Botany and Wetlands Study Report - McMillen, LLC

Botany and Wetlands Study ReportSoutheast Alaska Power Agencylocated on seepy, south‐facing cliffs that were created when the Swan Lake Project was initiallybuilt. This habitat is common within the analysis area.Direct and Indirect ImpactsThe proposed project would not likely have direct effects to the population because projectactivities are unlikely to occur in the area where this species was observed (below the dam).Additionally, this species was not observed in the analysis area inundation zone. Indirect effectsto plants are possible, potentially occurring as a result of construction activities occurring in thevicinity of the population. Alternatively, habitat for brightgreen spleenwort may be created bythe project if rocks or cliffy habitat is exposed by road improvements or construction activities.The presence of additional undetected populations is likely because this type of habitat iscommon within the analysis area and the area was not completely surveyed for this species.4.2.3 Boreal bedstraw (Galium kamtschaticum Steller ex Schult & Schult)Boreal bedstraw is a perennial bedstraw species that typically grows in moist, cold coniferousforests and moist places (Schultz 2003). Its range includes much of eastern Canada and severalnortheastern states, northwestern Canada, Washington, the Aleutian chain and Alaska (USDANRCS 2012). Prior to field surveys in August 2012, there were no known populations of borealbedstraw the Tongass National Forest. On the 2008 AKNHP rare plant list, boreal bedstraw wasassigned a rank of S2; however, on the 2012 list it has been assigned a rank of S4 in Alaska(AKNHP 2008; AKNHP 2012). The Rank S4 indicates that the taxon is more common thanpreviously thought and may include species that would be more accurately described as S4S5 orS5 (AKNHP 2012). Because of its S4 rank, it is no longer actively tracked by the AKNHP.A single boreal bedstraw population was located in the analysis area on the gently slopedriparian terrace of Lost Creek. Plants were located under dense stands of tall shrubs in forestedwetlands and uplands immediately adjacent to forested wetlands. An estimated total of 30rhizomatous patches were mapped and likely more were present throughout the denselyvegetated area.The proposed project would likely have direct effects on several of the plants in the populationbecause most of the population would be inundated by the 15‐foot dam pool raise. Indirecteffects to plants not inundated are also possible, potentially occurring as a result of light levelchanges or water table level changes resulting from inundation. The presence of additionalundetected populations in the analysis area is possible because the analysis area includesadditional potential habitat for this species.4.2.4 Northern bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus Michx.)Northern bugleweed is a rhizomatous perennial herb in the mint family with square stems andtiny white flowers (see Appendix C, Swan Lake Project Area Photos). Its habitat includes aSwan Lake Hydroelectric Project January 2013FERC Project No. 2911 Page 22 Version: Agency Review