TPWD 1969 F-3-R-16 #1275: Segment Completion Report: Paper Mill Effluent Study in Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas, Federal Aid Project F-3-R-16, Job No. 12

SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F—3—l6 Region 3-B Fisheries Studies Job No. 12 Paper Mill Effluent Study in Sam Rayburn Reservoir Project Leader: Joe E. Toole J. R. Singleton Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D—J Coordinator Director, Wildlife Services March 19, 1969 ABSTRACT Seven sampling stations in upper Sam Rayburn Reservoir were utilized this segment to obtain water quality and fish population data during eight field collections. These data indicated that surface waters at most stations was of sufficient quality to support aquatic life throughout the year. The inundated Angelina River channel serves as a collecting basin fOr organic deposits and resulting decomposition created water quality toxic to fish life below a depth of 12 feet during the summer months. Lake ”turnover” occurred in early October and the mix— ing action dispersed toxic concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas and other chemicals. Some degree of correlation between fish movements and water quality is evident, although a relatively low number of fishes were collected this segment. Signifi— cantly better water quality has existed in the reservoir since it filled to power pool elevation in early 1968. This suggests that either less pollutant is entering the Angelina River or increased disPersion exists from the river channel. Analyses will be conducted both in the channel and at a considerable distance from the channel at three stations during the coming segment to better evaluate dispersion range and SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F—3—16 Name: Region 3—B Fisheries Studies Job No. 12 Title: Paper Mill Effluent Study in Sam Rayburn Reservoir Period Covered: February 1, 1968 — January 312 1969 PS OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of paper mill effluent on vegetation, vertebrates and invertebrates in Sam Rayburn Reservoir. SEGMENT OBJECTIVE: To collect data concerning certain aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates and vegetation in those areas of Sam Rayburn Reservoir which may be effected by the effluent discharged by a paper mill. PROCEDURES: During the previous segment of this study, eight sampling stations were utilized for field collections in upper Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Water elevations in 1967 ranged frOm 155.4 to 151.5. In early 1968, the reservoir filled to power pool eleva— tion 164.0. Due to this increase of approximately ten vertical feet in water level, several modifications were made in station locations. Station 1 was moved upstream, 1,000 yards above the confluence of Paper Mill Creek in the Angelina River. Station sites 1 and 2 of the previous segment were eliminated. The remaining downstream stations remained unchanged. (Figure 1 is a map of Sam Rayburn Reservoir showing relative station locations.) Experimental gill nets were again set at each station in conjunction with water quality analyses to correlate fish population levels with water quality. These nets consist of six 25—foot sections with square mesh increasing from 1 inch to 3 1/2 inches in 1/2—inch increments. Chemical water quality analyses were made at each station with a Hach DR EL chemistry field kit. This unit utilizes individually sealed reagents for colori— metric tests. These analyses included dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, pH, total alkalinity, chlorides, sulfates, ortho—phosphates, turbidity, hydrogen sul— fide and temperature. Analyses were made at the surface and one foot above the bottom at all stations. Tests were made at 6 foot intervals in the inundated river channel at downstream stations. One liter capacity Imhoff sedimentation cones were used to measure suspended solids in parts per thousand. These sedimentation samples were taken 1 foot off the bottom at each station. ' ' FINDINGS: Water quality and net collection data were compared to correlate water quality influence on fish movements. Due to the rather large volume of field data collected, it is presented in graph form with discussions of each collection. m. .3, O .mcowuoum COwuooHHou mcwzofim Hwo>uomom :u:@%mm Eom .H muswwm mquE ZH Mdfium nHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHu NH 0 o m m H o O flee/am nu zomzomm Extremely high bottom turbidity of 285 JTU was recorded at station 1 as well as a relatively high sulfate concentration of 100 ppm. Only four rough fish were caught at.this station. Station 2 revealed a decrease in both turbidity and sulfates and a correspon— ding increase in fish collected. Ten fish.were netted, including 1 game fish. Station 3 data indicated no adverse water quality conditions, and 26 fish were collected. Station 4 water quality data included _at the previous station to 300 ppm. _ with only 3 rough fish Species netted. Turbidity also increased slightly here. Station 6 water quality analyses were made in the river channel and bottom samples indicated