Claytor Lake Claytor Lake Debris StudyDebris Study

Hydro Environmental Services of Hydro Environmental Services of Kleinschmidt AssociatesKleinschmidt Associates

Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) Aquatic & Terrestrial Habitat Studies Aquatic & Terrestrial Habitat Studies Fish Populations & Migration Assessments Fish Populations & Migration Assessments Wildlife Studies Wildlife Studies Instream Flow Modeling Instream Flow Modeling Recreation Management Plans Recreation Management Plans Water Quality Monitoring & Modeling Water Quality Monitoring & Modeling Riparian, Wetland & Terrestrial Botanical Studies Riparian, Wetland & Terrestrial Botanical Studies River Channel & Habitat Restoration River Channel & Habitat Restoration Threatened & Endangered Species ConsultationThreatened & Endangered Species Consultation

Kleinschmidt Experience Regarding Kleinschmidt Experience Regarding Debris IssuesDebris Issues

SCEG – Woody Debris & Stump SCEG – Woody Debris & Stump Management PlanManagement Plan

Coosa/Warrior River dams – facilitated Coosa/Warrior River dams – facilitated a stakeholder group to develop a woody a stakeholder group to develop a woody debris policydebris policy

Grand River Dam Authority –Shoreline Grand River Dam Authority –Shoreline Management PlanManagement Plan

Project TeamProject Team

Project Manager – Dave FalcinelliProject Manager – Dave Falcinelli Technical Lead – Mike HrebenTechnical Lead – Mike Hreben Engineer – Jon QuebbemanEngineer – Jon Quebbeman GIS Specialist – Jennifer WardwellGIS Specialist – Jennifer Wardwell

Staff engineers and scientists available to assist as needed.

Understanding Debris IssuesUnderstanding Debris Issues There are a wide variety of debris types and characteristics (There are a wide variety of debris types and characteristics (e.g.,e.g., large large

wood, flotsam, jetsam, urban by-products, etc.)wood, flotsam, jetsam, urban by-products, etc.)

Debris introduction mechanisms can vary (Debris introduction mechanisms can vary (e.g.,e.g., chronic and dispersed chronic and dispersed introduction from mountain and floodplain forests, and acute and introduction from mountain and floodplain forests, and acute and concentrated loading from recreational areas)concentrated loading from recreational areas)

Nature of debris dispersal within reservoirs can be very complex (eddy Nature of debris dispersal within reservoirs can be very complex (eddy concentration/diffusion of buoyant debris, changes in buoyancy concentration/diffusion of buoyant debris, changes in buoyancy associated with residence time alters debris behavior, geographic associated with residence time alters debris behavior, geographic features that concentrate or disperse debris)features that concentrate or disperse debris)

Debris occurrence and associated problems can be very temporal in Debris occurrence and associated problems can be very temporal in nature (natural seasonal interactions, recreation activities, seasonality nature (natural seasonal interactions, recreation activities, seasonality of storms, etc).of storms, etc).

Debris provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic species Debris provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic species BUT can also be a detriment to aesthetics and recreational activitiesBUT can also be a detriment to aesthetics and recreational activities

Debris Accumulation in Claytor LakeDebris Accumulation in Claytor Lake

Debris StudyDebris Study Objectives:Objectives:

– Determine Amount & Type of Surface DebrisDetermine Amount & Type of Surface Debris– Characterize Debris TypesCharacterize Debris Types– Evaluate where Debris entered the LakeEvaluate where Debris entered the Lake– Determine the Relationship between Debris Determine the Relationship between Debris

Accumulation Areas and Flow EventsAccumulation Areas and Flow Events– Assess methods for reducing and removing debrisAssess methods for reducing and removing debris– Define types of Woody Debris that is Beneficial Define types of Woody Debris that is Beneficial

Fish HabitatFish Habitat– Develop a Debris Management PlanDevelop a Debris Management Plan

Goal: an assessment of facility operations on debris accumulation.

Amount & Type of DebrisAmount & Type of Debris Four Quarterly Field Surveys Over a One Four Quarterly Field Surveys Over a One

Year PeriodYear Period– Flyovers to identify areas of accumulationFlyovers to identify areas of accumulation– Surveys after higher flow events to the extent Surveys after higher flow events to the extent

possiblepossible– Representative photos of debris accumulationsRepresentative photos of debris accumulations

Information on Debris types, locations, and Information on Debris types, locations, and quantitiesquantities– Truck and Boat based surveys to ground-truth Truck and Boat based surveys to ground-truth

debris types and size of accumulationsdebris types and size of accumulations– Information from: FOCL, VDEQ, VDGIF, and Information from: FOCL, VDEQ, VDGIF, and

other stakeholdersother stakeholders FOCL formed in 1993 due to debris issuesFOCL formed in 1993 due to debris issues

Potential Debris SourcesPotential Debris Sources

• Locations of debris accumulations documented by Locations of debris accumulations documented by surveys and local entities will be assessed to surveys and local entities will be assessed to determine likely sources.determine likely sources.

• Focus will be the New River and other sizeable Focus will be the New River and other sizeable tributariestributaries

• Shoreline activities will also be assessed as potential Shoreline activities will also be assessed as potential sources if applicablesources if applicable

Flow/Debris RelationshipFlow/Debris Relationship

Historical DataHistorical Data– Available information on past debris Available information on past debris

removal effortsremoval efforts– Flow dataFlow data– Information will be used to develop a Information will be used to develop a

qualitative relationship.qualitative relationship.

Current InformationCurrent Information– Conduct field surveys after high flow Conduct field surveys after high flow

events (as feasible) events (as feasible) – Maintain contact with stakeholders Maintain contact with stakeholders

concerned with debris issuesconcerned with debris issues

Assessment of Debris Assessment of Debris Reduction/Removal ProgramsReduction/Removal Programs

Research what is being done at Research what is being done at other projectsother projects– Literature reviewLiterature review– Contact other licenseesContact other licensees

Define Types of Woody Debris That Define Types of Woody Debris That Are Beneficial Fish HabitatAre Beneficial Fish Habitat

Literature ReviewLiterature Review– Habitat requirements for primary fish speciesHabitat requirements for primary fish species

Contact with VDGIF and VDEQContact with VDGIF and VDEQ Observations by staff scientists during Observations by staff scientists during

quarterly surveysquarterly surveys Review of other study results (i.e. Aquatic Review of other study results (i.e. Aquatic

Resource Assessment)Resource Assessment)

Develop a Debris Management PlanDevelop a Debris Management Plan

Review of current debris management on the lakeReview of current debris management on the lake

Research of existing debris management plans at Research of existing debris management plans at other projectsother projects

Incorporate information learned through the other Incorporate information learned through the other study tasksstudy tasks

Define those management practices that are most Define those management practices that are most applicable to Claytorapplicable to Claytor

Assemble the above information into a debris Assemble the above information into a debris management plan management plan

ScheduleSchedule

Begin to acquire existing data January Begin to acquire existing data January 20072007

Begin quarterly field surveys in the Begin quarterly field surveys in the winter or spring 2007 winter or spring 2007

Provide study updates in May and Provide study updates in May and November 2007November 2007

Final Study Report in May 2008Final Study Report in May 2008

Questions and Comments?Questions and Comments?

Claytor Lake Claytor Lake Debris StudyDebris Study