Biological Survey of the Otter Tail River

115 Pages·2001·4.63 MB·English

SPECIAL PUBLICATION #137

‘BIOLOGICAL. SURVEY OF THE OTTER TAIL RIVER *

wy

Steven Re Hanson
Paul A. Renard
Many AL Kirsch
oun W. Enblon,

ABSTRACT

A etrean survey wna conducted on the Otter Tail River during the
sumers of 1972, 1979 ani s9A0. Stream characteristice and various fish
and wildlife habltat parmeters were delinested, A total of 24.2 ui of

river were slacteofishel 1a 17 study sectors. The eatch was comprised of
49 Fish species representing 11 familier. Gane fich comprised 7.18 of

he overall Large fiah catch unich is well below the exax
(143) for electrofishing samples ca larger streams. Fish distribution
yes predictably rearonalve to physical stream paranevers, The numeruss

awide average

lange Lakea $n the upper tio-thinda of the Flavaga as well as gradient,
subatrate, water clarity andl depth exhibited the greatest, influence.
Serious problens associated with the river are the low flows ivuoad by
fydnoelecuric power dams, Sluctuscing water levels frun tie Orwell flood
control dam and appropriation of water for aooling at the Hoot Lake power
station. Qualitative ant quantitative aimpling of benthic invertebrates
was carried cut te descrite biological contitions in the river. Menbers
Of the taxonomic groups Trichoprera, Chironcides and Epheneroplara were
‘the most comanly collectel organians. Differences in species and
generic composition fron upstream to domstresm sites warts nos notice
able in the family Hydnopeyenidee (Trichoptera). Sampling sites with
cosrser subetrater exhibited greater volumes and species diversi=

Fibs GROjece wae partially fontet by Federal aid in Fish end wildlife
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The Otter Tail River was surveyed to collont: baseline data on the
Fish and vildlife resources of the raver corridor and docaimen: anvivon
mental confitions and problens, ‘This type of infomation 1s necessary
for resoures managenent decisions by a variety of local, state end
federal agencies. The initial phase of the survey wes done hy cane
during July, August and Septenber, 1973. Vegetation, wildlife and etreat
flysioal characteristics data was compiled and the river vas divided into

17 sactore based on changing stream characteriatica. The secon’ jr

consisted of electrofishing portions of 14 of the 17 sectors (sytiliat
reaches) to detemine fishery characteristics. his was date @uring the
sunmers of 1979 and 199). sexpling “or benthic invertebentes wna asa
carried out during this tite, the sap series at the end of this report
stows the locations of the 17 sectors, electrofishing runs, river miles

and access painta.

PENBICAL CHARACTERISTICS,

The oct Red River o* the North watershed

xr Til River is pact of
and drains an arcs of 1,922 mi2, rt begina near the northom alge of

fisoker Connty and Flava for 190 ml to iss confluence with the Ref River
of the Sorth at Brackanridye. the first 16 mi of river pass shroogh an

of glacial moraine and ousich plains containing munecous Lakes ani

depressions. West of Pergus Fall in the lower reaches of the river the

watershal is a flat lowland plain with fertile eoils derived fram lake
claye and eilte from the bottem of glacial Lake Agassiz.
‘The river passes through 18 Inises avd 21 dams. The overall gradient

of the river Le 2,9 ft/ni (ot axclating dams) with a total drop of 559
fe from its source at Efbow Take to shore it joins Hie fois dle Sion
River 9 fona the Rall River of che orth. Sector 4 bas the highese
Gratient, at 10.4 ftyimi (szgentSx Table 1). The natural river channel
varies in widen from 20-120 £t.
Flgy pata

‘Yre ni main trituearies to the Occer Tail River are the Pelican and
Trad Rivers with average flows of 80 ami 40 cfa, respectively, Tn
addition to these, there are 4} other tributaries Uippendix Table 2).

High flava generally occur in sp:ioy when snowmelt combines with
vainfall resulting in large areata © numff. Ploy fluctuations in the
Otter tail are not as extrem aa other rivers in the state, tt is
naturally regulated by the wary Iskea it flows through and artificially
razetasned by over 20 dans, rary of which are located at take outlets.

‘The on’y gaging station on the river 1s Juse below Grwel? take don,
oan nonthiy discharge Flows fron Getber 1975 to Soptenber 3979 ranged
from at 972 ofs (Mable 1). Average annual flows for 1976-80 ranged
ron 37 to 495 cfs (Table 21. che 1978 anf 1979 average flove (399 and

455 cfs, respective:y) hoth ecamied me 50 year average Low of 308 of

Data on Elows and physical characteristics by eector are in Appendix
table 1.
Doma and orher Cbatructions

‘There are 21 fection] dong on the onter Tail River (Appendix Teble
3). Bloven of these oontrol Inke Tavele ant have tydraulic heights of 6
for “enn, ‘There are Sour tyatoelectric dans in the Fergua Palle area.
Of the remaining six functional dans, three are for river level conerot,
wo are for water supply and “loo control and ene rliverts wacer +0 the

Boot Lake steam clectric ant nyireelestric station.
rable 3.

