Klickitat River Basin in South Central Washington
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BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program Draft Environmental Impact Statement July 2011 DOE/EA-0424 Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program Draft Environmental Impact Statement DOE/EIS-0424 Bonneville Power Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Bureau of Indian Affairs Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation July 2011 Abstract – Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program Draft Environmental Impact Statement Responsible Agencies: Lead federal agency: U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA); cooperating federal agencies: National Marine Fisheries Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Lead state agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW); cooperating tribe: Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (Yakama Nation). Title of Proposed Project: Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program State Involved: Washington Abstract: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describes proposed changes to production programs for four anadromous fish species sponsored by the Yakama Nation and WDFW in the Klickitat river basin in south central Washington. BPA proposes to assist with funding the construction, operation, and maintenance of the programs to help mitigate for anadromous fish affected by the Federal Columbia River Power System dams. The Yakama Nation and WDFW want to produce harvestable numbers of spring and fall Chinook and coho salmon, and steelhead while achieving self- sustaining native fish populations and minimizing the effects of introduced species. The DEIS discloses the environmental effects expected from three alternatives: the No Action Alternative, the Full Master Plan Buildout Alternative, and the Klickitat Hatchery Buildout Alternative. The proposed action is to implement changes to the existing fish production programs as outlined in the Klickitat Basin Anadromous Fishery Master Plan (Yakama Nation 2008b). This would include modifications to the Klickitat Hatchery, a new hatchery/acclimation facility in Wahkiacus, and an acclimation facility at McCreedy Creek, should it be deemed necessary. Public review of and comment upon this Draft EIS will continue through September 6, 2011. Responses to comments will be made part of the Final EIS, which is scheduled for completion in January, 2012. BPA expects to issue a Record of Decision whether to implement the project in February, 2012. For more information about the Draft EIS, please contact: Nancy Weintraub, Environmental Protection Specialist Bonneville Power Administration P. O. Box 3621, KEC-4 Portland, OR 97208-3621 Telephone: (503) 230-5373 Email: [email protected] For additional copies of this document, please call 1-800-622-4520 and ask for the document by name. The EIS is also on the Internet at: http://efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/Document_Library/Klickitat_Hatchery_Program/. You may also request additional copies by writing to: Bonneville Power Administration P.O. Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208 ATT: Public Information Center – CHDL-1 For additional information on DOE NEPA activities, please contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20585-0103, phone: 1-800-472-2756 or visit the DOE NEPA Web site at http://nepa.energy.gov/. Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION ............................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Purpose and Need.................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2.1 Need for Project Action ................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 Purposes (Objectives) ..................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Background ............................................................................................................................ 1-4 1.3.1 Northwest Power and Conservation Council Process ..................................................... 1-4 1.3.2 Klickitat River Anadromous Fisheries Master Plan .......................................................... 1-5 1.3.3 The Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project ............................................................................ 1-6 1.4 Decisions to be Made ............................................................................................................. 1-8 1.4.1 Bonneville Power Administration Decisions .................................................................... 1-8 1.4.2 National Marine Fisheries Service Decisions .................................................................. 1-8 1.4.3 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Decisions ................................................ 1-10 1.4.4 Yakama Nation Decisions ............................................................................................. 1-10 1.4.5 Bureau of Indian Affairs Decisions ................................................................................ 1-10 1.5 Scope of this Environmental Analysis .................................................................................. 1-10 1.5.1 Scoping Process ........................................................................................................... 1-10 1.5.2 Issues Studied in Detail ................................................................................................. 1-11 1.5.3 Issues Beyond the Scope of this Environmental Impact Statement .............................. 1-11 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Alternative 1 — No Action Alternative .................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Fish Production Program ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.2 Facility Development and Construction ........................................................................... 2-3 2.1.3 Operations and Maintenance .......................................................................................... 2-5 2.2 Proposed Action ..................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.3 Elements Common to Both Action Alternatives ...................................................................... 2-7 2.3.1 Adaptive Management Strategies ................................................................................... 2-8 2.3.2 Remote and/or Mobile Acclimation Facilities ................................................................... 2-9 2.3.3 Climate Change Adaptations ......................................................................................... 2-13 2.4 Alternative 2 — Full Master Plan Buildout ............................................................................ 2-13 2.4.1 Fish Production Program ............................................................................................... 2-14 2.4.2 Facility Development and Construction ......................................................................... 2-16 2.4.3 Operations and Maintenance ........................................................................................ 2-24 DRAFT Environmental Impact Statement–Table of Contents Page i Yakama Nation Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program July 2011 2.5 Alternative 3 — Klickitat Hatchery Buildout .......................................................................... 2-25 2.5.1 Fish Production Program ............................................................................................... 2-25 2.5.2 Facility Development and Construction ......................................................................... 2-26 2.5.3 Operations and Maintenance ........................................................................................ 2-27 2.6 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ........................................... 2-27 2.7 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................. 2-28 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES, AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Air Resources ......................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.1.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................ 3-5 3.1.2 Climate Change ............................................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.2.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................