FISH ENTRAINMENT AND TURBINE SURVIVAL EVALUATION FOR TILLERY AND BLEWETT FALLS DEVELOPMENTS

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2206 FISH ENTRAINMENT AND TURBINE SURVIVAL EVALUATION FOR TILLERY AND BLEWETT FALLS DEVELOPMENTS Water Resources Working Group Issue No. 16 - Desktop Entrainment Study PROGRESS ENERGY NOVEMBER 2005 2005 Progress Energy

TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page No. ACRONYM LIST...AL-1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...ES-1 SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION... 1-1 SECTION 2 - STUDY OBJECTIVES... 2-1 SECTION 3 - SITE DESCRIPTION... 3-1 SECTION 4 - METHODS... 4-1 SECTION 5 - RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS... 5-1 5.1 Project Fisheries... 5-1 5.1.1 Fish Populations and Species of Interest... 5-1 5.1.2 Fisheries Management History and Goals... 5-3 5.1.3 Characteristics of Selected Species... 5-5 5.2 Entrainment and Survival Potential... 5-10 5.2.1 Factors Affecting Fish Entrainment Abundance... 5-10 5.2.2 Factors Affecting Turbine Survival/Mortality... 5-18 SECTION 6 - SUMMARY... 6-1 6.1 Tillery Development... 6-1 6.2 Blewett Falls Development... 6-1 6.3 General Summary... 6-2 SECTION 7 - REFERENCES... 7-1 APPENDICES APPENDIX A - WATER RWG, ISSUE NO. 16, DESKTOP ENTRAINMENT STUDY - RESERVOIR AND ANADROMOUS FISH i

LIST OF FIGURES Figure Title Page No. Figure 3-1 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project location map.... 3-2 ii

LIST OF TABLES Table Title Page No. Table 3-1 Summary of Tillery and Blewett Falls turbine-generator equipment and summary of turbines from EPRI (1997).... 3-3 Table 3-2 Reservoir and intake characteristics of developments in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project.... 3-4 Table 5-1 Fish taxa collected in the vicinity of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project (Blewett Falls and Tillery Hydroelectric Developments) including Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake, 1986-2002.... 5-2 Table 5-2 Mean number and weight (Kg) per 24 hours for fish collected with quarterly gillnetting from Tillery Lake during 2000... 5-7 Table 5-3 Mean number and weight (Kg) per 24 hours for fish collected with quarterly gillnetting from Blewett Falls Lake during 2001... 5-8 Table 5-4 Metric scoring for indices of relative entrainment potential for Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Developments (after GeoSyntec 2004).... 5-12 Table 5-5 Average annual entrainment densities for Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project fish species of interest from EPRI (1997) entrainment database. Annual density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water.... 5-13 Table 5-6 Mean monthly entrainment densities of Clupeids from EPRI (1997) database. Monthly density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water... 5-13 Table 5-7 Mean monthly entrainment densities of Ictalurus from EPRI (1997) database. Monthly density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water... 5-14 Table 5-8 Mean monthly entrainment densities of centrarchids from EPRI (1997) database. Monthly density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water... 5-15 Table 5-9 Mean monthly entrainment densities of moronids from EPRI (1997) database. Monthly density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water... 5-16 Table 5-10 Mean monthly entrainment densities of non-migratory American eel from EPRI (1997) database. Monthly density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water.... 5-16 Table 5-11 Mean monthly entrainment densities of Moxostoma from EPRI (1997) database. Monthly density shown as fish per million cubic feet of water... 5-17 Table 5-12 Metric scoring for indices of relative turbine mortality potential for Yadkin- Pee Dee River hydroelectric developments (after GeoSyntec 2004).... 5-20 Table 5-13 Summary of 17 Francis turbine-generators from EPRI (1997) database used to estimate entrainment survival.... 5-20 Table 5-14 Turbine passage survival estimates for Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project fish species of interest from EPRI (1997) entrainment database... 5-21 iii

Acronym List Federal/State Agencies Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) National Park Service (NPS) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) formerly known as Soil Conservation Service National Weather Service (NWS) North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (NCEMC) North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources, Division of Environmental Management (NCDEM) North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR) North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer (NCSHPO) North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Other Entities Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., Yadkin Division (APGI) Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Progress Energy University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNCCH) Facilities/Places Yadkin - Pee Dee River Project (entire two-development project including both powerhouses, dams and impoundments) Blewett Falls Development (when referring to dam, powerhouse and impoundment) Blewett Falls Dam (when referring to the structure) Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Plant (when referring to the powerhouse) Blewett Falls Lake (when referring to the impoundment) Tillery Development (when referring to dam, powerhouse and impoundment) AL-1

Acronym List Tillery Dam (when referring to the structure) Tillery Hydroelectric Plant (when referring to the powerhouse) Lake Tillery (when referring to the impoundment) Documents 401 Water Quality Certification (401 WQC) Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) Environmental Assessment (EA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) Initial Consultation Document (ICD) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Notice of Intent (NOI) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment (PDEA) Programmatic Agreement (PA) Scoping Document (SD) Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) Laws/Regulations Clean Water Act (CWA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA) Endangered Species Act (ESA) Federal Power Act (FPA) Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Terminology Alternative Relicensing Process (ALP) Cubic feet (cf) Cubic feet per second (cfs) Degrees Celsius (C) Degrees Fahrenheit (F) Dissolved oxygen (DO) Feet (ft) Gallons per day (gpd) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Gigawatt Hour (GWh) Global Positioning System (GPS) Grams (g) Horsepower (hp) Kilogram (kg) Kilowatts (kw) AL-2

Acronym List Kilowatt-hours (kwh) Mean Sea Level (msl) Megawatt (MW) Megawatt-hours (MWh) Micrograms per liter (µg/l) Milligrams per liter (mg/l) Millimeter (mm) Million gallons per day (mgd) National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) Ounces (oz.) Outstanding Remarkable Value (ORV) Parts per billion (ppb) Parts per million (ppm) Pounds (lbs.) Power Factor (p.f.) Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) Project Inflow Design Flood (IDF) Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species (RTE) Ready for Environmental Assessment (REA) Resource Work Groups (RWG) Revolutions per Minute (rpm) Rights-of-way (ROW) River Mile (RM) Stakeholders (federal and state resource agencies, NGOs, and other interested parties) Volts (V) AL-3

Executive Summary Progress Energy is currently relicensing the Blewett Falls and Tillery hydroelectric developments (i.e., Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2206) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As part of the FERC relicensing process, Progress Energy established Resource Work Groups (RWGs) to identify environmental issues associated with project operations and develop study plans specific to Project lands, lakes, and tailwaters. The Water RWG identified the need for a desktop analysis of the potential for fish entrainment and turbine mortality associated with both hydroelectric developments. Progress Energy agreed to conduct a desktop entrainment study as part of its relicensing process (i.e., Water RWG, Issue No. 16, Desktop Entrainment Study - Reservoir and Anadromous Fish; Appendix A). In addition, the potential effects of entrainment on five species of diadromous fish were evaluated (hickory shad, blueback herring, American shad, American eel, shortnose sturgeon, and striped bass) (Progress 2003b). These species are potential future restoration target species in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin diadromous fish restoration plan. A desktop entrainment and survival study typically involves a thorough review of published literature from field studies. Following the Class of 93 (a disproportionate number of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] licensed project licenses that expired in 1993), much of the available empirical information, including difficulties in conducting entrainment studies was collected and compiled by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and published in 1997 as a turbine entrainment and survival database. The EPRI process followed for this assessment of entrainment potential and turbine passage survival was: Compile and summarize life history information on all species of interest; Characterize physical and biotic factors at the development sites; Factors affecting entrainment potential at each project were qualitatively characterized as low, medium, or high; and The EPRI (1997) entrainment and survival database was referenced and species specific entrainment and survival rates were evaluated on a monthly and annual time scale. The size and number of fish entrained at a hydroelectric development is related to a variety of physical factors, such as plant flow, intake and forebay configuration, intake depth, intake approach velocities, trashrack spacing, plant operating mode, reservoir temperature and dissolved oxygen stratification patterns, and proximity to fish feeding and rearing habitats. In conjunction with physical factors, biotic factors also influence a species susceptibility to entrainment. These variables include diurnal and/or seasonal movement patterns, fish size, swimming speed, fish behavior, life history requirements, relative size of the population, and density-dependent influences. Like entrainment, survival of turbine entrained fish depends on the physical characteristics of the turbine system, such as head, turbine size and design, runner speed, wicket gate openings, number of runner blades, runner blade angle, gap size, and water flow through the turbine. Many of these factors are causes of mechanical injury. Therefore, it has been generally accepted that survival depends on size, physiology, and behavior of entrained fish, as it relates to the sources of mechanical injury described above. ES-1

Executive Summary Each reservoir was examined individually with respect to multi-metric indices developed based on the above characteristics. This approach borrowed metric scoring concepts from widely used and accepted rapid bioassessment protocols such as the Index of Biotic Integrity used to characterize water resource conditions. Each metric was subjectively assigned a score of 1, 3 or 5, with lower values assigned to features with less impact on potential for entrainment. Metrics with similar characteristics at other projects in the EPRI database were scored similarly in this analysis. Species were selected for evaluation based on their relative abundance in the Project area, importance in resource management objectives, and availability of existing information. Species evaluated included resident species and diadromous species proposed for restoration in project waters. The overall entrainment potential of both project developments was rated moderate to high. As expected, small fish (<4 inches) entrainment densities were substantially higher than for medium (4 to 8 inches), large (8.1 to 15 inches), and very large (>15 inches). In fact, most studies have shown that entrainment is highest for fish less than 4 inches. Small- and medium-sized shad (clupeids) generally have the highest potential for entrainment in reservoirs where they are abundant due to their schooling behavior in the upper water column. Mean annual entrainment potential for small channel catfish and black crappie were also considered high based on the results from 41 entrainment studies reviewed for this analysis. Mean annual entrainment potential of small (<4 inches) threadfin shad as well as small and medium (4 to 8 inches) gizzard shad were considered very high. While medium-sized blueback herring and small catfish species and black crappie are considered high, mean annual entrainment potential of all other species was considered low to moderate. In contrast to resident species, diadromous species currently recommended for restoration to project waters are considered obligate migrants at one or more times in their life history. As a result, they are susceptible to turbine entrainment and mortality, absent an alternative passage option. While several diadromous species are mentioned and data are presented in this analysis the EPRI (1997) database makes no distinction between resident and migrating populations. Therefore, we can only assume that if a population is going to migrate downstream then it may likely experience a higher potential of entrainment, lacking suitable downstream passage. Both immediate and 48-hour post-passage survival rates were examined in this assessment. Mean survival rates are reported irrespective of local site conditions such as intake depth and tailrace configuration, which could affect ultimate fish survival during turbine passage. Generally, immediate and 48-hour post-passage survival was moderate to high in all the studies evaluated, although largemouth bass presented a unique situation, having a generally low survival probability. Bluegill and the redhorse (Moxostoma spp.) surrogates for Carolina and robust redhorses exhibited moderate survival immediately after passage (89.5 and 84.5 percent, respectively) and 48-hour postturbine passage (86.5 and 83.0 percent, respectively). The likelihood of survival immediately following passage for blueback herring and American shad ranged from high to moderate (96.7 and 86.4 percent, respectively). Forty-eight hours post-passage for blueback herring remained high (94.3 percent) while 48-hour post-passage survival declined for American shad (60.5 percent), indicating ES-2

Executive Summary delayed stress mortality. Overall species-independent entrainment survival was estimated at 85 to 95 percent depending on fish size. Based on current reservoir fish population assessments, the fishery resources are healthy at the population level (Dorsey et al. 2004; Harland 2004a, 2004b; Progress Energy 2003a, 2004). Thus, there is no evidence that current levels of entrainment at these projects are having a negative impact on the fishery resource at the population level. Diadromous species proposed for restoration in project waters will likely have a high potential for entrainment because of requisite downstream migrations. While the likelihood of survival should be relatively good, downstream fish passage provisions would effectively increase survival of downstream migrants. ES-3

Section 1 - Introduction Progress Energy is currently relicensing the Blewett Falls and Tillery hydroelectric developments (i.e., Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2206) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As part of the relicensing process, Progress Energy established Resource Work Groups (RWGs) to identify environmental issues associated with project operations and develop study plans specific to project lands, lakes, and tailwaters. The Water RWG identified the need for a desktop analysis of the potential for fish entrainment and turbine mortality associated with both hydroelectric developments. Progress Energy agreed to conduct a desktop entrainment study as part of its relicensing process (i.e., Water RWG, Issue No. 16, Desktop Entrainment Study - Reservoir and Anadromous Fish; Appendix A). The fish entrainment study plan specified evaluation of the potential for fish entrainment and survival relative to the physical features and fish communities of the developments in the Project. Entrainment, as used throughout this report, is the passage of organisms (in this case, fish) through water intakes (FERC 1995). In the case of the Project developments, fish entrained at the intakes are passed through the penstock and turbine, and discharged to the downstream tailwater. Some of the fish drawn into hydro turbine intakes may be injured or killed. Studies designed to measure the impact to fish passing through hydro turbines are called fish entrainment and survival studies. Fish survival is the complement to fish mortality. In other words, a survival rate of 95 percent is equivalent to a 5 percent mortality rate. 1-1

Section 2 - Study Objectives The objectives of this study are two-fold. First, evaluate potential turbine entrainment effects on the major, representative resident fish species and any species proposed for diadromous restoration upstream of the Project dams. A second objective is to determine the relative health of the resident fish populations and assess whether the qualitative level of turbine entrainment poses a significant impact to these populations. This study was conducted in accordance with the study plan developed with the Water RWG for this issue (Progress Energy 2003b, 2004). 2-1

Section 3 - Site Description The Project is located on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River in south-central North Carolina (Figure 3-1). The Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin is the second largest in North Carolina covering 7,213 square miles as measured at the North Carolina-South Carolina state line (NCDWQ 1998 as cited by Progress Energy 2003). The Yadkin-Pee Dee River originates near the town of Blowing Rock and flows northeasterly for approximately 100 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Piedmont physiogeographic region. As the river turns southeast, it enters an area in central North Carolina that has experienced considerable urban growth. This growing urban area that extends from Charlotte to Raleigh/Durham is known as the Piedmont Crescent (ASU 1999 as cited by Progress Energy 2003). Just to the south of the Piedmont Crescent, the river enters an area known as the Uwharrie Lakes Region. This region is named for the chain of six reservoirs located along this reach of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River, two of which are Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake. It is in this region that the Uwharrie River joins the Yadkin River at the upper end of Lake Tillery to form the Pee Dee River. The Project developments, Tillery and Blewett Falls, are located approximately at river mile (RM) 218 and 188, respectively. The primary purpose of the Project is to provide peaking and loadfollowing generation. Its ability to provide such benefits and meet other flow-related needs is largely dependent on the schedule of flows being released from upstream reservoirs. Currently, an agreement between Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., Yadkin Division (APGI) and Progress Energy governs the release of waters from the APGI developments to the Progress Energy developments. The Project has been continuously operated since 1928, and has a total generating capacity of 108.6 MW. Operational characteristics of each development are listed in Table 3-1. It is operated to provide peaking, load-following, and system control services. Progress Energy operates the Project in coordination with flow releases provided by the upstream Yadkin Project. Daily operation of the two hydroelectric plants is managed to comply with reservoir level requirements based on inflows. In addition, Progress Energy is required by its FERC license to provide continuous releases from the Tillery and Blewett Falls Developments of no less than 40 and 150 cfs, respectively (Progress Energy 2003). The Project intakes vary as to their configuration and location with respect to the powerhouse and shorelines, their depth, and the clear spacing between bars of their structural steel trashracks (Table 2). The Tillery Dam created the impoundment known as Lake Tillery. At the normal maximum operating elevation of 277.3 ft, Lake Tillery is approximately 72-ft deep at the dam and has a reservoir surface area of approximately 5,697 acres 1 (Table 3-2). The Blewett Falls Dam created Blewett Falls impoundment. The normal maximum pool elevation is 177.2 ft with an average depth of approximately 11 ft. The surface area of the lake at the normal maximum operating pool is approximately 2,866 acres (Table 3-2). An important consideration in any project entrainment study is the resident fish population thus, brief summaries of each of the impoundment s fish populations are provided in addition to the respective physical characteristics. Each summary is related to a priority list of species that are either very abundant in the reservoir, or the focus of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 1 Unless otherwise noted, all elevations are in NAVD 88 datum. NAVD 88 datum is 0.9 feet lower than 1929 NGVD datum. 3-1

