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Dames & Moore, 1999 - USDA Forest Service

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Proportion of individuals as top carnivores<br />

Proportion of individuals as hybrids<br />

Proportion of individuals with disease. tumors. fin damage, and skeletal anomalies<br />

The data are presented in Section 4.6 in Table 4.6-3a.<br />

Application of Obtained Information<br />

As stated above, the hypotheses to be tested by this study are:<br />

There is no difference between populations of fish and benthos between potentially<br />

affected and reference areas.<br />

Differences observed between populations of fish and benthos in potentially affected and<br />

reference areas are due to physical impacts.<br />

Differences observed between populations of fish and benthos in potentially affected and<br />

reference areas are due to chemical impacts.<br />

The first hypothesis will be tested directly by the rapid bioassessment protocol (RBP) data collected by<br />

comparing the overall summary statistics generated by the RBPs for potentially impacted and reference<br />

locations.<br />

If the first hypothesis was rejected, the second hypothesis was tested by comparison of populations from<br />

potentially impacted and reference areas that are of similar habitat quality. When populations were not<br />

similar between physically similar reference and pbtentia~~y impacted areas, chemical conditions were<br />

assumed to be.the cause of the observed population decline on site. However, if, for example, when it<br />

was found that there were differences in population characteristics like dominance of "shredders" in<br />

reference areas and dominance of "scrapers" on site, this suggested that physical conditions are<br />

responsible for observed differences.<br />

The third hypothesis was assumed to have been confirmed if both of the first two hypotheses were<br />

rejected.<br />

3.9.2 Terrestrial Biota<br />

During the initial stages of the threatened and endangered species investigation, letters were sent to<br />

several public agencies requesting information on special status plants and animals, and designated or<br />

proposed critical habitat in the vicinity of the Site area. Information was received from the U.S. Fish &<br />

Wildlife <strong>Service</strong> (USFWS), USFS, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and<br />

Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP). The latest inventories and database information from<br />

the USFS, WDFW, and WDNH were reviewed before the field survey effort began in September.<br />

Mallory Lenz, wildlife and plant biologist with the USFS (Chelan Ranger District), was the primary<br />

contact for the most up to date information regarding status species in the Railroad Creek drainage and<br />

surrounding areas.<br />

Surveys were conducted from September 9 to 17, 1997, to assess habitat and observe wildlife at and<br />

surrounding the Site. The general surveys were conducted daily, regardless, of the weather conditions.<br />

O:\wpdara\OOJ\reponrUloldcn-Z\riU-O.doc<br />

17693-005-019Uuly 19. <strong>1999</strong>;2:07 PM:DRAFT FINAL RI REPORT

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