Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir
Draft Environmental Assessment 1998 Water Control Manual Revision Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Cumberland River Basin Tennessee and Kentucky
May 4, 2020
For Information, Contact:
Cody A. Flatt U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District 110 9th Avenue South P.O. Box 1070, Room A400 Nashville, Tennessee 37202-1070 Telephone: (615) 736-7954 Email: [email protected] Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Table of Contents Acronyms ...... 1 Summary...... 2 SECTION 1 – PROJECT DESCRIPTION...... 2 1.1 Authorization ...... 2 1.2 Purpose and Need ...... 3 SECTION 2 – PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES ...... 4 2.1 No Action Alternative (NAA) ...... 4 2.2 Proposed Action Alternative (PAA) – Revision of the 1998 Water Control Manual ...... 4 SECTION 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND CONSEQUENCES ...... 5 3.1 Recreation and Scenic Resources ...... 6 3.2 Aquatic Resources and Water Quality ...... 9 3.3 Floodplain ...... 17 3.4 Wetland...... 19 3.5 Navigation ...... 19 3.6 Climate and Physiography ...... 20 3.7 Terrestrial Resources ...... 21 3.8 Threatened and Endangered Species ...... 21 3.9 Prime Farmland ...... 24 3.10 Cultural Resources ...... 28 3.11 Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste ...... 29 3.12 Health and Safety ...... 29 3.13 Socioeconomics ...... 31 3.14 Air Quality ...... 33 3.15 Cumulative Effects ...... 33 SECTION 4 – ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ...... 36 4.1 Executive Order 11990-Wetlands...... 36 4.2 Farmland Policy Protection Act ...... 36 4.3 Executive Order 11988-Floodplain Management ...... 36 4.4 Clean Water Act ...... 36 4.5 Endangered Species Act ...... 37 4.6 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ...... 37 4.7 National Historic Preservation Act ...... 37
i Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District 4.8 Executive Order 13514 – Environmental Justice ...... 37 4.9 Clean Air Act ...... 38 4.10 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 38 4.11 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ...... 38 4.12 Executive Order 13653 (Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change ...... 38 SECTION 5 – PUBLIC AND AGENCY COORDINATION ...... 38 5.1 Scoping Letter and Responses ...... 38 SECTION 6 – CONCLUSIONS ...... 44 SECTION 7 – REFERENCES ...... 46
Figures Figure 1. Project Map ...... 3 Figure 2. Recreation Areas ...... 7 Figure 3. Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Dale Hollow Reservoir Forebay ...... 11 Figure 4. Thermal Stratification in Dale Hollow Reservoir Forebay ...... 13 Figure 5. 2018 Tailwater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Levels ...... 16 Figure 6. 2019 Tailwater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Levels ...... 16 Figure 7. FEMA Flood Map for Tailwater of Dale Hollow Reservoir ...... 18 Figure 8. Fluted Kidneyshell Critical Habitat Area ...... 23 Figure 9. Water inundation map of Obey and Cumberland Rivers confluence ... 25 Figure 10. Water inundation map of Obey and Cumberland Rivers confluence . 26 Figure 11. Water inundation map at Cumberland River Mile 409 ...... 26 Figure 12. Water inundation map at Cumberland River Mile 424 ...... 27 Figure 13. Water inundation map at Wolf Creek Dam ...... 27
Tables Table 1. Impaired Stream Reaches (2016 303 (d) list) in the Obey River Watershed ...... 12 Table 2. Federally Listed Species Recorded in the Dale Hollow Reservoir ...... 22
Appendix A - Mailing List, 2019 Scoping Letter, and Public Comments Appendix B - Cultural Resources Coordination Appendix C - Water Management Data
ii Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Acronyms AMSL – Above Mean Sea Level CAA – Clean Air Act CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CEQ – Council on Environmental Quality Corps – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CFS – Cubic Feet per Second CFR – Code of Federal Regulations CWA – Clean Water Act DSAC – Dam Safety Action Classification EA – Environmental Assessment EO – Executive Order EPA – Environmental Protection Agency ESA – Endangered Species Act FONSI – Finding of No Significant Impact FWCA – Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act HTRW – Hazardous, Toxic or Radioactive Waste IPaC - Information for Planning and Consultation KDFWR – Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources KNREPC – Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet MGD – Million Gallons per Day MG/L – Milligrams per Liter NAA – No Action Alternative NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act NHPA – National Historic Preservation Act NRCS – Natural Resource Conservation Service NRHP – National Register of Historic Places NWI – National Wetland Inventory PAA – Proposed Action Plan RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act TDEC – Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation TWRA - Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency USDA – U.S. Department of Agriculture USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service WCM – Water Control Manual WTP – Water Treatment Plant
1 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Summary
The US Army Corps of Engineers-Nashville District (Corps) is in the process of updating Water Control Manuals for all 10 of its reservoirs in the Cumberland River Basin. Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir is the third in the process and the remaining reservoir manual updates would be completed throughout the upcoming years. The two completed revisions are Martins Fork Lake, Harlan County, Kentucky and Laurel River Lake, Laurel County, Kentucky.
A water control manual is the guiding document that specifies how the Corps operates its reservoirs. Each reservoir operates in accordance with its Congressionally authorized project purposes, and these manuals are what the Corps uses to balance those purposes. They also provide details on the reservoir's history, authorizations, watershed characteristics, data collection networks, forecasting methods, and stakeholder coordination. The most critical section is the water control plan, which outlines the operational plan to meet all of the reservoir's congressionally authorized purposes.
Information for this Environmental Assessment (EA) was collected from federal, state, and local agencies and websites. This EA examines the potential impacts of proposed revisions of the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual. Resources evaluated for potential adverse effects included, but are not limited to recreation and scenic resources, aquatic resources and water quality, floodplain, wetland, navigation, climate, physiology, land use, terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered species, prime farmland, cultural resources, hazardous toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) sites, human health and safety, socioeconomics, air quality, and cumulative effects.
Agency coordination and compliance issues have been identified and initial contacts made with appropriate agencies. Input from scoping and public concern issues have also been solicited and considered in preparation of the EA.
SECTION 1 – PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1.1 Authorization
The Dale Hollow Reservoir Project (Figure 1) was authorized for construction by the Flood Control Act of 1938 (Public Law 761, 75th Congress, 3rd Session) and the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1946 (Public Law 525, 79th Congress, 2nd Session). The initial purposes for which the project was authorized include flood control (PL 75-761, Flood Control Act of 1938) and hydropower (PL 79-525, River and Harbor Act of 1946). Additional authorized purposes for which the project is operated include recreation (PL 78-534, Flood Control Act of 1944), fish and wildlife (PL 85-624, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958), water quality (PL 92-500, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments 1972) and water supply (PL 85-500, Water Supply Act of 1958).
2 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District This document serves to evaluate the impacts of the proposed revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual. This EA was prepared by the Nashville District pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and the Corps Regulation ER 200-2-2, “Policies and Procedures for Implementing NEPA”.
Figure 1. Project Map
1.2 Purpose and Need
The purpose of the proposed action is to update the Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual to include current project operations under the existing congressional authorizations. This update would incorporate changes in basin hydrology and consumptive demands due to years of growth and development, new/rehabilitated structural features, and environmental considerations.
A Water Control Manual is important because it provides operational instructions to personnel involved in managing the reservoir, including clear instructions to be followed during emergency situations. Since the manuals contain records of institutional
3 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District knowledge, they also prevent the loss of operational expertise. They ensure unbiased operations and inform the public of mission priorities.
Updated Water Control Manuals are needed to ensure that water managers continue to strike the best balance possible for the many purposes and demands. A complex set of factors is needed to determine appropriate water management at each reservoir. In addition to the authorized project purposes, power contract commitments, hydrologic and climatologic factors, downstream reservoir and basin-wide conditions, potential threats of flood and drought, and reservoir levels are all to be considered.
SECTION 2 – PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES
2.1 No Action Alternative (NAA)
The No Action Alternative would deny the revision of the 1998 Water Control Manual (WCM). The WCM would remain the same. This alternative is considered unacceptable due to limitations in emergency operations and increased demand for flood control, water quality, water supply, and hydropower generation. However, it is included in the alternatives analysis to establish a baseline condition for existing human and natural environmental conditions, to allow comparison between future with and without project actions, and to determine potential environmental effects of proposed project alternatives. Evaluation of the NAA is a requirement under NEPA regulation.
2.2 Proposed Action Alternative (PAA) – Revision of the 1998 Water Control Manual
The revision of the 1998 Water Control Manual would be prepared in accordance with the following regulations:
ER 1110-2-240, “Water Control Management,” dated 30 May 2016, which assigns to District Engineers the responsibility for development of plans and manuals for operation of reservoirs. EM 1110-2-3600, “Management of Water Control Systems,” dated 10 October 2017, which provides technical guidance on management and operation of water control systems and general guidance on the content of Water Control Manuals. ER 1110-2-8156, “Preparation of Water Control Manuals,” dated 30 September 2018, which provides specifications on Water Control Manual content and format.
The revision of the water control manual would involve several updates to incorporate recent historical data (1998-2020), watershed characteristics, communication networks, and modern forecasting methods. These updates are informational in nature and provide prudent knowledge to Nashville District water managers. This document only evaluates proposed operational alterations to the 1998 WCM.
Proposed operational modifications include:
4 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Control Flow at Celina – Currently, the control flow at Celina (combination discharges from Wolf Creek and Dale Hollow Dams’ and the uncontrolled watershed between Celina and the dams) varies seasonally based on crop season (April 15th – December 15th) at 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and flood season (December 15th – April 15th) at 40,000 cfs. The revised water control manual proposes a single control flow at Celina that would not vary seasonally and remain at 40,000 cfs year round.
Hydropower Ramp Rates – Dale Hollow Dam has three hydropower units/turbines. The revised water control manual would limit the ramp up to one unit per hour and ramp down to two units per hour, under normal operating conditions. During a power emergency, a ramp up of two units per hour would be allowed.
Turbine Discharge and Sluice Gate Supplementation – Air supply valves connected to the turbine systems are typically utilized to improve dissolved oxygen (DO) when levels fall below the Tennessee Cold Water Aquatic Habitat standard of six milligrams per liter (mg/L). If tailwater DO readings are still below the State standard, releases from other outlets, i.e. sluice gates, may be used to augment hydropower releases to potentially lessen environmental impacts downstream or provide additional discharge capacity.
Minimum Flow – Minimum flow is currently defined as the discharge equivalent of one hour of generation during every 48-hour period from June 1st through November 15th. This would be changed to one hour of generation per calendar day except during high rain events due to downstream flood concerns.
SECTION 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND CONSEQUENCES
This section discusses the existing conditions by resource category and any potential environmental impacts associated with the NAA, as well as with implementation of the PAA.
The Corps takes context and intensity into consideration in determining potential impact significance, as defined in 40 CFR § 1508.27. The intensity of a potential impact is the impact’s severity and includes consideration of beneficial and adverse effects, the level of controversy associated with a project’s impacts on human health, whether the action establishes a precedent for future actions with significant effects, the level of uncertainty about project impacts and whether the action threatens to violate federal, state, or local laws established for the protection of the human and natural environment. The severity of an environmental impact is characterized as none/negligible, minor, moderate, significant, or beneficial. The impact may also be short-term or long-term in nature.
None/negligible – No measurable impacts are expected to occur.
5 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Minor – A measurable and adverse effect to a resource. A slight impact that may not be readily obvious and is within accepted levels for permitting, continued resource sustainability, or human use. Impacts should be avoided and minimized if possible, but should not result in a mitigation requirement.
Significant – A measurable and beneficial or adverse effect to a resource. A major adverse impact that is readily obvious and is not within accepted levels for permitting, continued resource sustainability, or human use. Adverse impacts likely result in the need for mitigation.
Adverse – Defined as having a harmful or negative effect on a resources. Could be minor to major, resulting in degraded conditions, sustainability, or viability of the resource.
Beneficial – A measurable and positive effect to a resource. May be minor to major, resulting in improved conditions, sustainability, or viability of the resource.
Short-Term – Temporary in nature and does not result in a permanent long-term beneficial or adverse effect to a resource. For example, temporary construction- related effects (such as, an increase in dust, noise, traffic congestion) that no longer occur once construction is complete. May be minor, significant, adverse or beneficial in nature. For the purpose of this document, short term affects could also be associated with seasonal impacts such as summer, winter, fall, and spring.
Long-Term – Permanent (or for most of the project life) beneficial or adverse effects to a resource. For example, permanent conversion of a wetland to a parking lot. May be minor, significant, adverse or beneficial in nature depending on the resource considered.
The Corps uses quantitative and qualitative analyses, as appropriate, to determine the level of potential impact from proposed alternatives. Based on the results of the analyses, this EA identifies whether a particular potential impact would be adverse or beneficial, and to what extent. CEQ regulations also require that a proposed action’s cumulative impact be addressed as part of a NEPA document. Cumulative impacts are discussed in section 3.15 below.
3.1 Recreation and Scenic Resources
Existing Condition:
Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir is located approximately 3 miles east of Celina, Tennessee on the Obey River, 7.3 miles above its juncture with the Cumberland River at river mile 380.0. The Obey and Cumberland confluence is considered the head of Cordell Hull Reservoir. The Dale Hollow Reservoir impoundment lies in Clay, Pickett, Overton, and Fentress Counties in Tennessee and Cumberland and Clinton counties in Kentucky. The reservoir extends 61 river miles from Dale Hollow Dam into the East
6 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Fork of the Obey River in Fentress County, Tennessee. At a full flood control pool elevation of 663 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), the surface contains 620 miles of shoreline with a local, uncontrolled drainage area of 935 square miles.
The recreational and scenic opportunities at Dale Hollow Reservoir are considered to be of great importance to north central Tennessee and south central Kentucky. Similar to many Nashville District projects, the most popular activity at Dale Hollow is sightseeing. This is followed in popularity by boating. The project offers many other recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, hunting, picnicking, camping, and biking. Recreational use of Dale Hollow has remained steady over the last 15 years, at around 3,000,000 visits annually. Figure 2 shows Corps recreational sites on the Dale Hollow. Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 authorized the Corps to construct, maintain, and operate public park and recreational facilities in reservoir areas under the control of the Department of the Army.
