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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-102 in fire regime, injury or mortality due to crushing by construction equipment or vehicles during construction and maintenance activities, and increased predation from avian predators. As striped whipsnake is rare and localized, impacts to the species or habitat could occur. However, the implementation of RDFs are anticipated to be successful at minimizing impacts to striped whipsnake, night snake, side-blotched lizard, and sagebrush lizard, as described in Sections 4.3.3.1 and 4.3.3.2. For all four species, impact levels are expected to be moderate for 3.8 miles of the route segment. Black-tailed jackrabbit has been documented within a half mile of Route Segment 3c. Potential impacts include a reduction and degradation of habitat, disturbance and displacement from habitats, increased predation from avian predators, increased human activity, introduction and spread of noxious weeds, and injury or mortality due to collision with construction equipment. RDFs to address the impacts are described in Sections 4.3.3.1 and 4.3.3.2. Impact levels to black-tailed jackrabbits are expected to be moderate for 1.7 miles and low for 23.5 miles. Route Segment 3c crosses two chukar Priority Species Regional Areas. Route Segment 3c crosses 0.3 mile of the chukar Regional Area south of the Columbia River. This area is a dry rocky slope comprised of sagebrush and perennial grasses. The second Regional Area crossed (2.4 miles) occurs just south of Lower Crab Creek. This area is a mixture of sagebrush and perennial and annual grasslands, with some emergent riparian vegetation present along Lower Crab Creek. Potential impacts include disturbance or displacement, injury or mortality from vehicle strikes and equipment, and direct habitat loss or degradation. Noise from construction equipment, helicopters, and general construction activities could disturb and displace chukar on a short-term basis. In addition, the transmission structures would serve as perch sites for raptor species, which could prey on chukar. The implementation of RDFs, as described in Sections 4.3.3.1 and 4.3.3.2, is anticipated to reduce impacts to chukar. Impact levels to chukar are anticipated to be moderate for the 2.7 miles of the route segment that cross the chukar concentration area. A mule deer regular concentration area has been identified on Wanapum Bench within one mile of Route Segment 3c, immediately north of the Vantage Substation. The PHS data indicates year-round use of this area. This area comes within approximately 0.1 mile of the route segment, but does not intersect the route segment’s ROW. Potential impacts to mule deer include habitat loss, habitat degradation from the spread of invasive weeds, collision with vehicles during construction and maintenance, and disturbance during construction and maintenance. Mule deer are most likely to be impacted by disturbance during winter when increased energy expenditure may lower survival. Adherence to seasonal restrictions from December 1 to March 1 on construction activities within the designated concentration area should minimize disturbance impacts to mule deer. No identifiable impacts are anticipated to occur to mule deer through construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Project. The Wanapum Pool fall and winter waterfowl area and common loon use area is located within 1.0 mile of Route Segment 3c on Wanapum Lake, just northwest of the Vantage Substation. Eight special status aquatic bird species occur or are likely to utilize the area (as described in Section 4.3.3.2): black-crowned night heron; great blue heron; Clark’s, western, and eared grebes; tundra swan; American white pelican; and common loon. A waterfowl Priority Species Regional Area have been identified for Nunnally Lake. This lake has high numbers of waterfowl present during the fall and winter months. This route segment occurs approximately 0.1 mile west of Nunnally Lake There is another wetland pond area west of the route segment and approximately 0.5 miles from Nunnally Lake. Waterfowl may fly across the route traversing between Nunnally Lake and the smaller pond/wetlands and/or the Columbia River. Priest Rapids Reservoir, located several miles southwest of Nunnally Lake is another waterfowl concentration area. Agricultural areas, which may be used as foraging areas by waterfowl, occur along the Columbia River and also several miles northeast of Route Segment 3c. Waterfowl injury and mortality could occur through collision with the route segment. Available literature indicates that waterfowl, including ducks, geese, swans, cranes, and shorebirds appear to be most susceptible to collisions when transmission lines