Avalos, J. Chris

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University of Massachusetts AmherstScholarWorks@UMass AmherstInternational Conference on Engineering andEcohydrology for Fish PassageInternational Conference on Engineering andEcohydrology for Fish Passage 2016Jun 22nd, 9:15 AM - 9:30 AMEels II: Biological and Engineering Studies ofAmerican Eel at Conowingo ProjectJ. Chris AvalosNormandeau AssociatesFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conferenceThis Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Fish Passage Community at UMass Amherst at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in International Conference on Engineering and Ecohydrology for Fish Passage by an authorized administrator ofScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact scholarworks@library.umass.edu.Avalos, J. Chris, "Eels II: Biological and Engineering Studies of American Eel at Conowingo Project" (2016). International Conferenceon Engineering and Ecohydrology for Fish Passage. 7.https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2016/June22/7BIOLOGICAL AND ENGINEERING STUDIES OFAMERICAN EEL AT CONOWINGO PROJECTPrepared by:Chris AvalosStudy Objectives and Test Conditions• Two year study to determine potential areas of upstream migration.• Construct  ramps and collect migrating elvers /yellow eels below Conowingo Dam in Spillway area.• 2010 ramps run from June 14 to September 30.  2011 ramps run from June 24 toSeptember 6.• Due to structural damage to Conowingo Dam caused by heavy spring rains, eastramp construction is delayed and moved to adjacent location.  East sideelver ramp begins operation on July 1, 2011.• Two different sized mesh eel pots are fished every week from both ramp locations.• Utilize two different substrates per ramp, and introduce heavier attraction flow.Study Objectives and Test Conditions Cont.• Average water temperature for the study was 82.3°F/27.9°C, with a low of 73.7°F/23.2°C on 9/3/11, and a high of 90.8°F/32.7°C on 7/24/11.• Study implemented during two complete lunar cycles.• Conducted three night surveys in spillway to document areas of elver/juvile eels congregation.• Water temperature, rain amount, and lunar fractions are recorded  daily.• Elvers ramps are checked three times a week, with the eel pots checked aftersecond fishing day.  Location of Elver ramps and eels pots fished in Conowingo Spillway ReachSusquehanna RiverConowingo Hydroelectric Facility Spillbays 1-5TailraceSpillway ReachSpillbays 46-50East Side Elver RampsEel PotsWest Side Elver RampsEel Pots Elver congregation area found during night surveys2011 West Ramp Location2010 West Ramp Location2011 East Ramp Location2010 East Ramp LocationAkwa Drain, and Enka Mat Substrates Utilized on Elver RampsWest Side Spray Bars, Water Supply, and Collecting BucketsEast Side Ramp with Attraction FlowSpray BarsAttraction FlowAdded Attraction FlowProcessing  Elver TechniquesYellow Eel Processing TechniquesNight Surveys Conducted in Conowingo Spillway2011 Results• A total of 1159 eels were collected at Conowingo Dam in 2011.  1100 were classifiedas elvers and 59 as adult eels.• The west ramps collected 561 elvers.  405 of these were collected on the Enka Matramp with an average length of 124.8 mm.  The remaining 156 were collected on the Akwa Drain ramp with an average length of 124.3.• The East ramps collected 539 elvers.  133 of these were collected on the Enka MatRamp with an average length of 123.3 mm.  The remaining 406 were collected on theAkwa Drain ramp with an average length of 126.1.• 77 eels (46 elvers, 31 yellows) were frozen and processed for otolith aging.  • 1007 elvers collected by the Conowingo Dam spillway ramps were given to USFWS for transportation upstream.           Comparison of Sampling Efforts in 2010 and 20112010 2011Sampling Dates:         June 14 to September 30                                 June 24 (West); July 1 (East) to September  6East Spillway Ramp:               158 elvers                                                      539 elvers                 West Spillway Ramp:               8 elvers                                                         561 elversTotal elvers collected:                 166                                                                 1,100East eel pots:                        1 yellow eel                                                               0West eel pots:                     90 yellow eels                                                           59Moon Phases:        4 full and 3 new moon periods                       2 complete lunar cycles         024681012141 2 3 4 5 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19Number of EelsAgeResults of Otolith AgingWest Side Ramp Elver Results050100150200250010203040506070809010024-Jun-1129-Jun-114-Jul-119-Jul-1114-Jul-1119-Jul-1124-Jul-1129-Jul-113-Aug-118-Aug-1113-Aug-1118-Aug-1123-Aug-1128-Aug-112-Sep-11Elvers CollectedWater Temperature (°F)/LunarDateNumber of Elvers Collected at West Ramp in Relation to Water Temperature/Lunar in 2011West Ramp Akwa Drain West Ramp Enka Map Water Temperature LunarEast Side Ramp Elver Results050100150200250010203040506070809010024-Jun-1129-Jun-114-Jul-119-Jul-1114-Jul-1119-Jul-1124-Jul-1129-Jul-113-Aug-118-Aug-1113-Aug-1118-Aug-1123-Aug-1128-Aug-112-Sep-11Elvers CollectedWater Temperature (°F)/LunarDateNumber of Elvers Collected at East Ramp in Relation to Water Temperature/Lunar in 2011East Ramp Akwa Drain East Ramp Enka Mat Water Temperature LunarLocation of Heavy Elver MovementEast Side RampPlateau Where Large Numbers of Elvers ObservedOctorara Creek Temporary Eel Trapping Facility Further testing of substrate types. Octorara trib to Susquehanna River on eastern bank downstream of Conowingo Dam. Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility ~12 miles upstream of Conowingo, sister hydro facility. PADEP 401 WQC finalized 2014, incorporated into FERC license issued for Muddy Run in Dec., 2015. As part of 401 requirements, Exelon committed to operating temporary eel trapping facility on Octorara Creek for 3 years. Recourse agencies determined “success” and permanency. 1st year operation = 2015 ~7,200 eels. 2nd year operations = 2016 9,563 thus far. Eels collected transported upstream in Susquehanna Watershed.2009At least 170 species of birds have been observed and recorded at the dam. Provides drinking water to Baltimore County, and cooling water for Peach Bottom Nuclear PP.While providing  enough CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY for 159,000 homes a year.

Eels II: Biological and Engineering Studies of American Eel at Conowingo Project

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Eels II: Biological and Engineering Studies of American Eel at Conowingo Project

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