Figure 2. Recreation Areas
The Obey River tailwater flows out of Dale Hollow and is nearly seven and a half miles long to reach the Cumberland River confluence. The operation of Dale Hollow Dam altered the temperature of this portion of the Obey River. Water flowing out of Dale Hollow Dam is cooler due to thermal stratification in the reservoir. The cooler temperatures allow for a year-round cold-water fishery. Also, the water becomes aerated due to mixing with ambient air passing through the dam. It’s one of the only rivers in the area that get stocked with trout 12 months a year. Cool water temperatures, and adequate dissolved oxygen levels during several months of the year are the primary reasons for this. There are seasonal patterns of tailwater DO levels
7 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District being below cold water aquatic life standards in the late summer and fall months in most years.
Alternative Impact:
Visitors to Dale Hollow Reservoir are a diverse group ranging from campers who enjoy the four campgrounds at the reservoir, hunters who use the Wildlife Management Areas associated with Dale Hollow, day users who picnic and use playgrounds, fishermen and marina customers accessing the water. The vast majority of recreation interest is on the reservoir itself, however, the rainbow and brown trout fishery maintained in the tailwater by Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) facility adjacent to the dam, is popular as well.
Control Flow at Celina – The proposed modification to a year-round control flow of 40,000 cfs (dropping the crop season restriction of 30,000 cfs) would be expected to have minor impacts to recreation and scenic resources of both the reservoir and the tailwater. The control flow point of 40,000 cfs at Celina, Tennessee would result from a combined discharge from both Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams as well as the local uncontrolled watershed below the dams. The majority of the flow generally comes from Wolf Creek Dam since it is five times larger in watershed size. Channel flow capacity below Dale Hollow Dam is 12,000 cfs. Typically, Wolf Creek Dam flows are five times greater than Dale Hollow Dam. The change in the control flow could cause both reservoir levels to drop more quickly during crop season. This could cause minor short term negative affects to recreation uses such as boating, fishing, hunting, or camping but is expected to be almost a negligible difference. The control flow modification is not expected to negatively impact tailwater recreation and scenic resources. The proposed modifications would only be utilized during flood management events, thus, the tailwater would likely have higher flows and already be unusable for fishing or other recreation activates.
Hydropower Ramp Rates – At this time, ramping rates are set at two units per hours, up or down. Each generator can produce approximately 1,750 cfs with 140 feet of head. This can cause large, rapid surges of flow in the tailwater affecting small vessels such as canoes or kayaks and wading trout fishermen. Decreasing the ramp up rate to one unit per hour would be beneficial by reducing bank erosion and improving safety for recreational boaters and downstream fishermen. This modification would also be beneficial to the reservoir by allowing greater flexibility in releases during crop season, thereby allowing water managers greater ability to regulate reservoir elevation.
Turbine Discharge and Sluice Gate Supplementation – During late summer and fall months, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the tailwater generally fall below the Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation (TDEC) water quality standard of 6.0 mg/L for cold-water aquatic habitat. Adequate DO levels are required to maintain the quality of the cold-water fishery below Dale Hollow Dam.
8 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District This proposed modification would have negligible affects to the reservoir’s existing conditions and negligible impact on reservoir levels. However, small vessels could experience minor affects below the dam due to swifter flows. Blending turbine generating and sluice gate operations to improve seasonal issues with DO levels is vital to the cold water fishery below the dam. This topic is discussed in more detail in Section 3.2 of this document.
Minimum Flow – Increasing the minimum flow rate would aid recreational use below the Dam. The 1998 manual states a minimum of one hour of generation in a 48 hour time period. Changing this to one hour of generation every calendar day would provide more water to maintain recreational uses below the dam. This modification is generally used on weekends, but would have short term major beneficial affects to the tailwater during dryer periods. Minimum flows below the dam would be crucial to recreation and scenic resources on weekends and during dryer periods to provide water for the fishery and provide efficient flows to recreational small vessels. Minimum flows would not be utilized during high flow events.
Based on the above, implementation of the PAA would not result in significant adverse short or long-term environmental impacts to recreation and scenic resources of both the tailwater and the reservoir. In the long-term, implementation of the PAA is expected to have a positive impact on the recreation and scenic resources within the project area. The PAA would ensure the preservation of current recreational and scenic resources.
3.2 Aquatic Resources and Water Quality
Existing Condition:
Aquatic Resources:
The entire reservoir system in the Cumberland River Basin, with the exception of Martins Fork and Laurel River Dams located in eastern Kentucky, are operated in a coordinated manner to provide multiple benefits. Under normal operations, water in storage is utilized to maintain river flows and improve water quality conditions at various key locations during the late summer and fall low flow season. Runoff is captured and stored at the storage projects such as Dale Hollow, Center Hill, and Wolf Creek where it is slowly released in a controlled fashion when downstream conditions allow.
The Obey River drains an area of 947 square miles and empties into the Cumberland River from the left bank at Mile 380.9. The watershed is roughly fan-shaped, being approximately 35 miles wide at the widest point and 50 miles long. The river is formed by the junction of the East and West Forks of the Obey River, approximately 58 miles above the mouth. The river valley is narrow and is bordered by gently rolling to rugged uplands. The Wolf River is a large tributary that enters Dale Hollow Reservoir.
9 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District The fish community is the highest trophic level of the aquatic resources, and is the most visible from the general public perspective. The USFWS operates the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery on Obey River below Dale Hollow Dam. This facility, which relies on cold water from the reservoir, supplies trout for waters in Tennessee and Kentucky as well as for Dale Hollow Reservoir and the tailrace fishery. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) are responsible for fisheries management as specified in the Corps’ Operational Management Plan for Dale Hollow Reservoir. Dale Hollow is well known as a prime location for smallmouth bass fishing, currently holding the world record for the largest such fish ever taken (11 lb., 15 oz.). In addition, the relatively cold waters of the reservoir provide a two-storied fishery with the cold lower layer supporting populations of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The tailwater is considered a coldwater fishery and is routinely stocked with trout. Rainbow trout provide the dominant sport fishing in the tailwaters below Dale Hollow Dam.
According to past creel censuses conducted by the TWRA and KDFWR, the species most sought by anglers from the reservoir, in addition to smallmouth bass and rainbow trout, include largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides); spotted bass (M. punctulatus); white and black crappie (Pomoxis annularis, P. nigromaculatus); bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and other species of sunfish (Lepomis spp.); walleye (Stizostedion vitreum); muskellunge (Esox masquinongy); white bass (Morone chrysops); channel catfish (Ictaluris punctatus); and blue catfish (Ictaluris furcatus).
Water Quality:
Dale Hollow Reservoir is considered to be mesotrophic with generally good overall water quality. The upper stratum of the reservoir contains oxygen above the recommended warm water aquatic habitat level of 5.0 milligrams per liter (mg/L) as specified by TDEC and recommended level of 5.0 mg/L as specified by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet (KNREPC), and is able to support the aquatic organisms that are present.
The water quality in Dale Hollow Reservoir is adequate to support aquatic life; however in the deeper strata during the time of reservoir stratification, low dissolved oxygen conditions occur. Reservoir stratification leads to poorer conditions below the epilimnion and aquatic life is confined to the upper layers of water. Further, this situation can pose potential water quality problems for downstream water intakes, including the Celina Water System at the confluence of the Obey and Cumberland River, and aquatic organisms during hydropower releases. Figure 3 illustrates stratified DO levels in the late summer and fall months in the forebay of the dam.
10 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
Figure 3. Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Dale Hollow Reservoir Forebay
Local inflows contribute pollutants in varying quantity to the pool. There are 14 reaches of stream in the Obey River HUC-8 watershed listed on the 2016 Final 303 (d) list for impaired streams in Tennessee (TDEC, 2017). However, despite the impairments in the watershed of Dale Hollow, the overall status of water quality in Dale Hollow is listed as “good” by EPA and supports all designated uses: domestic water supply, fish and aquatic life, industrial water supply, irrigation, livestock watering and wildlife and recreation (EPA, 2019). Table 1 below shows the reaches and combined miles of impaired streams.
11 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Table 1. Impaired Stream Reaches (2016 303 (d) list) in the Obey River Watershed Waterbody County Miles of Cause Pollutant Sources stream Obey River Clay 6.8 Low dissolved oxygen Upstream impoundment Flow alteration Cub Creek Overton 7.2 Manganese Abandoned mining Iron pH Rockcastle Creek Fentress 8.9 Nitrate + Nitrite Minor municipal point source Total phosphorus Urbanized high density area Low dissolved oxygen Temperature alterations Escherichia coli Little Piney Creek Putnam 3.01 Flow alteration Upstream impoundment
Looper Branch Overton 1.23 Flow alteration Upstream impoundment
Charlie Branch Overton 0.69 Flow alteration Upstream impoundment Iron pH Manganese Meadow Creek Putnam 19.0 pH Abandoned mining Cumberland Loss of biological integrity due to siltation Meadow Creek Cumberland 1.4 Low dissolved oxygen Industrial permitted runoff
Big Laurel Creek Fentress 9.2 Iron Abandoned mining Overton pH Little Laurel Creek Fentress 3.6 Iron Abandoned mining Overton Manganese pH Big Piney Creek Fentress 18.6 pH Abandoned mining Overton Loss of biological integrity due to siltation East Fork Obey Fentress 22.6 Iron Abandoned mining River Overton Manganese pH Loss of biological integrity due to siltation East Fork Obey Putnam 11.1 Iron Abandoned mining River Overton Manganese pH Loss of biological integrity due to siltation Town Branch Pickett 3.1 Nitrate + Nitrite Minor municipal point source Total phosphorus Sludge Loss of biological integrity Undetermined source due to siltation Escherichia coli
Dissolved oxygen levels are adequate throughout the reservoir except for late summer and fall months when depletion of DO in the hypolimnion occurs. Typically, during this time, thermal stratification (Figure 4) effects cause reduced DO levels in the hydropower releases from the dam. The result is the tailwater reach having DO levels below the
12 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Tennessee state cold water aquatic habitat standard of 6.0 mg/l. TDEC lists the tailwater as an impacted waterbody due to low dissolved oxygen and flow alteration. Under normal conditions, water discharged from the hydropower plant exhibits minimal reaeration as it moves downstream in the Obey River channel.
Figure 4. Thermal Stratification in Dale Hollow Reservoir Forebay
Within the last twenty years, measures have been implemented to improve outflow DO concentrations at Dale Hollow Dam. Hub baffles were installed on all three turbine generators in 2000 which act to modestly increase the intake of ambient air as the turbines spin. The hub baffles, being attached to the turbines, are always in operation when the unit is operating. The installation of the hub baffles did not require any capital outlays. Their design and installation were guided by experience gained from similar turbine venting modifications at Tennessee Valley Authority hydropower projects within the Nashville District and under the control of other water resources agencies. Another measure installed at Dale Hollow to improve outflow DO was the installation of supplemental air supply valves. These devices can be regulated so that they are operated only when needed. The combination of hub baffles and auxiliary air supplies provide a boost to DO outflow concentrations of approximately 1.0-1.8 mg/l. These increases have been extensively documented by Nashville District through intensive monitoring of the tailwater. Positive outcomes from the operation of these turbine venting techniques is to reduce the period of time that Dale Hollow produces turbine discharges less than the 6.0 mg/l standard and to minimize the release of water through the sluice gates. Sluicing to improve tailwater DO levels has been implemented at Dale Hollow in some years (2011, 2017-8) and involves releasing water through sluice gates to produce highly aerated water to mix with the oxygen deficient turbine discharge. Dale Hollow Dam sluice gates are located at the bottom of the dam on the reservoir side. The original purpose of the sluice gates were to drain the reservoir during
13 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District maintenance operations. Typically, sluicing produces a significant increase to DO in the tailwater once the releases mix within a mile of the dam although levels are generally below 6.0 mg/l for part of the year.
Operations at Dale Hollow can also play a role in meeting targeted DO minimums on the Cumberland mainstem. Old Hickory Dam is considered the water quality control point for the Cumberland River basin system operations. The quality of Old Hickory Dam DO levels is maintained by keeping detention times in Old Hickory Reservoir low by flow augmentation from upstream storage projects (Wolf Creek, Dale Hollow, and Center Hill Dams). Generally, when desirable DO conditions in releases from Old Hickory are maintained, acceptable water quality conditions along the Cumberland River mainstem are assured.
Alternative Impact:
Subsequent Congressional authorizations expanded project purposes to include recreation, water supply, fish and wildlife conservation and water quality. Water quality was added as an authorized purpose by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (PL 92-500), commonly known as the Clean Water Act. The objective of the Clean Water Act was to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters". Additionally, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) of 1958 (PL 85-624) authorized specific project authority to evaluate, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife resources. Section 661 of the FWCA provides that fish and wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration with other project purposes. Storage space in the reservoir may be allocated for water supply on a permanent basis in accordance with the Water Supply Act of 1958 (PL 85-500). The below modifications would have negligible or support the aforementioned authorities and have significant long term beneficial effects to aquatic resources and water quality in the reservoir and tailwater of Dale Hollow Dam.
Control Flow at Celina – It is recognized that the control flows (maximum desired flows) for Celina result in river stages well below damage levels. These control flows have been set to leave room in the Cumberland River for uncontrolled inflows between Celina and the primary damage center at Nashville. The channel capacity of the Obey River below Dale Hollow is 12,000 cfs. The channel capacity of the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam is approximately 60,000 cfs. The increase in control flow would be for emergencies purposes like observed in the high rain event of February 2019. The surge in water could cause increased erosion, but since the water would remain within the channel capacity (12,000 cfs) limit, high erosion rates are not expected. Flows would have negligible effects to the aquatic resources and water quality downstream of the Dam.
Hydropower Ramp Rates – This proposed change would have negligible effects to aquatic resources and water quality. Hydropower generation volumes would
14 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District still be produced over a 24-hour period, however, staggered turbine start times would occur.
Turbine Discharge and Sluice Gate Supplementation – In late summer and fall months, turbine generators pull anoxic water from the deeper portion Dale Hollow Reservoir leading to low DO levels in the tailwater. Conditions vary between years with worse conditions in years with high inflow events in the late spring months which leads to a replacement of the colder, more oxygenated water in the reservoir with warmer water in the reservoir and lower hypolimnetic DOs. During some years, water quality conditions may be relatively acceptable without the need to sluice or limit on turbine discharges. Figures 5 and 6 show tailwater DO levels for 2018 and 2019, years where operations varied.
The Corps has limited ability to affect DO levels in turbine releases, but 2018 operations demonstrated how discretionary operational controls can improve conditions. Figure 5 shows tailwater DO and temperature in 2018. In 2018, as DO levels approached the standard, the air supply line was opened on June 26 which provided a 1.8 mg/l bump in DO and kept the turbine discharges above the DO standard until early August. As the DO declined to near 5.0 mg/l, sluicing discharges were initiated to blend with the lower DO turbine discharges. Initially a 2:1 turbine to sluice ratio was used and this was increased to a 1:1 mix in late September to keep DO levels from falling below 4.0 mg/l. These 2018 operations reduced the duration and severity of low DO conditions in the tailwater. Conversely, in 2019 sluicing was not utilized and DO levels were below the 6.0 mg/l standard for a much longer period (mid-July to mid- November) and were below 4.0 mg/l for nearly two months.
In addition to DO water quality sampling, the Corps collects water quality samples for dissolved metals. Metal levels are traditionally low throughout the year expect during late summer and early fall months. Water samples in 2018 contained elevated levels of dissolved metals such as iron and manganese in the forebay. The source of metals are unknown, and occur in higher concentrations in deeper depths near the sluice gate openings. Elevated dissolved metals samples raised concern for the Corps due to the downstream City of Celina’s water treatment plant (WTP) intake. Coordination with the WTP management concluded that sluicing from the lower portion of the forebay in late summer and fall months was not a concern for the WTP as long as they are not getting dramatic variations. The WTP uses alternative methods during high metal concentrations months such as limiting water intake operations during periods of non-generation to avoid extra metal filtering within the WTP.
15 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
Figure 5. 2018 Tailwater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Figure 6. 2019 Tailwater Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Levels
The proposed WCM modification would include adding the discretionary ability to blend turbine discharges with sluice gate releases when conditions warrant. Water released from the sluice gates violently mix with ambient air in the spillway bucket producing very high DO levels in sluice releases. Blending sluice and turbine discharges can improve DO levels in the tailwater. Prior to DO
16 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District supplementation measures, it was not unusual for outflow DO to fall below 6.0 mg/l and even dip below 4.0 mg/l during the August through October period. Opening the air supply valves as DO levels approach the standard improves dissolved oxygen levels by about 1.8 mg/l and reduces the duration of the low DO season by 4-6 weeks. Once tailwater DO falls back below 6.0 mg/l, the only other augmentation measure is to supplement turbine releases with sluice gate releases as shown in Figure 5.
Based on the above information, sluice gate supplementation is highly beneficial to aquatic resources and water quality below the dam and aquatic resources would be better accommodated with implementation of sluice gate supplementation in the WCM Revision.
Minimum Flow – In general, hydropower releases are scheduled to meet peak energy demands. Normally, this results in more water being discharged during the Monday through Friday period with lesser amounts on the weekend. Sunday is usually the lowest energy demand day. Strict adherence to peak power demand scheduling would result in adverse effects to the aquatic life in the tailwater, particularly during the low flow, low dissolved oxygen, high temperature months of the late summer and early fall. The minimum requirement effective from 1 June through 15 November is the discharge resulting from one unit generation for one hour within any 48-hour period. Every effort is made to provide some discharge in excess of the minimum requirement every day of the week for the benefit of the ecosystem of the Obey River below the dam. Many dams have obligations for minimum releases for environmental protection. These minimum flow releases from dams improve conditions for aquatic life. Changing the minimum flow to one hour every calendar day from 1 June through 15 September would provide sufficient water levels for the tailwater aquatic environment. This proposed change in the WCM would have no effect to the reservoir and would not be used during flood stages due to downstream flooding concerns.
3.3 Floodplain
Existing Condition:
A floodplain is flat or nearly flat land adjacent to streams and rivers that occasionally flood during high flow events (Figure 7). The floodplain may be narrow or wide extending from the banks to the base of valley hillsides. Executive Order (EO) 11988, Floodplain Management (56 Fed. Reg. 26,951), requires federal agencies to avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of flood plains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development wherever there is a practicable alternative.
In accomplishing this objective, "each agency shall provide leadership and shall take action to reduce the risk of flood loss, to minimize the impact of floods on human safety,
17 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District health, and welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values served by floodplains in carrying out its responsibilities" for the following actions: 1) acquiring, managing, and disposing of federal lands and facilities; 2) providing federally- undertaken, financed, or assisted construction and improvements, and; 3) conducting federal activities and programs affecting land use, including but not limited to water and related land resources planning, regulation, and licensing activities. The order considers if a proposed action is in the 100-year base floodplain, which is the area of the floodplain that has a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year (2020 FEMA).
Figure 7. FEMA Flood Map for Tailwater of Dale Hollow Reservoir
Alternative Impact:
Under the NAA, the proposed revision of the 1998 WCM would not be updated. The Obey and Cumberland River floodplains would continue to be at risk for bankfull discharge conditions and possibly overtopping. Further, the manuals contain records of institutional knowledge such as past emergency operations, as a result, they prevent the loss of operational expertise to personnel involved in managing the reservoir.
18 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District The PAA modifications (control flow, ramp rates, and minimum flow) would provide up- to-date operation procedures for emergency situations. Critical operating information such as the May 2010 and February 2019 weather events would be added to the WCM. Effects to the floodplain would be negligible because flows would remain within the channel bank limits and water releases above the current crop season flow of 30,000 cfs would be very seldom during the period typically thought of as crop season. The proposed control flow language would give Nashville District Water Management Section more capabilities in potential emergency situations during the crop season. Therefore, the PAA meets the intent of EO 11988 and no significant impacts to floodplains are anticipated to occur from the PAA.
3.4 Wetland
Existing Condition:
The fluctuations in river elevations below Dale Hollow Dam and the generally steep banks inhibit the growth of most native shoreline aquatic and wetland plants. Plants that would normally grow in water along the shoreline would be completely stranded in the fall and totally submerged in the spring. Consequently, only a few annual, weedy species are able to take advantage of this type of environment and virtually no significant vegetated wetland areas have developed. Because of the ability to endure partial inundation yet also grow well on relatively dry land, willows (Salix spp.) often thrive at the higher edges of the banks (2020 USFWS).
Alternative Impact:
No new impacts to wetlands would be associated with the reservoir and since the proposed changes would remain within the banks of the Obey River, no wetlands would be impacted below the reservoir. There is a possibility that wetlands along the banks of Cordell Hull Reservoir (below Obey and Cumberland River confluence) could become inundated during crop season due to an usually large rain event. If so, this would have negligible affects considering the short time period of inundation due to the water storage availability in Nashville District projects. Negligible impacts to wetlands are anticipated as part of the NAA or PAA. This project complies with EO 11990 – Protection of Wetlands (42 Fed. Reg. 26,961).
3.5 Navigation
Existing Condition:
Commercial navigation is not an authorized project purpose at Dale Hollow, however, water storage projects such as Dale Hollow, Center Hill and Wolf Creek (Lake Cumberland) Dams and Reservoirs play a vital role in providing water to the lower portion of the Cumberland River. Four Locks on the lower Cumberland River (Barkley, Cheatham Old Hickory, and Cordell Hull) provide river transportation of goods and commodities. River transportation provides a cost-effective, energy efficient and
19 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District environmentally sound alternative to land-based transportation modes. Since there is no significant storage capacity at Cordell Hull, Old Hickory, or Cheatham Reservoirs to supply such flows, releases from the upstream storage projects, including Dale Hollow, would be used to meet this need.
Alternative Impact:
The implementation of the proposed WCM operational modifications would not be expected to change navigation conditions such as regular increased flows or decrease depths to downstream Congressionally authorized navigation projects, therefore, this change would have negligible affects to downstream navigation. The proposed revisions would not impact the volume of water released from Dale Hollow Dam for the purposes of commercial navigation in the Cumberland River system.
3.6 Climate and Physiography
Existing Condition:
Climate:
Tennessee’s shape and geography create three distinctive regions (west, middle, and east), and those three regions have vastly different weather. The Clay County – Dale Hollow region is on the eastern edge of Middle Tennessee. It sits in an area known as the Upper Cumberland, named after the famous river that cuts through a portion of it. Even though it is in Middle Tennessee, the Cumberland Plateau experiences different weather than the rest of Middle Tennessee due to its elevation. The gradual rise that begins east of Nashville reaches a height of over 1,800 feet just east of Clay County and Dale Hollow. The climate of the area is distinctly continental with moderate temperatures averaging about 60 degrees Fahrenheit and, on occasion, exceeding 100 degrees or falling below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Celina averages about 52 inches of rain annually with the spring months of March through May being the wettest, typically receiving four to five inches on average, and September through October being the driest with average observed precipitation totals of about 3.5 inches. Average yearly snowfall totals are around five inches but snowmelt is rarely an issue as temperatures rarely stay sub-freezing for an extended period of time.
Physiography:
Dale Hollow Reservoir lies along the border of south-central Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. The states of Tennessee and Kentucky are divided into several ecoregions. The Tennessee portion of Dale Hollow lies just inside the boundary of the Eastern Highland Rim within the Interior Plateau. This area is located on the northern edge of Tennessee near the center of the state. The physiographic region of the Eastern Highland Rim was formed by platform deposition of carbonate sediments in a shallow inland sea, followed by uplift, which allowed subsequent erosion to carve a dissected topography of ridges, irregular valleys and rolling hills (2020 MRLC).
20 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
Alternative Impact:
Under the NAA and PAA, no activity would have effects on climate or physiography.
3.7 Terrestrial Resources
Existing Condition:
Public lands surrounding Dale Hollow Reservoir and Obey River are characterized by more old growth forested shoreline than most other Nashville District Corps projects due to the amount of property purchased by the government prior to the impoundment of the reservoir in the early 1940s. This forested shoreline provides a suitable environment for a variety of terrestrial organisms. Although much of the land surrounding the reservoir is characterized by steep topography which is not conducive for active wildlife management, it does contain a diversity of habitat for a variety of birds and mammals, including many game species. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) are common around the reservoir, and Dale Hollow is the home of one of the largest wintering bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) populations in the area. The reservoir and surrounding land provide these and many other species generous opportunities for watering, foraging, nesting, and cover. In addition, there is ample habitat for other terrestrial vertebrates such as amphibians and reptiles, as well as a myriad of terrestrial invertebrates. TWRA and KDFWR have primary jurisdiction for wildlife management on public lands at Dale Hollow Reservoir. The Corps of Engineers has entered into agreements with TWRA and KDFWR to implement, operate, and manage wildlife programs on public lands surrounding the reservoir.
Alternative Impact:
The NAA or PAA would not disturb wildlife, vegetation, ground, or remove any trees and would have no adverse impacts to the project area.
3.8 Threatened and Endangered Species
Existing Condition:
In 1973, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which identifies those species of flora and fauna determined by the Director of the USFWS to be endangered or threatened with extinction, and which are protected by law. The ESA requires a project review to determine if federally listed species or their habitat may be affected by a Federal action. Also, any Federal actions which may directly or indirectly affect a federally listed threatened or endangered species, or the critical habitat of a listed species, requires consultation with USFWS to ensure compliance with Section 7 of the ESA. The Corps coordinated with USFWS and TWRA under the FWCA (48 Stat. 401,
21 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District as amended; 16 U.S.C. § 661 et seq.) via a Scoping Letter dated August 9, 2019. All comments from the Scoping Letter are discussed in section 5.1 of this document.
A list of federally endangered species within Corps fee and easement properties on Dale Hollow Reservoir is found in Table 2. The list, which was derived from the USFWS Information Planning and Conservation (IPaC) database, contains three mammals, three plant species, and eleven species of mussels, which may still survive in reaches of the river or historically occurred prior to impoundment. Also, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) which has been delisted from the ESA, is present throughout the area (USFWS, 2020a).
Table 2. Federally Listed Species Recorded in the Dale Hollow Reservoir Category Species Common Name Mammals Myotis sodalis Indiana bat Myotis grisescens Gray bat Myotis septentrionalis Northern long-eared bat
Mussels Villosa trabalis Cumberland bean Epioblasma brevidens** Cumberlandian combshell Dromus dromus Dromedary pearlymussel Ptychobranchus subtentum* Fluted kidneyshell Pegius fabula Littlewind pearlymussel Lampsilis abrupta Pink mucket Quadrula cylindrica Rabbitsfoot Obovaria retusa Ring pink Pleurobema plenum Rough pigtoe Cumberlandia monodonta Spectaclecase Epioblasma florentian walkeri** Tan riffleshell
Plants Conradina verticillata Cumberland rosemary Arenaria cumberlandensis Cumberland sandwort Spiraea virginiana Virginia spiraea * Critical Habitat Designation ** Likely extirpated per coordination with TWRA.
The Gray bat hibernates and roosts in caves all year long. The Northern Long-eared and Indiana bats hibernate in caves in the winter and roost in trees generally from late spring to early fall. Roost tree habitat consists of trees with exfoliating bark, crevices or cracks, cavities or snags in dead, dying, and live trees. A suitable tree diameter at breast height is a minimum of 3-inches and greater for the Northern Long-ear bat, and 5-inches and greater for the Indiana bat (USFWS 2016).
In 2013, the USFWS identified areas within the Corps area of responsibility at Dale Hollow Reservoir as critical habitat for fluted kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus subtentum).
22 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Figure 8 depicts these identified areas. Fluted kidneyshell, a freshwater mussel, is typically found in small to medium rivers in areas with swift currents or riffles. It is often found embedded in sand, gravel, and cobble substrates and requires flowing, well- oxygenated waters (NatureServe, 2020).
