<strong>Botany</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wetl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Study</strong> <strong>Report</strong>Southeast Alaska Power Agency1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Project DescriptionThe Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) owns <strong>and</strong> operates the Swan Lake Project, FederalEnergy Regulatory (FERC) No. 2911 (Project), on the northeast side of Carroll Inlet in SoutheastAlaska. SEAPA is currently evaluating the engineering feasibility <strong>and</strong> value of increasing thestorage capacity of the Swan Lake reservoir through an increase in the dam height. Around thereservoir, the FERC boundary roughly follows the 350‐foot elevation contour on the Projectdrawings. SEAPA is planning a 15‐foot raise in full pool elevation; dam crest elevation wouldincrease from an elevation of 344 feet to 350 feet to accommodate a new Probable MaximumFlood (PMF) of 347 feet. The normal maximum surface area of the reservoir would increase from330 feet to 345 feet. It is estimated that there are about 14 miles of shoreline around thereservoir, much of which is moderately to extremely steep (Figure 1). The Project is located inSections 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, <strong>and</strong> 27, Township 29 North, Range 91 East, CopperRiver Meridian. A portion of the proposed reservoir expansion area may include National ForestService l<strong>and</strong>s, particularly in the area of Lost Creek, a tributary that enters the existing reservoiron the northeast side.The Project’s FERC license sets the Project’s boundary around the reservoir at the 350‐footelevation contour. As currently proposed, the increased reservoir will be entirely contained withinthe existing boundary; but it’s possible that a revision of this boundary may be necessary to allowfor operation <strong>and</strong> maintenance of the Project <strong>and</strong> to accommodate other Project purposes such asrecreation, shoreline control, or protection of environmental resources. Any proposed changes tothe facilities, the operation of the reservoir, <strong>and</strong> potential changes to the Project boundary willrequire amending the Project’s FERC license, a process that includes evaluating the potentialimpacts to environmental resources from the proposed action. Two alternatives are evaluated inthis report, No Action, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), <strong>and</strong> theProposed Action. The Swan Lake Expansion Project <strong>Botany</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wetl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Study</strong> <strong>Report</strong> provides anassessment of the current condition of botanical <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong> resources in the analysis area <strong>and</strong>the potential effects of implementing the proposed alternatives on these resources. The analysisaddresses the potential effects associated with construction <strong>and</strong> operation of the proposedProject. The following analysis uses existing information from spatial GIS data, field survey results,scientific literature, <strong>and</strong> other sources, as appropriate.1.2 Purposes of the 2012 Environmental Field ProgramThe purpose of the 2012 environmental field program was to collect baseline environmentalinformation <strong>and</strong> to evaluate the potential for impacts to environmental resources resulting fromthe proposed 15‐foot increase in pool elevation <strong>and</strong> construction of the elevated dam. Resultsof these studies will help inform discussions about the necessary range of environmentalanalyses to support the FERC amendment process. Potential areas of environmental concerninclude potential impacts from the proposed action on (1) the fish <strong>and</strong> aquatic community <strong>and</strong>associated habitat, <strong>and</strong> (2) terrestrial vegetation <strong>and</strong> wildlife <strong>and</strong> features such as soils <strong>and</strong>cultural resources.Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project January 2013FERC Project No. 2911 Page 1 Version: Agency Review
<strong>Botany</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wetl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Study</strong> <strong>Report</strong>Southeast Alaska Power AgencyFigure 1. Project VicinitySwan Lake Hydroelectric Project January 2013FERC Project No. 2911 Page 2 Version: Agency Review