Condit Dam Removal Condit Dam Removal - Access Washington
Condit Dam Removal Condit Dam Removal - Access Washington
Condit Dam Removal Condit Dam Removal - Access Washington
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<strong>Condit</strong> <strong>Dam</strong> Hydroelectric Project<br />
Final Supplemental EIS<br />
Cumulative effects are impacts on the environment that result from the incremental<br />
consequences of a project when added to other past or reasonably foreseeable future actions<br />
(regardless of who would take the future action). The cumulative effects may be undetectable<br />
when viewed individually, but add to other disturbances and eventually lead to a measurable<br />
change. Examples are changes to land use, the loss of wetland areas, the elimination of wildlife<br />
habitats, changes in traffic and transportation, or increased noise levels.<br />
The removal of <strong>Condit</strong> <strong>Dam</strong> would have direct impacts on a number of elements of the<br />
environment during the pre-dam, dam breaching and removal, and post-removal management.<br />
Secondary and cumulative effects would primarily be limited to aquatic resources,<br />
transportation, and land use.<br />
Aquatic Resources<br />
The primary consideration for cumulative effects on aquatic resources is concern whether<br />
anadromous salmonid stocks that are already depressed by the effects of dams and reservoirs on<br />
the Columbia River and other influences will have the ability to recover from additional impacts<br />
of the sediment released from Northwestern Lake from the breaching of <strong>Condit</strong> <strong>Dam</strong>. The<br />
mitigation proposed to protect the fall Chinook salmon is trapping and hatchery rearing one yearclass<br />
appears to address the concern for that species. Another species of potential concern is the<br />
Columbia River chum salmon. It is probably not feasible to trap them for hatchery rearing, and<br />
it may not be possible to restore suitability in the following year to their spawning gravel unless<br />
storm flows in the White Salmon River are particularly favorable. However, long-term effects<br />
are viewed as beneficial.<br />
Transportation<br />
The proposed project would create approximately 25 full-time jobs and an estimated 200 vehicle<br />
trips per day from the dam removal site. With the majority of trips being located on-site<br />
(removal of debris to areas a few thousand feet upstream of the dam), the small increase in trips<br />
on local roads associated with the proposed project is not anticipated to create traffic congestion<br />
or a diminution of the level of service (LOS) at any affected intersection.<br />
Other approved projects in the area are not anticipated to have overlapping construction and/or<br />
demolition periods. It is anticipated that construction/demolition vehicles for these overlapping<br />
projects traveling into or out of <strong>Washington</strong> State would be via State Route (SR) 14 and not<br />
result in cumulative impacts on SR 141 or Powerhouse Road.<br />
Land Use/Critical Areas<br />
The change from a dam and lake to a free-flowing stream will likely change the long term land<br />
use characteristics around the stream. Future land use will be controlled by the comprehensive<br />
plan and zoning designations of the respective counties.<br />
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