ALABAMA POWER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Transcription

1 ALABAMA POWER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA MARTIN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO. 349 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION DOCUMENT DECEMBER 2006 Prepared by

2 ALABAMA POWER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA MARTIN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO. 349 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION DOCUMENT DECEMBER 2006 Prepared by:

3 ALABAMA POWER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA MARTIN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO. 349 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION DOCUMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background The Preliminary Information Document Issue Identification Workshops Agents for Client Name Document Purpose and Content INTEGRATED LICENSING PROCESS (ILP) Description of the ILP Project Schedule Document Control and Website Mailing Lists Website Public Reference File Restricted Documents Proposed Communications Protocol Document Distribution Providing Documents to APC Meetings General Communications Study Requests GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF RIVER BASIN Major Land and Water Uses Other Diversion Structures Tributaries Climate References PROJECT LOCATION, FACILITIES, AND OPERATIONS Project Introduction, Location, Facilities, and Operations Measurement of Elevation at the Martin Project Project Facilities Reservoir Dam Powerhouse Project Transmission Current and Proposed Project Operations i -

4 Table of Contents (Cont d) 4.5 Other Project Information Evaluation of Potential Winter Rule Curve Changes Current License Requirements Compliance History of the Project Safety Requirements Summary of Project Generation and Outflow Records Delivery of Water for Non-Power Uses Russell Lands Willow Point Golf Course City of Alexander City Adams Water Treatment Plant Central Elmore Water and Sewer Authority Water Treatment Plant StillWaters Resort Beaver Lake Replenishment System Current Net Investment Project Boundary References DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Geology and Soils Soil Types in Project Area Existing Erosion Literature Cited Water Resources Drainage Area Existing and Proposed Uses of Water Existing Instream Flow Uses Flow Statistics Existing Water Rights Morphometric Data for Existing Reservoirs Gradient of Downstream Reaches Intake Velocities Federally Approved Water Quality Standards Existing Water Quality Data APC Monitoring Data ADEM and Other Project Related Monitoring Data Literature Cited Fish and Aquatic Resources Essential Fish Habitat As Defined Under Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Literature Cited Wildlife Resources Literature Cited Botanical Resources Upland Habitat Communities and Species Noxious Weeds Literature Cited Riparian, Wetland and Littoral Habitat ii -

5 Table of Contents (Cont d) Wetlands Riparian and Littoral Habitats Literature Cited Rare, Threatened, Endangered (RTE) and Special Status Species Literature Cited Recreation Existing Recreation Facilities and Opportunities Recreation Facilities and Opportunities in the Project Vicinity Recreation Facilities and Opportunities at the Project Current Project Recreation Use Levels and Capacities Recreation Needs Identified in Management Plans Alabama Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Specially Designated Recreation Areas National Wild and Scenic and State Protected River Segments National Trails and Wilderness Areas Literature Cited Land Use and Aesthetic Resources Overview of Land Uses Land Uses in Project Area Existing Shoreline Management Plan Land Classifications Permitting Program Aesthetics Overview Visual Character of Project Vicinity Visual Character of Project Lands and Waters Nearby Scenic Attractions Management Plans Literature Cited Cultural Resources Prehistoric Overview Historic Overview Historic Properties Literature Cited Socioeconomic Resources Population Patterns Households/Family Distribution and Income Project Vicinity Employment Sources Literature Cited Tribal Resources PRELIMINARY ISSUES AND ON-GOING PROGRAMS & STUDIES Existing Programs On-Going Studies Preliminary Issues iii -

6 Table of Contents (Cont d) 7.0 REFERENCES Section 3.0 General Description of River Basin Section 4.0 Project Location, Facilities, and Operations Section 5.1 Geology and Soils Section 5.2 Water Resources Section 5.3 Fish and Aquatic Resources Section 5.4 Wildlife Resources Section 5.5 Botanical Resources Section 5.6 Riparian, Wetland and Littoral Habitat Section 5.7 Rare, Threatened and Special Status Species Section 5.8 Recreation Section 5.9 Land Use and Aesthetic Resources Section 5.10 Cultural Resources Section 5.11 Socioeconomic Resources LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.0-1: Location of the Lake Martin Hydroelectric Project on the Tallapoosa River, AL Figure 4.4-1: Martin Operating Rule Curve Figure 4.5-1: Project Boundary of the Lake Martin Project Figure 5.1-1: Physiographic Regrions of Alabama Figure 5.1-2: Bedrock Geology of the Lake Martin Figure 5.5-1: Community Structure for an Eight Thousand Acre Stand in the Project Area LIST OF TABLES Table 2.4-1: Document Distribution for the Project Relicensing FERC No Table 4.5-1: Approved Water Withdrawals from Lake Martin, Tallapoosa River Table 5.2-1: Mean, Maximum, and Minimum Monthly Flow Statistics for the Tallapoosa River in the Project Area, USGS Gage No Horseshoe Bend (Period of Record: ) Table 5.2-2: Approved Water Withdrawals from Lake Martin, Tallapoosa River Table 5.2-3: Specific Water Quality Criteria for State of Alabama Waters with Designation as Public Water Supply, Fish and Wildlife/Swimming* Table 5.2-4: Summary of Water Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Data (at depth of 5-feet) from the Project, Table 5.2-5: Summary of Average DO Data Gathered During 1995 APC and ADCNR Fisheries Study Table 5.2-6: Summary of Continuous DO and Water Temperature Monitoring in the Project Tailrace, Table 5.2-7: Summary Data for Water Chemistry Variables Measured at the Project During the Period by APC iv -

