P-8D – Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Technical Report

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Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project Exhibit P

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FOR SITE CERTIFICATE Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project Exhibit P

2011 Report

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FOR SITE CERTIFICATE

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project

2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys

December 2011 4290RPT.DOC

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project

2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys

Prepared for:

Idaho Power Company

1221 W. Idaho St. Boise, Idaho 83702

Prepared by:

Tetra Tech

3380 Americana Terrace, Suite 201 Boise, Idaho 83706 114-540315X.005.002.09

December 2011

2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2.0 SURVEY AREA ...... 1 3.0 METHODS ...... 2 3.1 Habitat Assessment and Delineation ...... 2 3.2 Historical Data Review ...... 3 3.3 Survey Schedule ...... 3 3.4 Field Survey Methods ...... 3 3.5 Recording Data ...... 4 4.0 RESULTS...... 5 5.0 CONCLUSIONS ...... 11 5.1 Remaining Survey Work ...... 12 6.0 REFERENCES ...... 12

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4-1. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary ...... 9

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1-1. Idaho Power Proposed Route and Alternative Routes Figure 2-1. Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Area Figure 3-1. Washington Ground Squirrel Habitat Distribution Map for Oregon Figure 4-1. Overview of Washington Ground Squirrel Colonies Figure 4-2. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 27-15 Figure 4-3. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Group CX-35 Figure 4-4. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 24-2 Figure 4-5. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 22-3 Figure 4-6. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group CX-30 Figure 4-7. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group CX-31 Figure 4-8. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 21-1 Figure 4-9. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 7-5.9 Figure 4-10. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 7-5.8 Figure 4-11. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group 7-5 Figure 4-12. Detail of Washington Ground Squirrel Colony Group CX-2

Tetra Tech December 2011 i 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This summary report presents the methods and results for the 2011 Washington ground squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni) surveys conducted by Tetra Tech, Inc. (Tetra Tech) for Idaho Power Company (IPC) on the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project (Project). IPC is proposing to construct and operate a new, approximately 300-mile-long, single-circuit 500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line between northeast Oregon and southwest Idaho (hereinafter the B2H Project or Project). The overhead, 500,000-volt (500-kV) transmission line will carry energy bi-directionally between a Portland General Electric (PGE) planned substation (Grassland Substation) adjacent to the Boardman Generating Plant, near Boardman in Morrow County, Oregon, and IPC’s existing Hemingway Substation, located in Owyhee County, Idaho. The Project will traverse federal, state, and private lands in six counties in Oregon and Idaho. Figure 1-1 documents the Project location, proposed route, and route alternatives. All figures are located at the end of this report. The Project would result in disturbances related to the construction of permanent facilities such as transmission tower pads, substations, communication sites, and permanent access roads, as well as temporary disturbances related to fly yards, lay down areas, tensioning sites, and temporary access roads. To help determine the degree of impact that could occur due to the construction and operation of these Project components, the location and habitat for Washington ground squirrels that occurs along the Project needs to be determined. The Project, as proposed, would cross both public and private lands. The portion of the Project where Washington ground squirrel habitat occurs is almost entirely in private ownership. Data for these private lands, with the exception of some statewide data gathered by state wildlife management agencies, are largely unavailable. This means that existing databases could not always be used to determine the locations of Washington ground-squirrels and their habitats that could be impacted by the Project. In addition, landowner permission is required prior to surveying private lands, and some private landowners have declined access to their lands for surveys. This means that field surveys could not be conducted along the entire length of the Project within Washington ground squirrel habitat. The objective of these surveys was to identify the presence and/or absence of Washington ground squirrel colonies in the vicinity of the proposed and alternate Project corridors so that Project impacts to Washington ground squirrels may be avoided and/or minimized. 2.0 SURVEY AREA

The survey area generally extends from the proposed Grassland Substation east to approximately Mile Post 83 with the Proposed route running west and south of the Boardman Bombing Range and the alternate route running north of the Boardman Bombing Range (Figure 2-1). The survey area was located in Morrow and Umatilla counties in northeastern Oregon. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) typically applies a 785-foot buffer around the outside boundary of Washington ground squirrel colonies as an avoidance area for energy development projects. In order to allow for Project siting changes the survey area for Washington ground squirrels included the 785-foot buffer plus an additional 250-foot area around all Project disturbance areas for a total distance of 1,035 feet. Disturbance areas include transmission towers, substations, communication sites, roads, pulling sites, laydown areas, and fly yards. This survey area included 15,577 acres of potentially suitable Washington ground squirrel habitat (Figure 2-1). The survey area consisted primarily of private lands.

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During the survey, Tetra Tech had access to approximately 74 percent of the survey area (Figure 2-1). 3.0 METHODS

The surveys followed methodology developed in the Status and Habitat Use of the Washington Ground Squirrel on State of Oregon Lands, South Boeing, Oregon (Morgan and Nugent 1999). This protocol called for line transect surveys conducted on a grid with transects of a re-survey effort running perpendicular to the original line transects. The use of this protocol was approved by ODFW prior to commencing surveys, and clarification on the survey methodology was provided by Russ Morgan and Steve Cherry and Jon Germond of ODFW prior to and during surveys.

