20070812 Ver 1_18 June 2005 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment, Final Report (2)_20080502

Yadkin Project
FERC No. 2197
YADKIN TAILWATER FISH AND AQUATIC BIOTA
ASSESSMENT
JUNE 2005
YADKIN PROJECT
FERC No. 2197
YADKIN TAILWATER FISH AND AQUATIC BIOTA ASSESSMENT
Prepared for
ALCOA GENERATING COMPANY, INC.
YADKIN DIVISION
293 NC 740 Highway
Badin, NC 28009-0576
Prepared by
NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES, INC.
25 Nashua Road
Bedford, NH 03110
R-19556.001
June 2005
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table of Contents
Page
SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... vii
1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................1
2.0 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................1
3.0 STUDY OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................1
4.0 METHODS ...............................................................................................................................3
4.1 TAILWATER FISH SAMPLING ............................................................................................3
4.2 TAILWATER FISH ANALYSIS .............................................................................................4
4.3 CAROLINA AND ROBUST REDHORSE SEARCHES ..............................................................5
4.4 TAILWATER MACROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING AND MUSSEL SEARCHES ......................6
5.0 TAILWATER FISH ASSESSMENT RESULTS ..................................................................6
5.1 HIGH ROCK TAILWATER FISHERIES .......................................................................... .......6
5.1.1 High Rock Tailwater Summer Sample Period .............................................. .......8
5.1.2 High Rock Tailwater Fall Sample Period ..................................................... .....13
5.1.3 High Rock Tailwater Spring Sample Period ................................................. .....14
5.1.4 Seasonal Differences in High Rock Tailwater .............................................. .....14
5.2 TUCKERTOWN TAILWATER FISHERIES ...................................................................... .....15
5.2.1 Tuckertown Tailwater Summer Sample Period ............................................ .....20
5.2.2 Tuckertown Tailwater Fall Sample Period ................................................... .....21
5.2.3 Tuckertown Tailwater Spring Sample Period ............................................... .....23
5.2.4 Seasonal Differences in Tuckertown Tailwater ............................................ .....23
5.3 NARROWS TAILWATER FISHERIES ............................................................................ .....24
5.3.1 Narrows Tailwater Summer Sample Period .................................................. .....29
5.3.2 Narrows Tailwater Fall Sample Period ......................................................... .....31
5.3.3 Narrows Tailwater Spring Sample Period .................................................... .....31
5.3.4 Seasonal Differences in Narrows Tailwater .................................................. .....32
5.4 FALLS TAILWATER FISHERIES ................................................................................... .....33
5.4.1 Falls Tailwater Summer Sample Period ........................................................ .....33
5.4.2 Falls Tailwater Fall Sample Period ............................................................... .....39
5.4.3 Falls Tailwater Spring Sample Period .......................................................... .....40
5.4.4 Seasonal Differences in Falls Tailwater ........................................................ .....41
5.5 TAILWATER FISH SUMMARY ..................................................................................... .....41
5.6 FISH SAMPLING DURING Low AND NORMAL DISSOLVED OXYGEN CONDITIONS .... ..... 43
5.7 FISH STRANDING DURING GENERATION ON/OFF CYCLES ........................................ .....46
5.8 ROBUST AND CAROLINA REDHORSE SEARCHES ....................................................... .....48
6.0 TAILWATER MACROINVERTEBRATE AND MUSSEL ASSESSMENT
RESULTS ...............................................................................................................................48
6.1 TRANSECT AND STATION LOCATIONS..
6.2 TAILWATER DESCRIPTIONS ..................
6.2.1 High Rock Tailwater ................
....................................................................48
....................................................................48
....................................................................54
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 11 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
6.2.2 Tuckertown Tailwater ........................................................................................54
6.2.3 Narrows Tailwater .............................................................................................54
6.2.4 Falls Tailwater ...................................................................................................54
6.3 MUSSEL SEARCHES ........................................................................................................55
6.4 MACROINVERTEBRATES .................................................................................................56
7.0 IMPACTS OF EXISTING PROJECT OPERATIONS ON FISH AND
AQUATIC BIOTA IN THE TAILWATERS ......................................................................57
8.0 CITED REFERENCES .........................................................................................................65
APPENDIX 1: Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment Final Study Plan
APPENDIX 2: Length Frequency Distributions for Selected Species from High Rock,
Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Tailwaters.
APPENDIX 3: Narrows Tailwater Long Term Monitor and Plant Generation Data for 2 24-
Hour Time Periods Investigating Fish Abundances and Diversity During
Periods of Normal and Low Dissolved Oxygen Levels
APPENDIX 4: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Survey, Yadkin River, September 2003-June 2004
for Normandeau Associates, Inc. by Pennington and Associates, Inc.
APPENDIX 5: Percent Composition of All Species Captured in the Four Project Tailwaters
by Season
APPENIDIX 6: Comment Summary
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 M Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
List of Figures
Page
Figure 5-1. High Rock Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations ........................................................... 7
Figure 5-2. Tuckertown Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations ........................................................16
Figure 5-3. Narrows Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations ......................................................... .... 25
Figure 5-4. Falls Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations ............................................................... .... 34
Figure 5-5. Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and total outflow (cfs) for 24 hour period during which
electrofish sampling in Narrows tailwater (summer 2003). Shaded area denotes
24 hour period of fish sampling ...................................................................................... .... 44
Figure 5-6. Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and total outflow (cfs) for 24 hour period during
electrofish sampling in Narrows tailwater (summer 2003). Shaded area denotes
24 hour period of fish sampling ...................................................................................... .... 44
Figure 5-7. Species and number of fish of each captured during low and normal dissolved
oxygen periods during the 24-hour sampling period in the Narrows tailwater
during the summer season ............................................................................................... .... 45
Figure 5-8. Species and number of fish each captured during low and normal dissolved
oxygen periods during the 24-hour sampling period in the Narrows tailwater
during the fall season .......................................................................................................... 47
Figure 6-1. High Rock Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects ..........................................49
Figure 6-2. Tuckertown Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects ........................................ 50
Figure 6-3. Narrows Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects .............................................. 51
Figure 6-4. Falls Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects .................................................... 52
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 iv Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
List of Tables
Page
Table 5-1. Species composition for High Rock Tailwater by season .................................................... 9
Table 5-2. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within High Rock Tailwater, all
gear types combined ............................................................................................................10
Table 5-3. Electrofishing CPUE (4of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in High
Rock Tailwater ....................................................................................................................11
Table 5-4. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in High Rock
Tailwater .............................................................................................................................. 12
Table 5-5. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr)Values for selected species within High Rock Tailwater during all
three sampling seasons ........................................................................................................12
Table 5-6. Species composition for Tuckertown Tailwater by season ................................................17
Table 5-7. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within Tuckertown Tailwater, all
gear types combined ............................................................................................................18
Table 5-8. Electrofishing CPUE (# of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in
Tuckertown Tailwater .........................................................................................................19
Table 5-9. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in Tuckertown
Tailwater .............................................................................................................................. 20
Table 5-10. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr)Values for selected species within Tuckertown Tailwater during all
three sampling seasons ........................................................................................................22
Table 5-11. Species composition for Narrows Tailwater by season .....................................................26
Table 5-12. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within Narrows Tailwater, all
gear types combined ............................................................................................................ 27
Table 5-13. Electrofishing CPUE (# of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in
Narrows Tailwater ...............................................................................................................28
Table 5-14. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in Narrows Tailwater . ........... 29
Table 5-15. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr) Values for selected species within Narrows Tailwater during all
three sampling seasons ........................................................................................................30
Table 5-16. Species composition for Falls Tailwater by season ........................................................... 35
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 v Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-17. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within Falls Tailwater, all gear
types combined ..........................................................................................................
Table 5-18. Electrofishing CPUE (# of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in Falls
Tailwater ....................................................................................................................
Table 5-19. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in Falls Tailwater . .......
Table 5-20. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr) Values for selected species within Falls Tailwater during all three
sampling seasons .......................................................................................................
Table 6-1. Transect locations for mussel and macroinvertebrate sampling, Yadkin tailwaters
2003 ...........................................................................................................................
Table 6-2. Physical characteristics of mussel/macroinvertebrate sampling transects within
the four project tailwaters ..........................................................................................
Table 6-3. Summary of Mollusca taken from Yadkin River, 2003-2004 .................................
Table 6-4. Benthic Macroinvertebrates collected from Yadkin River 2003-2004 (No./-2M2)
Table 6-5. Percent composition of the dominant benthic macroinvertebrate species by
sampling season .........................................................................................................
Table 6-6. EPT Index and Mlsenhoff Biotic Index scores along with associated water
quality for Piedmont area of North Carolina ............................................................
36
37
38
39
53
53
55
58
63
63
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 vi Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
SUMMARY
The Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment Report presents the results of several surveys of
fish and aquatic biota (e.g. mussels, benthic macroinvertebrates, etc.) in the tailwaters of the four
developments that comprise the Yadkin Project: High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows and Falls. The
project tailwaters are generally those areas where moving water is clearly observable when water is
being released from the powerhouses and/or dams. These areas are of particular interest to the
resource management agencies because they may provide riverine habitat that can support aquatic
species that are native to the free-flowing portions of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River.
The study was conducted in accordance with the Final Study Plan that was developed in consultation
with Fish and Aquatics Issue Advisory Group (IAG). Specific objectives identified in the Final Study
Plan included:
¦ Describe tailwater habitats in all four Yadkin development tailwater areas.
¦ Inventory and assess the resident fish community in the Project tailwaters on a seasonal basis
to develop baseline data that can be used to detect changes over time. Evaluate the impacts
of existing Project operations on the tailwater fish community, such as impacts associated
with generation schedules and impacts due to the low dissolved oxygen found in the
tailwaters during certain times of year.
¦ Search for RTE mussel species in Project tailwaters
¦ Search for RTE fish species, including the Robust and Carolina Rehorse species in the Project
tailwaters during the spring (spawning period) and during the summary and fall fish surveys.
Tailwater aquatic surveys were conducted during the spring, summer and fall seasons. To ensure that
the greatest number of species were being collected, fish sampling was done using a variety of
methods and gear types including electrofishing and gill nets. Fish were sampled in many tailwater
locations including both shallow and deep water habitats. Mussels and benthic macroinvertebrates
were sampled along transects established in each of the tailwaters. Mussel searches were conducted
by divers swimming along the length of each transect line. Divers searched at least two meters
(approximately 6.3 ft) upstream and downstream of each transect line. Additional searches were
conducted along the shoreline of each tailrace looking for mussel shells and by having divers search
in areas identified by agencies as good mussel habitat that were not located along a transect line.
Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected along each transect using an air lift. Benthic organisms
were preserved in the field and returned to the laboratory for identification and counting.
The initial study effort included a detailed survey and description of the aquatic habitat found in each
of the tailwaters. This work was accomplished by establishing transects in each tailwater and doing a
detailed survey of substrate and other habitat characteristics along the transect. Another primary
objective of the tailwater fish surveys was to develop a comprehensive list of fish species utilizing the
tailwaters. The complete list of fish species found in each of the development tailwaters is provided
in the table below.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 vii Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment

Common Name

Scientific Name High
Rock
Tailwater Tucker-
town
Tailwater
Narrows
Tailwater
Falls
Tailwater
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis x X X X
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum x X X X
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense x X X X
Goldfish Carassius auratus x
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio x X X
Golden Shiner Notemigonus chrysoleucas x X X X
Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius x
Satinfin Shiner Cyprinella analostana x X X X
Eastern Silvery Minnow Hybognathus regius x
Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus x X X
Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus x X X

Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma
macrolepidotum x X X X
Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum x X X X
Flathead Catfish Pylodictus olivarus x X X X
Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus x X X X
Channel Catfish Ictalurus untatus x X X X
White Catfish Ameiurus catus x X X X
Flat Bullhead Ameiurus la ce halus x X
Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis x
Snail Bullhead Ameiurus brunneus x
White Perch Morone americana x X X X
Hybrid Bass (Striped x
White) Morone saxatilis x
chr so s x X
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis x X X X
White Bass Morone chr so s x X X X
Redbreast Sunfish Le orris auritus x X X X
Green Sunfish Le orris c anellus x X X X
Pumpkinseed Le omis ibbosus x X X X
Blue ill Le omis macrochirus x X X X
Redear Sunfish Le omis microlo hus x X X X
Warmouth Le omis ulosus x X X X
Smallmouth Bass Micro terus dolomieu x
Largemouth Bass Micro terus salmoides x X X X
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis x X X X
Black Crappie Pomoxis ni romaculatus x X X X
Tesselated Darter Etheostome olmstedi x X
Yellow Perch Perca avescens x X X X
Lon nose Gar Le isosteus osseus x X X X
Smallmouth Buffalo ktiobus bubalus x X X
Bowfin Amia calva x
White Sucker Catostomus commersoni x
Spotted Sucker Min trema melano s x
Overall, the fish communities sampled in the tailwaters of High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows and
Falls developments were found to be very similar, but some differences in species captured were
noted. Species diversity recorded in the tailwaters ranged from a high of thirty-four species in both
High Rock and Falls tailwaters to a low of 29 species recorded in Tuckertown tailwater. Large
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 viii Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
numbers of bluegill, largemouth bass, gizzard shad and white perch dominated the catches in each
tailwater. These four species are among the ten most abundant species captured within each tailwater,
comprising 48% of the total catch in High Rock tailwater, 57% in Tuckertown tailwater, 64% in
Narrows tailwater and 46% in Falls tailwater. These species are generally tolerant of low dissolved
oxygen (DO) concentrations, a condition which can occur in the project tailwaters during the summer.
Given the numbers of these species captured it also is apparent that these species are well adapted to
hydro peaking operations, and routine changes in powerhouse discharges. Another popular sport fish,
black crappies, were more abundant in both Tuckertown and High Rock tailwaters than either
Narrows or Falls.
Common carp and quillback were both in the ten most abundant species sampled in the High Rock
tailwater and were either not present or captured in low numbers in the other three tailwaters. The
numbers of carp captured in High Rock tailwater were evenly distributed during all three seasons of
sampling. Quillback were most abundant in the tailwater during the spring season and may have been
using the tailwater area below High Rock dam for spawning. In the Falls tailwater, silver and
shorthead redhorse were in the top ten species collected. The shorthead redhorse was captured at all
four tailwaters during the study, but its numbers were lower at the other three tailwaters. The higher
catches of shorthead redhorse in the Falls tailwater compared to upstream tailwaters may be due to
better habitat and water quality conditions, especially dissolved oxygen levels. The shorthead
redhorse (and the black redhorse) are considered to be intolerant to poor water quality, as are some
darter species (Scott 1999).
In terms of the health of the tailwater fisheries, the relative weight values for bluegill and largemouth
bass were either within or near the ideal ranges for these species in each of the four tailwaters.
Average proportional stock density (PSD) and relative stock density (RSD-P) values for largemouth
bass were greater then the ideal range within each of the four tailwaters. Bluegill PSD values were
within (High Rock and Narrows) or close to (Tuckertown and Falls) the ideal range for the species in
all four tailwaters, suggesting a balanced population. However, RSD-P values for bluegill were well
below the ideal range for the species in all four tailwaters and this indicated that few large, quality
sized fish were available for harvest. Relative weights for black crappie were within or very close to
the ideal range in both Narrows and Tuckertown tailwaters, indicating that the fish are in good
condition. However, black crappie relative weights in High Rock tailwater (Tuckertown Reservoir)
were lower than both the ideal range, suggesting possible problems finding adequate food sources.
The PSD and RSD-P values for black crappie were either within or greater then the ideal range for the
species in High Rock, Tuckertown, and Narrows tailwaters, suggesting a balanced population with
most size classes represented.
Striped bass are currently present within all of the reservoirs and tailwaters, but the numbers captured
in the High Rock tailwater (n=11) and Falls tailwater (n=18), were low compared to the numbers
capture in the Tuckertown (n=65) and Narrows (n=39) tailwaters. The North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission (NCWRC) stocks striped bass in all the project reservoirs except Falls
(Narrows tailwater). Striped bass captured in the Narrows tailwater (upper Falls reservoir) most
likely have dropped down from Narrows Reservoir. Those collected in Falls tailwater (upper Tillery
Reservoir) may have originated from stockings into Tillery Reservoir or may have dropped down
from Falls Reservoir. Striped bass are known to be relatively sensitive to water temperature and DO
conditions, and striped bass in Narrows Reservoir (Tuckertown tailwater) are currently the target of
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 lx Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
cooperative bioenergetic studies by NCWRC and North Carolina State University to evaluate growth
in relation to available habitat, particularly the thermal environment.
Two federal fish species of concern, the Carolina redhorse and robust redhorse, were of particular
interest to the fishery agencies during this study. Both species have been collected previously in the
Pee-Dee River below the Blewett Falls project, and Carolina redhorse individuals have been collected
below Tillery dam and in Tillery Reservoir. For the Yadkin Project study, focused searches for these
two species were made in all four tailwaters, with sampling concentrated on Falls tailwater at the
upper end of Lake Tillery. Despite the intensive surveys, neither the Carolina redhorse nor the robust
redhorse was found in any of the Yadkin Project tailwaters.
The study also survey mussels in the four Project tailwaters. A total of seven species of freshwater
mussels were found within the four tailwaters. A summary of the mussel species found within each
of the four Project tailwaters is provided in the table below.
Mussels Found in the Yadkin Project Tailwaters 2003-2004.

Species
Falls Dam
Tailwater Badin Dam
(Narrows)
Tailwater
Tuckertown
Tailwater
High Rock
Tailwater
Anodonta im licata R 1
Alewife floater
Elli do com lanta 328 16
Eastern Elli do
Elli do c f lanceolata 113 1
Pee Dee Lance
Lampsilis radiata 117 R
Eastern lamp mussel
Pyganodon cataracte 1 2
Eastern floater
Utterbackia imbecillis 8 2 4 1
Paper pond shell
Villosa delumbis 8
Eastern creekshell

