Before-and-after studies on the effects of a power-plant installation on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson: literature evaluation. Progress report No. 1 to the Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin, Texas

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:6379155

Fruh, E G; Maguire, B Jr; Schmidt, P S

An analysis of the past fish data collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) shows that after lake LBJ originally bean filling in 1951, the rough fish attained a high level of dominance within a few years. It is expected with new reservoir conditions following 1970-71 impoundment lowering and rotenone treatment that sport fishing will be good for only the first few years (without additions of the proposed power plant's heated effluent). In addition, quarterly sampling by TPWD as proposed in the LCRA permit and this project's contract will not be sufficient to determine quantitatively the changes in fish population in the next two years. An evaluation of past water quality data shows that the thermal stratification affects water quality significantly. The major problem is depletion of dissolved oxygen in the reservoir's lower waters. This appears to be related primarily to the decomposition of phytoplankton and other plant life. Nitrogen and phosphorus both were found to limit pytoplankton growth in the summer. A number of nutrient analyses were developed to measure a large number of samples for the low concentrations generally found in Lake LBJ. Studies included replicability, sensitivity, interferences, and preservability of samples. Because of the pronounced effect of thermal stratification on water quality and biological life, a thermal prediction model is being developed. The assumptions made and limitation of such models are outlined following a thorough evaluation of the literature.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin (USA). Center for Research in Water Resources
• OSTI ID: 6379155
• Report Number(s): CRWR-70; ON: DE83901438
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DISSOLVED GASES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION VI
FISHES
FLUIDS
GASES
GRASS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUTRIENTS
OXYGEN
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
PREFERRED SPECIES
SHRUBS
SOLUTES
STRATIFICATION
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TEXAS
TREES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESERVOIRS