19910326 Ver 1_Staff Comments_19940824

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Division of Environmental Management
August '22, 1994
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TO: John. Dorney
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Roger Thorpe f
Alan Clark - V661 V Z 9fiv
Ken Eagleson lj?
Don Safrit a
Ruth Swanek
Juan Mangles
Steve Bevington
Monica Swihart
FROM: Boyd DeVane
SUBJECT: Lake Gaston Letter
Attached is the final letter that the Division sent to FERC on the
-Lake Gaston issue. These are technically our scoping comments for
the EIS. I basically took the letter that Monica had prepared (with
your help), added a few additional sections, and made the changes
that Alan Hirsh suggested. I considered his suggestions minor and
did not see that any of your technical comments were substantively
altered. This letter replaces the July 25th letter from Monica to
Melba, which now can be discarded.
cc: Greg Thorpe
Steve Tedder

August 8, 1994
MEMO
TO: Monica Swih/arrt
FROM:, John Dorne? Y?1 r
RE: Wetlands-retl'a.%ted mments on Lake Gaston pipeline
project
The following information should be developed in the Final
EIS for this project.
1. Document the extent, types and functions of all wetlands
along the Roanoke River (including those adjacent to the upper
reservoirs) and its tributaries downstream of the Lake Gaston Dam
within the 10 year floodplain. The 10 year floodplain was
selected since these wetlands are the ones most likely to be
affected by lower flows.
2. Document the effect on extent, types and functions of
any wetlands in the 10 year floodplain downstream of the Lake
Gaston Dam that would be effected by reduced low flow.
3. Document any changes anticipated in wetland extent,
types and functions due to reduced high flows along the Roanoke
River and its tributaries downstream of the Lake Gaston Dam.
Particular emphasis should be given to any effects on wetlands
along tributaries.
4. Document any effect on the extent, types, and functions
of wetlands along the margin or the upper end of Lake Gaston,
Roanoke Rapids Reservoir, Lake Philpott or Kerr Lake due to
changed flow regimes as reflected in lake water levels which are
lower as a result of this withdrawal. Toward this end, it is not
sufficient to only analyze the reduction in lake levels. The EIS
must also evaluate the effect of lower water levels on wetlands
associated with lake shorelines and upper delta areas. It is
especially important to do these studies for Kerr Reservoir and
other lakes during extended dry conditions. Of particular
interest is any reduction in sediment removal rates or nutrient
transformation due to reduced inundation in these wetlands.. This
reduction in pollutant trapping could have direct effects on
water quality in the lakes and Roanoke River.
Please call me at 733-1786 if you have any questions.
gastones.com
cc: Ron Ferrell
DEM Washington Regional Office