Total No. Of Unionidae Species 7 6 1 1
Total No. Of Individuals 575 22 4 1
Corbicula fluminea A A A A
Cipangopalucdinea chinensis 231
Chinese mystery snail
• R = represented by relics only
• A = abundant
Falls tailwater had the greatest mussel diversity with seven species and 575 total individuals. In Falls
tailwater, Elliptio complanta (Eastern Elliptio) was the most abundant (57%) mussel species, while
Elliptio cf lanceolata (Pee Dee Lance)(20%) and Lampsilis radiata (Eastern lamp mussel)(20%)
were common. Narrows tailwater had 6 species with 22 total individuals. Elliptio complanta (73%)
was the most abundant species within the Narrows tailwater. Elliptio complanata was present in both
the Falls and Narrows tailwaters. One specimen ofAnodonta implicata (Alewife floater) was found
within the Narrows tailwater. The only mussel species found in the Tuckertown and High Rock
tailwaters was the Utterbackia imbecillis (Paper pond shell) with four individuals found in
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 x Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown and one in High Rock. Corbicula fluminea, the Asiatic clam, is an invasive species that
was abundant throughout all four tailwaters. No state or federally listed rare mussel species were
found in any of the four Project tailwaters.
The study also examined benthic macroinvertebrate communities in each of the tailwaters. Because
of their limited mobility, benthic macroinvertebrates are often used as indicators of water quality and
aquatic habitat quality. Generally speaking, a more diverse benthic community is indicative of better
water quality. At the Yadkin Project, 6 phyla, 24 orders, and 41 families represented by the 99
benthic macroinvertebrates species were found in the four Project tailwaters. Spring sampling in
Falls tailwater yielded the highest number of species with 53 found and the summer sampling in High
Rock yielded the lowest number of species collected with 29. The spring sampling in Narrows
(12,008/12m2) and Falls (10,172/12m2) yielded the highest densities of individuals. The lowest
numbers of individuals per sample were recorded in Falls (1,420/12m2) and Narrows (1,333/12m2)
during the fall sampling. The table below summarizes the percent composition of the most abundant
benthic macroinvertebrate species within each of the four tailwaters during the three seasons of
sampling.
Percent composition of the dominant benthic m acroinverteb rate species by sampling season.
September 2003 November 2003 June 2004
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
SPECIES Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock
Dugesia tigrina 9.3 7.6 6.2 12.5
Corbicula fluminea 26.7 48.0 43.5 11.0 9.3
Musculium transversum 15.1 9.6 38.2 43.7 6.2 53.2 28.3 18.6 35.2
Physella sp. 8.2
Menetus dilatatus 6.3
Dero sp. 14.1
Slavina appendiculata 14.6 9.1
Lumbriculidae 10.0
Caecidotea sp. 11.1 17.0 10.0 12.6 6.8 17.9 13.8 28.8 17.3 16.3 29.7 6.8
Hyalella azteca 11.1 8.2 6.8
Cyrnellus fraternus 7.3
Cricotopus sp. 15.0
Dicrotendipes simpsoni 24.5 22.3 11.7
Glyptotendipes sp. 9.2 9.2
Rheotanytarsus sp. 22.5
The EPT index is the total number of species found in an area within the pollution sensitive groups
Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera and is considered a measure of water quality. As the
EPT value increases, water quality will tend to do the same. The EPT values computed for all four of
the Yadkin Project tailwaters, in all seasons, fell within the fair to poor water quality range.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 xi Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) is applying to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a new
license for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The Project consists of four reservoirs (High Rock,
Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls), dams, and powerhouses located on a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin
River in central North Carolina (Figure 1-1). The Project generates electricity to support the power needs
of Alcoa's Badin Works and its other aluminum operations, or is sold on the open market.
To address concerns over potential impacts of Project operations on aquatic biota in the tailwater reaches
of the four developments, a comprehensive, seasonal survey of fish and macroinvertebrates (aquatic
insects and mussels) was undertaken in each of the four Project tailwaters. These surveys also included
searches for rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) fish and mussel species.
2.0 BACKGROUND
As part of the relicensing process, APGI prepared and distributed, in September 2002, an Initial
Consultation Document (ICD), which provided a general overview of the Project (APGI 2002). Agencies,
municipalities, non-governmental organizations and members of the public were given an opportunity to
review the ICD and identify information and studies that were needed to address relicensing issues. To
further assist in the identification of issues and data/study needs, APGI formed several Issue Advisory
Groups (IAGs) to advise APGI on resource issues throughout the relicensing process. Through meetings,
reviews and comments, the Fish and Aquatics IAG assisted in developing the Study Plans for the various
resource issues, and will further review and comment on the findings resulting from the implementation
of the study plans. The Fish and Aquatics IAG was interested in the effects of Yadkin reservoir releases
on tailwater fish, macroinvertebrates and aquatic habitat. They were also interested in the current status
of RTE aquatic species in the Project tailwaters that could be impacted by Project operations. This report
presents the findings of the tailwater fish and aquatic biota studies, following implementation of the Final
Study Plan, dated June 2003. The Final Study Plan, entitled Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota
Assessment is attached to this report as Appendix 1.
3.0 STUDY OBJECTIVES
On March 12 and April 9, 2003 the Fish and Aquatics IAG met to discuss study objectives for the
Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota study. Through those discussions and written comments on the draft
study plan received after the April 9, 2003 IAG meeting, the following objectives were identified for the
final study plan.
1. Describe tailwater habitats in all four Yadkin development tailwater areas.
Inventory and assess the resident fish community in the Project tailwaters on a seasonal basis
(spring, summer, and fall) to develop baseline data that can be used to detect changes over time.
Evaluate the impacts of existing Project operations on the tailwater fish community, such as
impacts associated with generation schedules (generation on/off), and impacts due to the low
dissolved oxygen (DO) found in the tailwaters during certain times of the year.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 1 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
-i-
17
1r
?v ?i u? a ? ucau n?u ??a,e a
Environmental Consultants
25 Nashua Road
Bedford NH 03 110-5500
[phone]
0 5 10 Miles
I I
Figure 1-1. Yadkin Project
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 2 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Inventory and assess the macroinvertebrate and mussel species in the Project tailwaters on a
seasonal basis to develop baseline data that can be used to detect changes in these communities
over time. Evaluate the impacts of existing project operations on the tailwater macroinvertebrate
community and describe tailwater habitats.
4. Search for rare, threatened and endangered mussel species in Project tailwaters.
Search for rare, threatened and endangered fish species, including the Robust and Carolina
redhorse species, in the Project tailwaters during the spring (spawning period), summer, and fall
fish surveys.
4.0 METHODS
4.1 TAILWATER FISH SAMPLING
Normandeau personnel intensively sampled for fish during the summer (August and September, 2003),
fall (November 2003) and spring (May 2004) in the Falls, Narrows, Tuckertown, and High Rock tailwater
areas. Sampling gear included gill nets, boat electroshocking equipment, backpack electrofishing gear,
and a forty foot seine net. Sampling focused on the immediate tailwater areas within each of the four
reservoirs. The goal was to capture the maximum number of fish species to develop a comprehensive
species list of the resident fish community on a seasonal basis in each tailwater. This list would then
become a baseline that could be used to detect changes in the fish community over time. Fisheries
sampling in each tailwater was planned to include periods when the projects were generating and during
periods of no generation or reduced generation (this depended on the season and river flows). Part of this
effort included sampling during low dissolved oxygen (DO) and normal DO levels during each season to
determine effects of oxygen on fish catches. To accomplish these objectives, sampling in each tailwater
generally continued for three to four consecutive days each season, so that different generation (on/off)
and normal and low DO periods were sampled.
Two sets of experimental, monofilament gill nets, 100 ft long by 8 ft deep, were used to sample each of
the tailwaters. The nets were constructed of four 25 ft panels of 1, 2, 3, and 4-inch stretch mesh. The
second set of gillnets were of the same construction with 2, 3, 4, and 5 inch stretch mesh. The numbers of
nets fished per tailwater varied based upon suitable conditions for setting the gear. Six nets were fished in
the Highrock tailwater, seven in Tuckertown, six in Narrows and eight in Falls. Most gill nets were set to
fish 24-hour periods and after they were hauled and the fish removed they were usually reset in the same
location. However some gill nets were moved to other locations within the tailwater to avoid catching
high numbers of repeat species and to expand the species list.
Electrofishing in the four tailwaters was conducted from two 16 ft aluminum boats equipped with a
4500W, 230V gasoline-powered generator. A four-electrode array was mounted on a boom and
suspended in the water approximately 2 in in front of the boat; the cathode boom was secured to the bow
of the boat. Direct current (DC) discharge was controlled by a Smith-Root Model IV electrofisher set to
deliver 672V at 5-6 amps at a frequency of 60 pulses/sec. Current to the electrodes was pulsed by a foot
switch operated by a netter at the bow. Both shock boats would work opposite shorelines simultaneously
to expedite sampling and to ensure that fish were collected from all areas during both generation and non-
generation periods. Most of the electrofishing effort in each tailwater concentrated on the shoreline
because the mid-channel areas were too deep to effectively fish with anything but gill nets. Electrofishing
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 3 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
was conducted during both daytime and nighttime to maximize catches and to sample during potential
low DO periods in order to assess fish community reaction to the oxygen conditions in each tailwater.
Each shore was electrofished multiple times to ensure that most fish species were captured. The Smith-
Root systems logged the number of seconds each boat applied electricity to the water and this was used to
calculate the number of fish captured per minute or the catch per unit effort (CPUE).
A backpack electroshocker was used to sample shallow water areas in each tailwater that could not be
accessed with the electrofishing boats. A 40 ft seine was also used in appropriate habitat in each of the
four tailwaters.
All fish were identified to species, measured to the nearest mm, and representative samples were weighed
to the nearest gm. Most of the fish captured with electrofishing gear were released alive after they were
processed except for a few individuals retained for further ID and reference specimens. Most of the fish
captured with gill nets were dead or in poor condition, however, any live fish was released after it was
measured and weighed.
4.2 TAILWATER FISH ANALYSIS
Percent composition and catch per unit effort (CPUE)was calculated for all fish. Proportional stock
density (PSD), relative stock density (RSD) and relative weight (Wr) values were calculated for selected
species. Boat electrofishing CPUE was obtained by dividing the total number of captured individuals
within species by the number of hours (obtained from the Smith Root log detailing the seconds of
electricity applied to the water) to calculate a value representing the number of fish captured per hour of
actual shock time. Gill net CPUE was obtained by dividing the total number of captured individuals
within each species by the total number of 24 hour net sets to calculate a value representing the number of
fish captured per 24 hour period. Proportional stock densities (PSD) and relative stock densities (RSD-P)
were calculated for selected game and forage fish. As described by Anderson (1980), PSD is the
percentage of the stock that is of quality size and is calculated by:
PSD(%) = Number > quality size x 100
Number > stock size
where: stock size = 25 percent of maximum length
quality size = 37 percent of maximum length
RSD is the percentage of the stock that fits one of several size categories; preferred (RSD-P), memorable
(RSD-M), or trophy (RSD-T), and is calculated based on the management strategy for the given stock
(Gabelhouse 1984).
RSD-P(%) = Number > preferred size x 100
Number > stock size
where: stock size = 25 percent of maximum length
preferred size = 45-55 percent of maximum length
In addition to calculating PSD and RSD-P values for the dominant fish species captured in the tailwaters,
relative weight was also determined. Relative weight gives an indication of a fish's body condition at the
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 4 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
time of capture. As described by Anderson (1980) and Anderson and Neumann (1996), relative weight
(Wr) is an index of body condition and is calculated by:
Wr = (W/Ws) x 100
where: W = the weight of an individual
WS = a length specific standard weight predicted by a weight-length regression designed to
represent a given species
Species-specific slope and intercept values are available to fisheries managers to assist in the calculation
of relative weight values for a number of sport and non-game fish species (Neumann and Murphy 1991;
Muoneke and Pope 1999; Anderson and Neumann 1996; Bister et al. 2000).
Standard ranges of PSD and RSD-P values to define a balanced fish population are available to aid
fisheries managers. A balanced fish population has been defined as one that is intermediate between large
numbers of small fish and small numbers of large fish and it indicates that the rates of growth, recruitment
and mortality may be satisfactory (Anderson and Weithman 1978). Largemouth bass PSD values
between 40 and 70 and RSD-P values between 10 and 40 are reported as ideal ranges for this species.
Bluegill PSD values between 20 and 60 and RSD-P values between 5 and 20 are ideal for this fish.
Crappie PSD values between 30 and 60 and RSD-P values between 5 and 20 are indicative of balanced
populations (Anderson 1980; Anderson and Newman 1996). In general, an average relative weight of
100 over a broad range of size groups may reflect the optimum ecological and physiological conditions
for a given species. Relative weight values well below the optimum range may be indicative of a problem
with food or feeding for the species of concern. Ideal ranges of 95 to 100 for largemouth bass, bluegill,
and redear sunfish (Murphy et al. 1991) and 95 to 105 for black and white crappie (Neumann and Murphy
1991) have been suggested. Of important note to fisheries managers, it has been suggested that
populations of bass with low or no annual reproduction or low or indeterminate mortality of quality-sized
fish may have PSD values greater then 80, RSD-P values greater then 40, and relative weight values
exceeding 110. Populations of bluegill associated with above described bass populations typically have
PSD values less then 20 and RSD-P values around zero (Anderson 1980).
4.3 CAROLINA AND ROBUST REDHORSE SEARCHES
The robust redhorse (moxostoma robustum) and Carolina redhorse (undescribed moxostoma species) are
both listed as a Federal Species of Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and in recent
years small numbers of both species have been captured in the Pee Dee River downstream of the Yadkin
Project (RRCC 2003). Field crews were prepared to collect and hold these fish alive during all three
seasons of tailwater fish capture. During the spring 2004 tailwater fish sampling, an additional effort was
expended at all four tailwaters to try and capture the two redhorse species. Most of the available
spawning habitat for the redhorse species at the Yadkin Project exists in the rocky, shoal habitat present in
the four tailwaters, therefore the spring fish sampling was expanded to try and capture spawning redhorse
species. Spring (2004) fish sampling began in the Falls tailwater when water temperatures reached 18 °C
(robust redhorse spawn between 18 and 24°C). Additional gill net sets and electrofishing transects were
fished in Falls tailwater during the spring sampling period, mainly because Falls has more of the
redhorses preferred riverine habitat compared to the other Project tailwaters. Carolina redhorse have been
captured in the Pee Dee River below the Yadkin Project around woody debris, therefore field crews also
targeted this habitat type, when present, with both gill nets and electroshocking gear. Gill net locations at
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 5 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
all four tailwaters were moved frequently during the spring sample period in an effort to cover more area.
Gill nets were fished and checked within 8-hour periods during the spring survey to avoid any potentially
negative effects on the rare redhorse species.
4.4 TAILWATER MACROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING AND MUSSEL SEARCHES
Normandeau and Pennington and Associates, Inc. (PAI) personnel set-up permanent mussel transects and
macroinvertebrate sampling stations in each of the four Project tailwaters. Agency personnel and
interested participants from the Fish and Aquatics IAG assisted in picking out the transect locations at
each tailwater site during the site visits in July 2003. Once the transect locations were selected, a GPS
reading was taken on each shoreline so all macroinvertebrate sampling and mussel searches would be
taken from the same transects.
Two transects were setup in each of the four tailwaters, with one transect located near each powerhouse
and the other located downstream in the lower tailwater. Along each transect, three permanent
macroinvertebrate stations were established at approximately 25%, 50% and 75% of the distance along
each transect. Sampling was conducted at the macroinvertebrate stations during summer (September
2003), fall (November, 2003), and spring (May, 2004). A total of six 2 m2 macroinvertebrate samples
were collected from each tailwater per sample period. In deep water (>4 ft), an underwater airlift was
used by a diver to collect the 2 m2 macroinvertebrate samples at each station and in shoal water, a kick net
was used. Macroinvertebrates collected were preserved on-site and returned to PAI's lab for sorting and
identification of species.
Mussel searches were also conducted each season in each of the four tailwaters by divers swimming along
the length of each transect line (length dependent on the wetted width of each tailwater at time of
sampling). Divers searched at least one meter upstream and downstream of each transect line (2 in wide
band along the entire transect) when visibility permitted. Additionally, mussel searches were done by
walking along the shoreline of each tailwater looking for mussel shells and by having divers search in
areas identified by participants during the July 2003 site visit as good mussel habitat that was not located
along a transect line. Any live RTE mussel species located during the searches were to be identified,
returned to where it was found (if it was removed from the water), and its location recorded with GPS.
The location of any relic mussel shells found would be recorded and the shells collected and identified.
The benthic macroinvertebrate communities were assessed and compared using taxa richness, percent
contribution of dominant taxon, EPT index, Jaccards Coefficient, Percent Similarity and a modified
Hilsenhoff Biotic Index.
During the macroinvertebrate sampling and mussel searches planned for August/September 2003,
Normandeau and PAI biologists collecting the samples described the habitat found in each tailwater area
along the transect lines.
5.0 TAILWATER FISH ASSESSMENT RESULTS
5.1 HIGH ROCK TAILWATER FISHERIES
This section presents results of all the fish captured in Highrock tailwater during the three sampling
periods. Figure 5-1 shows the seasonal gill net locations, the extent of the area that was electrofished by
boat, and the locations of backpack electrofishing and beach seining stations.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 6 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 5-1. High Rock Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 7 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
A total of 2,275 fish (all gear types and seasons combined) representing 33 species and one hybrid were
captured in the High Rock tailwater during the study period (Tables 5-1 & 5-2). Bluegill (15.7%), white
perch (14.2%) and channel catfish (10%) were the three most common fish species collected (Table 5-2;
Appendix 5). A total of 1,171 fish were captured by electrofishing during all three seasons of sampling
(Table 5-3). Bluegills were the dominant species electrofished, with a CPUE of 47.7 fish/hr. Gill nets
captured a total of 942 fish (Table 5-4). White perch (CPUE = 3.9 fish) were the most common fish
captured using this gear. A total of 154 individuals representing five species (golden shiner, largemouth
bass, satinfin shiner, spottail shiner and threadfin shad) were captured by beach seine (all seasons
combined) and backpack shocking yielded eight individuals representing six species (bluegill, flathead
catfish, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, satinfin shiner, and white crappie).
5.1.1 High Rock Tailwater Summer Sample Period
A total of 706 fish, representing 25 species were captured in High Rock tailwater (all gear types
combined) between September 15 and September 18, 2003 (Table 5-2). Bluegill were the dominant fish
species collected (18.8%) followed by white perch (16.0 %), channel catfish (13.0 %) and common carp
at 9.4 % (Table 5-2; Appendix 5). These four fish accounted for more than 57 % of all the fish captured
during the summer period.
Electrofishing in High Rock tailwater during the summer sample period resulted in 20 species being
captured. Total electrofishing CPUE (all species combined) was 281 fish per hour with a total of 318
individual fish captured (Table 5-3). Bluegills were the most abundant fish species captured with a CPUE
of 109.7 fish per hour followed by largemouth bass (42.5 fish per hour), black crappie (32.7 per hour) and
gizzard shad (30.1 per hour). Combined, these four species represent 76 % of all the fish captured by
electrofishing during the summer period.
Total CPUE for fish (all species combined) collected in gill nets deployed in High Rock tailwater during
the summer sample period was 11.3 fish per net, and this consisted of 338 fish representing 20 species
(Table 5-3). White perch were the dominant gill net fish captured, with a CPUE of 3.3 fish per net
followed by channel catfish (2.9 per net) and common carp (1.8 per net). These three fish combined
made up 71 % of the summer gill net catches.
Beach seining in the High Rock tailwater during the summer sample period yielded 50 total fish,
representing three species (44 satinfin shiner, 4 golden shiner, and 2 threadfin shad). No fish were
captured during backpack electrofishing.
Values for PSD and RSD-P were calculated for largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill captured in
High Rock tailwater during the summer period (Table 5-5). The average PSD and RSD-P values for
largemouth bass were 89 and 58, respectively, and both these values exceeded the ideal range reported.
This means some of the large quality sized fish are experiencing low mortality and this may be due to
catch and release fishing practices. Black crappie had an average PSD of 24, which is lower than the
ideal range of 30 to 60 reported for a balanced population, but the RSD-P value of 10 is within the ideal
range reported, suggesting that some large fish are available (Table 5-5). A low sample size prevented
the calculation of PSD and RSD-P values for white crappie during the summer season. The average
bluegill PSD (22) was within the range for a balanced population, but the average RSD-P (2) was below,
indicating few large bluegills were present.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 8 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-1. Species composition for High Rock Tailwater by season.
Sampling Periods
Common Name Scientific Name Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis x X
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum x X X X
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense x X X X
Goldfish Carassius auratus x X
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio x X X X
Golden Shiner Notemigonus chrysoleucas x X X X
Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius x X
Satinfin Shiner Cyprinella analostana x X X X
Eastern Silvery Minnow Hybognathus regius x X
Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus x X X X
Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus x X
Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum x X X X
Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum x X X
White Catfish Ameiurus catus x X
Channel Catfish ktalurus puntatus x X X X
Flathead Catfish Pylodictus olivarus x X X X
White Perch Morone americana x X X X
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) Morone saxatilis x chrysops x X X
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis x X X X
White Bass Morone chrysops x X
Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus x X X X
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus x X X X
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus x X X X
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus x X X X
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides x X X X
White Crappie Pomoxis amrularis x X X X
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus x X X X
Tesselated Darter Etheostome olmstedi x X
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens x X X
Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus x X X X
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus x X X
Smallmouth Buffalo ktiobus bubalus x X
Blue Catfish ktalurus furcatus x X X
Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus x X X X
Total Taxa 25 26 28 34
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 9 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Table 5-2. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within High Rock Tailwater, all gear types combined.
O
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons
Species # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition
Blue ill 133 18.84% 150 19.53% 75 9.36% 358 15.74%
White Perch 113 16.01% 152 19.79% 58 7.24% 323 14.20%
Channel Catfish 92 13.03% 73 9.51% 63 7.87% 228 10.02%
Largemouth Bass 55 7.79% 63 8.20% 89 11.11% 207 9.10%
Gizzard Shad 55 7.79% 46 5.99% 103 12.86% 204 8.97%
Common Carp 66 9.35% 48 6.25% 51 6.37% 165 7.25%
Black Crappie 51 7.22% 34 4.43% 63 7.87% 148 6.51%
Golden Shiner 5 0.71% 54 7.03% 66 8.24% 125 5.49%
Satinfin Shiner 54 7.65% 27 3.52% 16 2.00% 97 4.26%
Quillback 10 1.42% 1 0.13% 68 8.49% 79 3.47%
Threadfin Shad 8 1.13% 40 5.21% 19 2.37% 67 2.95%
Pumpkinseed 4 0.57% 22 2.86% 14 1.75% 40 1.76%
White Crappie 5 0.71% 6 0.78% 27 3.37% 38 1.67%
Shorthead Redhorse 4 0.57% 11 1.43% 19 2.37% 34 1.49%
Flathead Catfish 10 1.42% 4 0.52% 9 1.12% 23 1.01%
Green Sunfish 10 1.42% 8 1.04% 3 0.37% 21 0.92%
Yellow Perch 0 0.00% 1 0.13% 16 2.00% 17 0.75%
Longnose Gar 3 0.42% 2 0.26% 9 1.12% 14 0.62%
Blue Catfish 13 1.84% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 13 0.57%
Silver Redhorse 1 0.14% 11 1.43% 0 0.00% 12 0.53%
Striped Bass 3 0.42% 6 0.78% 2 0.25% 11 0.48%
White Bass 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 8 1.00% 8 0.35%
Redear Sunfish 1 0.14% 2 0.26% 4 0.50% 7 0.31%
Redbreast Sunfish 2 0.28% 0 0.00% 4 0.50% 6 0.26%
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 5 0.62% 5 0.22%
Warmouth 1 0.14% 1 0.13% 3 0.37% 5 0.22%
White Catfish 3 0.42% 2 0.26% 0 0.00% 5 0.22%
Goldfish 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 3 0.37% 3 0.13%
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) 1 0.14% 2 0.26% 0 0.00% 3 0.13%
Blueback Herring 0 0.00% 2 0.26% 0 0.00% 2 0.09%
Smallmouth Buffalo 2 0.28% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.09%
Tesselated Darter 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.25% 2 0.09%
Eastern Silvery Minnow 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 1 0.12% 1 0.04%
Spottail Shiner 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 1 0.12% 1 0.04%
White Sucker 1 0.14% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 1 0.04%
TOTALS 706 100.00% 768 100.00% 801 100.00% 2275 100.00%
rz)
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-3. Electrofishing CPUE (#of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in High Rock
Tailwater.
Sumner 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 All Seasons
S ecies # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
Bluegill 124 109.65 146 47.31 72 24.35 342 47.67
Largemouth Bass 48 42.45 60 1944 . 81 27.39 189 26.34
Gizzard Shad 34 30.07 40 12.96 28 9.47 102 14.22
Black Crappie 37 32.72 28 9.07 34 11.50 99 13.66
Common Carp 11 9.73 36 11.67 19 6.42 66 9.20
Threadfin Shad 5 4.42 40 12.96 17 5.75 62 8.64
Satinfin Shiner 10 8.84 25 8.10 14 4.73 49 6.83
Pumpkinseed 4 3.54 21 6.80 14 4.73 39 5.44
Quillback 0 0.00 0 0.00 29 9.81 29 4.04
Golden Shiner 1 0.88 8 2.59 16 5.41 25 3.48
White Perch 14 12.38 2 0.65 5 1.69 21 2.93
Channel Catfish 6 5.31 8 2.59 5 1.69 19 2.65
Green Sunfish 10 8.84 6 1.94 3 1.01 19 2.65
Yellow Perch 0 0.00 1 0.32 16 5.41 17 2.37
Silver Redhorse 1 0.88 11 3.56 0 0.00 12 1.67
White Crappie 4 3.54 4 1.30 4 1.35 12 1.67
Flathead Catfish 1 0.88 3 0.97 7 2.37 11 1.53
Striped Bass 2 1.77 6 1.94 2 0.68 10 1.39
Shorthead Redhorse 2 1.77 2 0.65 4 1.35 8 1.12
Redear Sunfish 1 0.88 2 0.65 4 1.35 7 0.98
Redbreast Sunfish 2 1.77 0 0.00 4 1.35 6 0.84
Longnose Gar 0 0.00 0 0.00 5 1.69 5 0.70
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 5 1.69 5 0.70
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 1.35 4 0.56
Warmouth 0 0.00 1 0.32 3 1.01 4 0.56
Blueback Herring 0 0.00 2 0.65 0 0.00 2 0.28
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) 0 0.00 2 0.65 0 0.00 2 0.28
Tesselated Darter 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.68 2 0.28
Eastern Silvery Minnow 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.34 1 0.14
Goldfish 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.34 1 0.14
White Catfish 1 0.88 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.14
TOTALS 318 281.2 454 147.09 399 134.91 1171 163.1
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 11 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-4. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in High Rock Tailwater.
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons
S ecies # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
White Perch 99 3.30 150 8.33 53 1.77 302 3.87
Channel Catfish 86 2.87 65 3.61 58 1.93 209 2.68
Gizzard Shad 21 0.70 6 0.33 75 2.50 102 1.31
Common Carp 55 1.83 12 0.67 32 1.07 99 1.27
Quillback 10 0.33 1 0.06 39 1.30 50 0.64
Black Crappie 14 0.47 6 0.33 29 0.97 49 0.63
Shorthead Redhorse 2 0.07 9 0.50 15 0.50 26 0.33
White Crappie 1 0.03 1 0.06 23 0.77 25 0.32
Bluegill 9 0.30 2 0.11 3 0.10 14 0.18
Largemouth Bass 7 0.23 1 0.06 6 0.20 14 0.18
Blue Catfish 13 0.43 0 0.00 0 0 13 0.17
Flathead Catfish 9 0.30 1 0.06 1 0.03 11 0.14
Longnose Gar 3 0.10 2 0.11 4 0.13 9 0.12
White Catfish 2 0.07 2 0.11 0 0.00 4 0.05
Threadfin Shad 1 0.03 0 0.00 2 0.07 3 0.04
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 3 0.10 3 0.04
Goldfish 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.07 2 0.03
Smallmouth Buffalo 2 0.07 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.03
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.03 1 0.01
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) 1 0.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
Striped Bass 1 0.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
Warmouth 1 0.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
White Sucker 1 0.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
TOTALS 338 11.25 258 14.34 346 11.54 942 12.08
Table 5-5. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative Weight
(Wr)Values for selected species within High Rock Tailwater during all three sampling
seasons.
PSD
S ecies Summer Fall S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 24 42 24 27 30 to 60*
Bluegill 22 40 25 26 20 to 60*
Largemouth bass 89 83 87 87 40 to 70*
RSD-P
Species Summer Fall S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 10 9 8 8 5 to 20*
Bluegill 2 0 1 1 5 to 20*
Largemouth bass 58 69 55 58 10 to 40*
Wr
S ecies Summer Fall S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 82 80 80 80 95 to 105**
Bluegill 95 98 94 95 95 to 100***
Channel catfish 87 88 90 89 90 to 100*
Largemouth bass 104 110 104 102 95 to 100***
[*(Anderson and Neumann 1996) **(Neumann and Murray 1991) ***(Murphy et al. 1991)
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 12 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-5 shows the average relative weights (Wr) for four fish species captured in High Rock tailwater
by season. Black crappie had an average relative weight of 82 during the summer sampling season,
which is lower than the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species, indicating a problem
securing enough food. The average bluegill relative weight for the summer sampling period was 95 and
this was within the acceptable range (95-100) for the species. Average largemouth bass relative weights
(104) for the summer period were slightly higher than the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in
the literature. Channel catfish (Wr = 87) were slightly below the recommended range of 90 to 100
reported for the species.
5.1.2 High Rock Tailwater Fall Sample Period
A total of 768 fish, representing 26 species were captured in High Rock tailwater (all gear types
combined) between November 6 and November 8, 2003 (Table 5-1). White perch (19.8 %) and bluegill
(19.5 %) were the two most abundant species during the fall sampling followed by channel catfish (9.5
%) and largemouth bass (8.2 %) (Table 5-2; Appendix 5). Together, these four fish species comprised 57
% of all the fish captured. Golden shiners were the fifth most abundant fish within the tailwater area
during the fall and the majority of these were captured by beach seine in shallow, low-flow areas with
sandy substrate.
Electrofishing CPUE in High Rock tailwater averaged 147 fish per hour during the fall sampling period
and from this effort, 454 fish, representing 22 species were captured by electrofishing (Table 5-3).
Bluegills were the dominant fish captured electrofishing, with a CPUE of 47.3 fish per hour, followed by
largemouth bass (19.4 per hour), gizzard shad (13.0 per hour), threadfin shad (13.0 per hour) and common
carp (11.7 per hour).
Gillnet CPUE for the fall sampling, all species combined, averaged 14.3 fish per net (Table 5-4). Two
hundred fifty-eight fish representing 13 species were captured in the gill nets. White perch dominated the
gill net catch with a CPUE of 8.3 fish per net, comprising 58% of the total fish caught.
During the fall sampling, a total of 50 fish representing three species were captured by beach seining (46
golden shiner, 2 satinfin shiner, 2 largemouth bass). An additional six fish representing 4 species were
captured by backpack electrofishing (2 green sunfish, 2 bluegills, 1 pumpkinseed and 1 white crappie).
Values for PSD and RSD-P were calculated for largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegills collected
during the fall sample period (Table 5-5). The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 83 and
69, respectively, and both these values exceeded the ideal range reported. This indicates some of the
large quality sized bass are experiencing low mortality and this may be due to catch and release fishing
practices. Black crappie had an average PSD of 42 and RSD-P of 9, suggesting a balanced population
with some large fish available for harvest. A low sample size prevented the calculation of PSD/RSD-P
values for white crappie during the fall season. The average bluegill PSD (40) was within the range for a
balanced population, while the average RSD-P was zero, indicating no preferred size fish.
Table 5-5 shows the average relative weights for four fish species captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. Black crappie had an average relative weight of 80 during the fall sampling season, which is
lower than the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species. This indicates that the black
crappies may have a problem securing enough food. The average bluegill relative weight for the fall
sampling period was 98 and is within the acceptable range (95-100) for the species. Average largemouth
bass relative weights (110) for the fall period were slightly higher than the recommended range of 95 to
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 13 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
100 reported in the literature. Channel catfish (Wr = 88) were just below the recommended range for the
species.
5.1.3 High Rock Tailwater Spring Sample Period
A total of 801 fish, representing 28 species were captured in High Rock tailwater (all gear types
combined) between May 4 and May 6, 2003 (Tables 5-1). Gizzard shad (12.9%), largemouth bass
(11.1%), and bluegill (9.4%) were the three most abundant species captured in the tailwater during spring
sampling (Table 5-2; Appendix 5). Quillback were the fourth most abundant species captured, making up
8.5% of the fish caught, and field notes suggest the gear was not completely effective at capturing
quilback. Large numbers of quillback were observed escaping capture by moving out of the field
generated by the electrofishing boats. Golden shiners were the fifth most abundant species collected
during the spring season, comprising 8.3% of the total catch. The majority of these fish were captured by
beach seine in shallow, sandy, low-flow areas of the tailwater.
Spring electrofishing CPUE averaged 135 fish per hour, with a total of 399 fish (27 species) captured
(Table 5-3). Largemouth bass (CPUE=27.4 per hour) and bluegill (24.4 per hour) were the dominant
species and comprised over 38% of all the fish caught. Black crappie (11.5 per hour), quillback (9.8 per
hour) and gizzard shad (9.5 per hour) were also regularly captured by electrofishing.
Total CPUE for gill nets fished during the spring season averaged 11.5 fish per net, per 24-hour set (Table
5-4). A total of 346 fish representing 16 species were captured, and of these, gizzard shad (2.5 per net),
channel catfish (1.9 per net), white perch (1.8 per net) and quillback (1.3 per net) were the dominant
species.
During the spring sampling, a total of 54 fish representing four species were captured by beach seining
(50 golden shiners, 2 largemouth bass, 1 satinfin shiner and 1 spottail shiner). An additional two fish (1
satinfin shiner and 1 flathead catfish) were captured by backpack electrofishing
The average PSD and RSD-P values for largemouth bass were 87 and 55, respectively, and both these
values exceeded the ideal range reported (Table 5-5). This indicates that some of the large quality sized
fish are experiencing low mortality and this may be due to catch and release fishing practices. Black
crappie had an average PSD of 24, which is lower than the ideal range of 30 to 60 reported for a balanced
population, but the RSD-P value of 8 is within the ideal range reported, suggesting that some large fish
are available.
Table 5-5 shows the average relative weights for four fish species captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. Black crappie had an average relative weight of 80 during the spring sampling season, which is
lower than the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species. Relative weights for black
crappie were low during all three seasons in High Rock tailwater, suggesting a problem securing enough
food. The average bluegill relative weight for the spring sampling period was 94, near the acceptable
range (95-100) for the species. Average largemouth bass relative weights (104) for the spring period were
slightly higher than the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in the literature. Channel catfish (Wr =
90) were within the recommended range for the species.
5.1.4 Seasonal Differences in High Rock Tailwater
Species abundance was highest in High Rock tailwater during the spring sampling period. Bluegill,
largemouth bass, channel catfish and gizzard shad were among the top seven species collected in each of
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 14 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
the three sampling periods. Quillback abundance showed a dramatic increase during the spring sampling
period when compared to the summer and fall periods. Quillback in Tennessee have been shown to
spawn from late April through May (Etmer and Starnes 1993). Quillback may be using the area below
the dam as a spawning ground. The PSD and RSD-P values for black crappie, largemouth bass, and
bluegill followed the same pattern through all three sampling events. Using criteria from Anderson
(1980), the High Rock PSD, RSD-P and Wr values for largemouth bass from all seasons combined were
suggestive of a population with low mortality among quality-sized fish. The relative weights calculated
for black crappie were consistently below ideal ranges, suggesting a feeding problem. Bluegill and
channel catfish relative weights were either in the ideal range or just below, indicating these fish are in
good condition. Largemouth bass consistently exceeded Wr values, indicating these fish are in very good
condition, with no problems securing food.
Appendix 2 (Figures 1-1 through 1-9) show the length frequency distributions for several important game
and forage fish found in High Rock tailwater during all three sampling seasons. Largemouth bass are
spawning successfully within High Rock tailwater or the upper reach of Tuckertown reservoir. The
length-frequency figures for this species show a bimodal distribution with peaks for juvenile and adult
sized fish. Small numbers of striped bass were present in the tailwater during all three sampling periods.
Striped bass are stocked by NCWCR to enhance the sport fishery and as a management tool to consume
shad. Channel catfish ranging in size from <5cm to >60 cm were present in the tailwater during all three
seasons. Channel catfish are maintaining a population with some large-sized individuals within the
tailwater and are a popular sport fish. Bluegills are spawning successfully with a large number of
individuals in the 12-15 cm size-classes, but there are few large quality fish. Black crappies were
captured in all three seasons in the tailwater and those individuals represented a wide range of size
classes, from juvenile to adult fish. White crappies were less abundant but individuals from both adult
and juvenile size classes were captured. Large numbers of forage species such as white perch, gizzard
shad, and threadfin shad indicate these fish are spawning successfully
5.2 TUCKERTOWN TAILWATER FISHERIES
This section presents results of all the fish captured in the Tuckertown tailwater during the three sampling
periods. Figure 5-2 shows the seasonal gill net locations, the extent of the area that was electrofished by
boat, and the locations of backpack electrofishing and beach seining stations.
A total of 3,296 fish (all gear types and seasons combined) representing 28 species and one hybrid were
captured in the Tuckertown tailwater during the study (Tables 5-6 & 5-7). Bluegill (18.2%), gizzard shad
(18.1) and white perch (13.7%) were the top three species captured (Table 5-7; Appendix 5).
A total of 1,836 fish were captured by electrofishing during all three seasons of sampling, and of these,
bluegill were the most commonly captured species with a CPUE of 48.2 fish captured per hour of
electroshocking (Table 5-8).
A total of 1,438 fish were captured by gill nets during the three seasons of sampling. White perch were
the most common species with a CPUE of 4.3 per net (Table 5-9). A total of 13 fish representing two
species (bluegill and largemouth bass) were captured by beach seine during all three sampling seasons.
Backpack shocking yielded nine individuals representing five species (bluegill, channel catfish, flathead
catfish, golden shiner, largemouth bass).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 15 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 5-2. Tuckertown Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 16 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-6. Species composition for Tuckertown Tailwater by season.
Sampling Periods
Common Name Scientific Name Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis x X X X
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum x X X X
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense x X X X
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio x X X X
Golden Shiner Notemigonus chrysoleucas x X X
Satinfin Shiner Cyprinella analostana x X X
Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus x X X
Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus x X
Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum x X X X
Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum x X X
White Catfish Ameiurus catus x X X X
Channel Catfish ktalurus puntatus x X X X
Flathead Catfish Pylodictus olivarus x X X X
White Perch Morone americana x X X X
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) Morone saxatilis x chrysops x X X
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis x X X X
White Bass Morone chrysops x X
Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus x X X X
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus x X X X
Pumpkinseed Lepomisgibbosus x X X X
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus x X X X
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides x X X X
White Crappie Pomoxis amrularis x X X X
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus x X X X
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens x X X X
Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus x X X X
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus x X
Blue Catfish ktalurus furcatus x X X
Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus x X X X
Total Taxa 24 26 25 29
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 17 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Table 5-7. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within Tuckertown Tailwater, all gear types combined. -777 Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons

Species # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition
Bluegill 267 18.76% 244 20.75% 88 12.63% 599 18.17%
Gizzard Shad 426 29.94% 116 9.86% 53 7.60% 595 18.05%
White Perch 224 15.74% 164 13.95% 63 9.04% 451 13.68%
Channel Catfish 100 7.03% 141 11.99% 73 10.47% 314 9.53%
Largemouth Bass 78 5.48% 79 6.72% 79 11.33% 236 7.16%
Threadfin Shad 53 3.72% 76 6.46% 69 9.90% 198 6.01%
Black Crappie 37 2.60% 83 7.06% 27 3.87% 147 4.46%
White Crappie 43 3.02% 29 2.47% 20 2.87% 92 2.79%
Pumpkinseed 5 0.35% 9 0.77% 62 8.90% 76 2.31%
Flathead Catfish 26 1.83% 4 0.34% 35 5.02% 65 1.97%
Striped Bass 15 1.05% 43 3.66% 7 1.00% 65 1.97%
Yellow Perch 2 0.14% 21 1.79% 37 5.31% 60 1.82%
White Catfish 34 2.39% 6 0.51% 18 2.58% 58 1.76%
Redear Sunfish 19 1.34% 31 2.64% 6 0.86% 56 1.70%
Blueback Herring 41 2.88% 10 0.85% 4 0.57% 55 1.67%
Shorthead Redhorse 15 1.05% 38 3.23% 1 0.14% 54 1.64%
Common Carp 16 1.12% 16 1.36% 21 3.01% 53 1.61%
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) 2 0.14% 20 1.70% 0 0.00% 22 0.67%
Golden Shiner 0 0.00% 18 1.53% 3 0.43% 21 0.64%
Blue Catfish 8 0.56% 1 0.09% 8 1.15% 17 0.52%
Quillback 1 0.07% 7 0.60% 7 1.00% 15 0.46%
Silver Redhorse 2 0.14% 9 0.77% 0 0.00% 11 0.33%
Longnose Gar 3 0.21% 1 0.09% 5 0.72% 9 0.27%
Satinfin Shiner 0 0.00% 7 0.60% 1 0.14% 8 0.24%
Redbreast Sunfish 2 0.14% 1 0.09% 3 0.43% 6 0.18%
White Bass 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 5 0.72% 5 0.15%
Green Sunfish 1 0.07% 1 0.09% 2 0.29% 4 0.12%
Warmouth 3 0.21% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 3 0.09%
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00% 1 0.09% 0 0.00% 1 0.03%
TOTALS 1423 100.00% 1176 100.00% 697 100.00% 3296 100.00%
rz)
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-8. Electrofishing CPUE (# of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in
Tuckertown Tailwater.
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 7 77A711 Seasons
Species # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
Bluegill 256 58.42 233 74.44 73 17.60 562 48.20
Gizzard Shad 283 64.58 47 15.02 53 12.78 383 32.85
Largemouth Bass 66 15.06 77 24.60 73 17.60 216 18.52
Threadfin Shad 42 9.58 56 17.89 19 4.58 117 10.03
Pumpkinseed 5 1.14 9 2.88 62 14.95 76 6.52
White Perch 32 7.30 21 6.71 5 1.21 58 4.97
Black Crappie 16 3.65 26 8.31 7 1.69 49 4.20
Redear Sunfish 11 2.51 30 9.58 6 1.45 47 4.03
Blueback Herring 41 9.36 2 0.64 0 0.00 43 3.69
Yellow Perch 2 0.46 21 6.71 17 4.10 40 3.43
Channel Catfish 8 1.83 9 2.88 17 4.10 34 2.92
White Crappie 1 0.23 12 3.83 20 4.82 33 2.83
Common Carp 9 2.05 13 4.15 10 2.41 32 2.74
Striped Bass 15 3.42 15 4.79 2 0.48 32 2.74
White Catfish 9 2.05 3 0.96 11 2.65 23 1.97
Golden Shiner 0 0.00 18 5.75 2 0.48 20 1.72
Shorthead Redhorse 6 1.37 10 3.19 0 0.00 16 1.37
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) 2 0.46 13 4.15 0 0.00 15 1.29
Satinfin Shiner 0 0.00 7 2.24 1 0.24 8 0.69
Redbreast Sunfish 2 0.46 1 0.32 3 0.72 6 0.51
Silver Redhorse 2 0.46 3 0.96 0 0.00 5 0.43
Green Sunfish 1 0.23 1 0.32 2 0.48 4 0.34
Longnose Gar 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 0.96 4 0.34
Quillback 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 0.96 4 0.34
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 0.96 4 0.34
Flathead Catfish 0 0.00 1 0.32 2 0.48 3 0.26
Warmouth 2 0.46 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.17
TOTALS 811 185.08 628 200.64 397 95.7 1836 157.44
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 19 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-9. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in Tuckertown
Tailwater.
Sumner 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 77AH Seasons
Species # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
White Perch 192 5.49 143 5.11 58 2.07 393 4.32
Channel Catfish 91 2.60 132 4.71 56 2.00 279 3.07
Gizzard Shad 143 4.09 69 2.46 0 0.00 212 2.33
Black Crappie 21 0.60 57 2.04 20 0.71 98 1.08
Threadfin Shad 11 0.31 20 0.71 50 1.79 81 0.89
Flathead Catfish 26 0.74 3 0.11 32 1.14 61 0.67
White Crappie 42 1.20 17 0.61 0 0.00 59 0.65
Shorthead Redhorse 9 0.26 28 1.00 1 0.04 38 0.42
White Catfish 25 0.71 3 0.11 7 0.25 35 0.38
Striped Bass 0 0.00 28 1.00 5 0.18 33 0.36
Common Carp 7 0.20 3 0.11 11 0.39 21 0.23
Bluegill 11 0.31 7 0.25 2 0.07 20 0.22
Yellow Perch 0 0.00 0 0.00 20 0.71 20 0.22
Largemouth Bass 11 0.31 1 0.04 6 0.21 18 0.20
Blue Catfish 8 0.23 1 0.04 8 0.29 17 0.19
Blueback Herring 0 0.00 8 0.29 4 0.14 12 0.13
Quillback 1 0.03 7 0.25 3 0.11 11 0.12
Redear Sunfish 8 0.23 1 0.04 0 0.00 9 0.10
Hybrid Bass (Striped x White) 0 0.00 7 0.25 0 0.00 7 0.08
Silver Redhorse 0 0.00 6 0.21 0 0.00 6 0.07
Longnose Gar 3 0.09 1 0.04 1 0.04 5 0.05
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00 1 0.04 0 0.00 1 0.01
Warmouth 1 0.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.04 1 0.01
TOTALS 610 17.43 543 19.42 285 10.18 1438 15.81
5.2.1 Tuckertown Tailwater Summer Sample Period
A total of 1,423 fish, representing 24 species were captured in the Tuckertown tailwater (all gear
types combined) between September 1 and September 4, 2003 (Tables 5-7). Gizzard shad (29.9%),
bluegill (18.8%), and white perch (15.7%) were the three most abundant species, comprising over
60% of the fish captured (Table 5-7; Appendix 5). Channel catfish, largemouth bass, and threadfin
shad combined made up another 15% of the fish captured.
Summer electrofishing CPUE in the Tuckertown tailwater averaged 185 fish per hour (Table 5-8). A
total of 811 fish representing 21 species were captured by boat electrofishing during this effort.
Gizzard shad (64.5 per hour) and bluegill (58.4 per hour) were the two most abundant fish collected
in the tailwater, followed by largemouth bass (15.1 per hour), threadfin shad (9.6 per hour), and
blueback herring (9.4 per hour).
Gill net CPUE in Tuckertown tailwater during the summer sample period was 17.4 fish per net (Table
5-9). Six hundred and ten fish representing 17 species were captured by gill net and of these, white
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 20 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
perch (5.5 fish per net), gizzard shad (4.1 per net), channel catfish (2.6 per net) and white crappie (1.2
per net) were the dominant species captured in the gill nets.
During the summer sampling, one largemouth bass was captured by beach seining and one channel
catfish was collected with the backpack electrofishing unit.
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 86 and 63, respectively, and both these values
exceeded the species ideal range (Table 5-10). Black crappie had an average PSD of 57 and RSD-P
of 16, suggesting a balanced population with some large quality fish available. White crappie had a
summer PSD of 23, slightly lower than the ideal range and an RSD-P of 9 within the ideal range,
indicating some large fish are available for harvest. The average bluegill PSD (18) was slightly
below the range for a balanced population, as was the average RSD-P (0). All redear sunfish captured
during the summer that were greater than the minimum "stock" length for calculation of PSD values
were also greater than the lower end of the "quality" size class. This resulted in a summer season
PSD value of 100, which exceeded the ideal range of 20 to 60 reported for this species. The RSD-P
value for redear was 32, higher than the ideal ranges, and this was due to the number of larger
individuals captured.
Black crappie had an average relative weight of 91 during the summer sampling season, which is
slightly lower than the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species (Table 5-10). The
average white crappie relative weight for the summer sampling period was 86, also below the
acceptable range (95-105) for the species. The average bluegill relative weight for the summer
sampling period was 101, slightly higher than the acceptable range (95-100) for the species,
indicating they are in very good condition. The average relative weight for redear sunfish during the
summer sampling was 78, lower then the ideal range for the species, indicating a potential problem
securing food. Average largemouth bass relative weights (106) for the summer period were higher
than the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in the literature. Channel catfish (Wr = 92) were
within the recommended range for the species.
5.2.2 Tuckertown Tailwater Fall Sample Period
A total of 1,176 fish, representing 26 species were captured in the Tuckertown tailwater (all gear
types combined) between November 9 and November 11, 2003 (Table 5-7). Bluegill (20.8%), white
perch (14.0%), and channel catfish (12.0%) were the three most abundant fish captured (Table 5-7;
Appendix 5). Along with gizzard shad (9.9%), black crappie (7.1%) and largemouth bass (6.7%),
these six species combined to represent over 70% of the total number of fish captured.
Total electrofishing CPUE (all fish combined) in the Tuckertown tailwater was 201 fish per hour and
from this effort, 628 fish, representing 23 species were captured during the fall period (Table 5-8).
Bluegills were the most abundant fish captured with a CPUE of 74.4 fish per hour, followed by
largemouth bass (24.6 per hour), threadfin shad (17.9 per hour), and gizzard shad (15.0 per hour).
Gill net CPUE for fish collected during the fall period in Tuckertown tailwater was 19.4 fish per net
(Table 5-9). A total of 543 fish, representing 21 species were captured. White perch (5.1 per net) and
channel catfish (4.7 per net) comprised over 50 % of the fish caught in the gill nets. Gizzard shad
(2.5 per net) and black crappie (2.0 per net) were the third and fourth most commonly captured fish.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 21 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-10. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr)Values for selected species within Tuckertown Tailwater during all
three sampling seasons.
PSD
Species Summer Fall Spring All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 57 71 65 66 30 to 60*
Bluegill 18 5 15 15 20 to 60*
Largemouth bass 86 85 83 84 40 to 70*
Redear sunfish 100 N/A 100 100 20 to 60*
White crappie 23 54 34 35 30 to 60*
RSD-P
Summer Fan Spring All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 16 19 35 27 5 to 20*
Bluegill 0 0 0 0 5 to 20*
Largemouth bass 63 54 56 57 10 to 40*
Redear sunfish 32 N/A 30 30 5 to 20*
White crappie 9 25 16 16 5 to 20*
Wr
Summer Fan S rin All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 91 97 92 93 95-105**
Bluegill 101 92 98 98 90-100***
Channel catfish 92 87 93 92 90-100*
Largemouth bass 106 102 104 101 95-100***
Redear sunfish 78 N/A 77 78 95-100***
White crappie 86 92 87 87 95-105**
*(Anderson and Neumann 1996) **(Neumann and Murray 1991) ***(Murphy et al. 1991)
During the fall sampling, four bluegills and one largemouth bass were captured by backpack
electrofishing. There were no fish captured by beach seine in Tuckertown tailwater during the fall
sampling period.
The average fall PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 85 and 54, respectively, exceeding the
ideal range for both values (Table 5-10). Black crappies also exceeded the ideal values for PSD (71)
and RSD-P (19) indicating some large fish were available for harvest. White crappie had a fall PSD
of 54 and an RSD-P of 25, also exceeding ideal values reported in the literature. The average bluegill
PSD (5) was below the range for a balanced population, as was the average RSD-P (0).
Black crappie had an average relative weight of 97 during the fall sampling season, which is within
the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species and the average white crappie relative
weight for the fall sampling period was 92, just below the acceptable range (95-105). The average
bluegill relative weight for the fall sampling period was 92, near the acceptable range (95-100) for the
species. Average largemouth bass relative weights (102) for the fall period were slightly higher than
the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in the literature and channel catfish (Wr = 87) were just
below the recommended range for the species.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 22 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
5.2.3 Tuckertown Tailwater Spring Sample Period
A total of 697 individuals, representing 25 species were captured in the Tuckertown tailwater (all gear
types combined) between May 9 and May 12, 2004 (Tables 5-7). Bluegill (12.6%), largemouth bass
(11.3%), channel catfish (10.5%), threadfin shad (9.9%) and white perch (9.0%) comprised the top
five species captured in the tailwater during the spring and accounted for 53.3 % of the individuals
caught (Table 5-7; Appendix 5).
Total electrofishing CPUE averaged 95.7 fish per hour of effort during the Tuckertown spring
sampling event and a total of 397 individuals representing 22 species were captured (Table 7-8).
Bluegill (17.6 per hour), largemouth bass (17.6 per hour), pumpkinseed (15.0 per hour) and gizzard
shad (12.8 per hour) were the four most abundant species collected, comprising 66% of the fish
captured electrofishing.
Total CPUE (all fish combined) for gill nets fished during May of 2004 was 10.2 fish per net (Table
5-9). A total of 285 individuals representing 17 species were caught in gill nets and of these, white
perch (2.1 per net), channel catfish (2.0 per net), threadfin shad (1.8 per net), and flathead catfish (1.1
per net) were the dominant fish.
During the spring sampling, 1 golden shiner, 1 flathead catfish and 1 bluegill were captured by
backpack electrofishing and 12 bluegills were captured by beach seine in Tuckertown tailwater.
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 83 and 56, respectively, exceeding the ideal
range for both values (Table 5-10). Black crappie had an average PSD of 65 and RSD-P of 35 and
white crappie had a PSD of 34 and an RSD-P of 16. Both crappie species exceeded the ideal ranges
for these values, indicating balanced fish populations with some quality sized fish available. The
average bluegill PSD (15) was below the range for a balanced population, as was the average RSD-P
(0). All redear sunfish captured during the spring that were greater than the minimum "stock" length
for calculation of PSD values were also greater than the lower end of the "quality" size class. This
resulted in a spring season PSD value of 100, well over the ideal range, and an RSD-P value of 30,
also greater than the ideal range of 5 to 20 recommended for this fish, indicating some large quality
fish are available for harvest.
Black crappie had an average relative weight of 92 during the spring sampling season, which is
slightly lower than the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species. The average white
crappie relative weight for the spring sampling period was 87, also below the acceptable range (95-
105) for the species. The average bluegill relative weight for the spring sampling period was 98,
within the acceptable range (95-100) for the species. The average relative weight for redear sunfish
during the spring sampling was 77, lower then the ideal range for the species. Average largemouth
bass relative weights (104) for the spring period were slightly higher than the recommended range of
95 to 100 reported in the literature and channel catfish (Wr = 93) were within the recommended
range for the species.
5.2.4 Seasonal Differences in Tuckertown Tailwater
Species richness was highest in the Tuckertown tailwater during the November sampling period.
Bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish, threadfin shad, white perch and gizzard shad were
consistently within the top seven species collected (all gear types combined) for each of the three
sampling periods. The PSD, RSD-P and Wr values of largemouth bass were similar to values
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 23 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
suggested by Anderson (1980) to be representative of a population that either has low or no annual
reproduction or low rates of mortality on quality-sized fish. Since multiple size classes of largemouth
bass were present (see Appendix 2 Figure 1-10), the data suggests that large, quality sized fish have
low mortality and this may be a result of catch and release fishing. The PSD and RSD-P values for
Tuckertown tailwater bluegills suggest a population that is not balanced due to few large fish,
however, the bluegills captured had relative weights within the ideal range, suggesting the fish were
in good condition. Redear sunfish were not present in the tailwater in great enough numbers during
the fall season to calculate PSD/RSD-P values. The Wr values for this species (<78) were lower than
optimum in both the spring and summer periods and this may be suggestive of a problem with food or
feeding in this species. Relative weights for all six species looked at were consistent throughout the
three seasons.
Appendix 2 (Figures 1-10 through 1-21) show the length frequency distributions for several important
game and forage fish found in the Tuckertown tailwater. Largemouth bass representing all the size
classes from 2-50 cm were captured during all three sampling periods in Tuckertown, demonstrating
that successful spawning is occurring. Adult and juvenile sized striped bass were present in
Tuckertown tailwater during all three sampling seasons. Fingerling striped bass are currently stocked
by NCWRC into Narrows Reservoir (Tuckertown tailwater) at a rate of 62,000 fish per year.
Blueback herring were present in Tuckertown tailwater during all three seasons sampled as a result of
stockings into Narrows Reservoir (Tuckertown tailwater) during the 1970's. The presence of juvenile
sized fish in the fall sampling suggests that this species is spawning successfully and continues to
maintain a small land-locked population. Black and white crappies of different size classes were
present in the tailwater during all three sampling events, indicating these fish are successfully
spawning in Narrows reservoir (Tuckertown tailwater). Bluegills were present in large numbers and
over a range of size classes demonstrating that they are successfully spawning. While PSD and RSD-
P values are low for bluegill, suggesting an abundance of small individuals, the average relative
weight value of all fish captured during the three seasons of sampling is within the ideal range for the
species suggesting feeding is not a problem. The presence of small redear sunfish during the fall
sampling period suggests that these fish are spawning and maintaining a population within
Tuckertown tailwater. Channel and blue catfish are maintaining populations in the tailwater with
some individuals reaching large size. Large numbers of forage species such as white perch, gizzard
shad and threadfin shad demonstrate that these fish are spawning successfully.
5.3 NARROWS TAILWATER FISHERIES
This section presents results of all the fish captured in the Narrows tailwater during the three
sampling periods. Figure 5-3 shows the seasonal gill net locations, the extent of the area that was
electrofished by boat, and the locations of backpack electrofishing and beach seining stations.
A total of 3,667 fish (all gear types and seasons combined) representing 30 species were captured in
the Narrows tailwater over the three seasons of sampling (Tables 5-11 & 5-12). White perch (20.3
gizzard shad (19.6%) and bluegill (12.6%) were the top three fish species captured in Narrows during
the study. Most of these fish (2,417 individuals) were captured by electrofishing during all three
seasons of sampling. Gizzard shad (CPUE=39.2 fish/hr) were the most commonly captured species
(Table 5-13). A total of 1,217 fish were captured by gill nets during the three seasons of sampling
and of these, white perch were the dominant species with a CPUE of 6.9 per net (Table 5-14). A total
of 25 individuals representing six species (bluegill, black crappie, golden shiner, largemouth bass,
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 24 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 5-3. Narrows Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 25 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-11. Species composition for Narrows Tailwater by season.
Sampling Periods
Common Name Scientific Name Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis x X X X
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum x X X X
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense x X X X
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio x X X X
Golden Shiner Notemigonus chrysoleucas x X X
Satinfin Shiner Cyprinella analostana x X X
Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum x X X X
Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum x X
White Catfish Ameiurus catus x X X X
Channel Catfish ktalurus puntatus x X X X
Flathead Catfish Pylodictus olivarus x X X X
White Perch Morone americana x X X X
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis x X X X
White Bass Morone chrysops x X
Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus x X X X
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus x X X X
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus x X X X
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus x X X X
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides x X X X
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis x X X
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus x X X
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens x X X X
Bowfin Amia Galva x X
Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus x X X
Flat Bullhead Ameiurus platycephalus x X X X
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus x X X X
Smallmouth Buffalo ktiobus bubalus x X
Snail Bullhead Ameiurus brunneus x X
Blue Catfish ktalurus furcatus x X X X
Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus x X X X
Total Taxa 23 24 28 30
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 26 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Table 5-12. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within Narrows Tailwater, all gear types combined.
N
J
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S "n 2004 All Seasons
_Species # Individuals % Com position # Individuals % Com position # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition
White Perch 505 23.36% 217 24.27% 23 3.76% 745 20.32%
Gizzard Shad 553 25.58% 90 10.07% 77 12.60% 720 19.63%
Bluegill 273 12.63% 90 10.07% 100 16.37% 463 12.63%
Largemouth Bass 245 11.33% 125 13.98% 52 8.51% 422 11.51%
Redbreast Sunfish 198 9.16% 111 12.42% 89 14.57% 398 10.85%
Channel Catfish 92 4.26% 38 4.25% 73 11.95% 203 5.54%
White Catfish 67 3.10% 24 2.68% 42 6.87% 133 3.63%
Blue Catfish 90 4.16% 7 0.78% 24 3.93% 121 3.30%
Threadfin Shad 17 0.79% 58 6.49% 6 0.98% 81 2.21%
Blueback Herring 2 0.09% 41 4.59% 18 2.95% 61 1.66%
Warmouth 23 1.06% 10 1.12% 23 3.76% 56 1.53%
Striped Bass 14 0.65% 18 2.01% 7 1.15% 39 1.06%
Flathead Catfish 19 0.88% 4 0.45% 12 1.96% 35 0.95%
Redear Sunfish 16 0.74% 5 0.56% 14 2.29% 35 0.95%
Black Crappie 15 0.69% 16 1.79% 1 0.16% 32 0.87%
Pumpkinseed 6 0.28% 11 1.23% 15 2.45% 32 0.87%
Yellow Perch 11 0.51% 5 0.56% 11 1.80% 27 0.74%
Common Carp 5 0.23% 5 0.56% 6 0.98% 16 0.44%
Shorthead Redhorse 1 0.05% 7 0.78% 2 0.33% 10 0.27%
Longnose Gar 0 0.00% 6 0.67% 2 0.33% 8 0.22%
Golden Shiner 6 0.28% 0 0.00% 1 0.16% 7 0.19%
Flat Bullhead 2 0.09% 1 0.11% 3 0.49% 6 0.16%
Green Sunfish 1 0.05% 2 0.22% 1 0.16% 4 0.11%
Snail Bullhead 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 3 0.49% 3 0.08%
Satinfin Shiner 1 0.05% 0 0.00% 1 0.16% 2 0.05%
Silver Redhorse 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.33% 2 0.05%
Smallmouth Buffalo 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.33% 2 0.05%
White Bass 0 0.00% 1 0.11% 1 0.16% 2 0.05%
Bowfin 0 0.00% 1 0.11% 0 0.00% 1 0.03%
White Crappie 0 0.00% 1 0.11% 0 0.00% 1 0.03%
TOTALS 2162 100.00% 894 100.00% 611 100.00% 3667 100.00%
rz)
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-13. Electrofishing CPUE (# of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in
Narrows Tailwater.
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 777AR Seasons
S ecies # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
Gizzard Shad 386 64.76 62 15.72 77 22.12 525 39.22
Bluegill 258 43.29 83 21.04 100 28.72 441 32.95
Redbreast Sunfish 197 33.05 108 27.38 89 25.56 394 29.43
Largemouth Bass 228 38.25 112 28.40 51 14.65 391 29.21
White Perch 85 14.26 12 3.04 23 6.61 120 8.96
White Catfish 51 8.56 23 5.83 36 10.34 110 8.22
Channel Catfish 39 6.54 14 3.55 46 13.21 99 7.40
Threadfin Shad 17 2.85 41 10.40 6 1.72 64 4.78
Blueback Herring 2 0.34 41 10.40 1 0.29 44 3.29
Warmouth 18 3.02 7 1.77 16 4.60 41 3.06
Redear Sunfish 14 2.35 5 1.27 14 4.02 33 2.47
Yellow Perch 11 1.85 5 1.27 10 2.87 26 1.94
Pumpkinseed 5 0.84 5 1.27 15 4.31 25 1.87
Striped Bass 10 1.68 12 3.04 2 0.57 24 1.79
Black Crappie 9 1.51 6 1.52 1 0.29 16 1.20
Blue Catfish 13 2.18 1 0.25 0 0.00 14 1.05
Common Carp 3 0.50 4 1.01 5 1.44 12 0.90
Flathead Catfish 2 0.34 2 0.51 6 1.72 10 0.75
Golden Shiner 4 0.67 0 0.00 1 0.29 5 0.37
Green Sunfish 1 0.17 2 0.51 1 0.29 4 0.30
Flat Bullhead 2 0.34 0 0.00 1 0.29 3 0.22
Shorthead Redhorse 0 0.00 2 0.51 1 0.29 3 0.22
Snail Bullhead 0 0.00 0 0.00 3 0.86 3 0.22
Longnose Gar 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.57 2 0.15
Satinfin Shiner 1 0.17 0 0.00 1 0.29 2 0.15
Smallmouth Buffalo 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.57 2 0.15
Bowfin 0 0.00 1 0.25 0 0.00 1 0.07
Silver Redhorse 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.29 1 0.07
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.29 1 0.07
White Crappie 0 0.00 1 0.25 0 0.00 1 0.07
TOTALS 1356 227.52 549 139.19 512 147.07 2417 180.55
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 28 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-14. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in Narrows Tailwater.
Sumner 2003
- Fall 2003
7 -7 S rin 2004 All Seasons
S ecies # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
White Perch 420 8.75 205 8.54 0 0.00 625 6.94
Gizzard Shad 167 3.48 27 1.13 0 0.00 194 2.16
Blue Catfish 77 1.60 6 0.25 24 1.33 107 1.19
Channel Catfish 53 1.10 24 1.00 27 1.50 104 1.16
Flathead Catfish 17 0.35 2 0.08 6 0.33 25 0.28
Largemouth Bass 10 0.21 13 0.54 0 0.00 23 0.26
White Catfish 16 0.33 1 0.04 6 0.33 23 0.26
Blueback Herring 0 0.00 0 0.00 17 0.94 17 0.19
Threadfin Shad 0 0.00 17 0.71 0 0.00 17 0.19
Black Crappie 5 0.10 10 0.42 0 0.00 15 0.17
Striped Bass 4 0.08 6 0.25 5 0.28 15 0.17
Warmouth 5 0.10 3 0.13 7 0.39 15 0.17
Bluegill 3 0.06 7 0.29 0 0.00 10 0.11
Shorthead Redhorse 1 0.02 5 0.21 1 0.06 7 0.08
Longnose Gar 0 0.00 6 0.25 0 0.00 6 0.07
Common Carp 2 0.04 1 0.04 1 0.06 4 0.04
Flat Bullhead 0 0.00 1 0.04 2 0.11 3 0.03
Redbreast Sunfish 0 0.00 3 0.13 0 0.00 3 0.03
Redear Sunfish 1 0.02 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
Silver Redhorse 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.06 1 0.01
White Bass 0 0.00 1 0.04 0 0.00 1 0.01
Yellow Perch 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.06 1 0.01
TOTALS 781 16.24 338 14.09 98 5.45 1217 13.54
pumpkinseed, and redear sunfish) were captured by beach seine during all three sampling seasons.
Backpack shocking yielded eight individuals representing five species (bluegill, gizzard shad,
largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and redbreast sunfish).
5.3.1 Narrows Tailwater Summer Sample Period
A total of 2,162 fish, representing 23 species were captured in the Narrows tailwater (all gear types
combined) between August 28 and September 1, 2003 (Table 5-12). Gizzard shad and white perch
were the dominant fish, and together they represented 50% of the individuals captured (Table 5-12;
Appendix 5). Bluegill (12.6%), largemouth bass (11.3%), redbreast sunfish (9.2%) and channel
catfish (4.3%) rounded out the top six species captured.
Total summertime electrofishing CPUE in Narrows tailwater was 227.5 fish per hour, with a total of
1,356 fish collected (Table 5-13). Gizzard shad were the most frequently captured fish in the summer
electrofish samples, with a CPUE of 64.8 fish caught per hour, followed by bluegill (43.3 per hour),
largemouth bass (38.3 per hour) and redbreast sunfish (33.1 per hour). The above four species along
with white perch (14.3 per hour) and white catfish (8.6 per hour) comprised the top six fish captured
by electrofishing.
Total CPUE for fish (all species combined) collected in the Narrows gill nets during the summer of
2003 was 16.2 fish per 24 hour set (Table 5-14). White perch were the most abundant fish in the gill
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 29 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
nets with a CPUE of 8.8 fish per net followed by gizzard shad with 3.5 fish per net. Four catfish
species, blue (CPUE=1.6), channel (L 1), flathead (0.4) and white (0.3), rounded out the six most
frequently captured species in the gillnets.
During the summer sampling period in Narrows tailwater, a total of 19 fish representing five species
were captured by beach seine (9 bluegill, 6 largemouth bass, 2 golden shiner, 1 black crappie, 1
redear sunfish). Backpack electrofishing captured a total of 6 fish representing four species (3
bluegill, 1 redbreast sunfish, 1 pumpkinseed, l largemouth bass).
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 84 and 41 respectively and these exceed the
species ideal range (Table 5-15). Black crappie had an average PSD of 93 and RSD-P of 57, both
values being higher then the optimum ranges for the species. The average bluegill PSD (17) was just
below the range for a balanced population, as was the average RSD-P (0). Redear sunfish captured
during the summer had an average PSD value of 33 and RSD-P value of 33. The PSD value was
within the optimum range for the species whereas the RSD-P value was above, indicating some large
fish were captured.
Table 5-15. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr) Values for selected species within Narrows Tailwater during all
three sampling seasons.
PSD
Species Summer Fall S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 93 100 N/A 97 30 to 60*
Bluegill 17 24 21 20 20 to 60*
Largemouth bass 84 70 79 78 40 to 70*
Redear sunfish 33 N/A 61 53 20 to 60*
RSD-P
Summer Fan Spring All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 57 93 N/A 76 5 to 20*
Bluegill 0 0 0 0 5 to 20*
Largemouth bass 41 38 39 39 10 to 40*
Redear sunfish 33 N/A 35 35 5 to 20*
Wr
Summer Fan S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Black crappie 91 99 96 95 95 to 105**
Blue catfish 108 N/A 106 107 90 to 100*
Bluegill 93 89 92 92 95 to 100***
Channel catfish 99 98 100 99 90 to 100*
Largemouth bass 104 108 104 102 95 to 100***
Redear sunfish 83 N/A 79 80 95 to 100***
*(Anderson and Neumann 1996) **(Neumann and Murray 1991) ***(Murphy et al. 1991)
Table 5-15 shows the average relative weights for six fish species captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. Black crappie had an average relative weight of 91 during the summer sampling season,
which is lower than the recommended values of 95 to 105 reported for that species. The average
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 30 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
bluegill relative weight for the summer sampling period was 93, near the acceptable range (95-100)
for the species. The average relative weight for redear sunfish during the summer sampling was 83,
lower than the ideal range for the species. Average largemouth bass relative weights (104) for the
summer period were slightly higher than the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in the
literature. Channel catfish (Wr = 99) were within the recommended range for the species whereas
blue catfish (Wr = 108) were higher then the range suggested for that species.
5.3.2 Narrows Tailwater Fall Sample Period
A total of 894 fish, representing 24 species were captured in the Narrows tailwater (all gear types
combined) between November 6 and November 8, 2003 (Table 5-12). White perch were the most
frequently caught, comprising 24 % of the catch , followed by largemouth bass (14.0 %), redbreast
sunfish (12.4 %), bluegill (10.1 %) and gizzard shad (10.1 %) (Table 5-12; Appendix 5). These five
species made up over 70 % of the fish caught during the fall period.
Electrofishing CPUE in Narrows tailwater averaged 139.2 fish per hour, with a total of 549 fish
collected (Table 5-13). Largemouth bass (28.4 per hour), redbreast sunfish (27.4 per hour) and
bluegill (21.0 per hour) were the most abundant fish captured by electrofishing.
Total CPUE for fish collected in the Narrows gill nets during November of 2003 was 14.1 fish per 24
hour set (Table 5-14). A total of 338 individuals were captured and of these, white perch were the
dominant fish captured in the gillnets, with CPUE of 8.5 fish per net. Gizzard shad (1.1 per net),
channel catfish (1.0 per net), threadfm shad (0.7 per net) and largemouth bass (0.5 per net) rounded
out the five most commonly captured fish in gillnets.
During the fall sampling in Narrows tailwater, a total of six pumpkinseed were captured by beach
seine. A single gizzard shad was captured by backpack electrofishing.
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 70 and 38 respectively and black crappie had
an average PSD of 100 and RSD-P of 93 (Table 5-15). These values are higher than the optimum
ranges for both species. The average bluegill PSD (24) was within the range for a balanced
population, whereas the average RSD-P (0) was below. Redear sunfish were not captured in high
enough numbers during the fall sampling period to calculate stock densities or relative weights.
Black crappie had an average relative weight of 99 during the fall sampling season, which is within
the recommended range of 95 to 105 reported for that species (Table 5-15). The average bluegill
relative weight for the fall sampling period was 89, slightly below the acceptable range (95-100) for
the species. Average largemouth bass relative weights (108) for the fall period were slightly higher
than the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in the literature. Channel catfish (Wr = 98) were
within the recommended range for the species.
5.3.3 Narrows Tailwater Spring Sample Period
A total of 611 fish, representing 28 species were captured in the Narrows tailwater (all gear types
combined) between May 12 and May 14, 2004 (Table 5-12). The five dominant fish captured in the
Narrows tailwater during the spring sample period were bluegill (16.4 %), redbreast sunfish (14.6
gizzard shad (12.6 %), channel catfish (12.0 %) and largemouth bass (8.5 %) (Table 5-12; Appendix
5).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 31 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Electrofishing CPUE in Narrows tailwater averaged 147 fish per hour, with a total of 512 fish
collected (Table 5-13). Similar to the fall season, bluegill (28.7 per hour) and redbreast sunfish (25.6
per hour) were the two dominant species, followed by gizzard shad (22.1 per hour) largemouth bass
(14.7 per hour), and channel catfish (13.2 per hour).
Total CPUE for fish collected from gillnets during the spring season was 5.44 fish per net and from
this effort, 98 fish, representing twelve species were captured (Table 5-14). Channel catfish (1.5 per
net), blue catfish (1.3 per net), and blueback herring were the three most frequently captured species
in gillnets.
During the spring sampling in Narrows tailwater, one largemouth bass was captured by backpack
eectrofishing. There were no fish captured by beach seine in Narrows tailwater during the spring
sampling.
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 79 and 39 respectively, exceeding the species
optimum range (Table 5-15). The average bluegill PSD (21) was within the range for a balanced
population, but the average RSD-P was zero due to no large fish. Channel catfish had a spring season
PSD of 58 and an RSD-P of 2. Blue catfish had a spring season PSD of 26 and an RSD-P of 1.
Redear sunfish captured during the spring had an average PSD value of 61 and RSD-P value of 35,
with both values exceeding the optimum range. Black crappie sample size for the spring season was
too small for calculation of average stock densities.
The average bluegill relative weight for the spring sampling period was 100, within the acceptable
range (95-100) for the species, while the average relative weight for redear sunfish during the spring
sampling was 79, lower then the ideal range for the species (Table 5-15). Average largemouth bass
relative weight (104) for the spring period was slightly higher than the recommended range of 95 to
100 reported in the literature. Channel catfish (Wr = 100) were within the recommended range for
the species whereas blue catfish (Wr = 106) were higher then the range suggested for that species.
5.3.4 Seasonal Differences in Narrows Tailwater
Species abundance was highest in Narrows tailwater during the spring season. Largemouth bass,
bluegill, redbreast sunfish, white perch, and gizzard shad were consistently among the five most
abundant species sampled during all three seasons. Blueback herring were represented in the catch
during all three seasons. These fish have not been officially stocked into Falls reservoir (Narrows
tailwater) but have most likely been recruited from the land-locked population found upstream in
Narrows reservoir. The PSD and RSD values for largemouth bass and bluegill in Narrows tailwater
are consistent through all three sampling periods. Overall, largemouth bass and bluegill were within
or near the suggested ranges, indicating a balanced population. Redear sunfish were not present in
the tailwater in great enough numbers during the fall season to calculate PSD/RSD-P values. The
values for this species were lower than suggested in both the spring and summer and this could be
suggestive of a problem with food or feeding in this species. Relative weights for all six species
calculated were consistent throughout the three seasons.
Appendix 2 (Figures 1-22 through 1-32) show length frequency distributions for several important
game and forage fish found in Narrows tailwater during all three sampling seasons. Largemouth bass
are successfully spawning as they show a bimodal length frequency distribution with both young fish
and older spawning age adults represented in the catches. Adult and juvenile sized striped bass were
present in the Narrows tailwater during all three seasons. The NCWRC does not currently stock
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 32 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
striped bass into Falls Reservoir (Narrows tailwater) and the presence of these fish in Falls reservoir
is most likely due to successful recruitment from upstream sources. Small numbers of blueback
herring were captured in the Narrows tailwater during all three seasons and their presence could be
explained by recruitment from the established population upsystem in Narrows Reservoir. Redear
sunfish appear to be successfully spawning in the tailwater as shown by the variety of size classes
present. They are not as abundant in Narrows tailwater as they were in the Falls tailwater. Bluegills
in Narrows tailwater seem to be dominated by small fish in the 12 - 14 cm range. Black crappie were
captured in small numbers in the Narrows tailwater and the presence of juvenile size classes could
suggest some spawning taking place in Falls Reservoir (Narrows tailwater) or possible recruitment
from the upstream population in Narrows Reservoir. The presence of individuals in many size classes
indicates that both channel and blue catfish are spawning and achieving large sizes within the Falls
reservoir. Three major forage species, gizzard shad, threadfin shad and white perch were abundant in
the tailwater demonstrating successful spawning.
5.4 FALLS TAILWATER FISHERIES
This section presents results of all the fish captured in the Falls tailwater during the three sampling
periods. Figure 5-4 shows the seasonal gill net locations, the extent of the area that was electrofished
by boat, and the locations of backpack electrofishing and beach seining stations.
A total of 2,906 individuals (all gear types and seasons combined) representing 34 species were
captured in the Falls tailwater over the three seasons of sampling (Table 5-16 & 5-17). Over all three
seasons of sampling, gizzard shad (13.7 %), redbreast sunfish (13.5 %), and bluegill (12.5 %) were
the top three fish species captured (Table 5-17; Appendix 5). A total of 2,395 fish were captured by
electrofishing during all three seasons of sampling. Redbreast sunfish were the most commonly
captured species with 23.9 fish captured per hour (Table 5-18). A total of 357 fish were captured by
gillnets during all three seasons of sampling and of these white perch were dominant with 1.1
captured per 24 hour set (Table 5-19). A total of seven individuals representing four species were
captured by backpack electrofishing during all three sampling seasons (bluegill, largemouth bass,
redbreast sunfish, and tessellated darter). Beach seining yielded three individuals representing two
species (bluegill and redbreast sunfish).
5.4.1 Falls Tailwater Summer Sample Period
A total of 834 fish representing 23 species were captured in Falls tailwater (all gear types combined)
between August 26 and August 27, 2003 (Table 5-17). Bluegill (16 %) were the dominant fish
species, followed by white perch (13 %), threadfin shad (10 %), gizzard shad (10 %), and redbreast
sunfish (10 %). Two game species, the redear sunfish and largemouth bass, each comprised between
7 and 8 % of the capture. These top seven fish species represented more then 75 % of the catch in
Falls tailwater.
Electrofishing CPUE in the Falls tailwater averaged 168.4 fish per hour, with a total of 676 fish
collected (Table 5-18). Bluegills were the dominant species with 32.1 fish per hour followed by
white perch (21.9 per hour), redbreast sunfish (19.9 per hour), redear sunfish (15.4 per hour), gizzard
shad, and threadfin shad (both at 15.2 per hour).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 33 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
'71 - ?,? + rr jr , ?. y'f#s 4iy- V " 't? ,. ' 74 N? ?:Cr• w , . s. ? _ k ,v,
[. ? a ?- <S < 3! ?p?{5? ?f
A rr ? ?Ny ?? , ? 4? $? ie?,? t_ `.r, a y, • 1 ?`?F' M ? fr??'3 ?1 ?f y: ?I _-?4?i''$+ -. , .. r ? i
Legend t"
f" '9 F s j ??
Gill Net Summer-Fall 2403
*'r?' (wtt r?1` A„ r •' -" rt r fit' <k ,j • AA
Gill Net Spring 2004
.' ? tiYy, /?rY kP ?. ar 5 ? ' jiC+ .? r•. ! iY Y•? .
`f `J? f ? 0 Beach Seine
y ?xF " • ;? +, , " ?? . ; .4 v Back Pack Shock
R.rt ?' 3x ` ?, to r? LL rw C` - Boat F-Fish T ansects
j. 'Ot
u !Ayr F ? ? ??,?y - J T4 ,
P'. d W s 4 y d` r ?:
1 *-K
4 7-
h? 1?„ ;.f rr a. + ? A
w ?-? z x w
lip.
Figure 5-4. Falls Tailwater Fisheries Sampling Locations.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 34 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-16. Species composition for Falls Tailwater by season.
Sampling Periods
Common Name Scientific Name Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 2004 All Seasons
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis x X X X
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum x X X X
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense x X X X
Golden Shiner Notemigonus chrysoleucas x X
Satinfin Shiner Cyprinella analostana x X X X
Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus x X
White Sucker Catostomus commersoni x X
Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus x X X
Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum x X X X
Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum x X X X
White Catfish Ameiurus catus x X X X
Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis x X X
Channel Catfish ktalurus puntatus x X X X
Flathead Catfish Pylodictus olivarus x X X
White Perch Morone americana x X X X
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis x X X X
White Bass Morone chrysops x X
Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus x X X X
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus x X
Pumpkinseed Lepomisgibbosus x X X X
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus x X X X
Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu x X
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides x X X X
White Crappie Pomoxis amrularis x X
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus x X X
Tesselated Darter Etheostome olmstedi x X X
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens x X X X
Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus x X X X
Flat Bullhead Ameiurus platycephalus x X
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus x X X X
Spotted Sucker Minytrema melanops x X X X
Snail Bullhead Ameiurus brunneus x X X
Blue Catfish ktalurus furcatus x X X X
Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus x X X X
Total Taxa 23 27 30 34
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 35 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Table 5-17. Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured within Falls Tailwater, all gear types combined.
w
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 All Seasons
Species # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition # Individuals % Composition
Gizzard Shad 86 10.31% 220 18.55% 92 10.38% 398 13.70%
Redbreast Sunfish 84 10.07% 205 17.28% 102 11.51% 391 13.45%
Bluegill 137 16.43% 146 12.31% 81 9.14% 364 12.53%
White Perch 107 12.83% 130 10.96% 76 8.58% 313 10.77%
Largemouth Bass 59 7.07% 95 8.01% 102 11.51% 256 8.81%
Redear Sunfish 67 8.03% 87 7.34% 55 6.21% 209 7.19%
Threadfin Shad 87 10.43% 23 1.94% 74 8.35% 184 6.33%
White Catfish 22 2.64% 33 2.78% 69 7.79% 124 4.27%
Silver Redhorse 16 1.92% 28 2.36% 58 6.55% 102 3.51%
Shorthead Redhorse 13 1.56% 68 5.73% 18 2.03% 99 3.41%
Yellow Perch 28 3.36% 33 2.78% 34 3.84% 95 3.27%
Blue Catfish 40 4.80% 19 1.60% 10 1.13% 69 2.37%
Channel Catfish 13 1.56% 12 1.01% 19 2.14% 44 1.51%
Satinfin Shiner 9 1.08% 11 0.93% 21 2.37% 41 1.41%
Flathead Catfish 14 1.68% 13 1.10% 12 1.35% 39 1.34%
Snail Bullhead 0 0.00% 7 0.59% 25 2.82% 32 1.10%
Spotted Sucker 19 2.28% 1 0.08% 1 0.11% 21 0.72%
Pumpkinseed 8 0.96% 7 0.59% 3 0.34% 18 0.62%
Striped Bass 2 0.24% 15 1.26% 1 0.11% 18 0.62%
Yellow Bullhead 12 1.44% 0 0.00% 1 0.11% 13 0.45%
Black Crappie 2 0.24% 8 0.67% 1 0.11% 11 0.38%
Blueback Herring 1 0.12% 3 0.25% 7 0.79% 11 0.38%
Warmouth 4 0.48% 5 0.42% 1 0.11% 10 0.34%
Tesselated Darter 0 0.00% 7 0.59% 3 0.34% 10 0.34%
Longnose Gar 3 0.36% 2 0.17% 2 0.23% 7 0.24%
Golden Shiner 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 6 0.68% 6 0.21%
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00% 2 0.17% 2 0.23% 4 0.14%
Quillback 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 3 0.34% 3 0.10%
White Bass 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 3 0.34% 3 0.10%
White Sucker 0 0.00% 3 0.25% 0 0.00% 3 0.10%
White Crappie 1 0.12% 1 0.08% 0 0.00% 2 0.07%
Flat Bullhead 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.23% 2 0.07%
Green Sunfish 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.23% 2 0.07%
Smallmouth Bass 0 0.00% 2 0.17% 0 0.00% 2 0.07%
TOTALS 834 100.00% 1186 100.00% 886 100.00% 2906 100.00%
rz)
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-18. Electrofishing CPUE (# of fish per hour of shock time) for fish captured in Falls
Tailwater.
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S r?n 2004 All Seasons
Species # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
Redbreast Sunfish 80 1993 . 203 48.26 101 12.82 384 23.85
Bluegill 129 32.13 140 33.28 81 10.28 350 21.74
Gizzard Shad 61 15.19 178 42.32 81 10.28 320
.
1988
Largemouth Bass 48 11.96 90 21.40 100 12.69 238 14.78
Redear Sunfish 62 15.44 87 2068 . 55 6.98 204 12.67
White Perch 88 21.92 30 7.13 51 6.47 169 10.50
Threadfin Shad 61 15.19 22 5.23 54 6.85 137 8.51
Yellow Perch 28 6.97 33 7.85 34 4.32 95 5.90
Silver Redhorse 15 3.74 16 3.80 55 6.98 86 5.34
White Catfish 17 4.23 17 4.04 46 5.84 80 4.97
Shorthead Redhorse 12 2.99 50 11.89 17 2.16 79 4.91
Satinfin Shiner 9 2.24 11 2.62 21 2.67 41 2.55
Snail Bullhead 0 0.00 5 1.19 24 3.05 29 1.80
Flathead Catfish 9 2.24 12 2.85 7 0.89 28 1.74
Channel Catfish 3 0.75 5 1.19 12 1.52 20 1.24
Blue Catfish 10 2.49 0 0.00 8 1.02 18 1.12
Spotted Sucker 17 4.23 1 0.24 0 0.00 18 1.12
Pumpkinseed 7 1.74 7 1.66 3 0.38 17 1.06
Striped Bass 2 0.50 10 2.38 1 0.13 13 0.81
Yellow Bullhead 12 2.99 0 0.00 1 0.13 13 0.81
Blueback Herring 1 0.25 3 0.71 7 0.89 11 0.68
Tesselated Darter 0 0.00 5 1.19 3 0.38 8 0.50
Black Crappie 2 0.50 4 0.95 1 0.13 7 0.43
Golden Shiner 0 0.00 0 0.00 6 0.76 6 0.37
Warmouth 2 0.50 2 0.48 1 0.13 5 0.31
Creek Chubsucker 0 0.00 2 0.48 2 0.25 4 0.25
Green Sunfish 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.25 2 0.12
Longnose Gar 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.25 2 0.12
Quillback 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.25 2 0.12
Smallmouth Bass 0 0.00 2 0.48 0 0.00 2 0.12
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.25 2 0.12
White Crappie 1 0.25 1 0.24 0 0.00 2 0.12
White Sucker 0 0.00 2 0.48 0 0.00 2 0.12
Flat Bullhead 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.13 1 0.06
TOTALS 676 168.37 938 223.02 781 99.13 2395 148.74
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 37 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 5-19. Gillnet CPUE (# of fish per 24 hour set) for fish captured in Falls Tailwater.
Summer 2003 Fall 2003 S rin 20 04 All Seasons
S ecies # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE # Individuals CPUE
White Perch 19 0.40 100 4.17 25 0.39 144 1.06
Gizzard Shad 25 0.52 42 1.75 11 0.17 78 0.57
Blue Catfish 30 0.63 19 0.79 2 0.03 51 0.38
Threadfin Shad 26 0.54 1 0.04 20 0.31 47 0.35
White Catfish 5 0.10 16 0.67 23 0.36 44 0.32
Channel Catfish 10 0.21 7 0.29 7 0.11 24 0.18
Shorthead Redhorse 1 0.02 18 0.75 1 0.02 20 0.15
Largemouth Bass 11 0.23 5 0.21 1 0.02 17 0.13
Silver Redhorse 1 0.02 12 0.50 3 0.05 16 0.12
Flathead Catfish 5 0.10 1 0.04 5 0.08 11 0.08
Bluegill 8 0.17 2 0.08 0 0.00 10 0.07
Longnose Gar 3 0.06 2 0.08 0 0.00 5 0.04
Redear Sunfish 5 0.10 0 0.00 0 0.00 5 0.04
Striped Bass 0 0.00 5 0.21 0 0.00 5 0.04
Warmouth 2 0.04 3 0.13 0 0.00 5 0.04
Black Crappie 0 0.00 4 0.17 0 0.00 4 0.03
Redbreast Sunfish 3 0.06 0 0.00 1 0.02 4 0.03
Snail Bullhead 0 0.00 2 0.08 1 0.02 3 0.02
Spotted Sucker 2 0.04 0 0.00 1 0.02 3 0.02
Flat Bullhead 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.02 1 0.01
Pumpkinseed 1 0.02 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.01
Quillback 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.02 1 0.01
White Bass 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.02 1 0.01
White Sucker 0 0.00 1 0.04 0 0.00 1 0.01
TOTALS 157 3.26 240 10.00 104 1.66 501 3.72
CPUE for fish collected by the gillnets in the Falls tailwater during August of 2003 was 3.3 fish per
net, with a total of 157 fish captured (Table 5-19). Blue catfish CPUE was 0.6 per net, followed by
threadfin shad (0.5 per net), gizzard shad (0.5 per net) and white perch (0.4 per net).
There were no fish captured by backpack electrofishing in the Falls tailwater during the summer
sampling period. One redbreast sunfish was collected by beach seine.
The PSD and RSD-P values were calculated for largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish (Table
5-20). The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 90 and 64 respectively. The average
bluegill PSD (10) was below the range for a balanced population, as was the average RSD-P (0).
Redear sunfish had a summer season PSD of 71 and an RSD-P of 34 and both values were greater
then the optimal range for a balanced population.
The average bluegill relative weight for the summer sampling period was 100, within the acceptable
range (95-100) for the species (Table 5-20). The average relative weight for redear sunfish during the
summer sampling was 83, lower then the ideal range for the species. Average largemouth bass
relative weights (98) for the summer period were within the recommended range of 95 to 100
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 38 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
reported in the literature. Relative weights for blue catfish (Wr = 109) and channel catfish (Wr =
115) were above the recommended range for the species indicating these fish are in good condition.
Table 5-20. Proportional stock density (PSD), Relative stock density (RSD-P) and Relative
Weight (Wr) Values for selected species within Falls Tailwater during all three
sampling seasons.
PSD
Species Summer Fall Spring All Seasons Ideal Range
Bluegill 10 24 14 14 20 to 60*
Largemouth bass 90 83 89 88 40 to 70*
Redear sunfish 71 81 80 78 20 to 60*
RSD-P
Summer Fan S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Bluegill 0 0 0 0 5 to 20*
Largemouth bass 64 53 61 60 10 to 40*
Redear sunfish 34 17 22 24 5 to 20*
Wr
Summer Fan S r?n All Seasons Ideal Range
Blue catfish 109 99 107 106 90 to 100*
Bluegill 100 94 96 97 95 to 100**
Channel catfish 115 95 103 104 90 to 100*
Largemouth bass 98 100 98 97 95 to 100**
Redear sunfish 83 80 81 81 95 to 100**
*(Anderson and Neumann 1996) **(Neumann and Murray 1991)
5.4.2 Falls Tailwater Fall Sample Period
A total of 1,186 fish representing 27 species were captured in the Falls tailwater (all gear types
combined) between November 4 and November 6, 2003 (Table 5-17). Gizzard shad were the
dominant species, comprising 19% of the total catch. Redbreast sunfish, bluegill, white perch,
largemouth bass, and redear sunfish each comprised between 7 and 17 % of the fish caught.
Shorthead redhorse were more abundant in the tailwater during the fall season, and made up 6 % of
the catch. These top seven fish species represented more then 80 % of the fish captured.
Electrofishing CPUE in Falls tailwater average 223 fish per hour, with a total of 938 fish collected
(Table 5-18). Redbreast sunfish (48.3 per hour) and gizzard shad (42.3 per hour) were the dominant
species. Bluegill (33.3 per hour), largemouth bass (21.4 per hour), redear sunfish (20.7 per hour) and
shorthead redhorse (11.9 per hour) rounded out the top six species captured by electrofishing.
Gillnet CPUE for the Falls tailwater during the fall sampling period was 10.0 fish per net, with a total
of 240 fish captured (Table 5-19). White perch were the dominant fish species captured by gillnet
with a CPUE of 4.2 fish per net, followed by gizzard shad (1.8 per net), blue catfish (0.8 per net) and
shorthead redhorse (0.8 per net).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 39 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
One bluegill was captured by beach seine during the fall sampling period and a total of 6 fish
representing 3 species were captured by backpack electrofishing (2 redbreast sunfish, 2 bluegill, 2
tessellated darter).
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 83 and 53 respectively, exceeding the optimal
range (Table 5-20). The average bluegill PSD (24) was within the range for a balanced population,
whereas the average RSD-P was zero. Redear sunfish had a fall season PSD of 81 and an RSD-P of
17. The PSD value is greater then the optimal range for a balanced population, however the RSD-P
value is within the optimal range.
The average bluegill relative weight for the fall sampling period was 94, near the acceptable range
(95-100) for the species (Table 5-20). The average relative weight for redear sunfish during the fall
sampling was 80, lower then the ideal range for the species, indicating a feeding problem. Average
largemouth bass relative weight (100) for the fall period was within the recommended range of 95 to
100 reported in the literature and relative weights for blue catfish (Wr = 99) and channel catfish (Wr
= 95) were also within the recommended range for the species.
5.4.3 Falls Tailwater Spring Sample Period
A total of 886 fish representing 30 species were captured in Falls tailwater (all gear types combined)
between May 7 and May 10, 2004 (Table 5-17). The top seven fish captured during the spring
sampling included largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, gizzard shad, bluegill, white perch and
threadfin shad and together, they accounted for nearly 70 % of the fish collected. Each of these
species made up between 8 and 11 % of the total number of fish captured during the spring. White
catfish were more abundant in the tailwater during the spring season than either the summer or fall
sampling periods and made up 8 % of the total spring catch. The spring sampling period in Falls
yielded the highest species diversity of any of the three seasons sampled.
Electrofishing CPUE in the Falls tailwater average 99.1 fish per hour, with a total of 781 fish
collected (Table 5-18). Redbreast sunfish (12.8 per hour) and largemouth bass (12.7 per hour) were
the dominant species sampled by electrofishing. Gizzard shad (10.3 per hour), bluegill (10.3 per
hour), silver redhorse (7.0 per hour), redear sunfish (7.0 per hour) and threadfin shad (6.9 per hour)
made up the top seven species sampled.
Gillnet CPUE for the spring season was 1.63 fish per net, with 104 fish captured (Table 5-19). The
lower spring gillnet CPUE values may be a reflection of the fact that nets were moved frequently and
fished for only eight hour sets during the day. No night gillnets were set during the spring sampling
period in Falls tailwater and nets were moved frequently in an attempt to sample as much endangered
redhorse habitat as possible. Overnight sets were avoided in order to prevent the mortality of any
endangered redhorse that may have been captured.
There were no fish captured by beach seine in the Falls tailwater during the spring sampling season.
Backpack electrofishing yielded one largemouth bass.
The average PSD and RSD-P for largemouth bass was 89 and 61 respectively, and both values
exceeded the optimum range (Table 5-20). The average bluegill PSD (14) was below the range for a
balanced population, as was the average RSD-P (0). Redear sunfish had a spring season PSD of 80
and an RSD-P of 22. The PSD value is greater then the optimal range for a balanced population,
however the RSD-P value is near the optimal range.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 40 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
The average bluegill relative weight for the spring sampling period was 96, within the acceptable
range (95-100) for the species (Table 5-20). The average relative weight for redear sunfish during the
spring sampling was 81, lower then the ideal range for the species. Average largemouth bass relative
weight (98) for the spring period was within the recommended range of 95 to 100 reported in the
literature. Relative weights for blue catfish (Wr = 107) and channel catfish (Wr = 103) were both
above the recommended range for the species.
5.4.4 Seasonal Differences in Falls Tailwater
Although the spring sampling period yielded higher species diversity than either the fall or summer,
species composition and CPUE rates were similar for all three sampling periods in Falls tailwater.
Largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, white perch, and gizzard shad were consistently among
the seven most abundant species sampled for all three seasons. Shorthead redhorse were more
abundant in the tailwater area during the fall season then either the spring or summer samplings. The
PSD and RSD-P values for largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish in Falls tailwater were
consistent through all three sampling periods. Similar to High Rock and Tuckertown tailwaters
largemouth bass within Falls tailwater show high PSD, RSD-P and Wr levels, indicating a population
with low or indeterminate mortality of quality-sized fish.
Appendix 2 (Figures 1-33 through 1-41) show length frequency distributions for several important
game and forage fish found in Falls tailwater. Largemouth bass are successfully spawning as they
show a bimodal length frequency distribution with young fish and older spawning age adults. Striped
bass, another important game fish in the area, were present in Falls tailwater. These fish are present
in Tillery Reservoir due to the current stocking program of the NCWRC. Redear sunfish length
frequencies indicate consistent numbers through a variety of size classes suggesting that these fish are
successfully reproducing. The low PSD values for bluegill in the Falls tailwater that were suggestive
of an unbalanced population dominated by smaller fish, is supported by length frequency data that
shows a unimodal distribution of bluegill with a peak in the 10 - 12 cm size classes. Channel and
blue catfish length frequencies each show small numbers of quality sized fish present. The three
major forage species captured, gizzard shad, threadfin shad and white perch were abundant in the
tailwater and are successfully spawning.
5.5 TAILWATER FISH SUMMARY
The fish communities sampled in the tailwaters of High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows and Falls
developments were similar, but some differences in species captured are noted. Species diversity
recorded during the NAI tailwater assessments ranged from a high of thirty-four species in both High
Rock and Falls tailwaters to a low of 29 species recorded in Tuckertown tailwater. Large numbers of
bluegill, largemouth bass, gizzard shad and white perch dominated the catches in each tailwater.
These four species are among the ten most abundant species captured within each tailwater,
comprising 48% of the total catch in High Rock tailwater, 57% in Tuckertown tailwater, 64% in
Narrows tailwater and 46% in Falls tailwater. These species are tolerant of the low dissolved oxygen
(DO) concentrations often found in the project tailwaters during the summer and given their numbers,
they also appear well adapted to the hydro peaking operations that often occur at all four Yadkin
Project developments.
Black crappies were more abundant in both Tuckertown and High Rock tailwaters than either
Narrows or Falls. Common carp and quillback were both in the ten most abundant species sampled in
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 41 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
the High Rock tailwater and were either not present or captured in low numbers in the other three
tailwaters. The numbers of carp captured in High Rock tailwater were evenly distributed during all
three seasons of sampling. Quillback were most abundant in the tailwater during the spring season
and may have been using the tailwater area below High Rock dam for spawning. In the Falls
tailwater, silver and shorthead redhorse were in the top ten species collected. The shorthead redhorse
was captured at all four tailwaters during the study, but its numbers were lower at the other three
tailwaters, where water quality conditions were not as good as those recorded at Falls. The higher
catches of shorthead redhorse in the Falls tailwater compared to upstream tailwaters may be due to
better habitat and water quality conditions, especially dissolved oxygen levels. The shorthead
redhorse (and the black redhorse) are considered to be intolerant to poor water quality, as are some
darter species (Scott 1999).
Bluegill and largemouth bass maintained consistent relative weights throughout all four tailwaters.
Relative weight values were either within or near the ideal ranges for these species in each of the four
tailwaters. Average proportional stock density (PSD) and relative stock density (RSD-P) values for
largemouth bass were greater then the ideal range within each of the four tailwaters. Bluegill PSD
values were within (High Rock and Narrows) or close to (Tuckertown and Falls) the ideal range for
the species in all four tailwaters, suggesting a balanced population. However, RSD-P values for
bluegill were well below the ideal range for the species in all four tailwaters and this indicated that
few large, quality sized fish were available for harvest.
Relative weights for black crappie were within or very close to the ideal range in both Narrows and
Tuckertown tailwaters, indicating that the fish are in good condition. However, black crappie relative
weights in High Rock tailwater were lower than both the ideal range and the average values
calculated for the downstream tailwaters, suggesting possible problems finding adequate food
sources. The PSD and RSD-P values for black crappie were either within or greater then the ideal
range for the species in High Rock, Tuckertown, and Narrows tailwaters, suggesting a balanced
population with most size classes represented. Relative weights for redear sunfish in Tuckertown,
Narrows and Falls tailwaters were low when compared to the ideal range suggested in the literature
for that species suggesting a problem obtaining adequate food sources. The numbers of redear
sunfish captured in the High Rock tailwater were too low to assess the population. Channel catfish
relative weights were consistent among all four tailwaters and were either within or very close to the
ideal range for that species.
Striped bass and blueback herring, both anadromous species, are currently present within all of the
reservoirs. Striped bass were captured in all four tailwaters during the study, but numbers were low
in High Rock (n=11) and Falls tailwaters (n=18), compared to Tuckertown (n=65) and Narrows
(n=39). The NCWRC stocks striped bass in all the project reservoirs except Falls (Narrows
tailwater). Striped bass captured in the Narrows tailwater (upper Falls reservoir) may have passed
downstream through the turbines or spill gates. Those collected in Falls tailwater (upper Tillery
Reservoir) may have originated from stockings into Tillery Reservoir or they dropped downstream
from Falls Reservoir.
Low dissolved oxygen concentrations in southeastern reservoirs have received particular attention in
regard to the effects on important game fish such as striped bass. Dissolved oxygen levels below 2
mg/1 and temperatures greater than 25.0 °C constitute unsuitable habitat for striped bass (Coutant and
Carroll 1980; Young and Isely 2002). DO conditions of 2 mg/1 and less and water temperatures of
greater than 25 °C have been recorded at certain times during the summer months in the High Rock,
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 42 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown and Narrows tailwaters(NAI 2005a). Telemetry studies on adult striped bass in
southeastern reservoirs have shown that habitat use, distribution and movements are all influenced by
seasonal changes in temperature and dissolved oxygen (Schaffler et al. 2002). While long-term
exposure to DO concentrations less then 2 mg/l can be detrimental to individual striped bass, short-
term exposure to these conditions are tolerable and don't necessarily lead to high rates of mortality
(Jackson and Hightower 2001). Striped bass in Narrows Reservoir (Tuckertown tailwater) are
currently the target of cooperative bioenergetic studies by NCWRC and North Carolina State
University to evaluate growth in relation to available habitat, particularly the thermal environment.
Blueback herring were captured in all four tailwaters during the study with the highest numbers
captured in the Tuckertown (n=55) and Narrows (n=61) tailwaters and lesser numbers captured in the
Falls (n=11) and High Rock (n=2) tailwaters. The NCWRC stocked blueback herring into Narrows
Reservoir during the 1970's and the presence of adult and juvenile sized fish suggests that this
population is continuing to maintain itself. Blueback herring captured in both the Narrows (upper
Falls reservoir) and Falls (upper Tillery Reservoir) tailwaters may have passed downstream through
the turbines or were flushed out of Narrows Reservoir during a spill event. The small numbers of
blueback herring captured in High Rock tailwater may be the result of bait-bucket introductions. It
should be noted that blueback herring and striped bass are both listed as species of interest in the
Restoration Plan for the Diadromous Fishes of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin North Carolina
(USFWS 2004).
5.6 FISH SAMPLING DURING LOW AND NORMAL DISSOLVED OXYGEN
CONDITIONS
One of the objectives of this study was the evaluation of the impacts from existing Project operations
on the fish community with regard to the low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels found within the
tailwaters during certain times of the year (NAI 2005a). Within the three seasons of fish sampling in
the four tailwaters, two events occurred in the Narrows tailwater when both low DO (< 5 mg/1) and
normal DO (>5 mg/l)levels were sampled within a 24 hour period. These two events were defined by
a change in dissolved oxygen of 2 mg/L or greater within a 24 hour period and in both instances, this
change was caused by going from full generation down to no generation. Unit four at Narrows is
equipped with air injection valves that increase dissolved oxygen in the tailwater by 2-3 mg/1 when
unit four is operated alone (NAI 2005a). The other three units at Narrows do not have air injection.
The influence of air injection at unit four on tailwater dissolved oxygen concentrations is diluted as
the other units are brought online.
The first of the DO comparison sampling events occurred between 2300 hrs on August 30 and 23 00
hrs on August 31, 2003. Dissolved oxygen readings taken in the Narrows tailwater by the field crew
during electrofishing sampling ranged from 1.63 to 6.05 mg/1. Figure 5-5 presents the dissolved
oxygen and total discharge relationship for the 24 hour time period. Fish sampling at normal
dissolved oxygen levels took place within the tailwater from 2300 to 0200 and 1700-1800. Dissolved
oxygen concentrations during this period ranged from 5.23 to 6.01 mg/1 during those time periods
(Appendix 3). Fish sampling at low dissolved oxygen levels took place during the hours of 1300 and
1500 and dissolved oxygen concentrations during this period were between 1.63 and 1.71 mg/1.
Figure 5-5 shows the greatest DO values (6 mg/1) occurred when discharge was 500 cfs and this value
decreased to around 3 mg/l when discharge increased to 3,500 cfs. The lowest DO levels (< 2mg/1) in
the Narrows tailwater coincided with no discharge during the afternoon hours. When unit four began
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 43 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows Tailwater -August 30 to September 1, 2003
7
6
5
J
a
E
c 4
X
0
9
3
6
0
2
1
4000
3500
3000
2500
3
0
2000
o_
0
1500 ~
1000
500
0 0
N (2 V?2 (2 I: W O O N N N O N m V 0 I W o' O N (2 V (2 I: of 0 O N N N O N m V 0 I of m O N
Hour
Figure 5-5. Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and total outflow (cfs) for 24 hour period during which
electrofish sampling in Narrows tailwater (summer 2003). Shaded area denotes
24 hour period of fish sampling.
Narrows Tailwater - November 7 and 8, 2003
10
-mF- Dissolved Oxygen (nng/L)

9- --A-- Total Outflow (cfs)
8-
7-
6-
c

m
5-
O a
d
o
4-
0
3-
2-
1
0
o?Nmvu?cormrno?Nm vin co?mrno?Nmo?Nmvu?cormrno?N m2, nco?mrno?Nm
NNNN ? NNNN
Hour
6000
5000
4000
3
0
3000
O
m
0
2000
1000
Figure 5-6. Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and total outflow (cfs) for 24 hour period during
electrofish sampling in Narrows tailwater (summer 2003). Shaded area denotes
24 hour period of fish sampling.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 44 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Comparison of Catch During Low and Normal DO Periods
Summer 2003 - Narrows
Blueback Herring Low DO
Normal DO
Gizzard Shad Low DO
Normal DO
Threadfin Shad Low DO
Normal DO
Common Carp Low DO
Normal DO
White Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
Channel Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
Flathead Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
White Perch Low DO
Normal DO
Striped Bass Low DO
Normal DO
Redbreast Sunfish Low DO
Normal DO
Pumpkinseed Low DO
Normal DO
Bluegill Low DO
Normal DO
Largemouth Bass Low DO
Normal DO
Black Crappie Low DO
Normal DO
Flat Bullhead Low DO
Normal DO
Warmouth Low DO
Normal DO
Blue Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
Redear Sunfish Low DO
Normal DO
V IV LV JV YV JV VV /V VV JV IVV IIV ILV IJV
Number of Fish
Figure 5-7. Species and number of fish of each captured during low and normal dissolved
oxygen periods during the 24-hour sampling period in the Narrows tailwater
during the summer season.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 45 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
generating at 500 cfs around 1700 hrs, DO levels rapidly rose to above 6 mg/1. During the summer
event in Narrows tailwater, no significant differences (p = 0.5017) were detected in the number of
fish species using the tailwater areas during the low and normal DO periods, using a one-way
ANOVA comparing the number of species between the low and normal DO periods (Figure 5-7).
However, of the eighteen species captured in Narrows tailwater during the 24-hour summer sampling
event, fifteen showed fewer individuals present in the tailwater during the low DO period. It is not
known if these fish moved away from the tailwater area of if they slowed their movements down
making them more likely to avoid capture.
The second event took place between 1500 on November 7, 2003 and 1500 on November 8, 2003.
Dissolved oxygen concentrations taken in the tailwater during electrofishing sampling ranged from
3.23 to 6.75 mg/L. Figure 5-6 presents the dissolved oxygen and total discharge relationship for the
above time period. Fish sampling at normal dissolved oxygen levels took place in the tailwater
between the hours of 1800 and 2000. Dissolved oxygen readings from the long term monitors ranged
from 6.54 to 6.74 mg/L during those time periods. Fish sampling at low DO levels took place during
the hours of 1200 and 1400 with DO's between 3.27 and 3.41. The trend lines in Figure 5-6 show the
lowest DO readings (< 4 mg/1) occurred in the afternoon during a no flow (generation off) period,
similar to the summer event described above. The highest DO values were recorded when discharge
was 500 cfs and this was due to unit four being operated with the air injection system. When
discharge was high, DO readings dropped from approximately 8.5 mg/1 to 6.5 mg/1. During the
November 24-hour sampling period, the total number of species present during both low and normal
DO periods was significantly different (p = 0.0195), with 16 species caught during the normal DO
period and 12 species caught during the low DO period. Of the twenty-one species captured in the
tailwater, thirteen had fewer individuals present during the low DO periods (Figure 5-8). Dissolved
oxygen readings from the Narrows tailwater continuous monitor, along with generation data for the
two periods is presented in Appendix 3.
5.7 FISH STRANDING DURING GENERATION ON/OFF CYCLES
Hydroelectric facilities often produce rapid changes of water level as turbines are turned on and off
with generation demands. These rapid changes can lead to the stranding of fish that are unable or
reluctant to move from habitats that become dewatered. Although generation schedules at all four
Yadkin developments had periods of full and non-generation during the tailwater fish sample periods,
the stranding of fish was not observed at any of the hydroelectric sites. During this study, drops in
tailwater water levels were minor (1 ft or less) at each site after generation went from full or near full
generation down to no generation. The lack of stranding at the four tailwaters after flows went from
full generation down to no or low generation is because each tailwater is inundated, in part, by the
downstream dam. In this sense, the project tailwaters do not operate as a true tailrace (riverine
section downstream of the powerhouse) that is found at most hydroelectric projects, but instead
become an extension of the downstream reservoir.
In addition to the short term changes in water levels that can be associated with project generation,
seasonal drawdowns of reservoir levels can also lead to fish stranding. Under the existing project
operations, there are no winter drawdowns at Narrows, Tuckertown or Falls Reservoirs. However, if
the operation of Narrows were changed to allow for a greater drawdown (beyond 16 feet), it is
possible that the potential for stranding below Tuckertown may increase. The NAI habitat survey in
Narrows Reservoir took place during December of 2003. During the 16-ft drawdown associated with
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 46 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Comparison of Catch During Low and Normal DO Periods
Fall 2003 - Narrows
Blueback Herring Low DO
Normal DO
Gizzard Shad Low DO
Normal DO
Threadfin Shad Low DO
Normal DO
Common Carp Low DO
Normal DO
Shorthead Redhorse Low DO
Normal DO
White Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
Channel Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
Flathead Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
White Perch Low DO
Normal DO
Striped Bass Low DO
Normal DO
Redbreast Sunfish Low DO
Normal DO
Pumpkinseed Low DO
Normal DO
Bluegill Low DO
Normal DO
Largemouth Bass Low DO
Normal DO
White Crappie Low DO
Normal DO
Black Crappie Low DO
Normal DO
Yellow Perch Low DO
Normal DO
Bowfin Low DO
Normal DO
Warmouth Low DO
Normal DO
Blue Catfish Low DO
Normal DO
Redear Sunfish Low DO
Normal DO
0 10 20 30 40
Number of Fish
Figure 5-8. Species and number of fish each captured during low and normal dissolved
oxygen periods during the 24-hour sampling period in the Narrows tailwater
during the fall season.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 47 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
this work, the Tuckertown tailwater area was surveyed and video-recorded (NAI 2005b). No
stranded fish were found during the tailwater habitat surveys.
5.8 ROBUST AND CAROLINA REDHORSE SEARCHES
No robust or Carolina redhorse species were captured during the three seasons of fish sampling in the
four project tailwaters. The robust redhorse, a Federal species of concern, has recently been collected
from the Pee-Dee River, below the Blewett Falls project. The Carolina redhorse is an undescribed
sucker species and is also a species of Federal concern. Carolina redhorse individuals have been
collected from Blewett Falls Reservoir and the river reach directly below that impoundment. One
specimen was also collected in Lake Tillery during November of 2002. NAI efforts, particularly
during the spring season, focused on searching the tailwater reaches of the four developments
thoroughly for both species. Although searches were conducted in all four tailwaters, sampling
concentrated on Falls tailwater at the upper end of Lake Tillery. Spring sampling began when water
temperatures were in the range of 18-24°C, the temperature thought to trigger spawning in these fish.
Gill nets were fished for 8-hour periods and moved frequently in order to cover as much redhorse
habitat as possible. Electrofishing focused on areas of woody debris and in cobble/boulder shoal
habitat. The search area extended from the base of Falls hydroelectric facility down to the mouth of
the Uwharrie River. Despite the intensive surveys, neither redhorse species was found.
6.0 TAILWATER MACROINVERTEBRATE AND MUSSEL ASSESSMENT
RESULTS
Macroinvertebrate sampling and mussel searches were conducted in the tailwaters of Falls, Narrows,
Tuckertown and High Rock Reservoirs during September 2003 (summer sampling), November 2003
(fall sampling), and June 2004 (spring sampling), and the results are briefly summarized in this
section. The full report, entitled Benthic Macroinvertebrate Survey Yadkin River, prepared by
Pennington and Associates, Inc. (PAI 2005), details the results of this survey and is attached to this
report as Appendix 4.
6.1 TRANSECT AND STATION LOCATIONS
Figures 6-1 through 6-4 show the locations of mussel search transects within the four tailwaters along
with the macroinvertebrate sampling stations located at the quarter points of each transect. Table 6-1
shows the east and west bank endpoints for each transect within the four tailwaters. Within High
Rock tailwater, transect 1 was located approximately 500 feet downstream from the dam while
transect 2 was located approximately 900 feet downstream. Transect 1 in Tuckertown tailwater was
approximately 900 feet downstream of the dam while transect 2 was around 1,300 feet below the
dam. The two transects in Narrows tailwater were located approximately 700 and 1,700 feet
respectively, below the dam. Transect 1 in Falls tailwater was located approximately 400 feet below
the dam while transect 2 was located approximately 1,000 feet below the dam.
6.2 TAILWATER DESCRIPTIONS
Habitat (substrate) types along each transect were described during the collection of mussel and
macrtoinvertebrate samples. For full descriptions, refer to the PAI report Benthic Macroinvertebrate
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 48 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 6-1. High Rock Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 49 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 6-2. Tuckertown Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 50 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 6-3. Narrows Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 51 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Figure 6-4. Falls Macroinvertebrate Stations and Mussel Transects.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 52 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 6-1. Transect locations for mussel and macroinvertebrate sampling, Yadkin tailwaters
2003.
Falls Dam Tailwater
Transect No. East Bank West Bank
Lat. Long. Lat. Long.
1 N35023'45.4" W80004'22.5" N35023'36.7" W80004'28.1"
2 N35°23'36.2" W80°04' 15.9" N35°23'31.2" W80°04'21.3"
Badin Dam (The Narrows) T ailwater
Transect No. East Bank West Bank
Lat. Long. Lat. Long.
1 N35°25'06.6" W80°05'28.0" N35°25'04.5" W80°05'30.6"
2 N35°24'54.6" W80°05'22.8" N35°24'54.4" W80°05'27.3"
Tuckertown Tailwater
Transect No. East Bank West Bank
Lat. Long. Lat. Long.
1 N35°29'05.2" W80°10'23.2" N35°28'58.3" W80°10'38.5"
2 N35°29'02.2" W80°10'18.6" N35°28'55.1" W80°10'24.5"
High Rock Tailwater
Transect No. East Bank West Bank
Lat. Long. Lat. Long.
1 N35°35'58.5" W80°13'59.1" N35°35'55.4" W80°14'04.8"
2 N35°35'55.3" W80°13'57.2" N35°35'52.0" W80°14'03.8"
Table 6-2. Physical characteristics of mu ssel/m acroinverteb rate sampling transects within
the four project tailwaters.
Falls Dam Narrows Dam Tuckertown High Rock
Distance from Dam TI (ft) -400 -700 -900 -500
Width (11) T1 976 -300 843 455
Distance from Dam T2 (ft) 1000 1,700 1,300 -900
Width (11) T2 671 -300 1,188 675
Depth (ft) T1 4-20 4-20 2-8 2-10
Depth (ft) T2 4-8 4-10 2-12 3-12
0'-200' bedrock
Boulders and boulders
'
' Boulders, few
Substrate TI ,
cobble and 200
-300 Bedrock, cobble and
gravel Boulders with boulders, silt gravel covered
cobble, gravel with silt
and silt
0-135' mud on
bedrock 135'- 0-100' mud
Boulders Boulders, cobble 250' boulders
'
' 100'-675'
Substrate T2 ,
cobble and with lesser 500
-750 boulders few
gravel amounts of gravel boulders few
' cobble and
and silt cobble 750
- gravel covered
1188' bedrock, with silt
cobble with silt
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 53 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Survey Yadkin River, attached to this report as Appendix 4 (PAI 2005). Summaries of tailwater
habitats from PAI (2005) are provided here. Table 6-2 provides a summary of the physical
characteristics of each transect within the four tailwaters. Transect descriptions begin on the right
bank (looking downstream) and run across the channel to the left bank.
6.2.1 High Rock Tailwater
Figure 6-1 shows the locations of transect 1 and 2 within the High Rock tailwater. Transect 1 was
455 feet long and water depths across this transect ranged from 2 to 10 feet deep. Substrate within
transect 1 was comprised mainly of silt covered boulders with lesser amounts of cobble and gravel.
Transect 2 was 675 feet long and in water from 3 to 12 feet deep. The first 100 feet of transect 2 were
comprised of mud and from 100 to 675 feet across the substrate consisted of silt covered boulders
with lesser amounts of cobble and gravel. As seen in Figure 6-1, the power house and associated
flow of water are located on the right side of the dam, looking upstream. A large field of boulders
and slower water is located on the left side of the tailwater in the area below the spill gates.
6.2.2 Tuckertown Tailwater
Figure 6-2 shows the locations of transect 1 and 2 within the Tuckertown tailwater. Transect 1 was
843 feet wide and water depths along it ranged from 2 to 8 feet. Substrate along transect 1 consisted
of bedrock, boulder and silt. Transect 2 was 1,188 feet long and depths ranged from 2 to 12 feet
along the length of the transect. The substrate of transect 2 from 0 to 135 feet consisted of mud
overlying bedrock, while boulders were the dominate substrate from 135 to 250 feet. A mixture of
silt covered bedrock, boulder, and cobble comprised the rest of transect 2. As shown in Figure 6-2
and similar to High Rock tailwater, the power house and the associated water flow are located on the
right side of the tailwater. A large field of boulders and slower moving water are located on the left
side of the tailwater in the area below the spill gates.
6.2.3 Narrows Tailwater
Figure 6-3 shows the locations of transects 1 and 2 within the Narrows tailwater. Transect 1 was
approximately 300 feet long and along its length, water depths ranged from 4 to 20 feet deep. Bottom
substrate along transect 1 was characterized as bedrock and boulders from 0 to 200 feet and as
boulder and cobble with lesser amounts of gravel and silt from 200 to 300 feet. Transect 2 was
approximately 300 feet long with water depths ranging from 4 to 10 feet. Water depth along transect
1 was approximately 4 ft deep for most of its length, except for a deeper zone along the downstream
looking right bank. Substrate along transect 2 was comprised of boulder and cobble with lesser
amounts of gravel and silt. As shown in Figure 6-3, the turbine discharge is located along the right
hand bank, above transect 1. The tailwater channel is very narrow until the area below transect 2,
where the tailwater widens. A shallow overflow channel is located along the right side of the
tailwater and rejoins the mainstem of the tailwater in the area below transect 1.
6.2.4 Falls Tailwater
Figure 6-4 shows the locations of transect 1 and 2 within the Falls tailwater. Transect 1 was 976 feet
long and water depths along it ranged from 4 to 20 feet. The bottom substrate was comprised mostly
of boulders and cobble with mixed lenses of gravel. Transect 2 was 671 feet long with water depths
that ranged between 4 and 8 feet. Bottom substrate along transect 2 was similar to that of transect 1.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 54 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
As shown in Figure 6-4, the endpoints of transect 2 were located on two islands on either side of the
main channel within the Falls tailwater. The main flow from the turbines is located on the left side of
the dam. A large area of boulders is located on the right side of the upper tailwater in the area below
the spill gates.
6.3 MUSSEL SEARCHES
A total of seven species of freshwater mussels were found within the four tailwaters. Table 6-3, taken
from PAI (2005) provides a summary of mollusca species found within the four tailwaters.
Falls tailwater had the greatest mussel diversity with seven species and 575 total individuals. In Falls
tailwater, Elliptio complanta (Eastern Elliptio) was the most abundant (57%) mussel species, while
Elliptio cf lanceolata (Pee Dee Lance)(20%) and Lampsilis radiata (Eastern lamp mussel)(20%)
Table 6-3. Summary of Mollusca taken from Yadkin River, 2003-2004.

