Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-31 JBLM YTC fire break road. Vegetation along the fire break is disturbed and dominated by non-native species including cheatgrass and Russian thistle (Salsola kali). Vegetation near the fire break consists of a mosaic of sagebrush with perennial bunchgrasses and annual grasses, rabbitbrush with annual grasses, and annual grasslands comprised predominately of cheatgrass (Table 3.2-1). Several small ephemeral creeks with upland vegetation are also crossed by Route Segment 1b. Kittitas Canyon Creek is crossed by Route Segment 1b and has an aspen grove and some riparian vegetation associated with it. WNHP data indicate that Hoover’s tauschia is known to occur within one mile of Route Segment 1b. Hoover’s tauschia flowers in early to late March and may not have been detectable during the May 2011 Project-specific surveys. One occurrence of Nuttall’s sandwort, a special status plant species, was identified along this route segment. This occurrence consisted of approximately 10 individuals scattered throughout 34 square feet within and along the ROW. Two occurrences of snowball cactus were documented during the special status plant survey along Route Segment 1b. This species was not determined to be a special status plant until after the surveys were complete; therefore, its mapped location is based on field notes and retrospective mapping. As such, information on number of individuals and acres occupied was not collected. In addition, approximately 57 percent (138.2 acres) of federal lands within this route segment were surveyed for special status plants (Table 3.2-3). The remaining un- surveyed area consisted of 103.7 acres of inaccessible federal lands and 1.9 acres of non-federal lands. Approximately 50.3 acres of suitable habitat, 149.5 acres of marginal habitat, and 28.7 acres of unsuitable habitat is present within this route segment (Table 3.2-6). No priority ecosystems are within five miles of Route Segment 1b. Six noxious weed species were identified on federal land during the noxious weed survey and include: burningbush, hoary cress (Cardaria draba), diffuse knapweed, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), and Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium). Approximately 33.7 acres of federal land within Route Segment 1b are documented as occupied by these seven noxious weed species; however, burningbush occurrences were not mapped because of its ubiquitous and dominant nature on federal and WSDOT land within the Project study area (Table 3.2-2; Appendix B-4 Noxious Weed Reports). 3.2.4.3 Route Segment 1c Route Segment 1c parallels Route Segment 1b for the majority of the route segment. Vegetation within the two-mile wide Project study area for Route Segment 1c is comprised primarily of non-native annual grasses such as cheatgrass (8,869.0 acres, 48.3 percent), big sagebrush with an understory of native perennial bunchgrasses (4,211.7 acres, 22.9 percent) and perennial grassland (primarily crested wheatgrass; 3,382.4 acres, 18.4 percent). A small amount of riparian vegetation is present along the margins of Kittitas Canyon Creek that is crossed by Route Segment 1c. No special status plant species were identified during Project-specific special status plant surveys along Route Segment 1c. However, WNHP data indicate that snowball cactus intersects Route Segment 1c and Hoover’s tauschia and Nuttall’s sandwort are known to occur within one mile of Route Segment 1c. One hundred percent (1.7 acres) of federal lands within this route segment were surveyed for special status plants; however, the majority of Route Segment 1c is comprised of non-federal land (249.6 acres) and was not surveyed (Table 3.2-3). Approximately 58.7 acres of suitable habitat, 152.9 acres of marginal habitat, and 24.0 acres of unsuitable habitat is present within this route segment. Two priority ecosystems, big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass and thyme buckwheat-Sandberg bluegrass, are located within five miles of this route segment. Four noxious weed species were identified on federal land during the noxious weed survey and include: burningbush, diffuse knapweed; perennial pepperweed; and Scotch thistle. Approximately 0.6 acre of federal land within Route Segment 1c are documented as occupied by these four noxious weed species;