With three units pumping, the effluent plume was again directed into Twotree Channel where it was 

 subjected to tidal flushing. On the flood stage of the tide the effluent was directed westward, away from 

 Fox Island. During high tide, ambient water temperatures were recorded at FE, and temperatures at FL 

 were only 3-4 °C above ambient. On the ebbing tide, the plume was directed eastward across Fox Island. 

 Maximum temperatures, up to 8-9 °C above ambient, occurred at FE and FL at low tide. Minimum 

 temperatures were recorded 3 hours out of the 12 hour tidal cycle; elevated temperatures occurred during 

 the remainder of the 12 hour cycle. These conditions are modelled in Figure 5 and produce regime 3 

 temperatures illustrated in Figure 4 (note two curves for temperature at FE in this period). Water 

 temperatures are dependent on both the number of units operating and cooling water flow, and only when 

 all units are pumping will there be a tidal component to the temperature. Therefore, conditions are likely 

 to vary from year to year as each unit undergoes scheduled and unscheduled shut-downs. The effects of 

 these changing conditions will be examined in subsequent reports. Most of the data presented in this 

 report were collected under conditions modelled as regimes 1 and 2. 



Qualitative Studies 



Qualitative studies were designed to identify algal species presentin intertidal and shallow subtidal 

 areas in the vicinity of MNPS throughout the year, and to characterize their patterns of spatial and 

 temporal distribution. Changes in these patterns indicate environmental changes, and suggest a close 

 analysis of whether the changes were related to construction or operation of MNPS. 



A rich and diverse flora occupies the rocky intertidal monitoring area, relative to other areas of Long 

 Island Sound. Overall, 158 algal species have been identified since 1979. Not all species were found at 

 any one station, nor were they all found in any one collection period, nor in any one year. Qualitative 

 algal collections for the monitoring period 1979-1985 are presented as number of times each species was 

 found in each month and at each station (Table 1). Complete collection records for each station are 

 presented in Appendix RS la. 



The benthic flora of the Greater Millstone Bight can be separated into five divisions (sensu Whittaker 

 1969): Rhodophyta (reds), Phaeophyta (browns), Chlorophyta (greens), Cyanophyta (blue-greens), and 

 Chrysophyta (golden and yellow-green, including diatoms). In this study, blue-greens and diatoms are not 

 identified to lower taxa. The benthic algal flora can also be classified on the basis of life history, e.g.. 