Species
Falls Dam
Tailwater Badin Dam
(Narrows)
Tailwater
Tuckertown
Tailwater
High Rock
Tailwater
Anodonta im licata R 1
Alewife floater
Elli do com lanta 328 16
Eastern Elli do
Elli do c f lanceolata 113 1
Pee Dee Lance
Lampsilis radiata 117 R
Eastern lamp mussel
Pyganodon cataracte 1 2
Eastern floater
Utterbackia imbecillis 8 2 4 1
Paper pond shell
Villosa delumbis 8
Eastern creekshell

Total No. Of Unionidae Species 7 6 1 1
Total No. Of Individuals 575 22 4 1
Corbicula fluminea A A A A
Cipangopalucdinea chinensis 231
Chinese mystery snail
• R = represented by relics only
• A = abundant
were common. Narrows tailwater had 6 species with 22 total individuals. Elliptio complanta (73%)
was the most abundant species within the Narrows tailwater. Elliptio complanata was present in both
the Falls and Narrows tailwaters. One specimen ofAnodonta implicata (Alewife floater) was found
within the Narrows tailwater. The only mussel species found in the Tuckertown and High Rock
tailwaters was the Utterbackia imbecillis (Paper pond shell) with four individuals found in
Tuckertown and one in High Rock. Corbicula fluminea, the Asiatic clam, is an invasive species that
was abundant throughout all four tailwaters. For a detailed listing of mussels found within each
tailwater by season, refer to Tables IA, 2A, and 3A in PAI (2005).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 55 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
In addition to inventorying the freshwater mussel species present in the four tailwaters, the presence
of any rare, threatened or endangered mussel species was to be noted. There were no federally
endangered mussel species found within any of the four tailwaters. Elliptio cf lancolata (PeeDee
Lance) is listed as endangered by the state of North Carolina. This species was found in the tailwaters
of both Falls and Narrows. Two species, Anodonta implicata (alewife floater) and Lampsilis radiata
(Eastern lamp mussel), are both listed as threatened by the state of North Carolina. Anodonta
implicata was found in both Falls (relic shells only) and Narrows tailwaters. Lampsilis radiata was
found in Falls and Narrows (relics only) tailwaters. Villosa delumbis (Eastern creekshell) is
considered significantly rare by the North Carolina Heritage Program and 8 individuals were found
within the Falls tailwater.
In High Rock Reservoir, mussel species were found and identified by state personnel during the
severe drought of 2002. Three species, Elliptio complanata (Eastern Elliptio), Anodonta implicate
(Alewife floater), and Corbicula fuminea (Asiatic clam) were identified from the shell samples
collected in the main body of High Rock. The mussels were collected by Peter Diamond, of the
North Carolina Zoological Park and were identified by Sarah McRae, freshwater ecologist with the
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.
6.4 MACROINVERTEBRATES
There were 6 phyla, 24 orders, and 41 families represented by the 99 benthic macroinvertebrates
species found in the four tailwaters. Table 6-4, taken from PAI (2005) provides a list of the
macroinvertebrates found within the four tailwaters. The spring sampling in Falls tailwater yielded
the highest number of species with 53 found and the summer sampling in High Rock yielded the
lowest number of species collected with 29. The spring sampling in Narrows (12,008/12m2) and Falls
(10,172/12m2) yielded the highest densities of individuals. The lowest numbers of individuals per
sample were recorded in Falls (1,420/12m2) and Narrows (1,333/12m2) during the fall sampling.
Table 6-5 (taken from PAI macroinvertebrate survey report) presents the percent composition of the
most abundant benthic macroinvertebrate species within each of the four tailwaters during the three
seasons of sampling.
Dominant species in Falls tailwater during the three sampling periods included Corbicula fuminea
(Asiatic clam; summer and fall) and Caecidota sp. (isopod sp.; spring). The three sampling periods in
Narrows were dominanted by Rheotanytarsus sp. (midge sp.; summer), Corbicula fuminea (fall), and
Caecidotea sp. (June). Tuckertown samplings were dominated by Musculium transversum
(Fingernail clam; summer and fall) and Caecidotea sp. in the spring. Musculium transversum was the
dominant species in High Rock during the summer and spring while Caecidotea sp. was dominant in
the fall.
Although the EPT and Hilsenhoff Biotic Indices were used to assess the water quality condition of the
four tailwaters, it is important to note that these indices should not be used in the direct comparison of
these four tailwaters and of natural steam habitat. The scoring criteria developed for unregulated
streams cannot fairly represent attainable conditions in the Project tailwaters. Due to the lack of
nutrient and insect drift in the altered tailwater system, these habitats are not directly comparable
using these methods. These indices were applied to the tailwaters to obtain a baseline water quality
using a known method that will allow for future comparison should these studies be repeated.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 56 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
The EPT index is the total number of species found in an area within the pollution sensitive groups
Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera and is considered a measure of water quality. As the
EPT value increases, water quality will tend to do the same. Table 6-6 shows the EPT Index score for
standard collecting effort within the piedmont area of North Carolina. The Hilsenhoff Biotic Index
uses arthropod populations to evaluate water quality. Species are assigned pollution tolerance values
from 0 to 10. A value of 0 would be assigned to a species found only in unaltered streams with high
water quality whereas a value of 10 would be assigned to a species know to occur in severely polluted
areas. Table 6-6 presents the range of Hilsenhoff Biotic Index values and the associated water quality
classifications for the piedmont area of North Carolina.
The EPT and Hilsenhoff Biotic Index values indicated that the benthic fauna in Falls tailwater exists
under mostly "poor" water quality conditions during the spring sampling and no better than "fair"
during the summer and fall sampling periods. Benthic fauna in Narrows tailwater follows the same
pattern of "poor" water quality conditions during the spring period with "fair" water quality
conditions during the summer and fall sampling periods. Water quality conditions for the benthic
fauna of High Rock and Tuckertown tailwaters was determined to be "poor" for all three sampling
periods based on the results of the EPT and Hilsenhoff Biotic Index. The "poor" value for the spring
periods could be explained by the flushing of macroinvertebrates from the tailwater areas during the
seasonal inflows associated with spring weather events and a decrease in abundance and diversity due
to the colder temperatures during the winter months. For seasonal EPT Index and Hilsenhoff Biotic
Index scores for all four tailwaters, refer to Table 6-4.
7.0 IMPACTS OF EXISTING PROJECT OPERATIONS ON FISH AND AQUATIC
BIOTA IN THE TAILWATERS
One of the objectives of this study was to consider impacts from Project operations on aquatic biota in
the Project tailwaters. Two types of impacts were considered potentially significant at the Yadkin
Project; the effects of low tailwater dissolved oxygen conditions, and the effects of project peaking
operations. Of these two, based on the aquatic biota surveys conducted in the Yadkin Project
tailwaters it appears that the greatest impact of project operations to fish and other aquatic biota
existing in the four Yadkin tailwaters is the low DO conditions that can occur in all four tailwaters.
The low dissolved concentrations in the project tailwaters result from project operations. At each
dam, both surface and bottom water from the upstream reservoir is entrained and mixed during
passage through the turbines, which can cause lower dissolved oxygen concentrations in the
tailwaters if the bottom water is oxygen depleted. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations can also
occur when tailwater flows are reduced to near zero for a prolonged period.
Peaking impacts can also occur at hydropower projects and can affect fish communities by
interrupting flows, feeding cycles, spawning and causing rapid changes in water quality, including
DO and water temperatures in the tailwater areas. Fluctuating water levels in tailwaters due to hydro
peaking operations can also impact aquatic biota by exposing habitat and in some cases stranding
aquatic life when generation goes from high generation with subsequent high flows down to minimal
or no generation in a short time period.
The occurrence of low DO levels in the Yadkin project tailwaters and the causes for these conditions
are reported in detail in Normandeau's Yadkin Water Quality Report (NAI 2005a). For example,at
the High Rock tailwater during 2004, an average-to-wet water year, average daily dissolved oxygen
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 57 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Uh
Oc
Z
O
O
Q
fD
n
y
y
O
n
fD
y
O
n
Table 6-4. Benthic Macroinverteb rates collected from Yadkin River 2003-2004 (No./-2m2)
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock

SPECIES
T.V.
F.F.G. Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL
COELENTERATA
H drozoa
H droida
Hydridae
Hydra sp. 1
PLATYHELMINTHES
Turbellaria
Tricladida
Planariidae
Cura foremanii 1 2 12
Dugesia tigrina 7.2 117 294 245 685 75 50 608 717 513 250 29 150
NEMATODA 1 10 2 1
MOLLUSCA
Bivalvia
Unionoida
Unionidae
Elliptio complanata 5.1 FC 1 2 1 5
Utterbackia imbecillis 1 1 1
Veneroida
Corbiculidae
Corbicula fluminea 6.1 FC 542 207 18 3 682 580 205 28 1118 1122 64 119
Sphaeriidae -8 FC 13 5
Eupera cubensis 5.7 FC 114 2 44 5 58
Musculium transversum -8 FC 307 306 2461 3921 89 72 5239 1610 623 165 349 1406
Pisidium sp. 6.5 FC 6 1
Gastro oda
Meso astro oda
Hydrobiidae -8 SC
Amnicola limosa 4 6 49 4 10 30 5 106 17
Viviparidae
Cipangopaludina chinensis 2 12
Basommatophora
Ancylidae SC
Ferrissia rivularis 6.6 SC 49 19 198 2 33 14 26 8 9 2

f?D
1
y
Qo
n
C?O
01
n
y
y
y
y
fD
O
rz)
(continued)
cJ,
Z
O
O
Q
fD
n
y
y
O
n
Ci
tq
n
Table 6-4. (Continued)
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock

SPECIES
T.V.
F.F.G. Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL
Physidae
Physella sp. 8.8 CG 12 35 20 17 27 12 42 43 839 404 35 58
Planorbidae -6 SC
Helisoma anceps 6.2 SC 1 15 1
Menetus dilatatus 8.2 SC 2 24 409 62 2 1 11 123 227 163 26 180
ANNELIDA
Oli ochaeta .1 CG
Tubificida
Naididae -8 CG 14 19 194 53 8 72
Dero sp. 10.0 CG 3 3 37 3 10 80 1 271 31
Nais sp. 8.9 CG 1 4
Nais communis 8.8 CG 31 24 43 51 76 180 2 25
Nais bretscheri ?6 CG 4
Pristina sp. 9.6 CG 1
Pristina leidyi 9.6 CG 2
Pristinella sp. 7.7 CG 1
Ripistes parasita 2 FC 90 87 2 1
Slavina appendiculata 7.1 CG 3 193 1758 25 364
Spirosperma sp. 5.3 CG 1
Stylarza lacustris 9.4 CG 3 16 156 403
Tubificidae w.o.h.c. 7.1 CG 2 7 98 30 11 22 7 3 266 321 60 23
Limnodrzlus hoffineisteri 9.5 CG 116 16
Tubificidae w.h.c. 7.1 CG 6 1 40 1 8
Branchiura sowerbyi 8.3 CG 47 57
Quistadrzlus multisetosus 3.9 CG 2
Lumbriculida
Lumbriculidae 7.0 CG 37 9 1 33 17 1 526 1197 8
Hirudinea -8 P 4 46 13 2 81 2 13 26 27 8
Erpobdellidae -8 P 1 2 8 14 5 6 20 25 6
Erpobdella punctata P 2
Rh nchobdellida
Glossiphoniidae -8 P 6 20 1 4 27 10
Batrachobdella phalerata 7.6 P 1
Helobdella sp. -6 P 9 70 5
Helobdella stagnalis 8.6 P 72 41 53 4 52 149

f?D
1
y
Qo
n
01
C?
O01
n
y
y
fD
y
y
fD

(continued)
0
Z
O
O
Q
fD
n
y
y
O
n
Ci
f?D
tq
n
Table 6-4. (Continued)
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock

SPECIES
T.V.
F.F.G. Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL
Helobdella triserialis 9.2 P 1 2 27 4 5 40 24 36 115
Placobdella translucens 9.0 P 2
ARTHROPODA
Crustacea
Ostracoda 5 5 1 1
Candoniidae
Candona sp. 4
Cladocera
Daphnidae
Daphnia sp. 1
Sididae
Sida crystillina 15 1 20 9 9 2
Co e oda 5 1 1
C clo oida 5 10
Iso oda
Asellidae -8 SH
Caecidotea sp. 9.1 CG 225 542 646 1130 97 238 1356 1641 1762 1952 557 272
Am hi oda
Crangonyctidae
Crangonyx sp. 7.9 CG 1 12 1 1 2
Talitridae
Hyalella azteca 7.8 CG 70 123 22 158 93 295 1 826 813 11 7
Decapoda
Cambaridae 7.5 1 2
Insecta
Collembola 1
E hemero tera
Caenidae -7 CG
Caenis sp. 7.4 CG 1 3 11 1 4 58 10 5
Heptageniidae -4 SC
Stenacron interpunctatum 6.9 SC 4 1 9
Stenonema sp. -4 SC 1 1
Tricorythidae
Tricorythodes sp. 5.1 CG 1
(continued)

f?D
1
y
Qo
n
c
01
C?
O01
n
y
y
fD
y
y
fD
rz)

Z
O
O
Q
fD
n
y
O
n
ai
tq
n
Table 6-4. (Continued)
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock

SPECIES
T.V.
F.F.G. Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL
Odonata
Coenagrionidae .9 P
Argia sp. 8.2 P 2 1 1
Corduliidae .5 P
Neurocordulia sp. 5.0 1
Gomphidae
Gomphus sp. 5.8 P 1
Neuro tera
Sisyridae 1
Tricho tera
Hydropsychidae -4 FC
Cheumatopsyche sp. 6.2 FC 68 146 1
Hydroptilidae -4 PI 1
Hydroptila sp. 6.2 PI 10 12 9 1 11 30 12 1
Leptoceridae CG
Ceraclea sp. 2 CG 1
Polycentropodidae ?6 FC
Cyrnellus fraternus -8 FC 134 231 32 7 55 13 47 38 27
Neureclipsis sp. 4.2 FC 1
Di tera 40
Chaboridae
Chaoborus punctipennis 8.5 P 8 10 19
Chironomidae 35 62 3 211 124 13 49
Ablabesmyia mallochi 7.2 P 20 1
Ablabesmyia rhamphe gp. -6 P 50 44 17 2 5 4 438 225 1 14
Chironomus sp. 9.6 CG 14 15 2 19
Conotanypus sp. P 1
Coelotanypus sp. 8 P 36
Conchapelopia sp. 8.4 P 1
Cricotopus sp. -7 CG 157 52 116 376 1806 2
Cricotopus bicinctus 8.5 CG 61 6 5 2 9 460 243 9 7
Cryptochironomus sp. 6.4 P 1 2
Diamesa sp. 8.0 CG 1
Dicrotendipes lucifer 8.0 CG 1 29 41 17 31
Dicrotendipes neomodestus 8.1 CG 12 4 5 1 10 216 166 3

f?D
1
y
Qo
n
C?
O01
n
y
y
fD
y
y
fD

(continued)
N
Z
O
O
Q
fD
n
y
O
n
Ci
y
O
n
Table 6-4. (Continued)
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock

SPECIES
T.V.
F.F.G. Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Sep-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Nov-03
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL Jun-04
TOTAL
Dicrotendipes simpsoni 10.0 CG 10 55 1579 1999 3 21 393 669 6 36 17 122
Dicrotendipes sp. 8.1 CG 7 3 8
Endochironomus sp. SH 1 1 1
Einfeldia natchitocheae 108
Eukiefferiella claripennis gp. 5.6 CG 1
Glyptotendipes sp. 9.1 FC 3 24 220 576 1 16 912 276 14 35 97 367
Microtendipes pedellus gp. 5.5 CG 20 5
Nanocladius distinctus 7.1 CG 6 28 40 271 6 12 107 5 22 3 5
Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) sp. -4 CG 2 25 1 1
Parachironomus sp. 9.4 CG 1 16 30 59 110 18 133 165 3 214
Phaenopsectra sp. 6.5 SC 3
Parakiefferiella sp. 5.4 CG 1 2 1
Polypedilum flavum 4.9 SH 2 5
Polypedilum illinoense 9.0 SH 5
Procladius sp. 9.1 P 1 1 2 10
Pseudochironomus sp. 5.4 CG 5 3 20
Rheotanytarsus sp. 5.9 FC 137 715 10 13 1 15 77 20
Stenochironomus sp. 6.5 SH 1 5
Tanytarsus sp. 9.2 FC 1 177 35 39 9
Tribelos fuscicorne 6.3 CG 1 316
Tribelos sp. 6.3 CG 1
Tvetenia bavarica gp. 3.7 CG 1
Xenochironomus xenolabis 7.1 P 4 27 21 5 2 8 20 18 5
Empididae 7.6 P
Hemerodromia sp. -6 P 2 1
Simuliidae -6 FC
Simulium sp. 6.0 FC 2
Tipulidae
Tipula sp. 7.3 SH 1

