ENDANGERED FISH'S PRICE GOING UP

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 10, 1993                   TAG: 9303100331
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
ENDANGERED FISH'S PRICE GOING UP
Protecting the Roanoke logperch, a small darter that is on the list of endangered species, could be more expensive than Roanoke officials originally expected.
Now they say that it could cost up to $5 million to make changes in the city's sewage-treatment plant that would be required if a section of the Roanoke River is designated as endangered-species waters.
Earlier they estimated that it would cost about $1 million. But Kit Kiser, director of utilities and operations, said that figure was based on outdated information.
Because of the high cost of the new equipment that would be needed, City Council will oppose a proposal to designate part of the river as endangered-species waters.
Because of the water quality standards that would be needed, the city would have to switch from a chlorine process to an ozone or ultraviolet light system to disinfect effluent that is discharged.
The state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has identified as endangered waters the section of the Roanoke River from its confluence with Tinker Creek upstream to the confluence of the north and south forks in Montgomery County.
The state also has identified part of Tinker Creek as endangered waters: the section from its confluence with the Roanoke River upstream to highway U.S. 11, just downstream at Cloverdale.
Council won't oppose the endangered-species designation for Tinker Creek and the section of the river upstream from the Jefferson Street Bridge because those areas don't affect the treatment plant.
But it will object to the designation from the bridge downstream to the city limits. The treatment plant discharges into the river below the bridge. The Crystal Springs basin, which contains fluorine, must be emptied into the river below the bridge so repairs can be made to it.
The state Water Control Board will decide in June whether the proposed water quality standards will be approved.
City officials also were worried that the classification might hamper the Roanoke River flood-reduction project. But Kiser said Tuesday the classification will have no apparent impact on the Roanoke River flood-reduction project. When the logperch was being considered for listing as an endangered species, Roanoke and Roanoke County complained that such a status would increase the cost for the Spring Hollow reservoir and the flood-reduction project.
The logperch, a darter that reaches a length of 5 1/2 inches, held up a federal permit for the Spring Hollow reservoir for nearly three years. Plans for the reservoir were revised to protect the fish.
The fish is native to the Roanoke River drainage area. It was discovered in the Roanoke River near Roanoke in 1888. Surveys put the largest number of logperch in the upper river, primarily from Salem west into Montgomery County.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB