• Striped Bass Mortality Study
• Lake Martin - Wildlife Management Plan

4
MIG 1 Study Plan Commenters

• ADCNR
• USFWS
• ARA
• WWF

5
Study Plan 1Migratory Fish- Tallapoosa Basin
Literature Review

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

6
Study Goal

• Develop a document that describes the migratory
  species (including American eel) that currently
  or historically used the Tallapoosa River
  including a summary of restoration plans for
  these species.

7
Revisions to Study Methodology

• There have been no substantive changes to the
  November 2007 Draft Study plan.

8
Study Plan 2Lake Martin Assessment of Fish
Density and Species Composition Associated with
Various Shoreline Types

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

9
Study Goal

• The goal of this study is to determine if various
  types of shoreline alterations influence fish
  distribution in the littoral zones.

10
Revisions to Study Methodology

• Investigate four habitat types natural
  undeveloped, traditional sea wall, sea wall/rip
  rap, and large stone or rock reinforced
  shorelines.
• At least four sites for each type of habitat will
  be geo-referenced and photographed
• Boat electrofishing will be performed at each
  site during the spring to sample fishes.
• Additional water quality data will be collected
  at each site.

11
Study Plan 3Evaluation of Minimum Flows
Downstream of Martin Dam

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

12
Study Goals

• Understand the relationship of project operation
  and the potential impacts of hydro peaking on the
  aquatic fauna and aquatic habitat in the tailrace
  area downstream of the Martin Project and
  downstream in the Tallapoosa River below the
  Thurlow Dam
• Explore the possibilities for flexibility in the
  Martin Dam operations that still includes peaking
  and could enhance aquatic habitats downstream of
  Martin Dam - Martin tailrace, Yates Thurlow
  reservoirs, and the Tallapoosa River downstream
  of Thurlow Dam.

13
Revisions to Study Methodology

• Examine operations data for the Martin Project to
  identify areas of flexibility in operation.
• Examine existing environmental studies for the
  Tallapoosa River downstream of Thurlow Dam.
• Study area would include the immediate tailrace
  area downstream of the Martin Dam and to some
  extent the Tallapoosa River downstream of Thurlow
  Dam.
• Include field surveys below Martin as needed to
  evaluate project impacts.

14
Study Plan 4Fish Entrainment and Turbine
Mortality

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

15
Study Goals

• To determine the potential impacts of project
  operations on entrainment and turbine mortality
  on Lake Martin fishery.

16
Revisions to Study Methodology

• Perform entrainment estimates through the use of
  hydroacoustics (either split beam or DIDSON) in
  the penstock, trash rack, or forebay areas to
  gather information on the size and quantity of
  fish targets moving into the turbine intakes.
• Hydroacoustic sampling will be performed on a
  seasonal basis (quarterly basis) and will collect
  data over a multiple day period encompassing both
  day and night periods. Estimates of entrainment
  will be determined through analysis of the
  collected data and compared to the results of the
  desktop analysis.

17
Study Plan 5Rare, Threatened, and Endangered
Species Surveys

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

18
Study Goals

• Determine if any Rare, Threatened, or Endangered
  species are present in the project.
• Determine if the Martin Project operations impact
  those populations.

19
Revisions to Study Methodology

• Field surveys will be performed by qualified
  investigators identified in coordination with the
  ADCNR and USFWS.
• Fragmentation of any RTE populations by the
  project will be also be considered.

20
Study Plan 6Striped Bass Study

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

21
Study Goal

• Determine if Martin Project operations are
  impacting the Gulf-strain striped bass fishery in
  Lake Martin.

22
Revisions to Study Methodology

• Expert Panel members will be identified by APC,
  ADCNR, and USFWS.
• Hydroacoustics and tagging may also be utilized
  as supplemental collection methods to gather
  field data on striped bass distributions.

23
Study Plan 7Lake Martin Wildlife Management Plan

• MIG 1 Fish Wildlife

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Study Goals

• Provide habitat diversity on APC project lands to
  enhance native vegetation and wildlife species
  (such as Priority 1 and 2 species and rare,
  threatened, and endangered species).
• This would include the conservation, restoration,
  and management of longleaf pine systems on
  project lands.

25
Revisions to Study Methodology

• Inclusion of Priority 1 and 2 species as
  identified in Alabamas Comprehensive Wildlife
  Strategy.
• Habitat Management and the use of proper
  silviculture strategies.
• General Wildlife Enhancements (controlling
  non-native invasive plant species, etc.)
• Identify monitoring methods to measure management
  productivity.

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Next Steps in the Process

• Summary and FERC Process

27
Summary

• Draft Study Plans filed with PAD NOI - June
  2008
• Comments due on PAD (including Study Plans) -
  September 2008
• Final Study Plans filed with FERC- November 2008
• Stakeholders have the opportunity to file their
  recommended changes to APCs Final study plans -
  December 08 February 09

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FERC Study Plan Process
APC files NOI PAD (June 2008)
FERC Issues SD1
FERC holds Scoping Meetings
Comments on PAD, SD1 Study Requests
60
30
30
Days
45
APC Files Proposed Study Plan (November 2008)
Comments on Study Plan
FERC Study Plan Approval (April 2009)
Study Dispute Resolution (if necessary)
60
90
90