20030147 Ver 2_401 Application_20070511

~~ ~ Progress Energy
May L 1, ?007
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
Attn: Todd St. John
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
Subject: Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project (FERC No. 2206-030)
Section 401 Water Quality Certificate Application
Dear Mr. St. John:
03- oi~~ v~
PAYMENT
RECEIVED
007.0008.1000
[phone]
Progress Energy is submitting an original and six copies of a fully executed application for
Water Quality Certification (WQC) to the Division of Water Quality pursuant to Section
401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and relevant regulations of the state of North Carolina
for Progress Energy's Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project (FERC Project No. 2206). In addition to the
seven application packages, we have enclosed a check in the amount of $475 for the processing of the
application. If you have any questions about Progress Energy's filing, please do not hesitate to contact
me at (919} 546-2640.
Sincerely,
PROGRESS ENERGY
`-.,-.
~" ~-
Phillip J. Lucas
Hydro Relicensing Project Ntanager
PL/MH/elt
Enclosures
ec: James Hancock, Bingham and Balch
File
Progress Energy Carolinas,lnc.
C°Docuricn~'~~nd'.ScttingslmhoovcrlDcsktoplNCDWQ Caver Letier.doc
BaL r,'~ ~:;_ rGD~

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APPLICATION FOR
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 401(a)(1)
OF THE
CLEAN WATER ACT
YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
FERC PROJECT N0.2206
Submitted by:
PROGRESS ENERGY
Raleigh, North Carolina
MAY 2007

PAYMENT
RECEIVED
DW ID: ~J ' O ~ ~ 1 V
Q
FERC 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION APPLICATION
FOR EXISTING FERC-LICENSED PROJECTS
' * SEND SEVEN (7) COPIES AND THE APPROPRIATE FEE .(SEE ITEM # 16)* OF
THIS APPLICATION TO:
1 THE NC DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
1 ATTN: TODD ST. JOHN
4401 REEDY CREEK ROAD
-RALEIGH, NC 27607.
' (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE)
' 1. OWNER'S NAME:
' Carolina Power & Light d/b/a Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc.
2. MAILING ADDRESS:
' 410 S Wilmington Street, PEB 13, Raleigh, NC 27602
PROJECT NAME: Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project
CITY: Norwood STATE: North Carolina
PROJECT LOCATION ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT FROM MAILING ADDRESS
ABOVE): Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project.
3. TELEPHONE NUMBER: (WORK) [phone].
4. IF APPLICABLE: AGENT'S NAME OR RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE OFFICIAL,
ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER: Charles M. Gates, Vice-President, Fossil Generation.
5. LOCATION PROJECT (PROVIDE A MAP, INCLUDING A COPY OF USGS
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY WITH SCALE):
COUNTY: Montgomery, Stanly, Anson, Richmond. NEAREST TOWN: Norwood.
SPECIFIC LOCATION (INCLUDE ROAD NUMBERS, LANDMARKS, ETC.)
' 401 WQC Application - 1

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Yadkin-Pee Dee River:
(i) Blewett Falls Dam, RM 188
(ii) Tillery Dam, RM 218
Also see Figure 1 of the attached Environmental Document.
6. IMPACTED STREAM/RIVER: -Pee Dee. RIVER BASIN: Yadkin-Pee Dee.
CURRENT DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY (DWQ) CLASSIFICATION: Several.
See Section 6.0 of Application Package.
7. (a) IS THE PROJECT LOCATED WITHIN A NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF
COASTAL MANAGEMENT AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (AEC)?
YES NO ~
(b) IF THE PROJECT IS LOCATED WITHIN A COASTAL COUNTY (SEE PAGE 7
FOR LIST OF COASTAL COUNTIES), WHAT IS THE LAND USE PLAN (LUP)
DESIGNATION? N/A
8. (a) ARE ADDITIONAL PERMIT REQUESTS EXPECTED FOR THIS PROPERTY
IN THE FUTURE? YES NO E~J IF YES, DESCRIBE ANTICIPATED WORK:
9. (a) ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBERS OF ACRES IN PROJECT: 8,750.
10. PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT. THE DOCUMENT
SHOULD ADDRESS:
(a) DATA SHOWING THAT A 7Q10 MII~TIMUM FLOW WILL BE PROVIDED
(b) A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT SHOWING WHY THE
PROJECT IS STILL NECESSARY
(c) DESCRIPTION OF LENGTH OF BYPASS REACH (IF ANY) AND MEASURES
TO PROVIDE FLOW TO THE REACH IN LOW FLOW CONDITIONS.
(d) MEASURES PLANNED OR TAKEN TO MAINTAIN DOWNSTREAM WATER
QUALITY SUCH AS ADEQUATE DISSOLVED OXYGEN.
See attached Environmental Document
401 WQC Application - 2
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1l. WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE WATERSHED? WHAT IS THE FULL-POND
SURFACE AREA?
Progress Energy's response:
(i) Size of watershed: At Tillery Dam - 4,600 mil
At Blewett Falls Dam - 6,839 mil
(ii) Full-pond surface area: Lake Tillery - 5,697 acres
Blewett Falls Lake - 2,866 acres
12. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
AND/OR NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE REGARDING THE
PRESENCE OF ANY FEDERALLY LISTED OR PROPOSED FOR LISTING
ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES OR CRITICAL HABITAT IN THE
PERMIT AREA THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED PROJECT. DATE
CONTACTED: Continuous consultation related to FERC relicensing proceeding since
February 2003.
13. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
OFFICER. DATE CONTACTED: REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF HISTORIC
PROPERTIES IN THE PERMIT AREA WHICH MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE
PROPOSED PROJECT. DATE CONTACTED: Consultation initiated on May 26, 2004.
14. DOES THE PROJECT INVOLVE AN EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS OR THE
USE OF PUBLIC (STATE) LAND? YES NOD (IF NO, GO TO 15)
(a) IF YES, DOES THE PROJECT REQUIRE PREPARATION OF AN
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT? YES • NO
(b) IF YES, HAS THE DOCUMENT BEEN REVIEWED THROUGH THE NORTH
CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION STATE
CLEARINGHOUSE YES • NO •.
IF ANSWER 17b IS YES, THEN SUBMIT APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION
FROM THE STATE CLEARINGHOUSE WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STATE
401 WQC Application - 3

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CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEW PROCESS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MS.
' CHRYS BAGGETT, DIRECTOR STATE CLEARINGHOUSE, .NORTH
CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, 116 WEST JONES
' STREET, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27603-8003, TELEPHONE (919) 733-
6369.
' 15. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THIS APPLICATION IF
PROPOSED ACTIVITY INVOLVES THE DISCHARGE OF EXCAVATED OF FILL
MATERIAL INTO WETLANDS: Not applicable.
(a) WETLAND DELINEATION MAP SHOWING ALL WETLANDS, STREAMS,
LAKES, AND PONDS ON THE PROPERTY (FOR NATIONWIDE PERMIT
NUMBERS 14, 18, 21, 26, 29, AND 38). ALL STREAMS (INTERMITTENT
AND PERMANENT) ON THE PROPERTY MUST BE SHOWN ON THE MAP.
' MAP SCALES SHOULD BE 1 INCH EQUALS 50 FEET OF 1 INCH EQUALS
100 FEET OF THEIR EQUIVALENT.
(b) IF AVAILABLE, REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOGRAPH OF WETLANDS TO BE
IMPACTED BY PROJECT.
(c) IF DELINEATION WAS PERFORMED BY A CONSULTANT, INCLUDE ALL
DATA SHEETS RELEVANT TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE DELINEATION
LINE.
i (d) ATTACH A COPY OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN IF
REQUIRED.
i (e) WHAT IS LAND USE OF SURROUNDING PROPERTY?
(fl IF APPLICABLE, WHAT IS PROPOSED METHOD OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL?
16. CERTIFICATION FEE
' (a) IF THE IMPACT IS LESS THAN 1 ACRE OF WETLAND OR WATER AND
LESS THAN 150 FEET OF STREAM, PLEASE ENCLOSE A CHECK FOR
$200.00 MADE OUT TO THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER
QUALITY.

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(b) IF THE IMPACT EXCEEDS EITHER OR BOTH OF THE LEVELS IN (a),
PLEASE ENCLOSE A CHECK FOR $475.00 MADE OUT TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY.
17. PUBLIC NOTICE IS REQUIRED FOR ALL FERC PROJECTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT
THE APPLICANT IS REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE THE DIVISION OF WATER
QUALITY FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE
PUBLIC NOTICE. REFERENCE 15A NCAC 2H .0503 (f).
401 WQC Application - 5

SIGNIrI~ AID dATEI~ AGENT AUTHORIZATIOI'~ LETTER, IF APPLICABLE. N/A
N{)TE. WETLANDS tJR WATERS {3F THE US M.AY 1'~10'I` BE IAoIPACTED 1'R1pR TO.
' 1. 1SS~iJAI,JCE OF A SECT~~N 404 CflRI'S 0~ ENGINEERS PERMtT,
~. EITHER "I'1--11s 15aUANCE OR WAIViwR OF A 401 DIVIIC3N OF WATER QUALITY
CERTIFICATUN, AND
3. {IN THE TWEI~STY CQASTAL CQUNTIES UNLYj, A LETTCR FR{~ THE I~ORTr-I
CARC3LINA DiVISIC}N C?1~ Ct~ASTAL I~IANAGEMENT STATINt-i THE I'RC?I'45ED
ACTIVITY 1S Ct~l~1S[STENT WITH T'HE NORTH CAROLII`i~A C{:7AST'AL
MAl`1AGl~14~fEI~dT PI~tJGkA.M.
v~~ ,r 1c
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CI~arlcs t~+1, Crags Vic4-I'r4sidcttt I+osst Gc~~cration -~~~. Ci
QW1~ER"S SIGNATURE DATE
' (AGI/NT'S SIGRIATURE VA-'LID C3N1.1~" IF AUTH~RIZATi!C3AI LET'I`ER FROM THE
OWNF.17 1~ Ir'Rt)1JIi7i~T~).

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APPLICATION FOR WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 401(a)(1) OF THE
CLEAN WATER ACT
YADHIN-PEE DEE RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Title Page No.
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................2
2.1 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project FERC Relicensing Process ..........................................4
2.2 Water Quality Issues .....................................................................................................6
2.3 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project Comprehensive Relicensing Agreement ...................10
3. OVERVIEW OF BASINWIDE WATER QUALITY ....................................................12
3.1 Existing Water Quality and Hydropower Operations .................................................12
3.1.1 Basinwide Water Quality Issues .....................................................................12
3.1.2 Hydropower Operations in the Basin .............................................................13
3.1.3 Future Hydropower Operations ......................................................................15
4. NUMERIC STANDARDS ......................................................................................17
5. DESIGNATED USES ............................................................................................23
6. FISHERIES RESOURCES, AQUATIC LIFE, AND BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY ..............25
6.1 Reservoir Fisheries .....................................................................................................25
6.2 Instream Flows, Aquatic Life, and Biological Integrity .............................................27
6.2.1 Tillery Dam .....................................................................................................28
6.2.2 Blewett Falls Dam ..........................................................................................33
6.3 Fish Passage ................................................................................................................36
7. WETLAND AND TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES .......................................................39
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
Section Title Page No.
8. PROPOSED INSTREAM FLOW WATER QUALITY AND OTHER STREAM HABITAT
PROTECTION MEASURES ...................................................................................42
8.1 Instream Flows ............................................................................................................42
8.2 Dissolved Oxygen Enhancement Program ............................................................:....42
8.3 Biological Monitoring of Tillery Tailwaters ..............................................................45
8.4 Other Stream and Riparian Protection Measures ........................................................48
9. REFERENCES .....................................................................................................51
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A -PROGRESS ENERGY FERC LICENSE APPLICATION (CONTAINED ON
CD)
APPENDIX B -PROGRESS ENERGY QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN
(CONTAINED ON CD)
APPENDIX C - DIADROMOUS FISH RESTORATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
APPENDIX D -MAPS
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APPLICATION FOR WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 401(a)(1) OF THE
CLEAN WATER ACT
YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Title Page No.
1 PROJECT LOCATION MAP ................................................................................................3
2 BLEWETT FALLS DEVELOPMENT - HEADPOND ELEVATION DURATION
CURVES ..............................................................................................................................27
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APPLICATION FOR WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 401(a)(1) OF THE
CLEAN WATER ACT
YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page No.
1 EXISTING AND PROPOSED PROJECT OPERATIONS .................................................15
2 WATER QUALITY NUMERIC STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO PROJECT
WATERS .............................................................................................................................17
3 SAMPLE SIZE (N) AND THE TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENT OF
EXCEEDANCES (IN PARENTHESIS) OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS
MEASURED DURING THIS STUDY FOR THE APPLICABLE NORTH
CAROLINA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AT THE TILLERY AND
BLEWETT FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS, 1999 TO 2004 ..................................20
4 ASSESSMENTS OF DAILY DO CONCENTRATIONS FROM MAY 1 TO
NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AT STATIONS IN REACH 1 OF THE PEE DEE RIVER
BELOW THE TILLERY HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ............................................... ......22
5 ASSESSMENTS OF DAILY DO CONCENTRATIONS FROM MAY 1 TO
NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AT STATIONS IN REACH 2 OF THE PEE DEE RIVER
BELOW THE BLEWETT FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ......................................22
6 RESERVOIR FLUCTUATIONS ............................................................... ....40
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Section 1
Introduction
' Progress Energy is submitting this application for Water Quality Certification (WQC) pursuant
to Section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and relevant regulations of the state of North
' Carolina for continuing the operation of its Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project (FERC Project No.
2206). State regulations are found at North Carolina Administrative Code 15A NCAC 02H
' .0500. In addition, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations at 18 CFR
§4.34 require proof that a WQC application has been submitted to the appropriate certifying
' agency in order for FERC to continue to process Progress Energy's application for a new FERC
license. The existing FERC license is due to expire on April 30, 2008.
' The information provided with this application addresses those aspects of the operation of the
Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project that affect the water quality of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River. Many,
if not all, of these potential Project effects were considered and evaluated as part of the FERC
relicensing process. The relicensing process involved resource issue identification and extensive
studies, analysis, and consultation that have been completed as part of the FERC relicensing
' process. Therefore, we include as Appendix A to this application our FERC Final License
Application (on CD) which was filed with FERC on Apri125, 2006.