3.1 Habitat Assessment and Delineation The Washington ground squirrel occurs only in the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington and north-central Oregon. In Oregon, the Washington ground squirrel range extends through portions of Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties.. The known Oregon population is centered on the Boardman Bombing Range and Boardman Conservation Area (Figure 3-1). The Washington ground squirrel is a small ground squirrel that is associated with shrub-steppe habitats of the Columbia Basin Ecoregion (Verts and Carraway 1998). Concern for the long- term viability of Washington ground squirrel populations led to the listing of the species by the ODFW as endangered in January of 2000, and the species is currently considered a candidate species for federal listing under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. Washington ground squirrels are most common in shrub-steppe habitats over sandy or silt-loam soils that are deep and support the creation of burrows (Betts 1990, Yensen and Sherman 2003). Sagebrush habitats and bunchgrass grasslands have been found to contain the highest densities of Washington ground squirrels, with lower densities in more degraded habitats, such as low shrub habitats with annual grasses, rabbitbrush (Ericameria sp.), and invasive species (Betts 1990). Washington ground squirrels eat a broad range of seeds, forbs, leaves, flowers, and roots (Greene 1999) that provide adequate fat stores to survive the long aestivation/hibernation and reproduction period. Native plants such as Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) may play a key role in their diet and survival (Tarifa and Yensen 2004). Prior to commencing surveys, Tetra Tech identified suitable habitat for the Washington ground squirrel based on aerial photography and guidance from ODFW. Although Washington ground squirrels are found in the highest densities in sagebrush habitats and bunchgrass grasslands with few invasive species (Betts 1990), ODFW advised Tetra Tech that Washington ground squirrel colonies can be found in all habitats, regardless of quality, with the exception of active agricultural fields. In addition, ODFW advised Tetra Tech that Washington ground squirrels can use the burrows of other species and, therefore, holes of the appropriate size could potentially contain this species. Washington ground squirrels are diurnally active and spend the majority of the year underground. This species aestivates throughout the summer and is thought to transition directly into hibernation (ODFW 1999, Sherman and Shellman Sherman 2005). Adults emerge from burrows between January and March, depending on elevation and weather patterns, and return underground in late May to early June. Juveniles emerge from burrows between March and April and return underground a few weeks after the adults (Carlson et al. 1980).

Tetra Tech December 2011 2 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

3.2 Historical Data Review Tetra Tech conducted a data review of known Washington ground squirrel colonies in the vicinity of the Project. This included reviewing publications that documented Washington ground squirrel burrows on the Boardman Bombing Range and Boardman Conservation Area (Morgan and Nugent 1999, Marr 2004), submitting a data request to the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC 2011), and reviewing the results of Washington ground squirrel surveys for other energy development projects in the vicinity of the Survey Area, including Leaning Juniper I and II Wind Power Projects (NWC and WEST 2005, NWC 2008), and Pebble Springs Wind Project (PPM Energy 2006). Several Washington ground squirrel colonies were found to have been documented in the vicinity of the Survey Area indicating that a thorough survey effort of the proposed Project was necessary in order to map habitat and colony location to avoid or reduce impacts to this species from the Project.

3.3 Survey Schedule The Survey Area was surveyed twice, once in April and once in May of 2011 to correspond with the highest Washington ground squirrel activity period when juveniles have emerged and alarm calls are most frequent.

3.4 Field Survey Methods All field crew members were required to pass a hearing test prior to the field season ensuring they were capable of hearing a frequency of 8 kHz, the typical frequency of alarm call vocalizations of ground dwelling squirrels. At the start of the 2011 field season (April 5), the Tetra Tech survey crew met with Leslie Nelson of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to visit an active Washington ground squirrel colony and received on the ground training in burrow, scat, alarm call, and squirrel identification. The Tetra Tech crew leader provided additional guidance on the natural history, habitat, and survey protocol for Washington ground squirrels. While at the colony site, the squirrels vocalized high pitched alarm and cricket calls, and the field crew members were able to familiarize themselves with the calls specific to this species. This visit also ensured that the squirrels were active in the vicinity of the Survey Area during the time of the scheduled field work. The Washington ground squirrel is allopatric to the Columbia River Basin area and thus is one of only a few species of ground squirrel known to occur in the vicinity of the Survey Area. Confusing Washington ground squirrel for similar species such as Belding’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus beldingi ) or Townsend’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii ) is unlikely. Washington ground squirrels have scat that can be differentiated from other burrowing animals by its characteristic size and shape. Washington ground squirrel scat was present at the training site and some pieces were collected to later serve as a comparison when attempting to identify scat in the field surveys. During surveys, a crew of 2 to 8 biologists walked meandering line transects, each spaced 165 feet (50 meters) apart, to provide survey coverage of the habitat within the Survey Area. The surveys were conducted in the morning (between approximately 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.) Surveys were not conducted when wind conditions were above 15 miles per hour. Professional judgment was used when wind speeds were greater than 6 miles per hour or when visibility was poor, as both of these conditions could limit the observer’s ability to detect alarm calls or observe sign. Surveys commenced at least one hour after sunrise to allow for temperatures to increase sufficiently to support ground squirrel activity.

Tetra Tech December 2011 3 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

During all transect surveys, the crew walked transects at a similar pace to ensure there were no gaps in coverage, listened for alarm calls, and scanned the ground for potential burrows. Each crew member was able to communicate findings to the group via a hand-held radio thereby avoiding double recording of data. When surveyors observed potential burrows, potential scat, heard possible alarm calls or inter-colony communications, they alerted the group and then listened and visually scanned the area in detail for any squirrels or additional sign. Colonies were designated active when Washington ground squirrel activity was confirmed through visual detection of a squirrel, audio confirmations (hearing alarm or social calls), and/or fresh, Washington ground squirrel scat near burrows. Scat samples were collected for confirmation of squirrel presence. A burrow was identified as potential if it was a hole that was freshly dug (no vegetation or cobwebs), that was structurally sound and the appropriate size for this species, but no other Washington ground squirrel sign (scat, visual, audio) was observed. Each site was resurveyed approximately two weeks after the first survey; spacing the surveys apart by roughly two weeks ensured that ground squirrel activity would be captured despite any local differences in activity level throughout the season. During the second survey, all potential burrows identified during the first survey were revisited and any confirmed activity was documented on the colony field datasheets. During the second survey, 165-foot-wide transects were walked perpendicularly to the first survey transects in order to maximize coverage of the habitat. In areas where no or few potential burrows were found during the first survey, surveyors had the option of walking offset transects parallel to, but between, the original transects (i.e. offset by roughly 82 feet). Any potential burrows identified during the first survey were approached at a 90 degree angle during the second survey in order to minimize the chance of missing a visual or audio detection due to landscape features or prevailing wind directions.

3.5 Recording Data Potential burrows were recorded on the field datasheet and labeled with a unique numeric identifier. Information recorded on the datasheet for potential burrows included location of burrows, number of burrows, habitat, and identifying features of location. When potential burrows were revisited during the second set of surveys, the date, surveyor, and notes on activity were recorded. Areas where Washington ground squirrel presence was confirmed were delineated with Trimble® GeoXH global positioning system (GPS) units in the field, and later mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Confirmed presence was defined as a visual of the species or detection of an audio call. Once a general area was determined to be active based on these cues, all fresh burrows in the vicinity of the cue(s) were included in the colony delineation. Information collected on the Trimble GPS units included activity centers, such as locations where squirrels were observed or heard in high densities, and the colony boundary (i.e. the extent of active burrows on the periphery of activity centers). Colonies were delineated beyond the Survey Area if they straddled or were located just outside the Survey Area boundary and access to the adjacent area had been granted. Information recorded for each colony included habitat characteristics, locations of activity centers and colony boundaries, number of burrows, number of scat, the time and weather conditions under which the colony was discovered, and how the colony was first discovered. Photographs of burrows, scat, and habitat were taken at some active colonies. Weather, survey personnel, time of day, and areas surveyed were recorded each day surveys were conducted. Precipitation, average wind speed and direction, cloud cover, and temperature were recorded at the start, middle, and end of each survey day.

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4.0 RESULTS

Between April 5 and May 16, 2011, Tetra Tech conducted 20 days of Washington ground squirrel surveys divided over two survey periods to coincide with the seasonal activity period of the Washington ground squirrel. The first survey period occurred over a 12 day period starting on April 5 and ending on April 16. Weather was a factor with the majority of one work day (4/6) and all of another (4/11) being cancelled due to wind speeds exceeding that allowed in the Protocol. Temperatures were cool to moderate with lows ranging from 28-38 degrees and highs ranging from 45 to 63 degrees. Precipitation occurred on several survey days and included light rain and sleet however it did not have any noticeable impact on the ability to hear Washington ground squirrel alarm calls. Due to the two lost days as a result of high wind speeds an extension period of 4 days, with a smaller crew, was added in order to complete all accessible portions of the survey area. The second survey period occurred over an 8-day period starting on May 3 and ending on May 10. Weather during the second survey period was generally good with temperatures ranging from lows near 40 degrees to highs in the mid-60’s. Light to moderate rain occurred several times during the survey period however this did not cause any significant delays. On May 3, 2011 and a portion of May 8, 2011 surveys could not be conducted due to wind speeds exceeding that allowed in the Protocol. Tetra Tech assessed wind speed and weather hourly to determine if the conditions were appropriate to conduct surveys.as wind noise can obscure ground squirrel vocalizations. In the study on which the Project surveys were based, Morgan and Nugent (1999) reported that surveys were halted when wind speeds reached 6-15 mph. Tetra Tech did not conduct surveys during sustained wind speeds of over 15 mph; at times when gusts exceeded 15 mph, Tetra Tech halted surveys. During surveys, the mean wind speed was 5-6 mph with rain occurring during all or part of four days. If Tetra Tech surveyed an area during rain or with winds greater than 10 mph during the first set of surveys, Tetra Tech surveyed the same area during ideal (i.e. low to no wind, no precipitation) conditions during the second set of surveys. When in the field, surveyors used best professional judgment regarding whether or not to continue surveying any time the wind exceeded 6mph (per protocol) and adjusted our surveys to maximize the likelihood of hearing squirrels. Tetra Tech documented 30 confirmed active colonies during the 2011 surveys (Table 4-1; Figures 4-1 through 4-12). Colony size ranged from .05 acres (Colony 23-3b) to 41 acres (Colony CX-31); all but two colonies were less than 10 acres (Table 4-1; Figures 4-2 through 4- 12). For the purposes of this survey, an active colony was defined as a combination of visual and audible confirmations (hearing alarm calls) and presence of characteristic Washington ground squirrel scat around burrow entrances. Because ground squirrel use of the landscape often changed every day, the colony delineations in this report represent the areas of Washington ground squirrel activity during the delineations. The activity that Tetra Tech delineated likely included individual dispersing juveniles as well as well-established, more permanent colonies.

