NC0005266_report_19930622

NPDES DOCUWENT SCANNIN& COVER SNEET
NPDES Permit: NC0005266
Document Type: Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct (AtC)
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Engineering Alternatives (EAA)
Report
Instream Assessment (67b)
Speculative Limits
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Document Date: June 22, 1993
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Division of Environmental Management
Biological Assessment Group
June 22, 1993
MEMORANDUM
To: Ken Eagleson
Through: Jimmie Overton
(Trish Finn MacPherson
From: David Penrose99
Subject: Results of the Abitibi-Price or ABT, Inc. (NPDES Permit No.
NC0005266) Investigation. Wilkes County, North Carolina.
BACKGROUND
Benthic macroin vertebrates were.collected from the Yadkin River to determine the
instream effects of the Abitibi-Price discharge. The facility has recently changed its name
to ABT, Inc. The survey was conducted in response to a request from the Winston-Salem
( regional office. Abitibi-Price Corporation manufactures hardboard exterior siding and is
located near the community of Roarin- River in Wilkes County. The wastewater treatment
facility discharges 1.0 MOD directly to the Yadkin River, approximately 1 mile above the
confluence with the Roaring River. The instream waste concentration of the waste under
7Q10 flow conditions is 0.71 percent. Abitibi-Price has a daily average permit limit of
9207 and 21169 pounds/day for BOD and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), respectively.
Prior biological information has been collected from two ambient locations in the vicinity of
the Abitibi-Price discharge. Data from these locations (Yadkin River at Wilkesboro and
Elkin) indicate Good to Good/Fair water quality conditions. The most recent information
(1989) noted a Good bioclassification at the upstream site at Wilkesboro and a Good/Fair
bioclassifieation at Elkin. The Elkin location is approximately 10-15 miles below the
Abitibi-Price discharge and the Wilkesboro site is approximately the same distance above
the facility.
STATION LOCATIONS
Samples were collected fiom three locations on the Yadkin River during this investigation.
Two locations were at the facility water quality monitoring locations immediately upstream
and downstream of the effluent. The downstream monitoring location is approximately
100-150 meters below the discharge point. A downstream 'recovery' site was not sampled_
as the confluence of the Roarin{, River is approximately 200 meters below the downstream
collection site. An upstream reference location (Wilkesboro) was also sampled. The data
from the ambient location was used to assess any differences in water quality upstream of
t:.o facility and the study reach. The physical and biological characteristics t_:f each location
are described in Table l and the locations are illustrated in Figure 1.
i

Figure 1. Station Loctions. Abitibi-Price Investigation. June 1993.
Roaring Rive
NC 268
S 2327
Ab ' tibi - Price ..
1 2
SR 2324
Yadkin River
NC 421
N

Table 1. Physical and Biological Characteristics. Yadkin River, Abitibi-Price Study.
Wilkes County, North Carolina. June, 1993.
Station Locations Above WWTP Below WWTP Wilkesboro
Width (M) 35-40 30-35 35-40
Depth (M)
Average 1.0 2.5 0.5
Maximum 2.0 2.5 1.0
Water Temperar_re (oC) 18 I8 20
Canopy (17) 40 50 70
AufWUChs Moderate Abundant Moderate
Podostemum Abundant None found Abundant
Bank Ertnsion Moderate Moderate Moderate
Substrate (%)
Boulder 10 10 10
Rubble 40 25 35
Gravel 25 25 30
Sand 15 25 25
Silt, 10 15 -
Comments - deeper, more turbid
than upstream site.
Fungal matter present
COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS METHODS
Samples were collected u;:ng DEM's standardized qualitative collection technique at the
three Yadkin River locations. This method uses a wide variety of collection techniques (10
samples) to inventory the aqu_ic fauna. The primary output is a taxa list with an indication
of relative abundance (Abund_nt, Common and Rare) for each taxon. The numbers of
Species within the pollution i:::clerant insect orders of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and
Trichoptera (EPT) and the Bi,:ic Index values are used with DEM classification criteria to
assign water quality ratings. Unstressed streams and rivers have many species and lower
index values, while polluted a-,,as have fewer species and higher index values.
Several indices arc used tt compare community structure at paired collection locations.
These include a Dominants in Common Index (DC[) and the Common Taxa Index (CTI).
The DCI compares the number of abundant taxa that are found in both samples and is
expressed as a percent of the _iundant taxa at the upstream location. The CTI measures the
number of taxi in common br:.vecn locations and is relative to the maximum number of
taxa at either site. Both of the,_ are based on Arkansas criteria and produce ratings of No
Impact, Slight Impact, Moder_tc Impact and Severe Impact. In addition, a Biotic Index is
also calculated for each same:_. This latte index is a summary of tolerance ' lees of the
species collected in the sampi_. weighted by their abundance. Tolerance values for the taxa
vary from 0 (most intolerant l :_) 10 (most tolerant).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Table 2, Appendix 1)
Results of the investigati. -. are presented in Table 2, and all taxa collected during, this
survey are listed in Appendix ;. Moderate levels of stress were noted using both the CTI
(49%) and DCI (5011c-) indices at Station 2 below the Abitibi-Price effluent. Lower taxa
richness and abundance value. as well as higher biotic index values, were also recorded at
Station 2 which indicated that .he discharge was having an impact on the biota during this
investigation. The bioclassii" ition was also lower at the downstream site. In addition to
the biological data, there wet_ obvious physical differences between these tv,o locations.

The water was much more turbid at the downstream location which is a likely cause of
some significant habitat differences as well. For example, there did not appear to be any
significant growths of river weed (Podostemum) at this site which serves as a stable habitat
for many benthic taxa during high flow events. It is possible that a reduction in light
penetration due to the turbidity has caused the reduction in growth of this weed. In
addition, the field crew also noted the presence of a white fungal matter on substrate
surfaces. This fungal material would also prohibit the colonization of many benthic
species.
Table 2. Benthic Macro invertebrate Taxa Richness by Order and Summary Statistics.
Yadkin River, Abitibi-Price Study. Wilkes County, North Carolina.
June, 1993.
YADKIN RIVER
Parameter Above ABT Below ABT WILKESBORO
Ephemeroptera 20 16 16
Plecoptera 6 3 4
Trichoptera 11 6 12
Coleoptera 8 5 4
Odonata 3 3 2
Megaloptera 2 3 1
Diptera: Chironomidae 19 18 20
Misc. Diptera 5 2 2
Oligochaeta 2 3 2
Crustacea 2 1 2
Mollusca 4 0 4
Other 1 1 1
Total Taxa Richness 83 63 69
EPT Richness 37 25 32
EPT Abundance 142 100 122
Biotic Index 4.99 5.27 5.46
Bioclassification Good Good/Fair Good/Fair
Common Taxa Index - ,49% -
Level of Impact - Moderate -
Dominants in Common - 50% -
Level of Impact - Moderate -
Several mayfly, stonefly, o. eaddistly taxa that were common or abundant at the
upstream location were absent or reduced in numbers at the downstream location. These
taxa included Eneorus spp., Heptaginia marainalis, Ison, cy hia, Serratella deficiens,
Pteronarcvs spp, and Hydropsyche demora. These observations may be a result of the
effluent or possibly a change in the substrate.
Good/Fair water quality conditions were noted at the ambient location on the Yadkin
River at Wilkesboro. Data from this site collected during this investigation compare
favorably to data at this site during previous surveys (EPT taxa ranges have been 25 to 35).
Good to Good/Fair bioclassifications have been recorded from this site.

SUMMARY
Results of this investigation suggest that the Abitihi-Price WWTP was stressing the
macroinvertebrate fauna of the Yadkin River immediately below the discharge point.
Lower taxa richness values and a higher biotic index at the downstream location resulted in
alower bioclassification. In addition to the biological results, ph%sical differences between
the two locations were also evident. The water at the downstream site was notably more
turbid which is a likely contributor to a reduction in the growths of liver weed
(Podostemum). Podostemum is a productive benthic habitat and is used as a retreat for
several benthic macroinvcrtebrates during high flow conditions. In addition, the field team
noted the occurrence of a funval matter otr substrate material below the effluent which
would also contribute to lower biological integrity. However, the downstream site received
the same bioclassification as the reference site at Wilkesboro and had a hetter Biotic Index
value. This suggests that the wateryuality below Abitibi Price is similar to that found at the
ambient stations at Wilkesboro and Elkin.
All work was conducted in Yadkin suhbasin O i-07-01
cc: David Russel, Winston-Salem Regional Office
Susan Wilson
Central Files

Appendix 1. Benthic Macroinvertebrates Collected from the Yadkin River. Wilkes
County, North Carolina. June, 1993
Taxon YADKIN RIVER
Above AB T Below ABT WILKESBORO
EPHEMEROPTERA
ATTENELLA Al-f ENUATA R
BAETIS FLAVISTRIGA C C
BAETIS INTERCALARIS C C
BAETIS PLUTO A C C
BAETIS PROPINQUUS A A
BAETIS TRICAUDATUS R
BRACHYCERCUS'SPP` — R
CAENIS SPP R
CENTROPTILUM SPP C C R
DANNELLA SIMPLEX C R C
EPHEMERELLA CATAWBA R R
EPHEMERELLA NEEDHAMIMI R
EPEORUS SPP C R
EURYLOPI-IELLA TETMPORAI.IS C A
HEPTAGENIA MARGINALIS C
ISONYCHIA SPP A R A
LEUCROCUTA- R C
MACDUNNOABRUNNEA R R
PARALEPTOPHLEBIA SPP It R
POTAMANTHUS SPP R
PSEUDOCLOEON SPP A C C
STENONEMA MODESTUM A A A
'STENONEMA TERMINATLJM R
SERRATELLA DEFICIENS A C C
SERRATELLA SERRATOIDES C
STENACRON INTERPUNCI'ATLi`M R
STENACRON PALLIDUM A A R
PLECOPTERA
ACRONEURIA ABNORMIS R R R
ALLOCAPNIA SPP R
ECCOPTURA XANTHENES . R
ISOPERLA I-IOLOCHLORA R
ISOPERLA TRANSMARINA (GR) R
PERLESTA-PLACIDA A C A
PTERONARCYS S PP C C
TALLAPERLA SPP R
TRICHOPTERA
BRACHYCENTRLJS LATERAI.IS R
CERACLEA TARSIPLINCTATA C R
CHEUMATOPSYCHE SPP A A A
GLOSSOSOMA SPP R
GOERA SPP R
HYDROPSYCHE BETI'ENI R
HYDROPSYCI-IE DEMORA C A
HYDROPSYCHE ROSSI R
HYDROPSYCHE SCALARIS R
HYDROPSYCIIE VENULARIS C A A

r
Taxon YADKIN RIVER
Above ABT Below ABT WILKESBORO
TRICHOPTERA (CON'T)
MICRASEMA WATAGA R R C
NECTOPSYCI-IE CAND_ IDA R
NEURECLIPSIS SPP R C
OECETIS SPP R
OECETIS SPI R
POLYCENTROPUS SPP R R
SYMPHITOPSYCHE SPARNA A A A
COLEOPTERA
ANCYRONYX VARIEGATUS R R
DINEUTES SPP A A A
DUB IRAPHIA SPP R R
GYRINUS SPP _ _ _ _ C
LACCOBIUS SP R
MACRONYCHUSGLABRATUS C R C
OPTIOSERVUS SPP R
PROMORESIA SPP C
PSEPHENUS I-IERRICKI C R R
ODONATA
ARGIA SPP R R
_ BOYERIA VINOSA R R R
CALOPTERYX SPP C C
LANTHUS SPP R
MEGALOPTERA
CORYDALUS CORNUTUS C R R
NIGRONIA SERRICORNTIS C R
SIALIS SPP R
DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE
ABLABESMYIA MALLOCHI R C
BRILLIA SPP C C
CRICOTOPUS/ORTHOCLADIUS SPI C C A
CRICOTOPUS/ORTI-IOCLADILJS SP10 C
CRICOTOPUS/ORTHOCLADILJS SPI' C
CRICOTOPUS/ORTHOCLADIUS SP5 C C
CRICOTOPUS/ORTI-IOCLADILJS SP54 C C C
CRICOTOPUS/ORTHOCLADIUS SP6 C R
CARDIOCLADIUS SPP R A
CHIRONOMUS SPP C
CONCHAPELOPIA GROUP C R R
CRYPTOCHIRONOMUS FLJI_VLJS R
DEMICRYPTOCHIRONOMUS SPP R
DICROTENDIPES NEOMODESTLIS R
EUKIEFFI IELLA S112 C
EUKIEFFERIELLA SP' R R . '
NANOCLADIUS SPP R
POLYPEDILUM FALI_AX R R
POLYPEDILUM HALTERALL' R
POLYPEDILUM I1-LINOENSE A C C
POLYPEDILUM SCALAENUM 1Z R.
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS LUNDBECKI R It
PHAENOPSECTRA SP2 R R
POTTHASTIA GAEDI R

v j
Taxon _ YADKIN RIVER
Above AB T Below ABT WILKESBORO
DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE, (CON'T)
RHEOCRICOTOPUS SP1 C C
RHEOTANYTARSUS C C C
STENOCHIRONOMUS SPP R R R .
SYMPOSIOCLADIUS LIGNICOLA R R
THIENEMANIELLA SPP R R R
TRIBELOS SPP C R
MISC. DIPTERA
ANTOCHA SPP A A C
EMPIDIDAE R
PALPOMYIA (COMPLEX) R
SIMULIUM SPP A A A
TIPULA SPP
OLIGOCHAETA
LIMNODRILUS SPP C C -
LIMNODRILUS HOFFMEISTERI C
LUMBRICULIDAE C R A
NAIS SPP R
CRUSTACEA
CAMBARUS SPP R C C
CRANGONYX SPP R R
PELYCEPODA
CORBICULA FLUMIlVEA R C
PISIDIUM SPP - R
SPHAERIUM SPP R
GASTROPODA
ELIMIA SP A R
FERRISSIA SPP C R
PHYSELLA SPP R
OTHER
DUGESIA TIGRINA C
HYDRACARINA R R