20070812 Ver 2_Models developed for Alcoa_20090429

Dorney, John
From: Sullins, Coleen [[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:28 PM
To: Mead, Jim; Reeder, Tom
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: RE: Models developed for Alcoa (APGI) relicensing - Yadkin Inc.
Jim -thanks, this is helpful information.
John - fyi. Coleen
From: Mead, Jim
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:04 PM
To: Sullins, Coleen; Reeder, Tom
Subject: Models developed for Alcoa (APGI) relicensing - Yadkin Inc.
Coleen,
Tom Reeder requested that I send you a list of the models used/developed during the APGI relicensing.
1. Hydrologic model - starts with inflows upstream of High Rock reservoir and allows simulation of operations at the
4 Alcoa reservoirs. Uses Oasis software (same as DWR basinwide hydrologic models). Developed and run by
consultants for APGI - reviewed by DWR. Used to evaluate effects of different operational scenarios on:
reservoir levels; delivery of water to Progress Energy downstream (hydropower and farther downstream release
requirements); hydropower generation for APGI; and development of low inflow protocol.
2. Hydraulic and sedimentation modeling - developed by consultants for City of Salisbury to address concerns
related to their water supply intake. Hydraulic model developed by Hazen & Sawyer using HEC-RAS software.
Sediment modeling performed by Mobile Boundary Hydraulics. Both models and additional information reviewed
by USGS (Jerad Bales) under contract for DENR - report prepared for DWQ's use in 401 review.
3. During the development of the Shoreline Management Plan, the NC Dept of Cultural Resources developed a
cultural probability model to predict the likelihood of certain reservoir shoreline areas harboring archaeological
sites.
4. APGI undertook a recreation impact study to quantify the economic contribution of recreational use at their project
to the five surrounding counties. The study used the US Forest Service's Impact Analysis Planning model to
estimate the economic effects of recreational use at the Yadkin Project.
These are the only "models" directly related to the APGI relicensing. There were numerous other studies and data
collection efforts, but not "modeling." Dissolved oxygen and other water quality issues were addressed by monitoring
studies - for which John Dorney and Darlene Kucken had the lead role.
Two other models are indirectly related to the APGI relicensing:
1. Instream flow/aquatic habitat modeling - for flowing reaches downstream of Progress Energy's two dams. The
results from this modeling were used to develop minimum release requirements for Progress Energy - which in
turn affected the minimum daily average flow that was required to be delivered by Alcoa.
2. Progress Energy hydrologic model. Used CHEOPS software to take output from Alcoa and simulate operation of
PE reservoirs to evaluate effects on reservoir levels, hydropower generation and downstream releases.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jim
Jim Mead, Environmental Specialist
NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS Jim.Meadgncdenr.gov
919/715-5428 fax - 919/733-3558
*************************************
NC Division of Water Resources - DENR
1611 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1611
(for overnight mail, UPS, or FedEx - contact me for street address)
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and
may be disclosed to third parties.