Bellefonte Nuclear 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..................................... 2.2-3 2.2.3 THE REGION........................................................................................................ 2.2-3 2.2.4 REFERENCES...................................................................................................... 2.2-4 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 Evaporation and Seepage........................................ 2.3-3 2.3.1.1.3 Guntersville Watershed ................................................................................... 2.3-4 2.3.1.1.4 Local Drainage ................................................................................................ 2.3-4 2.3.1.1.5 Local Wetland Areas ...................................................................................... 2.3-5 2.3.1.2 Freshwater Streams........................................................................................ 2.3-5 2.3.1.2.1 Tennessee River Description .......................................................................... 2.3-5 2.3.1.2.2 Tennessee River (Guntersville Reservoir) Characteristics.............................. 2.3-6 2.3.1.2.3 Current Patterns and Channel Velocities ........................................................ 2.3-8 2.3.1.2.4 Sediment Transport and Erosional Characteristics ......................................... 2.3-9 2.3.1.2.5 Bathymetry Survey ....................................................................................... 2.3-10 2.3.1.2.6 Flood Profile .................................................................................................. 2.3-10 2.3.1.2.7 Water Quality Implication from Reservoir Operations ................................... 2.3-11 2.3.1.2.8 Thermal Stratification .................................................................................... 2.3-12 2.3.1.2.9 Description of Major Tributaries .................................................................... 2.3-12 2.3.1.2.10 Description of Local Tributaries..................................................................... 2.3-15 2.3.1.3 Lakes and Impoundments............................................................................. 2.3-15 2.3.1.3.1 Nickajack Reservoir....................................................................................... 2.3-16 2.3.1.3.2 Guntersville Reservoir ................................................................................... 2.3-16 2.3.1.3.3 Wheeler Reservoir......................................................................................... 2.3-17 2.3.1.3.4 Local Surface Water Impoundments ............................................................. 2.3-18 2-i Revision 1 Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3, Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Title Page 2.3.1.3.5 Site Surface Water Impoundments ............................................................... 2.3-19 2.3.1.3.6 Upstream Dams and Reservoirs ................................................................... 2.3-19 2.3.1.3.7 Downstream Dams and Reservoirs............................................................... 2.3-21 2.3.1.4 Estuaries and Ocean..................................................................................... 2.3-23 2.3.1.5 Groundwater.................................................................................................. 2.3-23 2.3.1.5.1 Physiographic Setting.................................................................................... 2.3-23 2.3.1.5.2 Regional and Local Geology ......................................................................... 2.3-24 2.3.1.5.3 Regional Hydrogeology ................................................................................. 2.3-24 2.3.1.5.4 Groundwater Occurrence and Usage............................................................ 2.3-25 2.3.1.5.5 Site Hydrogeology ........................................................................................ 2.3-26 2.3.1.5.6 Groundwater Velocity.................................................................................... 2.3-29 2.3.1.5.7 Surface Soil Properties.................................................................................. 2.3-31 2.3.2 WATER USE...................................................................................................... 2.3-32 2.3.2.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................... 2.3-32 2.3.2.1.1 Surface Water Features ................................................................................ 2.3-32 2.3.2.2 Basinwide Water Use .................................................................................... 2.3-33 2.3.2.2.1 Local Water Use............................................................................................ 2.3-34 2.3.2.2.2 Instream Water Use in the BLN Vicinity ........................................................ 2.3-34 2.3.2.2.3 Guntersville Surface Water Withdrawal......................................................... 2.3-35 2.3.2.2.4 Plant Surface Water Use............................................................................... 2.3-35 2.3.2.3 Groundwater ................................................................................................. 2.3-36 2.3.2.3.1 Local Groundwater Use................................................................................. 2.3-36 2.3.2.3.2 On-Plant Groundwater Use .......................................................................... 2.3-36 2.3.2.4 Future Water Use .......................................................................................... 2.3-36 2.3.2.5 Legal Restrictions.......................................................................................... 2.3-37 2.3.3 WATER QUALITY.............................................................................................. 2.3-38 2.3.3.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................... 2.3-38 2.3.3.1.1 Historical Water Quality Evaluation ............................................................... 2.3-38 2.3.3.1.2 Local Surface Water Quality.......................................................................... 2.3-39 2.3.3.2 Regional Surface Water Quality .................................................................... 2.3-39 2.3.3.2.1 Alabama Water Quality Monitoring Program................................................. 2.3-39 2.3.3.2.2 Alabama Water Quality Standards ................................................................ 2.3-40 2.3.3.2.3 Water Quality of the Tennessee River Basin ................................................ 2.3-41 2.3.3.2.4 Guntersville Reservoir Watershed................................................................. 2.3-43 2.3.3.2.5 Guntersville Reservoir Tributaries ................................................................. 2.3-44 2.3.3.2.6 Ecological Health Rating ............................................................................... 2.3-46 2.3.3.3 Groundwater Quality ..................................................................................... 2.3-48 2.3.3.3.1 Historical Groundwater Quality...................................................................... 2.3-48 2.3.3.3.2 Local Groundwater Quality............................................................................ 2.3-48 2.3.3.3.3 Regional Groundwater Quality ...................................................................... 2.3-49 2.3.3.4 Factors Affecting Water Quality..................................................................... 2.3-49 2.3.3.4.1 NPDES Program .......................................................................................... 2.3-50 2.3.3.4.2 Nonpoint Source Management ..................................................................... 2.3-50 2.3.3.4.3 Dams and Reservoirs...................................................................................