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Draft Biological Assessment

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Draft Biological Assessment UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Klamath River Renewal Corporation Project Nos. 14803-001; PacifiCorp 2082-063 AMENDED APPLICATION FOR SURRENDER OF LICENSE FOR MAJOR PROJECT AND REMOVAL OF PROJECT WORKS Attachment A-1 Lower Klamath Project Biological Assessment Lower Klamath Project Biological Assessment March 2021 Biological Assessment Biological Assessment Prepared for: The Renewal Corporation Prepared by: Renewal Corporation Technical Representatives: AECOM Technical Services, Inc. 300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 400 Oakland, California 94612 Camas, LLC 680 G Street, Suite C Jacksonville, Oregon 97530 CDM Smith 1755 Creekside Oaks Drive, Suite 200 Sacramento, California 95833 River Design Group 311 SW Jefferson Avenue Corvallis, Oregon 97333 Camas, LLC 680 G Street, Suite C Jacksonville, Oregon 9753 Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC 22 Battery Street, Suite 508 San Francisco, California 94111 2 March 2021 Biological Assessment Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 PacifiCorp’s Klamath Hydroelectric Project ............................................................................... 2 1.2.2 USBR’s Klamath Project .............................................................................................................. 3 1.2.3 The Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement ................................................................... 4 1.2.4 Amended KHSA ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.5 Previous Relevant ESA Consultations and Permits ................................................................... 4 1.2.6 FERC License Transfer and Surrender ....................................................................................... 5 1.3 PROJECT SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.4 LISTED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT ................................................................................................. 8 1.5 NEW CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED ACTION .................................................................................. 10 1.6 COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT ............................................................................... 15 2. PROPOSED ACTION DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.1 RESERVOIR DRAWDOWN AND DIVERSION ............................................................................................ 18 2.1.1 J.C. Boyle Dam ........................................................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Copco No. 1 Dam ...................................................................................................................... 20 2.1.3 Copco No. 2 Dam ...................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.4 Iron Gate Dam ........................................................................................................................... 22 2.2 DRAWDOWN RATES OF ALL RESERVOIRS ............................................................................................. 22 2.3 DAM AND FACILITIES REMOVAL........................................................................................................... 23 2.3.1 J.C. Boyle .................................................................................................................................... 25 2.3.2 Copco No. 1 ............................................................................................................................... 30 2.3.3 Copco No. 2 ............................................................................................................................... 34 2.3.4 Iron Gate .................................................................................................................................... 39 2.4 RESERVOIR RESTORATION.................................................................................................................. 43 2.4.1 Expected Reservoir Conditions Following Dam Removal ........................................................ 43 2.4.2 J.C. Boyle .................................................................................................................................... 44 2.4.3 Copco No. 1 ............................................................................................................................... 44 2.4.4 Iron Gate .................................................................................................................................... 45 2.4.5 Perennial Tributary Restoration ................................................................................................ 50 2.4.6 Measures to Manage Remaining Sediment ............................................................................ 53 2.4.7 Measures to Monitor Remaining Sediment ............................................................................. 56 2.4.8 Measures to Restore the Klamath River in Reservoirs ........................................................... 56 2.4.9 Restoration Activities Outside of the Reservoirs ..................................................................... 58 2.5 OTHER PROJECT COMPONENTS .......................................................................................................... 60 2.5.1 Road Improvements .................................................................................................................. 61 2.5.2 Yreka Water System Improvements ......................................................................................... 67 2.5.3 Recreation Facilities .................................................................................................................. 69 2.5.4 Fish Hatcheries .......................................................................................................................... 70 March 2021 i Biological Assessment Biological Assessment 2.6 CONSERVATION, AVOIDANCE, AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES ................................................................ 75 2.6.1 Aquatic Resources Management Plan ..................................................................................... 75 2.6.2 Terrestrial and Wildlife Management Plan .............................................................................. 81 2.6.3 Erosion and Sediment Control Plan ......................................................................................... 81 2.6.4 Reservoir Area Management Plan ............................................................................................ 82 2.6.5 Fish Passage Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 83 2.6.6 NSO Measures ........................................................................................................................... 83 2.7 SUMMARY AND SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED IN-WATER WORK ACTIVITIES .................................................. 84 3. ACTION AREA ...................................................................................................................................................... 92 4. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE .............................................................................................................................. 95 4.1 WATERSHED SETTING ........................................................................................................................ 95 4.2 CLIMATE AND HYDROLOGY ................................................................................................................. 95 4.3 VEGETATION COVER .......................................................................................................................... 97 4.4 LAND USE ........................................................................................................................................ 98 4.5 SEDIMENT SUPPLY AND CONDITIONS .................................................................................................. 98 4.5.1 Upper Klamath Lake to Keno Dam .......................................................................................... 98 4.5.2 Hydroelectric Reach and Reservoirs ........................................................................................ 98 4.5.3 Iron Gate Dam to Estuary ........................................................................................................ 102 4.6 WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS ...........................................................................................................102 4.6.1 Total Maximum Daily Loads .................................................................................................... 103 4.6.2 Water Temperatures ............................................................................................................... 104 4.6.3 Suspended Sediment .............................................................................................................
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