John H' Kerr Dam and Reservoir

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John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir Interim Operations
Changes Being Considered
Public Meetings May 12-14, 2008
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• Purpose
• Potential Interim Operations Changes
• Reduce impacts to bottomland hardwoods of the
  Lower Roanoke River Basin while minimizing
  impacts to other resources such as reservoir
  water levels, downstream farm and forest land,
  hydropower, erosion, and recreation
• Partially restore natural flows
• Prolonged flooding during wet years causes
  mortality of seedlings and saplings
• Stresses mature trees
• Preparation of Environmental Assessment (EA)
  Required
• Timing/Duration of Interim Operations
  Considerations
• If impacts are not significant, Finding of No
  Significant Impact (FONSI), begin new operation
  January 1, 2009
• Duration until Kerr 216 comprehensive study
  complete

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• If impacts are significant
• Environmental Impacts Statement (EIS) required
• Separate EIS or include this issue under the
  ongoing John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir Section
  216 study
• Section 216 Study investigate modification of
  the structure or operations of completed projects
• Issues under consideration Flood control,
  hydropower, reservoir guide curve, releases,
  erosion, recreation, fisheries, wildlife, water
  quality, water supply
• Not completed for several years

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VA
NC
JOHN H. KERR DAM AND RESERVOIR,VA NC
LOWER ROANOKE RIVER
SC
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• BACKGROUND
• The lower Roanoke River is home to the largest
  intact bottomland hardwood forests east of the
  Mississippi River
• About 75,000 acres of bottomland hardwoods are
  affected by flood control operations of the J.H.
  Kerr Dam and Reservoir
• These bottomland hardwood forests are the most
  valuable forest type in the lower basin
• Biological and ecological diversity
• Wildlife
• Timber
• Filter and purification system for waters
  flowing through the forest

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Lower Roanoke River Bottomland Hardwood Forest
Habitat
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• BACKGROUND (cont)
• The lower Roanoke River contains about 20,000
  acres of farmland that are affected by flood
  control operations of the J.H. Kerr Dam and
  Reservoir
• These farmlands produce a variety of crops
  including wheat, soybean, peanuts, cotton, corn,
  and tobacco. Even short-term flooding can have
  serious effects

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Lower Roanoke River Basin Farmland Example Near
Lewiston-Woodville
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• Alternatives Being Considered
• No Action Continue existing operations/
  releases at Kerr Dam
• Alternative 5 Change in flow releases at Kerr
  Dam
• Other alternatives (1-4) Have greater impacts
  on hydropower, recreation, and water levels in
  Kerr Reservoir
• Impacts on bottomland hardwoods and farmland the
  same as alternative 5.

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Kerr Interim Operations Changes Flow Releases
Being Considered

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Kerr Interim Operations Changes Guide Curves

Steady decline to at least partially offset
hydropower losses at Roanoke Rapids
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• RESERVOIR IMPACTS
• Some impacts my occur in Kerr Reservoir due to
  potential guide curve change
• Adjust swim beach lines and private docks more
  often
• Closure of some NC Park campsites early in the
  season
• Boat launching at lower water levels
• Possible change in shoreline erosion
• No change to water levels in Gaston Lake or
  Roanoke Rapids Reservoir therefore, no impacts
  anticipated

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• HYDROPOWER IMPACTS
• Power production at Roanoke Rapids will be
  reduced at the higher releases of 35,000 cfs
• Exceed Roanoke Rapids generation capacity of
  20,000 cfs
• Gaston Lake and JH Kerr Reservoir generation
  will not be reduced
• Some hydropower recovered by change in guide
  curve at Kerr Reservoir

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• BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS IMPACTS
• Improved conditions for the bottomland forest
• The duration of flooding of downstream
  bottomland hardwood forests reduced
• Reduce seedling mortality that is experienced in
  wet years such as 2003
• Increased frequency of flooding could impact
  access

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• CROPLAND IMPACTS
• Increased frequency of cropland flooding
• Crops lost or value reduced once flooding occurs
• Could block access roads
• Reduced duration of flooding

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Potential Farmland Flooding For details see
http//www.saw.usace.army.mil/JHKerr/OpnChange/ind
ex.htm
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Modeled Potential Change in Farmland Flooding
Between Existing and Potential Operations Is This
Accurate?
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(No Transcript)
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Kerr Interim Operations Changes Flow Releases
Being Considered

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• OTHER IMPACTS BEING EVALUATED
• Saltwater intrusion at the mouth of the river
• River bank erosion
• Striped bass spawning
• Water quality
• Wildlife nesting
• Recreation

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Rest of Meeting

• We dont have all the answers, but want your
  comments and concerns
• Are there other concerns not discussed?
• Giving us your comments/concerns
• Turn in you attendance sheet
• Mail or email by June 1st
• Maps on the wall to discuss farmland issues
• Make notes on maps
• Do maps appear accurate?
• Types of crops planted?
• Team member at each set of maps
• Introduce team members

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John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir Interim Operations
Changes Being Considered
QUESTIONS
Public Meetings May 12-14, 2008