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Section 2
Proiect Description
The Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project consists of the 84 megawatt (MW) Tillery Development and
the 24.6 MW Blewett Falls Development located on the Yadkin and Pee Dee rivers at
approximately river miles (RM) 218 and 188, respectively. Each development consists of a dam,
powerhouse, impoundment, primary transmission lines from the Project, structures used in
connection with the Project, and water rights, rights-of--way (ROW), lands, and interest in lands
necessary for the operation and maintenance of the Project.
The Tillery Dam and its powerhouse are located in Montgomery and Stanly counties, four miles
west of Mount Gilead, North Carolina. The Tillery impoundment (known as .Lake Tillery)
extends approximately 16 miles upstream to the tailwater of Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.'s
(APGI) Falls Development. The Blewett Falls Dam and powerhouse are located in Anson and
Richmond counties. The Blewett Falls impoundment, also known as Blewett Falls Lake, extends
approximately 11 miles upstream of the dam. The Blewett Falls Dam and powerhouse are
located approximately 17 miles upstream of the North Carolina-South Carolina state line
(Figure 1).
The Tillery and Blewett Falls developments are important to the electrical generation resource
mix of Progress Energy. This is especially true of the Tillery Plant which is Progress Energy's
only hydroelectric-based load-following resource in its system. The Tillery plant therefore
occupies a unique and valuable position within Progress Energy's generation and transmission
systems. When not operating in a strictly load-following mode, Tillery also provides valuable
service as a spinning reserve, contingency reserve, and voltage support resource for Progress
Energy's customers. The Tillery plant has a hydraulic capacity of 18,000 cfs, a flow that is
exceeded only four percent of the time at the station. This "oversizing" of the plant is a signature
aspect of its design, given its role in peaking, load-following, and reserve capacity. In turn, each
of the four units at Tillery is relatively large for the Pee Dee River, again in line with the various
roles it plays in Progress Energy's system. Hydroelectric units are uniquely capable of moving
rapidly from one output to another within a wide operating band while maintaining relatively
high efficiency.
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Section 2 Project Description
FIGURE 1
PROJECT LOCATION MAP
~, , ~,~:
~- --- -•-_~--~._ _- -- -- - - ,_ - . _..-.a _ Virginia
Yadkin River
W. Kerr Scott
Dam
a~s~=r,~a~r g~lem Greensbor© S4riinton
9 -
~~ Uwharrie River
. Raleigh
High Rock Dam rH'~x-x~~~~k~,
Tuckertown Dam
_....,,
Narrows Dam n„<~,rL:,~e ~ Falls Dam
_ Tillery Dam
______~_,__.____ ~o~l~~a~~== ° Blewett Falls Dam
~i,.wrrr
Rocky River
~\
,.~
Pee Dee River P '~
e,.P
-lOi ef'CL' -'~
~\
~J~Ui?1D13
N~ _ _ .
,L
Winyah Bay % Atlantic
-~ Ocean
!'
- , ~ ~ -~t;~~ „~
-_~, dry" ~ ~';~
- --- - -- ~ `~ N
~~^ }~ n.. ~; a~... - .-- ,, .,,~ Rivers Urban Areas
~' Ham car i~a - - `'-+~~ ~ -Rivers abng the Yadkin•Pee Dee ~~
- Lakes ~Y
----e.~~saan ea .~~---_~~_` _ ~ 111
c.aja' - "
,,'~~ ~ Lakes along the Yadkin-Pee Dee
~ o zs so sae Bata aeppliae M me um~d va~aa caday~cd sweY
and ESRI. ncvinc Ta~bell and Assaiates assiuncs m Icgal
'y liadldy or responsibdAy for Ne accuracy and completern:ss
't ~ Regional Location Map Miles dtbe data. btarch 2005
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Section 2 Project Description
Some of the important electrical system tasks that the Tillery Plant is called upon to fulfill are:
(1) automatic generation control, operating at the very upper end of the load curve; (2) power
transfers across control areas; (3) grid stabilization (frequency and voltage control) in its area; (4)
synchronous condensing; (5) spinning and non-spinning reserve; and (6) on-peak power
generation. Progress Energy has no pumped storage or other large hydro units in its system
capable of duplicating the various resource benefits of the Tillery Plant.
The Blewett Falls Plant currently operates about 45 percent of the time as a strict run-of--river
(ROR) hydroelectric station. This occurs anytime river flows exceed about 7,200 cfs. During
the months of December through April, Blewett Falls operates in a ROR mode over 65 percent
of the time. During the remaining time, the Blewett Plant operates in block-loaded fashion.
This block-loaded operation must be closely coordinated with the operation of the Tillery Plant,
using the available (but limited) active storage in the Blewett Falls reservoir to re-regulate Tillery
outflows to reduce or eliminate inadvertent spill. Block-loading normally results in higher
outflows during on-peak hours and lower outflows during off-peak hours.
One of the roles of the Blewett Falls Plant is to provide management of daily flows from the
Tillery Plant. The task of managing these flows requires that the Blewett Falls reservoir operate
in a daily cycling mode and, when not operating in a ROR mode, the Blewett Falls reservoir will
normally fluctuate approximately 1 to 3 feet daily. Under future Project operations as proposed
herein, Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake each will have sufficient active storage to provide
daily flow adjustments, but not enough to provide weekly, monthly, or seasonal storage.
' 2.1 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project FERC Relicensing Process

In 1958, the Federal Power Commission, predecessor to FERC, issued to Carolina Power &
Light ([CP&L] now known as Progress Energy) a 50-year license for the operation of the
Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project. The current license expires on April 30, 2008. On April 25,
2006, Progress Energy submitted a Final License Application (FLA) to FERC for the continued
' Block-loading refers to a manner of plant operations whereby the station is placed in operation at a pre-set and
relatively constant output for a specific amount of time each day, usually during times of peak electricity
demand.
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Section 2 Project Description
operation of the Project pursuant to the requirements of FERC's regulations at 18 CFR §4.51 and
§ 16.8. The FLA reflects the results of an intense period of studies and consultation efforts with
up to two dozen stakeholder groups that began in late 2002 and continued up to and beyond the
filing of the FLA. This consultation process included well over 50 consultation meetings with
Project stakeholders. Relicensing study plans were collaboratively developed with stakeholders
and completed by Progress Energy.
Resource studies related to water quality that were undertaken as part of relicensing resulted in
the following reports:
^ Continuous Water Quality Monitoring in the Pee Dee River below the Tillery and Blewett
Falls Hydroelectric Plants
^ Intensive Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Study of the Pee Dee River Below the Tillery
and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Plants
^ Monthly Water Quality Study of Lake Tillery, Blewett Falls Lake, and Associated
Tailwaters
^ Substrate Characterization of the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Plants Tailwater
Areas
^ Pee Dee River Instream Flow Study -Final Report
^ Habitat (Population) Fragmentation Study of Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates in the Pee
Dee River and Ti-ibutaries in the Vicinity of the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric
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Plants Hydraulic Connectivity Report
Shallow Water Fish, Crayfish, and Mussel Surveys of the Pee Dee River and Tributaries
' Each of these reports was submitted to stakeholders for review and comment as draft documents.
After comment and discussion, each report became part of Progress Energy's FLA filed with
FERC.2
The water quality studies conducted by Progress Energy confirmed and further defined the
' timing and frequency of instances when plant releases did not meet state water quality standards
' Refer to FLA Appendix B -Resource Reports.
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Section 2 Project Description
for dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. Progress Energy then conceived and initiated a multi-
year study to evaluate a number of technology options for improving DO concentrations at both
Tillery and Blewett Falls. Field assessment of these technologies started in 2005 and is
continuing. A report has been issued documenting the 2005 and 2006 technology assessments as
identified below.
^ Investigation of Measures to Enhance Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations in the Tailwater
of the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelect~~ic Plants. Phase I.• Turbine Venting (DTA,
Apri12007)
^ Continuous Water Quality Monitoring in the Pee Dee River below the Tillery and Blewett
Falls Hydroelectric Plants, May-October 2005
1 2.2 Water Quality Issues

Three primary environmental issues potentially related to water quality certification have been
identified by stakeholders through the relicensing process. Each of these issues is defined and
discussed below.
Dissolved Oxygen
Extensive fieldwork conducted by Progress Energy in accordance with agreed-upon study plans
developed collaboratively with stakeholders have confirmed that at certain times of the year
(mainly in summertime months) the outflows from the Tillery and Blewett Falls plants may not
meet current state water quality numeric standards for DO. The Project's precise contribution to
this variance from state standards is difficult to parse out from other coinciding factors, but
Project effects are primarily related to the formation of thermal stratification within the Project
reservoirs and subsequent flow releases from the plant during these periods of thermal
stratification. Stratification occurs more often and to a greater degree in the deeper, larger Lake
Tillery than in the shallower Blewett Falls Lake.
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Section 2 Project Description
Thermal stratification can result in the development of zones of low DO in the deeper areas of
the lake, including at the powerhouse intakes. Due to the shallow nature and smaller volume of
Blewett Falls Lake, the reduction in DO there occurs both less frequently and to a lesser degree
than at Lake Tillery. A number of technologies exist that have been shown to improve the DO
content of reservoir outflows. These technologies vary in complexity and cost. Progress Energy,
in consultation with the NCDWQ, has developed a comprehensive program of testing various
technologies, which will lead to implementation of the most cost-effective option for DO
enhancement. Progress Energy's DO enhancement plan commits to full compliance with North
Carolina state water quality standards for DO by December 2011. Progress Energy has
committed to being in compliance by no later, and possibly sooner, than that date.
Progress Energy's comprehensive DO Enhancement Program for meeting compliance with state
water quality standards for DO is described in Section 8 of this application. This program covers
the period from 2006 through 2011 and is based on undertaking a series of field-based
technology investigations followed by final design of the selected option and then installation
and startup. Progress Energy intends to implement, by December 2011 or sooner, the most cost-
effective technology at each development that ensures compliance with the state water quality
DO standards. Progress Energy proposes to complete field testing of options by December 2008
and to complete successful implementation at both developments by December 2011. The
results of field-based technology investigations conducted in 2005 and 2006 have been reported
to the NCDWQ (Progress Energy 2007).
Diadromous Fish Passage
Another issue related to continuing Project operations at the Tillery and Blewett Falls plants is
providing for the passage of diadromous fish, as envisioned in the federal and state agencies'
Restoration Plan for the Diadromous Fishes of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin (Restoration
Plan), dated March 2006. Progress Energy has worked closely with representatives of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources (SCDNR) in developing a Diadromous Fish Restoration Implementation Plan that
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Section 2 Project Description
would meet the overall goals of the agencies' Restoration Plan in a safe, timely, and cost-
effective manner. The species of focus in the resource agencies' plan are American shad and
American eel, both of which have robust populations in the lower Pee Dee River downstream of
the Project. Progress Energy has proposed a joint and cooperative effort to enhance the
populations of these species in the Pee Dee River.
The Restoration Implementation Plan proposed by Progress Energy (see Appendix C) establishes
specific actions and a timetable for passage of American shad and American eel to available and
suitable portions of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin. The Restoration Implementation Plan is
based on providing "trap and truck" passage for American shad at Blewett Falls for a specific
period of time to allow an assessment of the potential reproductive success of these fish and to
understand how restoration efforts affect the existing shad population. The Restoration
Implementation Plan also proposes to move American eel upstream of Blewett Falls Dam into
the drainage area below Tillery Dam via alift-ladder structure.
Progress Energy's plan provides a structured, incremental, and rational science-based approach
for making decisions about population enhancement efforts in the river basin above Blewett Falls
Dam. Diadromous fish passage is discussed further in Section 6 of this application.
Instream Flows
Instream flows and continuous releases at both the Tillery and Blewett Falls plants have been the
subject of intense and comprehensive study by stakeholders in the relicensing process.
Stakeholders worked cooperatively within the relicensing process to address this issue. Instream
Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) models of the river reach from Tillery Dam to the
headwaters of Blewett Falls Lake and the river reach below Blewett Falls Dam to U.S. Interstate
95 near Florence, South Carolina, were cooperatively and successfully developed within the
IFIM Subgroup of the Water Resource Working Group (Progress Energy 2004). In all, a total of
over 100 miles of river habitats were evaluated and modeled.
8

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Section 2 Project Description
Substantial increases to the current continuous release requirements will be implemented at each
development sufficient to meet or exceed relevant water quality standards. At Tillery, Progress
Energy proposes an 800 percent increase in the current minimum flow requirement from the
current 40 cfs to 330 cfs year-round, increasing to 725 cfs from April 1 to May 15 once
American shad are passed at Blewett Falls. The flow release mechanism is expected to be
through a surface water release via the trash sluice gate at Tillery Dam. Because of the size and
type of turbines at the Tillery Plant, neither of these release levels is able to be used to generate
electricity; therefore, hydroelectric generation and load-following capability at Tillery will be
significantly reduced under the new license. At the minimum flows proposed by Progress
Energy as contained herein and in the Project's Agreement-In-Principle (AIP) with stakeholders
groups, the resulting reduction in on-peak energy production will be about 8 percent at the
Tillery Plant. At Blewett Falls, Progress Energy has proposed a more than 10-fold increase in
the minimum flows from 150 cfs to 1,200 cfs as well as additional enhanced flows for fish
spawning during the spring months. The flow release mechanism is expected to be through the
six existing generating units. Overall, on-peak power at Blewett Falls would be reduced about
7.5 percent, with most of this power being shifted to lower value off-peak hours.
These proposed increases reflect both the greater benefit of aquatic resource enhancements that
can occur below Blewett Falls, and the relative importance of Blewett Falls compared to Tillery
in Progress Energy's generation mix. The specific levels of resource enhancements provided to
individual species by these enhancements in each reach are detailed in the FLA filed with FERC.
Cost:Benefit Analysis
Item 10(b) of the State of North Carolina's WQC Application form requests that applicants
provide a cost:benefit analysis of the Project showing why the Project is still necessary. The
Tillery and Blewett Falls facilities will continue to produce over 300,000,000 kWh of renewable,
clean non-C02 generating electrical energy. This is a significant benefit to the State of North
Carolina. As reported in its FLA submitted to FERC (see Exhibit D of the FLA), future busbar
Project electricity costs are estimated to be approximately $15/MWh which is less than the
projected future cost of other generation sources.
9
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Section 2 Project Description
' 2.3 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project Comprehensive Relicensing Agreement
In a parallel effort to the preparation of the FLA, Progress Energy has pursued a licensing
settlement agreement with involved stakeholders, known as the Comprehensive Settlement
I Agreement (CSA), which will be submitted to FERC in the context of proceedings for a new
license for the Project. As a first step in this process, an AIP was developed and signed by the
cooperating parties (Signatory Stakeholders3). The purpose of the AIP was to provide agood-
faith framework for the development of the CSA.
The AIP was prepared to arrive at a consensus agreement on the technical issues related to future
Project operations, as well as providing confirmation that the Signatory Stakeholders believed
that the key Project issues have been identified; studies have been conducted in accordance with
' agreed-upon Study Plans4; and appropriate protection, mitigation, and enhancement (PM&E)
measures have been developed to address the Project's effects on environmental resources.
It is acknowledged that the AIP is preliminary in nature and the fmal settlement agreement is
contingent upon the development of a CSA with contract language and proposed license
conditions that are agreeable to all signatories of the AIP, and further, that the resulting CSA will
' serve to define the specific terms, conditions, and recommendations that will be offered to FERC
by the signatory parties.
The AIP was si ed in October 2006. Since that time, these arties have been moving forward
:~ p
with the completion of a CSA that, as anticipated, reflects the principles identified and agreed
upon in the AIP. At this time, it is anticipated that the CSA will be completed and submitted to
FERC no later than June 1, 2007.
s Signatory Stakeholders are NCWRC, North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR), NCDWQ,
' SCDNR, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4 (USEPA), Montgomery County (North Carolina), Stanley County (North
Carolina), APGI, Fairway Shores Homeowners Association, Pee Dee River Coalition (PDRC), American Rivers
/ South Carolina Coastal Conservation League (AR/CCL), The Nature Conservancy, The Land Trust for Central
North Carolina, Carolina Forest Association, Jordan Timberlands, Inc., and APGI
a Dissolved oxygen studies are still underway at both Blewett Falls and Tillery in accordance with the 2007 Study
Plan entitled Investigation into Turbine Aeration Measures to Enhance Tailwaters Dissolved Oxygen
' Concentrations at the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Developments, Phase II: Turbine Venting,
Surface Mixer, and Compressed Air Injection Tests.
10
1

' Section 2 Project Description
Progress Energy anticipates filing the CSA with the NCDWQ upon final execution by the
' parties. This application for 401 Certification reflects the terms and conditions of the unexecuted
CSA. Progress Energy reserves the right to withdraw, amend, and re-file its application if the
1 CSA is not executed by substantially all the parties to the A1P.

~I

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11

Section 3
' Overview of Basinwide Water Quali
3.1 Existing Water Quality and Hydropower Operations
3.1.1 Basinwide Water Quality Issues
The overall quality of the waters of the Yadkin and Pee Dee watersheds is significantly
influenced by the basin's location in an area of central North Carolina that has and continues to
' experience considerable urban growth. This growing urban area extends from Charlotte to
Raleigh/Durham and is known as the Piedmont Crescent (Appalachian State University [ASU]
' 1999). In addition, the waters of the Pee Dee River in both North and South Carolina have
historically been managed and used for multiple uses including numerous municipal,
' agricultural, public, and industrial purposes including domestic and industrial water supply,
wastewater management, power generation, recreation, wildlife, and irrigation. There are 259
permitted .National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharges in the North
Carolina portion of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin as listed by the NCDWQ (2003). Within
' the entire Pee Dee River basin, the NCDWQ (2006) has listed various streams and stream
segments as being impaired due to fecal coliform levels, low DO, turbidity, nutrients, copper,
and fish consumption advisories due to elevated mercury, and impaired biological integrity from
various point and nonpoint sources. For various lakes, reservoirs and impounded areas,
' turbidity, chlorophyll a, and high pH were cited by the NCDWQ (2006) as reasons for
impairment. The primary sources of stream impairment in the basin were listed as urban
runoff/storm sewers, unknown sources (various point and nonpoint sources), agriculture/row
crop production, permitted wastewater sources, construction/land disturbance, and animal
' management/pasture (NCDWQ 2006).
' The NCDWQ has conducted contemporary assessments of water quality in the Yadkin-Pee Dee
River Basin (NCDWQ 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003). Basinwide water quality issues were
identified as increased nutrient enrichment, increased urbanization, instream sedimentation from
' nonpoint sources, instream impacts due to permitted municipal and industrial discharges, and DO
fluctuations due to "hydromodification". Turbidity was noted as regularly exceeding state water
' 12
1

Section 3 Overview of Basinwide Water
' quality standard for streams (50 NTU) throughout the basin. Fish kills and fish mortality related
to water quality problems were reported to be relatively low in the river basin. Elevated mercury
' levels have been measured in largemouth bass and bowfin collected throughout the basin which
has also been noted in other river basins in the southeastern U.S. (NCDWQ 2002). Atmospheric
mercury deposition and bioaccumulation through the aquatic food chain has been postulated as
the source of elevated mercury levels.
1
The tributaries that feed the mainstem Pee Dee River also influence the watershed's overall
' water quality characteristics and the water quality of the Project reservoirs and tailwaters.
Several NPDES permitted facilities and wastewater treatment plants are located within the
' watershed in the Project vicinity. These point sources discharge into the tributaries of the Pee
Dee River or the mainstem river itself. Several large tributaries (the Rocky and Uwharrie rivers),
' in addition to the mainstem Yadkin and Pee Dee rivers, contribute significantly to the inflow and
resulting water quality characteristics of Project waters.
3.1.2 Hydropower Operations in the Basin
Progress Energy operates its Project in coordination with flow releases delivered by the upstream
' 209 MW Yadkin Project owned by APGI. Progress Energy is required by its current FERC
license to provide continuous releases from its Tillery and Blewett Falls developments of no less
' than 40 and 150 cfs, respectively.
The current FERC license for the Project states that the operations of the Tillery and Blewett
Falls facilities and the upstream Yadkin Project should be "coordinated to the greatest extent
' compatible with the several and distinct purposes for which the two Projects are designed and
operated." APGI's Yadkin Project consists of four developments: High Rock, Tuckertown,
' Narrows (Badin), and Falls listed from the uppermost to lowermost development. In general, the
APGI Yadkin Project is currently operated to provide power during on-peak periods. There are
no requirements for continuous minimum flows at the APGI facilities. High Rock Lake, the
uppermost reservoir, is operated to provide seasonal storage; and Tuckertown, Falls, and
1 Narrows are normally operated in coordination with High Rock releases. However, the Narrows
13

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1
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Section 3 Overview of Basinwide Water Quality
and Tuckertown reservoirs have the ability to fluctuate water levels up to 3 feet or more, and
Falls is operated with a maximum daily fluctuation of 3 to 4 feet. High Rock Lake currently
serves as the primary water storage and flow regulation facility for the lower Yadkin-Pee Dee
River (APGI 2002).
Progress Energy operates its Tillery and Blewett Falls facilities in an integrated fashion. The
peaking operation at Tillery allows Progress Energy to provide electricity during periods of peak
demand when its customers need it most. In addition, because of its critical load-following and
control area functions, Tillery is often operated in Automatic Generation Control (AGC) mode to
adjust to rapid changes in system load, to enable local transfers of power between control areas,
and to provide reserve capacity. This type of operation can result in relatively rapid changes in
flow at Tillery that are then re-regulated at Blewett Falls. When average daily river flows at
Blewett Falls drop below about 7,000 cfs (55 percent of the time), Blewett Falls is operated as a
"block-loaded" facility, meaning that the units are either operated at best efficiency or are off.
Importantly, Blewett Falls acts to re-regulate discharges from Tillery, thereby reducing the
magnitude of flow fluctuations that would otherwise occur downstream of Blewett Falls. When
daily river flows at Blewett Falls exceed about 7,000 cfs, the station operates in ROR mode. The
maximum turbine hydraulic capacity at Tillery is about 18,000 cfs and at Blewett Falls is
9,200 cfs. This difference in hydraulic capacity is indicative of the importance of the peaking
and load-following capability of Tillery, and it also underscores the need for close coordination
of operation between the two developments for flow management purposes.
Progress Energy's operations are significantly affected by the operations and flow management
decisions at the upstream Yadkin Project. Flows to the Tillery plant are dependent upon releases
from APGI's Yadkin Project. In accordance with Article 29 of the current Yadkin license, the
Yadkin Project must be operated in a manner that allows Progress Energy to meet its continuous
flow requirements. Yadkin Project's seasonal operations are managed in accordance with a "rule
curve" that guides the operation of High Rock Lake.
A FERC Order Amending License issued in March 1968 (39 FPC 397) further requires the
Yadkin Project to maintain certain lake levels for recreation purposes at High Rock Lake. These
14

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Section 3 Overview of Basinwide Water Quality
operating guide curves provide descriptions of target generation amounts at specific drawdown
levels at the High Rock Lake. As drawdown level increases, the maximum allowable generation
decreases in an effort to maintain or increase water levels.
3.1.3 Future Hydropower Operations
The future operation of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project will reflect the agreements reached in
the CSA, which will in turn be incorporated into the specific license articles of the next FERC
license for the Project.
To develop the flow-related agreements contained in the CSA, stakeholders evaluated instream
flows related to their effects on aquatic habitat, recreation, water quality, water supply, and
power generation. The various instream flow interests were considered by stakeholders in the
development of a hydropower operations plan that all signatories believe represents a reasonable
balance of the interests in water management for the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project while
meeting or exceeding all relevant state water quality standards related to Project operations. The
current and future Project operations related to continuous releases and reservoir fluctuations are
summarized below in Table 1.
TABLE 1
EXISTING AND PROPOSED PROJECT OPERATIONS
Project O erations

Project Reservoir Minimum Continuous Flows'
(cfs Reservoir Fluctuations4
ft
Existin Pro osed Existin Pro osed
Lake Tille 40 330 / 725 225 1.5 / 2.5 / 5.06
Blewett Falls Lake 150 1,200 / 1,800 / 2,400 175 2.0 / 6.0 / 8.0
1 All proposed minimum releases are based upon Progress Energy receiving minimum average daily flows from
APGI of 1,000 cfs from June 1 to January 31; 1,500 cfs from May 16 to May 31; and 2,000 cfs from February 1
to May 15.
Z Lake Tillery minimum release is 330 cfs year-round except for a period of eight continuous weeks starting as
early as March 15, but no later than March 22, when the minimum release is 725 cfs for fish spawning.
3 Blewett Falls minimum continuous release is 1,200 cfs from June 1 to January 31; 2,400 cfs from February 1
through May 15; and 1,800 from May 15 through May 31.
4 All reservoir fluctuation limits are set as targets; maintenance of minimum flows has priority over lake
elevations.
15
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Section 3 Overview of Basinwide Water Quality
5 Maximum drawdown allowed under the current license. Actual fluctuations by voluntary action of Progress
Energy are 6 to 8 feet at Blewett and 4 feet at Tillery.
5 Lake Tillery fluctuation limits consist of 1.5-foot limit of fluctuation from April 15 to May 15 for largemouth
bass spawning, otherwise 1.5 feet on weekends and 2.5 feet on weekdays, except from December 15 to March 1
when the allowable fluctuation is 5 feet. A maintenance drawdown of 10 to 12 feet occurs once in five years.
~ Blewett Falls Lake will operate as a ROR facility when flows are greater than roughly 7,200 cfs. For flows
below 7,200 cfs, reservoir fluctuation limits consist of 2 feet during largemouth bass spawning season; 6 feet
year-round; and 8 feet when the dam flashboards are down.
16

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1
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1

t

Ci

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Section 4
Numeric Standards
The North Carolina water quality standards applicable to Project waters are based upon the best
designated usage classification (Table 2). These standards are outlined in the NCDWQ
"Redbook" for surface waters and wetlands under the North Carolina Administrative Code 15A
([NCAC] 02B.0200) (NCDWQ 2004). According to the standards, Class C waters "shall be
suitable for aquatic life propagation and maintenance of biological integrity (including fishing
and fish), wildlife, secondary recreation, agriculture and any other usage except for primary
recreation or as a source of water supply for drinking, culinary or food processing purposes."
TABLE 2
WATER QUALITY NUMERIC STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO PROJECT WATERSS
North Carolina Water Quali Standard
Parameter Class C Aquatic Life Class B Waters Class WS-IV and WS-V
Water Su ly

Temperature _<32°C and 52.8°C above natural
tem erature
Same as Class C
Same as Class C
Dissolved oxygen 5.0 mg/L daily average and 4.0 mg/L
instantaneous Same as Class C Same as Class C
H Between 6.0 to 9.0 units Same as Class C Same as Class C

Turbidity _<25 NTU for reservoirs and _<50
NTU for streams
Same as Class C
Same as Class C
Co er 7 /L Action Leve] Same as Class C Same as Class C
Chloride 230 m /L Action Level Same as Class C Same as Class C
Mercu <0.012 /L Same as Class C Same as Class C
Chloro h 11 a 540 /L Same as Class C Same as Class C
Total dissolved solids n/a n/a 5500 m /I,
Total hardness n/a n/a _<100 m /L
Sulfates n/a n/a _<250 m /L
Fecal coliform n/a 200/100 ml n/a
Water quality standards applicable to Class C waters also apply to Class B waters. Class B water
quality standards further apply to primary recreation, including frequent or organized swimming
(NCDWQ 2004). Water quality standards applicable to Class B waters include limitations on
allowable fecal coliform bacteria counts (Table 2).
s This is not an all inclusive list of all water quality standards that apply to Class B, C, or WS waters in North
Carolina. Refer to NCDWQ Redbook (NCDWQ 2004) for other standards.
17

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1

L~

1

1
Section 4 Numeric Standards
Class WS-IV and WS-V water quality standards apply to water bodies used for water supply for
domestic and industrial use and are suitable for all Class C uses. Lake Tillery has been classified
by the NCDWQ as drinking water supplies (Class WS-IV, B, CA) and suitable for primary and
secondary recreation uses, including fishing, wildlife, fish, aquatic life propagation and survival,
and agriculture (NCDWQ 2004). Blewett Falls Lake and the Pee Dee River reach from the
Tillery Dam to Blewett Falls Lake have also been classified by the NCDWQ as drinking water
supplies (Classes WS-IV and WS-V, B) and suitable for primary (Class B) and secondary
recreation uses (Class C) including fishing, wildlife, fish, aquatic life propagation and survival,
and agriculture. Both lakes were classified as fully supporting the classified uses in a 1998 to
1999 lake assessment conducted by the NCDWQ (NCDWQ 2000, 2002). The Pee Dee River
reach below the Blewett Falls Development to the North Carolina-South Carolina state line was
classified as Class C or suitable for secondary recreational uses.
Progress Energy has performed extensive water quality sampling and analysis to support Project
relicensing (Progress Energy 2003, 2005a, 2005b, 2006a [Figures A-1 and A-2, Appendix A],
and 2006b;). The results of these studies have been provided in Exhibit E3, Water Use and
Quality, of the FERC FLA (Progress Energy 2006c) and are summarized herein in Tables 3, 4,
and 5 (Progress Energy 2006c). These water quality studies were conducted during the period of
1999 to 2006 over a wide range of climatologic, hydrologic and plant operation conditions.
The concentrations and persistence of many of the water quality parameters measured by
Progress Energy at its Tillery and Blewett developments are affected and controlled by inflow
events and upstream discharges that are beyond the control of Progress Energy. For example,
turbidity levels in Blewett Falls Lake are highly dependent upon the turbidity level of flows from
the Rocky River.
Related to numeric water quality standards that are affected by actual Project operations, the
Project generally meets or exceeds state standards, except for seasonally-low DO concentrations
of Project outflows as measured in the tailwaters of each development. At this time, DO
concentrations can, at times, fall below North Carolina instantaneous and daily average water
quality standards during power plant generation periods in the summer to early autumn months
18
1

