potential aquatic ecological impacts of interbasin water transfers in the south-central study areas

384 Pages·2000·10.53 MB·English

FINAL REPORT
•
POTENTIAL AQUATIC ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF
INTERBASIN WATER TRANSFERS IN THE
SOUTHEAS~ WES~CENTRAL,AND
SOUTH-CENTRAL STUDY AREAS
Prepared for:
TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
And the
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
P.O. Box 17300
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-0300
[phone]
Contract No. DACA63-93-D-0014
Delivery Order No. 131
Prepared by:
GEO-MARINE, INC.
PLANO, TEXAS
JANUARY 22, 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
List of Tables
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • . • . . • • . • . • . • • • . • . • • • • • • • • . . • . • • . X
SUMMARY OF WORK PREFORMED
XIX
• 0 ••••••••• 0 0 ••••••••••••••• 0 •••••••
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................
XXI
MAPS OF THE STUDY AREA .......................................... xli
SECTION I - INTRODUCTION
1.0 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
1.1 Purpose and Need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
1.2 Trans-Texas Water Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
1.3 Description of Study Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
1.4 Regulatory Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
1.4.1 Federal Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
1.4.1.1 Fish and Wildlife Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
1.4.1.2 Public Law 89-298 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-4
1.4.1.3 Endangered Species Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
1.4.1.4 Clean Water Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-8
1.4.1.5 Executive Order 11987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
1.4 .1. 6 Executive Order 11990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I- 9
1.4.1.7 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
1.4.1.8 Lacey Act Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-9
1.4.1.9 Federal Noxious Weed Act ........................... 1-10
1.4.1.10 Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act ...... I-10
1.4.1.11 Executive Order 12962 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-ll
1.4.2 State Laws ........................................... I-ll
1.4.2.1 Texas Administrative Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
1.4.2.2 Texas Parks and Wildlife Code ......................... 1-11
1.4.2.3 TexasWaterCode ................................. I-ll
1.4.2.4 Texas Health and Safety Code ......................... I-12
1.4.2.5 Texas Water Commission Watershed Protection Rule ........... I-12
1.4.2.6 Texas Clean Rivers Act .............................. 1-12
1.5 Project Funding/Contracting ..................................... 1-12
1.6 Report Organization .......................................... I-13
SECTION II - LITERATURE REVIEW
1.0 METHODOLOGY .............................................. 11-1
2.0 INTERBASIN WATER TRANSFERS 11-2
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
2.2 Historical Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
2.3 Ecological Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
2.3.1 Alterations in Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
2.3.2 Changes in Water Quality .................................. 11-7
2.3.3 Habitat Alterations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
2.3.4 Introduction of Nonindigenous Aquatic Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
3.0 REVIEW OF EFFECTS FROM THE INTRODUCED AQUATIC ORGANISMS ...... 11-12
3.1 Introduction .............................................. 11-12
3.2 Known Ecological Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
3.3 Potential Ecological Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
3.4 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-22
SECTION III- PROPOSED WEST-CENTRAL TO SOUTH-CENTRAL
INTERBASIN WATER TRANSFER
1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-I
2.0 METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-3
3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-4
3.1 Colorado River ...................... , ... ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-5
3.1.1 Abiotic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-5
3 .1.1.1 Physiographic Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -5
3 .1.1.2 Physical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-5
3.1.1.3 Hydrology ..................................... III-9
3. l.l. 4 Physicochemical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -10
3.1.2 Biotic Environment ..................................... III-16
3.1.2.1 Microbes ...................................... III-16
3.1.2.2 Phytoplankton ................................... III-26
3.1.2.3 Periphyton ..................................... III-28
3.1.2.4 Aquatic Plants .................................. III-30
3.1.2.5 Zooplankton .................................... III-32
3.1.2.6 Benthic Macroinvertebrates .......................... III-35
3.1.2. 7 Amphibians/Reptiles ............................... III-40
3 .1.2.8 Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-42
3.1.2.9 Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species ............. III-49
3.2 Sandy Creek ... : .......................................... III-52
3.2.1 Abiotic Environment .................................... III-52
3.2.1.1 Physiographic Location ............................. III-52
3.2.1.2 Physical Characteristics ............................. III-52
3 .2.1.3 Hydrology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-54
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
3.2.1.4 Physicochemical Characteristics ........................ III-54
3.2.2 Biotic Environment ..................................... III-57
3.2.2.1 Microbes ...................................... III-57
3.2.2.2 Phytoplankton ................................... III-58
3.2.2.3 Periphyton ..................................... III-60
3.2.2.4 Aquatic Plants .................................. III-62
3.2.2.5 Zooplankton .................................... III-64
3.2.2.6 Benthic Macroinvertebrates .......................... III-64
3.2.2. 7 Amphibians/Reptiles ............................... III-67
3.2.2.8 Fish ......................................... III-70
3.2.2.9 Endangered and Threatened Species ..................... III-72
3. 3 Lake Texana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -72
3.3.1 Abiotic Environment .................................... III-72
3.3.1.1 Physiographic Location ............................. III-72
3. 3 .1. 2 Physical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -7 4
3.3.1.3 Hydrology ..................................... III-74
3.3.1.4 Physicochemical Characteristics ........................ III-75
3.3.2 Biotic Environment ..................................... III-81
3.3.2.1 Microbes ...................................... III-81
3.3.2.2 Phytoplankton ................................... III-85
3.3.2.3 Periphyton .................................... III-100
3.3.2.4 Aquatic Plants ................................. III-102
3.3.2.5 Zooplankton ................................... III-104
3.3.2.6 Benthic Macroinvertebrates ......................... 111-107
3.3 .2. 7 Amphibians/Reptiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -110
3.3.2.8 Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-112
3.3.2.9 Endangered and Threatened Species .................... 111-114
4.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-115
4.1 Colorado River to Sandy Creek ................................. III-118
4 .1. 1 Abiotic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -118
4.1.1.1 Hydrology .................................... III-118
4.1.1.2 Habitat .Alteration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-118
4 .1.1. 3 Physicochemical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-119
4.1.2 Biotic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-120
4.1.2.1 Microbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-120
4.1.2.2 Phytoplankton .................................. III-121
4.1.2.3 Periphyton .................................... III-122
4.1.2.4 Aquatic Plants ................................. III-122
4 .1.2 .5 Zooplankton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -123
4.1.2.6 Benthos ...................................... 111-123
4.1.2.7 Amphibians/Reptiles .............................. 111-125
4.1.2.8 Fish ........................................ 111-127
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
4.1.3 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-128
4.2. Sandy Creek to Lake Texana .................................. 111-129
4.2.1 Abiotic Environment ................................... 111-129
4.2.2 Biotic Environment .................................... 111-129
4.2.2.1 Microbes ..................................... 111-131
4.2.2.2 Phytoplankton .................................. 111-131
4.2.2.3 Periphyton .................................... 111-132
4.2.2.4 Aquatic Plants ................................. 111-132
4.2.2.5 Zooplankton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-132
4.2.2.6 Benthic Macroinvertebrates ......................... 111-132
4.2.2.7 Amphibians and Reptiles ........................... 111-133
4.2.2.8 Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-133
4.2.3 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-134
4.3 Lake Texana to the O.N. Stevens Terminal Water Storage Reservoir .......... III-134
4. 3 .1 Abiotic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -134
4.3.1.1 Hydrology .................................... III-134
4.3.1.2 Habitat Alteration ............................... 111-136
4. 3 .1. 3 Physicochemical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-136
4.3.2 Biotic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-137
4.3.2.1 Microbes ..................................... III-137
4.3.2.2 Phytoplankton .................................. 111-140
4.3.2.3 Periphyton .................................... III-141
4.3.2.4 Aquatic Plants ... : ........ : ....· ................ 111-141
4.3.2.5 Zooplankton .............. : .. : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-143
4.3.2.6 Benthic Macroinvertebrates ......................... III-143
4.3.2.7 Amphibians/Reptiles .............................. III-144
4.3.2.8 Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-144
4.3.3 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-145
5.0 SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-146
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND MITIGATIONS .......................... III-146
6. 1 Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -146
6.1. 1 Colorado River to Sandy Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -146
6.1.2 Lake Texana to O.N. Stevens Terminal Water Storage Reservoir ........ III-151
6.2 Mitigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-153
SECTION IV - SOUTHEAST STUDY AREA
1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV-I