7 Table of Contents (Cont d) Table 5.2-8: Summary of Water Temperature and DO Reservoir Profile Data Collected at a Depth of 5-ft by ADEM During the Period Table Summary Data for Water Chemistry Variables as Measured by ADEM During the Period in the Project Area Table 5.3-1: Fishes Known or Expected to Occur in the Immediate Vicinity of the Project Table 5.5-2: Invasive Species Potentially Occurring in the Project Vicinity Table 5.6-1: Acres and Percentages of Wetland Types in the Project Area Table Federally Threatened and Endangered Species in Alabama Counties Occupied by the Project Table 5.8-1: Existing Recreation Facilities and Access at the Martin Project Table 5.9-1: Percentages of Land Use Classifications by Counties in the Project Vicinity Table G-1: Bird Species Occurring in the Martin Hydroelectric Project Vicinity... G-1 Table G-2: Mammal Species Typical of the Martin Hydroelectric Project Vicinity... G-12 Table G-3: Reptile and Amphibian Species Typical of the Martin Hydroelectric Project Vicinity... G-17 Table H-1: Typical and Confirmed Botanical Species of the Project Vicinity... H-1 Table I-1: Riparian and Littoral Species Occurring in the Project Vicinity...I-1 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS Photo 5.5-1: Giant Cut Grass (Millet) on the Shoreline of Lake Martin Photo 5.9-1: Aerial View of Martin Dam and Powerhouse Photo 5.9-2: Martin Dam Photo 5.9-3: Martin Powerhouse Photo 5.9-4: Downstream View of Tailrace LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A: Distribution List Appendix B: Acronyms, Abbreviations, Glossary Appendix C: FERC ILP Schematic Appendix D: Martin Relicensing Schedule Appendix E: Martin Water Quality Certification Appendix F: Flow Duration Curves Appendix G: Representative Wildlife Species Appendix H: Representative Botanical Species Appendix I: Riparian/Littoral Habitat Appendix J: Land Use/Recreation Plan Maps - v -

8 1.0 INTRODUCTION ALABAMA POWER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA MARTIN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO. 349 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION DOCUMENT 1.1 Background Alabama Power Company (APC) is beginning the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of the Martin Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 349). The 182 MW Martin Project (hereinafter, Project or Martin ) consists of a dam, spillway, powerhouse and 40,000 acre (ac) reservoir known as Lake Martin. Lake Martin is located on the Tallapoosa River (River), near Dadeville, Alabama. All non-federal hydroelectric projects in the United States operate under licenses issued by FERC. FERC issued a license to APC in May 1978 for the Project and that license expires on June 8, In order for APC to continue operating the Project, APC must obtain a new operating license from FERC. Obtaining a new operating license requires APC to complete a multi-year application process and file a license application with FERC by June 8, This process is called relicensing. A summary of the relicensing process is presented below with a detailed description presented in Section 2.1. The FERC has a new licensing process called the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP). The ILP includes, among other activities, an early scoping process pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, a FERC-approved study plan and distribution of a preliminary licensing proposal. There are many opportunities for participation in the ILP and APC anticipates working closely with resource agencies and interested persons, referred to hereinafter as stakeholders, to identify and resolve the Project issues. Because the ILP is FERC s default licensing process, APC intends to use the ILP to prepare a license application for the Martin Project. 1-1

9 1.2 The Preliminary Information Document This Preliminary Information Document (PID) is a compilation of existing information on the Martin Project and the many environmental, recreation, land use, cultural and socioeconomic resources of Lake Martin. While the PID is not a requirement of the ILP process, APC prepared this document to educate interested persons on the current operation of the Project and to prepare stakeholders for the Issue Identification Workshops, discussed in Section 1.3. The PID serves as a precursor to the Preliminary Application Document (PAD), which is a requirement of the ILP process. Following distribution of the PID and hosting of the Issue Identification Workshops, APC intends to work with stakeholders to prepare and distribute the PAD in spring Additional information on the ILP is discussed in Section 2.1. A copy of the distribution list for the PID is located in Appendix A. 1.3 Issue Identification Workshops On Tuesday, January 30, 2007, APC will host two Issue Identification Workshops at the Betty Carol Graham Center at the Central Alabama Community College, 1675 Cherokee Rd, Alexander City, AL The first workshop will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the second workshop from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. The content of each workshop is identical and participants need attend only one of the two workshops. The purpose of the Issue Identification Workshops is to provide interested persons with the opportunity to learn more about the Project and the relicensing process and to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the things they like about the Project and those things they feel should be improved over the next Project license term. The workshops are free and open to the public. 1-2

10 1.4 Agents for Client Name The following persons are authorized to act as agent for the applicant pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6(d)(2)(i): Mr. Jerry L. Stewart Senior Vice President Alabama Power Company 600 North 18 th Street P.O. Box 2641 Birmingham, AL (205) Document Purpose and Content The PID has six primary sections that are structured according to FERC s regulations for the PAD (18 C.F.R. 5.6). It is important to note that the PID does not include all the required information that will be included in the PAD, since APC will be using 2007 to gather additional information and work with stakeholders to identify needed information. The following list describes the content of each section for use in finding specific information. Section 1.0: Introduction; Table of Contents; List of Appendices; List of Figures; List of Tables; List of Photos; and Definitions of Terms, Acronyms, and Abbreviations are located in Appendix B. Section 2.0: Integrated Licensing Process Description, ILP Flow Chart, Martin Timeline, and Proposed Communication Protocol. Section 3.0: General Description of the River basin, per 18 CFR 5.6(d)(3)(xiii). Section 4.0: Description of Project Location, Facilities, and Operation, per 18 CFR 5.6(d)(2). Section 5.0: Description of the Existing Environment by Resource Area, per 18 CFR 5.6(d)(3)(ii)-(xii). Section 6.0: Existing Programs and Preliminary Issues List. 1-3

11 Appendices: Appendix A: Distribution List Appendix B: Acronyms, Abbreviations, Glossary Appendix C: FERC ILP Schematic Appendix D: Martin Relicensing Schedule Appendix E: Martin License and WQC Certification Appendix F: Flow Duration Curves Appendix G: Representative Wildlife Species Appendix H: Representative Botanical Species Appendix I: Existing Aquatic Plant Management Program Appendix J: Riparian/Littoral Habitat 1-4

12 2.0 INTEGRATED LICENSING PROCESS (ILP) The ILP regulations 1 define very specific procedures and timelines. The FERC designed the ILP to be a transparent process that involves all interested parties including tribes, agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the public. As such, APC will carefully document the entire process including any information received from the interested parties as well as records of communications. To keep the interested parties informed of the process, APC will maintain a relicensing website at and make other information available at its corporate offices in Birmingham, Alabama. 2.1 Description of the ILP The ILP is the default process by which a hydropower project obtains a new license to operate. This process, which integrates the efforts of the FERC, regulatory agencies, stakeholders and the project owner, streamlines the FERC s licensing process by providing a predictable, efficient, and timely licensing process that continues to ensure adequate resource protection for the Project. The efficiencies expected to be achieved through the ILP are founded in three fundamental principles: Early issue identification and resolution of studies needed to fill information gaps, avoiding studies post-filing; Integration of other stakeholder permitting process needs; and Established time frames to complete process steps for all stakeholders, including FERC. FERC s ILP schematic that describes milestone activities and time frames is provided in Appendix C. 1 For more details on FERC licensing processes go to or see 18 C.F. R

13 2.2 Project Schedule APC has developed a Project relicensing schedule based on FERC s ILP regulations (See Appendix C). This schedule shows all the activities in leading up to the official FERC starting point of the ILP process, which commences with APC filing its Notice of Intent and the PAD sometime during the spring of APC will use 2007 to work with stakeholders to identify issues and develop plans to address information gaps, if needed. A Martin Project schedule is included in Appendix D. 2.3 Document Control and Website The relicensing process is lengthy and involves a lot of correspondence (face-toface meetings, hard copy written documents, electronic mail ( ), and telephone conversations). To account for and manage these communications, APC has developed and will implement during the relicensing process, a document control process. A description of the various communication tools and procedures to be employed by APC is described in the sections below Mailing Lists A mailing list of all stakeholders will be developed and updated accordingly throughout the process. A list of the known stakeholders to date is provided in Appendix A. Participants attending the Issues Identification Workshop that are not yet on the mailing list will have an opportunity to provide all contact information so that they will be on the official list to receive any correspondence from APC regarding the Martin relicensing. Stakeholders may also contact Ms. Viki Jackson at vjackson@southernco.com or at to be included on the mailing list. 2-2

14 2.3.2 Website APC has developed a relicensing website for the Martin Project at APC will use the website to post meeting notices, meeting summaries, documents (e.g., PID, PAD, draft license application), and correspondence received. APC encourages all stakeholders to use the website for obtaining current information about the Project and the relicensing process Public Reference File APC will also maintain an electronic public reference file on the Project website at The public reference file is a listing of important materials pertaining to the development of the PAD, including background reference material, relevant studies and data referenced in the PID and PAD, and the current FERC license. For a nominal copying fee, hard copies of these documents are available upon request. Documents are available for inspection at APC s office at 600 North 18th Street, P.O. Box 2641, Birmingham, AL during regular office business hours. Appointments can be made by contacting Ms. Viki Jackson at or vjackson@southernco.com Restricted Documents Certain Project-related documents are restricted from public viewing in accordance with FERC regulations. Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII) (18 CFR ) related to the design and safety of dams and appurtenant facilities, and that is necessary to protect national security and public safety are restricted. Anyone seeking CEII information from FERC must file a CEII request. FERC's website at contains additional details related to CEII. 2-3

15 Information related to protecting sensitive archaeological or other culturally important information is also restricted under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Anyone seeking this information from FERC must file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Instructions for FOIA are available on FERC's website at Proposed Communications Protocol The relicensing process for the Project will be lengthy and may be complex due to the number of stakeholders likely to participate in the process. There will be numerous meetings and discussions held over the next few years to identify and subsequently resolve Project issues. To facilitate communications and cooperation among APC and stakeholders, APC has developed a draft Communications Protocol, as described further below Document Distribution APC will distribute, whenever possible, all documents electronically in standard MS Word format or portable document format (PDF). APC may distribute hard copies of some documents for convenience or by request. Distribution of information will follow the guidelines presented below (Table 2.4-1). Table 2.4-1: Document Distribution for the Project Relicensing FERC No. 349 DOCUMENT Preliminary Information Document (PID) Pre-Application Document (PAD) Questionnaire Public Meeting Notices Meeting Agendas METHOD Website; CD-ROM copy U.S. Mail Initial meetings by U.S. Mail, Newspapers and website. Thereafter by , Website and/or newspaper Website and 2-4

16 DOCUMENT Meeting Summaries Process Plan & Schedule Major Documents: PAD, FERC Scoping Documents, Proposed Study Plans, Study Reports, Draft license Application, etc. PAD support documents FERC License and related documents METHOD Website and Website Website, CD-ROM, and APC corporate office Website and APC corporate office Website Providing Documents to APC APC requests that that it receive all documents electronically in either PDF or an appropriate MS Office (i.e., MS Word, Excel, etc.) format. electronic documents to Hard copy documents may be mailed to Jim Crew, Martin Relicensing Project Manager, Alabama Power Company, 600 North 18th Street, P.O. Box 2641, Birmingham, AL In either case, all documents received become part of the relicensing consultation record and are available for distribution to the public and/or posting to the relicensing website at Meetings APC recognizes there are a number of tribes, agencies, groups, and individuals that may want to participate in the process. These groups and individuals are frequently referred to as stakeholders, because they have a stake or interest in the Project. APC will work with all stakeholders to develop meeting schedules that include practical locations and times to accommodate the majority of participants. APC will post a calendar of relicensing meetings on the relicensing website as far in advance as practicable. In general, APC will schedule meetings at least two weeks in advance and between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. At that time, APC will provide a meeting agenda on the relicensing website and by . APC will also distribute any documents or 2-5

17 other information that will be the subject of meeting discussions. APC will make every effort to begin and end meetings on time. Following distribution of the PAD in spring 2008, FERC staff will organize and conduct Scoping meetings at the Project. A scoping meeting is FERC s official public meeting to discuss issues and alternatives pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Scoping meetings will include at least one evening meeting and day session and will be advertised on APC s relicensing website as well as local newspapers General Communications Communications include written hard-copy correspondence, , and notes from single party and multi-party telephone calls. APC may post records of these communications (including copies of or telephone discussion notes) on the Project relicensing website. APC s goal is to keep the lines of communication open during the relicensing process and make it easy for relicensing stakeholders and the public to get information related to the relicensing and the interests/issues of other stakeholders Study Requests As discussed in Section 1.2, this PID is intended to be a precursor to the PAD, which will contain a more detailed description of the issues and proposed draft study plans. The Issue Identification Workshops will be one of the first public discussions of Project issues and potential areas that may need further investigation. In cases where APC, in conjunction with the stakeholders, determine that there is little or no information related to an area(s) of potential critical concern, APC and/or relicensing participants may request additional studies or investigations to add to the knowledge of the Project. The ILP regulations set forth a specific format and information that must be provided from stakeholders requesting studies related to the relicensing. Draft study requests 2-6

18 need to adhere to the following format as specified by CFR 18, 5.9(b) of FERC's ILP regulations. All study requests must: Describe the goals and objectives of each study proposal and the information to be obtained; If applicable, explain the relevant resource management goals of the agencies or Indian tribes with jurisdiction over the resource to be studied; If the requestor is not a resource agency, explain any relevant public interest considerations in regard to the proposed study; Describe existing information concerning the subject of the study proposal, and the need for additional information; Explain any nexus between project operations and effects (direct, indirect, and/or cumulative) on the resource to be studied, and how the study results would inform the development of license requirements; Explain how any proposed study methodology (including any preferred data collection and analysis techniques, or objectively quantified information, and a schedule including appropriate field season(s) and the duration) is consistent with generally accepted practice in the scientific community or, as appropriate, considers relevant tribal values and knowledge; and Describe considerations of level of effort and cost, as applicable, and why any proposed alternative studies would not be sufficient to meet the stated information needs. The requestor should also describe any available cost-share funds or inkind services that the sponsor of the request may contribute towards the study effort. During 2007, APC intends to work with stakeholders to identify information gaps and potential studies, develop consensus based study plan(s), and include these in the filing of the PAD with FERC in spring

19 3.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF RIVER BASIN The Tallapoosa River Basin (Basin) lies wholly within Coosa, Elmore, and Tallapoosa counties, Alabama (Figure 3.0-1). Lake Martin is a 31-mile impoundment located on the Tallapoosa River, approximately 53 miles (mi.) above its mouth near Dadeville, in east central Alabama. Lake Martin has 700 mi. of shoreline, a surface area of nearly 40,000 ac, and a storage capacity of 1,622,000 acre-feet (af) or nearly 530 billion gallons, making it the second deepest lake in Alabama (CH2MHILL, 2005). The Basin is approximately 4,664 mi 2, 2,981 mi 2 of which exists upstream of the Project. Approximately 15% (699.6 mi 2 ) of the Basin s drainage area lies in Georgia, where the River s headwaters originate. The headwaters of the Tallapoosa and Little Tallapoosa Rivers begin in the Georgia counties of Paulding and Carrol (at approximately 1,150 feet (ft) msl), respectively, and enter Alabama in Randolph County southwest of the City of Atlanta to form the R. L. Harris Reservoir (commonly referred to as Lake Wedowee) and the main stem of the River. From the confluence of these two rivers, the Tallapoosa meanders southwesterly through four APC hydroelectric projects (R. L. Harris Dam, Martin Dam, Yates Dam, and Thurlow Dam) before joining the Coosa River to create the Alabama River (at approximately 113 ft msl). The Alabama portion of the Basin drains 3,964.4 mi 2 of land (CH2MHILL, 2005). 3-1

20 Figure 3.0-1: Location of the Lake Martin Hydroelectric Project on the Tallapoosa River, AL 3-2

21 3.1 Major Land and Water Uses Almost 70% of the Basin is covered by forests, and forestry-related activities account for a major part of the Basin s economy. Agriculture is also a significant land use activity supporting a variety of animal operations and commodity production. Although the total farmland in the basin is declining, livestock and poultry production is strong. The trend is toward larger commercial-type farms with increased use of machinery. Despite a strong agricultural presence, approximately one-half of the working population is employed in manufacturing industries (Alabama Power Company, Undated). Although the nearby Alabama River is considered a critical navigation route for commercial barge traffic, the Tallapoosa River does not contain locks on any of the dams that would allow passage for motorized boats of any kind. There are no large metropolitan centers within this Basin. 3.2 Other Diversion Structures All four hydroelectric generating dams on the Tallapoosa River are owned and operated by APC and include R. L. Harris Dam located at River Mile (RM) 139.1; Martin Dam located at RM 62.1, Yates Dam at RM 54.1, and finally, Thurlow Dam at RM Tributaries The principal tributary streams are the Little Tallapoosa River, which has a drainage area of 605 mi 2 in Georgia and Alabama, and Sougahatchee, South Sandy, Uphapee, and Hillabee Creeks in Alabama. The confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers form the Alabama River near Wetumpka, Alabama (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 1998). 3-3

22 3.4 Climate The Basin has a mild and uniform temperate climate with warm summers and usually mild winters. Snowfall accumulation is infrequent. During the month of July, temperatures vary between 92 F and 67 F. Although the monthly average highs in June, July, and August exceed 90 F, this temperature range generally occurs, on average, only 87 days per year. Temperatures above 100 F are unusual. The winter extremes of 32 F and lower occur on an average of 64 times per year. The frost-free season varies from 205 days in the north portion to 256 days in the south portion of the basin. Annual rainfall amounts typically range between 46 to 64 inches (in.). The average growing season is approximately 209 days (CH2MHILL, 2005). 3.5 References Alabama Power Company. Undated. Report on the Martin Dam Project. Alabama Power Company, Birmingham, AL. CH2MHILL Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan. Alabama Clean Water Partnership, Montgomery, AL. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, GA. 3-4

23 4.0 PROJECT LOCATION, FACILITIES, AND OPERATIONS 4.1 Project Introduction, Location, Facilities, and Operations APC began construction on the Martin Project in 1923 and it was placed in service with three generating units in APC added a fourth generating unit in The Project consists of : (1) a concrete gravity dam with an earth dike section, about 2,000 ft in length and a maximum height of 168 ft, containing a 720-ft-long, gated spillway section with 20 spillway gates; (2) a reservoir with a surface area of 40,000 ac at normal maximum elevation of 490 ft Martin Datum (MD) (490 ft MD = 491 ft mean sea level (msl)); (3) headworks containing 12 intake gates and 4 steel penstocks; (4) a brick and concrete, steel-frame powerhouse, 307 ft long, 58 ft wide, and 99 ft high, containing four vertical Francis turbines that power four generating units (45.8, 41.0,40.5, and 55.2 megawatts (MW), respectively) for a total installed capacity of MW. The Project intake structures inverts are located 68 ft below normal pool elevation and 8 ft below the minimum operational pool level of 430 ft msl. The Project also includes two short (450- ft-long) 115-kilovolt transmission lines and appurtenant facilities (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2005). The Project is an existing facility located at RM above Mobile, Alabama on the Tallapoosa River near Dadeville, AL. The Project is 77 River Miles (RM) downstream from the Harris Dam and 8 RM upstream from the Yates Dam. 4.2 Measurement of Elevation at the Martin Project In the 1920 s when land was being purchased for construction of the Project, a locally established reference point known as Martin Datum was utilized for determining elevations. Today, most figures, drawings and general references are shown in mean sea level, or msl, which FERC also uses as it s standard. Martin Datum is the equivalent of 1 foot below msl. Throughout this document and during the relicensing process and thereafter, all elevations will be presented in msl rather than Martin Datum. For example, 4-1

24 the Lake Martin normal summer pool will be shown as El. 491 msl (which is equivalent to El. 490 Martin Datum). 4.3 Project Facilities Reservoir The Martin Reservoir, commonly referred to as Lake Martin, extends up the River for approximately 31 miles. with approximately 700 miles. of shoreline. The reservoir surface area is about 40,000 ac at normal full pool elevation of 491 ft msl, and has a mandatory drawdown of 10 ft in the winter months (Finlay Engineering, 2005). The normal tailwater elevation is 345 ft msl. The gross storage capacity of Lake Martin is 1,625,000 af; active storage in the available 60 ft drawdown is 1,375,000 af (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 1978) Dam The Project dam consists of a concrete gravity dam and earth dike section totaling 2,000 ft long with a maximum height of 168 ft. The dam consists of a 720-ft-long arched concrete gravity spillway, a 280-ft-long concrete gravity intake structure, 255-ft-long concrete gravity non-overflow section on the right abutment, and an approximately 1,000-ft-long compacted homogeneous earth embankment on the east (left) abutment (Finlay Engineering, 2005). For passing floodwaters in excess of turbine capacity, the dam has twenty vertical lift steel spillway gates measuring 30 ft wide by 16 ft high. These gates are lifted individually by one of two electric-powered gantry cranes as needed. A third gantry crane is located at the crest of the intake. The deck elevation above the spillway is 501 ft msl. There are 12 intake gates (three per unit) measuring 9 ft wide by 24 ft high, intake trash racks, and four penstocks (Akridge, 2005a). 4-2

25 4.3.3 Powerhouse The Martin powerhouse is a brick, steel, and concrete structure standing 99 ft above the generator floor and is integral with the intake facilities. It houses four vertical flow units totaling MW. The building measures ft long by 58 ft wide by 99 ft high. It contains an overhead crane with a capacity of 200 tons. The crane is used to perform maintenance on the units. Generators 1-3, installed in 1926, were upgraded between and have a rating of MW. Each unit is driven by a vertical type Francis turbine with 54,000 to 61,000 hp. The fourth generator, installed in 1952, has a rating of 55.2 MW and is driven by a 78,000 hp vertical type Francis turbine (Akridge, 2005b). Unit 1 refurbishment was completed and put into service on March 10, 2002 with an increase in capacity from 33.0 to 45.8 MW. Unit 2 was refurbished and placed into service on February 4, 2004 with an increase in capacity from 33.0 to 41.0 MW. Unit 3 was refurbished and placed back into service on March 28, 2003 with an increase in capacity from 33.0 to 40.5 MW. Unit 4 has not been upgraded since its installation in 1952 (Akridge, 2005b) Project Transmission APC supplies electric power throughout a large part of Alabama and exchanges electric power with other operating subsidiaries of Southern Company in Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia, and with Tennessee Valley Authority by means of physical connections of the transmission systems of each. Units 1-3 are each connected through a bank of three single line phase, 12/115 kv step-up transformers, rated 14,000 kva each. Unit 4 is connected through a bank of three single phase, 12/115 kv step-up transformers, rated 23,333 kva each. These transformers are located on the downstream side of the headworks and immediately behind the powerhouse, and are connected to a switching station located at the west end of the dam. The generating plant is connected into the integrated transmission system through nine 115 kv 4-3

26 transmission lines terminating at this switching station. The Project also includes two short (450-ft-long) 115-kvtransmission lines and appurtenant facilities (Akridge, 2005a). Single line diagrams and Project transmission lines are considered CEII and are not included in this document (see Section for information on CEII). 4.4 Current and Proposed Project Operations The Martin Project is a multipurpose storage reservoir. This means the lake level fluctuates seasonally to provide the many benefits the project was built to support. These purposes include hydroelectric power, flood storage, recreation, municipal-and-industrial water supply, water quality enhancement, aquatic flow maintenance and navigation flow support. Some purposes enhance users upstream of the dam, some help with needs downstream of the dam and others, like hydroelectric power, directly affect many people throughout the State. The Lake Martin Rule Curve is a graph of target normal daily lake levels. The lake level is always maintained at or below the elevations specified by the rule curve, except when storing floodwater. Beginning in January, the curve is at el.481ft msl and remains constant to February 17 th. On this date, the curve begins rising until it reaches 491 ft msl on April 28 th. The curve remains at this elevation until Aug.30 th when it begins to lower. The curve lowers 10 feet to el.481 ft msl by Dec.31 st and remains constant until filling begins the next Feb.17 th (see Figure 4.4-1). 4-4

