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After completion of phase III of the Richard B. Russell Pumped Storage Testing and Monitoring studies an interim period of water quality studies was continued to provide additional baseline information and to maintain continuity in the water quality database. These studies continued through 1997 and 1998 and are reported here. Phase III results detailed the effect of simulated commercial operation of pumped storage on Richard B. Russell Lake (RBR) and J. Strom Thurmond Lake (JST) in terms of water quality and fisheries habitat. Although there were observable changes in RBR and JST as a result of pumped storage, the subsequent comparisons of adjacent years of conventional operation without pumped storage were important for identification of additional trends in water quality and fisheries habitat. The interim studies continued in a similar manner to baseline studies during the phase III period. As a result, it was shown that although the years 1996-1998 were similar in many respects, weather for example, and the resulting thermal conditions were similar to many years on these lakes, increased dissolved oxygen demand greatly affected the extent of habitat as defined by the habitat suitability index. During 1997, in the absence of pumped storage, there was greatly diminished habitat in JST in comparison to other years and, in particular, to the phase III operational year - 1996. Although 1998 conditions were not as severe, they also had greatly diminished habitat in JST. Habitat RBR was maintained through the operation of an oxygenation system in the forebay of RBR. The observations of the two interim years of study show extremes of variation in water quality in these lakes in the absence of pumped storage. The studies provide a valuable source of information for prediction and management of these systems in the future.

This technical note describes methods for monitoring water quality at hydroprojects. A water quality manager can apply the techniques described herein to design a site-specific water quality monitoring system that provides information for water quality problem-solving.

Increased concerns over the water quality associated with hydropower releases have prompted a greater need for accurate and reliable tailrace monitoring techniques. Remote automated monitors afford the best method for continuous, unattended logging of release waters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has installed and maintained remote monitors below three Savannah River reservoirs, Hartwell, Richard B. Russell, and J. Strom Thurmond. Data obtained from the monitors are utilized for operation of an oxygen-injection system, maintenance of a trout fishery, monitoring pumped storage testing, and evaluation of the water quality entering the Savannah River down-stream of the three impoundments. Each monitor provides real-time information and continuous data records of water quality that are stored onsite and remotely accessible via modem. Maintenance schedules include bi-weekly calibrations combined with bi-monthly servicing. Although no single system design is universally appropriate, by careful consideration of the monitoring objectives, site characteristics, parameters of concern, and available funding, aspects of these monitoring systems may be adapted to meet the specific needs of other sites., Prepared in collaboration with Computer Sciences Corp., Vicksburg, MS.

Hartwell (HW) Lake, completed in 1962, is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment located on the Savannah River along the Georgia/South Carolina border. HW Lake has a surface area of 22,400 ha and provides hydroelectric power production, flood control, water supply, and recreational usage. HW Lake is one of the top three most visited Corps of Engineers lakes in the nation, attracting 14 million visitors annually. Water quality concerns at HW Lake, including formation of hypolimnetic anoxia and its effects on lake and release water quality and fish distribution, were addressed during 1991 and 1992. These investigations continued during 1993 and 1994. Major objectives were as follows: (a) Describe longitudinal water quality trends from the forebay region into the upper Seneca River tributary embayment during both the stratified (spring-summer) and mixed (late fall-winter) periods. (b) Compare and contrast temporal water quality trends of the near-dam stations (depth >30 m) with those in the Seneca River embayment (depth <:30 m) during both stratified and mixed periods. (c) Assess the onset, formation, progression, and extent of hypolimnetic anoxia through HW Lake during the study period. (d) Monitor release water quality in the Richard B. Russell Lake headwaters through monthly forebay and continuous tailrace sampling at HW Dam. (e) Provide recommendations regarding current and future water quality sampling on HW Lake for the purpose of documenting lake and release water quality conditions., Prepared in collaboration with DynTel Corp., Vicksburg, MS.