Standard Operating Procedures for Collection and Handling of Phase III Testing and Monitoring Data, Richard B. Russell Dam.

Abstract : The Richard B. Russell (RBR) Dam has four conventional turbines and four reversible turbines. The reversible turbines can be used to replenish upstream storage for peak generation needs. Fish entailment during pump storage is the primary environmental concern with this operation. The U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, evaluated an array of alternative action plans. The preferred plan included high-frequency sound and a light fish-protection system at RBR prior to operation of the reversible turbine. A Testing and Monitoring Plan was developed that addresses fish entailment as well as other environmental concerns. The fish entailment studies were implemented in three phases. Phase 1 was the time period requited to mechanically and electrically certify each reversible turbine for commercial operation. Phase 2 evaluated fish passage and mortality during pump storage operations. Phase 3 testing evaluated fish entailment and fish mortality during capacity operation of the RBR project. This report is a compilation of the Standard Operating Procedures used in Phase 3 Testing. The tasks include netting during conventional power generation, netting during a pump storage operation, full recovery netting, and estimating fish entailment with hydroacoustic equipment.