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 3-99 (745 acres, 23 percent). Route Segment 2a crosses a small creek which has some riparian vegetation present (41 acres, 1.3 percent). The Route Segment 2a ROW passes through elk winter range. A long-billed curlew Priority Species Regional Area occurs within one mile of Route Segment 2a and additional potential habitat is present. The entire route segment ROW is within the Rattlesnake Hills Sage-Grouse MU (Regularly Occupied Habitat; Table 3.3-8). The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area also encompasses area set aside by JBLM YTC as a primary and secondary protection zones for Sage-Grouse. Habitat along and immediately adjacent to this route segment appears to be highly disturbed and of poor quality, but much of the surrounding habitat is high quality sagebrush-steppe. The eight-mile wide Sage- Grouse analysis area for Route Segment 2a contains 11,786 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (32 percent of the analysis area), 91 acres of marginal habitat (<1 percent), and 25,239 acres of unsuitable habitat (68 percent; Table 3.3-9). One hundred percent of the Route Segment 2a ROW is within the estimated core Sage-Grouse population range. Approximately 14 percent (27,295 acres) of the JBLM YTC 95 percent population range is within four miles of Route Segment 2a (Figure 3.3-4). One active lek (Lek #4) occurs within four miles of Route Segment 2a (Table 3.3-5). Lek #4 is located approximately 3.9 miles east of Route Segment 2a; it is described in more detail for Route Segment 2b, to which it is more closely located. Additionally, one historic lek occurs within four miles of Route Segment 2a. 3.3.4.5 Route Segment 2b Route Segment 2b extends east on private property for 16.3 miles, spanning a short section of BLM land (970 feet) along the way. The eastern half of the route segment follows the southern edge of JBLM YTC. Vegetation is predominately sagebrush/perennial grassland (13,752 acres, 60 percent). The remainder is mostly annual grassland (4,515 acres, 20 percent) and agriculture (3,355 acres, 15 percent; Table 3.3-2). The shrublands provide suitable habitat for shrub-steppe and grassland species. The entire area within and around Route Segment 2b is designated elk winter range. Black-tailed jackrabbit has been documented within one mile of 2b. The entire route segment ROW is within the Rattlesnake Hills Sage-Grouse MU (Regularly Occupied Habitat; Table 3.3-8). The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area also encompasses area set aside by JBLM YTC as a primary and secondary protection zones for Sage-Grouse. The central and eastern portions of Route Segment 2b are predominately comprised of high quality big sagebrush and stiff sagebrush with abundant native perennial bunchgrasses, low non-native species cover, and a diverse and abundant native forb layer. Although high quality habitat is present, the eastern portion of this route segment has experienced habitat fragmentation in the past; it parallels a disturbed fire break and is adjacent to agriculture/cropland. The western part of the route segment is comprised of areas with lower habitat quality dominated by cheatgrass and/or crested wheatgrass. Fire records indicate that several large fires have occurred within and adjacent to this route segment. The Range 12 Fire of 2016 burned approximately 175,000 acres in areas located in Yakima and Benton counties, Washington. This fire burned approximately 13.2 miles along Route Segment 2b. Post fire restoration efforts for the Range 12 fire are in development and its affects to Sage-Grouse habitat have not been assessed. The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area for Route Segment 2b contains 57,485 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (50 percent of the analysis area), 157 acres of marginal habitat (<1 percent), and 58,149 acres of unsuitable habitat (50 percent; Table 3.3-9).