Scope of Work
Initial Collection of Wheeler Reservoir Water/Sediment for Analysis (Working Draft)
Jim Stoeckel, Auburn University (jimstoeckel@auburn.edu)
Statement of Problem
Wheeler Reservoir is an impounded section of the Tennessee River downstream of
Guntersville Dam and upstream of Wheeler dam. Following impoundment in the 1930’s, the
mussel community has changed drastically, but still supported an important commercial mussel
fishery through the 1990’s. In the 1950’s the commercial catch was dominated by the Ohio
Pigtoe, Pink Wartyback, White Wartyback, Threehorn Wartyback, Three Ridge, Elephantear,
and Butterfly (Scruggs 1960). By the 1990’s the Washboard had replaced the Ohio Pigtoe as the
dominant commercial species followed by Ohio Pigtoe and Butterfly (Ahlstedt and McDonough
1992, Bowen et al. 1994). In the upper portion of the reservoir, a mussel community, dominated
by Elephantear and similar to the pre-impoundment fauna, could still be found in the old river
channel downstream of Guntersville Dam but reproduction was low to absent. In the middle
reservoir, proximal to Decatur, few to no mussels remained and the area was considered a dead
zone by commercial musselers. Downstream of Decatur, mussels remained absent from the old
river channel, but a “new” mussel community, dominated by Washboards and including many
non-commercial or low value species adapted to lentic habitats and soft substrate, was found in
the overbank habitat (TVA. 1990; Ahlstedt and McDonough 1992).
Much of the shift in species dominance (i.e. Ohio Pigtoe to Washboards) was attributed
to habitat change associated with impoundment, such as silting in of the old river channel,
predominance of soft substrate, and a shift from lotic to lentic conditions. However, there have
also been concerns that industrial pollution, particularly in the Decatur “dead zone” area, has had
a negative impact on mussel populations. Wade (1992) concluded that the lack of mussels in the
Decatur area was primarily a localized problem due to high ammonia levels in the sediments.
However, concerns about industrial pollution and its impacts on the mussel community of
Wheeler Reservoir remain. Because the larval stage of freshwater mussels is parasitic and
requires a fish host to complete its life-cycle, impacts of pollutants on the fish community are
also important to consider.
Decatur, Alabama hosts a high concentration of major industries. As of 2015, (NPDES
Permit Statistics & Status http://echo.epa.gov/facilities/facility-search/results), Decatur had 134
facilities with Clean Water Act Permits, 56 facilities with Clean Air Act Sources, and 26
facilities with Toxic Release Inventory Releases. Of these, 44 facilities had violations within the
last three years, 13 facilities had current violations, and 13 facilities had formal enforcement
actions in the last five years. In 2015 ADEM/ADPH listed Fish Consumption Advisories of 1
meal/month for all fish species in the Baker’s Creek embayment and for Largemouth Bass in
river miles 303 - 296 due to high perfluoroctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) loads. Advisories of 2
meals/month of largemouth bass at the confluences of Flint and Round Island creeks with
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Wheeler were also listed due to high mercury loads. PFOS has been shown to have negative
effects on mussel glochidia following exposure during brooding, release, and encapsulation on
fish (Hazelton et al. 2012, Hazelton and Bringolf 2014). Mercury has caused local extirpation of
mussel populations in other river systems. As an interesting side note, mussel shells can be used
to document and assess past mercury contamination events (Carter 1977, Seivard et al. 1993,
Brown et al. 2005). Thus there is potential for chemical pollutants to be negatively affecting
mussel survivorship and recruitment in Wheeler Reservoir as well as for mussel shells to be used
to document history of exposure to specific contaminants such as mercury.
The objective of this study is to screen sediments in Wheeler Reservoir for potential toxicants.
This will provide baseline information for upcoming studies to examine sediment and water
toxicity among a range of mussel species and life-history stages.
Methods
We will collect water and sediment samples from 10 sites on Wheeler Reservoir. Five sites
correspond to sites previously sampled by Wade (1990, 1992) in a previous toxicity assessement
of Wheeler Lake sediments and associated porewater (Table 1, Fig. 1).
At each sampling site we will collect water samples using a Van Dorn sampler, and
sediment samples using a petite ponar dredge. Sediment and water samples from all sites will be
analyzed for PFOS as well as screened for non-target organic pollutants by the laboratory of
Mark Strynar (USEPA). PFOS sediment samples will be stored in 250 ml HDPE Nalgene
bottles (one per site) at ambient temperatures. Non-target sediment samples will be stored in
separate 250 ml HDPE Nalgene bottles (one per site) in a cooler with ice. Water samples will be
stored in the same manner except that 1 L bottles will be used. All samples will be shipped
overnight to the Strynar lab within 24 hrs of collection.
