Archived Abstracts

The Importance of River Influx and Pump Storage Operation on Water Quality in a Storage Reservoir

Location

Room 232, Schewel Hall

Access Type

Open Access

Entry Number

76

Start Date

4-8-2020 2:45 PM

End Date

4-8-2020 3:00 PM

Department

Environmental Science

Abstract

Environmental Regulations require a minimum of 5mg/L of dissolved oxygen (DO) to pass through the American Electric Power hydroelectric dam located between Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake at all times of the year. This requirement is not being met based off the published data American Electric Power is required to release. An influx of high concentrations of nutrients into Leesville Lake from the Pigg River, plus the pump-storage dam’s influence on the hydrodynamics of Leesville Lake and Smith Mountain Lake are the suspected factors causing low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Low DO is problematic for a lake ecosystem because aquatic organisms rely on DO for respiration, levels too low are fatal for aquatic organisms. This study aims to find patterns which suggest the movement of water in Leesville Lake due to pump-storage activity affects the DO passing through the Smith Mountain Dam. It appears from the study that pump-storage activity does play a role in affecting water quality parameters in the tailwaters of Smith Mountain Dam, specifically DO. Since pump-storage dams can alter the water quality of a lake, the operators of these dams should be mindful of pumping patterns of their dams.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Thomas Shahady
Dr. Jennifer Styrsky
Dr. Nina Salmon

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Apr 8th, 2:45 PM Apr 8th, 3:00 PM

The Importance of River Influx and Pump Storage Operation on Water Quality in a Storage Reservoir

Room 232, Schewel Hall

Environmental Regulations require a minimum of 5mg/L of dissolved oxygen (DO) to pass through the American Electric Power hydroelectric dam located between Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake at all times of the year. This requirement is not being met based off the published data American Electric Power is required to release. An influx of high concentrations of nutrients into Leesville Lake from the Pigg River, plus the pump-storage dam’s influence on the hydrodynamics of Leesville Lake and Smith Mountain Lake are the suspected factors causing low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Low DO is problematic for a lake ecosystem because aquatic organisms rely on DO for respiration, levels too low are fatal for aquatic organisms. This study aims to find patterns which suggest the movement of water in Leesville Lake due to pump-storage activity affects the DO passing through the Smith Mountain Dam. It appears from the study that pump-storage activity does play a role in affecting water quality parameters in the tailwaters of Smith Mountain Dam, specifically DO. Since pump-storage dams can alter the water quality of a lake, the operators of these dams should be mindful of pumping patterns of their dams.