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

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
been undertaken to benefit the reintroduction effort. As discussed in section 3.3.2.3,
Cumulative Effects on Central Valley Steelhead, the filing of this report would ensure
that PCWA and the Commission are kept informed of the progress of the potential
reintroduction and assist the Commission in its responsibilities under the ESA. This
information would then be used to determine when it is appropriate to consider any
needed changes to project facilities or operations to accommodate the restoration
process. The value of keeping the Commission informed about pending ESA actions at
the PCWA project would be worth the estimated levelized annual cost of $5,000.
Expanded Special Status Plant Survey Area
Both the proposed and Alternative 1 VIPMPs provide for surveys at 5-year
intervals for special status plants and mosses consistent with the methods in the specialstatus
plants technical study report (PCWA, 2008a). However, the area surveyed during
the pre-application special status plant surveys did not include a portion of the French
Meadows Campground water supply facility access road. Routine maintenance along
this road could potentially affect special-status plants, if present, and surveys in this area
would address any potential effects from project activities. Therefore, we recommend
that the VIPMP included in a new license include special status plant surveys at 5-year
intervals along the entire French Meadows Campground water supply access road. The
benefits of ensuring the same level of protection for special status plants that may occur
there as other areas included in the geographic scope of the proposed and Alternative 1
VIPMP during the term of a new license is worth the estimated levelized annual cost of
$1,260.
Expanded Scope of Raptor Nest Surveys Prior to Construction
PCWA’s proposed and the Alternative 1 Recreation and Transportation System
Management Plans include a provision that, prior to recreation facility modification or
construction that is planned during the raptor breeding season, a raptor nest survey
would be conducted by a qualified biologist to determine the presence of raptor nests
within 500 feet of the construction site. No specific provisions are included in these
plans to have the biologist also survey for the presence of other special status wildlife,
by either direct observation or identifiable signs, that may occur within 500 feet of
construction sites. The same factors that could result in disturbance of raptor nests near
construction sites may also disturb other special status species of wildlife during their
breeding seasons, which generally overlaps with the raptor breeding season. Therefore,
we recommend that, during the proposed raptor nest surveys, the trained biologist also
document any evidence that other special status species of wildlife are present within
500 feet of the proposed construction site, and if so, consult with the Forest Service,
FWS, and California Fish and Game regarding any protective measures that should be
implemented. We recommend that similar surveys be conducted prior to all projectrelated
construction. This measure would not result in any additional costs over the
proposed or Alternative 1 plans, and the extra level of protection of additional special
status wildlife that this measure would provide is warranted.
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