Section 3 Site Description Figure 3-1 Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project location map. 3-2

Section 3 Site Description Table 3-1 Summary of Tillery and Blewett Falls turbine-generator equipment and summary of turbines from EPRI (1997). Project Turbine Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Manufacturer I.P. Morris I.P. Morris I.P. Morris Allis-Chalmers J. Leffel N/A Type Vertical Francis Vertical Francis Vertical Francis Vertical Propeller Vertical Francis N/A Rated Power (hp) 31,100 25,600 31,100 33,000 650 N/A Rated Head (feet) 70 70 70 70 70 N/A Speed (rpm) 90 75 90 128.6 600 N/A Discharge Capacity (cfs) 4,456 3,627 4,456 5,145 100 N/A Number of runners per turbine 1 1 1 1 N/A Tillery Number of runner blades 22 22 22 5 N/A Runner inlet diameter (inches) 173 170 173 180.38 N/A Peripheral runner velocity (ft/sec) 67.95 55.63 67.95 101.21 N/A Generator Manufacturer Allis-Chalmers Allis-Chalmers Allis-Chalmers Westinghouse Westinghouse N/A Rated p.f. 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 N/A Power rating (kw) 22,000 18,000 22,000 22,000 450 N/A Blewett Falls Turbine Manufacturer S. Morgan Smith S. Morgan Smith S. Morgan Smith S. Morgan Smith S. Morgan Smith S. Morgan Smith Type Horizontal Francis Horizontal Francis Horizontal Francis Horizontal Francis Horizontal Francis Horizontal Francis Rated Power (hp) 5,350 5,350 5,350 6,400 6,400 6,400 Rated Head (feet) 47 47 47 47 47 47 Speed (rpm) 164 164 164 160 160 160 Discharge Capacity (cfs) 1,351 1,351 1,351 1,715 1,715 1,715 Number of runners per turbine 4 4 4 4 4 4 Number of runner blades each/total 16/64 16/64 16/64 16/64 16/64 16/64 Runner inlet diameter (inches) 54 54 54 54 54 54 Peripheral runner velocity (ft/sec) 38.64 38.64 38.64 38.64 38.64 38.64 Generator Manufacturer General Electric General Electric General Electric General Electric General Electric General Electric Rated p.f. 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.75 0.75 0.75 Power Rating (kw) 3,200 3,200 3,200 5,000 5,000 5,000 3-3

Section 3 Site Description Table 3-2 Project Reservoir and intake characteristics of developments in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project. Surface Area at full pond (acres) Maximum and (mean) reservoir depth (ft) Normal Full Pond Elevation (ft) Top (ft) Intake Depth Center Line Bottom (ft) (ft) Intake Width 1 (ft) Gross Area 1 (sq ft) Trashrack Bars Width (in) Clear Spacing (in) Tillery 5,697 70.5 (23.6) 277.3 37.46 50.46 63.4 24 624 0.375 2.625 5 Blewett Falls 2,866 35.0 (10.8) 177.2 20 28.4 54 16 384 0.375 1.6875 6 1 Values per individual turbine. Number of Units 3-4

Section 3 Site Description (NCWRC) management efforts. A river basin fisheries survey is under development by NCWRC and may be completed during 2005. The most recent, comprehensive fish sampling of the Project reservoirs were conducted by Progress Energy biologists from 1986 to 2002. The top seven species in each reservoir were considered the most abundant fishes in each reservoir at present and of most interest to NCWRC from the standpoint of potential entrainment losses. The Water RWG also requested that Progress Energy evaluate the potential effects of entrainment on five species of diadromous fish (hickory shad, blueback herring, American shad, American eel, shortnose sturgeon, and striped bass) that are potential future targets of a Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin restoration plan. The restoration plan development is being guided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in cooperation with NCWRC and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). A draft plan has been prepared which focuses on restoration of American shad and American eel to the Pee Dee River and tributaries between the Blewett Falls Dam and Tillery Dam as the first incremental step in restoration (USFWS et al. 2004). Eventually, the plan is expected to include proposed restoration activities at both project developments as well as the four Yadkin developments located upstream. 3-5

Section 4 - Methods Fish entrainment has been the subject of more than 40 studies nationwide over the past 15 years (FERC 1995; EPRI 1997), including several studies in the Carolinas. Field studies typically sample fish from the flow of project turbines at regular intervals through the course of a year. These catch data are then extrapolated to un-sampled periods to estimate the number of fish that are entrained annually (EPRI 1997). A desktop entrainment and survival study typically involves a thorough review of published literature from field studies. Following the Class of 93 (a disproportionate number of FERC licensed project licenses expired in 1993), much of the available empirical information, including difficulties in conducting entrainment studies was collected and compiled by EPRI, and published in 1997 as a turbine entrainment and survival database. The EPRI process followed for this assessment of entrainment potential and turbine passage survival was: Compile and summarizing life history information on all species of interest; Characterize development sites; Factors affecting entrainment potential at each project were qualitatively characterized as low, medium, or high; and The EPRI (1997) entrainment and survival database was referenced and species-specific entrainment and survival rates were evaluated on a monthly and an annual scale. This desktop study follows the same methodology used in several recent hydropower relicensings in the southeast including the Catawba-Wateree Project (FERC No. 2232) and the Yadkin Project (FERC No. 2197), located immediately upstream of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project. 4-1

5.1 Project Fisheries Section 5 - Results and Discussions 5.1.1 Fish Populations and Species of Interest Lake Tillery supports a healthy warmwater sport fishery for largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass, white bass, white perch, catfish, and panfish (Lepomis spp.). Forty-three fish taxa were collected by Progress Energy biologists during the most recent fisheries studies conducted between 1986 and 2002 with most taxa represented by the sunfish (Centrarchidae), bullhead catfishes (Ictaluridae), and sucker (Catostomidae) families (Table 5-1). Gizzard shad, threadfin shad, white perch, bluegill, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish, white catfish, and yellow perch dominated the fish community in Lake Tillery during 2000. Among these numerically dominant species, NCWRC management interests are focused on largemouth bass, crappie, and striped bass. Although Blewett Falls Lake was dominated by a few species, the reservoir has a healthy and diverse fish community (Progress Energy 2003a and Table 5-1). In particular, native and nonnative planktivorous or benthivorous feeding fish species bluegill, threadfin shad, blue catfish, and smallmouth buffalo were very prevalent in the fish community. Fifty-six taxa were collected from the reservoir during 1999 and 2001 with Centrarchidae, Cyprinidae, and Catostomidae families representing most taxa (Progress Energy 2003). Species composition may have been influenced, to some extent, by fish movement to and from the river reach located above the reservoir. Species were selected for entrainment and survival evaluation based on their relative abundance in the Project area, importance in resource management plan objectives, and availability of existing information on entrainment and survival studies. The following target species were evaluated in this desktop study: Gizzard shad (also serves as surrogate for American shad); Threadfin shad; American shad (for survival estimates only); Largemouth bass; Bluegill; Black crappie; Channel catfish (also serves as surrogate for blue catfish); White catfish; White perch; White bass (used ad a surrogate for striped bass); Redhorse (Moxostoma spp. used as surrogate for Carolina and robust redhorse); and American eel. While life history characteristics are reviewed for shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon, there is no existing information (EPRI 1997) on entrainment or survival rates available and no suitable surrogate species. 5-1

Section 5 Results and Discussions Table 5-1 Fish taxa collected in the vicinity of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project (Blewett Falls and Tillery Hydroelectric Developments) including Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake, 1986-2002. Common Name Scientific Name + Lake Tillery Blewett Falls Lake Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus X X American eel Anguilla rostrata X Blueback herring Alosa aestivalis X X Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum X X Threadfin shad D. petenense X X Satinfin shiner Cyprinella analostana X Whitefin shiner C. nivea X Fieryblack shiner C. pyrrhomelas X Unknown Cyprinella Cyprinella spp. X Common carp Cyprinus carpio X 1 X Eastern silvery minnow Hybognathus regius X Bluehead chub Nocomis leptocephalus X Golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas X X Whitemouth shiner Notropis alborus X 2 Comely shiner N. amoenus X Spottail shiner N. hudsonius X X Taillight shiner N. maculatus X Unknown Notropis Notropis spp. X Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus X X Highfin carpsucker C. velifer X 1 White sucker Catostomus commersoni X Creek chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus X X Unknown Erimyzon Erimyzon spp. X X 2 Smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus X Spotted sucker Minytrema melanops X Silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum X X Shorthead redhorse M. macrolepidotum X X Carolina redhorse Undescribed Moxostoma spp. X X Unknown Moxostoma Moxostoma spp. X 1 X Brassy jumprock Scartomyzon spp. X Snail bullhead Ameiurus brunneus X White catfish A. catus X X Yellow bullhead A. natalis X Brown bullhead A. nebulosus X X 1 Flat bullhead A. platycephalus X Unknown Ameiurus Ameiurus spp. X 3 Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus X X Channel catfish I. punctatus X X Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris X X Redfin pickerel Esox americanus americanus X Chain pickerel Esox niger X Pirate perch Aphredoderus sayanus X Eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki X X 5-2

Section 5 Results and Discussions Common Name Scientific Name + Lake Tillery Blewett Falls Lake White perch Morone americana X X White bass M. chrysops X X Striped bass M. saxatilis X X Unknown Morone Morone spp. X 1 X Bluespotted sunfish Enneacanthus gloriosus X 2 Redbreast sunfish Lepomis auritus X X Green sunfish L. cyanellus X X Pumpkinseed L. gibbosus X X Warmouth L. gulosus X X Bluegill L. macrochirus X X Redear sunfish L. microlophus X X Hybrid sunfish Lepomis hybrid X X Unknown Lepomis Lepomis spp. X X 2 Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides X X White crappie Pomoxis annularis X X Black crappie P. nigromaculatus X X Unknown Pomoxis Pomoxis spp. X Tessellated darter Etheostoma olmstedi X X Unknown Etheostoma Etheostoma spp. X X Yellow perch Perca flavescens X X Total number of taxa 43 56 +Taxonomic nomenclature follows Robins et al. (1991) except for brassy jumprock (Scartomyzon spp.), Carolina redhorse (undescribed Moxostoma spp.), and robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum). Species in bold non-native to the Yadkin-Pee Dee watershed. 1 Only collected in 1986. 2 Only collected in 1993. 3 Only collected in 1992. 5.1.2 Fisheries Management History and Goals Fishery management studies conducted by the NCWRC on Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake since the 1960s have primarily assessed the largemouth bass and crappie populations (Tatum 1960; Van Horn et al. 1981, 1986; Chapman 1983; Van Horn and Jones 1990 as cited by Progress Energy 2003; Harland 2004a, 2004b). These studies were primarily designed to determine abundance, size, and age structure, young-of-year recruitment, and relative body condition of these sport fishes as related to harvest by anglers. Other fishery management activities have focused on the development of white bass fisheries within the reservoir-tailwater systems and a put-grow-and-take stocking program to develop striped bass fisheries within both reservoirs. The NCWRC published The North Carolina Black Bass Management Plan during 1993. This plan provides direction for managing largemouth bass populations throughout the state, including the Project reservoirs (NCWRC 1993 as cited by Progress Energy 2003). Several strategies were outlined in the plan, most notably habitat protection, angler creel restrictions to manage age and size structure, angler use feedback on management strategies, and management of fish stocking activities in reservoirs that is compatible with the plan s objectives. During the spring (April 15 to May 15), 5-3

Section 5 Results and Discussions Progress Energy has a voluntary agreement with the NCWRC to hold the lake elevation of Lake Tillery as constant as practicable during the largemouth bass spawning season (1 ft below lake fullpool elevation). The NCWRC has also regulated angler harvest of crappie populations in Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake, with a size restriction of 8 inches and a 20-fish-per-day creel limit. This regulation was implemented during July 1991. The management goal of this regulation is to maintain quality crappie populations in the reservoirs. Recent studies by NCWRC (Harland 2004a, 2004b) indicate that black crappie populations are healthy in both impoundments, based on fishery assessments. NCWRC is in the process of updating its Fish and Wildlife Management Plan for the Yadkin-Pee Dee Basin. The updated management plan is currently in draft form (Dorsey et al. 2004). The new draft plan also indicates that the Yadkin-Pee Dee chain of lakes generally support good populations of largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass, and catfish. The continued management, regulation, and enhancement of striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish are management goals for both Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake (Dorsey et al. 2004). Management of diadromous fish species (American eel, American shad, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, blueback herring, and striped bass) in North and South Carolina is under jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Beal et al. 2000; Stirratt et al. 1999, 2000a, 2000b; NMFS 2004). The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and NCWRC regulate harvest of migratory and resident warmwater fish species in the Pee Dee River below the Blewett Falls Development. Recreational harvest of American shad and striped bass in the Pee Dee River waters is permitted in North Carolina. A creel limit of 10 fish per day with no size restrictions for American shad. Creel limits for striped bass are three fish per day and at least 18 inches in total length within North Carolina waters, while South Carolina permits a recreational harvest of 10 striped bass per day with no size restrictions. No harvest of Atlantic or shortnose sturgeon is permitted in either state. A recovery plan has been prepared by the NMFS for shortnose sturgeon, a federally-listed endangered species (NMFS 1998a). The plan outlines several steps for recovery of this species, which includes establishing listing criteria for specific river populations and protection and restoration of populations and habitat respective to key life stage requirements. A joint plan for the restoration of diadromous fishes of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River outlined the several issues as significant obstacles to the restoration of diadromous fishes. The plan also outlined a sequential approach to restoring riverine habitats and for providing safe and effective fish passage (USFWS et al. 2004). The primary species to benefit from this plan are American shad and American eel. Current population targets for the restoration of American shad are 50 fish/acre of suitable riverine habitat (USFWS et al. 2004). 5-4

Section 5 Results and Discussions 5.1.3 Characteristics of Selected Species Clupeids (shad and river herring) Gizzard shad and threadfin shad are highly prolific pelagic species that represent the primary components of a rich forage base within all the Yadkin-Pee Dee River impoundments (APGI 2002; Progress Energy 2003). Each is a schooling species typically found in the upper 45 ft of the water column. Gizzard shad and threadfin shad will typically spawn throughout spring and summer in inshore areas, tributary coves, and in open water. Significant mortality of threadfin shad occurs as waters cool below 45 F (7 C) (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Threadfin shad are non-native to the Yadkin-Pee Dee River and have been stocked by NCWRC as an additional prey species for crappies, largemouth bass and striped bass. Gizzard shad are more cold tolerant, but will succumb or become moribund at prolonged water temperatures below about 3 F (37 C). Young gizzard and threadfin shad may emigrate from the reservoirs during fall and early winter as water temperatures cool. The tendency for both species to become moribund as their lower temperature threshold is approached (Rohde et al. 1994) furthers their susceptibility to entrainment. As a result, fall/winter shad entrainment peaks are typical in reservoirs where they are abundant (FERC 1995). Land-locked blueback herring have been recorded in the Tillery and Blewett Falls lakes. Landlocked populations of these species spawn in the reservoirs, tailwaters, headwaters, or tributaries. Pelagic schools of young or adults tend to seek warmer, deeper water in the lower reaches of the reservoirs as winter approaches. As a result of this behavior, schools can become proximal to reservoir outlets or turbine intakes and suffer entrainment losses. Large predators may also exit out of reservoirs following the schools of prey. At present, this land-locked form is not as abundant as threadfin or gizzard shad (APGI 2002; Progress Energy 2003). American and hickory shad were the only clupeids not represented among the source studies that comprised the EPRI (1997) database. If included in future Pee Dee River basin restoration plans, juvenile anadromous blueback herring, and American shad (alosids) represent potential pelagic forage species. Young-of-the-year fish that might be spawned in the reservoirs or in individual tributaries, tailwaters, or other riverine areas would leave freshwater rearing sites each fall to migrate to marine environments before returning to natal rivers several years later as adults. Thus, young anadromous alosids would be susceptible to entrainment at individual projects. Additionally, adult river herring return to marine waters after spawning and a proportion may survive to spawn in subsequent years. Entrainment of spent adults through project facilities could occur. Blueback herring are not included as a target restoration species in the USFWS et al. (2004) draft plan. Adult American shad south of Cape Hatteras typically die after the first spawn (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), thus entrainment of spent adult American shad would not be a concern in the Project. American shad entrainment potential is not represented in the EPRI (1997) entrainment database but is evaluated through the surrogate gizzard shad. EPRI data was available to evaluate survival potential of American shad. Centrarchids (largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill) Three species of centrarchids (largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill) were typically found among the Project reservoir species with the highest relative abundance. Bluegill represented the most abundant panfish sampled in the 1999 to 2001 reservoir studies. Largemouth bass and black 5-5

