skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Comprehensive cooling water study annual report. Volume IX: waterfowl, Savannah River Plant

Abstract

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 woodmore » 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.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
OSTI Identifier:
6381115
Report Number(s):
DP-1697-9
ON: DE86003111
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-76SR00001
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 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)

Citation Formats

Gladden, J B, Lower, M W, Mackey, H E, Specht, W L, and Wilde, E W. Comprehensive cooling water study annual report. Volume IX: waterfowl, Savannah River Plant. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Gladden, J B, Lower, M W, Mackey, H E, Specht, W L, & Wilde, E W. Comprehensive cooling water study annual report. Volume IX: waterfowl, Savannah River Plant. United States.
Gladden, J B, Lower, M W, Mackey, H E, Specht, W L, and Wilde, E W. 1985. "Comprehensive cooling water study annual report. Volume IX: waterfowl, Savannah River Plant". United States.
@article{osti_6381115,
title = {Comprehensive cooling water study annual report. Volume IX: waterfowl, Savannah River Plant},
author = {Gladden, J B and Lower, M W and Mackey, H E and Specht, W L and Wilde, E W},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6381115}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985},
month = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that may hold this item. Keep in mind that many technical reports are not cataloged in WorldCat.

Save / Share: