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CHAPTER 3: EXISTING CONDITIONS IN THE STUDY AREA 3.4 Environment streams (Appendix B, Map 1C). The Cie Elum River is adjacent to Alternative 4B.The study Environmental resources and existing area for Alternative 5 includes the Yakima conditions were identified within 500 feet of River, Big Creek, Little Creek, Nelson Creek, the alternative alignments to provide a high- Peterson Creek, Silver Creek, Spex Arth Creek, level preliminary desktop environmental Tillman Creek, Tucker Creek,the Kittitas review for which potential opportunities, Reclamation District Main Canal, and several benefits and challenges for the proposed unnamed intermittent and perennial streams alternatives may occur. The 500-foot buffer (Appendix B, Map 1D). comprises the environmental study area for each alternative.The preliminary desktop Lakes and Ponds review was developed by qualitatively Lake Easton is within the study areas for all evaluating aquatic resources, wildlife alternatives. Lavendar Lake as well as several connectivity, ecosystem resiliency, and unnamed bodies of water are within the study Endangered Species Act(ESA) critical habitats area for Alternatives 1 through 3. No additional in the vicinity of the proposed alignment bodies of water are located within the study of each alternative. Further studies and areas of Alternatives 4A or 4B. Hanson Ponds to assessments will need to occur for each the south of Cie Elum are within the study area resource once the preferred alternative for Alternatives 1 through 3 and Alternative 5. is selected to move forward for further evaluation. Wetlands Existing conditions for environmental The proposed alignment for Alternatives 1 resources in the study areas are described through 3 is within or adjacent to wetland in the following sections and illustrated in complexes associated with the Yakima and Cie Appendix B. Elum Rivers. The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps several wetland complexes along 3.4.1 Aquatic Resources these alternatives given the proximity to these rivers along the extent of the alignment. Streams and Rivers The proposed alignment for Alternative 4A Streams and rivers identified within the appears to bypass NWI mapped wetland areas study area of Alternatives 1 through 3 include but crosses the Cie Elum River, which may the Yakima River, Cie Hum River, Big Creek, include wetlands.The proposed alignment for Little Creek,Tucker Creek, Crystal Creek, Alternative 4B is within or adjacent to the Cie Nelson Creek, and Silver Creek, as well as Elum River, which may include associated or three additional unnamed perennial and two adjacent wetlands. The proposed alignment unnamed intermittent streams (Appendix B, for Alternative 5 is within or adjacent to the Map 1A). Streams mapped within the study area Yakima River, which may include adjacent of Alternative 4A include Silver Creek, Domerie and associated wetlands. NWI is a broadscale Creek,the Cie Elum River, and several unnamed mapping tool for desktop review prior to perennial and intermittent streams (Appendix fieldwork.There are likely wetlands along B, Map 113).The study area of Alternative 4B each alignment that are not mapped within includes Silver Creek,the Cie Elum River, and NWI and wetlands that are mapped within NWI several unnamed perennial and intermittent may not meet all three indicators (vegetation, VOLUME I: FEASIBILITY REPORT 1-90 Corridor-Easton to Cle Elunn Feasibility Study 1 42