2.0 METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV-1
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
300 DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-I
3 0I General Overview 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV -I
302 Abiotic Environment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-5
30201 Physical Setting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-5
30202 Physicochemical Characteristics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-6
303 Biotic Environment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-10
30301 Rivers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-10
30302 Reservoirs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-12
30303 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-18
400 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-20
o o o
401 Microbes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-22
402 Algae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-22
o o o o o o • o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
403 Aquatic Plants 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-23
4.4 Zooplankton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-23
405 Benthic Invertebrates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-25
40501 Native Mollusks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-25
4.502 Exotic Mollusks 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-26
4.503 Summary 0 0 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-26
406 Amphibians/Reptiles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-27
407 Fish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-27
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o •
40701 Native Populations 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-27
40702 Exotic Species 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-30
40703 Endangered and Threatened Species 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-31
500 SUMMARY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-32
o o o o o o o o o o o
600 RECOMMENDATIONS AND MITIGATIONS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IV-34
SECTION V- WEST-CENTRAL/SOUTH-CENTRAL STUDY AREA
1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-1
o o
200 METHODOLOGY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-1
o o
300 DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-5
3 01 General Overview 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-5
302 Abiotic Environment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-5
30201 Physical Setting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-5
30202 Physicochemical Characteristics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-6
303 Biotic Environment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-8
3.4 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V-12
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
4.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS .................... V-15
4.1 Microbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-15
4.2 Algae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-16
4.3 Aquatic Macrophytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-16
4.4 Zooplankton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-18
4.5 Benthic Invertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-18
4.5.1 Native Mollusks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-18
4.5.2 Exotic Mollusks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-19
4.5.3 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-19
4.6 Amphibians and Reptiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-20
4.7 Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-20
4. 7 .I Native Populations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V -20
4.7.2 Exotic Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-23
4.7.3 Endangered and Threatened Species ........................... V-24
5.0 SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-25
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND MITIGATIONS ........................... V-26
SECTION VI - ENVIRONMENTAL/MITIGATION COSTS
1.0 ENVIRONMENTAL/MITIGATION COSTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI-I
I. I Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI -I
1.2 Proposed Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI-8
1.2.1 Treatment Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI-8
1.2.2 Potential Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI-8
1.3 Summary ................................................ VI-11
SECTION VII- LITERATURE CITED
SECTION VIII- LIST OF PREPARERS AND AGENCIES/PERSONS CONTACTED
APPENDIX A - AQUATIC FAUNA
A-1 List of Amphibians and Repitles of the Colorado, Lavaca-Navidad, and Nueces River
Basins in the Gulf Coastal Plains Province ............................... A-1
A-2 List of Fish Species of the Colorado, Lavaca-Navidad, and Nueces River Basins in the
Gulf Coastal Plains Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
A-3 List of Freshwater Mollusks in the Various River Basins and Man-Made Impoundments
Associated with the Trans-Texas Water Program Study Areas ................... A-6
A-4 List of Fish Species in the Various River Basins and Man-Made Impoundments
Associated with the Trans-Texas Water Program Study Areas ................... A-9
viii
List of Figures
I-1 Southeast Study Area: Trans-Texas Water Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5
I-2 West-Central Study Area: Trans-Texas Water Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-6
1-3 South-Central Study Area: Trans-Texas Water Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-7
III-I Location of Proposed Interbasin Water Transfer for the South-Central Study Area . . . . III-2
III-2 Physiographic Provinces and Major Drainage Basins of the Western Gulf Slope . . . . . . III-6
III-3 Colorado River Study Reaches below Austin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-7
III-4 TNRCC Designated Segments 1428 and 1402, Colorado River ................ III-17
III-5 Location of Sandy Creek III-53
III-6 Location of Lake Texana III-73
III-7 Major Components of an Aquatic Ecosystem .......................... III-116
III-8 Schematic Showing Complexity Involving Interbasin Water Transfers ........... III-117
III -9 Recommendations for Pre-operational/Post -operational Environmental Assessments
for Interbasin Water Transfers ................................... III-152
IV-1 Southeast Study Area: Trans-Texas Water Program Alternate Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . IV-2
IV-2 Longitudinal Zonation of a River Impoundment/Reservoir ................... IV-14
V-1 West-Central Study Area: Trans-Texas Water Program ...................... V-2
V-2 South-Central Study Area: Trans-Texas Water Program ...................... V-3
IX
List of Tables
11-1 Known Effects of Native/Non-Native Aquatic Organisms Introduced
by Various Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
III-I Recommended Target Flow (cfs) Schedule for the Colorado River
Downstream of Austin ......................................... III-10
III-2 Texas Surface Water Quality Criteria and Screening Levels .................. III-12
III-3 Toxicants with Criteria to Protect Freshwater Aquatic Life ................... III-13
III-4 Toxicants with Human Health Criteria to Protect Human Consumption of
Drinking Water and Freshwater Fish ................................ III-14
III-5 Field Measurements and Water Chemistry for Colorado River Below Smithville
(Segment 1402) .............................................. III-18
III-6 Summary of Water Quality Statistics for Stations 1402.0100 and 1402.0200
on the Colorado River ......................................... III-19
III-7 Water Quality Parameters -Colorado River at Wharton in 1994 ................ III-20
III-8 Toxic Substances in Sediment for Colorado River Below Smithville (Segment 1402) ... III-21
III-9 Toxic Substances in Water for Colorado River Below Smithville (Segment 1402) ..... III-23
III-10 Periphyton Species Collected in the Lower Colorado River (1991-1992) ........... III-29
III-11 Aquatic Vegetation Collected in the Lower Colorado River Between 1956-1987 ...... III-31
III-12 Common River Zooplankton ...................................... III-33
III-13 Qualitative List of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Potentially Occurring in the
Egypt Reach of the Colorado River ................................. III-36
III-14 List of Freshwater Mollusks Potentially Occurring in the Colorado River Basin ...... III-37
III-15 List of Amphibians and Reptiles Potentially Occurring in the Colorado River Basin III-41
III-16 List of Freshwater Fishes Found in the Colorado River and its Tributaries
Downstream of Austin ......................................... III-43
III -17 Fundamental Habitat Groups Derived from Cluster Analysis of Depth, Velocity,
and Substrate Use of Fish Collected in the Colorado River Downstream
from Austin in 1989 and 1990 .................................... III-45
X
List of Tables
III-18 List of Fish Collected in the Egypt Reach of the Colorado River in 1990 .......... III-47
III-19 Ecological Distribution of Fish Species in the Ohio River and Tributary Streams ..... III-48
III-20 Water Quality Data for Sandy Creek, Jackson County, Texas (October 27, 1985-
July 19, 1986) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III-55
III-21 Water Quality Parameters - Sandy Creek near Louise, Texas (October 1993-
September 1994) ............................................. III-56
III-22 Phytoplankton Species Collected in Sandy Creek in 1978 .................... III-59
III-23 Distribution of Some Common Benthic Algae in Subcommunities of Freshwater
Streams ................................................... 111-61
III-24 Zooplankton Species Collected in Sandy Creek in 1978 ..................... III-65
III-25 Benthic Macroinvertebrates Potentially Occurring in Sandy Creek .............. III-66
III-26 List of Amphibians and Reptiles Potentially Occurring in or Adjacent to Sandy Creek .. III-68
III-27 List of Fish Species Occurring in Sandy Creek and West Mustang Creek .......... III-71
III-28 Water Quality Parameters- Lake Texana (Station DC) in 1994 ................ III-76
III-29 Water Quality Data for Lake Texana (Station 5) ......................... III-77
III-30 Water Quality Data for Lake Texana Darn Site (October 26, 1985-July 19, 1986) ..... III-78
III-31 Water Quality Parameters- Lake Texana Dam Site in 1994 .................. III-79
III-32 Field Measurements and Water Chemistry for Lake Texana (Segment 1604) ........ III-80
III-33 Toxic Substances in Sediment for Lake Texana (Segment 1604) ................ III-82
III-34 Phytoplankton Species Collected at Sampling Stations 5, 8, and 9 in Lake Texana
in 1981 ................................................... III-86
III-35 Phytoplankton Species Collected at Sampling Stations 5 in Lake Texana 1984-86 ..... III-89
III-36 Phytoplankton Species Collected at Sampling Stations 8 in Lake Texana 1984-86 ..... III-94
III-37 Distribution of Some Common Benthic Algae in Subcommunities of Freshwater
Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III -10 1
xi