RIPARIAN ZONE INVESTIGATION STUDY PLAN

Review-Copy

LAKE CHELAN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC Project No. 637

December 16, 1998

Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County Wenatchee, Washington

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION...... 1 1.1 General Description of the Region and Lake Chelan Project...... 1 1.2 General Description of the Relicensing Process...... 2 1.3 Need Statement...... 3

SECTION 2: STUDY GOAL...... 3

SECTION 3: STUDY AREA ...... 3

SECTION 4: METHODOLOGY...... 3 4.1 Riparian Habitat Mapping...... 3 4.2 Vertebrate Species Census...... 4

SECTION 5: TASK LIST...... 7

SECTION 6: ANALYSIS AND REPORTING...... 7

SECTION 7: STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS ...... 7

SECTION 8: SCHEDULE...... 8

SECTION 9: BUDGET ...... 8

SECTION 10: NEXT STEPS ...... 8

SECTION 11: REFERENCES ...... 8

APPENDIX A...... 9 Issues To Be Addressed ...... 9

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1: LAKE CHELAN & TRIBUTARIES...... 5

Riparian Zone Investigation

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Description of the Region and Lake Chelan Project Lake Chelan is located in Chelan County in north central Washington. The lake is bordered to the south by the Entiat and Chelan Mountains and Glacier Peak complex, and to the north it is bordered by the Sawtooth Mountain Range. From Twenty Five Mile Creek uplake, the terrain is mountainous and rugged. In many cases, the steep slopes run directly into the lake without providing any level beaches or shoreline. The terrain of the semi-arid lower end of the lake is much less severe. Except where irrigation has taken place, the hills of the lower end of the lake are covered with sparse shrub-steppe vegetation and a few scattered pines.

Lake Chelan is deep and narrow, extending northwesterly approximately 50 miles from the City of Chelan at its lower end to Stehekin at the head of the lake. Lake Chelan is a natural lake that developed within a broad glacial trough. The lake averages 1 mile in width, and has depths of over 1,480 feet. Lake Chelan is bordered by more than 2 million acres of National Forest Lands, more than half of which are designated as wilderness. Surrounding peaks reach elevations as high as 7,000 feet. The lake serves as a waterway approach to the Forest Service’s Wenatchee National Forest above Twenty Five Mile Creek, and to the National Park Service’s Lake Chelan National Recreation Area at Stehekin. The lower 15 miles of both sides of the lake are mostly privately owned, the next 35 miles are within the Wenatchee National Forest, and the upper 5 miles are within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

The average surface area of the lake is 32,000 acres. The drainage area of the project at the dam is 924 square miles. The confluence of the Chelan River and Columbia River is approximately 1.5 miles southeast of the City of Chelan. The lake level and flow through the Chelan River drainage were altered through the construction of a hydroelectric project in the river channel near the City of Chelan in 1928.

The Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project is located approximately 32 miles north of the City of Wenatchee on the Chelan River. The 4.1-mile long Chelan River, the shortest river in Washington State, flows from the lower end of Lake Chelan to the Columbia River. The Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project consists of a 40-foot high concrete gravity dam located at the City of Chelan, a 2.2-mile long steel and concrete tunnel (penstock) that is 14 feet in diameter, and a powerhouse located at the confluence of the Chelan and Columbia rivers near the City of Chelan Falls. The vertical elevation drop between the dam and powerhouse is 401 ft. The powerhouse contains two Francis turbine units, each rated at 34,000 hp at 1,100 cfs and 377 feet net head, that produce approximately 50 MW of electricity.

The project reservoir, Lake Chelan, is operated between a maximum water surface elevation of 1,100 feet (MSL) and 1,079 feet to ensure optimum utilization of the reservoir for power generation, fish and wildlife conservation, recreation, water supply, and flood control purposes. The average drawdown of the lake for the past 30 years has been to 1083.5 feet. The reservoir has 676,000 acre-feet of usable storage above 1,079 feet. Riparian Zone Investigation

The annual drawdown of the lake begins in early October. The lowest lake elevation normally occurs in April. From May through June the lake refills from spring runoff. The reservoir is maintained at or above elevation 1,098 feet from June 30 through September 30 each year. Since the project was originally licensed in 1926, the lake has never been drawn down to the minimum allowable elevation (1,079 feet). The lowest drawdown on record was 1,079.7 feet in 1970. That occurrence coincides with the lowest annual precipitation on record. The Chelan PUD has never failed to refill the reservoir to elevation 1,098 feet by June 30.

1.2 General Description of the Relicensing Process The Public Utility District No.1 of Chelan County (Chelan PUD) owns and operates the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project located on the Chelan River in Chelan, Washington. Chelan PUD is permitted to operate the project according to the terms and conditions contained in the existing license No. 637, issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on May 12, 1981. The current license expires on March 31, 2004.

The original project license was issued by the Federal Power Commission, now FERC, in May 1926. The FERC granted the new 30-year license to Chelan PUD on May 12, 1981, retroactive to 1974 when the original 50-year license expired.

Chelan PUD intends to seek a new license to operate the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project and has begun the preparation for the process referred to as “relicensing.” The FERC relicensing process is based on laws and regulations that require years of extensive planning, including environmental studies, agency consensus, and public involvement. The process to obtain a new license has changed considerably since the existing license was issued in 1981, primarily due to changes made to the Federal Power Act (FPA) as amended by the Electric Consumers Power Act (ECPA) in 1986. ECPA mandates that the FERC give equal consideration to the enhancement of existing environmental, recreation, fish, and wildlife resources, and to balance what are often competing uses of the water resources. ECPA also empowers the FERC to consider whether or not a project is consistent with federal and state comprehensive plans.

Chelan PUD has requested and received approval from the FERC to employ an alternative relicensing process for the Lake Chelan Project, as allowed under FERC’s Final Rule issued on October 29, 1997 (Docket No. RM95-16-000; Order No. 596). The Alternative Relicensing Process (ARP) proposed by Chelan PUD is intended to expedite the licensing process by combining the pre-filing consultation and environmental review processes into a single process, and by improving and facilitating communications among the participants in the licensing process.

The first step taken by Chelan PUD in the Lake Chelan ARP was to solicit identification of issues from the participating stakeholders regarding all aspects of the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project that would need to be addressed during the relicensing process. Issues identified were then grouped according to similar topics. From the sub-groups of topics, study plans outlines were developed to address the pertinent issues. The detailed study plans are a further refinement of the study plan outlines.

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1.3 Need Statement The effect of the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project operation on riparian habitat, and the associated wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, is an issue that has been raised in the relicensing process. In order to assess the project’s affects, a thorough survey of riparian habitat, plant, and wildlife species, will be conducted. Where available, existing maps and photographs will be used to document changes that have occurred since construction of the project. Included in the survey will be assessment of riparian habitat types and structures e.g., number of canopy layers, snags, down woody debris, shoreline configuration.

SECTION 2: STUDY GOAL

The goal of the Riparian Zone Investigation is to assess the riparian zone health and to document the presence or absence of RTE species. Two key objectives are to evaluate the: 1) existing riparian plant and wildlife species and current distribution; and 2) extent and structure of riparian habitat. This will include terrestrial as well as aquatic components. This information will be blended with other safety, recreational, fisheries, ownership, and navigation concerns to form a comprehensive report that addresses the needs of the resources. Assessment of small animals such as furbearers, reptiles, and amphibians, will be included in this investigation. The rationale is that certain small animals are more closely associated with riparian habitat as opposed to big game, which will be addressed in the Wildlife Investigation.

SECTION 3: STUDY AREA

The studies will be concentrated within the riparian zones of 10 major tributaries. Areas of study at each tributary will be the entire stretch of riparian habitat from the stream mouth upstream to the first natural migratory fish barrier, although most survey effort will concentrate nearer the stream deltas. Most of the riparian habitat within the project boundary is very closely associated with tributaries to the lake.

SECTION 4: METHODOLOGY

4.1 Riparian Habitat Mapping The first step in the riparian habitat mapping will be to delineate the extent of the riparian zones on Lake Chelan using aerial photography. Mapping resolution will be 0.2 ha (0.5 a.) or less, in order to describe discrete plant communities (Cooperrider et al. 1986). Because riparian systems are linear, frequently varying considerably in width, mapping should be scaled to include small communities that may support RTE plants and riparian-associated wildlife. Vegetation maps will be accompanied by mapping criteria used in naming major communities to provide consistency throughout this study and reference for future studies

Study Plan (Review-Copy) Lake Chelan Project No. 637 December 16, 1998 Page 3 SS/2126_1 Riparian Zone Investigation

Once the riparian areas have been delineated, 10 areas will be selected for field study, based on extent of riparian habitat and distribution Using these criteria, the selected sample sites are:

Safety Harbor Creek First Creek Gold Creek Twentyfive Mile Creek Mitchell Creek Grade Creek Prince Creek Fish Creek Railroad Creek Stehekin River

The PUD has conducted kokanee spawning surveys in these creeks since 1982. Background data regarding riparian habitat and fish and wildlife resources may be more readily available from these tributaries.

Detailed information on representative riparian zones will provide much better data on which to base management decisions than cursory study of more areas (Cooperrider et al. 1986). Vegetation structure and tree species composition will be quantified in a subset of available plant communities along each representative tributary. These data are important components of naming communities and assessing structural configurations of vegetation. GPS technology will be employed to provide coordinates for plant communities. These data will be input to a GIS database in order to provide mapping and precise locations of plant communities.

4.2 Vertebrate Species Census The initial riparian delineations conducted in Task 4.1 will be used to identify up to 5 high priority areas to be surveyed for anticipated vertebrate species. Habitat requirements for anticipated species e.g., vegetation types, patch size and shape, proximity to water, presence of certain characteristics such as snags and downed wood, will be compared to existing vegetation data. These data will be used to develop survey areas, methods, intensity, and timeframe. The field surveys will coincide with the appropriate season to optimize opportunities for accurate observation and identification. Field surveys will also be conducted in conjunction with the riparian vegetation studies in order to maximize logistical efficiency.

Locations of all field observations, species observed and identified, and/or their sign (e.g., feathers, nests, pellets, egg masses) will be plotted using GPS technology. These data will then be incorporated into a GIS database. Observations will be documented on standard data forms e.g., location, behavior, nesting/denning sign, population status, and a description of habitat.

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l o E l i y L t A n N S a k e C re x o C k ll B e e e h r c C it M ek n Cre le tilo i An M ive SHEET 1 ntyf Twe LAKE CHELAN & TRIBUTARIES LAKE CHELAN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT Wapato Lake R FERC PROJECT NO. 637 Dry Lake E IV Roses Lake R PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 h lc CHELAN COUNTY WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON u G n a v m te rt DECEMBER, 1998 First Creek u v P e le CHELAN u o C #

CHELAN WATERSHED BOUNDARY p v v p C a h n e K la n STREAMS R A I iv N nyon e B Daybreak Ca r WATER QUALITY MONITORING M v U STATIONS L O C 5 0 5

Miles 1:335,000 SCALE Riparian Zone Investigation

4.2.1 Small Mammals The small mammal population would be sampled via Sherman live-traps. Trapping will be conducted for 2 nights at each of the 5 field sites. An array of trap stations would be placed in multiple lines perpendicular to the stream course. Each station would have 2 traps. Stations would occur in the center of the riparian zone, outer edge, and in the immediate upland. Where possible, pitfall traps will also be placed into the array. For example, for a riparian zone about 200 meters long, 4 lines with 5 stations each would be established. A maximum of 40 Sherman live-traps would be used at any given site. Pitfalls would be interspersed wherever conditions are suitable. Traps would be set in the evening and checked in the morning. Anticipated species to be specifically targeted include Trowbridge’s shrew, vagrant shrew, long-tailed vole, montane vole, heather vole, Pacific jumping mouse, and deer mouse. Other small mammals, such as squirrels, woodrats, beaver, muskrat, etc., will be noted via visual detection of animals or their sign.

4.2.2 Bats Bats would be recorded using a sonic bat detector during the evening hours at each of the 5 study locations. Sonograms will be recorded and compared to a species key. Identification of up to 12 species of bats is anticipated.

4.2.3 Reptiles Simultaneous to the small mammal trapping, investigation for lizards and snakes will be conducted in the riparian zones. Reptiles will be recorded by visual searches and observation, generally under rocks, for adults, larvae, and eggs, and using pitfall traps where ground conditions allow.

4.2.4 Amphibians Tailed frogs and long-toed salamanders will be surveyed by looking within the streams, generally under rocks, for adults, larvae, and eggs. Tree frogs, spotted frogs, and western toads will be recorded via chorus call counts in the evening, as well as searching for eggs and larvae in any pools of water that might be present.

4.2.5 Birds Bird surveys will be conducted by establishing 1 or 2 call stations at each stream site in late May and/or June. An observer will record all birds heard/observed during a one-hour period beginning one-half hour before sunrise. After the morning call count, the bird observer will then traverse the entire study area searching for any other birds, including nests, pellets, etc., not recorded during the morning count. Additionally, all other participating biologists will record any previously unrecorded bird observations made during the other surveys. The observers will attempt, as best as practicable, to separate observations by habitat (riparian vs. upland). The survey will target mostly owls, warblers, and flycatchers.

Additional issues identified during initial consultation (Appendix A) will be addressed during the course of the studies described previously, or in other studies associated with the Lake Chelan relicensing process. For example, fish use will be observed during the Bypass Reach Flow Releases Study and Fish Stranding Investigation. Recreation, other than fishing, aesthetics, kayaking, and safety issues will also be addressed in the Chelan River Recreational Flow Study

Lake Chelan Project No. 637 Study Plan (Review-Copy) SS/2126_1 Page 6 December 16, 1998 Riparian Zone Investigation and Paddling Feasibility Study. Power impacts of various scenarios will be addressed in this and other studies, such as Columbia River Flow Augmentation and Lake Level Investigation.

SECTION 5: TASK LIST

Task 1 – Literature Review 1.1 Existing information 1.2 Collect existing habitat maps and photographs

Task 2 – Field Investigation 2.1 Riparian Vegetation 2.2 Vertebrate Census

Task 3 – Analysis 3.1 Riparian Vegetation 3.2 Vertebrate Census

Task 4 – Interpretation of Results 4.1 Riparian Vegetation 4.2 Vertebrate Census

Task 5 – Report

SECTION 6: ANALYSIS AND REPORTING

Analysis and reporting will consist of an initial summarization of existing information regarding current and pre-project riparian habitat. Field investigations will be conducted to characterize the existing vegetative habitat structure and species conditions, and the structure of the vertebrate community. Field observations and subsequent analyses will be vital to determining the inter- relationship between the vegetative and vertebrate communities, and the role Lake Chelan Project operations may play in these relationships. All data, field observations, analyses, and conclusions based on those analyses will be included in a draft and final report to Chelan PUD. Identification of possible enhancement opportunities will be included in the final report.

SECTION 7: STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS

Chelan PUD will hire a consultant(s) to assist in conducting 1999 field investigations. Chelan PUD staff will oversee contracting and deliverable schedule for the selected consultant(s). Consultant(s) conducting field investigation in 1999 will be required to provide equipment and staff to conduct the contracted field investigations with minimal field support from the PUD. PUD involvement will be primarily in the form of study plan development and implementation,

Study Plan (Review-Copy) Lake Chelan Project No. 637 December 16, 1998 Page 7 SS/2126_1 Riparian Zone Investigation project oversight, providing input to the consultant(s) regarding decisions made by parties involved in the relicensing process, and promoting discussion among stakeholders regarding study results.

SECTION 8: SCHEDULE

Initiation of this study will begin during spring 1999, most likely between late May and early June. Neotropical migrants, such as warblers and flycatchers, and most reptiles will not be present or active until May. It may be possible to survey the warmer, drier Wapato Basin first and begin somewhat earlier. The estimated number of days to complete tasks outlined in Section 5 are as follows:

Task 1 – Literature review 2 days Task 2 - Field Investigation 3-4 weeks Task 3 - Analysis 3 weeks Task 4 - Interpretation of Results 2 weeks: collaboration required with relicensing stakeholders Task 5 – Report 60 days

SECTION 9: BUDGET

To be determined based on contractor selection.

SECTION 10: NEXT STEPS

· Review draft detailed study plans in-house for completeness. · Send draft study plans to the Wildlife/Riparian Workgroup for review and comment. · Incorporate Wildlife/Riparian Workgroup comments into detailed study plans. · Select consultant to conduct 1999 field investigations. · Finalize contract with selected consultant, and have them prepare for 1999 field season. · Conduct 1999 field studies.

SECTION 11: REFERENCES

Cooperrider, A.Y., R.J. Boyd, and H.R. Stuart, eds. 1986. Inventory and monitoring of wildlife habitat. U.S. Dept. Inter., Bur. Land Manage. Service Center, Denver, CO. xviii. 858 pp.

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APPENDIX A

Issues To Be Addressed

Issue Group Rank Issue Addressed

Integrated Resource Planning and Management: Coordination and Communication of this and LARC 2/149 Yes other public planning Integrated resource management as it relates to LARC 7/149 Yes land use Integrate with other resource objectives LARC 13/149 Yes Development of shoreline LARC 14/149 Yes & other study Economics: must be economically viable to PUD LARC 31/149 Yes Land conversions, lands that are changed for LARC 55/149 Other Study alternate uses Land ownership and jurisdiction LARC 91/149 Other Study

Fish management: Baseline condition Fish 18/118 Yes & other study

Reservoir Fluctuation: Aesthetics - drawdowns ugly LARC 2/149 Yes Erosion during high water(Recreation uplake LARC 17/149 Other Study from dam) Erosion - loss of soil LARC 35/149 Other Study Erosion - habitat in general LARC 36/149 Yes shoreline access(undercut banks) LARC 37/149 Other Study Erosion - effect on cultural LARC 43/149 Other Study impacts on riparian LARC 61/149 Yes structural damage (i.e., marina) LARC 86/149 Other Study Extent of Drawdowns: facilities designed for LARC 89/149 Other Study historic drawdowns Extent of Drawdowns: not for maximum LARC 100/149 Other Study drawdown allowed Dock and seawall maintenance during high water LARC 108/149 Other Study Value of property and availability of flat ground LARC 125/149 Other Study Extent of Drawdowns: proposed increase in LARC 128/149 Other Study drawdowns

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Issue Group Rank Issue Addressed

Don't know what we have Fish 6/119 Yes Lake level fluctuation: Tributary access and lake Fish 7/119 Yes spawning Impact on (riparian) habitat fluctuations Fish 13/119 Yes Spotted Frog endangered (project within historic Fish 19/119 Yes range) General amphibian habitat assessment Fish 31/119 Yes Lake level fluctuations: Riparian habitat Fish 34/119 Yes (historic/pre-dam habitat) Nesting birds: Loss of habitat at head of lake and Fish 35/119 Yes failed nests Loss of habitat for: small mammals Fish 43/119 Yes Amphibian, Invertebrate, Fish, safety Fish 45/119 Yes Loss of habitat for: song birds Fish 53/119 Yes Impacts on biodiversity Fish 54/119 Yes Recruitment/Removal Fish 85/119 Yes No escape cover during drawdown Fish 95/119 Yes Maintain fir and maple habitat Fish 96/119 Yes Invertebrate production Fish 98/119 Yes

Timing of the Drawdowns: no bath tub ring Public 4/75 Other Study during high visit season Lake levels higher May through September Public 6/75 Other Study Lake fluctuation, including earlier and longer or Public 7/75 Other Study up a month earlier than now Impact on commercial facilities Public 21/75 Other Study Stehekin mud flats safety (logs) Public 22/75 Yes Stehekin debris on mud flats Public 43/75 Yes Shoreline erosion caused by raising of the lake Public 49/75 Other Study Stehekin aesthetics regarding the mud flats Public 56/75 Other Study Aesthetics - drawdowns ugly Public 62/75 Other Study Must be economically viable to PUD Public 68/75 Yes Funds needed to mitigate erosion Public 70/75 Other Study Structural damage, wear and tear on docks, Public 71/75 Other Study special docks required Flooding: higher lake levels increase flooding risk Public 72/75 Other Study (Stehekin) Dust in Stehekin and other areas Public 75/75 Other Study

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