2024-07-22-minutes-public-works-&-cds-study-session

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