Draft EIS_072312.pdf - Middle Fork American River Project ...

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20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012 Riparian Wildlife Riparian habitats along diversion pools, reservoirs, and bypassed and peaking reaches associated with the project provide potential breeding habitat for special-status riparian-breeding songbirds (e.g., yellow warbler, yellow-breasted chat) and mammals (e.g., western red bat). Removal of riparian vegetation during the bird and bat breeding season 15 could result in destruction of nests and loss of individuals. Ongoing activities that include loss of riparian vegetation as described in the proposed Sediment Management Plan and VIPMP include periodic removal of about 0.04 acre of riparian habitat from Junction Bar (0.01 acre), Indian Bar (0.01 acre), and Willow Bar (0.02 acre) during the placement of a temporary bridge as a result of sediment augmentation activities, and removal and continued vegetation management of about 0.87 acre along channel margins of Junction (0.34 acre) and Indian (0.53 acre) bars to maximize sediment transport during high-flow events. PCWA proposes in its VIPMP to only remove riparian vegetation associated with sediment augmentation between August and March, which is outside of the breeding season for yellow-breasted chat and yellow warbler (April through July). Under the proposed action, modification of existing and new facility construction includes permanent loss of riparian habitat at the following locations: Duncan Creek diversion dam modification (0.03 acre), a new water supply at French Meadow North (0.02 acre), South Fork Long Canyon Creek diversion dam modification (0.01 acre), a new stream gage downstream of South Fork Long Canyon Creek diversion dam (0.03 acre), Hell Hole dam outlet works modification (0.24 acre), and a new stream gage downstream of the Middle Fork interbay dam (0.01 acre). PCWA states in its Sediment Management Plan (which is the same as the Alternative 1 plan) that it would obtain appropriate permits (e.g., California Fish and Game Streambed Alteration Agreement, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit, 401 Certification, or a Forest Service Special Use Authorization) and follow measures identified in these permits. Most of the effects and proposed measures to protect riparian wildlife habitat are also included in Alternative 1 with the following exceptions. Under Alternative 1, additional permanent riparian vegetation would be removed to construct the new French Meadows reservoir trail (0.07 acre) and the Alternative 1 VIPMP specifies that permanent removal of vegetation associated with construction of new project facilities would be conducted between August and March. This restriction is not specified in the proposed VIPMP. 15 Breeding season for yellow warbler and yellow-breasted chat is May 15–July 15 and April 1–July 31, respectively, and the maternity season for bats is early May through late August. 184
20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012 Our Analysis Although some riparian habitat would be removed as a result of the proposed and Alternative 1 actions, we find that increased minimum instream flows, pulse flows with recession rates (in the bypassed reaches only), and down-ramping of spills below French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoir would enhance riparian resources along 79 miles of bypassed reaches and would maintain riparian resources along 28 miles along the peaking reach. In addition, implementation of minimum reservoir pool requirements, installation of the Hell Hole spillway gates, and small diversion modifications would maintain riparian resources at project reservoirs and diversion pools. Implementing measures incorporated in the Alternative 1 VIPMP, which include vegetation removal outside of the bird breeding season, would protect nesting birds using riparian habitat, including species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and reduce the risk of effects on other breeding special-status species, should they occur in riparian habitat. Although the bird breeding season does not completely encompass the maternity season for bats, the riparian-roosting western red bat is not a colonial nester; therefore, it is unlikely that a large roost would be disturbed. Aquatic Dependent Wildlife Proposed actions may affect wildlife species that either forage or breed along or near aquatic habitat. Project actions that have the potential to affect aquatic dependent wildlife (such as invertebrate or fish that provide a prey base for special-status wildlife) include use of pesticides as part of routine vegetation and noxious weed management, fluctuation of water elevations at small and medium diversions, increasing instream flows in the bypassed and peaking reaches, reducing flow fluctuations in the peaking reach, changing reservoir volume, modification of diversion pools, and continued stocking of fish in French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs. In addition to foothill yellow-legged frog, western pond turtle, bald eagle, and osprey (discussed previously), other specialstatus bird species and mammals have been documented foraging at project-affected streams and reservoirs (e.g., American white pelican, Vaux’s swift, pallid bat, Townsend’s big-eared bat, and western red bat) and could potentially breed near project waterbodies (e.g., harlequin duck). PCWA’s proposed and Alternative 1 sediment management activities and modification of minimum instream flows, spill flows, and pulse flows are described previously in this section in the discussion of the foothill yellow-legged frog and in more detail in sections 3.3.1.2, Geologic and Soils Resources, and 3.3.2.2, Aquatic Resources. Fluctuation of impoundment water surface elevations as a result of sediment management activities is described previously in the discussion of the western pond turtle. PCWA’s proposed and the Alternative 1 VIPMPs are discussed in detail in section 3.3.3.2.1, Vegetation. 185
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41 Table 3.3.1-1. Average number of
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43 Site/Release Location Gravel Ini
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45 a Q 1 - TSR, Table G-1 (PCWA, 20
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69 Table 3.3.2-3. Hydrology for sel
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71 Exceedances and Summary Statisti
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91 Figure 3.3.2-6. Fish passage bar
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105 Location American River below M
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Page 225 and 226: 195 Figure 3.3.5-1. French Meadows
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253 Table 3.3.6-1. Archaeological a
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255 Resource Number Type a Descript
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275 Table 4-2. Summary of annual co
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279 Enhancement/Mitigation Measures
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303 c Base 2010 costs were provided
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307 Resource No-Action Alternative
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319 Table 5-2. Staff-recommended mi
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321 Location Middle Fork American R
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