User:Madison.platow/Belews Lake: Difference between revisions
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== Contamination == |
== Contamination == |
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Belews Lake was contaminated by selenium due to the release of wastewater generated by the adjacent Duke Energy coal-fired power plant into the lake beginning in 1974.<ref /><ref name=":0" /> [[Selenium]], when ingested in large amounts, becomes toxic to animals including humans. Selenium [[Bioaccumulation|bioaccumulates]] up the food web meaning the highest levels of selenium are found within organisms that are top predators, such as carnivorous fish<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Lemly|first=A. Dennis|date=2002-04-01|title=Symptoms and implications of selenium toxicity in fish: the Belews Lake case example|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166445X01002648|journal=Aquatic Toxicology|series=State of Science and Future Needs for Selenium Aquatic Criteria|language=en|volume=57|issue=1|pages=39–49|doi=10.1016/S0166-445X(01)00264-8|issn=0166-445X}}</ref>. Elevated levels of selenium cause reproductive and [[Teratology|teratogenic]] defects in fish populations and also inhibit gill, liver, kidney, heart, and eye function. <ref name=":3" /> The number of species of fish in the main basin of Belews Lake fell from 24 to 6 between 1975 and 2002. <ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Browne|first=Robert A.|last2=Lutz|first2=David|date=2010-11-01|title=Lake ecosystem effects associated with top-predator removal due to selenium toxicity|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0416-3|journal=Hydrobiologia|language=en|volume=655|issue=1|pages=137–148|doi=10.1007/s10750-010-0416-3|issn=1573-5117}}</ref> One explanation for the decrease in species diversity is the sharp decline in reproduction rates of piscivorous fish, such as Largemouth |
Belews Lake was contaminated by selenium due to the release of wastewater generated by the adjacent Duke Energy coal-fired power plant into the lake beginning in 1974.<ref /><ref name=":0" /> [[Selenium]], when ingested in large amounts, becomes toxic to animals including humans. Selenium [[Bioaccumulation|bioaccumulates]] up the food web meaning the highest levels of selenium are found within organisms that are top predators, such as carnivorous fish<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Lemly|first=A. Dennis|date=2002-04-01|title=Symptoms and implications of selenium toxicity in fish: the Belews Lake case example|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166445X01002648|journal=Aquatic Toxicology|series=State of Science and Future Needs for Selenium Aquatic Criteria|language=en|volume=57|issue=1|pages=39–49|doi=10.1016/S0166-445X(01)00264-8|issn=0166-445X}}</ref>. Elevated levels of selenium cause reproductive and [[Teratology|teratogenic]] defects in fish populations and also inhibit gill, liver, kidney, heart, and eye function. <ref name=":3" /> The number of species of fish in the main basin of Belews Lake fell from 24 to 6 between 1975 and 2002. <ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Browne|first=Robert A.|last2=Lutz|first2=David|date=2010-11-01|title=Lake ecosystem effects associated with top-predator removal due to selenium toxicity|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0416-3|journal=Hydrobiologia|language=en|volume=655|issue=1|pages=137–148|doi=10.1007/s10750-010-0416-3|issn=1573-5117}}</ref> One explanation for the decrease in species diversity is the sharp decline in reproduction rates of piscivorous fish, such as Largemouth bass and Green sunfish, after 1975 following the introduction of selenium rich coal ash sluice into the lake.<ref name=":4" /> The species composition of the lake changed from a mix of fish species at several trophic levels to a near complete dominance by fish at lower trophic levels that consumed plankton and were not greatly impacted by selenium bioaccumulation.<ref name=":4" /> |
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In 1986, the coal-fired power plant stopped releasing selenium rich wastewater into the lake and instead sent dry ash waste to a landfill for disposal.<ref name=":3" /> In the following years, sport fish, like Bluegill and Largemouth |
In 1986, the coal-fired power plant stopped releasing selenium rich wastewater into the lake and instead sent dry ash waste to a landfill for disposal.<ref name=":3" /> In the following years, sport fish, like Bluegill and Largemouth bass, were stocked and were successfully re-established in the lake. Selenium concentrations in the water were measured at less than 1 microgram per liter in 1996 compared to a high of 20 micrograms per liter during the period of selenium loading into the system. Additionally, Se concentrations in fish were found to be 85 to 95% lower in 1996 compared to the conditions pre-1986.<ref name=":3" /> Despite the decrease in Se concentrations in the water and in fish tissue, reproductive impairment was still observed in fish ten years after the wastewater release was halted. Additionally, the presence of high Se concentrations in sediments at the bottom of the lake pose risk for reintroduction into the lake's food web if there was a disturbance event like a storm that mobilized the sediments.<ref name=":3" /> |
