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 3-108 final location for Route Segment NNR-6 was not identified until after completion of the ground based Sage-Grouse surveys, surveys of the preliminary NNR Alternative in May and July of 2013 revealed Sage-Grouse sign in six locations near this route segment. Each of these was located approximately 600 feet (200 hundred meters) north of the final location for Route Segment NNR-6, generally near Foster Creek (Appendix B-1). One active lek (Lek #2) is known to occur 3.5 miles south of Route Segment NNR-6 (Table 3.3-5). Two males were observed attending this lek in 2015, up from one in 2014. After the lek’s discovery in 2007, lek counts have ranged from zero to three males and averaged two males per year (Table 3.3-6). Additionally, four historic leks are located within four miles of this route segment. 3.3.4.16 Route Segment NNR-7 Route Segment NNR-7 is 8.2 miles long and continues to closely parallel the existing Pacific Power Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV transmission line, staying within approximately 200 feet for the entire segment. Three additional transmission lines are located within one mile of this proposed route segment, including one 230 kV transmission line and two 500 kV transmission lines. The majority (95 percent) of the route segment consists of the sagebrush/perennial grassland cover type (11,931 acres; Table 3.3-2). These shrublands provide suitable habitat for shrub-steppe and grassland species. Route Segment NNR-7 crosses several un-named intermittent or ephemeral drainages. Route Segment NNR-7 also parallels Johnson Creek. At its nearest point, Johnson Creek lies approximately one-half mile south of Route Segment NNR-7. Johnson Creek is perennial and contains forested riparian habitat (4.7 acres). Most of Route Segment NNR-7 burned in 2014 in a large wildfire; thus, much of the sagebrush-steppe habitat has likely been converted, at least temporarily, to grassland (see Vegetation and Fire History Map in Appendix A). Regular concentrations of chukar and mule deer are known to utilize this portion of JBLM YTC. Within one mile of Route Segment NNR-7, common loon, waterfowl, and other aquatic birds are known to utilize reservoirs present along the Columbia River. A historical observation from 1952 of Merriam’s shrew has been documented within one mile of Route Segment NNR-7. Raptors, including prairie falcon are known to utilize the cliffs above the Columbia River. Historically occupied habitat for striped whipsnake is present within one mile of this route segment, located along the west side of the Columbia River. Night snake and black-tailed jackrabbit occurrences have also been documented within one mile. 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 the Columbia River near Route Segment NNR-7. This 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. The western three miles of the ROW for Route Segment NNR-7 had moderate cover of sagebrush, providing mainly marginal Sage-Grouse habitat. Much of the eastern five miles contained higher cover of sagebrush, which could potentially provide suitable grouse habitat, though relatively little use of the area has been documented. Based on vegetation data collected prior to the 2014 fire, the eight-mile wide NNR- 7 analysis area contains 63,145 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (85 percent of the analysis area), 320 acres of marginal habitat (less than one percent), and 10,681 acres of unsuitable habitat (14 percent; Table 3.3-9). Because much of the Route Segment NNR-7 analysis area burned in 2014, much of the Sage -Grouse habitat in this area has likely been lost, at least temporarily. According to WHCWG analysis, Route Segments NNR-6 and NNR-7 cross the most promising zone for connectivity between the Moses Coulee Sage-Grouse population and the YTC grouse population. Route Segment NNR-7 is separated from more heavily occupied Sage-Grouse areas by the steep terrain of the Saddle Mountains