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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-79 Twenty-six special status species have been documented to occur within the Project study area, with one or more locations occurring in every route segment. Impacts related to these occurrence areas and RDFs to minimize impacts are described in Section 4.3.3.5 State-listed and Other Special Status Species and in Section 4.3.4 Impacts Specific to Route Segments. The Action Alternatives do not pass through any special management areas, but one or more special management areas occur within one mile of each Action Alternative—the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (at Route Segment 3c), Hanford Reach National Monument (at Route Segment 3c), Columbia Basin State Wildlife Area (at Route Segments 3b and 3c), and Wenas Wildlife Area (at Route Segment NNR-3). Impacts to Special Management areas are discussed in Section 4.6 Special Management Areas. 4.3.4 Impacts Specific to Route Segments Impacts to habitat and species are discussed below for each route segment. Digital element occurrence records for PHS documented within the analysis area were obtained from WDFW in June 2014 (WDFW 2014). A map showing special status wildlife locations and management areas is included in Appendix A; however, due to the sensitive nature of location information, certain locations (such as nest locations) are not shown and this map is presented at a small-scale (WDFW 2011b; Guggenmos 2012). 4.3.4.1 Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 Approximately 3.5 acres of long-term and 9.2 acres of short-term disturbance would occur through the construction of Route Segment 1a/NNR-1. The majority of disturbance for this route segment would occur in habitat that has been disturbed in the past and is currently dominated by rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and Ericameria nauseosa; 4.8 acres long-term disturbance), exotic annual grasses (0.3 acre long-term and 1.3 acres short-term), and developed areas, such as agricultural and residential areas (0.4 acre long-term and 2.2 acres short-term; Table 4.3-4). The remaining 3.7 acres of long-term disturbance would occur within areas classified as sagebrush/perennial grassland. RDFs would be implemented to minimize further habitat degradation, as described in Section 4.3.3.1. Impact levels to habitat are expected to be low for 1.7 miles and moderate for 0.7 mile (sagebrush/perennial grassland). The presence of new transmission line structures, which could provide additional perch and/or nesting sites for avian predators, could negatively impact nearby prey species such as small mammals and avian species, particularly when the new structures are built in an area where perching opportunities currently do not exist (i.e., greater than 0.25 mile from existing structures or trees). Construction of Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 would require an estimated 31 structures in a landscape dominated by low growing grasses and shrubs. An estimated 14 new structures would be located greater than 0.25 mile from an existing transmission line or trees (Table 4.3-5). Within one mile of Route Segment 1a/NNR-1, potentially suitable habitat is present for 54 special status wildlife species that are possible, likely, or known to occur (Tables 3.3-2, 3.3-3, and 3.3-7). Potential impacts and RDFs to address them are discussed in Sections 4.3.3.1 and 4.3.3.2. Species or wildlife resources that have been documented at specific locations within one mile of Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 include bull trout critical habitat, steelhead critical habitat (Middle Columbia River DPS), a bald eagle nest, and the Selah Waterfowl Concentration Area/Selah Gravel Pit Wetlands. Critical habitat for bull trout occurs within one mile of Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 in the Yakima River. Bull trout are not known to spawn within streams within the Project area because the streams are too small and not cold enough over a long enough time period to provide suitable spawning and rearing habitat; however, bull trout could use streams for short periods for foraging (AECOM Environmental 2010). No structure or road construction work would occur directly within the Yakima River. Erosion would be minimized by applying and maintaining standard erosion and sediment control methods. The