Scope of Work for Use of the Fish Bypass at New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program Savannah River, Georgia and South Carolina 1.0 INTRODUCTION. As part of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District (Corps) committed to monitor the use of sturgeon and anadromous fish of the offchannel rock ramp bypass that the project is constructing around the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam near Augusta, Georgia. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) will conduct telemetry studies as identified in this scope of work (SOW) to collect information on fish use of the structure, analyze the data, and provide reports to the Corps. 2.0 WORK TO BE PERFORMED. Telemetry Monitoring Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeon use of the off-channel rock ramp fish bypass at the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam will be accomplished through the use of telemetry and sonic transmitters. The work will identify the distribution of sturgeon in the upper Savannah River over the course of a year and identify seasonal habitats, migration patterns, and possibly spawning locations. The work would be conducted using the same type of transmitters and receivers as are presently being used by SC DNR in a study they are performing for NOAA Fisheries titled Research and Management of Endangered and Threatened Species in the Southeast: Riverine Movements of Shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon. Different models of transmitters and receivers may be used with prior permission from the Corps. For the pre-construction monitoring period, SC DNR would acquire and insert 10 sonic transmitters into Atlantic sturgeon in the Savannah River, 10 sonic transmitters into Shortnose sturgeon, and 20 sonic transmitters into other species representative of the NSBL&D area fish community (Striped bass, Robust redhorse, and American shad). If sufficient numbers of sturgeon are not available for capturing, tagging and tracking in the upper river, transmitters can be implanted in other species representative of the NSBL&D area fish community, preferably American shad. The Corps has committed to performing post-construction monitoring of sturgeon during years one, two, three, four, five, and nine of the post-construction monitoring period. This scope of Page 1 of 6
work only covers the first five years of work or work to be completed by the end of year 2018; it does not include work to be performed for the entire post-construction monitoring period. It is anticipated that transmitters must be deployed multiple times as outlined below. At the beginning of the post-construction monitoring period (Year 1), SC DNR would acquire and insert 10 sonic transmitters into Atlantic sturgeon, 10 sonic transmitters into Shortnose sturgeon, and 50 sonic transmitters into other species representative of the NSBL&D area fish community (Striped bass, Robust redhorse, and (preferably) American shad). If sufficient numbers of sturgeon are not available for capturing, tagging and tracking in the upper river, transmitters can be implanted in other species representative of the NSBL&D area fish community listed above. For the years in the post-construction monitoring period (2017 and 2018 for this scope of work), SC DNR would acquire and insert ten sonic transmitters into Atlantic sturgeon in the Savannah River and 10 sonic transmitters into Shortnose sturgeon. If sufficient numbers of sturgeon are not available for capturing, tagging and tracking in the upper river, transmitters can be implanted in other species representative of the NSBL&D area fish community (Striped bass, Robust redhorse, and American shad). If possible, fish would be captured within 1 km of the dam by hook and line, gill net, or other approved sampling gear. All fish implanted will be weighed, measured, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagged, and have a fin clip taken for genetic analysis before being released. Distribution monitoring would be performed using an array of fixed receivers deployed in the estuary and along the river to constantly monitor the location of the transmitted fish. The receivers would be downloaded as needed to ensure a continuous dataset is obtained of the location of transmitted fish. Acquisition, operation and maintenance of 20 receivers are included in this SOW, with an additional 10% (2 receivers) allowance to account for replacement of lost/inoperable receivers. The receivers funded by this SOW would be concentrated around the fish bypass at the NSBL&D. The focus of the distribution of the receivers is to be able to identify the movement of sturgeon through the off-channel rock ramp bypass. A receiver generally picks up a signal within several hundred yards of its location, so each receiver will effectively collect data across the entire river. However, the hydraulic conditions in the rock ramp bypass will be quite turbulent, potentially reducing the effectiveness of identifying specific locations of fish. In addition, since the rock ramp will provide habitats similar to natural riffles, fish may choose to spawn within the ramp and not proceed to natural spawning areas upstream (such as those at the Augusta Shoals). The location of fish within the rock ramp will also be useful information. Page 2 of 6
Therefore, to increase the ability to identify fish movement in and through the rock ramp, receivers should be located no more than 200 yards apart in the rock ramp and placed on both sides of the ramp to allow triangulation of fish locations. Additional receivers will be located in the Savannah River near the upstream and downstream end of the ramp, one additional receiver would be placed within 300 yards of the upstream end of the ramp and another located within 300 yards of the downstream end of the ramp. These would allow more precise locating of fish approaching and exiting the ramp. Based on the expected length for the rock ramp of between 1,300 to 1,900 feet, this spacing would result in the placement of 8 receivers to monitor fish movement through the rock ramp. Another 2 receivers would be needed to monitor fish movement near the entrance and exit of the rock ramp. The spacing of receivers should be much greater away from the rock ramp. To allow identification of fish movement upstream of the NSBL&D (between the L&D and Augusta Shoals), the contractor should locate 5 receivers between the NSBL&D and the Augusta Shoals. In general, 3 of those 5 should be located upstream of the Thirteen Street Bridge (River Mile 201). Another 5 receivers should be located downstream of the dam, extending down the Savannah River to Interstate 95. Prior to placement of the receivers, SC DNR will provide the Corps with a draft map for approval illustrating the proposed locations where receivers would be placed. Manual Tracking / Habitat Characterization Manual tracking of instrumented fish will occur in and near the rock ramp. This work would be performed one day a week for 6 weeks during the sturgeon spawning season. Water temperature will be determined at the location of at least 10 telemetered sturgeon during each manual tracking event. The objective of this work is to more precisely identify the location and habitats used by telemetered fish. Water Quality In addition to the monitoring described above, the Corps has committed to monitoring certain water quality parameters in the vicinity of the lock and dam. Temperature shall be recorded using temperature loggers established at fixed locations at NSBL&D, 1, 10, 50, 100 and 200 km below the dam, and 1 km above the dam. If existing monitors are already in place in similar locations, then the work may be accomplished using those monitors with prior approval from the Corps. Based on available information, it is anticipated that, for year 1, a new station must be installed for the 10km location. Dissolved oxygen concentration, turbidity, and river stage at NSBL&D would be recorded at least weekly. Dam discharge will be recorded daily. All data collected should be included in the reporting requirements described below in Section 6.0. Page 3 of 6
3.0 SCHEDULE. The period of performance to conduct work identified in this scope is one year (365 days) from award of the task order. Initial installation of transmitters would be conducted in the fall of 2013 and spring of 2014. The telemetry would begin in the spring of 2014 and continue for the remainder of the period of performance (one year). The monitoring in 2014 would serve as a baseline for additional studies that would be performed after the fish bypass is constructed. Under the current cooperative agreement, SC DNR would perform the telemetry and tracking work intermittently through 2018. It is expected that new task orders will be issued to SC DNR to perform the same telemetry and manual tracking/habitat characterization work described above each of the identified years (baseline and in years one, and two after the fish passage is available for use). Using the present schedule and a two year construction period for the bypass, the sturgeon monitoring would be performed in the spring of 2014, 2017, and 2018. Water quality would be monitored continuously. A new task order will be issued each year to fund this work. 4.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE. SC DNR will perform quality assurance on the sampling and data reporting process to ensure data integrity. 5.0 RESULTS. The contractor would present the telemetry data of Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeon, and other representative anadromous fish species near the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam collected through this SOW. At a minimum, each sturgeon location record will include date and time of location and this information will be used to determine the timing and rate of movement, and the amount of time each fish spent in various areas. The data should be presented by species. The presentation of the data will also include consideration of the water quality conditions determined during the manual tracking / habitat component of the work. 6.0 REPORTING. The data will be reported to the UGA Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science on a monthly basis using a format to be provided separately by the Corps. The data will also be reported to the Clemson University Intelligent River Program. Analysis of the data will be included in an annual report. The annual report will describe the equipment and techniques used, data collected, and analyses performed that year under this SOW. Figures will be used to show the locations of the tracked fish. A draft of this separate report will be provided within 60 days of the end of the FY. After receipt of comments from the Corps, the contractor will provide a final report within two weeks. Page 4 of 6
The report provided in the final year of the study will be a consolidated report that also summarizes the results found over the entire period of analysis. Page 5 of 6
7.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT. The Points of Contact for this Scope of Work are as follows: SC DNR: Mr. William Post Diadromous Fishes Coordinator SC Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 12559 Charleston, SC 29422 Phone: 843-953-9821 Fax: 843-953-9820 Email: postb@dnr.sc.gov Corps Technical POC: Ms. Margarett McIntosh US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District ATTN: PD-E 100 West Oglethorpe Avenue Savannah, Georgia 31401 Phone: 912-652-5320 Fax: 912-652-5787 Email: Margarett.McIntosh@usace.army.mil Corps Coordination POC: Mr. William Bailey US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District ATTN: PD 100 West Oglethorpe Avenue Savannah, Georgia 31401 Phone: 912-652-5266 Email: Gabriele.Supon@usace.army.mil 8.0 PAYMENT. The funding will be provided through a Cooperative Agreement with SC DNR. Specific billing instructions are included in that Agreement. SC DNR will bill the Savannah District on a quarterly basis. The invoices will be sent to the Corps Coordination POC identified above. Page 6 of 6