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U.S. Department of Energy
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Preliminary Biological Measurement Program in the Savannah River. Final report, 1 March-31 August 1982. Volume I

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6300638

This report presents the data obtained during the preliminary six months of the Biological Measurement Program in the Savannah River. A total of 10,205 fish eggs and larvae were collected in 2138 meroplankton samples from the Savannah River and tributary streams between 11 March and 29 August 1982. The 5176 fish larvae collected were primarily herring and shad. Unidentified minnows and spotted suckers were also very abundant. The 5029 fish eggs collected were primarily American shad. Striped bass and blueback herring were very abundant during a very short period. Both eggs and larvae were generally distributed uniformly in the water column. Peak spawning occurred in May. Striped bass spawning, which previously had not been recorded from the central Savannah River area, was noted on two occasions in May and one Occasion in July. Fourteen sturgeon larvae also were collected. To date, it has not been determined whether these larvae are Atlantic or shortnose sturgeon. Both Upper Three Runs and Steel Creeks were productive areas for fish spawning, whereas Four Mile Creek was seldom used for spawning. Entrainment of ichthyoplankton was calculated to be approximately 17.9 x 10/sup 6/ larvae and 18.1 x 10/sup 6/ fish eggs per day. The loss of ichthyoplankton is about 13% of the organisms that pass the intake. Impingement of fishes was low with a maximum of 44 fish impinged in a 24-hour period.

Research Organization:
Environmental and Chemical Sciences, Inc., Aiken, SC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-76SR00001
OSTI ID:
6300638
Report Number(s):
DPST-83-439-Vol.1; ON: DE83012083
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English