Monthly average Flow {ofa} of the Otter Tail River below Orwel! “an.

water
your &

1976
197
1978
199

seo

Oe Sor. Tas. saa

1 m9 3 3 57S BAD SIS DT
1 1m 1h 981322821 702, SSL.

m2 Me 7S ase 2 HO MO SOS GIG? dL

8 Avwater year extends frum Ocobes of the peevious year vo Sepranber of the
your indicated.

Table 2. Average flew (cfs) at the 0.5.0.8. gauging station on the
Otter Tail River below Orwell Daw for yeare Of record ard
for water yeare 1976-1960.

Year 197s —«(1S77~—«1972—=«1978—T9EQ.8aH190D

Flow (cfa) 286 pe ne 203
The four hydemelectric dans in the Pergue Palle area axe come and
operated by Otter Teil Power Gaugany. veibery oan (54 75.1} 48 located
crprouiitately 6 mi sorth of Fergus Palls and hae @ width of 54 £2 and a
30 hydraulic head. Cenzat Dan (RY 56.2) ie 78 Cz lone and has a 24
Fe head. Piggeh Dem (9M 52.7) ie 42 fe tong and has a 36 €: head.
Dayton ToLIow Dam (RY 44.5) is 80 Fe long and has a 35 f bead.

Sewell Dien (Hf 40.4) vas built in 1959 by che Army Camps of agi
neers for flood control. Te has a 43 fe head and a width of 29 Ct.

hore are tio collegead dans thm are hazards 2 navigation. The
clty Electric Ligh: Dan, 1 mi esse of Fergus Falls (Ru 5742], sashed out
in 1907. Tr cbstructs most of the iver channel. The othar collapse?
Gan is in Breckenridge (F862) and bas a 2 ft baad as rocnal sever
lavets-

‘mere are several locations there culverts conetrien the river
chunoel ari cbatruct navigation, At 34.175.0, jus: upstream of Chippewa
ake, the river flowe through three culverve that reasrict passage. The
river flows through tp large metal culverts 5 mi north of Fergus Falls

and during high vase a porcage is reuiced. There are four small

culv ons az all

rts 2 mi northesst of Fergus Falls whet ave cheeuet

Flons. One-third of a mile downstream of Central Dan in Fergus Falls a
sevage pipe and metal grating crose che river just 2 ft above the water
surface, This area should be avoided by canceists because the banks are
too steep for pomaging and che pipe and grating can easily samp 2
canoe, especially fn high waters ‘here are to large concrete culverts 1

vi west of Fergus Falls that do not obstruct che passage of canoes at lew

om, however, higher flows create dangerous cundicions bevause of

currant velocity ard the 100 ft length of the ontverta.
oom CAALITY
The Otter Teil River Dying a0 a clear stecom at its source and
increases in turbidity, lotal solids ard fertility tomes the mouth.
uring the sumer, veriutions in water transparency are frequently
euhibited domatrean of the lakes 1 the upper portions of Ble watershed.
his can be attribute! to fluctuations in elgel densities. At Fergus
Falls the river receives municipel sovege, power plant cooling water en2
wastes from a resident. flock of approninately 2000 Canads yecae. Prom
Fergus Falls to the mouth agriotture is more intensive and eroding
strearaskks wore conen causing increased turbidity. At Breckenridge,

the rumicipal waterworkn intenuttantly discharges water treatment vestes

which violate water qualiry stanfards for turbidity. Secchi disc tran
patency readings ronged from 8.0 ft near the source of Whe river to Led
fe near the routh.

‘the river is claceafuel by the Mimesota Pollution Control Agency
BCR) as a IC, 2B, sD intrastate stews, this indicates suitability for
‘the propagation of cool and warmater fish, amatic recreation of all
‘kinda and use for public water supply with treatment. The river gener
ally conforma to chia classification: havever, fecal coliform counts and
turbidity lovels sometimes exceed che standards of 200 organiams/100 nl
and 25 FTU, respectively. ‘hese violations geuerally occur at tines of
high runofe.

The HCA prepaced a water quality report (Arelerson, Bishop a
Affelat 1969) on he Oster TALL River upstreen of Pugs Palle. Their
Hintings indicate ther werer qualley dn the Otter Tei) and major triba-
taries waa very goo! On several oscasions low axygun condings were

noted Agwistram of lake ard marsh areas dus to natural conitons. Water
quality ie routinely wonitored st Breckenridge by the MEGA, wo former
water quality monitoring stations vere Jocated just upatronn and dawn

atceon

Fergus Falls (MEGA 1967-08), The dametrean station exhiniced
total phosphorus values Ghat wore generally sore than to tines the
opstream values, The median dawnstrasn value wos 0.15 mg/L, which 39

sufficient to ctinulate algal bleons in ¢he domstrean rasarvoirs.

water intion

Water is appropriated from the Otter Tail River by four meior uoers.
Upstrasn of Fergus Falls, 8 diversion din bypasses voter frum 12.5 ni of
original river channel. The flow is chameled through Hoot and Wright
Lakes and utilized for atean and Wydroelectric power production at the
orter Tail Power Campary, foot Lake Plant and the municipal water supply
for Fergus Falls (1.63.0 ng9)- Prem 1 dune ~ 30 Sopterber, power plant
ater usage exceats 112 mgd and for the reminder of the year 79 nyl are
approprintod. This 1s the mjority of flew in tha river during como
prriods, ‘The to other major users are the city of Rreckenridge and
Mid-mnerion Daizymen which pimp 9.58 od and 9.48 nga, respectively.
There are approxinately 15 private users that appropriate for irrigation.
waste Bischaraee

Te IHL Industrial and municipal Waste Inventory (IA) Lists
Povham and Fergus Fels aa cities which discharge effluent directly to
the Otter Tall River at 0.38 and 2.87 mpd, respectively. Perhan has 2
stabilization pol and Fargus Falls operates a vastamter trestioat
Plant. Several. other sources Lsted in the inventory discharge waste to

critutary waters
Otter Tail, Powur Company operates the Thot Lake atean olectric
stacion at Forgua Salle, 8 BPCA Aedharge pumnit online four separste

Si

ge points for this facility with the primiry one Heltsy cortenser
cooling water ot an average rate of 98 ml, The pernil states tnt
Guting Api anil May unter temperature at the cage of Ihe mixing gan
shall not he waisel mre than 5° F shove the natural temeratues, bused
Of the monthly average of the saximm daily tenperatares. Al all chines,
‘the daily averege vater temperature ae the alge of the mixtiag zone snall
not be raiood above 86°F, Other associated olant discharges are veariag
cooling vater at 2 reiwan rate of 9.15 ned, metal clewiiig wastes at a
suximm rate of 0.39 aqd and naberial storage mmoff. the olter Tall
Power Scrpeny ales dinsharges 0.22 19g] of non-contact coolira waLer fron

thete office failing in Fergus TslJa, Mid-America tiadrymen in Forgas

Falla discharges 0,53 mgd of nso-contact cooling water. The City of

Brecsenridge discharges 0.01 mgd Eran thet we:

‘sremsmen: plan.
Reorentionel Uses

‘The Otzor Tail River ard iss corridor provide for cany vecreacional

activitics with excellen= opparnmicies for fishing and hunzing,

is comccecrared below the 4:

al on che menyy Lakes the river flows

Sheng. WiAA rice harvesting ie comen Ln the headwaters lake area,
especially in the Tanarec ational Wildlife Refuge. ibbel Sond WilaLite
Management Area ie located just west of Height-of-chetam! Lake «url bes
aroas that are open to public hunting.

Onvel2 WiIE1i%e Nenagenene Area is eouth of Fergus Falla an] sur~
rounds the 396 A reservoir created by Orwell Dan. Hurting is slowed

‘over most of ite area, however, the northwest corner is a wildlife eanc-

tary, The reservoir has poor flehenean access and due to extrene vater
Level fluctuations for floc? control purposes bas ost realized its

potential Fishery.

The river is used by caweiots althaugh upstevan of Otter Tail Lake
canceling can bo diffleule, Between the nany Takes, the river often
‘becomes # marsh with undufined chanse! bomaries and thick growths of
Wwlid rice atl cattalle, the river is manrov and shallow with many rigtle
preas for 5 wi dowmstrean of the Bitte! Pind dam, ‘he remainder of the
river ie eutteble for canoeing with short portages at the dans and
calverts, Bicept for the lakes and reservoirs of the Flowage, mst of
‘the stream ia too shallow For motorised oraét.

Tee fishing, snewncbiLing and ceoss-county skiiany are the mat

popular Winter activities,

peppere vBasracrion

‘Twency-seven species of emergent. anil 25 species of sulmeryed veyo~

lation were cbserved along the Otter Tail River (Table 4). the greacest,

abunlance and widest variety ccour in the river-lake portion of che Oc
‘Teil River in lhe first three sectors, The low gradient and clear water
are conducive to aquatic plant growth. Wild rloe, Canada vatervoed,
coontadl and claspingleaf porhwed are sam of the more comon aquatic
plants that cocur in tia section.

In Sectore 4 through L1, tha Otter Tail becomes wore riverine with

‘well defined barks, Aquatic: planta aze still abundant but there ts less
diversity than ia the fiewt twee sectors, In this screcch, wild rice ie
stil] comon, as ia coumeail, flatecen pundweel al river pondwend.

In Sector 12 wurbiAity increases and ramet aquatic plant abunlance

dectlues. Sewage effluent fron che City of Fergus Falls is discharged in