T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation4.11.2 Affected EnvironmentThe Project Area and Study Area are in an urbanized section of Warwick characterized by industrial, mixedcommercial and dense residential development. Biotic communities within the Airport are managed inaccordance with FAA requirements to minimize the risk of aviation collision with wildlife and maintainunobstructed airspace surfaces. The following sections summarize the biotic communities and existingmanagement plans for the T.F. Green Airport.4.11.2.1 Biotic ResourcesThis section provides information on state-listed species in the Study Area and describes the biotic communitiesfor the Study Area and Project Area. There are no federally listed species in the Study Area, as discussed inSection 4.12, Federal Threatened and Endangered Species. Figures 4-28 and 4-29 show the natural communities ofthe Study Area and Project Area, respectively.For this FEIS, biodiversity is described primarily in terms of important fish, wildlife, and plant communities thatare known to occur in the Project Area and Study Area. Rare species are subject to regulatory protection,whereas overall biodiversity is not. Rare species may have greater sensitivity to human practices, and they areoften more habitat-specific than common species and, therefore, more likely to be affected by disturbance.The RINHP publishes lists of native species of plants and animals that are rare within the state. 223 The RINHPdefines endangered as a native species in imminent danger of extirpation from Rhode Island. Populations ofthese species have already been reduced to a critically low number or have experienced drastic habitat loss ordegradation. Immediate management action is required to prevent extinction in the state. A threatened speciesis a native species that is likely to become state-endangered in the future if current trends in habitat loss or otherdetrimental factors remain unchanged. In general, these organisms have three to five known or estimatedpopulations and are especially vulnerable to habitat loss. A state species of concern is a native species (orsubspecies) not considered to be state-endangered or threatened at the present time, but is listed due to variousfactors of rarity and/or vulnerability. The RINHP maintains and publishes lists of species considered to beendangered, threatened, or of concern in the state.State-listed Endangered and Threatened Biotic ResourcesTwo state species of concern may be present within the Study Area: the freshwater Eastern lampmussel(Lampsilis radiata) and wild rice (Zizania aquatica). Warwick Pond historically supported a large population offreshwater mussels, but recent surveys of Warwick Pond did not locate any unique mussel species, suggestingthat these populations may have collapsed. 224 Wild rice occurs in the tidal freshwater reach of Buckeye Brookbetween Route 117 and Mill Cove (approximately one mile downstream of the Study Area limits).223 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Natural Heritage Program (www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/plandev/heritage/ ).224 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Natural Heritage Program , correspondence, August 11, 2005.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-61 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc