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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationPast actions that have restricted eel and fish passage through Buckeye Brook include installation of roadculverts at Warwick Avenue, Old Warwick Avenue, and West Shore Road outside of the Project Area. Culvertsat Lakeshore Road, existing Airport Road, the service road north of existing Airport Road, and at the outletstructure at Spring Green Pond restrict fish passage between Warwick Pond and Spring Green Pond.Consideration also was given to anticipated planned projects as documented in Table 5-5.Wetlands A10, A13, and A14, once a 110-acre contiguous marsh (together currently 53.7 acres, representing anapproximate 51 percent historical loss of wetlands) are now separated by large areas of filled land. Directwetland acreage lost and indirect fragmentation associated with the landfill operations in the marsh hasreduced the habitat suitability of the remaining wetland for waterfowl and wading birds.Alternatives B2 and B4 would have minimal additional cumulative impact on important remaining habitats atthe Runway 34 End utilized by waterfowl and grassland birds. Alternatives B2 and B4 would completely avoidimpacts to remaining pine barren and Atlantic white cedar habitats.Alternative B2 would be unlikely to cause further cumulative degradation to the migratory fish run in BuckeyeBrook associated with the minor relocation of approximately 112 linear feet of stream, however careful designwould be required to maintain fish passage in Buckeye Brook through the culvert extension proposed atLakeshore Drive.Alternative B2 could have cumulative adverse impacts on terrestrial biodiversity through the alteration ofapproximately 36 acres of wildlife habitat. Impacts associated with the important terrestrial habitats north of AirportRoad would be avoided, but approximately 1.5 acres of forested wetland along Buckeye Brook would be filled. Thisarea is occasionally visited by the state-listed black-crowned night-heron during herring runs, but other areas alongBuckeye Brook could be utilized, minimizing the potential for further cumulative impact to this species.Construction of Fully Relocated Airport Road would result in the direct loss of 1.1 acres and fragmentation ofthe remaining 6.5 acres of forested wetland habitat associated with Wetland A2. The habitat within this wetlandhas been degraded by incremental encroachment by residential development and artificial drainage. Somedisplacement of common species of mammal and songbirds that utilize this patch as part of a mosaic of isolatedforaging areas may be anticipated.Alternative B4 would not require any activities to be conducted within Buckeye Brook or Spring Green Pond.Impacts to relocate or culvert segments of Tributary A and A11 are not anticipated to affect fish, wildlife orplant populations within the Study Area. Alternative B4 would avoid all impact to habitats present at theRunway 23 End. Impacts at the Runway 34 End would consist of approximately 8.6 acres of habitat. This habitatconsists of:• 2.1 acres of invasive common reed,• 1.4 acres of emergent vegetation, primarily mown grasses, sedges and rushes along the edges of the airfield,• 1.4 acres of shrub swamp in the VMP where trees are removed to maintain clear airspace,• 0.2 acres of forested wetland in Wetland A11,Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-236 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc