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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-106 3.3.4.13 Route Segment NNR-4 Route Segment NNR-4 is 4.5 miles long, crossing I-82 and passing through a JBLM YTC bivouac area with a very high density of dirt and gravel roads. This route segment parallels the existing Pacific Power Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV transmission line and crosses through a JBLM YTC bivouac area that has been dissected by roads. The majority (69 percent) of this route segment is comprised of sagebrush/perennial grassland (5,342 acres; Table 3.3-2). These sagebrush shrublands provide suitable habitat for shrub-steppe and grassland species. Approximately 17 percent of Route Segment NNR-4 consists of annual grassland (1,317 acres). Route Segment NNR-4 crosses several un-named intermittent or ephemeral drainages with little to no riparian habitat present. Basalt cliffs are present within one mile of Route Segment NNR-4, where Route Segment NNR-3 crosses Lmuma Creek. Golden eagle, ferruginous hawk, and prairie falcon are known to utilize the basalt cliffs in this area. Approximately 1,200 acres of the Mt. Baldy winter range for bighorn sheep is present within one mile of Route Segment NNR-4 along the eastern side of the Yakima River Canyon. A burrowing owl nest has been documented within one mile of this route segment. The route segment ROW is within Sage-Grouse MUs defined as Regularly Occupied Habitat (Table 3.3- 8). The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area includes area set aside by JBLM YTC as a primary protection zone for Sage-Grouse. The eight-mile wide Route Segment NNR-4 analysis area contains 35,502 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (64 percent of the analysis area), 912 acres of marginal habitat (two percent), and 18,774 acres of unsuitable habitat (34 percent; Table 3.3-9). The estimated Sage-Grouse population range does not overlap the Route Segment NNR-4 ROW. Less than one percent (1,458 acres) of the JBLM YTC 95 percent population range is within four miles of Route Segment NNR-4. The core population range does not overlap the analysis area (Figure 3.3-4). Four walking transects surveyed during two visits in May and July of 2013 revealed just one sign of recent Sage-Grouse use of this route segment (Appendix B-1). No active leks are known to occur within the eight-mile wide Route Segment NNR-4 analysis area (Table 3.3-5). Six historic leks are located within four miles to the southeast of the route segment. Approximately 1.2 miles of Route Segment NNR-4o/NNR-4u crosses private land targeted for mitigation acquisition to offset impacts from the proposed Wymer Dam and Reservoir Project. 3.3.4.14 Route Segment NNR-5 Route Segment NNR-5 is located at the southern end of Badger Pocket, primarily within the JBLM YTC boundary. This short route segment (1.8 miles) deviates slightly from the existing Pacific Power Pomona- Wanapum 230 kV transmission line to avoid private agricultural lands in the Badger Pocket area, but remains within 0.5 mile of the existing transmission line for the entire route segment. Vegetation along this route segment is predominately sagebrush/perennial grassland (2,850 acres, 67 percent), agriculture (833 acres, 20 percent), and forbs (475 acres, 11 percent; Table 3.3-2). The shrublands provide suitable habitat for shrub-steppe and grassland species. Route Segment NNR-5 crosses several intermittent or ephemeral drainages, including Badger Creek, with no riparian habitat present. A burrowing owl nest has been documented within one mile of this route segment. The entire route segment ROW is within Sage-Grouse MUs defined as Regularly Occupied Habitat (Table 3.3-8). The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area contains areas set aside by JBLM YTC as a primary protection zone for Sage-Grouse.