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 3-101 several prairie falcon nests have been documented on the cliffs. The Columbia River and the Moran Slough wetlands, located just north of the river provide habitat for waterfowl. Loggerhead shrike and white-tailed jackrabbit have been documented within one mile of Route Segment 2d. Bull trout, Chinook salmon, steelhead (Upper Columbia River), coho salmon, chum salmon, leopard dace, mountain sucker, pacific lamprey, sockeye salmon, tui chub, and Umatilla dace are known or likely to occur in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River near Route Segment 2d. 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 entire extent of this route segment has experienced several wildfire events and the adjacent landscape has large areas dominated by annual grasses and forbs, primarily cheatgrass and tall tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum); however, pockets of big sagebrush and forbs are present. The Range 12 Fire of 2016 burned approximately 15.2 miles along Route Segment 2c. As previously stated, post fire restoration efforts for the Range 12 fire are in development and impacts to Sage-Grouse habitat have not been assessed. The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area for Route Segment 2d contains 35,130 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (53 percent of the analysis area), 104 acres of marginal habitat (<1 percent), and 31,499 acres of unsuitable habitat (47 percent; Table 3.3-9). Fourteen percent of the Route Segment 2d ROW is within the estimated Sage-Grouse population range, but none of the ROW is within the core population range. Approximately 9 percent (17,602 acres) of the JBLM YTC 95 percent population range is within four miles of Route Segment 2d (Figure 3.3-4). No active or inactive leks are known to occur within four miles of this proposed route segment; one historic lek occurs within four miles of the route segment (Table 3.3-5). 3.3.4.8 Route Segment 3a Route Segment 3a is a short segment (0.1 mile) connecting Route Segments 3b or 3c with the Vantage Substation. The area is vegetated almost exclusively by sagebrush/perennial grassland (2,120 acres, 97 percent), providing habitat for grassland and shrub-steppe species (Table 3.3-2). Within the Project study area, the night snake is known to occur near the Columbia River. Wanapum Reservoir is located approximately 0.8 mile northwest of Route Segment 3a—the Reservoir is a waterfowl concentration area and common loons occur within the Reservoir. Habitat and known locations of striped whipsnake and night snake are known to occur along Route Segment 3a. Black-tailed jackrabbit has been documented within one mile. A mule deer Priority Species Regional Area is located in a wetland adjacent to the Vantage Substation. Sagebrush lizard is known to occur within the Project study area near the Vantage Substation and sand dunes north of the substation likely provide good habitat for sagebrush lizard. Bull trout, Chinook salmon, steelhead (Upper Columbia River), Coho salmon, leopard dace, mountain sucker, pacific lamprey, sockeye salmon, tui chub, and Umatilla dace are known or likely to occur in Wanapum Reservoir of the Columbia River near Route Segment 3a. The entire route segment ROW is within the Saddle Mountains Sage-Grouse MU (Occasionally Occupied Habitat; Table 3.3-8). The analysis area does not overlap any JBLM YTC protection zones for Sage- Grouse. The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area for Route Segment 3a contains 17,568 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (54 percent of the analysis area), 744 acres of marginal habitat (2 percent), and 14,573 acres of unsuitable habitat (44 percent; Table 3.3-9).