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

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
Our Analysis
Use of herbicides, surfactants, and fungicides as part of the routine vegetation and
noxious weed management has the potential to degrade aquatic habitat; however,
implementing the measures near project-related waterbodies (e.g., restrictive applications
of chemicals) identified in the proposed and Alternative 1 VIPMPs would minimize
effects on special-status wildlife using project impoundments, perennial or seasonal
streams, and special aquatic features. Although both versions of the VIPMP include
application buffers, Alternative 1 provides further detail about the type of herbicide,
method of treatment, and associated buffer distance.
Increasing minimum instream flows in the bypassed and peaking reaches, reduced
flow fluctuations in the peaking reach, continued stocking of Hell Hole and French
Meadows reservoirs, and minor if any changes to minimum pool requirements are
expected to maintain or enhance of aquatic macroinvertebrate and fish populations in
bypassed reaches, peaking reach, and reservoirs, and as a result enhance aquatic foraging
habitat for special-status species. A change in instream flows is unlikely to affect nesting
harlequin ducks, as the preferred breeding range is outside of the project area.
The temporary dewatering of small and mid-sized impoundments has the potential
to affect foraging year-round resident bats (pallid bat, Townsend’s big-eared bat, and
greater western mastiff bat), invertebrate-eating birds (e.g., swifts), and game mammals
(e.g., mule deer). However, the timing of the dewatering would occur during the late
summer and fall (post-reproduction). Nearby aquatic features would provide alternative
suitable foraging habitat. Following the modification of the diversions at the small-sized
impoundments, dewatering at these locations is expected to decrease substantially or
cease and subsequently it is expected that foraging habitat would improve over a new
license term.
The fish stocking level proposed by PCWA may reduce the number of fish in
French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs and consequently reduce prey for fish-eating
species (e.g., American white pelican). However, the proposed levels of stocking would
likely be sufficient for special-status wildlife that have come to rely on these stocked fish.
The level of fish stocking under Alternative 1 would ensure that the historical level of
stocking would continue over the term of a new license.
Forest Dependent Wildlife
Under the proposed action (including construction of new facilities, routine
maintenance, and/or non-routine recreation facility activities), forest-dwelling species
have the potential to be affected by secondary poisoning as a result of rodent control, and
noise and habitat loss or degradation from vegetation removal. Forests in the vicinity of
the project have been documented to provide habitat for special-status birds (including
northern goshawk, golden eagle, osprey, California spotted owl, sooty [blue] grouse,
mountain quail, hairy woodpecker) and mammals (American marten, Pacific fisher, mule
deer). Suitable habitat is present for other forest-dwelling species (see table 3.3.3-5), and
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