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== Other Ecological Concerns == |
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In 2011, a species of bass called Alabama bass were illegally introduced to Belews Lake for sportfishing<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=kenwyn.caranna@greensboro.com|first=Kenwyn Caranna|title=Invasive bass species poses threat to native largemouth and smallmouth bass in Belews Lake|url=https://greensboro.com/news/local_news/invasive-bass-species-poses-threat-to-native-largemouth-and-smallmouth-bass-in-belews-lake/article_107e0fde-1a45-11eb-9a4b-a712f0452248.html|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Greensboro News and Record|language=en}}</ref>. In 2017, a dramatic decrease in the Largemouth bass population in Belews Lake was observed while the number of invasive Alabama bass rose quickly<ref name=":5" />. There are concerns that Smallmouth bass may also be extirpated from the lake because of interbreeding and competition with Alabama Bass<ref name=":5" />. To address this issue, North Carolina officials eliminated catch limits on the number and size of Alabama bass that can be caught from Belews Lake to help mitigate the ecological damage these invasive fish cause.<ref name=":5" /> |
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[[Belews Lake]] has not had a rich history of remediation. This is due in part to the lake being manmade and not a naturally occurring body of water, so certain regulations do not apply to them. It also has to do with the fact that it does not have to adhere to [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission|FERC]] regulations due to the specific energy and power created on the lake. The largest efforts have been the early 2010s with a rise in environmental protests and greater scope of information available to the public on environmental effects. |
[[Belews Lake]] has not had a rich history of remediation. This is due in part to the lake being manmade and not a naturally occurring body of water, so certain regulations do not apply to them. It also has to do with the fact that it does not have to adhere to [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission|FERC]] regulations due to the specific energy and power created on the lake. The largest efforts have been the early 2010s with a rise in environmental protests and greater scope of information available to the public on environmental effects. |
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Revision as of 20:21, 18 November 2020
Belews Lake
Belews Lake is a reservoir in Stokes, Rockingham, Guilford and Forsyth counties of North Carolina, near the towns of Stokesdale and Pine Hall. It was created in 1973 by the Duke Energy corporation as a cooling basin for the corporation's Belews Creek Steam Station, a coal-burning power plant. It was used for cooling water until 1986, when the corporation decided to use other methods for their coal ash waste. From 1974-1986, contaminants such as vanadium, nickel, cobalt, barium, arsenic and most of all selenium were released into the lake via contaminated cooling water from the power plant. [1]
Background
The lake has a surface area of 3,864 acres (16 km2) and an 88-mile (142 km) shoreline. It is held back by a rolled earth dam and a concrete spillway. The northern portion of the lake commonly has depths of over 100 feet (30 m) and the lake reaches up to 130 feet (40 m) deep in the vicinity of the dam. There is no hydroelectric power generation at this dam, so the lake is not bound by many FERC regulations.
It was formed from Belews Creek, a small tributary of the Dan River. U.S. Route 158 and North Carolina Highway 65, as well as a number of secondary roads provide access to the lake. Boating and water skiing are common on the lake. Two marinas on the lake include Humphrey's Ridge, which has a grill that serves food, and Carolina Marina, which has boat sales and service facilities
Timeline
The power plant, Belews Creek Steam Station, was created by Duke Energy in 1973 with the purpose of providing energy for the surrounding towns[2]. Belews Lake was then created to serve as a source of cooling water for cooling each electrical unit.
Production of energy began in 1974 and water was first pumped back and forth from the plant. Contamination of the lake started after the first tons of coal ash were released into the water basin[2].
Use of Belews Lake as a cooling basin concluded in 1986 when Duke Energy decided to divert coal ash elsewhere[2]. Duke Energy still uses the Belews Creek Steam Station currently and is one of the most efficient coal plants in the United States while also being Duke Energy's largest plant.
