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 3-103 The estimated Sage-Grouse population range does not overlap the Route Segment 3b ROW. Approximately seven percent (14,616 acres) of the JBLM YTC 95 percent population range is within four miles of Route Segment 3b (Figure 3.3-4). One inactive lek is located approximately 3.9 miles west of Route Segment 3b. This lek was last occupied in 2007. Additionally, seven historic leks occur within four miles of the route segment. 3.3.4.10 Route Segment 3c Route Segment 3c is 25.2 miles long. It follows the edge of the Columbia River on either side of its crossing for total of approximately 3.6 miles before proceeding north across the Wahluke Slope agricultural lands, then crossing the Saddle Mountains and Lower Crab Creek in route to its connection with the Vantage Substation via Route Segment 3a. Vegetation is predominately sagebrush/perennial grassland (6,519 acres 42 percent), agriculture (11,181 acres, 33 percent), and annual grassland (6,519 acres, 19 percent; Table 3.3-2). The area also includes 954 acres of open water (2.8 percent, mainly small backwater lakes north of Lower Crab Creek) and 173 acres of riparian vegetation (0.5 percent), most of which is located along Lower Crab Creek and dominated by Russian olive. Several sensitive species occur along this route segment, though not as many as along the alternative Route Segment 3b. The Hanford Reach supports the larger of the only two remaining healthy naturally spawning fall Chinook salmon populations in the Columbia River System (Nugent et al. 2002). Route Segment 3c parallels the Hanford Reach for approximately 2.2 miles before crossing the river. Bull trout, steelhead (Upper Columbia River), coho salmon, chum salmon, leopard dace, mountain sucker, pacific lamprey, sockeye salmon, tui chub, and Umatilla dace also are known or likely to occur in the Columbia River near Route Segment 3c. The Nunnally Lake wetlands north of Lower Crab Creek are a waterfowl concentration area. The Moran Slough wetlands, located just downstream from Priest Rapids Dam and north of the river also provide habitat for waterfowl and other aquatic species. An area north of Vantage Substation with rock outcrops and shallow soils is considered an overwintering area for striped whipsnakes, and side-blotched lizards occur there as well. Striped whipsnakes have been documented in several other locations along Route Segment 3c. This species is rare and localized in Washington. According to WDFW, occupied habitat extends from Highway 26, located north of Vantage Substation, south to Lower Crab Creek. Night snake and sagebrush lizard occur in sandy grasslands along this route segment. Black-tailed jackrabbit has been documented east of Vantage Substation and also north of Lower Crab Creek. Mule deer regular concentration areas occur within one mile of Route Segment 3c, at the north and south ends of the route segment. The rocky slopes of the Saddle Mountains comprise a chukar concentration area. An area of basalt cliffs and bluffs along the south edge of the Columbia River and another area of cliffs and bluffs on the north side of the Saddle Mountains provide nesting substrates for raptors. Several nests of prairie falcons have been documented at both locations. Within one mile of the route segment, a peregrine falcon nest has been documented on the cliffs along the Columbia River, and a golden eagle nest has been documented on the Saddle Mountains cliffs. Portions of the route segment ROW are within the Rattlesnake Hills Sage-Grouse MU (Regularly Occupied Habitat), the Saddle Mountains MU (Occasionally Occupied Habitat), the Hanford MU (Expansion Habitat), and a portion is not within any MU (Table 3.3-8). The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area also encompasses area set aside by JBLM YTC as a primary protection zone for Sage- Grouse. The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area for Route Segment 3c contains 65,477 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (43 percent of the analysis area), 8,359 acres of marginal habitat (5 percent), and 80,022 acres of unsuitable habitat (52 percent; Table 3.3-9). The estimated Sage-Grouse population range does not overlap the Route Segment 3c ROW. Approximately two percent (3,231 acres) of the JBLM YTC 95 percent population range is within four