Yazoo Hydroelectric Projects
Rye Development was issued Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses to construct and operate four hydroelectric projects on the existing Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, and Sardis dams owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Rye Development was seeking a firm to conduct pre-construction water quality monitoring.
Kleinschmidt and a subcontractor installed and maintained continuous DO and temperature loggers in the reservoir forebays in the zone of water withdrawal near the intake structures, and downstream in the tailraces. Dataloggers were connected to a telemetry network for real-time data viewing and as a quality control measure. As part of the study effort, our team developed a rigorous, agency-approved quality assurance plan that included regular maintenance and audits of water quality sensors.
The information collected was summarized in a report to the client that described current seasonal water quality conditions in the forebays and tailwaters in relation to state water quality criteria. The study found that in some reservoirs, DO conditions near the intake structures were anoxic for periods during the summer. Our team characterized the amount of aeration that occurs with the release of water through the existing USACE facilities and investigated the spatial variability of DO and temperature in the tailraces to inform the placement of future compliance monitoring stations.
Kleinschmidt | R2’s rigorous and comprehensive monitoring data provide a solid framework for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 408 permitting and future compliance standards. We were also able to provide assurance to the client that the Yazoo Project will not exacerbate compliance with water quality standards and criteria for DO and temperature.