4.         The second item of discussion originated from the end of the 4th paragraph of the Existing Data section, where it states that “Future study is needed …”.  Bo Ellis clarified that these documents were not making any recommendations for additional studies as part of the Expansion Project.  The Committee agreed that no additional study was needed on the issue of mortality after spawning.

5.         The Committee then discussed the presence of juveniles in the estuary during the summer.  The 6^th paragraph in the Existing Data section states that juvenile American shad were found in Charleston Harbor from April through the summer and winter until the next February.  Bert Deener said that in the Altamaha River, shad show up in the estuary about September.  Carl Hall said that he expected fish behavior in the Savannah River to roughly approximate that observed in the Altamaha River, since they are both large rivers.  Bert said that juvenile shad are about 70 mm in length by the time they reach the estuary.  Tom Reinert said that the UGA Coop Unit had found shad eggs in the trawls they perform in the spring when they are looking for Striped bass eggs.  This indicates that shad may be present in the estuary throughout the summer.  When juvenile shad are present in the estuary, they are generally found in waters with between 0 – 5 ppt salinity.  The area in Savannah Harbor with the sag in dissolved oxygen (D.O.) generally has a higher salinity than that.  ATM’s hydrodynamic model will identify the size, location and timing of the occurrence of low D.O. areas in the harbor.  ATM will be able to use that to see if there are any overlaps of low D.O. and areas frequented by juvenile shad.  Carl Hall suggested ATM use criteria in the USFWS Habitat Suitability Index to help define areas within the harbor that provide suitable habitat for these three species.  The study being funded by GPA on spatial distribution of estuarine-dependent fish in the Savannah River estuary may also provide information on the presence and habitats frequented by these three species.

6.         Ed Eudaly requested a literature review of avoidance mechanisms of these species to low D.O..  Bo Ellis said that ATM would normally do this as part of their development of evaluation criteria.  Therefore, no separate recommendation is needed from this committee.  Ed Eudaly agreed to send ATM some literature on this issue.

7.         The Committee concluded that no further field work was needed to address the issue of timing and depth of passage of out migrating juvenile American shad, Hickory shad and Blueback herring.

                                                                       William Bailey

                                                                        Chairman