27 Figure 4.4-1: Martin Operating Rule Curve Whenever the lake elevation is above this rule curve, special flood control operations are required as shown below: RULE CONDITION OUTFLOW OPERATION 1 Above Normal Operating elevation ft msl 9600cfs When the reservoir is above the rule curve and between elevations 481 and 486, turbines at Martin Dam will be operated to provide for a continuous outflow from Thurlow Dam of at least the equivalent of the hydraulic capacity of the turbines at Yates Dam, 9600 cfs. 2 Above Normal Operating elevation ft msl 11,000cfs When the reservoir is above the rule curve and between elevations 486 and 489, turbines at Martin Dam will be operated to provide for a continuous outflow from Thurlow Dam of at least the equivalent of the hydraulic capacity of the turbines at that dam, ~11,000 cfs. 4-5

28 RULE CONDITION OUTFLOW OPERATION 3 Above Rule Curve and elevation 489 ft msl Up to Plant capacity, including spillway capacity. When the reservoir is above rule curve and above elevation 489, turbines at Martin Dam will be operated as in 2 above and further, if required to avoid rising above elevation 491.0, will be operated to provide an outflow from Martin Reservoir at least equivalent to all turbine units available operating at full gate and gates will be raised so that the reservoir will not exceed elevation except after all gates are raised and inflow exceeds gate capacity. 4 SPECIAL NOTE During periods when inflow to the reservoirs on the Tallapoosa River exceeds the water capacities of hydraulic turbines, rates of outflow from the reservoirs shall not exceed concurrent rates of inflow except to evacuate accumulated surcharge storage subsequent to the time of peak inflow. Whenever the lake elevation drops below certain levels described in the operating license and remains there for seven days, APC reports this occurrence, by letter, to the FERC and Lake Martin Recreation Association. During this period, discharges are restricted to those that are necessary to fulfill requirements that include critical electrical system needs, downstream flow augmentation for navigation, water quality, fish and wildlife and municipal/industrial water supply purposes. Because the Project is a peaking project, it usually operates Monday through Friday to meet peak power demands (CH2MHILL, 2005). During generation, the Project's four turbines release up to 17,900 cfs. Hours of generation per day depend on reservoir inflow; usually the Project operates for at least eight hours daily on weekdays and for five to six hours on Saturday. The Project does not typically generate on Sunday. Releases from the Project flow directly into the Yates development s 2,000-ac reservoir and 45.5 MW powerhouse with a hydraulic capacity of approximately 11,800 cfs. Releases from Yates flow directly into the Thurlow development's 574-acre reservoir and 85.0 MW powerhouse with a hydraulic capacity of approximately 12,400 cfs (the Yates and Thurlow developments are licensed to APC as FERC Project No. 2407). Thus, the entire River segment from the Project to Thurlow Dam is impounded. Below Thurlow Dam the River flows unimpeded for 45 miles (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 1994). 4-6

29 Flows below the Martin Project typically range from leakage (from the dam) to approximately 17,000 cfs. APC operates the Yates/Thurlow Project in a peaking mode to take advantage of peaking releases from Martin. Since 1991, APC has provided a continuous 1,200 cfs minimum release from Thurlow powerhouse. On many occasions, releases from Martin Dam are necessary to allow Thurlow powerhouse to meet this requirement. There are currently procedures in place that allow the Martin Project to forego this release requirement whenever inflows to the Project are abnormally low. This procedure helps balance the need to assure filling Lake Martin each spring to assist with protection of the aquatic environment below Thurlow Dam. Thus, non-flood flows below Thurlow Dam typically vary from 1,200 cfs to 17,000 cfs. Flow in the River as measured ten miles downstream of the Project average 4,822 cfs. 4.5 Other Project Information Evaluation of Potential Winter Rule Curve Changes APC has received many stakeholder comments regarding changes to the winter rule curve elevation. APC intends to evaluate effects of a change in the winter rule curve on environmental, recreational, cultural, and socioeconomic resources and flood control and generation. APC will be evaluating the possibility of raising the winter rule curve elevation of Lake Martin. APC does not propose any operational changes that would adversely affect or require a change to the minimum release below Thurlow Current License Requirements The Commission issued APC a new 40-year license for the continued operation of the Project on May 11, Because Martin operated on annual licenses issued by FERC for 5 years during which time FERC was evaluating the license application, the license will expire on June 8, Articles 1 37 are standard articles contained in FERC s Form L-5. Articles were either in the FERC Order issuing the new license or in subsequent proceedings. 4-7

30 On August 20, 2003, the FERC issued an Order Amending License that approved turbine upgrades at the Project. Those upgrades have been completed, and the turbine and generator nameplates were received and installed on the units on February 4, Compliance History of the Project APC has reviewed the compliance history for the Project and found no instances of non-compliance. The Project is subject to regular dam safety inspections by an independent consultant in accordance with Part 12 of the FERC regulations (see Section 4.4.3). FERC s Atlanta Regional Office conducts an annual Operation Inspection as well as an Environmental and Public Use Inspection every four to five years. There are no outstanding issues remaining to be addressed arising from FERC inspections during the last 10 years Safety Requirements APC has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that provides a system for public notice and warning to downstream property owners along the River in the event of a dam failure. APC conducted an EAP drill for the Project on August 18, 2006 and submitted a critique of the drill to FERC on September 11, An independent engineering consultant specialized in dam safety inspects the Project every five years as required by Part 12 of FERC s regulations. Among other things, FERC intends for these inspections to identify any potential structural issues at the Project. APC submits the consultant s findings and recommendations to FERC and implements the appropriate corrective action to respond to the recommendation. APC submitted the latest Part 12 inspection report to FERC on April 1, The next Part 12 inspection report is due in April of

31 4.5.5 Summary of Project Generation and Outflow Records APC s operation of its Tallapoosa hydroelectric projects has many purposes. APC operates its four reservoirs on the Tallapoosa River to, among other things, meet a minimum release of 1,200 cubic ft per second (cfs) below Thurlow Dam at Tallassee and to maintain a flow of 4,640 cfs at Montgomery, Alabama as part of the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basin systemwide requirements. On average, the Martin Project generates about 40% of the electricity of APC s Tallapoosa River fleet of dams. Average annual generation for Martin Dam is about 380,000 MWh. In addition, its ability to store and release water contributes to the energy that is generated at Yates and Thurlow Dams. Energy that would otherwise be lost as spilled water. Furthermore, because of Martin Dam s operational flexibility, it is able to store water during low electrical usage periods and then generate with the same water during periods of high electrical usage when production costs would normally be higher. This results in lower production costs to APC and a savings for its customers. All of the electric energy generated at the Project is used in the interconnected system of APC for public utility purposes. All of the electric energy generated at the Project is used in the interconnected system of APC for public utility purposes Delivery of Water for Non-Power Uses APC has permitted some entities to allow for water withdrawals on Lake Martin, as described below Russell Lands Willow Point Golf Course In the mid 1960 s as part of the development of the Willow Point Golf Course, a pump-house and intake structure was established for irrigating the golf course. This construction was completed under a previous license and prior to the current permitting program. In 2002, this 4-9

32 pumping station was refurbished as part of an overall renovation of the Willow Point Golf Course. A modern irrigation system was installed, with two main irrigation pumps and a jockey pump that maintains pressure within the irrigation system. This system is efficient, utilizing state of the art control technology that effectively minimizes water use, resulting in less runoff to the reservoir. Average use by the current irrigation system is projected at 0.85 million gallons of water per day (mgd), equivalent to about 1.3 cubic feet per second (cfs) City of Alexander City Adams Water Treatment Plant On March 6, 1980, FERC issued an order approving APC s request to issue an easement to the city of Alexander City for the construction, operation and maintenance of a water intake with a capacity of 24 mgd. Current average withdrawal for the Adams Water Treatment Plant is about 10.6 mgd, equivalent to about 16.4 cfs. In 2001, as the result of public concerns raised because of the proximity of the drinking water intake to a marina with fueling facilities, Alexander City made a request to APC to extend the intake for public safety as well as reliability purposes. APC agreed and FERC approved APC s request for the extension of the intake line on March 19, Alexander City currently extracts water from Lake Martin through one 36-inch high-density polyethylene pipe, with a T-screen assembly; this intake structure extends approximately 750 ft into Lake Martin, terminating at an elevation of 470 feet above mean sea level. The intake pipe leads to a pump-house located on the shore and within the Martin Project Boundary. Raw water is pumped a distance of about 8,000 feet from the pump-house to the Adams Water Treatment Plant, ultimately supplying Alexander City s customers in the Greater Lake Martin Area. 4-10

33 Central Elmore Water and Sewer Authority Water Treatment Plant The FERC s Order Approving Application for Non-Project Use of Project Lands and Waters Referring Compensation Issue to Federal Judge on February 16, 1996, grants permission for Central Elmore Water Authority (CEWA) to withdraw 10 mgd from Lake Martin; current average withdrawal is 6.7 mgd or about 10 cfs. This water is intended to supplement the regional drinking water supply. CEWA extracts water from Lake Martin through two screened intake structures that extend 300 ft into Lake Martin. These intakes lead to a pump-house located about 70 ft from shore and outside the Project Boundary. Raw water is pumped a distance of about 2 miles from the pump-house to the water treatment facility, ultimately supplying CEWA customers in the City of Wetumpka StillWaters Resort Beaver Lake Replenishment System In 1996, under Paragraph C of Article 58 of the Martin license, APC approved the Beaver Lake Replenishment Withdrawal System for the StillWaters Resort. This approval for <1 mgd involved the installation of 150 feet of 6 inch PVC pipe, encased in concrete, a 2 feet square intake screen structure, a new 20 horsepower centrifugal pump, and a new pump house. This withdrawal of Lake Martin waters was utilized to replenish Beaver Lake, located on the StillWaters site and used as a source of irrigation for the StillWaters site. As a condition of this usage, StillWaters was required to report to APC, on an annual basis, the monthly usage and was required to compensate APC for any usage above an average of 0.1 mgd. The average withdrawal is less than 0.1 mgd. In 2003, the StillWaters complex was divided into components and auctioned separately. The StillWaters Golf Club assumed responsibility for the intake facilities. 4-11