Ryon, Michael G. | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2016

Dispersal Limitations on Fish Community Recovery Following Long-term Water Quality Remediation

Holistic restoration approaches, such as water quality remediation, are likely to meet conservation objectives because they are typically implemented at watershed scales, as opposed to individual stream reaches. However, habitat fragmentation may impose constraints on the ecological effectiveness of holistic restoration strategies by limiting colonization following remediation. We questioned the importance of dispersal limitations to fish community recovery following long-term water quality remediation and species reintroductions across the White Oak Creek (WOC) watershed near Oak Ridge, Tennessee (USA). Long-term (26 years) responses in fish species richness and biomass to water quality remediation were evaluated in light of habitat fragmentation and population isolation from instream barriers, which varied in their passage potential. In addition, ordination techniques were used to determine the relative importance of habitat connectivity and water quality, in explaining variation fish communities relative to environmental fluctuations, i.e. streamflow. Ecological recovery (changes in richness) at each site was negatively related to barrier index, a measure of community isolation by barriers relative to stream distance. Following species reintroductions, dispersal by fish species was consistently in the downstream direction and upstream passage above barriers was non-existent. The importance of barrier index in explaining variation in fish communities was stronger during higher flow conditions, but decreased over time an indication of increasing community stability and loss of seasonal migrants. Compared to habitat fragmentation, existing water quality concerns (i.e., outfalls, point source discharges) were unrelated to ecological recovery, but explained relatively high variation in community dynamics. Our results suggest that habitat fragmentation limited the ecological effectiveness of intensive water quality remediation efforts and fish reintroduction efforts by impeding recolonization at isolated stream reaches.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2013

Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program Plan

This document provides the Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program (BMAP) Plan for East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC), as required by the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12 Complex) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit which became effective December 1, 2011. The BMAP was first developed in 1985 by staff in the Environmental Science Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the request of the Y-12 Complex. The multidisciplinary and quantitative biological monitoring approaches used for the BMAP were developed, from the beginning, in close consultation with Y-12 Complex Environmental Compliance staff, as well as the State of Tennessee and the Environmental Protection Agency. A draft BMAP Plan was submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) in May 2012 and was approved by TDEC with revision in December 2012. The TDEC’s Plan changes are incorporated in this final BMAP Plan issued in January 2013. The general approach to the 2013 BMAP Plan follows previous precedent, and addresses all BMAP-related NPDES permit requirements. The focus of the monitoring effort is on EFPC and comparable reference streams, including Brushy Fork and Hinds Creek. Two other stream systems near the Y-12 Complex, Bear Creek and McCoy Branch, are similarly monitored using BMAP and TDEC protocols as required in the permit; however, these streams are monitored by Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act -funded programs and are only briefly summarized in this Plan. Three major tasks comprise the current program: fish bioaccumulation, benthic macroinvertebrate community, and fish community. A concomitant task, toxicity testing of storm drains, is also implemented at the Y-12 Complex and briefly described in the Plan. Each BMAP task differs slightly in the number of sites and frequency of sampling, depending on need as determined by previous monitoring. Sampling rationale and specific methods for each task are provided herein. A summary of program integration components, including data management, quality assurance, and reporting aspects, are also provided. The BMAP is an internationally recognized biological monitoring program that is a valuable case study for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the nation. First and foremost, the program evaluates Tennessee Water Quality Criteria (as required in the NPDES permit) by conducting studies to annually evaluate bioaccumulation of contaminants of concern, and the receiving streams’ biological integrity. The program has been successful in evaluating ecological effects and their causes, and has provided actionable information in the design and application of pollution abatement actions. Most importantly, the program design focuses on assessing spatial and temporal change, and has documented substantial ecological recovery in response to various facility actions. The program results have therefore become a key measure of how well the DOE facilities are doing relative to protecting the environment, and provide assurance to regulators and the public that stream conditions are improving. The DOE’s mission and environmental management in Oak Ridge will continue to evolve as the facilities modernize and various decontamination and decommissioning activities and pollution abatement actions are implemented. Many changes are expected at the Y-12 Complex in the next few years that have the potential to positively affect, or on a short-term basis negatively affect, the stream environment. The BMAP approach described here will continue to provide an important integrated measure of receiving stream conditions and ecological response to future facility actions.

Peterson, Mark J.↗

DOE OSTI2012

ORNL Parking Structure Mitigation Report

Approximately 200 feet of an unnamed tributary to Fifth Creek and approximately 0.08 acres of wetland were impacted as a result of the construction of a new parking structure at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) that was completed in Fiscal Year 2011. Compensatory mitigation, as per requirements set by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), included the following: • On-site expansion of an existing wetland (P2) by 0.04 acres adjacent to the new ORNL parking structure. • On-site enhancement and preservation of approximately 800 feet of First Creek (between White Oak Avenue and West End Circle), 400 feet of White Oak Creek (at Building 4515, the High Temperature Materials Laboratory), and associated riparian zones.

Giffen, Neil R.↗