increases of sulfates, chlorides, and turbidity. The fish col— lection here included 36 fishes, three of which were game fish. the river channel. A sedimentation sam 40.0 ml/L suspended solids. \ Station 7 data showed increases in carbon dioxide oxygen concentrations dropped to 6.0 ppm on the surfa tom. Only three fish were netted at this station. , pH and turbidity. Dissolved ce and to 2.0 ppm on the bot— Fluxuations in turbidity, sulfates a fish movements at all stations in March. APRIL Stations 1, 2, and 3 exhibited similar water quality during the April collec~ tion. No toxic chemical concentrations were recorded. Only 8 fish were collected at station 1, as compared to 61 at station 2, and 34 at station 3. Station 4 water analyses revealed increases in carbon dioxide and total alkalinm ity. Dissolved oxygen however; did not decrease. Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) comprised a high percentage of the fish collection at this station. Sunfish (Lepomis sp.) were the most numerous game fishes collected Inverse stratifications of dissolved ox ygen and carbon dioxide were recorded at station 5. Five fish were collected here as -4- Figure 2. Station variations in selected areas of water quality for March 1968, Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Surface water samples are repre- sented by a solid line, bottom water samples by a dashed line. STATIONS TURBIDITY (JTU) SULFATES (ppm) Figure 2. (continued) STATIONS TOTAL FISH COLLECTED STATIONS SEDIMENT 1 2 .3 4 5 6_ 7 SAMPLES (ml/1) trace 0.1 _ 0.5 10.0 10.0 40.0 trace —6- Dissolved oxygen continued to decrease at both the surface and bottom at station 6. Bottom phosphates increased sharply, as did the turbidity. Total fish netted was 8, including 1 game fish. Bottom samples were again taken in the river channel here at a depth of 33 feet. High turbidity and phosphate concentrations again appeared to follow the river channel. Station 7 analyses revealed water quality very similar to station 5. A total of 16 fishes was netted, ten of which were smallmouth buffalo. Figure 3 contains graphs of dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and total fish data for all stations in April. Concentrations of smallmouth buffalo and longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) at the upstream stations were responSible for the wide variations in netting collections. Satisfactory surface water quality existed at all stations. Bottom water quality was poor at stations 5, 6, and 7, with decreases in dissolved oxygen and corresponding increases in free CO2 MAY Water quality was generally good at stations 1, 2, and 3 in May. Only two longnose gar were netted at station 1 and three at station 3. At station 2, a total of 28 fishes was netted, 11 of which were smallmouth buffalo. Surface and bottom dissolved oxygen began decreasing at station 4, with corre— sponding inCreases in carbon dioxide. The fish collection here consisted of two rough fish. Turbidity increased slightly at station 5 and bottom oxygen decreased to 2.0 p. Surface pH increased from 6.6 at the previous station to 7.0. Total fish collected increased to 8. Surface dissolved oxygen at station 6 remained the same but dropped to zero ppm on the bottom. Both surface and bottom C02 readings increased. Bottom pH increased from 6.6 to 7.5 with a similar high increase in total alkalinity. Phosphate conCen— trations also reached a toxic level on the bottom with a reading of 2.3 ppm. Only bluegill sunfish were netted near the surface at this station. Tests were made for hydrogen sulfide gas here at six foot intervals. The following concentrations were recorded: surface 0.3 ppm, 12 feet 1.5 ppm, 24 feet 1.0 ppm, and 30 feet 0.3 ppm. Thus, the toxic concentration of hydrogen sulfide was stratified at 12 — 24 feet. No fish were collected at station 7. Surface and bottom 002 readings were relatively high, as was the bottom turbidity. Dissolved oxygen was zero ppm on the bottom but remained at 7.0 on the surface. Hydrogen sulfide gas was found to be con— centrated on the bottom here with a reading of 3.0 ppm at a depth of 31 feet. Fig- ure 4 contains water quality and net data for May. JUNE Water quality at station 1 was good except for the turbidity and sulfate con— centrations. Turbidity readings ranged from 125 JTU on the surface to 150 JTU on the bottom. Surface and bottom sulfate readings were 50 and 60 ppm respectively. The netting results were fairly good here with eight game fish and eight rough fish comprising the catch. 97f. D Figure 3. Station variations in selected areas of water quality for April 1968, Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Surface water samples are repre- sented by a solid line, bottom water samples by a dashed line. STATIONS l 2 , 4 5 6 DISSOLVED OXYGEN (ppm) CARBON DIOXIDE (ppm) l 2 4 6 TOTAL FISH COLLECTED -3; Figure 4. Station variations in selected areas of water quality for May 1968, Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Surface water samples are repres sented by a solid line, bottom water samples by a dashed line STATIONS DISSOLVED OXYGEN (ppm) CARBON DIOXIDE (ppm)