TOTAL NO. OF ORGANISMS 2030 3179 6445 8981 1420 1333 9856 5695 10172 12008 1878 4000
TOTAL NO. OF TAXA 42 48 38 29 34 33 39 42 53 37 44 46
EPT INDEX 6 5 2 2 4 3 2 5 5 2 1
NC BIOTIC INDEX 7.14 7.33 8.54 8.57 6.94 7.19 8.20 8.38 8.09 7.75 8.65 8.24

f?D
1
y
Qo
n
01
C?
O?1
n
y
y
y
y
fD
O

Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Table 6-5. Percent composition of the dominant benthic macroinvertebrate species by
sampling season.
September 2003 November 2003 June 2004
Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High Falls Narrows Tucker High
SPECIES Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock Dam Dam Town Rock
Dugesia tigrina 9.3 7.6 6.2 12.5
Corbicula fluminea 26.7 48.0 43.5 11.0 9.3
Musculium transversum 15.1 9.6 38.2 43.7 6.2 53.2 28.3 18.6 35.2
Physella sp. 8.2
Menetus dilatatus 6.3
Dero sp. 14.1
Slavina appendiculata 14.6 9.1
Lumbriculidae 10.0
Caecidotea sp. 11.1 17.0 10.0 12.6 6.8 17.9 13.8 28.8 17.3 16.3 29.7 6.8
Hyalella azteca 11.1 8.2 6.8
Cyrnellus fraternus 7.3
Cricotopus sp. 15.0
Dicrotendipes simpsoni 24.5 22.3 11.7
Glyptotendipes sp. 9.2 9.2
Rheotanytarsus sp. 22.5
Table 6-6. EPT Index and Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores along with associated water quality
for Piedmont area of North Carolina.
Bioclassification NC Piedmont EPT Value NC Piedmont Biotic Index
Excellent >31 <5.19
Good 24-31 5.19-5.78
Good-Fair 16-23 5.79-6.48
Fair 8-15 6.49-7.48
Poor 0-7 >7.48
concentrations were below 5mg/1 on 107 days (see NAI 2005a, Table 2.4-3). In Tuckertown
tailwater in 2004, average daily DO concentrations were below 5 mg/1 standards on 96 days and in
Narrows, average daily DO concentrations were below 5 mg/1 on 75 days. At Falls, there is a
significant improvement in water quality and average daily DO concentrations fell below 5 mg/1 on
only 4 dates in 2004.
One of the primary impacts of project operations on macroinvertebrates in the tailwaters is caused by
low DO levels. Macroinvertebrate rankings were poor for all seasons in High Rock and Tuckertown
tailwaters, and this is related to the marginal water quality found at these two sites. At Narrows and
Falls tailwaters, the macroinvertebrate communities ranked poor in the spring but fair during the
summer and fall sample periods and this is likely due to the better water quality found in the
tailwaters of the two lower developments. Similar water quality impacts were also evident for the
mussel species. At High Rock and Tuckertown, only one mussel species was collected during all
three sampling periods. At Narrows, six mussel species were collected (22 individuals) and at Falls,
seven mussel species (575 individuals) were found. Falls tailwater has the most habitat available for
mussels, but it also has the best water quality of the four Yadkin Project tailwaters.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 63 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Four RTE mussel species were found during the surveys, including the NC endangered species
Elliptio lancolata (PeeDee lance), which was found in Falls and Narrows tailwaters. Two NC
threatened mussel species were found, Anodonta implicata (alewife floater) and Lampsilis radiate
(eastern lamp mussel). The alewife floater was found in Falls and Narrows and the eastern lamp
mussel was also found in Falls and Narrows, but only relic shells were found of this species. Another
mussel species listed as significantly rare by the NC Heritage Program, Villosa delumbis was found in
the Falls tailwater (8 individuals).
During the tailwater fish collections in 2003 and 2004, the differences in fish catches during normal
DO levels (5 mg/1 or greater) and low DO periods (at least a 2mg/1 drop from normal) over two 24
hour periods were analyzed (see Section 5.5). The first test occurred during the summer collections at
Narrows and of the 18 fish species collected, 15 had fewer individuals captured during the low DO
period. In the second test that occurred during the fall sampling at Narrows, there were significantly
fewer species (P=0.019) captured during the low DO period, and of the 21 fish species, 17 had fewer
individuals collected during the low DO period. It is not known if the fish ceased or slowed their
movements during the low DO tests making them less available for capture or moved out of the
tailwater area.
Low dissolved oxygen levels and the effects of minimum flows in the tailraces of two TVA hydro
projects (Douglas and Cherokee) were studied between 1987 and 1996, including what improvements
to the fish communities could be realized by providing minimum flows and by reaerating the turbine
discharge to improve DO levels (Scott 1999). It was reported that just providing minimum flows did
not substantially improve the fish community overtime at Cherokee (1988-1995) and the reason may
have been the low DO's recorded (<4 mg/1) at the project for 100 days or more each year. However,
when reaeration equipment was put in place at the Douglas development to bring the DO
concentrations up to 4 mg/1, steady improvement in the fish community was documented between
1988 and 1996 (Scott 1999).
The fish populations currently in the four Yadkin tailwaters have been shaped by the current project
operations, including peaking flows and low DO concentrations that occur in three of the four
tailwaters (all but Falls) between 20 and 29% of the year during a normal year. Many of the fish
species present are tolerant of marginal water quality, such as gizzard shad, white perch and
largemouth bass and this is why these species dominate the catches at Yadkin. Fish species that
cannot tolerate marginal water quality (especially low DO), such as some of the darter and minnow
species are generally absent from the catches.
Relative weights (Wr) are an indication of a fish's condition, and if these values fall below a range
reported for the species, it can indicate a problem with feeding. Largemouth bass either exceeded or
fell within the ideal range for Wr in all four tailwaters, indicating they are having no problem
securing food. They also are successfully spawning in all four tailwaters (or the reservoir backing up
to the tailwaters), given the various size classes captured. Many large sized fish are available for
capture, suggesting that fishermen are releasing many of the quality fish. Largemouth bass and some
other predators frequently do well in reservoirs with fluctuating water levels (see NAI 2005b) because
they take advantage of young forage fish drawn from their cover when lake elevations drop. Black
crappies captured in the High Rock tailwater during all three seasons had low relative weights,
suggesting that this species may be having a problem securing enough food. These fish did not have
a balanced population (PSD value slightly below ideal range), but they are successfully spawning. It
is not clear if the problems with feeding are related to the marginal water quality. Relative weights
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 64 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
for black crappies captured downstream in Tuckertown and Narrows tailwaters were either within or
just below the recommended range for this species and their populations were balanced (PSD values
in range).
Impacts to tailwater fish populations due to stranding are minor at all four tailwaters because the
tailwater areas remain watered up when generation is shut down and discharge flow ceases.
Tailwater water surface elevations do fluctuate 1 or 2 ft, but no pools or sections of the tailwater were
isolated - there is connectivity to all areas of the four Project tailwaters when generation ceases.
No rare, threatened or endangered (RTE) fish were captured during the three seasons of sampling the
project tailwaters. Habitat that the robust redhorse and Carolina redhorse are known to frequent were
intensively sampled with gill nets and electrofishing gear, especially during the spring spawning
season, but none were found in the project tailwaters.
8.0 CITED REFERENCES
Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. (APGI) Yadkin Division. 2002. Yadkin Hydroelectric Project FERC
No. 2197-NC. Initial Consultation Document.
Anderson, R.O. 1980. Proportional stock density (PSD) and relative weight (Wr): interpretive
indices for fish populations and communities. Pages 27 - 33 in S. Gloss and B. Shupp,
editors. Practical fisheries management: doing more with less in the 1980's. Workshop
proceedings, New York Chapter, American Fisheries Society, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Anderson, R.O. and R.M. Neumann. 1996. Length, weight, and associated structural indices. Pages
447-482 in B. R. Murphy and D. W. Willis, editors. Fisheries Techniques, 2nd edition.
American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
Anderson, R.O. and A. S. Weithman. 1978. The concept of balance for coolwater fish populations.
Pages 371-381 in R.L. Kendall, editor. Selected coolwater fishes of North America:
proceedings of a symposium held in St. Paul, Minnesota March 7-9, 1978. Special
Publication; no. 11. American Fisheries Society, Washington DC.
Bister, T.J., D.W. Willis, M.L. Brown, S.M. Jordan, R.M. Neumann, M.C. Quist, and C.S. Guy.
2000. Proposed standard weight (Ws) equations and standard length categories for 18
warmwater nongame and riverine fish species. North American Journal of Fisheries
Management. 20: 570-574.
Coutant, C.C., and D.S. Carrol. 1980. Temperatures occupied by ten ultrasonic-tagged striped bass
in freshwater lakes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 109: 195-202.
Etmer, D. A. and W.C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press,
Knoxville, TN.
Gabelhouse, D.W. 1984. A length-categorization system to assess fish stocks. North American
Journal of Fisheries Management. 4:273-285.
Jackson, J.R. and J.E. Hightower. 2001. Reservoir striped bass movements and site fidelity in
relation to seasonal patterns in habitat quality. North American Journal of Fisheries
Management. 21:34-45.
Muoneke, M.I. and K.L. Pope. 1999. Development and evaluation of a standard weight (Ws)
equation for blue catfish. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 19: 878-879.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 65 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Murphy, BR., D.W. Willis, T.A. Springer. 1991. The relative weight index in fisheries
management: status and needs. Fisheries. 16(2): 30-38.
Neumann, R.M. and B.R. Murphy. 1991. Evaluation of the relative weight (Wr) index for
assessment of white crappie and black crappie populations. North American Journal of
Fisheries Management. 11: 543-555.
Normandeau Associates, Inc. 2005a. Draft Yadkin Water Quality Report. Prepared for Alcoa Power
Generating, Inc. Yadkin Division.
Normandeau Associates, Inc. 2005b. Draft Yadkin Reservoir Fish and Aquatic Habitat Assessment.
Prepared for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. Yadkin Division.
Pennington and Associates, Inc, 2005. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Survey Yadkin River. Produced
for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. Yadkin Division.
Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee. 2003. Intensive Surveys for the Robust Redhorse
(Moxostoma robustum) on the Pee Dee River below Blewett Hydroelectric Plant, 2003 Work
Plan.
Schaffler, J.J., J.J. Isely and W.E. Hayes. 2002. Habitat use by striped bass in relation to seasonal
changes in water quality in a southern reservoir. Transactions of the American Fisheries
Society. 131:817-827.
Scott, E. M. 1999. Tailwater fish index (TFI) development for Tennessee river tributary tailwaters.
Pages 507 - 522 in T. P. Simon, editor. Assessing the Sustainability and Biological Integrity
of Water Resources Using Fish Communities. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.
USFWS, NMFS, NCWRC. 2004. Draft Restoration Plan for the Diadromous Fishes of the Yadkin-
PeeDee River Basin North Carolina.
Young, S.P. and J.J. Isely. 2002. Striped bass annual site fidelity and habitat utilization in J. Strom
Thurmond reservoir, South Carolina - Georgia. Transactions of the American Fisheries
Society. 131:828-837
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 66 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Draft
APPENDIX 1
Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment
Final Study Plan
June, 2003
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Yadkin Project (FERC No. 2197)
Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment
Final Study Plan
June, 2003
Background
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) is the licensee for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The Yadkin
Project is currently licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as Project No. 2197
This license expires in 2008 and APGI must file a new license application with FERC on or before April
30, 2006 to continue operation of the Project.
The Yadkin Project consists of four reservoirs, dams, and powerhouses (High Rock, Tuckertown,
Narrows, and Falls) located on a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in central North Carolina. The
Project generates electricity to support the power needs of Alcoa's Badin Works, to support its other
aluminum operations, or is sold on the open market.
As part of the relicensing process, APGI prepared and distributed, in September 2002, an Initial
Consultation Document (ICD), which provides a general overview of the Project. Agencies,
municipalities, non-governmental organizations and members of the public were given an opportunity to
review the ICD and identify information and studies that are needed to address relicensing issues. To
further assist in the identification of issues and data/study needs, APGI has formed several Issue Advisory
Groups (IAGs) to advise APGI on resource issues throughout the relicensing process. IAGs will also
have the opportunity to review and comment on Draft Study Plans. This Draft Study Plan has been
developed in response to comments on the ICD and through discussions with the Fish and Aquatics JAG,
to provide additional necessary information for consideration in the relicensing process.
Issues
The following issues were raised during initial consultation regarding tailwater fish and aquatic biota at
the Yadkin Project:
¦ Effects of Yadkin Project reservoir releases on tailwater fish, macroinvertebrates and aquatic
habitat
¦ Current status of rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) aquatic species at the Yadkin Project
that could be impacted by Project operations
Objectives
On March 12, 2003 the Fish and Aquatics JAG met and discussed objectives for the tailwater fish and
aquatic biota study. Over the course of those discussions the following objectives were identified for the
study.
Describe tailwater habitats in all four Yadkin development tailwater areas.
Inventory and assess the resident fish community in the Project tailwaters on a seasonal basis
(spring, summer & fall) to develop baseline data that can be used to detect changes over time.
Evaluate the impacts of existing Project operations on the tailwater fish community, such as
impacts associated with generation schedules (generation on/off), and impacts due to the low
dissolved oxygen (DO) found in the tailwaters during certain times of the year.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
¦ Inventory and assess the macroinvertebrate and mussel species in the Project tailwaters on a
seasonal basis to develop baseline data that can be used to detect changes in these
communities overtime. Evaluate impacts of existing Project operations on the tailwater
macroinvertebrate community and describe tailwater habitats.
¦ Search for RTE mussel species in Project tailwaters.
¦ Search for RTE fish species, including the Robust and Carolina Redhorse species, in the
Project tailwaters during the spring (spawning period) and during the summer and fall fish
surveys.
Following the March 12, 2003 IAG meeting, Normandeau prepared a draft study plan for the Yadkin
Project Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment. This draft study plan was distributed electronically
to the Fish and Aquatics IAG on April 4, 2003 for review prior to the next IAG meeting scheduled for
April 9, 2003 in Badin, NC. Comments on the Draft Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment at the
meeting included discussions on modifying the fish sampling plan in the Project tailwaters so that
sampling would occur during generation and during no generation periods to see if it effects fish
movement in and out of the tailwaters. It was also requested that more detail be provided in the study
plan, including particulars on the sampling design and other parameters that will be collected during
tailwater fish surveys, such as water quality sampling. Discussions also focused on sampling in the
tailwaters during low DO and normal DO periods each season. It was requested that the extent of the low
DO "plume" be determined, as well as its impacts to fish movements into and out of the tailwaters. Other
comments included determining the change in the amount and quality of habitat in the tailwaters between
peaking and non-peaking operations, especially if there is stranding due to fluctuating tailwater
elevations. It was requested that the mussel searches in the tailwaters be expanded beyond the two
transects proposed for each tailwater so that good mussel habitat that does not fall along a transect line
would get searched. It was also requested that the mussel searches include walking the banks on both
sides of each tailwater to identify fresh mussel shells/middens. It was agreed upon by the IAG
participants that interested parties would meet during the summer, 2003 for a site visit to the four
tailwaters to assist in establishing the permanent fish and mussel sampling stations (transects) proposed
for each tailwater.
A revised draft study plan was distributed to the IAG in May, 2002. Minor comments received on the
revised draft have been incorporated into this final study plan.
Methods
The tailwater fish and aquatic biota assessment will be conducted by Normandeau Associates Inc. (NAI)
with assistance from Pennington and Associates, Inc. and will entail the following:
Tailwater Fish Sampling
Normandeau Associates will conduct intensive electrofishing, trap netting, seine netting and gill netting in
the four tailwaters of the Yadkin Project during spring, summer and fall seasons. Spring sampling will be
conducted in late April/May 2004 to document resident fish use of tailwater areas and to search for RTE
redhorse species. Summer sampling will occur in August 2003 and fall sampling will be performed in
November 2003. Permanent fish sampling stations (and electrofishing transects) will be established in
each of the four Project tailwaters in June 2003 by agencies and interested participants from the Fish and
Aquatics IAG.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
The primary objective during the seasonal fish sampling in each of the four tailwaters will be to capture as
many fish species as possible. This will be accomplished by intensive boat electrofishing, gill netting,
seine netting and trap netting over a 3 to 4 day period in each tailwater per season. Many fish are habitat
specialists, therefore efforts will be made to sample all habitats present in the tailwaters, including deeper
runs, pools, undercut banks and shallow shoals. Other objectives will include sampling during generation
on and generation off (or reduced generation - this will depend on the season and flows) in each tailwater
and sampling during low DO compared to normal DO time periods each season to see if these project
operations effects fish movement. DO levels are more apt to be low and fluctuate more each day during
the summer sampling period, therefore sampling in the spring period may only focus on peaking
generation (no generation/generation) if daily DO fluctuations are small.
During all tailwater fish sampling, temperature and DO profiles will be collected at selected stations in
each tailwater under each operating scenario, such as during generation on, generation off (or reduced
generation if higher flows) and low DO or not low DO time periods. Normandeau also plans on fishing
each tailwater during daytime and nighttime periods over the four days of sampling planned for each
tailwater during each season. Fishing at night can be very effective and at times can produce the largest
catches and the most species.
In addition to the water quality data collection during fish sampling, Normandeau has installed YSI
continuous DO/temperature water quality monitors in all four tailwaters in late April2003 that will
remain in place through November 2003. This data will also be analyzed to confirm changes in DO and
temperature that will occur during each seasonal fish sampling period and to review seasonal conditions
prior to sampling so that collections can be designed around daily changes in DO, temperature and flows
(flow data will be provided by Yadkin). To evaluate the longitudinal and lateral extent of DO conditions
in the tailwaters, in August and September 2003, beginning at each YSI continuous tailwater monitor,
temperature and DO profiles will be taken at11/4 points along transects that will be spaced 11/4 mile apart
(going downstream from the monitor). Transects will be added until temperature and DO conditions at
consecutive transects are mixed (this effort is included within the Yadkin Water Quality study plan).
Fish sampling methods for each tailwater (and each season) will be similar. The shock boat will be used
to sample the shoreline (where water depth permits) and channel sections of the tailwaters traveling in a
downstream direction. The shock boat uses Smith-Root electronics and will be set to pulsed DC current,
>500v, 4 amps. Shocking runs will continue along chosen transects until two consecutive shocking runs
fail to capture any new species for a given habitat (i.e. shoreline or channel habitat). The time for each
boat shocking run will be recorded on the data sheets along with the number and species of fish collected.
Total length (mm) and weight (gm) of fish captured will also be recorded on the field data sheets - a sub-
sample of 50 randomly chosen individuals will be measured and weighted for abundant fish species
captured.
Gill nets will also be fished at the same time the boat shocking is being conducted. Experimental gill nets
measuring 30.5 in long and 2.4 in deep, and constructed with four 7.6 in panels with mesh sizes of 2.54
cm, 5.08 cm, 7.62 cm and 10.16 cm of stretch monofilament will be used - these are the same sized gill
nets recently used in 2000 by Progress Energy to sample for fish in the Yadkin Project reservoirs. These
gill nets will be set prior to electrofishing in various locations/habitat types in the tailwater and their
location (GPS), depth and habitat type will be recorded for each station. It has been our experience that
the boat shocker can be used to effectively "drive" fish into the gill nets, especially in deeper tailraces
where the boat shocker may not be entirely effective. Our intent is to keep the gill nets mobile, moving
them to different locations or habitat types frequently, in an effort to capture as many species as possible
during each operational scenario (gen. on/ gen. off, etc). Some gill nets will be moved around to sample
in concert with the shock boat, and others will be used to fish deeper areas that the shock boat cannot
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
effectively fish. Gill nets will be fished at least every 4 to 6 hours and will not be left unattended or
fished overnight.
Trap nets may also be used, but their use and number of traps deployed will depend on their success at
capturing fish species not collected via the shock boat and gill net. If it is determined that this gear type
does not help capture additional fish species, at least one net will be set-up in each tailwater as a holding
pen to keep alive redhorse species or other uncommon species that may need to have their identity
verified by other experts. Seine nets will also be used in all four tailwaters to try to collect smaller fish
species that may be present.
Tailwater Macroinvertebrate Sampling
Normandeau and Pennington and Associates, Inc. will search for mussels and collect macroinvertebrates
at permanent stations and transects set-up in the Project tailwaters during summer (August, 2003), fall
(November, 2003), and spring (May, 2004). These permanent macroinvertebrate stations and mussel
transects in each of the four tailwaters will be located in early June, 2003 by agency personnel and
interested participants from the Fish and Aquatics IAG. Once a station or transect location is picked by
the IAG, its position will be pinpointed with GPS and all future macroinvertebrate sampling or mussel
searches will be taken from the same locations.
Normandeau and Pennington propose to set-up 2 transects in each of the developments tailwaters - one
transect near each powerhouse and the other located downstream in the lower tailwater (to be determined
in field by Normandeau and the IAG members). Three 2 m2 macroinvertebrate samples will be collected
from each transect at 25%, 50% and 75% of the distance along each transect (six samples from each
tailwater per each sample period). However, these station locations will ultimately depend on the
consensus from participants that attend the early June 2003 field trip to locate the stations. Mussel
searches will also be conducted along these same transect lines.
In deep water (>4 ft), an underwater airlift will be used to collect macroinvertebrate samples (2 m2 sample
size) at each station along the transect line (in shoal water, a kick net will be used to collect the samples).
Macroinvertebrates collected will be preserved on-site and returned to PAI's lab for sorting and
identification of species. Mussel searches will also be conducted each season by divers swimming along
the length of each transect line (length dependent on the wetted width of each tailwater at time of
sampling). Divers will search at least one meter upstream and downstream of each transect line (2 in
wide band along the entire transect), but this will greatly depend on visibility at the time of the search.
Additionally, mussel searches will done by walking along the shoreline of each tailwater looking for
mussel shells and by having divers search in areas identified by participants as good mussel habitat that is
not located along a transect line. Any live RTE mussel species located during these searches will be
identified, returned to where it was found (if it was removed from the water), and its location recorded
with GPS. The location of any relic mussel shells found will also be recorded and the shells collected and
identified.
During the fisheries and macroinvertebrate sampling and mussel searches planned for August 2003, the
divers will also describe the habitat types found in each tailwater area. Depending on visibility, divers
will take representative U/W pictures of the habitat found along each transect line and also pictures of the
chosen macroinvertebrate sampling stations.
Carolina and Robust Redhorse Searches
During the seasonal tailwater fish sampling, Normandeau will attempt to capture the Carolina and Robust
redhorse species that are known to occupy habitat in the Pee Dee River downstream of the Falls
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
development and the Progress Energy dams. Normandeau will specifically target these fish in the Yadkin
tailwaters during their spring spawning period in late April-early May, 2004, which is when the spring
tailwater sampling begins. Electrofishing and gill nets will be used to try to capture these fish (see
methods above in Tailwater Fish Sampling). Most of the available spawning habitat for the robust
redhorse exists in the Project tailwaters. The shoal areas at each development will be targeted for
spawning redhorse species when water temperatures are between 18° C and 24° C. The spring tailwater
fish survey will begin at the Falls tailwater, and gradually (over a 2 week period) move up the river
ending the spring fish sampling at the High Rock tailwater. Any robust or Carolina redhorse captured
will be identified, measured, weighted and released unharmed. If identification is difficult, the fish will
be safely held in a trap net until it can be properly identified by experts (Progress Energy personnel are
willing to help with identification of these fish).
Data Collection and Reporting Schedule
Normandeau proposes to conduct the tailwater fish, macroinvertebrate and mussel field evaluations in
each of the four Project tailwaters during spring (April/May 2004), summer (August 2003) and late fall
(November 2003) sample periods. Searches for the Carolina and robust redhorse's will be conducted
seasonally during the tailwater fish assessments. Locations of the proposed permanent fish, mussel and
macroinvertebrate stations and transects will be selected in June 2003 by interested members of the Fish
and Aquatics IAG. Results of the fish, macroinvertebrate and mussel evaluations will be reported in
draft and final study reports. A draft study report for the Tailwater fish sampling will be prepared and
distributed to the Fish and Aquatics IAG for review and comment by August 31, 2004, approximately
three months after the completion of data collection. IAG comments will be addressed in a final study
report that will be completed by November 30, 2004. A draft study report for the Tailwater
macroinvertebrate and mussel evaluations will be prepared and distributed to the Fish and Aquatics IAG
by the 3rd quarter of 2004 and after IAG comments are addressed, the final report will be distributed by
the 4th quarter of 2004. Interim results, such as results of seasonal tailwater fish sampling, and mussel
searches, may be shared with the IAG as such information becomes available, prior to completion of the
draft study report.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
APPENDIX 2
Length Frequency Distributions for
Selected Species from High Rock, Tuckertown,
Narrows, and Falls Tailwaters.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=55
100
N 80
0=
0 60
d

40
E
z 20
0
10
3
3
0
4
0 1 4 3
10
8
5
2
2
0 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Summer 2003
High Rock
N=63
100
N 80
0=
0 60
d

40
E
z 20 13 10 11 11
0 1 4 2 2 2 1 1 4 1 0 0 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Fal12003
High Rock
N=89
100
N 80
0=
0 60
d

40
E
z 20 10 10 11 12
5 8
7
5
7
6
0 3 2 0 1 1 1
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - SDdnq 2004
Figure 1-1. Length frequency distribution of largemouth bass captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=3
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=6
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Fall 2003
High Rock
N=2
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Spring 2004
Figure 1-2. Length frequency distribution of striped bass captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=92
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 9 13 8 7 11 9 9
6
6
0
17
3 4 1 0 2 1 0
3
0 0 0 0 0 0
0
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=73
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 17
10 8
7

0 0 4
2 4 5 2 2 2 2 4 1 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 0 1

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Fall 2003
High Rock
N=63
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0
0 0 1 0 1 1 1 5 5 4 5 7 6 3 8 2 6 2 p 2 1 2 1
0
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-3. Length frequency distribution of channel catfish captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N = 133
100
N 80
LL
0 60
41 38

40
E
Z 20 14 12 11
0
0 2 2 3 5
3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=68
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20 g 7 10 11 15
1

0 2 4 5 2
3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
711 F1 , _

30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Fall 2003
High Rock
N=75
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40

Z 20
12 1
9. 12

0
2 7
- 6 . 6
7
4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-4. Length frequency distribution of bluegill captured in High Rock tailwater by season.
All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=51
100
80
LL
0 60
? 40

z 20 16
0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 5 5 5 2 3
1 2 1 0 0
0 1 1 1 0 1 1 p
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=34
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 5 4 3 4 2 3 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Fall 2003
High Rock
N=62
100
N 80
LL
0 60
E 40

Z 20 11 11
8
6
0 3
. 1 1 1
5 2 0 0 1 5 5
FE] 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Sorina 2004
Figure 1-5. Length frequency distribution of black crappie captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=5
100
80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Total Length (mm)
30128- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=6
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Total Length (mm)
30128- Fall 2003
High Rock
N=27
100
N 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20 9 9
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Total Length (mm)
30128- Sorina 2004
Figure 1-6. Length frequency distribution of white crappie captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N = 113
100
N 80
LL
0
60
`m 40
40
24 22
z 20

0
0
1
1 9
0 0 0 0 3 6 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Summer 2003
High Rock
N=82
100
s 80
LL
0
60
40
25
32
Z 20 11
8

0 0 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Fall 2003
High Rock
N=58
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

z 17 21
20 8
0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - S.M. 2004
Figure 1-7. Length frequency distribution of white perch captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=55
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 11 11

0 0 0 3 0 0 2 6 4 3 6 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=44
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 16 13
0 0 0 2 2 1 0F 6 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Fall 2003
High Rock
N = 103
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40 28
Z 20 6 17 11 7
9
5
0 0 4 4
2 1 3
2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Spring 2004
Figure 1-8. Length frequency distribution of gizzard shad captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
High Rock
N=8
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Summer 2003
High Rock
N=40
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 10
0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 1 4 5 3 3 3 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Fall 2003
High Rock
N=19
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0_2"3,.5.L 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Spring 2004
Figure 1-9. Length frequency distribution of threadfin shad captured in High Rock tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=78
100
N 80
ILL
6 60-
40-
E
z 20 15 15 14
0 3 3 1 1 2 7
3 5 3 7 MR 4 1 1 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=79
100
N 80
ILL
0 60-
40-
E
z 20 15
9 5
10
10
8
0 4 4 2 1 3 4 3 1 0 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=79
100
N 80
ILL
6 60
d
40
z 20
20
0 5 1 2 1 3 7 5 7 9 11
6

2 0 0 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Sprina 2004
Figure 1-10. Length frequency distribution of largemouth bass captured in Tuckertown tailwater
by season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=15
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
0 4 4_2' o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=43
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 2 4 4 0 2 1 3 7 0 2 0 3 1 0 1 3 1 3 2 1 1 2

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=7
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
0
90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Spring 2004
Figure 1-11. Length frequency distribution of striped bass captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=41
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 13 13 12
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215
Total Length (mm)
3001 1 - Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=10
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
0 _3_4 _3_0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215
Total Length (mm)
3001 1 - Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=4
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0
0
110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215
Total Length (mm)
3001 1 - S.M. 2004
Figure 1-12. Length frequency distribution of blueback herring captured in Tuckertown tailwater
by season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=37
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40
Z 20

0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 3 2 2 0 1 5 2 7 2 0 0 1 2
0 1 0 0

70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=78
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40
z
20
6 7 6 2 4
6 2 4 4 12 7 5 3 4

0 1
0 0 1
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=27
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40
Z 20
0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 1 0 1 1 3 4 1 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-13. Length frequency distribution of black crappie captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=43
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40
Z 20 13 16

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 2

70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Total Length (mm)
30128- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=29
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40
Z 20

0
0
1 3 2 1 1 0 0

1 1 1 1 1 4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 6

70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Total Length (mm)
30128- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=20
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40
Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 6 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Total Length (mm)
30128- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-14. Length frequency distribution of white crappie captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N = 267
100
80 69
i 61
° 60 48
E 40 32 33

