An Inside Look at Osprey on the Yadkin River: Alcoa Webcam Provides Live View of Birds, Baby Chicks

People from across North Carolina and around the world once again have a front-row seat to watch a pair of osprey nesting atop the Narrows Dam at Badin Lake. Alcoa’s popular OspreyCam returns for the third year to provide live coverage of osprey preparing for the arrival of new chicks. The OspreyCam can be viewed online at www.alcoa.com/ospreycam.  

A new pair of osprey claimed the Badin Lake nest this year. For the past several years, it had been home to a pair of osprey named Oscar and Oliveea by Alcoa employees who grew fond of the birds. Last year, Oscar and Oliveea produced three osprey chicks that hatched in late April and took flight in June.

The Osprey Cam is now following a new pair of birds who have been busy sprucing up their nest in recent weeks and laid two eggs in the past week. Viewers will be able to watch as the chicks hatch, get accustomed to their new surroundings and learn to fly.  

“It’s quite a sight. We’re blessed to have such an intimate look at these birds and how they prepare for the arrival of their new chicks. It's like a reality show based in our own backyard,” said Mark Gross, technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc., which operates four dams along the Yadkin River.

Since launching the webcam in 2012, it has attracted viewers from 87 countries.

Visitors can follow updates on the bird in a blog on the Alcoa site and can join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #AlcoaOspreyCam.

Ospreys are large birds — with a wingspan of 5-6 feet — that resemble bald eagles. The birds live along rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water where they can feed on fish. The open water and large tracts of undeveloped shoreline at the Yadkin Project provide the perfect setting for wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons and great egrets. 

“We’re surrounded by nature and are committed to preserving the habitat around the Yadkin Project. We spotted a record number of bald eagle nests on our property this year and are proud that wildlife is thriving here,” Gross said. 

Alcoa also operates an EagleCam that provides a live look at two bald eagle chicks in Davenport, Iowa. The site, www.alcoa.com/eaglecam, has received nearly 20 million visitors. 

The Positive Impact of Alcoa’s Water Quality Investments: Water Leaving Yadkin Project Hits Mark 100% of the Time

Water leaving the Yadkin Project meets state standards for water quality 100% of the time, according to a report on dissolved oxygen that was submitted to the NC Division of Water Resources in March.

Dissolved oxygen levels are a key indicator of water quality and are often used by state agencies as a benchmark. Alcoa Power Generating (APGI) has been closely monitoring dissolved oxygen levels at the Yadkin Project since 2007 and provides an annual report to the state. The Yadkin Project is not currently subjected to state standards for dissolved oxygen, but it will be once a new federal license is issued.

The report shows that turbine upgrades and other enhancements made several years ago have continued to improve water quality at the Yadkin Project.

“The investments we’ve made at Narrows Dam continue to enhance water quality,” said Ray Barham, APGI’s Yadkin Relicensing Manager. “We’ve spent more than $5 million in new technology at the Narrows Dam and it has been very effective at improving downstream water quality.”

Quality Improves As Water Flows Through the Yadkin Project
Water enters the Yadkin Project at High Rock Lake with relatively low concentrations of dissolved oxygen. After traveling 38 miles down the Yadkin River and passing through four dams operated by APGI, the water quality improves significantly before it is discharged at the Falls Dam.

In 2013, water discharged from High Rock Dam met the state standard for dissolved oxygen 78% of the time (based on daily average measurements). It met those same standards 100% when discharged from Narrows Dam and Falls Dam.

$80 Million in Additional Investments Planned by Alcoa
APGI has committed to investing up to $80 million to continue improving water quality at the Yadkin Project, beginning with a $40 million investment at High Rock Lake. APGI will install three “through-the-blade” aerating turbines at High Rock once the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues a new license for the Yadkin Project. The engineering, planning, and model testing of the new turbines has already been completed.

“We will begin work at High Rock Dam as soon as we receive a new license,” Barham said.

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Summary of 2013 Dissolved Oxygen Report Findings
The state measures dissolved oxygen concentrations in two different ways: through instantaneous measurements recorded every 15 minutes, and with a daily average of all measurements in a given day. Here is how the four Yadkin dams performed in 2013 versus a state standard that will take effect when a new federal license is issued:

High Rock Dam (Water enters the Yadkin Project at High Rock)
77.8% compliance with new standard - Daily Average Measurement (Up 39% over 2012)
93.4% compliance with new standard - Instantaneous Measurement (Up 34.2% over 2012)

Tuckertown Dam   
70.1% compliance with new standard - Daily Average Measurement (Up 36.9% over 2012)
87.4% compliance with new standard - Instantaneous Measurement (Up 36.6% over 2012)

Narrows Dam (New technology installed in 2001 and 2007)
100% compliance with new standard - Daily Average Measurement (Up 0.5% over 2012)
99.9% compliance with new standard - Instantaneous Measurement (Same as 2012)

Falls Dam (Water exits the Yadkin Project at Falls) 
100% compliance with new standard - Daily Average Measurement (Up 13.7% over 2012)
100% compliance with new standard - Instantaneous Measurement (Up 3.4% over 2012)

Additional Notes
1. The state standards for dissolved oxygen do not currently apply to the Yadkin Project, but the rule will be applicable under a new federal license.
2. Differences in hydrologic, meteorological and/or other natural conditions or tailwater aquatic vegetation can effect dissolved oxygen levels from one year to the next.