From: Bo Ellis <boellis@worldnet.att.net>
To: Cathy Vaughn <cvaughn@gaports.com>
Cc: Rees, Morgan <reeseng@compuserve.com>; Ed Modzelewski <Emodzelewski@atm-s2li.com>; Keegan, Larry (LGE-SV) <lkeegan@lg.com>; Griffen, Charles <cgriffen@gaports.com>
Date: Thursday, March 11, 1999 9:06 AM
Subject: MTRG Recommendations to the SEG

Cathy,

Please distribute the following message and attachments to the SEG for their review and approval.


On behalf of the Modeling Technical Review Group (MTRG), I am forwarding the results of the group's work to-date to the SEG for their consideration and action.  The MTRG has reviewed and provided extensive comments and discussions on all four of the assigned Task Statements.  The MTRG recommends that these 4 revised task statements (referenced and attached below) be used for the data collection efforts required to develop the models and relationships, which will be needed to determine the effects of the proposed project alternatives on chlorides, dissolved oxygen, water column and marsh salinities, and shortnose sturgeon.

The MTRG is also providing the following specific recommendations to the SEG:

1.)  The SEG should approve these tasks as soon as possible, to allow adequate time for ordering custom monitoring equipment and to conduct a field reconnaissance in early April.

2.)  A request by the SEG should be made to the parties that normally perform dredging in the harbor, which includes the USACE and the berth owners, to minimize or avoid dredging (especially upstream of Ft. Jackson)during the data collection period.  It is believed that the usefulness of the data will be increased by reducing dredging.  The desired period for minimizing dredging would be from July 10 to September 1, 1999.  We realize this could present difficulties to navigation activities and recommend as much coordination as practical prior to July 1999.
3.)  The MTRG should continue to review task statements for model/tool development as soon as possible.  It is important that the group discuss the requirements for model/tool calibration and validation prior to the start of the data collection efforts.

4.)  GPA should request that the USACE limit dam releases, if necessary, to produce a low-flow event in the Savannah River (freshwater flow below 6000 cfs).

5.)  The MTRG should wait to complete recommendations on the detailed Monitoring Plan until after the field reconnaissance in April.  The Monitoring Plan will continue to be refined and the most recent draft will be posted on the MTRG web page.

The following revised Field Data Collection Task Statements for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project are attached:
  - Task SEGP311, Chloride Study Field Data Collection
  - Task SEGP312, Dissolved Oxygen Field Data Collection
  - Task SEGP313, Marsh Salinity Field Data Collection
  - Task SEGP314, Field Study of the Distribution of Shortnose Sturgeon in the Lower Savannah River
The documents are in PDF format and can be viewed by a free software called Adobe Acrobat Reader.  The documents are also posted on a web site with a link to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.  The attached documents can be found on the web site by the March 9, 1999 date (there are several revisions for each Task Statement).  The web site is password protected so you will need the following information:
                  web address = http://unix.atm-s2li.com/gpa
                  username = gpa
                  password = gpa
**You must use the username and password to get to the site and they must be in lower case**

Let me know how the MTRG can be of further assistance to the SEG.

Sincerely,

        Bo Ellis
        (on behalf of the MTRG)