Today, the lake is used as a recreational area where families can partake in marine recreational activities such as jet skiing, swimming and fishing [3]. As of September 17th, 2020, Forsyth County, NC was awarded the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Grant to purchase the lake property from Duke Energy. [4]
Contamination
Belews Lake was contaminated by selenium due to the release of wastewater generated by the adjacent Duke Energy coal-fired power plant into the lake beginning in 1974.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).[2] Selenium, when ingested in large amounts, becomes toxic to animals including humans. Selenium bioaccumulates up the food web meaning the highest levels of selenium are found within organisms that are top predators, such as carnivorous fish[5]. Elevated levels of selenium cause reproductive and teratogenic defects in fish populations and also inhibit gill, liver, kidney, heart, and eye function. [5] The number of species of fish in the main basin of Belews Lake fell from 24 to 6 between 1975 and 2002. [6] One explanation for the decrease in species diversity is the sharp decline in reproduction rates of piscivorous fish, such as Largemouth bass and Green sunfish, after 1975 following the introduction of selenium rich coal ash sluice into the lake.[6] The species composition of the lake changed from a mix of fish species at several trophic levels to a near complete dominance by fish at lower trophic levels that consumed plankton and were not greatly impacted by selenium bioaccumulation.[6]
In 1986, the coal-fired power plant stopped releasing selenium rich wastewater into the lake and instead sent dry ash waste to a landfill for disposal.[5] In the following years, sport fish, like Bluegill and Largemouth bass, were stocked and were successfully re-established in the lake. Selenium concentrations in the water were measured at less than 1 microgram per liter in 1996 compared to a high of 20 micrograms per liter during the period of selenium loading into the system. Additionally, Se concentrations in fish were found to be 85 to 95% lower in 1996 compared to the conditions pre-1986.[5] Despite the decrease in Se concentrations in the water and in fish tissue, reproductive impairment was still observed in fish ten years after the wastewater release was halted. Additionally, the presence of high Se concentrations in sediments at the bottom of the lake pose risk for reintroduction into the lake's food web if there was a disturbance event like a storm that mobilized the sediments.[5]
Other Ecological Concerns
In 2011, a species of bass called Alabama bass were illegally introduced to Belews Lake for sportfishing[7]. In 2017, a dramatic decrease in the Largemouth bass population in Belews Lake was observed while the number of invasive Alabama bass rose quickly[7]. There are concerns that Smallmouth bass may also be extirpated from the lake because of interbreeding and competition with Alabama Bass[7]. To address this issue, North Carolina officials eliminated catch limits on the number and size of Alabama bass that can be caught from Belews Lake to help mitigate the ecological damage these invasive fish cause.[7]
Remediation
Belews Lake has not had a rich history of remediation. This is due in part to the lake being manmade and not a naturally occurring body of water, so certain regulations do not apply to them. It also has to do with the fact that it does not have to adhere to FERC regulations due to the specific energy and power created on the lake. The largest efforts have been the early 2010s with a rise in environmental protests and greater scope of information available to the public on environmental effects.
Past Efforts
In 1974, with the creation of the lake, both the lake itself and surrounding ash ponds were unlined and thus allowed coal ash to leach its chemicals into the ecosystem[8]. As Belews Lake was not used to create hydroelectric power, it was not bound by FERC regulations and thus not closely monitored.
Present Efforts
In 2012, the Southern Environmental Law Center and local residents sued Duke Energy to clean up the coal ash in the local area, as well as to shut down all coal basins by 2030[9]. Currently, Duke Energy must follow strict EPA guidelines and standards as well as to follow North Carolina's Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA[9]). Duke Energy must test and report any pollution detected from coal ash pits across their land[9]
Future Efforts
In 2020, Duke Energy agreed that they will remove 80 million tons of coal ash from the surrounding ponds at the Belews Creek Steam Station[8] after litigation from SELC and local residents that started in 2012. The company will have until 2027 for smaller ponds and 2039 for larger sites to remediate the coal ash deposits[8].
Bibliography
- ^ "Protecting Our Water from Power Plant Pollution" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d Lemly, A. Dennis (August 28, 1996). "Ecosystem Recovery Following Selenium Contamination in a Freshwater Reservoir".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Belews Creek Lake Highlights". NCLakeFront. 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Update on Potential Belews Lake Park Site". Forsyth County, North Carolina.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e Lemly, A. Dennis (2002-04-01). "Symptoms and implications of selenium toxicity in fish: the Belews Lake case example". Aquatic Toxicology. State of Science and Future Needs for Selenium Aquatic Criteria. 57 (1): 39–49. doi:10.1016/S0166-445X(01)00264-8. ISSN 0166-445X.
- ^ a b c Browne, Robert A.; Lutz, David (2010-11-01). "Lake ecosystem effects associated with top-predator removal due to selenium toxicity". Hydrobiologia. 655 (1): 137–148. doi:10.1007/s10750-010-0416-3. ISSN 1573-5117.
- ^ a b c d kenwyn.caranna@greensboro.com, Kenwyn Caranna. "Invasive bass species poses threat to native largemouth and smallmouth bass in Belews Lake". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
- ^ a b c "Duke Energy to Remove Belews Creek Coal Ash". The Stokes News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Wireback, Taft. "N.C. DEQ says recent Belews Creek contaminated groundwater filing is not troubling". Winston-Salem Journal.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)