' Secrion 4 Numeric Standards
' (mainly June through early to mid-September). Progress Energy has commenced a
comprehensive program of investigating options that would fully meet state DO standards and
' has committed to successful implementation by December 2011.

t

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1
1
1
1
19
1

Section 4 Numeric Standards

t

t

TABLE 3
SAMPLE SIZE (1~ AND THE TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENT OF EXCEEDANCES
(IN PARENTHESIS) OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS MEASURED-DURING
THIS STUDY FOR THE APPLICABLE NORTH CAROLINA WATER QUALITY
STANDARDS AT THE TILLERY AND BLEWETT FALLS HYDROELECTRIC
PLANTS, 1999 TO 2004
Exceedances from North Carolina Water Quality Standards
2
Location
Lake Tillery Pee Dee River below
' Blewett Falls Pee Dee River below
Z
Tillery-Reach Lake Blewett Falls-Reach
TYB2, TYD2,

Station
TYF2, TYH2,
TY1B
TY12B BFB2, BFF2,
BF1B
and TYK2 and BFH2
Parameter
Temperature
Surface n = 180 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 1 (0.6%) 0 0 0 0
Dissolved oxygen
Surface
(<1 m depth) n = 180 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
<4.0 mg/L 0 3 (6.4%) 0 0 0
<5.0 m /L 1 (0.6% 6 (12.8% 1 (2.1% 0 5 (13.9%
pH
Surface
(<1 m depth) n = 180 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
< 6.0 units 0 0 0 0 0
> 9.0 units n= 95 0 0 5 (4.6%) 0

Bottom
< 6.0 units 0 N/A3 N/A3 0 N/A3
> 9.0 units 0 0
Turbidity
Surface n =180 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 6 (3.3%) 0 3 (6.2%) 11 (10.2%) 0
Bottom n= 95 N/A3 N/A3 n= 24 N/A3
9 (9.5% 19 (79%
Copper
Surface n = 108 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 0 0 4 (8.3%) 9 (8.3%) 3 (8.3%)
Bottom n= 96 N/A3 N/A3 n= 24 N/A3
1 (1.0% 2 (8.3% 4
Chloride
Surface n = 108 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 0 0 0 0 0
Bottom n= 96 N/A3 N/A3 n= 24 N/A'
0 0
20
I~

Section 4 Numeric Standards

~~
Lam'

Exceedances from North Carolina Water Quality Standards)
z Pee Dee River below Blewett Falls Pee Dee River below
Location Lake Tillery Tillery-Reach' Lake Blewett Falls-Reach2
TYB2, TYD2, BFB2, BFF2,
Station TYF2, TYH2, TY1B TY12B and BFH2 BF1B
and TYK2
Parameter
Mercury
Surface n = 108 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 0 0 0 0 0
Bottom n = 96 N/A3 N/A3 n = 24
13 (13.5%) 0
Total dissolved
solids n = 108 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
Surface 0 0 0 0 0
(<1 m depth)
n = 96 N/A3 N/A3 n = 24
Bottom 0 0
Total hardness
Surface n = 108 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 0 0 1 (2.1 %) 0 0
Bottom n= 96 N/A3 N/A3 n= 24 N/A3
0 0
Sulfate
Surface n = 108 n = 47 n = 48 n = 108 n = 36
(<1 m depth) 0 0 0 0 0
Bottom n= 96 N/A3 N/A3 n= 24 N/A3
0 0
Chlorophyll a
Photic zone n= 108 N/A3 N/A3 n= 108 N/A3
0 1 (0.9%)
Refer to Table 2 for the North Carolina water quality standard numeric value.
' 2 The years 2000, 2002, and 2004 were evaluated for Lake Tillery; 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004 were evaluated
for Stations TY1B and TY12B in Reach 1 of the Pee Dee River; 1999, 2001, and 2002 were evaluated for
Blewett Falls Lake and Reach 2 of the Pee Dee River.
' 3 N/A =Not applicable.
a Copper value for Station BFB2, bottom waters, December 2004, not included in this analysis due to suspected
sample contamination.
5 The laboratory ]ower reporting limit for mercury is 0.20 µg/L; therefore, no values that were less than the
reporting limit were included in this analysis. Only values that were greater than 0.20 µg/L were considered
exceedances from the North Carolina water quality standard.

21

t Section 4 Numeric Standards
' TABLE 4
ASSESSMENTS OF DAILY DO CONCENTRATIONS FROM MAY 1 TO
' NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AT STATIONS IN REACH 1 OF THE PEE DEE RIVER BELOW
THE TILLERY HYDROELECTRIC PLANT

f~
i
L
Reach 1 Station
North Carolina Water Quality Standard Variable TYCMl TYCM2 TYCM3 TYCM4
Dail ;avers a D0 (~.0 m 2
Number of da snot meetin standard 83 23 24 13
First da standard was not met June 3 June 10 June 15 June 18
Last da standard was not met Se 7 Au 13 Au 13 Se 1
Instantaneous D0 (4.0 m /L)
Number of da snot meetin standard 91 52 25 9
First da standard was not met June 1 Ma 23 June 14 Jul 13
Last da standard was not met Se 8 Se 8 Au 11 Au 11
Number of days either standard was not met 94 53 32 15
Number of days assessed 140 145 142 141
' The total number of days that one or both of the North Carolina water quality standards for daily average (5.0
mg/L) and instantaneous (4.0 mg/L) DO concentrations were not met.
2 The number of days assessed was the total number of days from May 1 to September 30 when DO
concentrations were recorded for at least half of the day.
TABLE 5
ASSESSMENTS OF DAILY DO CONCENTRATIONS FROM MAY 1 TO
NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AT STATIONS IN REACH 2 OF THE PEE DEE RIVER BELOW
THE BLEWETT FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PLANT
V
i
bl Reach Z Station
ar
a
e
North Carolina Water Quality Standard BFCMl BFCMIA BFCM2 BFCM3
.Dail avers a DO (~.O m /L
Number of da snot meetin standard 7 I 1 51 0
First day standard was not met June 14 3uly 30 May I S NA`
Last da standard was not met Se t 2 Se t 6 Se t 6 NA
Instantaneous D0 (4.O:m /L)
Number of da snot meetin standard 12 23 58 14
First da standard was not met Ma 31 Jul 30 Ma 15 June 6
Last da standard was not met Se t 6 Se t 6 Se t 7 Au 8
Number of days either standard was not met 12 23 62 14
Number of days assessed 141 63 150 147
' ' Station BFCMIA was added on July 29, 2004.
z NA =Not Applicable.
3 The total number of days that one or both of the North Carolina water quality standards for daily average (5.0
mg/L) and instantaneous (4.0 mg/L) DO concentrations were not met.
4 The number of days assessed was the total number of days from May 1 to September 30 when DO
concentrations were recorded for at least half of the day.

22

Section 5
Designated Uses
' Lake Tillery has been classified as suitable for water supplies (Class WS-IV, B, CA) and is also
suitable for primary and secondary recreation uses, including fishing, wildlife, fish, aquatic life
propagation and survival, and agriculture (NCDWQ 2006a). Blewett Falls Lake and the Pee Dee
River reach from the Tillery Dam to Blewett Falls Lake are classified by the NCDWQ as
' available for water supplies (Classes WS-IV and WS-V, B) and for primary (Class B) and
secondary recreation uses (including fishing), wildlife, fish, aquatic life propagation and
survival, and agriculture. Both Project reservoirs were classified as fully .supporting the
designated uses in a 1998 to 1999 assessment conducted by the NCDWQ (NCDWQ 2000 and
2002). The Pee Dee River reach below the Blewett Falls Development to the North Carolina-
South Carolina state line are classified as Class C.
The NCDW lists im aired water bodies that do not meet state-designated water quality use
Q P
classifications (NCDWQ 2006a). These impaired water bodies are identified by the NCDWQ
through a listing process pursuant to Section 303(d) of the CWA (NCDWQ 2006b).
There were two sections of the Pee Dee River in the vicinity of the Project that have been listed
by the NCDWQ as Section 303(d) waters (NCDWQ 2006b). The Pee Dee River from Tillery
Dam to its confluence with Turkey Top Creek was listed as impaired for aquatic life due to low
' DO concentrations (NCDWQ 2003, 2004, and 2006b [Figure A-l, Appendix A]). In addition,
the 6.3-mile segment of the Pee Dee River from Blewett Falls Dam to its confluence with
' Hitchcock Creek was also listed as impaired for aquatic life due to low DO concentrations
(NCDWQ 2006b [Figure A-2, Appendix A]). Releases from the Project and from municipal
point discharge sources were listed by the NCDWQ as potential sources of impairment.
The river segment below the Blewett Falls Dam was also listed as impaired for fish consumption
' due to a statewide fish consumption advisory for elevated mercury levels. This impairment is
based on a regional advisory for mercury which extends south and east of U.S. Interstate 85 to
the North Carolina coastline (NCDWQ 2003 and 2006b). The source of this impairment is not
related to Project operations.
23

t Section 5 Designated Uses
i As indicated previously, Progress Energy has embarked on a multi-year program of investigation
and implementation to address the occurrence of DO levels of Project discharges being at times
' below state water quality standards. Progress Energy has established a schedule to be in full
compliance by December 2011. Compliance with other designated uses is discussed in
' Sections 6 through 8 of this document.
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Section 6
Fisheries Resources, Aquatic Life, and Biological
Integrity
6.1 Reservoir Fisheries
Progress Energy has conducted numerous studies of the fisheries resources of both Lake Tillery
and Blewett Falls Lake as reported in the FLA submitted to FERC and appended (by CD) to this
application. These studies showed that the aquatic communities, including the fisheries in both
Project reservoirs are healthy and within expectation for Piedmont reservoirs considering their
biological productivity status.
New minimum flows being proposed for the Project to enhance tailwater aquatic habitat may
result, at times, in greater demands on the water stored in Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake,
especially during lower-flow summer and fall months. The proposed normal operating lake level
range is greater at Blewett Falls Lake than at Lake Tillery due to differences in the hydraulic
capacity of the Blewett Falls and Tillery plants and the lower active storage capacity at Blewett
Falls Lake. The proposed operating levels for each Project reflect, in part, the need to provide
adequate active storage to reliably provide the proposed increased minimum flows from the
Project. In accordance with the AIP with stakeholders, minimum flow requirements from the
Project will have priority over the proposed target lake levels under normal operations.
Progress Energy proposes to enhance largemouth bass spawning habitat in both reservoirs during
the April 15 to May 15 period during the next license term. Lake levels in both Project lakes will
not fluctuate more than 1.5 feet for Lake Tillery and 2 feet for Blewett Falls Lake between
April 15 to May 15. Progress Energy has in the past had a voluntary informal agreement with
the NCWRC to manage the Lake Tillery levels for largemouth bass spawning. Progress Energy
proposes to make this a formal term of the new license for Lake Tillery, as well as Blewett Falls
Lake. This lake level stabilization should also benefit other species, such as minnows, white
perch, sunfish species, crappie and catfish species, which may be spawning during this same
period. The greater range of lake stabilization at Blewett Falls Lake (2 feet) is necessary to
provide the storage needed to re-regulate flows from Tillery and the Rocky River in order to
25

Section 6 Fisheries Resources
maintain spring fish spawning flows in the river downstream of the Blewett Falls Development.
The proposed operating lake levels during other periods of the year are not expected to adversely
' affect the existing fish populations or their habitat in either lake, including the rare Carolina
redhorse population inhabiting Blewett Falls Lake. The range of future lake levels at each lake is
' within the range of fluctuation that has been experienced over the current license term, and both
lakes currently support healthy fish populations. Carolina redhorse adults and juveniles use the
reservoir for feeding and habitation, and likely utilize nearshore woody debris for protective
cover. While the proposed lake levels may temporarily expose shoreline woody debris during
daily fluctuations, there is considerable offshore submerged woody debris, including extensive
stump fields that this species can utilize during these shoreline exposure periods. Carolina
redhorse spawn in riverine habitats, most likely the Little River based on recent surveys;
therefore, the proposed operating lake levels will not affect this portion of the species life cycle.
Progress Energy and stakeholders used an operations simulation model created by Progress
' Energy's consultants to evaluate various scenarios of future operations and compare these
scenarios to current operations. This model, referred to as CHEOPSTM, is used to predict
impacts to generation, downstream flows, and lake levels under a range of hydrologic conditions
~' and operatin constraints. Usin CHEOPS, Pro ess Ener simulated both current o erations
g g ~' gY P
'ICI and potential future operations under the minimum flows and lake levels contained in the AIP
and as proposed in this 401 Application. The resulting effect on lake levels in Blewett Falls
~p Reservoir predicted to occur under fixture operations is depicted in Figure 2. This figure shows
` that little change is expected to occur.

