Appendix F Detailed Cover Type Tables - USDA Rural Development
Appendix F Detailed Cover Type Tables - USDA Rural Development
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