Comprehensive cooling water study annual report. Volume IX: waterfowl, Savannah River Plant
The Savannah River Swamp System (SRSS) and Par Pond are used extensively by waterfowl, particularly during the fall and winter months when these areas provide habitat for migratory species. Twelve species of waterfowl are known to inhabit the SSRS, eleven are migratory species, and the wood duck is a year-round resident. Mallard ducks use the Four Mile Creek delta area of the SRSS during the winter if water levels are low, but use the Steel Creek delta if water levels are high during flooding from the Savannah River. Use of the thermal areas in Four Mile Creek and Pen Branch by waterfowl has been observed to decline in late February, while use of the Steel Creek swamp and Beaver Dam Creek area increases from March to May. Wood ducks appear to be dependent upon persistent and nonpersistent marsh and bottomland hardwood plant communities of the SRSS for foraging, but roost in scrub-shrub communities. The marsh and scrub-shrub communities are enhanced in the post-thermal Steel Creek delta relative to the river swamp areas, which explains the apparent importance of the Steel Creek delta area for these waterfowl. Portions of the Steel Creek delta which were previously excellent nesting habitat for wood ducks are providing poorer nesting habitat due to vegetational succession which has taken place since thermal discharges from L Reactor ended in 1968. Increased flow in the Steel Creek delta which would result from the restart of L Reactor may adversely affect waterfowl roosting and feed areas by increasing water depth and velocity and by altering vegetational patterns. 11 refs., 18 figs., 5 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 6381115
- Report Number(s):
- DP-1697-9; ON: DE86003111
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of the Steel Creek ecosystem in relation to the propsed restart of the L-reactor: interim report
Agency interaction at the Savannah River Plant under the Endangered Species Act
Related Subjects
DUCKS
HABITAT
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
ANIMALS
BIRDS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FOWL
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
520400* - Environment
Aquatic- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)