Reactor operation environmental information document

Survey of ecological resources at selected US Department of Energy sites

“…Of the 213 bird species observed on the SRS (Wike et al 1992), 88 species are known to occur on-site during the breeding season, whereas the remainder occur as seasonal migrants. Included are a variety of raptors, perching (passerine) birds, wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl.…”

“…Swamp habitat along the Savannah River occupies approximately 3020 ha (7459 acres) and is maintained through flow from the six major streams on-site and seasonal flooding of the Savannah River (Wike et al 1992). PAR Pond (1012 ha; 2500 acres) and L-Lake (419 ha; 1035 acres) are former cooling reservoirs created by damming Lower Three Runs and Steel Creek.…”

“…Other benthic macroinvertebrate organisms include snails and clams. Wike et al (1992) reported that 71 species of freshwater and anadromous fish, representing 12 orders and 21 families, occur in the Savannah River adjacent to the SRS. Resident fish important to recreational sport fishing in the Savannah River include channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bream.…”

Vegetation survey of PEN Branch wetlands

“…Pen Branch discharges into the Savannah River Floodplain swamp rather than flowing directly into the Savannah River. Where it discharges into the swamp, it has formed a delta where temperatures typically range from 25 to 40°C above ambient (Wike et al,, 1989,)_,The flow from Pen Branch spreads over the delta and continues through the swamp as sliallb_/sheet flow until entering the lower reaches of Steel Creek through which it discharges into the Savannah River. When the Savannah River inundates the floodplain swamp, Pen Branch flows along the northern border of the swamp and crosses the Steel Creek Delta.…”

“…Interpretation of the present baseline vegetation survey necessitates comparison to predisturbance conditiop.s, especially for the lower portion of Pen Branch where heated reactor effluent has killed trees. The following historical and background discussion is largely taken from Wike et al (1989).…”