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Thermal Discharge from a Nuclear Power Plant: Predicted Effects on Lake Erie Fish
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Reutter, Jeffrey M. Herdendorf, Charles E. |
| Copyright Year | 1976 |
| Abstract | REUTTER, JEFFREY M. AND CHARLES E. HERDENDORF. Thermal discharge from a nuclear power plant: predicted effects on Lake Erie fish. Ohio J. Sci. 76(1): 39. 1976. The Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, currently under construction on the south shore of Lake Erie near Locust Point, will use water from the lake for cooling purposes. Based on thermal specifications for this plant, we conducted laboratory experiments to try to predict the effects of thermal effluents on the Lake Erie fishery resource Over 2000 fish representing 24 of the 47 local species were tested to determine their seasonal final temperature preferenda. All final preferenda were above lake temperature during fall, winter, and spring indicating attraction to thermal discharges during these seasonvS. Summer final preferenda were approximately equal to or slightly higher than lake temperature for all species tested indicating indifference or slight attraction to thermal plumes. Heat shock tests were conducted on 852 fish of 33 species and cold shock tests were conducted on 443 fish of 22 species. Heat and cold shock results indicated that the absolute temperature to which fish were subjected was more important than the size of the temperature change. Therefore, summer heat shocks and winter cold shocks caused the greatest stress. The species most likely to be harmed by thermal effluents were Alosa pseudoharengus (alewife), Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum), Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad), and M or one chrysops (white bass). Thermal pollution has been a subject of great concern in recent years. Any increase in the temperature of an ecosystem may cause ecological changes, Manuscript received February 26, 1975 and in revised form October 20, 1975 (#75-13). but these changes need not be disastrous. Reduction and regulation of the amount of heat added and the manner in which it enters any body of water can greatly reduce the potential ecological dangers. Some waters, depending on their flora, fauna, and physical characteristics, are capable of safely dissipating thermal discharges better than others. The Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station is being built 21 miles east of Toledo, Ohio on the south shore of Lake Erie near Locust Point. This plant, scheduled for completion in fall 1976, will utilize a closed condenser cooling water system to dissipate heat from the steam condenser to the atmosphere by means of a natural draft cooling tower. Water from Lake Erie will be used to replenish the supply and dilute the cooling tower blowdown water which, according to the USAEC 1973 Final Environmental Statement, will be returned to the lake at a maximum of 11.1°C (20°F) above ambient lake temperature. This effluent will be discharged from the lake bottom, through a high velocity nozzle, over a rockfi.il approximately 305 meters off shore. The area of the 0.56°C (1°F) isotherm of the thermal plume formed by this discharge will be less than 1.6 hectares and the area of the 1.67°C (3°F) isotherm will be approximately 0.3 hectares (U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1973). Since June 1971, The Ohio State University has conducted experiments to determine the effects of thermal effluents on the Lake Erie fishery resource. Experiments during the first year were performed by Barans and Tubb (1973) on Micropterus dolomieui (smallmouth bass), M or one chrysops (white bass), Notropis atherinoides (emerald shiner), and Perca flavescens (yellow perch). We have attempted to determine the "seasonal" final temperature preferenda and predict the direct effects of sudden temperature |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/22346/V076N1_039.pdf;jsessionid=E5A3ADA07BF10DE95040B87996F3D208?sequence=1 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
