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Appendix F Detailed Cover Type Tables - USDA Rural Development

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Bemidji – Grand Rapids<br />

Biological Assessment and Evaluation<br />

5.3.3.2 Direct and Indirect Effects<br />

Impacts to these species typical of partial to closed canopy conifer swamp, are likely to consist of<br />

alteration of hydrological conditions, removal of forest canopy, or direct impact to individuals due to<br />

construction.<br />

The construction of H‐frame structures will likely have a limited footprint (1,000 sq. ft. per pole<br />

maximum). Individual pole locations will be sited to avoid any known TES locations. No impacts are<br />

expected to any species of this guild based on direct construction activities as all known locations will be<br />

avoided for both permanent pole siting, or during temporary construction.<br />

Transmission line construction will generally consist of H‐frame timber construction with permanent<br />

direct ground alteration limited to pole locations. Individual poles would be placed into a drilled hole<br />

and backfilled with compacted material for stability. It is not expected that any alteration of hydrology<br />

within conifer swamps would occur based on placement of transmission line poles.<br />

Species of this guild will be adversely impacted where canopy is temporarily or permanently removed<br />

for the new corridor. Arethusa bulbosa – dragon’s mouth orchid, Botrychium simplex, least moonwort,<br />

Platanthera clavellata – club spur orchid and Ranunculus lapponicus – lapland buttercup are also listed<br />

in open bog and fen communities. Though individuals of those species that may inhabit open areas are<br />

also present in these forested communities, removal of canopy can adversely affect those individuals<br />

due to the related stress of canopy removal and the potential for direct harvesting and construction<br />

related impacts. Removal of canopy will create localized increases in sunlight, favoring species adapted<br />

to open conditions, and removing habitat for those species (and individuals) not adapted to open<br />

conditions. All species in this guild present in locations where new transmission corridor would be<br />

placed would be adversely affected due to loss of canopy.<br />

Winter construction using matting and removal of excavated material from pole locations will limit the<br />

potential effects to hydrology and soil disturbance. Where clearing of canopy occurs, individual species<br />

of this guild are likely to be adversely effected, directly and indirectly by change in plant community<br />

structure. Prior to construction, field surveys will be conducted to identify individual occurrences of<br />

species in this guild and route shifts will take place where possible. Where impacts are unavoidable, the<br />

applicant will obtain necessary take permits and negotiate appropriate mitigation.<br />

Route 1 Alternative (Great Lakes Pipeline)<br />

This alternative crosses numerous conifer swamps which have been cleared in the past along existing<br />

utility corridors and presently exist as sedge meadows, shrub‐carr and regrowth conifer swamp. This<br />

alternative would likely involve widening these existing corridors. Significant conifer swamps occur in<br />

scattered stands around the south side of Lower Sucker Lake, south of Portage Lake, a mile wide portion<br />

between Portage Lake and Bena, a half mile portion north of Six Mile Lake, in a roughly four mile<br />

segment near Nushka Lake and Rice Lake, and a one‐mile portion largely maintained as utility corridor<br />

north of the Cohaset Power Plant.<br />

• Nine populations with 110 Botrychium simplex individuals were identified within this route<br />

during EP surveys. Two populations of this species were identified during Enbridge Pipeline<br />

surveys within Route 1, Alternative C.<br />

• DNR and CNF data indicates that one population of Malaxis monophyllos var. brachypoda is<br />

present within Route 1 south of Lower Sucker Lake.<br />

July 2010 Environmental Consequences Page 5‐77

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