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Table 4-1. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary Distance to Nearest Colony Project Feature Colony Activity Soil Shrub # Easting Northing Date (feet) Route Name Acreage Confirmation Type Cover Plant Species Dominant Plant Species Disturbances Silty neither native Alarm Call and 22-3a 119.88076 45.63288 4/7/2011 73.45 1 Proposed Route 1.98 Loam <1% (1) or exotics Bunchgrass, june grass, cheat grass, rabbitbrush Not Recorded Scat (2 & 3) (7) dominate Silty Native Species 11-20% 22-3b 119.89668 45.63431 4/7/2011 667.13 Proposed Route 0.05 Alarm Call (2) Loam dominant annual grasses, rabbitbrush Anthropogenic (3) (7) (>60%) Silty neither native slender wheatgrass, Artemisia tridentata, Sysimbrium Alarm Call and 61-80% 24-2a 119.72766 45.62877 4/8/2011 164.88 Proposed Route 3.22 Loam or exotics altissum, Guterizia sarothrae, Yarrow, Bromus Anthropogenic Scat (2 & 3) (6) (7) dominate tectorum, Phlox spp., Salsola tragus Silty Native Species Grayia spinosa, slender wheatgrass, Phlox spp., Alarm Call and 1-10% 24-2b 119.72411 45.62509 4/8/2011 505.76 Proposed Route 0.59 Loam dominant Townsendia spp., Cryptantha spp., Yarrow, Erodium None Scat (2 & 3) (2) (7) (>60%) cicutarium, microbiotic soil crusts Silty Native Species Alarm Call and 24-2c 119.72307 45.62602 4/8/2011 902.57 Proposed Route 2.38 Loam <1% (1) dominant slender wheatgrass, yarrow, phlox None Scat (2 & 3) (7) (>60%) Silty Native Species 24-2d 119.71684 45.62648 4/8/2011 2,407.33 Proposed Route 0.42 Alarm Call (2) Loam <1% (1) dominant slender wheatgrass, yarrow, Salsola tragus Anthropogenic (7) (>60%) Silty Native Species Alarm Call and 11-20% slender wheatgrass, Artemisia tridentata, Gutierizia 24-2e 119.72204 45.62737 4/8/2011 1,071.28 Proposed Route 0.27 Loam dominant None Scat (2 & 3) (3) sarothrae, Phlox, Atriplex corrugata (7) (>60%) Silty Native Species 1-10% 21-1bd 119.91580 45.66657 4/16/2011 0.00 Proposed Route 38.47 Alarm Call (2) Loam dominant big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, native perennial grass None (2) (7) (>60%) Silty Native Species Alarm Call and 1-10% 21-1c 119.90600 45.66718 4/16/2011 389.39 Proposed Route 1.58 Loam dominant big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, native perennial grass None Scat (2 & 3) (2) (7) (>60%) Silty Native Species Alarm Call and Bunchgrass, Tetradymiacanescens, Poa secunda, 27-15a 119.25288 45.55620 5/9/2011 221.99 Proposed Route 0.60 Loam <1% (1) dominant Anthropogenic Scat (2 & 3) Artemesia tridentata (7) (>60%) Silty Exotic Species CX-35 119.67875 45.61842 5/10/2011 17.08 Proposed Route 1.42 Alarm Call (2) Loam <1% (1) dominant crested wheatgrass, cheat Anthropogenic (7) (>60%) Silty neither native Alarm Call and 22-3a 119.88076 45.63288 5/11/2011 73.45 Proposed Route 1.98 Loam <1% (1) or exotics Bunchgrass, june grass, cheat grass, rabbitbrush Not Recorded Scat (2 & 3) (7) dominate Silty Exotic Species Alarm Call and 1-10% agropyron cristatum, brumus tectosum, poa secunda, CX-30 119.90965 45.63344 5/11/2011 253.46 Proposed Route 1.75 Loam dominant None Scat (2 & 3) (2) vulpia bromoides, chrysothamus naugeous (7) (>60%) Silty Native Species Alarm Call and 11-20% tall sagebrush, poa secunda, idaho fescur, phlox CX-31 119.94866 45.63398 5/11/2011 444.73 Proposed Route 41.03 Loam dominant None Scat (2 & 3) (3) longiflora, astragalus purchii (7) (>60%) Bombing Range Silty neither native 11-20% 7-5.9b 119.18555 45.58680 4/9/2011 645.06 North 0.25 Alarm Call (2) Loam or exotics Tetradymia canescens, Brotec Anthropogenic (3) Alternative (7) dominate

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Table 4-1. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary (continued) Distance to Colony Nearest Project Colony Activity Soil Shrub # Easting Northing Date Feature (feet) Route Name Acreage Confirmation Type Cover Plant Species Dominant Plant Species Disturbances Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 11-20% Native Species 7-5.9a 119.18594 45.57885 4/10/2011 183.06 1.09 Loam Slender Wheatgrass, Tetradymia None North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (3) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range 41-60% Native Species 7-5.9c 119.18487 45.58960 4/10/2011 0.00 4.74 All three Loam Tetradymia canescens None North Alternative (5) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range 41-60% Native Species 7-5a 119.20452 45.65223 4/10/2011 1.09 0.24 All three Loam rabbit brush, short grass None North Alternative (5) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 21-40% Native Species 7-5b 119.20574 45.64833 4/10/2011 684.85 5.80 Loam rabbit brush, short native grasses None North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (4) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 41-60% Native Species 7-5c 119.20119 45.64613 4/10/2011 285.18 0.70 Loam rabbit brush None North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (5) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 41-60% neither native or 7-5d 119.19897 45.64251 4/10/2011 425.97 0.51 Loam rabbit brush, cheatgrass, native short grass None North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (5) exotics dominate (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 11-20% neither native or 7-5e 119.18482 45.62631 4/10/2011 0.00 7.72 Loam rabbit brush, cheatgrass, needle and thread, bluegrass None North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (3) exotics dominate (7) Silty Bombing Range 41-60% Exotic Species redtop, slender wheatgrass, spiderwort, cheatgrass, 7-5.8a 119.18209 45.59474 4/12/2011 188.99 0.41 Alarm Call (2) Loam Anthropogenic North Alternative (5) dominant (>60%) spineless horsebrush, phlox (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 41-60% Exotic Species Tetradymia canescens, Red top, Brotec, slender wheat 7-5.8b 119.18473 45.59864 4/12/2011 29.84 1.51 Loam Anthropogenic North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (5) dominant (>60%) grass (7) Silty Bombing Range 41-60% Exotic Species 7-5.8c 119.18072 45.61211 4/12/2011 651.20 0.66 Alarm Call (2) Loam Tetradymia canescens, Red top, Townsendia Anthropogenic North Alternative (5) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 41-60% Native Species 7-5.8d 119.18928 45.61173 4/12/2011 603.17 0.94 Loam Tetradymia canescens, irodium, Townsendia Anthropogenic North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (5) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 21-40% Native Species 7-5.8e 119.18548 45.61928 4/12/2011 0.00 2.66 Loam Tetradymia canescens, Red top, Brotec Anthropogenic North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (4) dominant (>60%) (7) Silty Bombing Range Alarm Call and 21-40% neither native or 7-5.8f 119.18800 45.61394 5/8/2011 589.66 0.70 Loam cheatgrass, rabbit brush, sandbergs None North Alternative Scat (2 & 3) (4) exotics dominate (7) Silty Bombing Range 11-20% neither native or 7-5.9e 119.17800 45.59000 5/9/2011 332.54 1.93 Loam rabbitbrush, slender wheatgrass, cheatgrass None North Alternative (3) exotics dominate (7) 1 Documented colonies within 785 from Project disturbance feature are noted in bold text.

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Tetra Tech confirmed all active colonies delineated in 2011 by the unique species-specific alarm call. Tetra Tech also observed individual squirrels and/or characteristic scat at over half of the colonies (Table 4-1). Table 4-1 outlines Tetra Tech’s observations at each colony, including detailed habitat information, the sign used to confirm activity, and the date Tetra Tech first observed each colony. Table 4-1 additionally lists the acreage of each colony and the distance of each colony’s edge to a disturbance feature of the proposed Project (transmission line, roads, substations, laydown and fly yards, or communication sites). Colonies within the 785-foot buffer of the proposed Project features are displayed in bold. All but three of the 30 confirmed colonies intersect the 785-foot buffer of proposed Project features (Table 4-1; Figures 4-2 through 4-12). Tetra Tech observed Washington ground squirrel activity primarily in sagebrush steppe habitat dominated by big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), Sanberg bluegrass, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) or some combination of these species (Table 1). Shrub cover within colonies ranged from zero to 100 percent; the median range of shrub cover was 1-10 percent with 19 of the 39 colonies falling in this range. Roughly as many colony locations were dominated by exotic species as were dominated by native species. Cheatgrass was by far the most prevalent invasive species found within colonies; other invasive species included storksbill (Erodium cicutarium), common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus), spring draba (Draba verna), bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa), tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa), medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) and jagged chickweed (Holosteum umbellatum). All of the colonies were located in silty loam soil (Table 4-1). Several of the colonies were located in or near disturbed landscapes. Anthropogenic activities within colony boundaries included off-road vehicle use and varying degrees of grazing and cattle activities. Anthropogenic activities and infrastructure occurring or located adjacent to colonies included actively farmed wheat fields, mining operations, major highways, and an existing overhead transmission line. Additionally, herbicide and pesticide spraying occurs within existing colonies (spot spraying by farmers), and on crops adjacent to active colonies (on crop circles and wheat). 5.0 CONCLUSIONS

Current ODFW guidance identifies Washington ground squirrel burrow(s)(including a 785-foot buffer of suitable habitat around the burrow) as an avoidance area for energy development projects.. IPC will use the Washington ground squirrel colony locations from these 2011 surveys to inform siting of transmission line towers. The objective will be to site transmission line towers, in coordination with ODFW, outside the 785-foot buffer of known colonies wherever possible and warranted by site habitat conditions. The colonies that Tetra Tech observed during surveys were clustered in two general areas: along the margins of and in the vicinity of the Boardman Bombing Range and Boardman Conservation Area. The colonies Tetra Tech observed in the vicinity of the Boardman Bombing Range and in or adjacent to the Boardman Conservation Area belong to a known and well- studied population of Washington ground squirrels that have been previously documented and researched. The Washington ground squirrel colonies Tetra Tech observed in Umatilla County, located east of the bombing range along the Northern Alternative, are part of a previously undocumented population of the species. Several of the colonies were located outside the ODFW modeled

Tetra Tech December 2011 11 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company range for this species (Figure 3-1), and were not included in previous research documenting the geographic distribution of this species (Betts 1990).

5.1 Remaining Survey Work Surveys for Washington ground squirrel will continue in April and May of 2012 as additional access to suitable habitat on private property within the Study Area becomes available. Colonies delineated in 2011 will also be revisited in 2012 in order to determine 2012 activity. Important areas that remains to be surveyed in 2012 are all proposed route changes made to avoid colonies delineated in 2011 or for engineering or other constraints. 6.0 REFERENCES

Betts, B.J. 1990. Geographical distribution and habitat preferences of Washington ground squirrels (Spermophilus washingtoni). Northwestern Naturalist 71:27-37. Carlson, L., G. Geupel, J. Kjelmyr, J. Maciver, M. Morton, and N. Shishido. 1980. Geographical Range, Habitat Requirements, and a Preliminary Population Study of Spermophilus washingtoni. Final Technical Report, National Science Foundation Student-originated Studies Program. 24 pp. Greene, E. 1999. Abundance and Habitat Associations of Washington Ground Squirrels in North-Central Oregon. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 59 pp. Marr, V. 2004. Washington Ground Squirrel Monitoring, Boardman Conservation Area, 2004. The Nature Conservancy. Morgan, R.L., and M. Nugent. 1999. Status and Habitat Use of the Washington Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni) on State of Oregon Lands, South Boeing, Oregon in 1999. Report to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Northwest Wildlife Consultants (NWC) and Western Ecosystems Technology (WEST). 2005. Wildlife Baseline Study for the Leaning Juniper Wind Power Project. Gilliam County, Oregon. NWC. 2008. Leaning Juniper Wind Power Project 2006-2008 Wildlife Monitoring Final Report. The Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC). 2011. Biotics, Element Occurrence Record Digital Data Set. March 2011. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). 1999. Washington Ground Squirrel Biological Status Assessment. ODFW, Portland, OR. 62 pp. PPM Energy. 2006. Pebble Springs Wind Project. Application for Conditional Use Permit. Presented to the Gilliam County Planning Department. Sherman, P.W., and J.S. Shellman Sherman. 2005. Distribution, Demography, and Behavioral Ecology of Washington Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus washingtoni) in Central Washington. Unpublished report, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. September. 26 pp. Tarifa, T., and E. Yensen. 2004. Washington Ground Squirrel Diets in relation to Habitat Conditions and Population Status: Annual Report 2003. Unpublished report, Albertson College, Caldwell, ID. October. 98 pp.

Tetra Tech December 2011 12 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

Verts, B.J., and L.N. Carraway. 1998. Land Mammals of Oregon. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 668 pp. Yensen, E., and P.W. Sherman. 2003. Ground-dwelling Squirrels of the Pacific Northwest. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and BLM, Boise, ID. 28 pp. + maps.

