Impact assessment report: R. Paul Smith Steam Electric Station aquatic monitoring program. Volume I. Text

This document is a summary and interpretation of findings from aquatic monitoring studies that have been conducted since 1976 at the site of the R. Paul Smith Steam Electric Station on the upper Potomac River. The report gives an overview of all the studies, summarizes major findings, and presents conclusions about the impact of plant operations on the lotic ecosystem. More detailed descriptions of individual studies (e.g., methods, analyses, results) are presented in Appendices A through D (Volume II), wherein studies are grouped by similar topics: A -- physical and chemical variables, B -- periphyton, C -- benthic macroinvertebrates, and D -- finfish. These appendices include all study findings deemed relevant to the assessment of plant impact.