TPWD 1962 F-3-R-9 #789: Segment Completion Report: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-B, Job No. C-1 Pollution Studies, Project F-3-R-9

--- Page 1 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT Federal Aid Project No, F-3-R-9 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-B. Job No, C-1 Pollution Studies Project Leader Charles E, Gray H. D, Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A, Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Program Planning June 26, 1962 --- Page 2 --- 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. --- Page 3 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No,_F-3-R-9 Name: ” Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-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 pallutants 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 lethal to fish or not. They were also advised that the State Health Department should be con- tacted as they were more specialized 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 inspection 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 cmditions were very poor. --- Page 4 --- Station No, Station No. 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 L? pH 6.7 6.7 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 4,5 6.4 702 8,6 6.3 6.8 a2 wm Table lL. LOCATION OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT WATER SAMPLES Cotton Ford. Road Junetion of Prairie Creek and Drainage ditch east of plant, Entry to holding pit #1 (raw waste storage) Pit #2 (secondary raw waste) Pit #3 (log storage) Pit #4 (log storage) County road above plant crossing Prairie Creek Ditch between pits 1 and 2, intermittent discharge of waste. Table 2. RESULTS OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT WATER SAMPLES 82 Chlorides —PeReMe Pe 34 74 28 74 | 20 4 37 30 345 290 40 28 28 28 Aoi A Ae a ta ah Chlorine Dissolved Sulphates Demand Oxygen oMo — -BeReMe —_PeDoMe 5.0 3.0 5.0 0.6 7360,0 0.0 155.0 0,0 11.5 3,0 6.0 8.5 2.5 B64 20.0 0.0 BOD De Poem. . 3.0 15.0 2060.0 150.0 1.5 10,5 6.0 nA Aa A RR RN Alkalinity —-P2PoMe 28 32 0 222 192 620 12 88 . --- Page 5 --- 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 1 Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis Station #2 Health Department Collection #10 Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis 4 Crayfish 1 Station #3 Cotton Ford Road Crossing Prairie Creek Ribbon shiner Notropis fumeus The second pollution problem was discovered prior to the present segment but surveillance work was done during this segment to keep data current on abate- 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, ficials of the plant, field personnel the State Health Department, At this gave assurance that research work was problem, RECOMMENDATIONS: A conference was held which included of- of the Texas Game and Fish Commission and conference, Atlas Chemical Company officials being conducted to find a solution to the It was also stated that this work would be accelerated, It is recommended that this job be continued in order to maintain surveillance on existing pollution situations and to investigate any new pol- lution situations that may arise, Prepared by _ Charles E, Gray __ Date ___ June 26, 1962 ne ole Coordinator Approved ____ Charles E, Gray Regional Supervisor