~I'

26
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Section 6 Fisheries Resources
FIGURE 2
BLEWETT FALLS DEVELOPMENT - HEADPOND ELEVATION DURATION
CURVES
lao
179
178
177
m
A
C 176
Z
G
•C
:: 175
_N
{v
O
e 174
6
9
173
172
171
6.2 Instream Flows, Aquatic Life, and Biological Integrity
Progress Energy has approached instream flow enhancement on a Project-wide basis that takes a
comprehensive view of the Tillery and Blewett Falls developments as a single Project. The
intent of the instream flow study and subsequent flow recommendations is to arrive at an overall
balance between non-power and power resources while meeting all state water quality standards.
In order to achieve such a balance, Progress Energy reviewed resource agency management
goals focusing on priority management goals, species, and habitats. These goals were reviewed
and discussed extensively with stakeholders during the instream flow study scoping process in
order to establish instream flow priorities. Pee Dee River flow-related resource enhancement
objectives are discussed in detail in Section 1.3 of the instream flow study report of the FLA
(Appendix B) submitted to FERC. The first four study objectives relate to fish and aquatic
resources as summarized below.
27
170
0 % 10 % 20 % 30% 40% 50% 60% 70 % 80% 90% l00%
Exceedence
- ---i
' t Existing Blewett headpond -~- AIP Executed run 19JAN07

Section 6 Fisheries Resources
' 1. Enhance the existing flow regime, where necessary, to restore, enhance, and/or protect
aquatic life (native fishes and macroinvertebrates). Identify key species or habitat guilds
representing key species, and consider seasonal variability in habitat requirements and life
stage.
2. Enhance the existing flow regime, where necessary, to promote successful migration,
spawning, and rearing of diadromous fish species.
3. Enhance the existing flow regime, where necessary, to restore or protect rare fish and
mussel species including fish species (e.g., minnows and darters) that are known host
' species for rare mussels.
4. Ensure flows support priority resident fish management goals. Explore opportunities for
flow regimes that favor native over non-native fish species.
1 6.2.1 Tillery Dam
The current minimum flow requirement at Tillery Dam is 40 cfs. Progress Energy, consistent
with the AIP with stakeholders, is proposing to increase this base flow to a continuous release of
1 330 cfs. This 800 percent increase in the minimum continuous flow will provide a consistent
habitat improvement for all of the 11 priority aquatic resource species/guilds examined during
relicensing. Between Tillery Dam and the Rocky River, peaking and load-following discharges
from the Tillery Plant can cause relatively rapid changes from base flow to generation flows of
3,000, 7,800, and occasionally 12,500 cfs or anywhere in between. Discharges up to 18,000 cfs
are possible, but it is very rare for this full-capacity flow to begin from base flow at power plant
start-up. The aquatic community below Tillery Dam is substantial but also somewhat depressed
by several biotic measures of macroinvertebrates and fish diversity. While it is not possible to
' parse out the various contributions of each of the likely causes for these depressed levels
(tributary water quality, peaking flows, seasonally depressed DO, abundance of non-native
species) certainly DO levels and the current base flows affect the resources below Tillery Dam to
a degree.
1 There are, however, also benefits associated with the existing base flows below Tillery Dam.
The first 0.5 miles of river downstream of Tillery Dam is a broad, shallow, rocky channel with
28

' Section 6 Fisheries Resources
i pockets of emergent vegetation and a diverse mixture of substrates. This habitat is used
extensively by wading birds, most notably great blue heron and great egrets to feed on fish,
invertebrate, or amphibians in this shallow reach. The great blue herons have established a
nesting colony and heronry in the adjacent west shore bottomlands in the immediate tailwaters
with 45 active nests counted during a survey in 2002. An active bald eagle nest is also in the
same vicinity. Non-wading, fish eating birds, such as cormorants, also use this area to feed. As
many as 629 birds have been counted in this area actively feeding. Observations in 2001 and
2002 indicate this use by wading birds decreased when tailwater levels rise and shallow
' wading/feeding sites become flooded. At some minimum flow level above what is being
proposed by Progress Energy, these avian resources are likely to be impacted by the loss or
' reduction of these feeding grounds.
One of the most effective ways to reduce peaking effects on the aquatic community, while still
maintaining peaking operations, is to increase the minimum base flow. Increased base flows act
as a hydraulic buffer against higher generation flows and also allow an enhanced aquatic
community to develop by increasing both the quantity and quality of base flow wetted habitat.
' Progress Energy proposes to increase the existing minimum flow year-round, with higher flows
during the spring fish spawning season. While it is very difficult to ascertain whether DO
' improvements or flow enhancements will make the most improvement under field conditions,
enhancing both of these parameters is reasonably assured to improve the aquatic community in
' the approximate five-mile subreach below Tillery Dam upstream of the Rocky River
confluence.6
' The Rocky River, which joins the Pee Dee River 5.4 miles below Tillery Dam, has a pronounced
' negative effect on the character of the river in terms of both hydrology, water quality, and
subsequently the health and structure of the aquatic community. The Rocky River can be a very
flashy stream due to urban runoff from storm-related precipitation events; however, this tributary
can increase Tillery Dam base flows by adding between 150 to 1,200 cfs (based on monthly
6 Because the degree of impact to native fauna in the reach of the Pee Dee River below Tillery Dam due to the
abundance ofnon-native fish, primarily predator species, is not able to be known, the certainty of improvement
to native fauna is difficult to guarantee.
29
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' Section 6 Fisheries Resources
' median flow). This contribution is greatest during the wetter half of the year (December through
May), but most of the time it will at least double the base flow.
The IFIM habitat analyses documented this flow enhancement, which for some species,
' particularly spawning life stages, is very evident. However, this flow enhancement has a water
quality cost associated with it. The Rocky River drains the greater suburban Charlotte, North
' Carolina and carries a very high sediment and nutrient load, as well as other constituents. Six
miles downstream another tributary, Brown Creek, drains agricultural lands, which further
compounds the sediment and nutrient load in Subreaches 1 and 2'. Brown Creek has also been
documented to have low DO concentrations, on occasion, during the summer months. These
tributary-driven water quality changes are .reflected in the health and structure of the aquatic
community in a large portion of the river downstream of the Tillery Development, from the
' Rocky River confluence to downstream of N.C. Highway 109. Notwithstanding the increased
base flow below the Rocky River and the only segment of high-quality rocky shoal island habitat
(i.e., Leak and Buzzard islands complex) in this 19-mile river reach, the aquatic community
currently does not improve substantially until the very lower portion of this river reach near and
' below the Little River.
' While the increases in base flow and water quality enhancements is predicted to improve the
aquatic community below Tillery Dam, it is questionable how much additional enhancement
could be achieved with even greater base flows given there are flow tradeoffs depending upon
the examined species, guild, and life stage. The IFIM model completed for the relicensing
predicts further enhancement with increasing base flows for some species and guilds, however,
others will decline as flows increase.
To understand in a general sense the magnitude of habitat enhancement provided by the increase
in base flow, the IFIM discharge versus habitat relationships for key species lifestages and guilds
were examined for changes in habitat with the increase in base flow in the immediate tailwaters
below Tillery Dam. The tailwaters were examined because they represent the worse case
'For specific locations of designated Reaches and Subreaches as used in the IFIM study, please refer to the FLA
Appendix B.
30

Section 6 Fisheries Resources
' scenario because the immediate tailwater area lacks the benefit of downstream attenuation and
accretion flows added to the base flow. Progress Energy is proposing a change from the existing
base flow of approximately 70 cfs8 to 330 cfs year-round, or 725 cfs for eight weeks of the
American shad spawning season. Key habitat enhancements are listed below:
^ Habitat improvement for American shad spawning resulting from the minimum flow
increase to the 725 cfs spawning season flow is approximately 550 percent when compared
to the existing baseline condition, and about 50 percent of the maximum attainable habitat
' at any flow.
^ Improvements in total habitat for both adult and juvenile Carolina redhorse are
approximately double the existing baseline (100 percent) in all months except April and
May when spawning minimum flows proposed by Progress Energy will increase habitat by
' 250 percent (75 percent of maximum attainable) over current conditions.
^ Total benthic macroinvertebrate habitat showed an increase of approximately 50 percent
when compared against the existing condition in all months except April and May when
spawning minimum flows under the settlement will increase habitat by about 150 percent
' (85 percent of maximum attainable) over current conditions.
^ Within the shallow-fast-medium-velocity guild, habitat increased approximately
' 150 percent (50 percent of maximum attainable) from existing baseline condition, with the
larger gains during the spawning season months of April and May of approximately
' 500 percent, which is at the maximum attainable level for this guild.
^ Total habitat comparisons show little difference between the existing condition settlement
' minimum flows for the shallow slow woody debris habitat which is about at maximum
attainable habitat at both flows
' ^ Habitat for the deep-slow-with-cover guild shows an approximate doubling from existing
base flows to Progress Energy's proposed base flows (about 70 percent of maximum
attainable), except for the spring spawning period when this habitat guild is very close to
the maximum attainable value at any flow.

' s The current increase requires a minimum flow of 40 cfs. Based on measurements by the USGS, the actual
minimum flow released by Progress Energy is approximately 70 cfs.
31

Section 6 Fisheries Resources

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Furthermore, because of the water quality issues of the Rocky River, flow enhancements from
Tillery Dam may only benefit the aquatic resources in the first five miles of river below the dam.
Even if the Rocky River's water quality issues are addressed, the lower 10 miles of this reach is
dominated by uniform glide habitat which incrementally gains minimal habitat with any
additional flow inputs.
The deep, open-water fish community in the entire 19-mile river reach below Tillery Dam was
found to be dominated by gizzard shad, threadfin, smallmouth buffalo, common carp, and blue
catfish based on boat electrofishing conducted during the relicensing studies. Many of these
species are non-native to the river basin and compete for both space and food resources with the
existing native species and also include some highly predatory species such as flathead catfish.
In particular, smallmouth buffalo, anon-native omnivorous feeding and habitat generalist
species, was very prevalent throughout this river reach. Some spatial differences were noted in
fish distribution with common carp and catfish species (i.e., blue catfish, channel catfish, and
flathead catfish) generally more abundant at transects located below the Rocky River confluence
(Progress Energy 2003). The river reach does have an existing mussel population which
includes some rare species on the state and federal resource lists. The proposed minimum flows
provide sufficient flows to protect and enhance these mussel species, as well other aquatic
macroinvertebrates, especially in the first 5 miles of river below Tillery Dam.
When Progress Energy considered the limited biological enhancement opportunities below the
Tillery Plant and the much higher, even critical, value of the electrical generation resources at the
Tillery Plant, the proposed increase in the minimum flows results in a reasonable balance
between power and non-power resources while meeting state water quality standards for aquatic
life propagation and biological integrity, to the extent these factors are influenced by the Project.
Additionally, the Blewett Falls Plant can be used to economically re-regulate upstream peaking
generation flows. These re-regulated flows at the Blewett Falls Plant will substantially benefit
100 miles or more of river downstream which contain significant aquatic resources including
many rare species, compared to only 19 miles of enhancement within the river reach below
Tillery Dam.
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' Section 6 Fisheries Resources
' 6.2.2 Blewett Falls Dam
Studies completed for relicensing thoroughly documented that the Pee Dee River below Blewett
Falls Dam currently supports a healthy, viable, and diverse aquatic community, including the
following specific aspects:
' ^ Reproducing populations of native rare fish species including:
- Robust redhorse
- Carolina redhorse
- Shortnose sturgeon
- Atlantic sturgeon
- Highfm carpsucker
' - Thinlip chub
^ Large and robust populations of diadromous fish species including:
- American shad
- American eel
' - Blueback herring
^ Diverse assemblage of native mussel and other aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna, including
' 16 rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE)-listed mussel species
' Progress Energy's proposal for the future operation of the Blewett Falls Development includes
measures designed to protect and enhance these valuable and biologically diverse downstream
aquatic resources to assure that they persist .and flourish into the future. To accomplish this
objective, Progress Energy is proposing significant minimum base flow enhancement below
' Blewett Falls for both non-spawning season minimum instantaneous flow (from 200 to 1,200 cfs
from June 1 to January 31), and spawning season minimum instantaneous flow (from 200 to
1 2,400 cfs from February 1 to May 15 and 1,800 cfs from May 16 to May 31). In addition,
Progress Energy has proposed to provide flow adjustment periods in an effort to further enhance
' conditions for fish spawning.
33
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Section 6

1

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u
Fisheries Resources
The IFIM model completed for relicensing predicts enhancement with increasing base instream
flows for the Pee Dee River downstream of the Blewett Falls Dam for several species and guilds.
To understand in a general sense the magnitude of habitat enhancement provided by the increase
in base flow, the IFIM discharge versus habitat relationships for key species lifestages and guilds
were examined in the immediate tailwaters below Blewett Falls Dam for changes in habitat with
the increase in base flow. The tailwaters were examined because they represent the worse case
scenario without the benefit of downstream attenuation and accretion flows added to the base
flow. Key habitat enhancements under this proposed new base flow regime are listed below.
^ Habitat improvement opportunities for robust redhorse spawning habitat is limited during
spring because river flows are generally already at or above generating capacity. However,
under low-flow conditions, the model predicts that increasing minimum flows from 200 to
2,400 cfs during spawning season will provide up to 1,000 percent (10 times) more robust
redhorse spawning habitat (about 90 percent of maximum attainable habitat at any flows)
than existing base flow conditions.
^ Habitat improvement opportunities for sturgeon spawning and incubation is once again
limited during spring because river flows are generally already at or above generating
capacity. Under infrequent low-flow conditions, the model predicts the Progress Energy
proposed minimum flows will provide sturgeon spawning habitat in the Blewett tailwater
at a level approximately 25 percent of maximum habitat modeled, where virtually none is
available under existing conditions.
^ Habitat improvement under the settlement base flows for striped bass spawning,
incubation, and larvae during dry years will enhance habitat availability over the existing
base flow condition, which is negligible, to perhaps 10 percent of maximum modeled
habitat. Striped bass spawning, incubation, and larvae habitat continues to increase
steadily throughout the modeled flow range (up to 16,000 cfs).
^ The IFIM analysis for American shad spawning habitat suggests that during dry years, the
proposed minimum base flow will increase habitat availability by at least a factor of 10 to
20 times over existing base flow conditions close to Blewett Falls Dam from negligible
habitat to approximately 75 percent of maximum attainable habitat at any flow.
34
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Section 6 Fisheries Resources
' ^ Habitat improvement for the Carolina redhorse adult and juvenile show that for minimum
flow periods outside of spawning season, habitat availability will increase by
approximately SO percent, and an additiona150 to 100 percent during spawning season.
^ Habitat improvements for the entire benthic macroinvertebrate community show
substantial gains in habitat under the non-spawning season minimum flow scenario with an
approximate 50 percent increase in habitat that is essentially at the peak habitat availability
' of any flow modeled. At spawning season, base flows habitat drops off from the peak
value by about 10 to 15 percent.
' ^ Habitat improvement for the shallow-fast habitat guilds show substantial improvement to
near optimal habitat conditions during the proposed non-spawning season minimum flow.
This habitat drops off slightly during the higher spawning season minimum flow periods.
^ Habitat for the shallow slow woody debris habitat guild begins to decline with almost any
increase in discharge. This rapid loss of habitat occurs because the filling of the river
channel quickly floods and/or increases the water velocity over much of the mid-channel
shallow-slow habitat. Once the channel is filled, this habitat remains principally along the
.river bank margins. The rapid loss of mid-channel shallow slow habitat as the channel
floods is not of any great consequence to aquatic resources since this is an artificially high
amount of habitat with no real benefit of such a surplus to aquatic resources. Following
' the habitat loss at low flows, availability of shallow slow habitat remains essentially
constant.
' ^ Habitat for the deep-slow-with-cover habitat guild show distinctly different patterns of
deep slow habitat response to discharge, depending on location and river channel
morphology. At the upper end of Reach 2, just below Blewett Falls Dam, deep slow cover
habitat is abundant at the existing minimum flow, peaks at the proposed minimum flow of
1,200 cfs, then declines to habitat levels nearly equal to the existing base flow at spawning
season minimum flows of 2,400 cfs. This pattern is likely due to mid-channel deep-slow-
cover habitat increasing with discharge at first as depth increases and then decreasing as
mid channel velocity increases, and fmally leveling off at levels representing shoreline
habitat availability.
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Section 6 Fisheries Resources
As discussed above, minimum flows below the Blewett Falls Dam will be substantially increased
in the next license term under Progress Energy's proposal. This increased minimum flow will
benefit the aquatic community by keeping more of the river channel wet on a continuous basis.
It will allow mussels and other non-mobile macroinvertebrates to colonize the additional wetted
area thereby increasing biological productivity by providing more permanently wetted habitat
overall. Also as discussed in detail above, the quality of that base flow habitat will increase,
taking on more riverine hydraulic characteristics. During spawning season, increased minimum
flows will keep more spawning habitat functional and viable during dry spring periods when
flow is below run-of--river levels and block-load generation pulses are common.
Related to species listed pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act, the Shortnose sturgeon
(Aci penser brevirostf-um) will benefit from the increased minimum flows, especially during the
spawning season higher minimum releases that will occur from February 1 to May 31. These
higher minimum flows will also reduce flow fluctuations, especially downstream in the areas of
known Shortnose sturgeon spawning activity.
Item 10(a) of the State of North Carolina's WQC Application form requests that applicants
provide an assessment of 7Q10 flows. The current 7Q10 flow at the USGS gage at Rockingham
located just below the Blewett Falls development is 760 cfs.
The current 7Q10 flow at Tillery Dam, based on the historic record of outflows at the dam and
adjusting these flows upward to account for a continuous, full time release of 70 cfs in addition
to turbine and spillway flows, is 294 cfs.
The proposed future continuous release at Blewett Falls is 1,200 cfs and at Tillery, 330 cfs.
' 6.3 Fish Passage
1
1
Progress Energy continues to work with state and federal natural resource agencies in order to
reach agreement upon all aspects of fisheries restoration envisioned in The Restoration Plan for
the Diadromous Fishes of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin, North Carolina and South Carolina,
36

1 Section 6 Fisheries Resources
February 2006 (Restoration Plan). The Restoration Plan was prepared by the cooperating
federal (USFWS and NMFS) and state (NCWRC and SCDNR) resource agencies to set a
' framework for restoration of diadromous fish species to available and suitable portions of their
historical range in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin in order to improve abundance of identified
species (USFWS et al. 2006).
' The Restoration Implementation Plan, developed by Progress Energy, is based around the
concept of providing "trap-and-truck" passage for American shad at Blewett Falls for a period of
' time, to allow an assessment of the potential reproductive success of these fish, and to evaluate
how restoration efforts may affect the existing shad population. This concept provides a
' structured, incremental, and rational science-based approach to decision making about
restoration efforts in the river basin. The trap, sort, and truck operation is scheduled to begin
' operation in 2013 or the fifth year after the effective date of the new FERC license, if license
issuance is delayed beyond 2008.
Trap-and-truck passage will allow spawning adult American shad to be moved to areas of
potentially suitable spawning habitat above the Blewett Falls, Tillery, and High Rock dams. Fish
would be moved to each of these areas for three consecutive years to allow assessment of the
potential "success" of spawning and young-of--year rearing in each of these three river reaches.
' Upstream passage for American shad would be provided at Blewett Falls until 2025, when a
complete assessment would be made by the resource agencies and Progress Energy of the
' restoration/passage efforts and a determination of the need for fish passage measures required at
the Project would be made at that time.
The proposed upstream shad passage facility is designed as a fish trap, with ability to transfer
fish to trucks for safe transport to the designated reaches. The fish trap proposed is flexibly
designed so as to allow the biologists to adjust the location and other characteristics (orientation,
' attraction flow, etc.) so as to "optimize" the ability of the fish trap to attract and capture adult
shad.
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1 Section 6 Fisheries Resources

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Interim target numbers of American shad to be moved per year (prior to 2025) will likely be in
the 17,000 to 37,000 range. This number is also likely to be lower once actual field-based
assessment studies have been performed by resource agencies.
The fish trap proposed by Progress Energy is estimated to be able to move significantly more
than 37,000 adult shad each season:
Downstream passage for American shad would also be provided at Blewett Falls unti12025. The
downstream passage facility is designed to allow recapture and counting of out-migrating
juvenile shad. Downstream passage of juvenile shad at the other dams will be via turbine
passage, which based on earlier desktop entrainment studies, is expected to result in very high
survival rates. Studies of American shad spawning and juvenile outmigration done during the
period 2013 to 2025 will increase the understanding of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River shad
population including young-of--year recruitment in the identified river reaches, how best to
protect the overall resource, and enhance it.
Upstream passage for American eel would be provided at Blewett Falls unti12025 at which point
the program would be assessed. The upstream passage facility for juvenile American eel is an
eel lift system that has been demonstrated to be effective at other dams. Recommendations on
the exact placement of the lift will be made after a review of the results of a three-year study on
elver migration movements in the vicinity of the dam. These studies will be completed by 2011.
Operation of the eel lift structure will begin in 2013 or the fifth year after the date of the effective
date of a new FERC license, if license issuance is delayed beyond 2008.
How to provide effective downstream passage for outmigrating adult eels is a question that is
still being investigated by industry and fisheries researchers. No downstream passage for adult
eels will be required at the Project dams until more is learned about effective passage techniques
for this species.
38

Section 7
t Wetland and Terrestrial Resources
As a result of the consultation efforts undertaken by Progress Energy, several potential changes
in Project operations (i.e., reservoir levels) were identified that could, theoretically, affect
botanical and wildlife resources. Based on studies conducted by Progress Energy, the actual
changes in operations and their resource effects are as follows:
Lake Tillery
The current license allows for unrestricted drawdowns up to 22 feet below the normal full pond
elevation of 277.3 feet at Lake Tillery. The most recent practice by Progress Energy has been to
voluntarily limit daily fluctuations due to normal operations to less than 4 feet, and make
reasonable efforts to limit daily fluctuations to less than 2 feet during the recreation season.
Drawdowns for periodic dam gate and power plant maintenance and inspections are up to 10 to
' 12 feet.
Progress Energy is proposing headpond level targets that will result in a significant reduction in
headpond fluctuation limits. This limitation subsequently creates an improvement to existing
wildlife and botanical resources by limiting the allowable extent of the fluctuations when
compared to the current FERC license.
Under the Progress Energy proposal, Project effects on botanical and wildlife resources will be
similar to those under the current Project operations. Generally, the existing wetland
communities will continue to be in a state of equilibrium with the operational regime in
association with the inundation duration, magnitude, frequency, and seasonal timing. With the
new range of water levels, the hydrology of the adjacent wetlands will not be adversely affected.
The species richness and diversity of all the wetland types in Lake Tillery will continue to reflect
natural community expectations for this area and region, including the numerous water willow
beds in the lake.
39

Section 7 Wetland and Terrestrial Resources
The proposed minimum flow levels represent an important balance as they will protect and
preserve the existing blue heron nesting rookery located immediately downstream of the Tillery
Plant while protecting and enhancing other aquatic life.
Blewett Falls Lake
Although the existing FERC license permits drawdowns of up to 17 feet at Blewett Falls Lake,
the usual daily reservoir fluctuation is 1 to 3 feet when the plant is not operating in arun-of--river
mode (55 percent of the time).
' Progress Energy proposes headpond level targets at Blewett Falls Lake that under the new
license will provide: (1) a year-round fluctuation limit up to 6 feet between 171.2 and 177.2 feet,
except for system emergencies and the low inflow protocol (LIP) periods; (2) a fluctuation limit
of up to 8 feet (between 169.2 and 177.2 feet) when the flashboards are down; and (3) a
fluctuation from April 15 to May 15 that will be limited to 2 feet to facilitate largemouth bass
spawning. This reduction in headpond fluctuation limits creates an improvement to existing
wildlife and botanical resources by limiting the allowable extent of the fluctuations when
compared to that permitted under the current FERC license.
Table 6 below compares the effects of the current operations and the proposed future operations
on headpond fluctuations in the Blewett Falls reservoir.

40
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Section 7 Wetland and Terrestrial Resources
Table 6
Reservoir Fluctuations
Percent of Time
Reservoir Elevation Existing Operations Future Operations
of time % to time
>176.2 ft 45 50
. 175.2 - 176.2 33 31
1-foot fluctuation
174.2 - 175.1 8 5
2-foot fluctuation
175.2 - 174.1 8 10
(3-foot fluctuation
' Run-of--river operation commences at a flow of roughly 7,200 cfs. Progress Energy
normally operates the reservoir at about 0.5 feet to 1.0 feet below the top of
flashboards (177.2 feet) when in run-of--river mode, and less than full plant capacity
(about 9,200 cfs), in order to be able to absorb any rapid changes in flow without
overtopping.
Based on the table above, the Project effects on botanical and wildlife resources will be similar
to the current operational effects. The existing wetland communities associated with Blewett
Falls Lake, especially the Grassy Islands natural areas, will continue to be in a state of
equilibrium with the operational regime in association with the inundation duration, magnitude,
frequency, and seasonal timing. The range of water levels (i.e., directly related to Project
t operations) in Blewett Falls Lake will be such that the .hydrology for the adjacent wetlands is
usually not affected for more than a portion of a day. The daily water level fluctuation during
the growing season (i.e., May to October) and throughout the rest of the year will normally be
within a range of 1 to 3 feet. There will neither be excessive nor insufficient lake levels to
greatly impact the structure, composition, or function of the wetland communities as a whole.
Generally, impacts to wildlife species during the normal daily operations are not significant.
Wildlife species, especially nesting waterfowl and reptile and amphibian species, will benefit
from the stabilization of lake levels in association with the largemouth bass spawning period.

41
1

I
Section 8
' Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other
Stream Habitat Protection Measures
8.1 Instream Flows
Progress Energy is providing a comprehensive approach of modifying the existing operating
r conditions by providing a suite of Instream flow and water quality improvement measures. At
the Tillery Dam, Progress Energy proposes to increase the minimum Instream flows eight fold
from the current 40 cfs (required by the current FERC license) to 330 cfs year-round, except
from April 1 to May 15 when the minimum flows will be 725 cfs (once American shad are
passed at Blewett Falls).
At the Blewett Falls Dam, Progress Energy also proposes to significantly increase the current
minimum flows. Progress Energy proposes to increase the minimum Instream flows over 10 fold
' from the current 150 cfs (required by the current FERC license) to 1,200 cfs from June 1 to
January 31; 2,400 cfs from February 1 through May 15; and 1,800 from May 15 through May 31.

8.2 Dissolved Oxygen Enhancement Program
As a result of the studies performed for relicensing, Progress Energy has developed a DO
Enhancement Program for coming into compliance with state water quality standards for DO.
The schedule for this program covers the period from 2006 through 2011. Progress Energy
' intends to implement, by December 2011, the most cost-effective technology at each
development that ensures compliance with North Carolina water quality DO standards. Progress
Energy proposes to complete field testing of options by December 2008 and to complete
successful implementation at both developments by December 2011. The sequence for
implementing the DO enhancement program is presented below.
^ 2006
- Assemble DO Enhancement Team consisting of personnel with Progress Energy,
DTA, and subcontractors, as necessary
42

Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
- Continue DO continuous monitoring program (May through November9)
- Blewett Falls -Repeat and expand draft tube venting tests under controlled, no-spill
conditions (July to August)
- Blewett Falls -Conduct spillway channel DO enhancement spill tests (July to
August)
- Tillery -Investigate hub venting via the headcover and test draft tube venting options
(July to August)
- Issue progress report(s) to NCDWQ
^ 2007
- Continue DO continuous monitoring program (May through November)
- Test portable surface water mixers in the Blewett Falls forebay with and without
turbine venting
- Test prototype minimum flow scenario under proposed future operations at Blewett
Falls with and without turbine venting and with and without surface mixers
- Test portable surface mixers at Tillery
- Test compressed air injection at Tillery
- Test prototype minimum flow scenario at Tillery
- Issue report in February 2008
' ^ 2008
- Continue DO continuous monitoring program (May through November)
= Conduct final DO enhancement prototype testing of preferred option at Blewett
Select DO enhancement preferred technology at Blewett and prepare detailed design
- including integration with minimum flow delivery
Field test final technology option(s) at Tillery
' - Determine permanent locations for DO compliance monitoring with approval by
NCDWQ
= Select and purchase permanent DO monitoring equipment
Issue progress report(s) to NCDWQ
9 In discussions with the NCDWQ during November 2006, Progress Energy proposed the DO monitoring season
from May through October based on field studies conducted from 2004 to 2006. The understanding was that
monitoring would continue in November if stratification persisted in Project reservoirs and DO concentrations
remained below the state water quality standards as of October 31 of each year. The NCDWQ verbally
approved this monitoring approach during the meeting.
43
1

t
Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
^ 2009
- Continue DO continuous monitoring program (May through November)
- Complete final design of DO enhancement plans for Blewett Falls and Tillery and
submit to NCDWQ and FERC for approval
- Install and test permanent continuous DO monitoring equipment
- Issue progress report(s) to NCDWQ, as necessary
^ 2010
- Continue DO continuous monitoring program (May through November), as
necessary
- Install permanent DO monitoring equipment (January to March)
- Adjust Tillery DO enhancement measures by May, if necessary
- Receive NCDWQ and FERC approval
1 - Install permanent DO enhancement equipment at Blewett Falls
- Issue report(s) to NCDWQ
' ^ 2011
- Install permanent DO enhancement equipment/facilities at Tillery
- Document implementation, DO enhancement achieved, maintenance, and
compliance monitoring of DO enhancements at both Tillery and Blewett Falls in a
final DO Compliance Implementation Report to FERC and NCDWQ
During turbine venting performed in 2006, Tillery Units 1, 2, and 3 did not draw sufficient
airflow through mechanically-induced aspiration to show any substantial DO improvement in the
tailwater. However, turbine venting at Tillery Unit 4 showed a significant increase in
downstream DO concentrations, exceeding the state DO standard of 5 mg/L. The reason for the
' difference from unit to unit regarding DO uptake during venting is due in part to the varying
mechanical designs of the four units at Tillery. The investigations of intentional draft tube
1 venting during unit operations at the six Blewett Falls units showed an increase in downstream
DO concentrations sufficient to fully meet state DO standards during all test periods.
The DO enhancement study at the Tillery and Blewett Falls developments in 2007 will focus on
compressed air injection into Tillery Units 1 through 3 and the feasibility of using portable
1 44
1

t
Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
surface water pumps (mixers) at the intake forebays at both Tillery and Blewett Falls. The
purpose of the mixers is to attempt to destratify the water column in the forebay immediately
r adjacent to the intake structure to increase the amount of highly-oxygenated surface water drawn
into each unit's penstock. An additional objective is to evaluate proposed minimum flow
releases on the DO regime in the tailwaters at both developments. At Tillery, the bottom-drop
sluice gate at the Tillery Dam will be operated at two different gate settings to measure the
resulting DO concentrations in the tailwater over a 24- to 48-hour period. At Blewett Falls, one
generating unit will be run over 24- to 48-hour period with and without venting to evaluate the
resulting DO concentrations in the tailwater under minimum release conditions.
As part of the DO Enhancement Program and continuous DO compliance monitoring in the next
license term, Progress Energy prepared a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) at the request
of the NCDWQ for the Blewett and Tillery developments. The QAPP provides the quality
assurance/quality control framework to ensure the collected DO data during the enhancement
studies and compliance monitoring period are accurate, verifiable, repeatable, and defensible
from a technical viewpoint. The current draft QAPP incorporates comments from NCDWQ
received on February 15 and March 17, 2006 and is presented in Appendix B of this application
for final review and approval by the NCDWQ.
8.3 Biolo ical Monitorin of Till
g g ery Tailwaters
Progress Energy proposes to conduct a biological monitoring program in the five-mile reach of
the Pee Dee River from Tillery Dam to the Rocky River confluence following issuance of the
401 Certification and FERC license. Benthic macroinvertebrates have been chosen as the
representative aquatic group to monitor the overall biological integrity of the aquatic community
in this tailwaters reach. Benthic macroinvertebrates are good biological indicators of water
quality changes and can be easily sampled under the exf-ected minimum flow conditions. The
objective of this monitoring program is to evaluate the response of the benthic macroinvertebrate
community to the proposed minimum flow and DO enhancements for the Tillery Plant within
this reach during the next license term. A written biological monitoring study plan will be filed
1 45

Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
with the NCDWQ and FERC and will require final. approval by the NCDWQ prior to
implementation.
The monitoring program will follow the NCDWQ standard operating procedures (SOP) (or the
current NCDWQ approved SOP, if update or revised in future years) for benthic
macroinvertebrates using the standard qualitative method for Piedmont rivers (NCDWQ 2006c).
The parameters of interest to be evaluated are the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera
(EPT) index score, the Biotic Index (BI) score, and the resulting bioclassification rating. A
' bioclassification rating of "Good-Fair" will be used to determine if the flow and DO
improvements result in a concomitant improvement in the aquatic community. Progress
1 Energy's QAPP will be used as the quality controUquality assurance framework to ensure the
monitoring program produces data results that are accurate, verifiable, repeatable, and defensible
from a technical viewpoint. The filed QAPP will be approved by the NCDWQ prior to
implementation of this biological monitoring program and has been included as part of this 401
' Certification application (Appendix B). Water quality parameters (i.e., water temperature, DO,
pH, conductivity, and turbidity) will be measured at representative locations at each site during
each sampling event. In addition, the physical habitat will be assessed using the standard
NCDWQ habitat assessment procedure (NCDWQ 2006c).
Sampling is proposed to be conducted at two stations in the five-mile reach. One site (Transect
TZl) is located at the beginning of the five-mile reach and one site located near the end of this
reach (Transect TZ2). The upper site, Transect TZl, is shoal and shallow of the habitat located
approximately 1.0 to 1.5 miles below the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant (below N.C. Highway 731
Bridge) and includes transects used in the relicensing instream flow study. The lower sampling
1 site, Transect TZ2, is also shoal and shallow of the habitat located approximately 4.5 miles
downstream of the power plant and just above the Rocky River confluence. Both sampling sites
are similar in habitat characteristics, including channel width, and have reasonable, safe access
for sampling. Progress Energy and NCDWQ staff will conduct a joint field site visit to select the
specified sampling areas within these two sites prior to the first sampling event.
46
t

Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
The monitoring will be conducted during the summer period of each year (July to August).
Flows are typically more stable (accounting for the future minimum flow of 330 cfs) during this
1 period which allow for safe and effective sampling. All sampling events will be targeted within
a three-week window, if possible, to minimize any temporal variability in the assessments.
However, sampling within this three-week window is contingent upon safe and favorable field
conditions.
Sampling will be conducted in 2008 or 2009 to establish environmental conditions prior to the
proposed Project minimum flow and DO enhancements (pre-license operation conditions). The
actual date to collect the pre-license data will be determined by the FERC license issuance data
and when the minimum flow requirements are required to take effect at the Tillery Plant.
Sampling will then be conducted every three years thereafter until 2025 to evaluate the response
of the benthic macroinvertebrate community to the new minimum flow regime and DO
enhancements in the next license term (post-license operation conditions). A determination on
whether the biological criteria are met will be made in 2025 based on the monitoring data. If the
biological criteria are satisfied prior to the 2025 assessment date, the biological monitoring
program would be terminated at that time the criteria are satisfied, after the proper notification to
the NCDWQ and FERC.
' If the bioclassification score is near but not meeting the "Good-Fair" rating during the last
sampling event (e.g., high "Fair" rating), sampling will continue annually for another three years
to validate the obtained bioclassification rating or determine if a "Good-Fair" bioclassification
rating occurs during this three-year period. If a "Good-Fair" rating occurs in one of the three
years during this three-year period, then the biological criteria will be considered met. This
additional annual sampling will account for any short-term, uncontrollable variability in the
benthic macroinvertebrate community from climatic or other environmental effects that could
affect the bioclassification rating (e.g., flood event and associated channel scour). If a "Good-
Fair" bioclassification is not achieved in the river reach by 2025, Progress Energy, in cooperation
with the NCDWQ, NCWRC, and NCDWR, will re-evaluate management options to improve the
i aquatic community. Factors both within and outside the control of Progress Energy will be
considered in this evaluation.
1 47
1

t Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
8.4 Other Stream and Riparian Protection Measures
f In addition to the numeric standards outlined by North Carolina Water Quality Redbook
necessary to satisfy the Section 401 WQC standards, there are qualitative best use attainment
' standards that require waters be suitable for the maintenance of biological integrity, wildlife, and
secondary recreation. Progress Energy has proposed numerous measures to address both the
numeric standards of the regulations, and also the non-numeric, best-use portion of the water
quality standards. To further protect and preserve aquatic life, biological integrity and wildlife,
' Progress Energy is proposing to take the additional voluntary step of preserving certain riparian
lands within river reaches affected by the Project operations by fee simple donation to the state
of North Carolina or through restrictive covenants on Company-owned lands. We believe that
the stream and riparian land protection PM&E measures we are proposing for the relicensing
provide an exceptional degree of assurance to the state of North Carolina that water quality
standards will be met or exceeded by maintaining the diverse biological integrity and wildlife
' characteristics of a significant area of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River corridor.
Within five years of the issuance of the New License for the Project that is Final and Non-
Appealable, Progress Energy will donate to the state of North Carolina, through fee simple
transfer, various tracts of land it owns along the Pee Dee River below Blewett Falls Dam on both
the east and west river banks extending from Blewett Falls Dam to below the U.S. Highway 74
bridge and including lands adjacent .to the highly-valued river shoals located below U.S.
Highway 74. These lands also include the Gabbro Slopes Natural Area above U.S. Highway 74,
the Hitchcock Creek Natural Area, and associated valuable riparian and wetland complexes on
the east and west river banks. These lands to be donated have a total acreage of approximately
1,600 acres.
1 Progress Energy will also donate to the state of North Carolina, lands it presently owns along the
eastern bank of the Pee Dee River extending downstream from the N.C. Highway 731 bridge for
approximately four contiguous miles. These lands to be donated have a total acreage of
approximately 300 acres and will provide a protected corridor along the east shore of the Pee
Dee River.
48
1

Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
Progress Energy will also place a restrictive covenant for conservation purposes on certain lands
it owns known as the "Diggs Tract" along the Richmond County side of the Pee Dee River and
downstream of the U.S. Highway 74 Bridge. Within 12 months of the issuance of a New
License for the Project that is Final and Non-Appealable, Progress Energy will execute, deliver
and cause to be recorded covenants and restrictions establishing a buffer zone adjacent to the
river that would be at least 100 feet wide along the entire tract. Within the buffer zone, activities
to be allowed would be limited to such activities as selective clearing and controlled burning in
accordance with a forest management plan approved by the NCDENR, limited unimproved foot
trails not to exceed 4 feet in width and a single boat access point to the river. Foot trails
generally parallel to the river shall be no closer to the river than 50 feet. There shall be no more
than three trails perpendicular to the river within the buffer zone.
Except to accommodate the above allowable activities, the following shall be prohibited within
the buffer zone: filling, draining, flooding, dredging, impounding, clearing, burning, cutting or
destroying vegetation, cultivating, excavating, erecting, overnight camping, constructing,
releasing wastes, or otherwise doing any work within the buffer zone, introducing exotic species
into the buffer zone (except biological controls pre-approved by NCDENR); and from changing
the grade or elevation, impairing the flow or circulation of waters, reducing the reach of waters,
and any other discharge or activity requiring a permit under clean water or water pollution
control laws and regulations, as amended. The following are expressly excepted from the
prohibited activities: (1) cumulatively very small impacts associated with hunting, fishing, and
similar recreational or educational activity, consistent with the continuing natural condition of
the property; (2) removal or trimming of vegetation hazardous to persons or property; and
(3) restoration or mitigation required under law. No permanent structures would be allowed
within the 100-foot buffer zone.
Within 24 months of the issuance of the New License that is Final and Non-Appealable, Progress
Energy will also place a restrictive covenant for conservation purposes on Project lands it owns
in the Grassy Islands area located at the upper reaches of Blewett Falls Lake. This area contains
large bottomland hardwood forests and the Smith Lake Natural Area, an oxbow swamp with a
large stand of black gum trees. These are highly-valued wetland resources of statewide regional
49

Section 8 Proposed Instream Flow Water Quality and Other Stream Habitat Protection Measures
significance. The restrictive covenant would be defined to permit only certain non-consumptive
uses of the lands, including fishing, hunting, hiking, bird-watching, and other low-density
recreation activities. Prohibited activities will be identical to those described above for the Diggs
Tract.
Within 24 months of the issuance of the New License that is Final and Non-Appealable, Progress
' Energy will place a restrictive covenant for conservation purposes on certain lands it owns near
the mouth of the Uwharrie River at Lake Tillery. The lands to be protected by a restrictive
covenant include: (1) those extending from Dutchman's Creek downstream to the tip of the
peninsula on the south side of the mouth of the Uwhame River; and (2) those at the upper end of
' the "bay," created by the above peninsula, that are classified as of December 2006 as
EnvironmentaUNatural Areas in Progress Energy's Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for Lake
' Tillery (CP&L 2001), stopping at the first tract of land classified in the SMP as Impact
Minimization Zone. The restrictive covenant will allow only certain non-consumptive uses of
' these lands, such as fishing, hunting, hiking, bird-watching, and other low-density recreation
activities. Prohibited activities will be identical to those described above related to the restrictive
' covenants to be applied to the buffer zone of the Diggs Tract.
Maps showing the location of all lands discussed above are contained in Appendix D of this
application for WQC.

~
,~
t

Section 9
' References
Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.. 2002. Yadkin River Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2197 NC.
Project Relicensing Initial Consultation Document. September 2002. Alcoa Power
' Generating, Inc., Yadkin Division, Badin, North Carolina.
Appalachian State University. 1999. North Carolina's Central Park: Assessing Tourism and
Outdoor Recreation in the Uwharrie Lakes Region. September 1999.
' Carolina Power & Li ht. 2001. CP&L - A Pro ess Ener Com an .Shoreline Mana ement
g ~' gY P Y g
' Plan for the Tillery Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2206). Submitted by Carolina
Power & Light - A Progress Energy Company, December 30, 2001. Prepared by The
1 Louis Berger Group, Inc.
' North Carolina Division of Water Quality. 2000. Water quality progress in North Carolina
1998-1999 305(b) report. North Carolina Division of Water Quality, Water Quality
' Section, Raleigh, North Carolina.
.2002. Basinwide assessment report. Yadkin River Basin. June 2002. North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality,
Water Quality Section, Environmental Services Branch, Raleigh, North Carolina.
2003. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basinwide water quality plan. March 2003. North
C
li
D
f E
i
l
h
d
l
i
i
i
f
aro
na
epartment o
nv
v
ronment, Hea
t
, an
Natura
Resources, D
s
on o
Water
Quality, Water Quality Section, Planning Branch, Raleigh, North Carolina.
. 2004. NC DENR-Division of Water Quality "Redbook." Surface waters and wetlands
t
d
d
NC Ad
i
i
t
ti
C
d
15A NCAC 02B
0100
0200 &
0300
A
d
d
s
an
ar
s.
m
n
ra
ve
s
o
e
.
.
.
men
, .
e
effective: August 1, 2004. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, Division of Water Quality, Raleigh, North Carolina.
' S1

t
Section 9 References
2006a. Basinwide information management system. North Carolina waterbodies
reports (including stream classifications). .0309 Yadkin River Basin. [Online] URL:
http://h2o. enr. state.nc.us/bims/reports/basinsandwaterbodies/hydroYadkin.pdf.
(Accessed on February 23, 2007.)
' 2006b. North Carolina water uali assessment and im aired waters list 2006
9 n' P (
1 integrated 305(b) and 303(d) report). Public Review Draft, February 2006. North
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality,
Raleigh, North Carolina.
2006c. Standard operating procedures for benthic macroinvertebrates. Biological
Assessment Unit. July 2006. North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural
Resources, Division of Water Quality, Environmental Services Section.
Progress Energy. 2003. Initial consultation document. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project FERC
No. 2206. Progress Energy, Raleigh, North Carolina.
' .2004. Pee Dee River Instream Flow Study Plan. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project. FERC
No. 2206. Prepared by Devine Tarbell & Associates, Inc., Portland, Maine for Progress
' Energy, Raleigh, North Carolina, August 2004.
' 2005a. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project, FERC No. 2206. Continuous Water Quality
Monitoring in the Pee Dee River below the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric
Plants. Water Resources Work Group. Issues Nos. 7 and 8 -Lake Tillery and Blewett
• Falls Lake and Tailwaters Water Quality. November 2005.
2005b. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project, FERC No. 2206. Intensive temperature and
dissolved oxygen study of the Pee Dee River below the Tillery and Blewett Falls
Hydroelectric Plants. Water Resources Work Group. Issues Nos. 7 and 8 -Lake Tillery
1 and Blewett Falls Lake and Tailwaters Water Quality. November 2005.

52
1

' Secrion 9 References
' 2006a. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project FERC No. 2206. Monthly water quality study
of Lake Tillery, Blewett Falls Lake, and associated tailwaters. Water Resources Work
' Group. Issues Nos. 7 and 8 -Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake and Tailwaters Water
Quality. Apri12006.
2006b. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project FERC No. 2206. Continuous Water Quality
J
Monitoring in the Pee Dee River below the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric
Plants. May-October 2005. November 2006.
2006c. Application of license. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project FERC No. 2206.
Submitted by Progress Energy, Raleigh, North Carolina. Apri12006.
2006d. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project No. 2206. Tillery and Blewett Falls
Hydroelectric Plants. Dissolved oxygen enhancement plan. Revised March 27, 2006.
. 2007. Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2206, Investigation of
' Measures to Enhance Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations in the Tailwaters of the Tillery
and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Developments, Phase L• Turbine Venting. Prepared by
Devine Tarbell & Associates, Inc., Portland, Maine for Progress Energy, Raleigh, North
Carolina, April 2007.
' U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 2006.
Restoration plan for the diadromous fishes of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin, North
Carolina and South Carolina. February 2006.
P:\ProgEnergy\007.0008\WP\1000\401 WQCRpt\PE 401 WQC Rpt-070510.doc
MH/rs
007.0008.100018.0
May ] 0, 2007

' S3

D

1
1

APPENDICES
1

1
C
1
1
1

1
t

1
t
' APPENDIX A
PROGRESS ENERGY FERC LICENSE APPLICATION
(CONTAINED ON CD)
and
APPENDIX B
' PROGRESS ENERGY QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN
' (CONTAINED ON CD)

APPENDIX C
' DIADROMOUS FISH RESTORATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

1

Executive Summary
' Draft Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement

Background The first dam on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River (Blewett Falls Dam) is located
' approximately 190 river miles upstream of Winyah Bay, SC.
There is a significant amount of available spawning and rearing habitat for
diadromous fish in the Pee Dee River and its tributaries downstream of Blewett
' Falls Dam.
There is currently aself-sustaining run of American shad in the Yadkin-Pee Dee
River downstream of Blewett Falls Dam that is sizeable enough to support a
' South Carolina commercial fishery.
Blewett Falls Dam is the first of a series of 6 dams along approximately 75 miles
of the mainstem Yadkin-Pee Dee River.
Due to the many uncertainties (e.g., predation by non-native species), movement
' of shad above Blewett Falls Dam may or may not contribute to an overall
increase in the total Yadkin-Pee Dee River population.
Federal and state fishery agencies are interested in restoring both American
' shad and American eel to their historic spawning/rearing grounds above the
hydropower project dams based on the expectation that access to greater habitat
will result in increased numbers of fish.

C
oncept The Yadkin-Pee Dee Fish Passage Agreement is based around the concept of
providing "trap and truck" passage for American shad at Blewett Falls Dam for a
period of time, to allow an assessment of the potential reproductive success of
' these fish, and to evaluate how restoration efforts may affect the existing shad
population. This concept provides a structured, incremental and rational science-
' based approach to making decisions about restoration efforts in the river basin.
Trap and truck passage will allow spawning adult shad to be moved to areas of
suitable spawning habitat above the Blewett Falls, Tillery, and High Rock dams.
' Sh
ad would be moved to each of these areas for three consecutive years to allow
assessment of the potential "success" of spawning in each of these three river
reaches.
In 2025 a complete assessment would be made by the resource agencies and
hydropower Licensee of the restoration/passage efforts, and a determination of
' the need for additional fish passage measures required at the hydropower
Projects would be made at that time.
' Upstream Upstream passage for American shad would be provided at Blewett Falls until
Passage 2025.
For
American
Shad

' 2
Upstream The upstream passage facility is designed as a fish trap, with ability to transfer
Passage fish to trucks for safe transport to the designated reaches. This is a proven
' For method of moving significant numbers of fish with very high survivability.
American
Shad The fish trap proposed is flexibly designed so as to allow the biologists to adjust
' the location and other characteristics (orientation, attraction flow, etc.) so as to
"optimize" the ability of the fish trap to attract and capture adult shad.
A desktop assessment of available habitat has projected that the sum of all
upstream designated reaches could potentially need approximately 236,000 adult
shad for transport. However, field-based studies are required to ultimately
' determine the final target number of shad for transport which is likely to be lower
and could be significantly lower than this projected number.
1
n
ii

L

Collectively the Licensee and agencies have determined an appropriate interim
target number of fish to transport is approximately 35,000. The fish trap is able to
capture and sort more than 50,000 adult shad each season; well above the
projected number of shad identified as the interim goal for passage by the federal
agencies.
Downstream Downstream passage for American shad would be provided at Blewett Falls Dam
Passage for until 2025.
American
Shad The downstream passage facility is designed to allow recapture and counting of
out-migrating juvenile shad.
Downstream passage of juvenile shad at the other dams will be via turbine
passage, which based on earlier desktop entrainment studies, is expected to
result in high survival rates.
Passage for .Upstream passage for American eel would be provided at Blewett Falls until
American 2025. PE and APGI would share in the cost of constructing and operating this
Eel facility.
The upstream passage facility for juvenile American eel is an eel lift system that
has been demonstrated to be effective at other dams.
How to provide effective downstream passage for outmigrating adult eels is a
question that is still being researched on a national level. No downstream
passage for adult eels will be required at the projects' dams until more is learned
about effective passage techniques for this species.
' Some downstream passage alternatives that have been proposed are to
determine if the downstream passage structure used for juvenile shad
outmigration can be used for adult American eel passage and future cooperative
efforts between the licensee and the resource agencies on evaluating
downstream passage of American eel.

3
' Benefits of The numbers of adult shad committed to the upstream trap/truck program will be
the limited to the interim target number until it is determined that the placement of
Agreement fish above the dams results in successful recruitment that will ultimately help, not
Concept harm the existing downstream river shad population.
' Studies of shad spawning and juvenile outmigration done during the period 2013-
2025 will increase our understanding of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River shad
population, how best to protect the resource, and enhance it.
A cooperative effort among Licensee and federal and state fishery agencies
ensures that available resources and restoration efforts are focused on a set of
common goals for the shad and eel populations.
Limiting the initial capital investment in fish passage facilities for shad ($2 million
for an "interim" trap and truck facility versus $6 million fora "permanent" fish lift)
is a prudent approach that will allow all the parties to make certain that (1) we
know how best to successfully capture the required number of adult shad for
restoration efforts and (2) we can demonstrate that placing adult shad above the
project dams will result in successful reproduction and recruitment and not cause
harm to the current shad population.

II

7

1
1
1
1

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement DRAFT, 04/04/07
Figure 3. Preliminary engineering drawing of fish trap and transport facility placement at
the Blewett Falls Development.
14

1
1
1
1
1
1
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1
1
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1
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1
Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement DRAFT, 04/04/07
4 TDN` f~T
TRh° CA(z
FS,' 11UP/r' Dlf~i Y TRAP ~~C9 Rl~
' P«~i SDR1B~, TAKK T0111WB1 TN_W,':
~fHi'H7~7NG ihN(
~~
~1RPN~~2T TN9(
ij ~ ~ ~
iRaP R~LS q ~
DOW~ST~EA"~ WAL! OF POWERHOUSE ~ III ~'~ \ I,l ~' ~'
f ~ ~ ~ ;~ E>7STiNG ROAD
EXISTIN; FiSH9dG WALKWAY ~~' ~ \W/~1KWAY WTH fWdWJ~1
TRAP
` EXIST7JG
T. 926.7 ~ j RETAP9NE
i ~~ ~WALL
anw'
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ROr~a~rousE a~cHARSE ~ ~
`I ~
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GRAPF9C SCALE 1N ,BEET
/~ /f n
i \~ 1 1 \~ '\ ~\ y ~\\ l~
~~~~tllrtiT~~~~ ~p~~~~T T'r2~',r ~1N~ TRAT~SF~~( I
'_OOKING ~;PSTP,=,~M ifs I AI_RACE
FOR U°~T_~cE,~~' pp°P,~S~~CE
B~~~J~TT F1l~~J APRI'.1,2005DRAF~
Figure 4. Preliminary engineering drawing of Blewett Falls fish trap showing elevation
and aspect of the trap and transport facility.
15

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Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement DRAFT, 04/04/07
I
i
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Figure 5. Preliminary engineering drawing of the Slewett Falls fish trap showing the plan
view and layout of the trap and transport facility.
16

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Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement DRAFT, 04/04/07
_-~
~o7nrrorr~~~wx,~
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Figure 6. Preliminary engineering drawing of the downstream passage structure to be
located at the Blewett Falls Dam. Note that the proposed structure will be a
mobile barge system which can be towed away from the dam during non
migratory periods of the year and during high flow and spillage events at the
dam.
17

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement DRAFT, 04/04/07
~( PosslBLC R!GHT HANK
;~ ~ ILCQK;NG UPSTREAM!
._ UPSTREAM EEL P?SSAi
~~,
~~~ J171 ~ i ~
i
1 ~~ ~ 3' .`~
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~ SECTN
.
.
,
Cn1;'.~ A
:POSSIBLE LEPT BANK
aO55IPLE DOwr+S'- ~ ~iLO(`KING UPS?REAMI
MIGRANT 5LU3CE L°PSTREAM EEI.. ~a£SnGE
TRAtlSPCRT PIPE GRO7.' t7(ISTING FISH4VICf
'S FLO1N _ -
- -.
30C CFS -. ~~ ~ -_.~ `
"~L~'~~
~ ~- -_.
F!SN DIVERSION SYSTEfJI
S DEEP BOOM
,c_
~- ;4
,~'J ~ _~~STREr~C"i _, _ _ ~
v~~ FISH D~IVEF`- ~ .. ~~ _~ECTUR ANS ~ ' ~ ~`
P,, EV~.~'-~T Fr- ~_L'rJAY
Figure 7. Preliminary engineering drawing of the American eel passage lift at the Blewett
Falls Dam. Note that biological studies will help determine the exact placement
of this ladder along the dam
18

1 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Fish Passage Agreement DRAFT, 04/04/07
Ir-~
!~

L~

1

LIFT TYPE UPSTREnM EEL PnSS
FlPRIL L 2006 DRAFT
ADAPTED FROM SOLOMON. 2004
Figure 8. Preliminary engineering drawing of the American eel lift for the Blewett Falls
Dam.
19

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i~
APPENDIX D
MAPS
I~

t

t
~ Depictions of Certain Lands to be
~ Donated by Progress Energy
_ to State of North Carolina
1

t

1
1

1

Progress Energy
Buchanan Mitigation Lands
1532.9 Acres Donated
N 1745745 81
E. 449448.67
N 1742454.64
E a28787 39

4
N 1741906 11 ~ n
Legend E 41479988 ij .;
"I Pee Dee River i ~ ; ~~
+~ N n44923 02
~ Buchanan Mitigation Lands ~ ,~~~ E 4,636533
- DnT Roads r-L- --) Mies

Progress Energy
Almond Mitigation Lands
N 1e8324251
E 529758 57
4
Legend N 168142837
E S t 3534 89
Almond Mitigation Lands
;Pee Dee River
DOT Roads
I I 1 Miles
0 0.25 0.5 1

t

1

1
~ Depictions of Certain Lands Over Which
' Progress Energy will Impose
Restrictive Covenants

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a~
m
~rr
' Y...
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N ~_
N Q
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2 w

0
0

~ i
Progress Energy
Blewett Falls Mitigation Lands

f
SRa~~3, \
Legend
/~: Restrictive Covenants
Blewett Falls Lake
- DUT Roads
~~;ti~es I
0 0.25 0.5 t

Progress Energy
Tillery Mitigation Lands

'w'~
~~
K /•
~v
Ph'
F
Legend
100 ft Buffer Where Available
Restrictive Covenants Lands
~._... PEC Property
' Lake Tillery
`'1
~~ I Feet
0 340 680 :.360

t
1
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~ Depiction of Certain Lands to be Leased
to the State of North Carolina
1

~' ~~~~;~~~, ~ ~ ~ a~~^~' ~~a~'ti," 4A d #~,. Legend
~ ~~~ A ;~ . ~ , F Tillery Project Boundry
~ ~ ,~
'' ` ~~ ° r ' ~ " ~ PB NOSURVEY
~~ `~' Vie` ~~~~w. {' )7 d - .~ ri. M _
«• ~~•~ --- P[3_SURVEY
i fG ~, ~ r'X J• 'yP" 't ~~ ~
~ # w4~ ~.~. tea. - ~'?- .. ;°~-. ~"~:~? ~^ ~ r ~ ly "
a a, ~ y
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r~ ' > _ %M
h }. > ~ i `~
~ ~ ~L~r ~, st yc4+ lei ~w 1f~`x: ~ .. ~ r„ ~•
i '4 ? 11h •~ ~ % A
N t # : l a~ ~ y~ a t, ,~
#y~~ ~ '~-"
r r.f~ ~ ; - • ~• r. i.
fir, + ~' ~ ~."`;t`°~ ~~~ "~ ~ ~ ~ ¢ ~
7, ~S x } ! ~ ~ ~ +`
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1
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~~ .,~ n,~ d;rr ~ "" 3 ~~ ~~ ° y
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.~ 1