I-10 Twin Peaks Traffic Interchange, Environmental Assessment

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts October 2005 AGFD records show that no southwestern willow flycatcher has been detected in the study area. Southwestern willow flycatchers were not observed during a pedestrian survey of the study area. Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys were conducted at the Ina Road crossing of the Santa Cruz River in 2003, located approximately 3 miles south of the study area. No southwestern willow flycatchers were detected. The closest known breeding territory was detected near the confluence of Cienega Creek and Gardner Canyon, which is located approximately 30 miles south of the study area, although breeding was not detected in 2003. Yellow-billed Cuckoo The yellow-billed cuckoo is listed as a candidate species. Suitable habitat for the species in the western United States is limited to narrow, and often widely separated, riparian cottonwood-willow galleries (salt cedar is also used by the cuckoo). Dense understory foliage appears to be an important factor in nest site selection, while cottonwood trees are an important foraging habitat. Surveys were conducted by Sage Landscape Architecture and Environmental, Inc. from August through September 2002 along four reaches of the Santa Cruz River and four reaches of the Tanque Verde Creek near Tucson. Survey areas included suitable habitat for yellow-billed cuckoos that contained mixed broadleaf riparian deciduous trees with stratified canopy. Using call tapes, five yellow-billed cuckoos were identified at four separate sites, two individuals along the Santa Cruz River and three along the Tanque Verde Creek. All appeared to be unpaired males. Impacts No Build Alternative The no build alternative would have no impacts upon threatened and endangered species in the project area. Preferred Alternative The study area does contain suitable habitat for the CFPO. Suitable habitat consists of riparian vegetation along the Santa Cruz River and Arizona Upland vegetation in the vicinity of Linda Vista Boulevard. Some locations in the study area do not contain suitable pygmy-owl habitat. These locations include areas of intense urban development and associated infrastructures that no longer support appropriate vegetation components. AGFD records indicate that pygmy-owls are known to occur approximately two miles north of the study area, although surveys for CFPOs conducted since 2001 have not detected pygmy-owls in the study area. Of the approximately 15 acres of proposed critical habitat for the CFPO within the study area, approximately 12 acres would be temporarily impacted by construction activities and approximately 0.5 acres beneath the proposed Santa Cruz River bridges would be permanently impacted by the project. However, based on the proposed replacement of trees, habitat connectivity important to successful dispersal would be maintained or enhanced. Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange at Twin Peaks/Linda Vista 4-30 Project No.: NH-010-D (AIW) TRACS No.: 10 PM 236 H5838 01D
Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts October 2005 Proposed improvements to Twin Peaks Road, Linda Vista Boulevard, and El Camino de Mañana would impact vegetation in area of suitable habitat. Vegetation impacts in suitable habitat would be limited to riparian vegetation along the Santa Cruz River and desertscrub vegetation in upland areas along Linda Vista Boulevard and El Camino de Mañana. Prior to removal of vegetation during construction, the Town of Marana would develop a revegetation plan that would comply with the Arizona Native Plant Law (ANPL), and Native Plant Protection Ordinances (NPPO) of the Town of Marana and Pima County. In addition, the revegetation plan would include Corps’ recommendations from the TRDN Feasibility Study (see Mitigation below). As a result of the revegetation plan, the value of the vegetation in the disturbed area of the project area would be improved by construction of the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative is not likely to adversely affect CFPO or its habitat because: 1) although pygmy-owls do occur within mean dispersal distance of the study area, USFWS is not aware of any nesting pairs within this distance; 2) impacts to riparian vegetation would be temporary and would not permanently impede use of the Santa Cruz River as a movement corridor; 3) loss of desertscrub vegetation does not occur in areas used by pygmy-owls for nesting; 4) width of the proposed Twin Peaks Road and noise from traffic should not prevent movement of pygmy-owls across it; and, 5) the bridges over the Santa Cruz River would be of sufficient height to allow unimpeded wildlife movement underneath. The preferred alternative would result in disturbances to suitable habitat to the yellow-billed cuckoo. In addition, the species has been documented in the study area; therefore, the project may impact individual cuckoos, but is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of yellow-billed cuckoos. The Section 7 of the ESA requires federal agencies to ensure that the actions they authorize, fund, or carry out do not jeopardize the continued existence of endangered species. To comply with Section 7 requirements, FHWA requested concurrence with the USFWS on August 4, 2004 which resulted in the USFWS concurring that the Preferred Alternative would not jeopardize the endangered CFPO nor the yellow-billed cuckoo in a letter dated December 21, 2004 (see Appendix B). Mitigation Prior to construction, the Town of Marana would develop a revegetation plan that would incorporate the mitigation discussed below. This revegetation plan would be provided to the contractor. Mitigation measures would include revegetation of impacted areas along the roadway and the riparian vegetation along the Santa Cruz River. Mitigation would include: • Disturbed soils would be re-seeded using species native to the project vicinity and would mirror the current plant composition to the extent possible. • Within upland areas, trees greater than 4 inches diameter at breast height and Saguaro cactus that are removed would be replaced within the overall Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange at Twin Peaks/Linda Vista 4-31 Project No.: NH-010-D (AIW) TRACS No.: 10 PM 236 H5838 01D
Page 1:
Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange a
Page 4 and 5:
Draft Environmental Assessment Octo
Page 6 and 7:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Mitigation Measures October 2005
Page 14 and 15:
Mitigation Measures October 2005 19
Page 16 and 17:
Mitigation Measures October 2005 St
Page 18 and 19:
Introduction October 2005 CHAPTER 1
Page 20 and 21:
AVRA VALLEY RD MARANA I-10 SCENIC D
Page 22 and 23:
Introduction October 2005 Cortaro R
Page 24 and 25:
Project Purpose and Need October 20
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Alternatives October 2005 CHAPTER 3
Page 36 and 37:
Alternatives October 2005 Figure 3-
Page 38 and 39: Alternatives October 2005 • Shall
Page 40 and 41: Alternatives October 2005 Interstat
Page 42 and 43: Alternatives October 2005 Road). Pr
Page 44 and 45: Alternatives October 2005 Preferred
Page 46 and 47: Alternatives October 2005 Twin Peak
Page 48 and 49: Alternatives October 2005 I-10 Fron
Page 50 and 51: Alternatives October 2005 Linda Vis
Page 52 and 53: Alternatives October 2005 Twin Peak
Page 54 and 55: Alternatives October 2005 and sidew
Page 56 and 57: Alternatives October 2005 proposed
Page 58 and 59: Alternatives October 2005 Near the
Page 60 and 61: Avra Valley Rd. Twin Peaks Rd. Silv
Page 62 and 63: Affected Environment and Environmen
Page 78 and 79: Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange a
Page 120 and 121: Wall to Protect Rec. ID Affected En
Page 136 and 137: 44.20 Avra Valley Rd Twin Peaks Rd
Page 138 and 139:
Affected Environment and Environmen
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Public Involvement/Project Coordina
Page 166 and 167:
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Conclusion October 2005 Interstate
Page 178 and 179:
Bibliography October 2005 CHAPTER 8
Page 180 and 181:
Bibliography October 2005 Tetra Tec
show all

I-10 Twin Peaks Traffic Interchange, Environmental Assessment

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?