Tetra Tech December 2011 13

FIGURES

YAKIMA LEWIS BENTON WALLA WALLA ASOTIN Walla Walla WASHINGTON Umatilla OREGON Boardman IDAHO GRASSLAND Hermiston Echo #0 Pendleton

Cecil Elgin UMATILLA WALLOWA

MORROW Joseph Riggins La Grande

GILLIAM UNION

OREGON IDAHO Fossil ADAMS Keating

GRANT Baker WHEELER BAKER Sumpter

Durkee Prairie City Weatherby

John Day Malheur City WASHINGTON Weiser

CROOK PAYETTE Ontario

Nyssa GEM Parma Juntura Adrian CANYON BOISE Burns MALHEUR Caldwell ^ Nampa ADA HARNEY #0 Melba LAKE WA HEMINGWAY Murphy

OR ID OWYHEE Jordan Valley

Project Features Land Status FIGURE 1-1 #0 Substation Bureau of Land Management IDAHO POWER ° Proposed Route Indian Reservation 0 10 20 30 Alternative Route Bureau of Reclamation PROPOSED ROUTE AND County Boundary Military ALTERNATIVE ROUTES Miles State Land State Boundary IDAHO POWER COMPANY U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY U.S. Forest Service TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT Private Land DECEMBER 2011 WASHINGTON UV14

¨¦§82 ¨¦§84

Grassland #0

¨¦§84 OREGON

UV74

MP 83 ¤£395 !H

UV74

Bordman Bombing Range Route Features Highways FIGURE 2 WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL The Nature Conservancy Preserve Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate ° SURVEY AREA 0 4 Survey Features Alternative Primary US and State Highways Miles WAGS Survey Area #0 Substation Secondary State and County !H Mile Post (MP) IDAHO POWER COMPANY OR BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig02_WAGS_Survey_Area.mxd December 05, 2011 WASHINGTON UV14

¨¦§82 ¨¦§84

Grassland #0

¨¦§84 OREGON

UV74

MP 83 ¤£395 !H

UV74

Bordman Bombing Range Route Features Highways FIGURE 3 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL ° HABITAT DISTRIBUTION MAP 0 4 Survey Features Alternative Primary US and State Highways FOR OREGON Miles WAGS Survey Area #0 Substation Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY OR WAGS Modeled Range* !H Mile Post (MP) BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY *Data Source: Oregon GAP Species Distribution TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig03_WAGS_Habitat_Distribution.mxd December 06, 2011 WASHINGTON UV14

¨¦§82 ¨¦§84

Group CX-2

Group Grassland 21-1 #0

Group ¨¦§84 CX-31 Group Group OREGON 22-3 24-2 Group Group CX-35 7-5 Group CX-30 Group 7-5.8

Group 7-5.9

Group 27-15 UV74

MP 83 ¤£395 !H

UV74

Bordman Bombing Range Route Features Highways FIGURE 4 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate OVERVIEW OF ° WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL Alternative Primary US and State Highways 0 4 Survey Features COLONIES Miles Colony Group #0 Substation Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY OR WAGS Survey Area !H Mile Post (MP) BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig04_Overview_WAGS_Colonies.mxd December 05, 2011 46 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4

46.5 46.6 46.7 46.8 47 46.9 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 47.7 47.8 47.9 48 48.1 48.2

48.3 48.4 48.5 48.6 48.7 48.8 48.9 49 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 OREGON 49.5 49.6 50.3 50.4 49.7 50 50.1 50.2 49.8 49.9

27-15a

Y Y

T T

N N

U U

O O

C C

A A

W W

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-1 Survey Features Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° WAGS Survey Area Proposed Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 27-15 Feet Morrow Umatilla End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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OREGON

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-2 Bordman Bombing Range Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate Survey Features Mile WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! WAGS Survey Area Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP CX-35 Feet Morrow Umatilla Active WAGS Colony End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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24-2c 24-2e 24-2d

24-2c 24-2b

20.4

20.5

20.6 21 20.8 20.9 21.1 21.2 21.5 21.6 21.7 22 20.7 21.8 21.9 22.1 22.2 23 21.3 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.9 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 21.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 23.9 24 22.8 24.5 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.6 24.7 24.8 24.9

Walla Walla Benton Bordman Bombing Range Route Features Milepost Highways FIGURE 5-3 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Proposed Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate DETAIL OF ° .! WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 Survey Features Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 24-2 Feet WAGS Survey Area Secondary State and County Morrow End Umatilla IDAHO POWER COMPANY Active WAGS Colony BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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22-3b

12 12.1 12.4 12.3 11.9 12.2 12.5 12.6 12.7 13.6 13.7 13.8 12.8 12.9 13.1 13 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 22-3a 14.3 14.4 11.8 13.9 14.1 14 14.2 14.5

14.6

14.7

14.8

14.9 15 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.7 15.8 15.9 16 16.1 16.2 16.4 16.6 16.7 15.5 15.6 16.3 16.5

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-4 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate Survey Features Mile WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! WAGS Survey Area Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 22-3 Feet Morrow Umatilla Active WAGS Colony End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig05-XX_Detail_WAGS_Colony_Groups.mxd December 06, 2011 OREGON

CX-30

10.6 12 12.1 11.9 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 13.6 11.8 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 13.7 13.8 13.9 11 11.7 13.1 13.2 13.3 14.2 14.3 14.4 10.9 11.1 11.2 11.4 11.5 11.6 13 13.4 13.5 10.7 10.8 14.1 11.3 14 14.5

14.6

14.7

14.8

14.9 15 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-5 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate Survey Features Mile WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! WAGS Survey Area Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP CX-30 Feet Morrow Umatilla Active WAGS Colony End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig05-XX_Detail_WAGS_Colony_Groups.mxd December 06, 2011 9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7

9.8

9.9

10 OREGON 10.1 CX-31 10.2

10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 12 12.1 11.9 12.2 12.3 12.4 11.8 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 11 11.7 12.9 13.1 10.7 10.9 11.1 11.2 11.4 11.5 11.6 13 10.8 11.3

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-6 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate Survey Features Mile WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! WAGS Survey Area Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP CX-31 Feet Morrow Umatilla Active WAGS Colony End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig05-XX_Detail_WAGS_Colony_Groups.mxd December 06, 2011 4.7 4.6 4.8 4.5

5 4.9 4.4 5.7 5.6 5.5 4.3 5.8 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.1 4.2 4 5.9 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.4 6 3.3 3.2 3.1

6.1 7.7 7.6 7.4 7.3 7.2 7 6.2 7.5 7.1 6.9 21-1c 6.8 6.4 6.3 6.7 6.5 21-1bd OREGON 6.6

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-7 The Nature Conservancy Preserve Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate Survey Features Mile WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! WAGS Survey Area Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 21-1 Feet Morrow Umatilla Active WAGS Colony End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

R:\projects_2011\Boardman_To_Hemingway\maps\WAGS_Survey_Report_Figures\B2H_WAGS_Survey_Report_Fig05-XX_Detail_WAGS_Colony_Groups.mxd December 06, 2011 52.6

52.7

52.8

52.9

53.1

53.2 7-5.9e 53.3 7-5.9c 53.4

53.5 7-5.9b 53.6

53.7

53.8

53.9 OREGON 54

7-5.9a 54.1

54.2

54.3

54.4

54.5 54.6

54.7 54.8

54.9 55

55.1

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-8 Survey Features Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° WAGS Survey Area Proposed Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 7-5.9 Feet Morrow Umatilla End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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51.1

51.2

7-5.8e 51.3

51.4

51.5

7-5.8f 51.6

51.7 7-5.8c 7-5.8d 51.8

51.9

52.1

52.2

52.3 OREGON 52.4

52.5

52.6

52.7 7-5.8b 52.8

52.9

53 7-5.8a 53.1

53.2

53.3 Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-9 Survey Features Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° WAGS Survey Area Proposed Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 7-5.8 Feet Morrow Umatilla End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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48.7

48.8 7-5a

48.9 7-5b 49

49.1

49.2

7-5c 49.3

49.4

49.5 7-5d 49.6

49.7

49.8

49.9

OREGON 50.1

50.2

50.3

50.4

50.5

50.6

50.7

50.8 7-5e 50.9

51.1 Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-10 Survey Features Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° WAGS Survey Area Proposed Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP 7-5 Feet Morrow Umatilla End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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6.8

6.7

6.5 6.6 6.4

6.2 6.3 6.1 6

5.9 5.7 5.8

5.6

5.5

5.4

5.3 5.2

5.1

5 CX-2

4.9 CX-2 4.8

OREGON 4.7

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.3

4.2

4.1 4

3.9

3.8

Walla Walla Benton FIGURE 5-11 Survey Features Route Features Milepost Highways DETAIL OF ° WAGS Survey Area Proposed Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL 0 2,000 .! Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways COLONY GROUP CX-2 Feet Morrow Umatilla End Secondary State and County IDAHO POWER COMPANY BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Union TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

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2012 Report

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FOR SITE CERTIFICATE

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project

2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys

December 2012 4345RPT.DOC 4290RPT.DOC

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project

2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys

Prepared for:

Idaho Power Company

1221 W. Idaho St. Boise, Idaho 83702

Prepared by:

Tetra Tech

3380 Americana Terrace, Suite 201 Boise, Idaho 83706 114-540315X.005.002.09

December 2012

2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2.0 SURVEY AREA ...... 1 3.0 METHODS ...... 2 3.1 Habitat Assessment and Delineation ...... 2 3.2 Historical Data Review ...... 3 3.3 Survey Schedule ...... 3 3.4 Field Survey Methods ...... 3 3.5 Recording Data ...... 5 4.0 RESULTS ...... 5 5.0 CONCLUSIONS ...... 9 5.1 Remaining Survey Work ...... 9 6.0 REFERENCES ...... 10

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary – Confirmed Colonies Found During the 2012 Surveys ...... 7 Table 2. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary – Colonies Confirmed During 2011 Surveys That Are Within the 2012 Survey Area ...... 7

LIST OF FIGURES

Tetra Tech December 2012 i 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This summary report presents the methods and results for the 2012 Washington ground squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni) surveys conducted by Tetra Tech, Inc. (Tetra Tech) for Idaho Power Company (IPC) on the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project (Project). IPC is proposing to construct and operate a new, approximately 300-mile-long, single-circuit 500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line between northeast Oregon and southwest Idaho (hereinafter the B2H Project or Project). The overhead, 500,000-volt (500-kV) transmission line will carry energy bi-directionally between a Portland General Electric (PGE) planned substation (Grassland Substation) adjacent to the Boardman Generating Plant, near Boardman in Morrow County, Oregon, and IPC’s existing Hemingway Substation, located in Owyhee County, Idaho. The Project will traverse federal, state, and private lands in six counties in Oregon and Idaho. Figure 1-1 documents the Project location, proposed route, and route alternatives. All figures are located at the end of this report. The Project would result in disturbances related to the construction of permanent facilities such as transmission tower pads, substations, communication sites, and permanent access roads, as well as temporary disturbances related to multiuse areas, tensioning sites, and temporary access roads. To help determine the degree of impact that could occur due to the construction and operation of these Project components, the location of Washington ground squirrels and their habitat along the Project needs to be identified. The Project, as proposed, would cross both public and private lands. The portion of the Project where Washington ground squirrel habitat occurs is almost entirely in private ownership. Data for these private lands, with the exception of some statewide data gathered by state wildlife management agencies, are largely unavailable. This means that existing databases could not always be used to determine the locations of Washington ground-squirrels and their habitats that could be impacted by the Project. In addition, landowner permission is required prior to surveying private lands, and some private landowners have declined access to their lands for surveys. This means that field surveys could not be conducted along the entire length of the Project within potential Washington ground squirrel habitat. The objective of these surveys was to identify the presence and/or absence of Washington ground squirrel colonies in the vicinity of the proposed and alternate Project corridors so that Project impacts to Washington ground squirrels may be avoided and/or minimized. Surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2012. This report summarizes the findings of the 2012 surveys. Findings of the 2011 surveys are presented in the 2011 technical report 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys (Tetra Tech 2011).