Section 5 Results and Discussions crappie were also among the most abundant species throughout project waters. All three species are important to the recreational fishery in each reservoir. Bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass, primarily inhabit littoral areas and orient to cover such as woody debris and aquatic vegetation. Largemouth bass and black crappie are highly fecund spring spawner that builds nests on the different substrates found in the littoral zone while bluegill are also highly fecund, they may spawn multiple times within a year. Young largemouth bass school early while guarded by a parent, and then disperse throughout the littoral zone. After spawning, largemouth bass may move about within a variable sized home range in summer. Where sunfish and crappie abundance in a reservoir is high, smaller individuals (young-of-year and juveniles) tend to form a large portion of the fishes entrained (FERC 1995). Bluegill, black crappie, and largemouth bass were each represented by at least 30 source studies in EPRI (1997). Ictalurids (catfish) Channel, blue, and white catfish are abundant species in both the Tillery and Blewett Falls Lakes and targeted by anglers. Recreational anglers seek catfishes in both project reservoirs and tailwater reaches (Crochet and Black 1997 as cited by Progress Energy 2003) and the popularity of this fishery is enhanced by the large size attained (Chapman and Van Horn 1992 as cited by Progress Energy 2003). Channel, white, and blue catfish spawn after water temperatures attain 70 F (21 C) in spring and build sheltered nests or nests associated with cover (Jenkins and Burkhead1993). Eggs and larvae are brooded by the male, and parental care is extended to young by white catfish. Young disperse from schools to available habitats when about 1 inch (25 mm) long (Becker 1983). FERC (1995) noted the tendency for channel catfish relative abundance in entrainment samples to generally exceed their relative abundance in impoundment populations. No comparable data were available for blue or white catfish. Channel and white catfish are represented in the source studies for the EPRI (1997) database. Channel catfish were used as a surrogate species for blue catfish given the similar life history characteristics. Moronids (temperate basses) White perch, white bass, and striped bass represent this family in the Project reservoirs. White perch comprised 78 percent of the gill net catch by number in Lake Tillery, while they comprised less than 10 percent by number in Blewett Falls Lake during the 1999 to 2001 sampling (Tables 5-2 and 5-3). White perch, white bass, and striped bass are pelagic piscivorous predators that typically forage in open water but may also be found in littoral areas. However, they are less cover-oriented than other littoral fishes such as centrarchids. Littoral areas may be occupied by white perch at night and during crepuscular periods, and more open waters during daytime. Their vertical distribution within a reservoir can be dependent on the depth of available prey. Further, white perch, white bass, and striped bass could be susceptible to fall and winter entrainment due to pursuit of clupeid schools to deeper water. The summer distribution of large striped bass in southern reservoirs may also depend on the availability of deep, oxygenated, cool water 72 F (<25 C) refugia in a reservoir (Coutant 1985). 5-6

Section 5 Results and Discussions Table 5-2 Mean number and weight (Kg) per 24 hours for fish collected with quarterly gill netting from Tillery Lake during 2000. Taxon Transect Reservoir Mean B F H K No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs Black crappie 0.9 0.2 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 0.6 0.2 Blue catfish 0.5 0.5 1 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 Blueback herring 0.4 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0.8 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0.4 < 0.1 Bluegill 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Brassy jumprock 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.2 0.9 1 0.3 0.3 Brown bullhead 0.1 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Channel catfish 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 Creek chubsucker 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Flat bullhead 0.4 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 Flathead catfish 0 0 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0 0 < 0.1 0.1 Gizzard shad 3.9 1.4 2.8 1.1 4.2 1.8 1.4 0.7 3.1 1.3 Largemouth bass 2.1 0.8 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.1 < 0.1 0.9 0.4 Lepomis hybrid 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Longnose gar 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.7 3.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 1.1 Pumpkinseed 0.2 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 Quillback 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Redbreast sunfish 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 Redear sunfish 0 0 0 0 0.8 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 0.3 < 0.1 Shorthead redhorse 0.1 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.2 Silver redhorse 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 Snail bullhead 0.1 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.1 Striped bass 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.3 0 0 0.5 0.4 Threadfin shad 0.2 < 0.1 0 0 0.7 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 0.3 < 0.1 Warmouth 0.5 < 0.1 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.2 < 0.1 White bass 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.2 0 0 0.2 0.1 White catfish 3.5 1.3 1.8 0.6 0.9 0.5 0.9 0.3 1.8 0.7 White crappie 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 White perch 38.7 5.8 57.1 8.2 48.1 7 7.9 1.1 37.9 5.5 White sucker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 Yellow perch 0.1 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 Total 53.4 12 66.3 13 61.5 15.5 14.4 5.9 48.9 11.6 Source: Progress Energy 2003. 5-7

