Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-76 The California floater (Anodonta californiensis) occurs in shallow muddy or sandy habitats in larger rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. The western ridged mussel (Gonidea angulata) occurs in creeks and rivers of all sizes, typically on firm mud to coarse particle substrates. Both mussel species have been documented in the Columbia River (Nedeau et al. 2009). Eggs of the Columbia clubtail (Gomphus lynnae) are laid in the water, with the larvae burrowing into and overwintering in mud. This dragonfly is found in a variety of river habitats, ranging from sandy to muddy or rocky. Water flow tends to be slow-moving. Only five populations of Columbia clubtail are known, with the closest population occurring on the Yakima River (Abbot 2007). No known populations occur on the Columbia River. Western bumblebee (Bombus occidentalis) habitat includes open grassy areas, urban parks and gardens, chaparral and shrub areas, and mountain meadows. Once very common in the western United States and western Canada, this species has recently undergone a dramatic decline in abundance and distribution and is no longer present across much of the historic range. The prevailing theory on the decline and localized extirpation of western bumblebee suggests it is due to transmission of the microsporidian pathogen (Nosema bombi; Hatfield et al. 2015). Potential habitat for western bumblebee may occur throughout the Project study area. Fish Species Ten special status fish species occur or have the potential to occur in the Project study area (Table 3.3-7). All have potential to occur in the Columbia River and/or Yakima River and a few have potential to occur in smaller streams within the Project study area. Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) have the widest distribution of the Pacific salmon; however, most rivers have only a summer and fall run of spawning chum salmon (Pauley et al. 1988). Within the Project study area, fall chum salmon have been documented in the Columbia River, occurring only below the Priest Rapids Dam (SalmonScape 2013). The Columbia River chum salmon within the Project study area are outside the Columbia River chum salmon ESU designated as threatened under the ESA (NOAA 2012). Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) spend the first half of their life cycle rearing and feeding in streams and small freshwater tributaries. Coho salmon spawning habitat is small streams with stable gravel substrates (NOAA 2012). Within the Project study area, Coho salmon occur in the Columbia River and the Yakima River (SalmonScape 2013). The Coho salmon within the Project study area are outside the lower Columbia River Coho ESU which is designated as Threatened under the ESA (NOAA 2012). Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) exhibit a wide variety of life history patterns that reflect varying dependency on the freshwater environment. The vast majority of sockeye salmon spawn in or near lakes. For this reason, the major distribution and abundance of large sockeye salmon stocks are closely related to the location of rivers that have accessible lakes in their watersheds for juvenile rearing (NOAA 2012). In addition to lakes, sockeye salmon appear to consistently spawn in four tributaries of the Columbia River – the Methow, Entiat, and Similkameen Rivers and Icicle Creek (NOAA 1997). These tributaries are located north of the Project study area. Sockeye salmon occur in the Columbia River within the Project study area (SalmonScape 2013); however, the sockeye salmon within the Project study area are outside the designated ESUs in Washington and are not listed under the ESA (NOAA 2012).