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 3-37 route segment is comprised of sagebrush/perennial grassland (5,341.9 acres; 68.6 percent; Table 3.2-1). Approximately 16.9 percent of vegetation within the Route Segment NNR-4 Project study area consists of annual grassland (1,317.0 acres). The Route Segment NNR-4 ROW crosses several un-named intermittent or ephemeral drainages with little to no riparian vegetation present. No special status plants are known to occur within the Route Segment NNR-4 Project study area and none were identified during the special status plant survey of the proposed ROW (Table 3.2-5). Forty-three percent of federal lands (26.3 acres) within this route segment were surveyed for special status plants; however, the remainder of Route Segment NNR-4’s ROW is comprised of non-federal land (21.9 acres) and was not surveyed (Table 3.2-3). Approximately 45.0 acres of suitable habitat, 35.3 acres of marginal habitat, and 1.5 acres of unsuitable habitat are present within this route segment’s ROW (Table 3.2-6). One priority ecosystem, big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass, is present within five miles of Route Segment NNR-4 (Table 3.2-7). One noxious weed species, diffuse knapweed, was identified and mapped during the Project-specific noxious weed survey. Diffuse knapweed occurs on approximately 11.8 acres of federal and WSDOT land within Route Segment NNR-4’s ROW. Burningbush was not mapped because of its abundance and frequency of occurrence on federal land within the Route Segment NNR-4 ROW (Table 3.2-2; Appendix B-4 - Noxious Weed Reports). 3.2.4.14 Route Segment NNR-5 Route Segment NNR-5 is located at the southern end of Badger Pocket, within the JBLM YTC boundary. Vegetation within this short route segment’s Project study area consists of the following cover types: sagebrush/perennial grassland (2,850.3 acres, 67.0 percent), agriculture (833.1 acres, 19.6 percent), and forbs (474.9 acres, 11.2 percent; Table 3.2-1). Forbs are present within the Route Segment NNR-5 ROW, typically along or near the tops of ridges or hills and consist of narrowleaf mock goldenweed and thyme- leaf buckwheat with a perennial grass understory (JBLM YTC 2002). The Route Segment NNR-5 ROW crosses several intermittent or ephemeral drainages with no riparian vegetation present. This route segment also crosses Badger Creek, which is intermittent or ephemeral within the Project study area and contains no riparian vegetation. No special status plant species are known to occur along Route Segment NNR-5, although WNHP data indicate snowball cactus occurs within one mile (Table 3.2-5). Approximately 91.5 percent (29.6 acres) of federal and WSDOT lands within this route segment’s ROW were surveyed for special status plants (Table 3.2-3). Approximately 30.6 acres of suitable habitat, 0.0 acres of marginal habitat, and 2.2 acres of unsuitable habitat is present within this route segment’s ROW (Table 3.2-6). No priority ecosystems are known to occur within five miles of Route Segment NNR-5. Seven noxious weed species were identified and mapped on federal and WSDOT land during the noxious weed survey and include: hoary cress, spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides), diffuse knapweed, Canada thistle, bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), common St. Johnswort, and sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta). Approximately 1.1 acres of federal and WSDOT land within Route Segment NNR-5’s ROW has these seven noxious weed species present. Burningbush was also present but not mapped because of its abundance and frequency of occurrence on federal land within the Route Segment NNR-5 ROW (Table 3.2-2; Appendix B-4 - Noxious Weed Report). 3.2.4.15 Route Segment NNR-6 The Route Segment NNR-6 ROW parallels the existing Pacific Power Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV Transmission Line and is located entirely on JBLM YTC. Vegetation within this route segment’s Project study area consists primarily of sagebrush/perennial grassland cover type (7,965.5 acres, 77.7 percent;