Figure 8. Fluted Kidneyshell Critical Habitat Area
The freshwater mussels species listed in the above table are native to the Obey River and were present before the impoundment of Dale Hollow Dam. After the impoundment occurred, these mussel species were likely extirpated below the Dam due to cooling of water temperature and reservoir conditions.
Alternative Impact:
Under the NAA and PAA, there would be no construction, no ground disturbance, and no potential for tree removal or impact to federally listed bats. No caves would be affected. The revision of the WCM would not altering reservoir levels and would have no effect on the critical habitat reach. No impacts to federally listed species would be expected with either alternative.
23 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District 3.9 Prime Farmland
Existing Conditions:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is concerned with potential impacts that projects might have upon prime farmland soils, farmlands of statewide importance, PL-566 watershed structures, wetlands identified under the Food Security Act, Wetland Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve Program easements. The Farmland Protection Policy Act directs federal agencies to evaluate impact to farmland (2020 USDA). Prime farmland has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce economically sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods, including water management. In general, prime farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks. They are permeable to water and air. Prime farmlands are not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time, and they either do not flood frequently or are protected from flooding.
The low lying areas along the Cumberland River contain alluvial soils. Alluvial is a general description of soils carried from river sources and often deposited along banks. Because this type of soil tends to be a silty loam, it is one of the richest soils and is suitable for many different types of plant growth. Many fields bordering Cumberland River that contain alluvial soils are considered prime farmlands by the NRCS.
Alternative Impact:
Under the NAA, no modifications would be made to the 1998 WCM. Operations would remain the same and no new impacts could occur to prime farmlands bordering the Cumberland River.
The PAA would include modifications to the 1998 WCM such as control flow at Celina, Tennessee, hydropower ramp rates, turbine and sluice gate supplementation, and minimum flows. Currently, the control flow at Celina (combination of Wolf Creek and Dale Hollow Dams discharges) varies seasonally based on crop season (April 15th – December 15th) at 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and flood season (December 15th – April 15th) at 40,000 cfs. The revised water control manual proposes a single control flow at Celina that would not vary seasonally and remain at 40,000 cfs year-round.
Revisions to the Wolf Creek Dam WCM are expected in the near future and this WCM works in conjunction with Dale Hollow’s WCM to produce the control flow point at Celina, Tennessee. Similar modifications, such as hydropower rate rates, turbine and sluice gate supplementation, and minimum flows would be made to the Wolf Creek Dam WCM in the future. This evaluation (DAL WCM EA) will cover the proposed control flow modification of both Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek revisions of WCMs.
24 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District The tailwater portions of Dale Hollow and the head of Cordell Hull reservoir would see slight inundation changes (Figure 9). The majority of this area has steep banks and the majority of the land is owned by the Corps so impacts to prime farmland are not expected. Dale Hollow reservoir is not expected to see an increase of inundation due to any proposed changes in the WCM and, therefore, prime farmland would not be affected. Hydropower ramp rates, turbine and sluice gate supplementation, and minimum flows would not impact prime farmlands because flows would remain in the banks of the Obey and Cumberland River.
Figure 9. Water inundation map of Obey and Cumberland Rivers confluence
The proposed change in control flow season could increase inundation up to 5,290 acres at 40,000 cfs to areas between CRM 381 and 460. This is an increase of 760 acres or a 16.8% increase from 30,000 to 40,000 cfs. Below figures (10, 11, 12, and 13) are inundation maps produced by Nashville District Water Management Section.
25 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
Figure 10. Water inundation map of Obey and Cumberland Rivers confluence
Figure 11. Water inundation map at Cumberland River Mile 409
26 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
Figure 12. Water inundation map at Cumberland River Mile 424
Figure 13. Water inundation map at Wolf Creek Dam
Most areas show in the above figures are small tributaries and head of islands containing no prime farmland. The additional 760 acres of inundation due to a change in control flow season would be stretched of over approximately 80 river miles. The small amount of acreage coupled with the infrequent use of the proposed control flow modification would not change prime farmland into non-prime farmland. The Corps has
27 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District determined that no significant impacts to prime or unique, statewide, or locally important farmland is expected to occur.
3.10 Cultural Resources
Existing Conditions:
There are approximately 75 recorded archaeological sites and architectural features present within Dale Hollow Reservoir and the tailwaters. Threats to the preservation of archaeological sites along the reservoir’s shoreline and river’s bankline include erosion and looting. The vast majority of sites along the lakeshore have experienced erosion as a result of the annual drawdown over the past 75 years. Threats to the preservation of sites along the riverbank remains a concern throughout the Cumberland River and tributaries.
Alternative Impact:
Under the NAA, no modifications would be made to the 1998 WCM. Operations would remain the same and no new impacts could occur to archaeological sites or other historic properties bordering the Cumberland River.
Under the PAA, the conditions would have negligible effects on cultural resources.
Archaeological sites and historic properties are not expected to be affected by the PAA. Dale Hollow Dam is a structure eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. None of the changes would alter the location, design, materials, association, setting, feeling, or workmanship of this property. The conditions affecting the preservation of archaeological sites present along the banks of the Obey and Cumberland Rivers would not be changed.
The control flow point of 40,000 cfs at Celina, Tennessee results from a combined discharge from both Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams. Channel flow in the Obey River below Dale Hollow Dam has a maximum flow of 12,000 cfs. The Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam has a channel capacity of approximately 60,000 cfs. The combined 40,000 cfs flow at Celina remains below the channel capacity of the combined flows. Over the last 11 years, the control flow exceeded 40,000 cfs two to three times per year on average and this frequency is not expected to change under the PAA. Therefore, changes in the current conditions would not be expected and there would be negligible affects to cultural resources.
The proposed change in the hydropower ramp up rates would decrease large surge releases that can cause erosion of the banks. The reduction in surge releases would therefore decrease the erosional potential of water surges. This change would have minor beneficial long term effects to river banks, and by extension this change would not affect archaeological resources.
28 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
The turbine discharge and sluice gate supplementation to increase DO does not require alteration to the dam and would not alter water flows or velocity, therefore, the changes to sluice gate supplementation lacks the potential to affect archaeological sites or other historic properties.
An increase in the minimum flow discharge from one hour every 48 hours to one hour every calendar day from June 1st through November 15th would help regulate consistent flows, especially during drought periods. The changes are minor and would not cause bank erosion. By extension, the changes would not affect archaeological resources. The proposed change would not be utilized during flooding and would maintain zero discharge until flows downstream recede to appropriate levels.
3.11 Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste
Hazardous, toxic, and radiological waste (HTRW) that might be present in the project area is not expected to be encountered or impacted by the Proposed Action. Dale Hollow Dam generally does not generate hazardous wastes during operational processes. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste that includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. EPA developed regulations, guidance and polices that ensure the safe management and cleanup of solid and hazardous waste (2020 USEPA). The revision of the 1998 WCM does not require the purchase, use, storage, or generation of hazardous wastes for daily operational processes, therefore, this action is in compliance with RCRA and would not warrant a Phase 1 survey by Corps’ personnel. The purpose of the Phase I was to obtain and evaluate data about the environmental condition, or potential for a recognizable environmental condition (REC) which could pose an environmental liability to the government as a result of acquisition, easement or cost share. A Phase I fulfills all components of the regulation 40 CFR 312 Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries and provides environmental liability protection to the Federal Government as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, USC Chapter 103). Historic environmental records were reviewed and no RECs were identified from that data set. There are no known RECs that would interfere with the proposed operational changes, therefore the project is in compliance with CERCLA.
3.12 Health and Safety
Existing Conditions:
Health:
29 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Dale Hollow Reservoir is convenient to major metropolitan areas (Nashville, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky), drawing visitors from throughout Tennessee and Kentucky. The surrounding area is home to communities that rely on water withdrawals from both the Reservoir and downstream Cumberland River. The operating plan for Dale Hollow has had no effect on the quantitative supply of water for the three public water supply systems that directly use the reservoir.
City of Byrdstown – 1.000 million gallons per day (MGD) withdrawal (0.000 MGD return flow) Trooper Island Camp, Inc. – 0.002 MGD (0.0015 MGD return flow) Dale Hollow State Park – 1.000 MGD (0.000 MGD return flow)
Of these three, the City of Byrdstown provides a year round supply of potable water for the public. The Dale Hollow State Park intake supplies only irrigation water for a golf course and the Trooper Island intake provides water for 200-300 youth during the summertime only. Maintaining pool elevations above the minimum power pool elevation of 631.0 assures adequate depths for all of the water intakes. The observed minimum pool elevation, which was recorded at 632.81 feet in January of 1981, has not changed since 1959. This elevation still provides sufficient depth for water supply intakes.
The City of Celina has a water intake below the Dam at the confluence of the Obey and Cumberland Rivers. Their water supply is a mix of discharges from Wolf Creek and Dale Hollow Dam, plus any local inflow downstream of the dams. Several other municipalities, including Nashville, occur downstream as the Cumberland River runs to the Ohio River pass through middle Tennessee and western Kentucky.
As specified in the Cumberland River Basin Drought Contingency Plan, the system wide priorities for drought regulation in the basin are:
Water Supply* Water Quality* Navigation Hydropower Recreation *For Public Health and Safety
Of these purposes, the only initially authorized purpose at Dale Hollow is hydropower. The other initially authorized purpose, flood control, is not a factor during a drought. In the interest of public health and safety, the highest priority is given to maintaining the reservoir level above the minimum operating elevations of all water supply intakes.
Safety:
With over 370 million annual visits, the Corps is the largest federal provider of outdoor recreation. Since a large majority of these visitors engage in water related activities, water safety education is top priority. Park rangers provide educational programs to local schools and civic groups on a variety of reservoir-related topics including water
30 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District safety. The visitor center has safety exhibits and water safety brochures available. News releases and newsletters are issued to encourage the public to practice safety during their visit to the reservoir.
Dam safety is a high priority of the Nashville District. Corps dam safety personnel inspect Dale Hollow annually as part of a continuing evaluation inspection, periodic inspection, or periodic assessment. The Dam Safety Action Classification System (DSAC) is intended to provide consistent and systematic guidelines for appropriate actions to address the dam safety issues and deficiencies of Corps’ dams. The Corps’ dams are placed into a DSAC based on their individual dam safety risk considered as a combination of probability of failure and potential life safety, economic, environmental, or other consequences. Dale Hollow is classified as a DSAC IV (low urgency) dam. The Corps considers this level of life-risk to be in the range of tolerability.
Alternative impact:
Control Flow at Celina – The proposed control flow change would have no effect to health and safety. This modification would only result in some low-lying lands to be inundated during the crop season.
Hydropower Ramp Rates – Reducing ramp up rates would decrease surges in flow in lower Obey River and improve conditions for recreational boaters. Therefore, this change would have minor positive long-term benefits. This could apply to recreational small water craft or fishermen wading in the Obey River.
Turbine Discharge and Sluice Gate Supplementation – The proposed turbine discharge and sluice gate supplementation could cause short-term surges of flow when operating. This change is expected to have minimum adverse impacts to health and safety due to the seldom use. Sluice gate supplementation has only been briefly utilized in 2011, 2017, and 2018.
Minimum Flow – The proposed change in minimum flow would provide water more frequently during drought periods through increase occurrence. This would result in minor long-term beneficial affects to public health and safety by providing water to downstream municipal treatment plants. Minimum flow would maintain zero discharge during flood conditions until flows downstream recede to appropriate levels.
Based on the above discussion, the PAA would add minor benefits such as minimum flow and hydropower ramping rate changes. The changes to the water control manual are slight in nature and allow the Corps to have better control of managing its watershed impacts below Dale Hollow Dam both environmentally and for public health and safety (flood control).
3.13 Socioeconomics
31 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Existing Condition:
Dale Hollow Reservoir is a significant economic factor in the region. In addition to tourism, recreation (i.e. trout fishing, boating, swimming, and recreational facilities), hydropower, and flood damage reduction, the reservoir provides municipal water supply, increased property values, increased tax revenues, and employment opportunities. Furthermore, the reservoir is known for hosting professional fishing tournaments. Large and small fishing tournaments bring economic benefits to the area and provide cost savings to agencies that rely on voluntary data collection, increased fishing license revenues, charitable donations, lodging, and increased sales for businesses that sponsor tournaments.
Clay County maintains a relatively diversified employment base with educational services, health care, and social assistance as the primary industries followed by retail trade, construction, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodations, and food service.
EO 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (56 Fed. Reg. 7629), requires federal agencies, departments, and their contractors to consider any potentially disproportionate human health or environmental risks their activities, policies, or programs may pose to minority or low-income populations. Low-income populations are those that live below poverty. EO 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks (62 Fed. Reg. 19,885), requires federal agencies to identify and assess health and safety risks that may disproportionately affect children as part of the NEPA compliance process. Agencies must ensure that their policies, programs, activities, and standards address disproportionate risks to children that results from environmental health risks or safety risks.
Alternative Impact:
The PAA would support minor long term increases to tourism, recreational opportunities and related employment and likely improve incomes for the local residents. This is due to the improvement to recreational and aquatic resources in the project area. If effective, the surrounding communities would benefit from the improved water quality, updated environmental operating procedures regarding erosion, and safety of recreational watercraft. The lands required for this project are all Corps-owned and would not affect any low income areas or disproportionately affect children.
Economic impacts to hydropower generation are expected to be short term and minor. For example, in 2017, Nashville District calculated $246,000 in lost revenue due to sluicing at Dale Hollow Dam and South East Power Administration (SEPA) calculated $155,317 for the same year. Impacts such as sluicing to improve DO would occur seasonally and are only for a portion of the year (August to November). Overtime, climate change could have a negative effect on water quality by worsening thermal stratification in the reservoir thus impacting economics of hydropower generation due to
32 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District increased sluicing, but is unknown at this time. This is discussed further in the Section 3.15 Cumulative Effects.
The PAA would provide a public service to the local community and visitors without bias to race or income; therefore there would be no disproportional impact to minority or low- income populations. Both NAA and PAA would comply with EO 12898 and EO 13045.
3.14 Air Quality
Existing Condition:
Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for six criteria pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. NAAQS criteria were set for the following pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead (EPA 2020). If these pollutants exceeded specific concentrations, then the air was classified as in nonattainment (did not meet) good air quality. The EPA provides a website that lists Tennessee counties that have been in nonattainment by specific year.
The study area encompasses portions of these six counties: Clinton and Cumberland Counties in Kentucky and Clay, Fentress, Overton, and Pickett Counties in Tennessee. Air emission sources within the study area consist of a mix of industrial, commercial, and residential stationary sources, plus mobile sources (cars, trucks, etc.). According to the EPA website and TDEC Air Pollution Control Division, the counties in the study area are considered in attainment with NAAQS for which attainment designations have been issued.
Alternative Impact:
No direct changes in emissions are expected as a result of the NAA or PAA. Therefore, air quality permitting and emission standard regulations are not applicable to the project. The PAA is considered consistent with programs for maintaining compliance with ambient air quality standards.
3.15 Cumulative Effects
The Corps must consider the cumulative effects of the proposed project on the environment as stipulated in the NEPA. Cumulative effects are "the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such actions (40 CFR Part 1508.7, Council on Environmental Quality [CEQ] Regulations)." Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. Geographical boundaries for this discussion of cumulative impacts are the proposed project area and downstream projects.
33 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
The temporal boundaries established for this project span from the 1990s, when the current version of the WCM was drafted, to the 2040s, which is 20 years from the 1998 update of the WCM. This cumulative effects analysis will focus on aquatic resources, water quality, and recreation as those are the resources that are most applicable to the proposed work.
Past and Present Actions:
The Dale Hollow Reservoir is situated on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The reservoir is formed by the damming of the Obey River, 7.5 miles above its juncture with the Cumberland River at river mile 380. Portions of the reservoir also cover the Wolf River. Dale Hollow Reservoir is one of four major flood control reservoirs for the Cumberland; the others being J. Percy Priest Dam, Wolf Creek Dam, and Center Hill Dam. Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the River and Harbor Act of 1946. The project was completed by the Corps in 1943. Hydroelectric power generating units were added in 1948, 1949 and 1953. The project was designed by the Corps and built under its supervision by private contractors. The hydroelectric generators of Dale Hollow Dam are used to supply power to the surrounding countryside. The dam, power plant, and reservoir are currently operated by the Nashville District of the Corps. The latest version of the WCM for Dale Hollow Dam was written in 1998.
Initially authorized purposes for construction were flood control and hydropower generation. Subsequently authorized project purposes, such as recreation, fish and wildlife, and water quality have also placed a demand on project resources. Recreational usage and tourism at Dale Hollow Reservoir is high, as it is consistently in the top 100 most visited Corps reservoirs in the nation and was ranked the 81st most- visited in fiscal year 2016. As a result, the reservoir contributes to the local economy in visitor spending and local jobs.
Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions
Projected population growth in the Dale Hollow Reservoir region between 2020 and 2030 is expected to be very minor or decline, depending on the county. However, most visitation to Dale Hollow in the summer months comes from areas outside the surrounding counties. Therefore, pressures on the reservoir’s resources are expected to continue regardless of local population trends. Impacts such as worsening water quality due to degraded runoff, continued requests for outgrants, and encroachments on public lands are expected to continue and possibly increase. Necessary precautions would need to be implemented to ensure the resources are not overused or damaged to an unacceptable level. The Water Control Manual Revision is one tool that Nashville District implements to ensure protection of natural resources while providing maximum hydropower generation.
34 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Along with the Water Control Manual, project staff would continue to manage project resources in accordance with project Operational Management Plans. This document would also continue to be evaluated and revised as necessary to provide the most effective management tools to balance resource protection and public use.
In addition to project area activities, climate change must be considered in discussions of resource availability and potential impacts and consequences. Although information available for review specific to climate change varies, most experts acknowledge similar expected trends. Temperatures are expected to increase over the next century in the Southeast region of the United States, which includes the Dale Hollow Reservoir project area. Regional average summer temperature increases (assuming a scenario with steadily rising greenhouse gas emissions) are expected to be between 4.90° by 2055 and 8.50° F by 2085 (NCA, 2014). Trends evaluated more directly to the Ohio River Basin estimate average temperature increases to be 5-7°F looking outward through 2055 (USACE, 2015).
Views on changes in precipitation are less aligned among scientists than temperature changes (NCA, 2014). Most agree with projections of decreased amounts of precipitation and increased storm frequencies (USACE, 2015; NCA, 2014). Thus, the rainfall that is received within the Dale Hollow drainage basin would be in more intense rainstorms, resulting in sudden and more extreme flooding. This could lead to more years with poorer in-reservoir water quality conditions from both increased flooding and warmer temperatures.
Combined Effects on Resources:
Despite the watershed impairments listed in Table 1, the EPA “2012 Waterbody Report for Dale Hollow Lake” (EPA, 2020) assessed the reservoir for the following usage categories: domestic water supply, fish consumption, secondary contact recreation water and warm water aquatic habitat. Dale Hollow Reservoir was assessed a status of “good” for all categories and an overall status of “good”. Land use practices associated with agriculture and commercial/residential development have improved from past years and should continue to improve in the future as new best management practices (BMPs) are developed. However, the scale of development and impervious surfaces associated with buildings, roads and parking lots are expected to increase into the future. New technologies afforded by modern recreational vehicles, emissions and waste management/containment would likely continue to improve and minimize impacts to natural resources.
Water resources are expected to be further compromised with increased temperatures resulting in increased plant transpiration and soil and water evaporation plus expected population growths. Managing flashy storm events, potential flooding and surface water runoff, and likely water quality impacts associated with these events, would continue to be a challenge for land and water managers.
35 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Terrestrial resources, specifically naturally vegetated lands, surrounding the reservoir would continue to be resources highly valued by the public. Dale Hollow Reservoir, along with the other adjacent state and federal landholdings, provides tremendous recreational opportunities for the permanent and visiting public. Tourism for this commodity would continue to be high and an important economic factor for this region. Demands for recreational facilities and amenities would also likely continue to increase. Facilities would need continual repair and upgrade to satisfactorily meet visitor expectations. In addition, there would be conflicting demands for recreational opportunities on the reservoir and project lands. The continued requests for various uses of project lands by municipalities and other interests would also add more demands on the limited project lands and waters.
A Water Control Manual Revision would provide a tool for the Nashville District’s staff to ensure natural resources and project facilities are being used while minimizing impacts to the resources. Revising existing data to reflect current situations, as well as project future uses, demands and potential challenges, would better provide for accommodating demands for varying opportunities while avoiding potential conflicts. When combined with past, present, and future actions, the proposed project would not have significant effects to resources.
SECTION 4 – ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Compliance with Federal Acts and Executive Orders are summarized below. Based on the information provided above, full compliance with all applicable state and federal statutes and Executive Orders.
4.1 Executive Order 11990-Wetlands
The proposed project would not occur in or near any wetlands. The project would meet requirements of the EO.
4.2 Farmland Policy Protection Act
No private agricultural lands or prime and unique farmlands would be permanently impacted.
4.3 Executive Order 11988-Floodplain Management
Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, requires federal agencies to evaluate and minimize impact to the floodplain. The Corps controls flowage easement for flood control in the Dale Hollow reservoir to elevation 663.0 feet mean sea level. The project is anticipated to result in a no change in flood storage capacity.
4.4 Clean Water Act
36 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Compliance with Section 404 (b) (1) of the Clean Water Act is required for federal actions involving discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States, including adjacent wetlands. No fill material would be placed below the high water mark of Dale Hollow Reservoir or Obey River, therefore, neither a 404 (b) (1) Guidelines analysis nor a section 401 state Water Quality Certification is required.
4.5 Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act requires an evaluation of possible effects on or degradation of habitat critical to Federally-listed endangered or threatened species. This assessment examines these issues through review of occurrence records of plants and animals that are on Federal and state lists, and a review of the project area for the presence of the types of habitats that could support listed species. These investigations did not indicate the presence of any listed threatened or endangered species or supporting habitats that would be impacted by the Proposed Action. Thus, the Corps has reached a “no effect” determination concerning endangered species and critical habitat impacts of the proposed reallocation. The Corps is awaiting documentation from the USFWS stating that the PAA is in compliance with the ESA.
4.6 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
The Corps is required to coordinate with the USFWS and State Agency under the FWCA (16 U.S.C. § 661 et seq.). Coordination with USFWS, TWRA, and KDFWR was initiated with advertisement of a scoping letter on August 8, 2019. A copy of the Scoping Letter and mailing list is included with this document as Appendix A. Both agencies have been involved as this project progresses and will review this EA. Any comments received on the EA will be addressed before a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is signed.
4.7 National Historic Preservation Act
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 306108) requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings and allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation the opportunity to comment. The decision to change the water control manual meets the definition of an undertaking with the potential to cause effects (36 CFR 800.3(a)) requiring consultation with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) and other consulting parties. Consultation with both the Tennessee and Kentucky SHPO is ongoing.
4.8 Executive Order 13514 – Environmental Justice
The 1994 Executive Order 12898: “Federal Actions to address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations” was signed by President Clinton on February 11, 1994, to focus Federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority and low-income populations, with the goal of achieving environmental protection for all communities. As defined by the “Draft Guidance for Addressing Environmental Justice under NEPA”, a minority population exists where the
37 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District percentage of minorities in an affected area either exceeds 50% or is significantly greater than in the general population.
The final step in the environmental justice evaluation process is to evaluate the impact of the project on the population and to ascertain whether target populations are affected more adversely than other residents. Based on best available data, the conclusion for this proposed project is that low-income or minority populations would not be disproportionately affected by the proposed activity. Neither of the alternatives described in this environmental assessment would disproportionately place any adverse environmental, economic, social, or health impacts on minority and low-income populations. Socioeconomics is described in further detail in Section 3.13.
4.9 Clean Air Act
The proposal is in an attainment area with regard to the NAAQS. Neither alternative would affect this status. Requirements under this Act have been met.
4.10 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
No CERCLA sites were identified within the proposed project boundaries.
4.11 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
All alternatives would be in compliance with the RCRA.
4.12 Executive Order 13653 (Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change)
The project is not expected to affect climate change.
SECTION 5 – PUBLIC AND AGENCY COORDINATION
NEPA requires Federal agencies to consider the potential environmental impacts of their proposed project and to ask for comments from interested groups about the proposed work before any action is taken.
5.1 Scoping Letter and Responses
On August 9, 2019, a Scoping Letter describing the proposed project was circulated to government agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, the public, local newspapers, radio stations, and other interested parties. Comments were requested within 30-days for consideration in the draft EA. Comments received are summarized in this section with a Corps response.
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet – Department for Environmental Protection
38 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District
Comment:
Division of Water:
Water Quality Branch
Ensure the increased discharge of cold water from Lake Cumberland doesn't cause a walleye kill in the lake.
Water Resources Branch
No comment.
Watershed Management
The proposed activity needs to consider and communicate the impacts of how changes to the water control manuals at the Dale Hollow and Lake Cumberland may impact permitted water withdrawal intakes for the public water systems. The proposed work does not require any permits, certifications or formal approvals from the Groundwater Section of the Watershed Management Branch.
Field Operations Branch
No comment.
Division of Waste Management:
It appears that there should be no impacts to KDWM regulated sites in the Kentucky Counties located downstream of Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River due to increasing the discharge from 30,000 cubic feet per second to 40,000 cubic feet per second for the entire year rather than seasonally for the proposed Corps water control manual revision.
Division for Air Quality:
No comments.
Corps’ Response:
Nashville District Water Management Section and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources work closely together to monitor dissolved oxygen levels and water temperatures below Wolf Creek Dam to ensure optimal water quality conditions for the downstream fishery of Wolf Creek Dam. The change in control flow at Celina, Tennessee is not expected to result in changes to water temperature at either Dale Hollow Reservoir of Lake Cumberland or associated tailwaters. Minimum flows, hydropower ramp rates,
39 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District and sluice gate supplementation at Dale Hollow Dam are also not likely to cause a change in water temperatures because these types of flows would be minor. Second, the revision of the 1998 WCM would be beneficial to water intakes along the Cumberland River. The Drought Contingency chapter in the revised version on the 1998 WCM plans for low water conditions to ensure adequate depths for recreation and water intake installation, habitat for fish and other aquatic life, and ensure water for drought periods for water systems using the Cumberland River.
Department of Energy – Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA)
Comment:
SEPA responded to the scoping notice via mail and expressed concern about the proposed hydropower ramp rate and the change in minimum flows at Dale Hollow Dam. Their concern was centered on hydropower lost due to the proposed changes.
Corps’ Response:
The Nashville District (LRN) operates Dale Hollow with the goal of balancing all project purposes and maximizing all project benefits. This is a delicate balancing act that is constantly evolving. Nashville District’s primary reason for limiting ramp rates is for the safety of the recreating public and to limit erosion of the river banks below the project. Limiting ramp rates to one unit per hour avoids large surges in tailwater flow which can create a dangerous situation. Upon further discussion and consideration, Nashville District now proposes limiting the ramp up to one unit per hour, but allowing a ramp down of up to two units per hour. This limits the rising surges in the tailwater and allows for more flexibility in hydropower scheduling to satisfy customer peak schedule requirements. With regard to the modification of the minimum flow requirement to at least one hour of generation every calendar day between 1 June and 15 November, LRN analyzed period of record (1948-2015) data at Dale Hollow and ran a reservoir simulation model to determine the impact to project storage with the new minimum flow requirement. The overall impact to hydropower was found to be near negligent. Furthermore, observed data since 1984 shows only about 2.5% of the days, from 1 June through 15 November, had zero generation (about 4 days each calendar year during the window). The new minimum flow requirement adds four unit hours of generation on average to each calendar year which is about 250 day-second-feet in volume each year. Compared to the average annual inflow at Dale Hollow, this accounts for .000478 (.05%) of the total each year. Minimum flow would maintain zero during flood conditions until flows downstream recede to appropriate levels.
Southeastern Federal Power Customers, Inc. (SeFPC)
Comment:
SeFPC responded to the scoping notice via mail and voiced concerns with the proposed changes because they could diminish the value of the hydropower resource. Their
40 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District letter mentioned reducing the number of operable units at Dale Hollow would eliminate the potential for peaking operations which would require longer operations with a single unit. Also, the transition to minimum releases over a longer time period further erodes the power resource available from Dale Hollow. In addition, SeFPC questioned the Corps’ NEPA’s process and wanted to make sure no violations of NEPA have taken place.
Corps’ Response:
Limiting ramp rates to one unit per hour avoids large surges in tailwater flow which can create a dangerous situation for recreating public. Upon further discussion and consideration, LRN proposes a compromise of limiting the ramp up to one unit per hour, but allowing a ramp down of up to two units per hour. This limits the surges in the tailwater and allows for more flexibility in hydropower scheduling to satisfy customer peak schedule requirements. With regard to the modification of the minimum flow requirement to at least one hour of generation every calendar day between 1 June and 15 November, LRN analyzed period of record (1948-2015) data at Dale Hollow and ran a reservoir simulation model to determine the impact to project storage with the new minimum flow requirement. The overall impact to hydropower was found to be near negligent. Furthermore, observed data since 1984 shows only about 2.5% of the days 1 June through 15 November had zero generation (about 4 days each calendar year during the window). The new minimum flow requirement adds four unit hours of generation on average to each calendar year which is about 250 day-second-feet in volume each year. Compared to the average annual inflow at Dale Hollow, this accounts for .000478 (.05%) of the total each year. Minimum flow would maintain zero during flood conditions until flows downstream recede to appropriate levels. The Corps acknowledges the misconception that the Dale Hollow project is operated in accordance with a revised manual effective August 2017. This is not the case and the Corps confirms that the 1998 Water Control Manual still governs the operation of the project today pending this current NEPA evaluation on the proposed change. We appreciate your comments and appreciate the close working relationship we maintain with our partners at SEPA and hope to continue to provide you with cost efficient hydropower solutions for the indefinite future.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
Comment:
KDFWR stated they would not support such changes in the Wolf Creek Dam operations that could potentially negatively impact the Lake Cumberland cool-water fisheries (stripers and walleye) and tailwater cold-water fisheries (trout) without accompanying language that protects these important resources and associated recreation which drive a tourism economy valued at over $160 million annually (2008 USACE and USFWS EIS Statement).
41 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Additionally, despite U.S. Congress’ passing the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, there remains an economic paradox within the Corps when considering electrical generation versus Kentucky's fisheries driven tourism created by Wolf Creek Darn water releases. This paradox compels Kentucky to, aside from high-water periods, insist that Wolf Creek Dam's water discharge plans not only consider the need for electrical generation but also maintains conservation of winter-stored cold water in the hypolimnion. This includes years when higher than normal water inflow persists after April 1. Kentucky believes equal consideration between the two agendas should be accomplished.
Corps’ Response:
Dale Hollow was originally authorized by Congress for flood control and hydropower. Subsequent legislation added recreation, fish and wildlife, water quality, and water supply as additional project purposes. The Nashville District operates Dale Hollow with the goal of balancing all project purposes and maximizing all project benefits. This is a delicate balancing act that is constantly evolving. The change in hydropower ramp rates and control flow is not expected to impact the fishery below Wolf Creek or Dale Hollow Dams. Minimum flows, turbine and sluice gate supplementation would be highly beneficial to the downstream fishery of Dale Hollow. Water released from the sluice gates violently mix with ambient air in the spillway bucket causing aeration and produces very high DO levels. Prior to DO supplementation measures, it was not unusual for outflow DO to fall below 6.0 mg/l and even dip below 4.0 mg/l during the August through October period. The air supply valves improve DO levels, but if the tailwater DO is still below 6.0 mg/l, the only other augmentation measure is to supplement turbine releases with sluice gate releases
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Tennessee and Kentucky Ecological Services Field Office
Comment:
Personnel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reviewed the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual revision and Wolf Creek Dam scoping letter dated August 9, 2019, and we offer the following comments on behalf of the Tennessee and Kentucky Ecological Services Field offices. Federally listed species that may occur in, or along portions of the Cumberland River below these dams include the Spectaclecase (Cumberlandia montana), Lesquereux mustard (Physaria globosa), and caves with gray bat (Myotis grisescens) records. Historically, numerous other federally listed mussels occurred in reaches of the Cumberland River below these two dams, however, we now consider them extirpated.
Corps’ Response:
Nashville District does not anticipate any negative affects to federally listed species.
42 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation - Division of Remediation
Comment:
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Remediation (DOR) has not identified any DOR sites anticipated to be impacted by the proposal.
Corps’ Response:
Nashville District concurs with DOR findings.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Comment:
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reviewed the information provided regarding the scoping notice for the revision of the Water Control Manuals for Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams and provided the following comments. The tailwaters of both of these dams support popular trout fisheries and it is important to maintain water quality standards below these dams to maintain the fisheries. The water quality criteria established by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for tailwaters that contain trout is not less than 6.0 mg/l of dissolved oxygen and the temperature for recognized trout waters must not exceed 20 degree Centigrade. It is our understanding that the proposal to modify the Water Control Manual for Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams to allow for releasing 40,000 cfs instead of the current 30,000 cfs as required in the existing Manual and would eliminate the seasonal crop season control flow period, this would allow for more flexibility in water releases during flood conditions. We do support hydropower ramp rates that limit to one unit per hour unless a power emergency necessitates a two unit per hour ramp rate, which reduces erosion and conserves riparian habitat. We support water release methodologies that maintain high water quality standards that are necessary to support quality fisheries below these dams, such as sluicing, oxygen injection, auto-venting turbines, etc.
Corps’ Response:
Nashville District values your opinion and appreciates your support to implement the proposed changes to the 1998 WCM at Dale Hollow Dam.
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Comment:
The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) responded to the scoping letter via mail and is concerned with potential impacts that projects might have upon prime farmland soils, farmlands of statewide importance, PL-566 watershed structures,
43 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District wetlands identified under the Food Security Act, Wetland Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve Program easements. Their letter stated the area in question does appear to contain prime farmlands and farmlands of statewide importance. Inundation and increased flooding frequencies could result in impacts to prime farmlands.
Corps’ Response:
The additional 760 acres of inundation due to change in control flow season would be stretched of over approximately 80 river miles. This coupled with the seldom use of the proposed change would not change prime farmland into non-prime farmland. The Corps has determined that no significant impacts to prime or unique, statewide, or locally important farmland is expected to occur.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia
Comment:
The EPA providing comments via mail which suggested the Corps monitor stratification in the reservoir that could be caused by poor mixing and non-point source pollution. The EPA also suggested that the Corps include a robust Section 106 Cultural Resources section in the environmental assessment.
Corps’ Response:
The Corps’ Water Management Section monitors Dale Hollow Reservoir for stratification by taking water quality samples. The sample locations are staggered throughout the reservoir and tailwater. The samples include many water monitoring parameters and mainly focus on water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. The Water Management Section provides critical data and decisions regarding water staging and releases. Second, Appendix B documents the historic property identification and consultation efforts completed for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
SECTION 6 – CONCLUSIONS
This document has reviewed all alternatives under NEPA guidelines for any impacts to the human environment. Two alternatives were evaluated in detail throughout this EA: Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative; and Alternative 2, the Preferred Action Alternative. Alternative 1 (No Action Alternative) would not allow the revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual. The dam, and fishery would continue to operate/proceed under existing conditions.
Alternative 2 (Preferred Action Alternative) would allow the revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual. Operational changes would include:
Control Flow at Celina – Currently, the control flow at Celina (combination of Wolf Creek and Dale Hollow Dams) varies seasonally based on crop season (April
44 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District 15th – December 15th) at 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and flood season (December 15th – April 15th) at 40,000 cfs. The revised water control manual propose a control flow at Celina that would not vary seasonally and be 40,000 cfs year round.
Hydropower Ramp Rates - Nashville District proposes a compromise of limiting the ramp up to one unit per hour, but allowing a ramp down of up to two units per hour unless a power emergency necessitates a two unit per hour ramp rate.
Turbine Discharge and Sluice Gate Supplementation – The air supply valves improve dissolved oxygen levels when utilized during late summer and fall months. During this time, if the tailwater dissolved oxygen are still below the State standard, the only other augmentation measure is to supplement turbine releases with sluice gate releases. The WCM will be revised to incorporate these discretionary operations as needed.
Minimum Flow – Minimum flow is now the discharge equivalent to one hour of generation during every 48-hour period from June 1st through November 15th. This would be changed to one hour of generation during every calendar day. Minimum flow would maintain zero during flood conditions until flows downstream recede to appropriate levels.
In conclusion, all work would be performed in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. Evaluation of the proposed action indicates that no notable adverse environmental impacts would result from the revision of the 1998 WCM. Since no significant environmental impacts have been identified for the proposed action that would warrant the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, the Corps has drafted an unsigned FONSI.
45 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District SECTION 7 – REFERENCES
Federal Emergency Management Agency 2020 Floodplain Maps Website: http://fema.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=cbe088e7c87 04464aa0fc34eb99e7f30
Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium 2020 Website: https://www.mrlc.gov/viewer
Natureserve, 2020. Fluted Kidneyshell Ecology & Life History. Retrieved from NatureServe Explorer: http://explorer.natureserve.org
Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), 2017. Final 2016 303(d) List. Planning and Standards Section, Nashville, TN. TDEC. Retrieved from:https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/water/documents/wr_wq_30 3d-2016-final.pdf on March 2020
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District, 1998. Dale Hollow Water Control Manual.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 2015. Recent US Climate Change and Hydrology Literature Applicable to US Army Corps of Engineers Missions-Ohio Region 5. Civil Works Technical Report, CWTS 2015-05, USACE, Washington, DC.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District, 2011. Dale Hollow Operational Management Plan.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District, 1976. Dale Hollow Lake Master Plan
U.S. Department of Agriculture 2020 Farmland Policy Act Manual https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1049284.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2019. Retrieved from Water Quality Assessment Webpage for Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky: https://iaspub.epa.gov/waters10/attains_waterbody.control?p_au_id=TN0513010 5002_1000&p_cycle=2014&p_state=TN&p_report_type= on March 2020
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2020 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Overview Website: https://www.epa.gov/rcra/resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra-overview
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
46 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District 2016 Northern Long-Eared Bat Interim Conference and Planning Guide https://www.fws.gov/northeast/virginiafield/pdf/NLEBinterimGuidance6Jan2014.pdf
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2020 National Wetlands Inventory website: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/mapper.html
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2020a Information for Planning and Conservation website: https://www.fws.gov/ipac
.
47 Revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District List of Preparers:
Cody A. Flatt, Biologist, Environmental Section, Project Planning Branch, Primary EA Preparation
Valerie McCormack, Archaeologist, Environmental Section, Project Planning Branch, Nashville District, EA Preparation – Cultural and Historic Resources
Timothy Higgs, Chief, Environmental Section, Project Planning Branch, EA Review
48 Appendices
1998 Water Control Manual Revision Dale Hollow Dam and Reservoir Cumberland River Basin Tennessee and Kentucky May 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Mailing List, 2019 Scoping Notice, and Public Comments B. Cultural Resources C. Water Management Data A. Mailing List, 2019 Scoping Letter, and Public Comments Government Officials: Kentucky
Honorable Mitch McConnell Honorable Rand Paul United States Senator United States Senator
317 Russell Senate Office Bldg 167 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20510
Representative James Comer Representative Jeff Hoover 200 North Main Street Suite F 702 Capitol Avenue Annex Room 373C Tompkinsville, KY 42167 Frankfort KY 40601
Andy Beshear, Governor Honorable John A. Phelps Jr. 700 Capital Avenue, Suite 100 600 Courthouse Square Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 P.O. Box 826 Burkesville, KY 42717
Honorable Ricky L. Craig Mayor of Jamestown 100 Cross Street PO Box 587 Albany, KY 42602 Jamestown KY 42629
Jeffrey Hoover County Judge Executive Kentucky State Representative Clinton County Kentucky PO Box 985 Albany KY 42602 Jamestown KY 42629
Max Wise Kentucky State Senator County Judge Executive 702 Capitol Ave, Annex Rm 229 PO Box 397 Frankfort KY 40601 Jamestown KY 42629
Government Officials: Tennessee
Honorable Lamar Alexander Honorable Marsha Blackburn United States Senator United States Senator 3322 West End Ave #120 357 Dirksen Office Bldg Nashville, TN 37203 Washington DC 20510
Honorable John Rose United States Representative Smith County Executive
321 East Spring Street 122 Turner High Circle #100 Suite 301 Carthage, TN 37030 Cookeville, TN 38501
Honorable Terri Lynn Weaver Tennessee State Representative Honorable Dale Reagan
425 5th Avenue North 145 Cordell Hull Drive Suite 554 Cordell Hull Bldg. Celina, TN 38551 Nashville, TN 37243
Honorable Kelly Keisling Honorable Tommy Kilby Tennessee State Representative Tennessee State Senator 425 5th Avenue North 10 A Legislative Plaza Suite 618 Cordell Hull Bldg. Nashville, TN 37243-0212 Nashville, TN 37243
Honorable Paul Bailey Senator Max Wise Tennessee State Senator 702 Capitol Avenue Annex Room 229 425 5th Avenue North Frankfort KY 40601 Suite 736 Cordell Hull Bldg. Nashville, TN 37243
Honorable Mark Pody Honorable Lyndon Baines Tennessee State Senator Mayor of Jamestown 425 5th Avenue North 314 East Central Ave Suite 618 Cordell Hull Bldg. Jamestown, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37243 Honorable John Mark Windle Tennessee State Representative Honorable Ben Danner 425 5th Avenue North 317 University Street, Suite 1 Suite 570 Cordell Hull Bldg. Livingston, TN 38570 Nashville, TN 37243
Honorable Ken Yager Honorable Carey B. Garner 425 5th Ave North 1 Courthouse Square Suite 200
Suite 704 Cordell Hull Bldg Byrdstown, TN 38549 Nashville, TN 37243
Bill Lee, Governor Honorable Keith Riddle State Capitol, 1st Floor 214 Upper River Street 600 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd Burkesville, KY 42717 Nashville, TN 37243 TENNESSEE DIVISION OF ARCHAEOLOGY
COLE BUILDING #3
Honorable1216 FOSTER Curtis AVENUE Hayes Honorable Tonya Spears 301 McHenry Circle 330 Dow Ave TENNESSEE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE Livingston,NASHVILLE TN TN 38570 37210 Celina, TN 38551
TENNESSEE STATE CAPITOL NASHVILLE TN 37243
The Honorable Jim Cooper Jackson County Executive United States Representative 101 North Main Street 605 Church Street Gainesboro, TN 38562 Nashville, Tennessee 37219
Federal Agencies: Kentucky & Tennessee
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Tennessee Field Office 330 West Broadway, Suite 265 446 Neal Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Cookeville, TN 38506
Elizabeth McGuire, EPA Contact for Tennessee Andy Currie, Manager USEPA IV / Wetland Regulatory Section Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 145 Fish Hatchery Road 61 Forsyth St., S.W. Celina, TN 38551 Atlanta, GA 30303
Matt Walker, State Conservationist Gracia Szczech, Region IV Administrator USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service Federal Emergency Management Agency 675 U.S. Courthouse 3003 Chamblee Tucker Road 801 Broadway Atlanta, GA 30341 Nashville, TN 37203
Christopher Militscher, Chief Yolanda Brown, EPA Contact for Tennessee U.S. EPA – Region 4 USEPA / Region 4 Nonpoint Source Section NEPA Program Office 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 Atlanta, GA 30303
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Mr. Todd N. Tillinger Flotilla 11-04 U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Commander Jim Williamson Regulatory Branch 105 Belgium Court 3701 Bell Road Hermitage, Tennessee 37076 Nashville, TN 37214
American Indian Tribes
Mr. Stephen Yerka, Historic Preservation Specialist Ms. Whitney Warrior Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Ms. Charlotte Wolfe Qualla Boundary United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in OK P.O. Box 445 P.O. Box 746 Cherokee, NC 28719 Tahlequah, OK 74464-0746
Chairperson Ron Sparkman Principal Chief Richard Sneed Shawnee Tribe Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
P.O. Box 189 Qualla Boundary, P.O. Box 445 Miami, OK 74355 Cherokee, NC 28719 Ms. Devon Frazier Ms. Elizabeth Toombs Cultural Preservation Directory/THPO Special Projects Officer Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Cherokee Nation
2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. P.O. Box 948 Shawnee, OK 74801-9381 Tahlequah, OK 74465-0948
Ms. Tonya Tipton Governor John Raymond Johnson Shawnee Tribe Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma P.O. Box 189 Miami, OK 74355 2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. Shawnee, OK 74801-9381
Brett Barnes Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Chief Glenna J. Wallace Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
P.O. Box 350 P.O. Box 350 Seneca, MO 64865 Seneca, MO 64865
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Chief Joe Bunch Tribal Historic Preservation Officer United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 P.O. Box 746 Tahlequah, OK 74465-0948 Tahlequah, OK 74464-0746
State Agencies: Kentucky
NRCS Madisonville Service Center Kentucky State Farm Service Agency
1095 National Mine Rd 771 Corporate Drive STE 205 Madisonville KY 42431 Lexington, KY 40503
Adair County Farm Service Agency Monroe County Farm Service Agency
961 Campbellsville Rd P.O. Box 700 Columbia, KY 42728-2203 Tompkinsville, KY 42167-0700
Kentucky Dept of Fish & Wildlife KY Nature Preserves Commission #1 Game Farm Rd 300 Sower Blvd Frankfort KY 40601 Frankfort, KY 40601
Kentucky Department of Parks Kentucky Division of Water Elaine Walker, Commissioner 300 Sower Blvd.
