Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report CHAPTER 2 ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION............................................................................ 2.0-1 2.1 STATION LOCATION ................................................................................................. 2.1-1 2.1.1 REFERENCES..................................................................................................... 2.1-2 2.2 LAND........................................................................................................................... 2.2-1 2.2.1 THE SITE AND VICINITY .................................................................................... 2.2-1 2.2.1.1 The Site........................................................................................................... 2.2-1 2.2.1.2 The Vicinity...................................................................................................... 2.2-2 2.2.2 TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS AND OFF-SITE AREAS..................................... 2.2-5 2.2.3 THE REGION........................................................................................................ 2.2-6 2.2.4 REFERENCES:..................................................................................................... 2.2-7 2.3 WATER ...................................................................................................................... 2.3-1 2.3.1 HYDROLOGY ....................................................................................................... 2.3-1 2.3.1.1 Surface Water ................................................................................................. 2.3-1 2.3.1.1.1 Hydrologic Setting .......................................................................................... 2.3-2 2.3.1.1.2 Regional Surface Water Net Loss .................................................................. 2.3-2 2.3.1.1.3 Middle Brazos – Palo Pinto Watershed........................................................... 2.3-3 2.3.1.1.4 Middle Brazos – Lake Whitney Watershed ..................................................... 2.3-3 2.3.1.1.5 Local Site Drainage......................................................................................... 2.3-3 2.3.1.1.6 Local Wetland Areas ....................................................................................... 2.3-4 2.3.1.2 Freshwater Streams........................................................................................ 2.3-5 2.3.1.2.1 Brazos River Description................................................................................. 2.3-6 2.3.1.2.2 Brazos River Characteristics .......................................................................... 2.3-6 2.3.1.2.3 Current Patterns and Channel Velocities ....................................................... 2.3-9 2.3.1.2.4 Sediment Transport and Erosional Characteristics ........................................ 2.3-9 2.3.1.2.5 Temperature and Bathymetry Surveys.......................................................... 2.3-12 2.3.1.2.6 Flood Profile ................................................................................................. 2.3-14 2.3.1.2.7 Water Quality Implication from Reservoir Operations ................................... 2.3-14 2.3.1.2.8 Thermal Stratification .................................................................................... 2.3-15 2.3.1.2.9 Description of Major Tributaries .................................................................... 2.3-16 2.3.1.2.10 Description of Local Tributaries ................................................................... 2.3-17 2.3.1.3 Lakes and Impoundments............................................................................. 2.3-18 2.3.1.3.1 Possum Kingdom Lake and Morris Sheppard Dam ...................................... 2.3-19 2.3.1.3.2 Lake Palo Pinto and Palo Pinto Creek Dam.................................................. 2.3-20 2.3.1.3.3 Lake Mineral Wells and Mineral Wells Dam.................................................. 2.3-21 2-i Revision: 0 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Title Page 2.3.1.3.4 Lake Granbury and DeCordova Bend Dam ................................................. 2.3-21 2.3.1.3.5 SCR and Squaw Creek Dam ........................................................................ 2.3-22 2.3.1.3.6 Wheeler Branch Reservoir and Wheeler Branch Dam ................................ 2.3-23 2.3.1.3.7 Lake Whitney and Whitney Dam................................................................... 2.3-24 2.3.1.3.8 Site Surface Water Impoundments .............................................................. 2.3-25 2.3.1.4 Estuaries and Ocean .................................................................................... 2.3-25 2.3.1.5 Groundwater ................................................................................................. 2.3-25 2.3.1.5.1 Physiographic Setting.................................................................................... 2.3-26 2.3.1.5.2 Regional and Local Geology ......................................................................... 2.3-27 2.3.1.5.3 Regional Hydrogeology ................................................................................. 2.3-28 2.3.1.5.4 Groundwater Occurrence and Usage ........................................................... 2.3-30 2.3.1.5.5 Site Hydrogeology ........................................................................................ 2.3-31 2.3.1.5.6 Groundwater Velocity ................................................................................... 2.3-34 2.3.1.5.7 Surface Soil Profiles ..................................................................................... 2.3-36 2.3.2 WATER USE....................................................................................................... 2.3-37 2.3.2.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................... 2.3-37 2.3.2.1.1 Surface Water Features ................................................................................ 2.3-37 2.3.2.2 Basin Wide Water Use ................................................................................. 2.3-39 2.3.2.2.1 Local Water Use ........................................................................................... 2.3-41 2.3.2.2.2 Recreational and Navigational Use ............................................................... 2.3-41 2.3.2.2.3 Lake Granbury Surface Water Withdrawal.................................................... 2.3-41 2.3.2.2.4 Plant Surface Water Use............................................................................... 2.3-42 2.3.2.3 Groundwater.................................................................................................. 2.3-43 2.3.2.3.1 Local Groundwater Use ................................................................................ 2.3-44 2.3.2.3.2 Plant Groundwater Use ................................................................................. 2.3-44 2.3.2.4 Future Water Use ......................................................................................... 2.3-44 2.3.2.5 Legal Restrictions.......................................................................................... 2.3-47 2.3.3 WATER QUALITY............................................................................................... 2.3-49 2.3.3.1 Surface Water Quality ................................................................................... 2.3-49 2.3.3.1.1 Historical Water Quality Evaluation ............................................................... 2.3-49 2.3.3.1.2 Local Surface Water Quality.......................................................................... 2.3-50 2.3.3.1.3 Regional Surface Water Quality .................................................................... 2.3-50 2.3.3.1.4 Texas Water Quality Monitoring .................................................................... 2.3-50 2.3.3.1.5 Texas Water Quality Standards .................................................................... 2.3-51 2.3.3.1.6 Water Quality of the Brazos River Basin ...................................................... 2.3-53 2.3.3.1.7 Middle Brazos-Palo Pinto Watershed............................................................ 2.3-54 2.3.3.1.8 Middle Brazos-Lake Whitney Watershed ...................................................... 2.3-55 2.3.3.1.9 Ecological Health Rating ............................................................................... 2.3-55 2.3.3.2 Groundwater Quality ..................................................................................... 2.3-56 2.3.3.2.1 Historical Groundwater Quality ..................................................................... 2.3-56 2.3.3.2.2 Local Groundwater Quality ........................................................................... 2.3-56 2.3.3.2.3 Regional Groundwater Quality ...................................................................... 2.3-57 2.3.3.3 Factors Affecting Water Quality .................................................................... 2.3-58 2.3.3.3.1 NPDES Program ........................................................................................... 2.3-59 2-ii Revision: 0 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power