All sites will also be analyzed for PCBs, PAHs, TCE, and metals by Eurofins Lancaster
Laboratories. In addition, Sites 9 and 10 will be analyzed for DDT and Site 2 analyzed for
dioxins. Sediment and water samples for these analyses will be stored in appropriate sample
bottles supplied by Eurofins. All samples will be stored on ice and overnighted to Eurofins
within 24 hrs of collection.
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Table 1: Proposed Sampling Site Descriptions
Site
Location
Previous results from Wade (1990,
1992)
Control. No toxicity
1
RM 302.0 RDB
2
RM? Downstream mussel bed (get location
from Ronnie)
NA
3
RM 298.6 LDB (Mouth of Small Embayment)
Not toxic
4
RM 301.1 LDB (South End of Canal)
Toxic to U. imbecillis (Paper
Pondshell) juveniles
5
RM 301.8 LDB (Overbank)
Not toxic
6
RM 303.4 LDB (Dry Branch embayment)
Toxic to U. imbecillis (Paper
Pondshell) juveniles
7
~RM 304.7; 34.62 -86.984; Decatur Industries,
Lumber Co., Downtown
NA
8
~RM 306.5; 34.604 -86.959; Industry Clump –
Wolverine Tube Plant, Acdent Mill, GE, etc)
NA
9
~RM 308.5; 34.585 -86.927848; Point Mallard
Park (Flint Creek)
NA
10
~RM 313; 34.5614 -86.85308; 10 km
downstream of WWTPs associated with
Madison/Huntsville
NA
3
RM 294-300
Largemouth Bass PFOS advisory; 1
meal/month (mid channel at RM
296 and South Bank RM 296- 303)
2 meals/month
LMB Mercury
Round Island
Creek
2?
3
RM 302-307
1
4
1
meal/mont
h all fish
PFOS
Bakers
Creek
Embaymen
t
1 meal/month
5 PFOS RM 6
LMB
303 - 296
7
8
RM 308-313
10
9
2 meals/month
LMB Mercury
Flint Creek
Figure 1.Proposed sampling site and fish advisory locations
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Budget
Item
Analysis: Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories
PCBs
PAHs
TCE
Metals
DDT
Dioxins
PCB-Dioxins
Number
samples
Cost /
sample
subtotal
20
20
20
20
4
2
2
$57
$120
$50
$60
$129
$500
$600
$1,140
$2,400
$1,000
$1,200
$516
$1,000
$1,200
Analysis: Strynar Lab, USEPA
PFAs and non-target organics
Sample bottles
$1,000
$300
Travel
Hotel (1 night, 2 rooms, Amberley Suites)
Number rooms
2
Cost / room
79
Total
$158
$9,914
We request funds from Warriors for Clean Water for the budgeted items. The School of
Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences will supply labor (2 faculty + 2 graduate
students/technicians), boat, sampling equipment, and transportation to and from the site.
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References
Ahlsteadt, SA and TA McDonough 1992. Quantitative evaluation of commercial mussel
populations in the Tennessee River portion of Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama. Tennessee Valley
Authority
Bowen, ZH, SP Malvestuto, WD Davies, and JH Crance. 1994. Evaluation of the mussel fishery
in Wheeler Reservoir, Tennessee River. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 9(4):313-320
Carter, L. J. Chemical plants leave unexpected legacy for two Virginia rivers. Science 1977, 198,
1015-1020.
Hazelton, PD, WG Cope, TJ Pandolfo, S Mosher, M.J. Strayner, MC Barnhart, and RB Bringolf.
2012. Partial life-cycle and acute toxicity of perfluoroalkyl acids to freshwater mussels.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 31(7):1611-20.
Hazelton PD, and RB Bringolf. 2014. Are early stage unionids susceptible to contaminants in
their fish hosts? Ellipsaria 16(2):19-21
Sruggs, GD Jr. 1960. Status of freshwater mussel stocks in the Tennessee River. USFWS.
Special Scientific Report – Fisheries No. 370
Seivard, L. D.; Stillwell, D. A.; Rice, S. O.; Seeley, K. R. Geographic distribution of mercury in
Asiatic clams, Corbicula fulminea, from the North Fork Holston River, Virginia. U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Environmental Contaminants Division, Virginia Field Office, White, March,
VA, 1993; 23 pp.
Tennessee Valley Authority. 1990. Status of Wheeler Reservoir: An Overview of Reservoir
Conditions. Resource Development, River Basin Operations, Water Resources Division.
TVA/WR/WQ—90/20
Wade, D.D. 1990. Screening Toxicity Evaluation of Wheeler Reservoir Sediments Using
Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Anodonta imbecillis SAY) Exposed to Sediment Interstitial Water.
TVA/WR/AB—90/13.
Wade, D.C. 1992. Definitive Evaluation of Wheeler Reservoir Sediments Toxicity Using
Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Anadonta imbecillis SAY). TVA/WR—92/25
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