TPWD 1962 F-3-R-9 #789: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region S-B: Pollution Studies, Project No. F-3-R-9

SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project Noa Fn3wa9 Fisheries Inveatigations and Surveys Of the Waters of Regiofi 5580 Job N00 Cal Pollution Studies Project Leader Charles E9 Gray Ha Du Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austina Taxas Marion Tcole Eugene Ae Walker . DGJ Coordinator Directors, Program Planning June 26$ 1962 ABSTRACT The nature and danger to aquatic life of the effluent from E. L. Bruce Company, wood products plant at Center, Texas was jointly investigated by field personnel of the Texas Game and Fish Commission and the State Health Department. A surveillance was maintained on a strong acid waste being discharged from Atlas Chemical Industries, Inc., Darco Division plant at Marshall, Texas. One conference was held with Atlas Chemical officials at which time the Texas Game and Fish Commission and the State Health Department were assured that corrective measures were being planned. SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas 9 Project No. F-3-R-9 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Re ion S-B. Job No. c-1 Title: Pollution Studies Period covered: February 1, 1961 - January 31, 1962. OBJECTIVES: To determine the source and nature of natural or man made pollutants which affect the fish population. PROCEDURE: When evidence of pollution was found or reported, a search was made to find the source and nature of the pollution. FINDINGS: TWO pollution problems were encountered during the segment, both resulting from industrial effluents. The E. L. Bruce Company of Center, Shelby County, requested the assistance of the Game and Fish Commission with their problem of disposing of waste water. This company manufactures plywood veneers and laminated wood floor tile from hardwoods and use water for steaming logs and for holding their stockpile of logs to prevent rotting. Periodically, they must release this water to re- cover logs from the pits in which they are stored and also to flush out the steam vats in which logs are steamed before going into the production line. The company officials were advised on December 5, 1961, that while the Game and Fish Commission was not in a position to offer a solution to their problem, that we could determine if their waste water was.1etha1 to fish or not. They were also advised that the State Health Department should be con- tacted as they were more specialised to handle industrial waste studies. On December 19, 1961, preliminary field tests were made by Mr. C. C. Reigal, Engineer Assistant, State Health Department. These tests included :flBpection and water analysis. At the same time, a Game and Fish Commission crew took seining collections from approximately the same location as the water samples were taken. Table 1 is the location of these water samples and Table 2 is the results of the water analysis. Table 3 is the seining results. It should be pointed out that seining colditions were very poor. m 2 H Table 1. LOCATION OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT WATER SAMPLES Station No° 9 Cotton Ford Road“ 10 Junction of Prairie Creek and Drainage ditch east of plant._ 11 Entry to holding pit #1 (raw waste storage) 12- Pit #2 (secondary raw waste) 14 Pit #3 (log storage) 15 - ' ' -Pit #4 (IOngtorage) 16 County road above plant crossing Prairie Creek 17 Ditch between pits l and 2, intermittent discharge of waste. 'Il: . .' mmma..nmflm ' ' Table 2. RESULTS OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT WATER SAMPLES Chlorine Dissolved Station Chlorides Sulphates Demand Oxygen DOD Alkalinity __E2.r. .23” .lflsislall .fllslnial_ _laislsa islala.ll slalae- .lralsial_i I 9 - 6.7 34 74 5.0 I‘3.0 I 3.0] 28 10 6.7 - 28 I 74 5.0 I 0.6 15.0 32 11 4.5': -3 20 I ' 7360.0 0.0 2060.0 -0 12 - 6.4 - 4 _ 82 ’ '155.0- 0.0 - 150.0 222 14 7.2 37 = 30 '11.5 3.0 1.5 ' - 192 - 15 I 8.6 345 '290- 6.0 8.5 I 10.5 620- 16 . 6.3 40 ' 28 -2.5' - -: 8.4-: _.--- _12 17 6.8 '28 -<* 28 20.0 0.0f : -'6.0 88. Hm 'Wmm:m mini-“mi I mm mm Mir-m " 3 Table 3 SEINING RESULTS, 15 FOOT BAG SEINE Station #1 Drainage ditch coming from between pits 1 and 2, below Health Department Collection #17. Golden Shiner l Notesisaaas errsglessas Mosquitofish 1' .Eaetsaia.afiiais Station #2 Health Department Collection #10 Mosquitofish Seahssia.afiinis 4 Crayfish 1 Station #3 Cotton Ford Road Crossing Prairie Creek Ribbon Shiner .Notrgpis fumeus 1 www— - Ann—_— ma—Inn—n— “mu—aw; —I_—_. “—2—- m—mum —-u-—x“——-m_n_. The second pollution problem was discovered prior to the present segment but surveillance work was done during this segment to keep data current on abatem ment plans, if any, and on the nature and condition of the effluent. The Atlas Chemical Company"s Darco Division, located near Marshall, Texas, manufactures activated carbon from lignite. Strong acids are used in the process and the waste is discharged into Potters Creek, a small tributary of the Sabine River. This results in a very low pH in Potters Creek although very little, if any, change can be detected in the Sabine River. Water analyses during the period indicate that the acid condition still exists. A conference was held which included ofm ficials of-the plant, field personnel of the Texas Game and Fish Commission and the State Health Department. At this conference, Atlas Chemical Company officials gave assurance that research work was being conducted to find a solution to the problem. It was also stated that this work would be accelerated. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that this job he continued in order to maintain surveillance on existing pollution situations and to investigate any new pole lution situations that may arise. ( ____l__ Approved . .uazziétziiéiic_ Prepared by Charles EL Grai Coordinator Date ____m“__ June g§,_1962 __ _ ____ Charles E. Gray Regional Supervisor