Section 5 Results and Discussions Table 5-3 Mean number and weight (Kg) per 24 hours for fish collected with quarterly gill netting from Blewett Falls Lake during 2001. Taxon Transect Reservoir Mean B D F H No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 No./24 Kg/ 24 hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs Black crappie 3.8 0.8 8.7 2.4 1.9 0.5 0 0 3.6 1 Blue catfish 13.1 3.4 11.8 3.9 25 4 2.1 2 13 3.3 Bluegill 0.3 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 Channel catfish 0.7 0.2 1.1 0.5 1.2 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.5 Common carp < 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.2 0.6 0 0 0.1 0.2 Eastern silvery minnow 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Flathead catfish 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 Gizzard shad 1.8 0.1 1.1 0.1 1.6 0.3 2.5 0.5 1.8 0.3 Golden shiner 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0.4 < 0.1 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 Largemouth bass 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.3 0.1 Longnose gar 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.5 0.8 1.1 2.5 0.4 0.9 Morone spp. 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Pomoxis spp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 Redear sunfish 0 0 0 0 0.2 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 Shorthead redhorse 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Smallmouth buffalo 0.6 0.6 2.1 1 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.8 1 0.7 Threadfin shad 37.2 0.3 82 0.8 42 0.4 1.6 < 0.1 40.8 0.4 Warmouth 0.2 < 0.1 0.3 < 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.2 < 0.1 White bass 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 < 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 White crappie 0.3 < 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 < 0.1 0 0 0.2 < 0.1 White perch 1.9 0.1 5.7 0.6 1.1 < 0.1 0.2 < 0.1 2.2 0.2 Yellow perch < 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 0.1 < 0.1 0 0 < 0.1 < 0.1 Total 61.2 6.5 114.3 10.2 75.9 8.5 10 7.1 65.4 8.1 Source: Progress Energy 2003. 5-8

Section 5 Results and Discussions Semi-anadromous white perch typically move upstream within estuaries to spawn in spring (Jenkins 1993). However, land-locked white perch spawning in Nebraska reservoirs concentrated in shallow shoreline areas around the entire reservoir perimeter (Zuerlein 1981 as cited by Progress Energy 2003). By summer, young-of-the-year 1.5 to 2 inches (40 to 50 millimeters [mm]) long inhabited the same shallow littoral areas. White perch and white bass are well represented in the EPRI (1997) database. White bass was used as a surrogate for striped bass due to the limited information in the EPRI (1997) database. Moxostomid (Redhorse) The robust and Carolina redhorse are rare species of concern which have been recently collected in waters associated with the Project developments. The Carolina redhorse currently is considered an undescribed sucker species. The undescribed status means established professional scientific committees have not officially validated the fish as a formal, distinct species through peer-review of its taxonomic and genetic characteristics. Neither of these species holds a legally protected (rare, threatened, and endangered [RTE]) status in North or South Carolina. However, both species are listed as federal species of concern (LeGrand et al. 2004). Redhorse tend to spawn in mid- to late spring, when water temperatures range from 50 to 72.5 F (10 to 22.5ºC). Spawning often occurs over gravel beds associated with shallow runs and riffles (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Juvenile and adult moxostomids occupy a broad range of warmwater habitats, for example large creeks, big rivers, natural lakes, and impoundments. These species feed on aquatic insects, small crustaceans, mollusks, algae and detritus, which are typically found in littoral habitats. Currently, robust redhorse has been found only in the Pee Dee River below the Blewett Falls Development, while Carolina redhorse is found both upstream and downstream of the Blewett Falls Dam and within the Little River associated with the Project boundaries. Additionally, one Carolina redhorse was been documented in Lake Tillery (Progress Energy 2003a). The EPRI (1997) database evaluated multiple moxostoma species, and this data was combined for this entrainment evaluation. American eel The American eel has not been found in Lake Tillery and represented a very small percentage of the Blewett Falls Lake fish community. However, within the Pee Dee River below the Blewett Falls Development, American eels are relatively abundant. Despite their relatively low abundance and absence from the Project impoundments, the American eel has been included in this analysis because they are included in current draft planning documents for river basin restoration of diadromous fish. Atlantic Coast eel populations, including those in the Pee Dee River drainage, are currently managed by an Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for American eel (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission [ASMFC] 2000). The American eel is catadromous, spawning in the Sargasso Sea and rearing and maturing in estuaries and a variety of freshwater riverine and lacustrine habitats. Some juvenile eels move beyond estuaries upriver into rearing habitats as elvers (<6 inches long) or larger yellow eels. Individuals may remain in distant upriver rearing habitats for a lengthy period (10 to 15 years or 5-9