Z 20
1

3
3
0
4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
.6-1.0
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N = 112
100
s 80
LL
0 60
40
24 29

Z 20
11
7
jj 20
12
0 11 17-7? 4 IL
r17
3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=88
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40
25
z 20 8 9 13 15 9
p 0 3 4 77 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-15. Length frequency distribution of bluegill captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=19
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 4 4 1 3 0 0 0 0

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=31
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
g
11
0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=6
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
0
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-16. Length frequency distribution of redear sunfish captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N = 100
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40
Z 20 13 16 14 12
0 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 5 2 4 8 5 5 5 0 2 0 1 0 0

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N = 118
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40
Z 20 12 12 10 8 15 14 11 7 6 6

0
0 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 1 1 3 1

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=73
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40
z 20 16
0 2 0 0 0 0 0 ?5 6 7 4 6 2 4 3 5_ 7 2 2 p 1 1 p
0
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-17. Length frequency distribution of channel catfish captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=8
100
80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=1
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=8
100
N 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Sorina 2004
Figure 1-18. Length frequency distribution of blue catfish captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N = 147
100
N 80
LL
0
60
48
Q 40 35
E
Z 20 15 11
10

0 4 1 0 0 0 1 4 6
5 5 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N = 108
100
s 80
LL
0
60
42
40
Z 20 20
20 9

0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 0 2 0 5 0 1 0
F-1 -

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=63
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40
Z 19 20
20 12
0 0 0 0 2 1 5 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - S.M. 2004
Figure 1-19. Length frequency distribution of white perch captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N = 299
100
N 80
LL
0
60 56 58
43
Q 40 35

' 22
L
Z 20 14 15 9 17 12 10
0 5 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _M M

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=62
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20 14 11
7 5
7

0 0 0 3 3
0 1 1
e
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=53
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

z 20
7
6 9 13 10
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Spring 2004
Figure 1-20. Length frequency distribution of gizzard shad captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Tuckertown
N=53
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40
z 20

0 15
0 1 0 2 1 2 3 6 6 4 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Summer 2003
Tuckertown
N=50
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40
z 20 15
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 3 5 6 4 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Fall 2003
Tuckertown
N=69
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40 22 26
z 20 14
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Spring 2004
Figure 1-21. Length frequency distribution of threadfin shad captured in Tuckertown tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
155 N = 245
100
N 80
ILL
6 60
d
40
z 20 17 9 9 14
7 9
4 4 p 2 4 5 4 1 1 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Summer 2003
Narrows
N=96
100
N 80
ILL
0 60
42

40
E
z 20
5
3
4
5 10
5 3
4
6
8
p p p 1 0 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Fall 2003
Narrows
N=52
100
N 80
ILL
6 60
Z5
E 40
E
z 20
0
6
1
0
1
4
3 9
2 7
6
5
4
3
0
1 0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - SDnna 2004
Figure 1-22. Length frequency distribution of largemouth bass captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=14
100
80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=18
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 2 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Fall 2003
Narrows
N=7
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Spring 2004
Figure 1-23. Length frequency distribution of striped bass captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=2
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215
Total Length (mm)
3001 1 - Summer 2003
Narrows
N=41
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 67 7 5 5
0 0

110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215
Total Length (mm)
3001 1 - Fall 2003
Narrows
N=18
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20 11
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 1F-I
0
110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215
Total Length (mm)
3001 1 - S.M. 2004
Figure 1-24. Length frequency distribution of blueback herring captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=16
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=5
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- Fall 2003
Narrows
N=14
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0
0
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-25. Length frequency distribution of redear sunfish captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=241
100
N 80
LL 64
0 60 51
40 34 34
A
25
Z 20 10 10
1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=49
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20 18
0
0 0 0 1 3 8
44 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Fall 2003
Narrows
N = 100
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40 33
23
Z 20 9 16
? ?
0 0 3 2 3 11 n!!l - 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1- 1 11
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-26. Length frequency distribution of bluegill captured in Narrows tailwater by season.
All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N= 15
100
80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Summer 2003
Narrows
N= 16
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 3 1 2 2 3 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Fall 2003
Narrows
N= 1
100
N 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330
Total Length (mm)
30129- Sorina 2004
Figure 1-27. Length frequency distribution of black crappie captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=92
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

z 20 9 6

4 5 10 8 7 6 4 6 3 2 3
4
2 2J
O 0
1 0 0
0 0 0

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=38
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 1 2 3 1 6 2 5 4 1 1 1 0 1 2

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Fall 2003
Narrows
N=72
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

z 20 15
8
3
3
1102001226,46555
1 0 2 0 0
0
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-28. Length frequency distribution of channel catfish captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=90
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40
20 19
Z 20

,
7 13
11
6 7
5

0 0 _
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0

40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=7
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Fall 2003
Narrows
N=24
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 4 3 4 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-29. Length frequency distribution of blue catfish captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
115 N = 318
100
N 80
LL
0
60

L
s 40 32
22 22 27

Z
20 19 20
g 11 13 g

6 4
6
0 0 2 1-
0 0 0 0 0 0

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=14
100
s 80
LL
0
60
? 40
Z 20

0 0 4 5 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Fall 2003
Narrows
N=77
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40
Z 20 19 17

0
1 9
0 1 0 0 0 5 7 3 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Spring 2004
Figure 1-30. Length frequency distribution of gizzard shad captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N=17
100
N 80
LL
0
60
? 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Summer 2003
Narrows
N=51
100
s 80
LL
0
60
40
23
Z 20 11
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 5 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Fall 2003
Narrows
N=6
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Spring 2004
Figure 1-31. Length frequency distribution of threadfin shad captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Narrows
N = 327
100
N 80
LL
°
60
46 51 45
44
40 32 28 28
Z 20 1g 13

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 4 7 1 2

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Summer 2003
Narrows
N=78
100
s 80
LL
0
60
40
23
z 20 8 15 10

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 4 4 3 0 0
1

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Fall 2003
Narrows
N=23
100
s 80
LL
0
60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 3 4 6 0 1 1 1 p 1 p 1 p
0
75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - S.M. 2004
Figure 1-32. Length frequency distribution of white perch captured in Narrows tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N= 59
100
N 80
ILL
6 60-
40-
E
z 20 19 12
2 1 0 0 0 2 2 6 3
3
5
2
2
0
0
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Summer 2003
Falls
N= 89
100
N 80
ILL
0 60-
40-
E
3 22
z 20
4 9 6 9 10 15 6
1 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 1
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - Fall 2003
Falls
N= 102
100
N 80-
.
=
6 60
Z5
E 40
E

24
z 20 10 8 12 9 15 8
0 4 2 p 1 1 3 3 p 2
0
20 55 90 125 160 195 230 265 300 335 370 405 440 475 510 545 580
Total Length (mm)
30127 - SDnna 2004
Figure 1-33. Length frequency distribution of largemouth bass captured in Falls tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N=2
100
N 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Summer 2003
Falls
N=15
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20

0 1 2 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Fall 2003
Falls
N=1
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480 510 540 570 600 630 660 690 720 750 780
Total Length (mm)
3011 2- Spring 2004
Figure 1-34. Length frequency distribution of striped bass captured in Falls tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N=67
100
80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20
5 5 6 4 8 4 3 5 7 6
8
2
0 0 0 0 i
. 0
1 1 0 1 0 1
0
0
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- Summer 2003
Falls
N=54
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20 12

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 6 6 7 5 5 0 2 2 2 0 3

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- Fall 2003
Falls
N=55
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40

Z 20 g 10 10 6
8
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 F,
7 3 2 1 1 0 0

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280
Total Length (mm)
30398- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-35. Length frequency distribution of redear sunfish captured in Falls tailwater by season.
All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N = 137
100
80
LL
0 60 49
40 34
E 26
z 20 11 9
0 1 0 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Summer 2003
Falls
N=87
100
s 80
LL
0 60
40 29
z 20 12 18 11
0 4 2 1 3 6
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Fall 2003
Falls
N=81
100
N 80
LL
0 60
E 40
23
Z 20 19
17
0 1 0 3 7
4 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0
30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330
Total Length (mm)
30125- Sorina 2004
Figure 1-36. Length frequency distribution of bluegill captured in Falls tailwater by season. All
gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N=13
100
N 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Summer 2003
Falls
N=12
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 2 1 0 2 1

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- Fall 2003
Falls
N=19
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40

Z 20
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2_2'4 1 3 0 0 2 0
0
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625
Total Length (mm)
30094- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-37. Length frequency distribution of channel catfish captured in Falls tailwater by
season. All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N=40
100
N 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20
14 10

0
0 4
3
0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Summer 2003
Falls
N=19
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 3 1 6 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- Fall 2003
Falls
N=10
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40

Z 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920
Total Length (mm)
30375- S.M. 2004
Figure 1-38. Length frequency distribution of blue catfish captured in Falls tailwater by season.
All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N=86
100
N 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20 12 15 14 10

0 0 0
4 4 1 0 0 0 0
0 2 0 0 7 4 1 2 2 ,I 8

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Summer 2003
Falls
N = 120
100
s 80
LL
0 60
s 38
E 40
17
20
Z 20 9 13

0 0 0 6 1 0 1 2 0 0 3 3 5
1 0 0 0 0 1

50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Fall 2003
Falls
N=92
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40 27 29
z 20 16
0 1 8
0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 3 1 1 0 0
0
50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350 370 390 410 430 450 470 490
Total Length (mm)
3001 5- Spring 2004
Figure 1-39. Length frequency distribution of gizzard shad captured in Falls tailwater by season.
All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N=87
100
N 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20 14 16 14 11

0 7 8
0 0 0 0 1 3 4 5 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Summer 2003
Falls
N=23
100
s 80
LL
0 60
? 40

Z 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 6
3 4 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Fall 2003
Falls
N=74
100
s 80
LL
0 60
E 40
23
z 20 16 15
14
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 717 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165
Total Length (mm)
3001 8- Spring 2004
Figure 1-40. Length frequency distribution of threadfin shad captured in Falls tailwater by season.
All gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Falls
N = 107
100
N 80
LL
0 60
? 40
24
Z 20 16 18 g 11

0 2 1 0
2
0 0 0 0 3 4 4
5 7 0 1 0 0

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Summer 2003
Falls
N=68
100
s 80
LL
0 60
40
23
Z 20 g 13 10

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 2
1 0 0 0 0 0

75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - Fall 2003
Falls
N=76
100
s 80
LL
0 60
40
E 21
z 20 10 13 g
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 - 1 1 3 6 3 2
0 1 0 0
0
75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285
Total Length (mm)
3011 1 - S.M. 2004
Figure 1-41. Length frequency distribution of white perch captured in Falls tailwater by season. All
gear types combined.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
APPENDIX 3
Narrows Tailwater Long Term Monitor and Plant Generation Data for 2 24-
Hour Time Periods Investigating Fish Abundances and Diversity During
Periods of Normal and Low Dissolved Oxygen Levels
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
August 31- September 1, 2003
DATE hour MeanTemp MeanDO Total Generation (MWh) Total Outflow (cfs) Log (Mean DO) Log (Total Outflow)
8/30/2003 23 26.495 5.285 44 3415 0.723044992 3.533390708
8/31/2003 0 26.34 5.94 4 350 0.773786445 2.544068044
8/31/2003 1 26.3175 6.0475 4 350 0.781575877 2.544068044
8/31/2003 2 26.3225 6.01 4 350 0.778874472 2.544068044
8/31/2003 3 26.34 6.0675 4 350 0.783009785 2.544068044
8/31/2003 4 26.34 6.105 4 350 0.785685668 2.544068044
8/31/2003 5 26.3275 6.065 4 350 0.782830805 2.544068044
8/31/2003 6 26.3 6.015 4 350 0.779235632 2.544068044
8/31/2003 7 26.545 4.14 8 855 0.617000341 2.931966115
8/31/2003 8 26.6975 3.07 44 3790 0.487138375 3.57863921
8/31/2003 9 26.7275 2.975 44 3790 0.47348697 3.57863921
8/31/2003 10 26.775 3.005 44 3790 0.477844476 3.57863921
8/31/2003 11 26.8125 3.19 44 3790 0.503790683 3.57863921
8/31/2003 12 26.795 2.2875 40 3620 0.359361103 3.558708571
8/31/2003 13 26.66 1.6375 0 0 0.214181309 0
8/31/2003 14 26.5575 1.705 0 0 0.231724383 0
8/31/2003 15 26.43 1.63 0 0 0.212187604 0
8/31/2003 16 26.3175 2.0625 0 0 0.314393957 0
8/31/2003 17 26.3675 5.2325 1 350 0.718709237 2.544068044
8/31/2003 18 26.505 6.2375 2 350 0.795010559 2.544068044
8/31/2003 19 26.525 6.4 4 350 0.806179974 2.544068044
8/31/2003 20 26.485 6.48 5 620 0.811575006 2.792391689
8/31/2003 21 26.435 6.47 4 350 0.810904281 2.544068044
8/31/2003 22 26.375 6.565 4 350 0.81723473 2.544068044
8/31/2003 23 26.37 6.4 4 350 0.806179974 2.544068044
9/1/2003 0 26.41 6.24 4 350 0.79518459 2.544068044
9/1/2003 1 26.4325 6.075 3 350 0.783546282 2.544068044
9/1/2003 2 26.4225 6.1675 2 350 0.790109158 2.544068044
9/1/2003 3 26.4525 6.245 2 350 0.795532443 2.544068044
9/1/2003 4 26.4775 6.265 2 350 0.796921075 2.544068044
9/1/2003 5 26.49 6.2525 2 350 0.7960537 2.544068044
9/1/2003 6 26.495 6.2875 2 350 0.798477998 2.544068044
9/1/2003 7 26.5025 6.0325 2 350 0.780497331 2.544068044
9/1/2003 8 26.4825 6.3025 2 350 0.799512854 2.544068044
9/1/2003 9 26.4825 6.28 2 350 0.797959644 2.544068044
9/1/2003 10 26.46 6.1525 3 350 0.789051622 2.544068044
9/1/2003 11 26.4425 6.315 2 350 0.800373355 2.544068044
9/1/2003 12 26.415 6.2525 2 350 0.7960537 2.544068044
9/1/2003 13 26.585 6.3175 2 350 0.800545251 2.544068044
9/1/2003 14 26.69 4.4375 37 2955 0.647138366 3.470557485
9/1/2003 15 26.6725 3.73 88 4800 0.571708832 3.681241237
9/1/2003 16 26.69 3.7925 89 4820 0.578925589 3.683047038
9/1/2003 17 26.6625 3.6325 88 4800 0.560205623 3.681241237
9/1/2003 18 26.655 3.5325 89 4840 0.548082171 3.684845362
9/1/2003 19 26.6025 3.355 88 4800 0.525692525 3.681241237
9/1/2003 20 26.54 3.2025 89 4840 0.505489138 3.684845362
9/1/2003 21 26.545 3.1675 88 4800 0.500716624 3.681241237
9/1/2003 22 26.5525 2.975 83 6855 0.47348697 3.836007459
9/1/2003 23 26.5625 3.315 82 6715 0.520483533 3.827046017
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
November 7 to 8, 2003
DATE MeanTemp MeanDO MeanPctSat hour Total Generation ((MWh) Total Outflow ((cfs) Log DO Log CFS
11/7/2003 17.96 7.4175 0.788003173 0 1 350 0.870258 2.544068
11/7/2003 17.8525 8.48 0.898997028 1 3 350 0.928396 2.544068
11/7/2003 17.8175 8.61 0.912116231 2 3 350 0.935003 2.544068
11/7/2003 17.835 8.665 0.918277104 3 3 350 0.937769 2.544068
11/7/2003 17.925 8.635 0.916801514 4 3 350 0.936262 2.544068
11/7/2003 18.0075 8.5 0.904006317 5 3 350 0.929419 2.544068
11/7/2003 18.0275 8.57 0.911826432 6 3 350 0.932981 2.544068
11/7/2003 18.0775 7.5725 0.806466872 7 3 700 0.879239 2.845098
11/7/2003 18.1075 6.4775 0.690326279 8 67 5110 0.811407 3.708421
11/7/2003 18.1175 6.5925 0.702726163 9 70 5310 0.81905 3.725095
11/7/2003 18.1225 6.5175 0.694802914 10 71 5375 0.814081 3.730378
11/7/2003 18.1775 6.6025 0.704662536 11 70 5310 0.819708 3.725095
11/7/2003 18.245 6.5925 0.704571787 12 70 5310 0.81905 3.725095
11/7/2003 18.3 6.6 0.706168754 13 70 5310 0.819544 3.725095
11/7/2003 18.36 6.6125 0.708373893 14 70 5310 0.820366 3.725095
11/7/2003 18.3925 6.71 0.719299258 15 70 5310 0.826723 3.725095
11/7/2003 18.375 6.6175 0.709130512 16 68 5170 0.820694 3.713491
11/7/2003 18.365 6.6975 0.717558286 17 68 5170 0.825913 3.713491
11/7/2003 18.3575 6.54 0.700573947 18 69 5250 0.815578 3.720159
11/7/2003 18.36 6.69 0.716678023 19 68 5170 0.825426 3.713491
11/7/2003 18.36 6.745 0.722571534 20 68 5170 0.828982 3.713491
11/7/2003 18.3525 6.76 0.724066242 21 68 5170 0.829947 3.713491
11/7/2003 18.375 6.845 0.733509268 22 68 5170 0.835373 3.713491
11/7/2003 18.325 7.595 0.81302076 23 65 4985 0.880528 3.697665
11/8/2003 18.2225 8.5475 0.913081238 0 2 350 0.931839 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.155 8.6425 0.921952011 1 3 350 0.936639 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.11 8.7025 0.927497321 2 3 350 0.939644 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.0875 8.8 0.93745553 3 3 350 0.944483 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.0875 8.835 0.941183524 4 4 350 0.946207 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.155 8.8325 0.942230086 5 3 350 0.946084 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.2175 8.945 0.955454653 6 3 350 0.95158 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.2425 8.29 0.885953435 7 2 350 0.918555 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.08 7.2825 0.775744608 8 0 0 0.86228 0
11/8/2003 17.9675 5.7 0.605727921 9 0 0 0.755875 0
11/8/2003 17.905 5.355 0.568320189 10 0 0 0.728759 0
11/8/2003 17.8975 4.1575 0.441160952 11 0 0 0.618832 0
11/8/2003 17.9625 3.4125 0.362579441 12 0 0 0.533073 0
11/8/2003 18.0675 3.2325 0.344205146 13 0 0 0.509539 0
11/8/2003 18.1575 3.27 0.348858889 14 0 0 0.514548 0
11/8/2003 18.2125 2.8675 0.306255861 15 0 0 0.457503 0
11/8/2003 18.1175 6.055 0.645269982 16 0 0 0.782114 0
11/8/2003 18.1125 8.1775 0.871588809 17 3 350 0.912621 2.544068
11/8/2003 18.0775 6.735 0.717339182 18 0 0 0.828338 0
11/8/2003 17.8925 5.97 0.633443383 19 0 0 0.775974 0
11/8/2003 17.8175 5.0525 0.535259303 20 0 0 0.703506 0
11/8/2003 17.785 3.97 0.420292286 21 0 0 0.598791 0
11/8/2003 17.7425 3.98 0.420979342 22 0 0 0.599883 0
11/8/2003 17.6775 3.5725 0.377365609 23 0 0 0.552972 0
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
APPENDIX 4
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Survey, Yadkin River, September 2003-June 2004 for
Normandeau Associates, Inc. by Pennington and Associates, Inc.
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
APPENDIX 5
Percent Composition of All Species Captured in the Four Project Tailwaters
by Season
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
25.00%
20.00%
?Summer2002
¦ Fall 2002
?Spring 2003
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
C Np? N N p N 2N N N N N U N N N N N N N N N N N N U N U
(j t -`-0 3 m N n c c t t t m m m d
= U M U C N U -O U O U N '5 U U U -O _O m U -O C m U d U
(I C: 0
O m m c F U a? N N E a? E c m a? S O 3 0 a?
Fn N m O Y t (? 0 a) :3 2 -0 M 0-
-1 N N > U N }
Fn 0 w a) a)
U E N J 0 E
-C W
m U
W M
T
S
Figure 5.1 Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured in the High Rock Tailwater During Three Sampling Periods, 2002-2003. (All
Sampling Methods Combined).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%

? Summer 2002
¦ Fall 2002
? Spring 2003

N i-
_r_ 0) = C t Q -0 t -0 t N -O t t N N O -0 N -0 t N t N t t
'Q N C EM N W N W C N N N N N N N N N N (p N N i 0
O_ i N 4Z (6 N w t w W N w w C: (6 N (p t 7 (p 4Z O_
m m 0 m t m W _ m a) c ? t t m U) m m m d d
U U = m U O m U) U) Y U) U) W a) m m a) m ° U U °
a) C:
F m W a) ° rn E m ai
E a) m m O LL (? Ur Ur J 0_ N N N E U)
H
U U Of ? U)
m J
t U1
U1
Figure 5.2 Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured in the Narrows Tailwater During Three Sampling Periods, 2002-2003. (All
Sampling Methods Combined).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
?Summer 2002
¦ Fall 2002
?Spring 2003
W t 0) = t Q t 6 t N 6 Y t t N N N 6 t N t a) t t
'Q N C N a) N a3 N N a)
p) N a) U N N a) N N (p N N U
w M Y w t ?_ w a3 a) a3 w w a3 t 3 a3 w Q
(6 (6 7 (6 U 7 (6 U) t m a) N Q C C t t t m U) o m N N W
U S m U c N U U U) N U c a? U 0 0
as o U a?
Y o 0-0 as x a (n(n
c a) a) a)
o
c E as o F N G! G! a?
z;o
W FD n m o U t o gww W o a?6i m > in
Fn U U as U U 0)
z; -0 W 05 o t H
m a)
U N J ? t
W U)
m
7
S
Figure 5.3 Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured in the Tuckertown Tailwater During Three Sampling Periods, 2002-2003. (All
Sampling Methods Combined).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
20.00%
18.00%
?Summer 2002
16.00% ¦ Fall 2002
?Spring 2003
14.00%
12.00%
10.00%
8.00%
6.00%
4.00%
2.00%
al .1 "
0.00%
0 L M.= L -0 L -0 L (n -0 Y L L N 0 w -0 N -0 L w
n C O)N L N L -0 L
N (n N (n N N U N N U)fn 'N N N (n N N
Z3 a) U)
C: 0 S' co M U) 0 () N = m U 7 U -0 U co
N - Z CZ3 U -0 -0 m 7 U -0 Q C co U (n 7
Y a? Y M m- m O C O CC Q O 5m-0Q W 0 U co
0
Lr- of
N m U L N -520
p 0 N (? N C O
m U N (? (? J -0 of a) 0 0- U L (n U (n ? }
m U
U o
s
U)
Figure 5.4 Percent Composition of Fish Species Captured in the Falls Tailwater During Three Sampling Periods, 2002-2003. (All
Sampling Methods Combined).
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
APPENDIX 6
Comment Summary
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
Copies of the Yadkin Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment Draft Report were distributed to the
Fish and Aquatics Advisory Group (IAG) in March, 2005. The Draft Report was then summarized and
discussed at a Fish and Aquatics JAG meeting held April 5, 2005. Additionally, the JAG was given until
May, 2005 to submit additional comments. Table 1 below is a summary of the comments received and
responses to the comments.
Source of Comment Comment Response
Chris Goudreau, NC Wildlife Questioned if there was a The noted error occurred in the
Resources Commission, JAG typographical error on page 43, powerpoint presentation given at
meeting 4/5/05 p=0.5017. the 4/5/05 JAG meeting. The
correct p-value was provided in
the draft report and indicates a
non-significant relationship for
the summer event in Narrows
tailwater (Section 5.6).
Chris Goudreau, NC Wildlife Asked what type of statistical test A one-way ANOVA (analysis of
Resources Commission, JAG was used in determining the variance) test was used to detect
meeting 4/5/05 differences in the number of differences in the number of
species observed in the tailwaters species between low and normal
during low and normal dissolved DO periods. This clarification
oxygen periods. has been made in Section 5.6 of
the final report.
Chris Goudreau, NC Wildlife Asked that Section 5.6 of the In section 5.6 of the final report,
Resources Commission, JAG final report state that fish activity NAI has proposed two possible
meeting 4/5/05 in the tailwater definitely slows explanations for lower fish
during times of low DO. numbers captured during the
periods of low DO. Fish may
have either slowed their
movements down and avoided
capture or fish may have moved
out of the tailwater area in
response to the lower DO
conditions.
Todd Ewing, NC Wildlife Asked that graphs showing the Appendix 5 was added to the
Resources Commission, JAG percent composition of each final report. It provides a graph
meeting 4/5/05 species for each tailwater and for each tailwater with the
sampling season be included in percent composition of each
the final report. species for each sampling period.
Chris Goudreau, NC Wildlife Noted that lack of winter Since there is no winter
Resources Commission, 4/5/05 tailwater sampling event may drawdown at Narrows reservoir,
have caused NAI to miss the it was not necessary to conduct
worst conditions for potential observations of tailwater
stranding below Tuckertown. stranding in the winter. The
Upon hearing that there is no conditions under which stranding
winter drawdown at Narrows, below Tuckertown were
Chris recommended that the final observed for this study are
report make that clear and also reflective of the "worst case"
that the report should note that if under existing project operations.
the operation of Narrows However, if the operation of
changed and more of a Narrows were changed to allow
19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Tailwater Fish & Aquatic Biota Assessment
drawdown were allowed, there for a greater drawdown of that
could be fish stranding below reservoir, it is possible that the
Tuckertown. potential for stranding below
Tuckertown may increase.
Section 5.7 of the Final Report
has been modified to reflect this
potential.
Darlene Kucken, NC Division of NCDWQ raised several questions A paragraph was added to
Water Quality, email dated regarding the macroinvertebrate Section 6.4 of the Final Report
4/29/05 analysis in the draft report and that discusses the potential
the "Poor" water quality rating limitations with using water
for the Spring period. quality indices developed for
natural in a regulated tailwater
environment.
Todd Ewing, NC Wildlife Recommended that the final See response to similar comment
Resources Commission, IAG report not use the qualitative above.
meeting 4/5/05 descriptions of tailwater water
quality based on the NCIBI.
Darlene Kucken, NC Division of Would like the final report to NAI contacted NCDWQ about
Water Quality, email dated address the impacts/abundances this issue and at the time the
4/29/05 of exotic fish species within the Final report was prepared was
tailwaters. awaiting a reply from NCDWQ
staff as to what exotic species are
of interest.

19556.001 Tailwater Fisheries Assessment.doc 6/28/05 Normandeau Associates, inc.