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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3
<br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment
<br /> PAGE 3-91
<br />Segments 3b and 3c); much of the Crab Creek riparian area is bordered by pastureland and disturbed,
<br />often grazed, shrub-steppe habitats. For more information on water resources and riparian and wetland
<br />vegetation, refer to Sections 3.3.2.1 Species and Habitats General, 3.14 Water Resources, 3.2 Vegetation,
<br />and Appendix A - Project Maps.
<br />As described in Sections 3.3.2.4 and 4.3.3.5, the Project study area at Route Segments NNR-3, NNR-4,
<br />and MR-1 overlaps the Mount Baldy bighorn sheep winter range along the eastern side of the Yakima
<br />River Canyon and the Wenas State Wildlife Area winter range for elk and mule deer within the Yakima
<br />River Canyon and on the foothill slopes west of the canyon (Route Segment NNR-3). The southeast
<br />portion of the Project study area is also winter range for elk (Route Segments 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b).
<br />The area extending south from the Saddle Mountains and west from the Columbia River has been
<br />identified as a mule deer regular large concentration area (Route Segments 2d, 3b, 3c, NNR-6, NNR-7).
<br />While the WDFW PHS data does not specify a season of use for this area, the shrub-steppe area is
<br />probably heavily used during winter. These areas are mapped in Appendix A Sensitive Wildlife Species
<br />and are described within Section 3.3.2.4 State-listed and Other Special-status Species and Section 3.3.5
<br />Route Segment Considerations. Impacts to these resources are discussed in Section 4.3.3.5 State-listed
<br />and Other Special-status Species and Section 4.3.4 Impacts Specific to Route Segments.
<br />Data from WDFW PHS documents occurrence of 26 special status species within the Project study area,
<br />including three reptiles (night snake, striped whipsnake, and sagebrush lizard), one fish (leopard dace), 14
<br />bird species (bald eagle, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, loggerhead
<br />shrike, Sage-Grouse, chukar, ring-necked pheasant, common loon, American white pelican, black-
<br />crowned night heron, great blue heron, and long-billed curlew), and six mammal species (white-tailed
<br />jackrabbit, black-tailed jackrabbit, mule deer, elk, Merriam’s shrew, and pallid bat). These occurrences
<br />are mapped in Appendix A Sensitive Wildlife Species and are described within Section 3.3.2.4 State-
<br />listed and Other Special-status Species and Section 3.3.5 Route Segment Considerations. Impacts to these
<br />resources are discussed in Section 4.3.3.5 State-listed and Other Special-status Species and Section 4.3.4
<br />Impacts Specific to Route Segments. Locations are mapped in Appendix A Sensitive Wildlife Species.
<br />No federally listed species have been documented.
<br />The Project study area does not pass through any special management areas, but the Columbia National
<br />Wildlife Refuge, Hanford Reach National Monument, Columbia Basin State Wildlife Area, and Wenas
<br />State Wildlife Area occur within one mile of the Project study area. Special Management areas are
<br />discussed in Section 3.6 Special Management Areas.
<br />3.3.3 Current Management Considerations
<br />Federal and state statutes applicable to biological resources in the Project study area are similar to those
<br />described for Vegetation and Special Status Plant Species (Section 3.2) with the additions described
<br />below.
<br />3.3.3.1 Migratory Bird Treaty Act
<br />The MBTA was enacted in 1918 in order to put an end to the commercial trade of migratory birds and
<br />their feathers. The act implements treaties and conventions between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, and
<br />the former Soviet Union for the protection of migratory birds. This Act decrees that all “migratory” birds
<br />and their parts (including eggs, nests, and feathers) are fully protected. Under this Act, it is unlawful to
<br />pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, possess, offer to or sell, barter, purchase, deliver, transport, or receive any
<br />“migratory” birds (including parts, nests, eggs or other product, manufactured or not; USFWS 2011c). In
<br />practice, virtually all native bird species in the U.S. are protected under MBTA, with the exception of
<br />upland game birds (order Galliformes: e.g., grouse and quail); most bird species with non-migratory life-
<br />histories are protected under the act as well (USFWS 2013a). A complete list of protected species is
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