20030147 Ver 0_Staff Comments_20150820

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North Carolina Departffent of En*onrnent and Natural Resources
Pai McCrory
Governor
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Duke Energy
Attn: Tami Styer
526 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Subject: Aquatic Life Monitoring Study Plan — Comments
Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project, FERC 2206
Dear Ms. Styer:
Donald R, van der Vaart
Secretary
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On July 16, 2015, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) received a request to review the
"Study Plan for Aquatic Life Monitoring in the Pee Dee River Reach below Tillery Hydroelectric
Plant Rev. 2" (Study Plan) and the "Results of the 2008 Aquatic Life Monitoring Below the Tillery
Dam" (Results). DWR has the following comments on the Study Plan:
Section 1
0 In the P paragraph you state "This study plan requires consultation with the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRQ and the South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources (SCDNR),, and approval from the North Carolina Division of Water
Resources (NCDWR) and FERC approval prior to implementation... Any changes to the
study plan methodology will be made with joint agreement between Duke Energy and
NCWRC with subsequent approval by NCDWR and FERC prior to implementation of such
changes." Because SCDNR was involved in the original consultation, is their
participation required to modify the methodology? Also, DWR would like to be involved
in the initial discussions regarding changes to the methodology, especially with the
m acroi nverteb rate methodology.
Section 2
DWR recommends revising the first sentence to read "The aquatic life monitoring will be
conducted at two sites (Sites TZ1 and TZ2) located in the five-mile reach of the Pee Dee
River between the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant and the Rocky River confluence (Figure 1)."
Dvision of Watef Resources - 401 & Buffe Perinfting Unit
1617 Mad SeOce Center, IFaal 6gh, Noqh Carolina 27699-1617
Locatbri: 512 N SaiV sbury &, Ra@6gh, NoO Carokna 27604
Phone 91q 807'-6300 l FAA 91!111 807,'5492
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Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project
Aquatic Life Monitoring Study Plan — DWR comments
Section 3.1
DWR recommends revising the last sentence in the first paragraph to read "Following
the submittal of the written report after the fourth cycle, Duke Energy shall consult with
NCDWR and NCWRC regarding the need far and any changes to future monitoring."
Section 3.2
• Update the NCDWR2012 reference for the NCDWR Standard Qualitative Method to
NCDWR2013. Please make this update throughout the draft Study Plan.
• In the table on page 4, "root mats" should be specifically included along with "banks"
under microhabitat.
• Also in the table, there should be 3 visual collections under the "number of samples"
• A seine should also be set at the bottom of the riffles and shock downstream into the
seine
• All fish should be identified to species
• Buffering the formalin solution is not required
• Fish specimens should also be vouchered at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural
Sciences
Collection • young-of-year can • very biased and many can be missed (i.e., not
collected). DWR staff believe young-of-year should not be included in any of the
calculations
• Under #15, DWR recommends revising the bold phrase to read "Number of nonnative
sR' cies and percentage of nonnativeL�t to nativeL�h:"
• A list of indigenous and nonincligenous species can be found at:
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Sincerely,
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Karen Higgins, Supervisor
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cc: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE,
Washington, II
Chris Goudreau, NC WRC
Fred Tarver, NC DWR
DWR WsRO 401 file
DWR MRO 401 file
DWR FRO 401 file
DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Unit file
. . . 01i