Deschutes Basin HCP FEIS
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COVER SHEET Title of Proposed Action: Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan Subject: Final Environmental Impact Statement Lead Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Cooperating Agencies: Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Water Resources Department, Crook County, Deschutes County, Jefferson County County/State: Klamath, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wasco, and Sherman Counties, Oregon Abstract: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have received applications for Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) from multiple applicants in Central Oregon in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. The Deschutes Basin Board of Control’s eight member irrigation districts—Arnold, Central Oregon, Lone Pine, North Unit, Ochoco, Swalley, Three Sisters, and Tumalo—and the City of Prineville (collectively, the Applicants) have jointly submitted a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to both FWS and NMFS to address take of species listed as threatened under ESA from their ongoing water management activities. The Applicants are requesting take of the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) from FWS and take of the Middle Columbia River steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and one nonlisted species—sockeye salmon (O. nerka)—from NMFS. FWS, as the federal lead agency, prepared this EIS pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations, as well as internal agency guidance. FWS and NMFS will each make separate decisions on whether to issue ITPs to the Applicants, relying on the criteria for ITPs set forth in ESA and its implementing regulations. Key issues include the assessment of the potential for impacts associated with the different alternatives and the corresponding need to offset these impacts on the covered species. For Information, Contact: Bridget Moran, Field Supervisor Bend Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 63095 Deschutes Market Rd Bend, OR 97701 (541) 383-7146 [email protected] FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE DESCHUTES BASIN HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN VOLUME I: CHAPTERS 1–7 OCTOBER 2020 Cover Photo Credits: Crane Prairie Reservoir (top photo), FWS; Crooked River (bottom photo), FWS; bull trout (top inset), Joel Satore; Oregon spotted frog (middle inset), FWS; steelhead trout (bottom inset), Oregon State University Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.2 Proposed Federal Action ................................................................................................ ES-2 ES.3 Purpose and Need for Federal Action ............................................................................ ES-2 ES.4 Public Involvement ........................................................................................................ ES-4 ES.5 Alternatives .................................................................................................................... ES-4 ES.5.1 Alternative 1 – No Action ............................................................................................... ES-4 ES.5.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action .................................................................................... ES-5 ES.5.3 Alternative 3 – Enhanced Variable Streamflows ........................................................... ES-6 ES.5.4 Alternative 4 – Enhanced and Accelerated Variable Streamflows ................................ ES-7 ES.6 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................... ES-7 ES.6.1 Scope of Analysis ........................................................................................................... ES-7 ES.6.2 General Approach to Analysis ........................................................................................ ES-8 ES.6.3 Summary of Impact Analysis .......................................................................................... ES-8 Chapter 1 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Proposed Federal Action .................................................................................................. 1-2 1.2.1 Purpose and Need for Federal Action .............................................................................. 1-2 1.3 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................................. 1-4 1.4 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................................. 1-4 1.5 Scoping and Public Engagement ...................................................................................... 1-5 1.6 NEPA Cooperating Agencies ............................................................................................ 1-5 1.7 Tribal Consultation ........................................................................................................... 1-6 1.8 Draft EIS Public Comment Period .................................................................................... 1-6 1.9 Changes to the EIS between Draft and Final ................................................................... 1-6 Chapter 2 Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Alternatives Analyzed in the EIS ...................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Alternative 1: No Action .................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.2 Alternative 2: Proposed Action ........................................................................................ 2-7 2.1.3 Alternative 3: Enhanced Variable Streamflows ............................................................. 2-13 2.1.4 Alternative 4: Enhanced and Accelerated Variable Streamflows .................................. 2-15 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives ........................................................................................... 2-18 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Consideration ........................... 2-20 Deschutes River Basin Habitat Conservation Plan October 2020 i Final EIS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Table of Contents 2.3.1 Alternative 1. Accelerated Increases in Upper Deschutes River Fall/Winter Minimum Flows ............................................................................................................. 2-20 2.3.2 Alternative 2. Enhanced Increases in Upper Deschutes River Fall/Winter Minimum Flows and 50-Year Permit Term .................................................................... 2-20 2.3.3 Alternative 5. Modified Upper Deschutes River Fall/Winter Minimum Flows .............. 2-20 2.3.4 Alternative 6. Enhanced Variable Upper Deschutes River Fall/Winter Minimum Flows ............................................................................................................. 2-21 2.3.5 Alternative 7. Variable Deschutes River Fall/Winter Minimum Flows with Reduced Permit Term .................................................................................................... 2-21 2.3.6 Alternative 8. Reduced Covered Species ....................................................................... 2-21 2.3.7 Alternative 9. Limit Covered Activities to Deschutes River ........................................... 2-21 2.3.8 Alternative 10. Continuation of 2017/2018 Fall/Winter Flows on the Upper Deschutes River ............................................................................................................. 2-21 2.3.9 Alternative 11. Deschutes River Flow and Restoration/Enhancement ......................... 2-21 2.3.10 Alternative 12. Flow Enhancement through Conservation, Demand Management, and On-Farm Efficiencies ....................................................................... 2-22 2.3.11 Alternative 13. Reduced Permit Term ........................................................................... 2-22 2.3.12 Alternative 14. Preliminary Injunction Alternative ........................................................ 2-22 2.3.13 Alternative 15. No Take Alternative .............................................................................. 2-22 Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ..................................... 3.1-1 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3.1-1 3.1.1 Alternatives Analyzed ................................................................................................... 3.1-1 3.1.2 Effect Determinations ................................................................................................... 3.1-2 3.1.3 Modeling ......................................................................................................................