11th Floor, Capital Plaza Tower Frankfort, KY 40601 300 Mero Street Frankfort, KY 40601
Steve Beam, Director KY Dept of Agriculture KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife 105A Corporate Drive 1 Sportsman’s Lane Frankfort, KY 40601 Frankford, KY 40601
Kentucky Division of Conservation Kentucky Flood Control Advisory Commission 375 Versailles Rd 1024 Center Drive Suite 340 Frankfort KY 40601 Frankfort KY 40601
KY Division of Water Honorable Nicky Smith 200 Fair Oaks Lane 204 Cross Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Albany, KY 42602
Kentucky State Conservationist Clinton County Farm Service Agency 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 210 801 B Tennessee Rd Lexington, KY 40503 Albany, KY 42602-0000
KY Dept Environmental Protection 300 Sower Blvd, 2nd Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
Local/Non-Government Organizations: Kentucky
Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund #2 Hudson Hollow Road Frankfort, KY 40601
State Agencies: Tennessee
TWRA Region 2 Office TDEC Cookeville Office Ellington Agriculture Center 1221 South Willow Avenue 5105 Edmonson Pike Cookeville, TN 38506 Nashville, TN 37211
TDEC Nashville Office TWRA Region 3 Office
711 R.S. Gass Blvd 464 Industrial BLVD. Nashville, TN 37216 Crossville, TN 38555
Big South Fork River & Rec Area Jackson/Clay County Farm Service Agency Superintendent 757A South Grundy Quarles Hwy 4564 Leatherwood Road Gainesboro, TN 38562-5904 Oneida, TN 37841-7032
Christy Luna, District Conservationist Tennessee State Farm Service Agency 125 Gordonsville Hwy 801 Broadway STE 579 Carthage, TN 37030-1876 Nashville, TN 37203-3878 Jackson/Clay County Farm Service Agency Smith County Farm Service Agency 757A South Grundy Quarles Hwy 125 Gordonsville Hwy Gainesboro, TN 38562-5904 Carthage, TN 37030-1876
Jeff Young, District Conservationist Karen Woodrich 757 South Grundy Quarles Hwy State Conservationist, Kentucky State Office Gainesboro, TN 38562-5904 771 Corporate Dr Ste 100 Lexington, KY 40503-5438
Matthew Taylor, Policy Analyst-NEPA Kendra Abkowitz Brooks, PhD, Director Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37243 [email protected]
Trisha Calabrese Benton, Director Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Division of Archaeology Division of Water Resources 1216 Foster Avenue 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave Cole Building #3 Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37243
Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Office of Environmental Assistance Division of Geology
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37243
Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Division of Remediation Division of Natural Areas 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37243
April Grippo, Water Resources Manager Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation Recreation Educational Services Division Nashville Environmental Field Office 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave 711 R.S. Gass Boulevard Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37216 Mr. Rob Todd, Fish and Wildlife Environmentalist The Wildlife Society – Tennessee Chapter Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency USDA, Wildlife Services P.O. Box 40747 4708 Western Avenue, Suite A Nashville, Tennessee 37204 Knoxville, TN 37921
Mr. Mike Butler, Chief Executive Officer Tanisha J. Hall, Director Tennessee Wildlife Federation Tennessee Long Range Planning Division
300 Orlando Avenue 505 Deadrick Street Nashville, Tennessee 37209 Nashville, TN 37243
Jai Templeton, Commissioner Tennessee Department of Transportation Tennessee Department of Agriculture James K. Polk Building, Suite 900 Ellington Agricultural Center
505 Deaderick Street P.O. Box 40627 Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37204
Bob Rolfe, Commissioner Patrick Sheehan, Director Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Development 3041 Sidco Drive 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue Nashville, TN 37204 Nashville, TN 37243
Local/Non-Government Organizations: Tennessee
Mark Bevelhimer Terry Cook, State Director Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning Tennessee Nature Conservancy 130 Tabor Road 210 25th Ave. N. Suite 300 Oak Ridge, TN 37830-5537 Nashville, TN 37203
Mekayle Houghton, Executive Director Sierra Club Cumberland River Compact Tennessee Chapter
2 Victory Avenue - #300 3340 Perimeter Hill Drive Nashville, TN 37213 Nashville, TN 37211 Gary Weatherford, President Southern Environmental Law Center Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association 1033 Demonbreun ST #205 P.O. Box 159041 Nashville, TN 37203 Nashville, TN 37215-9041
Hydropower
Brown Thornton City of Nicholasville NewGen Strategies & Solutions ATTN: Bob Amato, Utilities Manager 112 Westwood Place P.O. Box 450 Suite 165 Nicholasville, KY 40356 Brentwood, TN 37027
Southeastern Federal Power Customers, Inc. Town of Waynesville ATTN: Lee Garner ATTN: Robert Hites, Town Manager
P.O. Box 188 P.O. Box 100 Chattahoochee, FL 32324 Waynesville, NC 28786
Department of Energy ATTN: SEPA Administrator City of Paris Southeastern Power Administration ATTN: Mike Withrow, Assistant City Manager
1166 Athens Tech Road 525 High Street Elberton, GA 30635-6711 Paris, KY 40361
Tennessee Valley Authority Attention: David Bowling City of Providence Vice President, River & Resources Stewardship ATTN: David May, Director of Public Works
400 West Summit Hill Drive P.O. Box 128 WT 11A -K Providence, KY 42450 Knoxville, TN 37902
Corbin Utilities Commission Tennessee Valley Public Power Association City of Corbin Attn: Douglas Peters ATTN: Ronald Herd, General Manager 1206 Broad Street 1515 Cumberland Falls Highway Chattanooga, TN 37402 Corbin, KY 40701 Barbourville Utility Commission East Kentucky Power Cooperative City of Barbourville ATTN: Anthony Campbell, President ATTN: Josh Callahan, Director P.O. Box 707 P.O. Box 1600 Winchester, KY 40392-0707 Barbourville, KY 40906
City of Benham Frankfort Plant Board, City of Frankfort ATTN: Danny Quillen, Director ATTN: Gary Zheng, General Manager
P.O. Box 528 P.O. Box 308 Benham, KY 40807 Frankfort, KY 40602-0308
Big Rivers Electric Corporation French Broad Electric Membership Corporation ATTN: Marlene Parsley ATTN: Jeff Loven, Manager
P.O. Box 24 P.O. Box 9 Henderson, KY 42420 Marshall, NC 28753-0009
City of Bardstown Haywood Electric Membership Corporation ATTN: Larry Hamilton ATTN: Norman Sloan, Executive Vice President
P.O. Box 368 376 Grindstone Rd. Bardstown, KY 40004 Waynesville, NC 28785
City of Bardwell City of Henderson ATTN: Philip King, Mayor ATTN: Chris Heimgartner, General Manager
P.O. Box 639 P.O. Box 8 Bardwell, KY 42023 Henderson, KY 42420
City of Falmouth City of Madisonville ATTN: Ramona Williams, City Clerk/Treasurer ATTN: Chris Melton, Electric Superintendent
230 Main Street P.O. Box 710 Falmouth, KY 41040 Madisonville, KY 42431
Southern Illinois Power Cooperative Mississippi Delta Energy Agency ATTN: William Hutchison, Vice President Electrical ATTN: George Miller, Chairman Systems P.O. Box 70 11543 Lake of Egypt Road Clarksdale, MS 38614-0070 Marion, IL 62959 Municipal Energy Agency of Mississippi Cooperative Energy ATTN: Geoff Wilson, General Manager ATTN: James Compton, Chief Executive Officer
6000 Lakeover Road P.O. Box 15849 Jackson, MS 39213 Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5849
Owensboro Municipal Utilities, City of Owensboro Princeton Electric Plant Board, City of Princeton ATTN: Kevin Frizzell, General Manager ATTN: Kevin Kizzee, General Manager
P.O. Box 806 P.O. Box 608 Owensboro, KY 42303-0806 Princeton, KY 42445-0608
Paducah Power System, City of Paducah ATTN: David Carroll, General Manager
P.O. Box 180 Paducah, KY 42002-0180
Media Outlets: Kentucky
Clinton County News The Times Journal 166 N. Washington St. Po Box 190 P.O. Box 360 Russell Springs Ky 42642 Albany, KY 42602
WJKY-AM/WJRS-FM WANY-AM & FM PO BOX K PO Box 400 Russell Springs, KY 42642 Albany, KY 42602
Media Outlets: Tennessee WCLC-AM Carthage Courier P.O. Box 1509 509 Main Street / P.O. Box 239 Jamestown, TN 38556 Carthage, TN 37030
Herald-Citizen Jackson County Sentinel P.O. Box 2729 South Main Street Cookeville, TN 38502-2729 Gainesboro, TN 38562
Pickett County Press Citizen-Statesman 23 Courthouse Square 801 East Lake Avenue Byrdstown, TN 38549 Celina, TN 38551
WRKM-AM & WUCZ-FM Fentress County Courier Upper Ferry Road 114 White Oak Street P.O. Box 179 Jamestown, TN 38556 Carthage, TN 37030
Jackson County Sentinel Celina Citizen Statesman Anderson Haile Bldg. P.O. Box F P.O. Box 37 Celina, TN 38551 Gainesboro, TN 38562-0573
Overton County News WDEB-AM & FM 415 West Main Street 403 Livingston Ave. P.O. Box 479 Jamestown, TN 38556 Livingston, Tennessee 38570
Postmaster Please Post United States Post Office Nashville, TN 37214 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY NASHVILLE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 110 9TH AVENUE SOUTH, ROOM A-405 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203
IN REPLY REFER TO August 9, 2019 Project Planning Branch
TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District (USACE), is initiating scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate the impacts of the proposed revision of the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual and the corresponding language in the Wolf Creek Water Control Manual. The water control manuals at Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams serve as a guide for the day-to-day and emergency regulation of the project, and to provide background information on the project. The manuals present the plan of regulation for the project and furnish information pertinent to its operation.
The revision of the water control manuals was initially scoped on April 23, 2018 and a public meeting was held at the Dale Hollow Resource Managers office in Celina, Tennessee. The 2018 scoping letter (attached) discussed proposed changes to the control flow at Celina, Tennessee. The proposed change in the manuals would allow for potentially higher stages downstream of both Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams by eliminating the seasonal crop season control flow. The revised water control manuals propose extending the flood season control flow of 40,000 cubic feet per second control flow at Celina, Tennessee year-round. This change is being proposed to allow for greater flexibility to release water from Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek while still affording similar stages and flows in the Cumberland River that are common throughout the winter months. Other proposed changes discussed in the original letter at Dale Hollow Dam: (1) hydropower ramp rates, while still limited to two units per hour, are now strongly preferred to be limited to one unit per hour unless a power emergency necessitates a two unit per hour ramp rate; (2) minimum flow is now the discharge equivalent to one hour of generation during every calendar day from June 1st through November 15th; and (3) the pool between elevations 631.0 – 651.0 mean sea level is now known as the Conservation Pool instead of the Power Pool.
Further, this letter notes an additional proposed change to the Dale Hollow Water Control Manual to reflect current operations which address seasonal water quality conditions, specifically dissolved oxygen. The proposed revision includes language regarding turbine discharge, dissolved oxygen, and sluice gate supplementation. The use of an air supply modification and sluice gate supplementation may be utilized to provide more environmentally- friendly conditions downstream when unaltered hydropower generation would result in a discharge of water below the current State of Tennessee’s dissolved oxygen targets.
This letter serves to solicit scoping comments from the public, federal, state, local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity as part of the USACE planning process and in accordance with the NEPA process. We encourage comments not only about resources in the immediate project area, but also of plans or proposals for any other development that may impact or influence project resources. Comments are used to assess impacts on fish, wildlife, endangered species, water quality, historic properties, water supply, conservation, economics, aesthetics, wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shore erosion, sedimentation, -2- recreation, energy needs, safety, climate change, considerations of property ownership, general environmental effects, cumulative effects, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. This letter also serves to initiate the public involvement requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.
Comments must be submitted within 30 days of the date of this letter to the address listed above or electronically to [email protected]. For additio al information regarding the proposed project, please contact Cody Flatt at (615) 736-7954.
Eric M. Singley Chief, Project Planning Branch
Enclosures
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4 ATLANTA FEDER AL CENTER 61 FORSYTH STREET ATLANTA, GEORGI A 30303-8960 AUG 2 7 2019
Mr. Cody Flatt Department of the Army Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District 110 9th Avenue South., Room A-405 Nashville, Tennessee 3 7203
Re: Scoping Request forthe Revision to the 1998 Water Control Manuals forDale Hollow Dam and Wolf Creek Dam; Celina, Tennessee
Dear Mr. Flatt:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.has reviewed the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers (USA CE) Nashville District's scoping solicitation for the evaluation of the impact of the proposed revisions to the 1998 Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Water Control Manuals (WCM) changing the flowat Celina, Tennessee. The revised WCM will serve as a guide forthe day-to-day and emergency requirements for the Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams.
The EPA appreciates the complexity of water resource system planning and analysis. The EPA provides the following technical comments and recommendations to help the USA CE in their decision making process. The EPA's comments are intended to help provide a more balanced planning objective approach forenvironmental and economic solutions for the issues.identifiedin the USACE's public scoping notice.
The USACE is proposing the use of an air-supply modification and sluice gate supplementation when hydropower generation results in downstream dissolved oxygen (DO) levels that fallbelow the current State of Tennessee DO targets. The USACE may wish to use the Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek WCM to address in-lake enhancement techniques along with additional water quality monitoring to address the issue of DO for both the reservoir and tailrace waters to downstream users.
Decreased DO levels may be the product of stratification.Monitoring may identify the need to avett stratification. Mixing of the reservoir to destratify layers or prevent stratificationis accomplished with three general procedures: aeration, pumping, and hypolimnetic withdrawals. Mixing will help produce nearly even oxygen and temperature conditions throughout all depths. These conditions will affect in lake water quality and that of water released through the dam. Mixing can limit phytoplankton blooms by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching phytoplankton by causing plankton to recirculate below the photic zone. Destratificationmay change the amount of habitat available for warm water and cold water aquatic species. Destratificationmay also warm the release waters which may affectthe use of downstream water quality. Therefore, the WCM should reflect a balance recirculation plan for the protection of both warm and cold water aquatic species.
Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer) There are in-lake enhancement techniques that the USA CE may consider helping manage water quality parameters. One such technique is to focuson reducing the effect of an anoxic hypolimnion ( oxygen poor waters) and management of any contaminants. The technologies available to manage an anoxic hypolimnion can be separated into: (1) those that prevent an anoxic hypolimnion by mixing hypolimnetic and epilimnetic waters to avoid stratification,and (2) those that prevent an anoxic hypolimnion through aeration ( or oxygenation) but still maintain a distinct hypolimnion. Mixing hypolimnetic and epilimnetic water will break temperature stratification and reduce the habitat available forcold water aquatic life but increase the habitat for warmwater aquatic life. Maintaining an oxygen containing hypolimnion through aeration will preserve temperature stratificationand provide low temperature habitat to cool water or cold aquatic species, prevent fishkills potentially caused by rapid turnovers that mix the epilimnion and hypolimnion, and prevent discharge of anoxic water below the dam structure into the tailrace.
The water quality frominfluent streams can also play a significantrole in the lake's water quality. Septic systems and other non-point sources located withinthe lake's watershed can lead to degradation of water quality. Due to the complexity and the multiple sources of water quality of thisproject, the USACE will rely on several data sources, regulatory research tools, and water quality models. The EPA would like to help withthis process by providing USACE with some existing regulatory research tools, and links to data and environmental tools. As the USACE is aware of, stormwaterconveyance systems have the potential to convey both point and non-point influent into the reservoir. The EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program have several tools that may assist the Nashville District in the evaluation of this project including:
► EPA's NPDES general permit inventory tool which can be accessed at https://ofmpub.epa. gov/apex/aps/f?p=GPWI:Home:0::::: ► The Enforcement and Compliance History may be accessed at https://echo.epa.gov/- ► The Enviromapper program may be accessed at https://enviro.epa.gov/ ► The Water Pollution Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) may be accessed at https://echo.epa.gov/trends/loading-tool/water-pollution-search ► The Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL) tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS), may be accessed at https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/attains. ► The EPA also provides IntegratedPlanning forMunicipal Stormwater and Wastewater Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and Sanitary Sewer Overflows(SSOs) tools that may be accessed at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/integrated-planning-municipal-stormwater-and wastewater.
These data sites and research tools can provide valuable informationfor the USACE to consider when evaluating influent and effluent water quality issues that may accompany the differenttypes of conveyance and discharges to the reservoir. The USACE Watershed Vulnerability Assessment Tool ('WHAT') can be utilized to determine the vulnerability of the project area to future vulnerabilitiesto floodrisk across the 21st century for all wet and dry project scenarios (Please see: https ://planning. erdc.dren.mil/toolbox/tools cfin. ? Id= 152&Option=Software)
It may be beneficial forthe USACE to include a discussion on any active and/or passive floodcontrol for influent streams as well as the potential impacts associated with the hydraulic and hydrology fluctuations on aquatic species as they relate to the structural and non-structural floodrouting measures fromthe influentstreams. The USACE's WCM should consider how hydrologic control structures could impact both up-stream and down-stream water quality along with the migrationof any terrestrial and/or aquatic species. Due to the high cost of energy consumption associated with running electrical aerators or pumps, solar-· powered or wind-powered aerators may provide a long-term economical solution or may off-set some of the operation and maintenance costs, thereby, making destratification a more feasible solution.
The EPA recommends collaboration with other state and federal regulatoryand non-regulatory agencies with water quality expertise and information.The EPA, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Tennessee Department of EnvironmentalConservation (TDEC), and potentially universities are good sources of environmental data. Regarding any tribal issues, one research tool capable of identifying tribal interests is the tribal directory used by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD Tribal tool provides geographic and contact information formany recognized tribes nationwide that may have tribal interest with this project but may not be located in the geographical area of this study. This tool can be found at https://egis.hud.gov/tdat/.
The USACE may wish to provide a robust Section I 06 National Historic Preservation Act discussion in the WCM and NEPA document. We would also like to direct your attention to EPA's NEPAssist tool, which facilitatesthe environmental review process and project planning in relation to important environmental features and potential environmental justice considerations. This web-based tool compiles environmental data fromEPA's Geographic Information System (GIS) _databases and provides· immediate screening forspecific areas of interest. The NEP Assist tool may be accessed at https://www.epa.gov/nep a/nepassist.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on your updated WCM. Please forward a copy of your futureNEPA document for our review. Should you have any questions concerning these recommendations, please contact Mr. Larry Long of my staffat (404) 562-9640 or by e-mail at long. [email protected].
a:Christopher A. Militscher Chief, NEPA Section Strategic Programs Office From: Robbie Sykes To: Flatt, Cody A CIV USARMY CELRN (US) Subject: [Non-DoD Source] Dale Hollow Water Control Manual revision Date: Monday, September 16, 2019 4:35:15 PM
Mr. Flatt,
Personnel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reviewed the 1998 Dale Hollow Water Control Manual revision and Wolf Creek Dam scoping letter dated August 9, 2019, and we offer the following comments on behalf of the Tennessee and Kentucky Ecological Services Field offices. Federally listed species that may occur in, or along portions of the Cumberland River below these dams include the spectaclecase (Cumberlandia montana), Lesquereux mustard (Physaria globosa), and caves with gray bat (Myotis grisescens) records. Historically, numerous other federally listed mussels occurred in reaches of the Cumberland River below these two dams, however, we now consider them extirpated.
If any potential impacts to the federally listed species mentioned above are anticipated, the Corps should coordinated with our agency as the process moves forward.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to comment on the proposed action. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Robbie Sykes Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 446 Neal Street Cookeville, TN 38501 (tele. 931/525-4979) From: Division Remediation To: Flatt, Cody A CIV USARMY CELRN (US) Cc: Rachel E. Meredith Subject: [Non-DoD Source] FW: Attached Image:No Reply - BG3819PD05833 Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 12:49:55 PM Attachments: image001.png image004.png 0953_001.pdf
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Remediation (DOR) has not identified any DOR sites anticipated to be impacted by the proposal.
Let me know if I met your expectations by completing the TDEC Customer Survey
Alison Hensley | Environmental Consultant
Division of Remediation
William R. Snodgrass TN Tower, 14th Floor
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, Nashville, TN 37243
p. 615-532-0932 f. 615-741-1115
tn.gov/environment/program-areas/rem-remediation.html
From: Rachel E. Meredith Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 10:20 AM To: Alison Hensley Cc: John Weakley Subject: FW: Attached Image:No Reply - BG3819PD05833
This is a NEPA Environmental Review.
Thanks, Rachel Rachel E. Meredith | Administrative Services Assistant III
Division of Remediation / Drycleaner Environmental Response Program
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Nashville, TN 37243 p. 615-741-2281 tn.gov/environment
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 9:16 AM To: Rachel E. Meredith Subject: Attached Image:No Reply - BG3819PD05833 From: Rob Todd To: Flatt, Cody A CIV USARMY CELRN (US) Cc: Mark Thurman; Bobby Brown; Todd StJohn; Mike Murdock; Frank Fiss; Jason Henegar; Don Hubbs; Dave McKinney Subject: [Non-DoD Source] RE: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Scoping Notice - Revision of Water Control Manuals for Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams Date: Friday, September 6, 2019 4:45:44 PM
Mr. Flatt:
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has reviewed the information that you provided regarding the scoping notice for the revision of the Water Control Manuals for Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams and provides the following comments. The tailwaters of both of these dams support popular trout fisheries and it is important to maintain water quality standards below these dams to maintain the fisheries. The water quality criteria established by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for tailwaters that contain trout is not less than 6.0 mg/l of dissolved oxygen and the temperature for recognized trout waters must not exceed 20 degree Centigrade. It is our understanding that the proposal to modify the Water Control Manual for Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams to allow for releasing 40,000 cfs instead of the current 30,000 cfs as required in the existing Manual and would eliminate the seasonal crop season control flow period, this would allow for more flexibility in water releases during flood conditions. We do support hydropower rate rates that limit to one unit per hour unless a power emergency necessitates a two unit per hour ramp rate, which reduces erosion and conserves riparian habitat. We support water release methodologies that maintain high water quality standards that are necessary to support quality fisheries below these dams, such as sluicing, oxygen injection, auto-venting turbines, etc.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this Scoping Notice.
Robert Todd Fish & Wildlife Environmentalist Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Ellington Agricultural Center 5107 Edmondson Pike Nashville, TN 37211 Office: 615-781-6572 Cell: 931-881-8240 Fax: 615-781-6667 Email: [email protected]
-----Original Message----- From: Flatt, Cody A CIV USARMY CELRN (US) [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 10:03 AM To: Rob Todd Subject: [EXTERNAL] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Scoping Notice - Revision of Water Control Manuals for Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek Dams
*** This is an EXTERNAL email. Please exercise caution. DO NOT open attachments or click links from unknown senders or unexpected email - STS-Security. ***
------Mr. Todd,
Please see attached scoping notices for your review. Feel free to forward.
Thanks for your efforts,
Cody A. Flatt Biologist, Environmental Section Project Planning Branch U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 110 9th Avenue S Nashville, Tennessee 37203 615-736-7954 B. Cultural Resources
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE 2941 LEBANON PIKE NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243-0442 OFFICE: (615) 532-1550 www.tnhistoricalcommission.org
April 13, 2020
Ms. Valerie J. McCormack PhD U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District 110 9th Avenue South Room A-405 Nashville, TN 37203-3817
RE: COE-N / Nashville District/Corps of Engineers, Revision of the Water Control Manual for Dale Hollow Lake, Clay, Pickett, Overton, and Fentress Counties, TN
Dear Ms. McCormack:
Pursuant to your request, this office has reviewed documentation concerning the above- referenced undertaking. Our review of and comment on your proposed undertaking are among the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This Act requires federal agencies or applicants for federal assistance to consult with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Office before they carry out their proposed undertakings. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has codified procedures for carrying out Section 106 review in 36 CFR 800 (Federal Register, December 12, 2000, 77698-77739).
Based on the information provided, we find that the project area contains a cultural resource eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. We further find that the project as currently proposed will not adversely affect the Dale Hollow Dam.
This office has no objection to the implementation of this project as currently planned. If project plans are changed or previously unevaluated archaeological resources are discovered during project construction, please contact this office to determine what further action, if any, will be necessary to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Questions and comments may be directed to Claire Meyer (615-770-1099). We appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,
cem E. Patrick McIntyre, Jr. Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer
EPM/cem
C. Water Management Data