Assessment of potential impact of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant thermal effluent on the Watts Bar Reservoir striped bass population

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5466989· OSTI ID:5466989

Heuer, J H; McIntosh, D; Ostrowski, P; Tomljanovich, D A

This report is an assessment of potential adverse impact to striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Watts Bar Reservoir caused by thermal effluent from operation of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP). The Clinch River arm of Watts Bar Reservoir is occupied by adult striped bass during the warmest months of the year. Concern was raised that operation of the CRBRP, specifically thermal discharges, could conflict with management of striped bass. In all cases examined the thermal plume becomes nearly imperceptible within a short distance from the discharge pipe (about 30 ft (10 m)) compared to river width (about 630 ft (190 m)). Under worst case conditions any presence of the plume in the main channel (opposite side of the river from the discharge) will be confined to the surface layer of the water. An ample portion of river cross sections containing ambient temperature water for passage or residence of adult striped bass will always be available in the vicinity of this thermal effluent. Although a small portion of river cross section would exceed the thermal tolerance of striped bass, the fish would naturally avoid this area and seek out adjacent cooler water. Therefore, it is concluded the CRBRP thermal effluent will not significantly affect the integrity of the striped bass thermal refuge in the Clinch River arm of Watts Bar Reservoir. At this time there is no need to consider alternative diffuser designs and thermal modeling. 8 references, 3 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville (USA). Office of Natural Resources and Economic Development
• OSTI ID: 5466989
• Report Number(s): TVA/ONR/WRF-83/20; ON: DE84900615
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BREEDER REACTORS
CLINCH RIVER
CLINCH RIVER BREEDER REACTOR
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FISHES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
PLUMES
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
RIVERS
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
VERTEBRATES