2.0 SURVEY AREA

Under the Oregon Department of Energy’s Energy Facility Siting Council process, the applicant describes a site boundary within which the facility will be permitted by the Department of Energy. The site boundary for the Project includes a 500-foot wide corridor where the transmission line is to be sited; the footprint of substations, tensioning sites, and multiuse areas; and varying sizes of access roads based on the type of disturbance expected. The site boundary was used to guide the establishment of the appropriate survey area. The survey area generally extends from the proposed Grassland Substation east to approximately milepost 83 with the proposed route running west and south of the Boardman

Tetra Tech December 2012 Page 1 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

Bombing Range and the alternate route running north of the Boardman Bombing Range (Figure 2-1). The survey area was located in Morrow and Umatilla counties in northeastern Oregon. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) recommends a 785-foot buffer in continuous suitable habitat around the outside boundary of Washington ground squirrel colonies as an avoidance area for energy development projects. The survey area for Washington ground squirrels included the site boundary plus a 785-foot buffer of the site boundary in suitable habitat. This survey area included 7,943 acres of potentially suitable Washington ground squirrel habitat (Figure 2-1). The survey area consisted primarily of private lands. During the 2012 survey, Tetra Tech had access to approximately 66 percent of the survey area (Figure 2- 1). The 2012 survey area did not include areas that had already been surveyed in 2011, but did include areas that had not been surveyed in 2011 due to denial of access, and new areas added due to alignment changes that occurred between the 2011 and 2012 survey seasons. The 2012 survey area also included colonies identified in 2011 that were still within the current disturbance area.

3.0 METHODS

The 2011 and 2012 surveys followed methodology developed in the Status and Habitat Use of the Washington Ground Squirrel on State of Oregon Lands, South Boeing, Oregon (Morgan and Nugent 1999). The use of this protocol was approved by ODFW prior to commencing the 2012 surveys. Clarification on the survey methodology was provided by Russ Morgan and Steve Cherry and Jon Germond of ODFW prior to and during surveys.

Tetra Tech December 2012 Page 2 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys Idaho Power Company

with few invasive species (Betts 1990), ODFW advised Tetra Tech that Washington ground squirrel colonies can be found in all habitats, regardless of quality, with the exception of active agricultural fields. In addition, ODFW advised Tetra Tech that Washington ground squirrels can use the burrows of other species and, therefore, holes of the appropriate size could potentially contain this species. Washington ground squirrels are diurnally active and spend the majority of the year underground. This species aestivates throughout the summer and is thought to transition directly into hibernation (ODFW 1999, Sherman and Shellman 2005). Adults emerge from burrows between January and March, depending on elevation and weather patterns, and return underground in late May to early June. Juveniles emerge from burrows between March and April and return underground a few weeks after the adults (Carlson et al. 1980).

3.2 Historical Data Review Tetra Tech conducted a data review of known Washington ground squirrel colonies in the vicinity of the Project. This included reviewing publications that documented Washington ground squirrel burrows on the Boardman Bombing Range and Boardman Conservation Area (Morgan and Nugent 1999, Marr 2004), submitting a data request to the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC 2011), and reviewing the results of Washington ground squirrel surveys for other energy development projects in the vicinity of the survey area, including Cascade Crossing Transmission Line Project (PGE 2010 and 2011), Leaning Juniper I and II Wind Power Projects (NWC and WEST 2005, NWC 2008), and Pebble Springs Wind Project (PPM Energy 2006). Several Washington ground squirrel colonies were found to have been documented in the vicinity of the survey area indicating that a thorough survey effort of the proposed Project was necessary in order to map colony locations and to avoid or reduce impacts to this species from the Project. In addition to the desktop data review, the 28 colonies identified during the 2011 survey efforts were included in preparation for the 2012 survey effort. After routing changes were completed between 2011 and 2012, only 5 colonies identified in 2011 were still within the disturbance area. These 5 colonies were resurveyed in 2012.

3.3 Survey Schedule The survey area was surveyed twice, once in April and once in May of 2012 to correspond with the highest Washington ground squirrel activity period when juveniles have emerged and alarm calls are most frequent.

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This visit also ensured that the squirrels were active in the vicinity of the survey area during the time of the scheduled field work. The Washington ground squirrel is allopatric to the Columbia River Basin area and thus is one of only a few species of ground squirrel known to occur in the vicinity of the survey area. Confusing Washington ground squirrel for similar species such as Belding’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus beldingi) or Townsend’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii) is unlikely. Washington ground squirrels have scat that can be differentiated from other burrowing animals by its characteristic size and shape. Washington ground squirrel scat was present at the training site and some pieces were collected to later serve as a comparison when attempting to identify scat in the field surveys. During surveys, a crew of 2 to 8 biologists walked meandering line transects, each spaced 165 feet (50 meters) apart, to provide survey coverage of the habitat within the survey area. The surveys were conducted in the morning (between approximately 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.). Surveys commenced at least one hour after sunrise to allow for temperatures to increase sufficiently to support ground squirrel activity. During all transect surveys, the crew walked transects at a similar pace to ensure there were no gaps in coverage, listened for alarm calls, and scanned the ground for potential burrows. Each crew member was able to communicate findings to the group via a hand-held radio thereby avoiding double recording of data. When surveyors observed potential burrows, potential scat, heard possible alarm calls or inter-colony communications, they alerted the group and then listened and visually scanned the area in detail for any squirrels or additional sign. Surveys were not conducted when wind conditions were above 15 miles per hour. In the study on which the Project surveys were based, Morgan and Nugent (1999) reported that surveys were halted when wind speeds reached 6-15 mph. Professional judgment was used when wind speeds were greater than 6 miles per hour or when visibility was poor, as both of these conditions could limit the observer’s ability to detect alarm calls or observe sign. Tetra Tech assessed wind speed and weather hourly to determine if the conditions were appropriate to conduct surveys as wind noise can obscure ground squirrel vocalizations. Tetra Tech did not conduct surveys during sustained wind speeds of over 15 mph; at times when gusts exceeded 15 mph, Tetra Tech halted surveys. If Tetra Tech surveyed an area with winds greater than 10 mph during the first set of surveys, Tetra Tech surveyed the same area during ideal (i.e. low to no wind, no precipitation) conditions during the second set of surveys. Colonies were designated active when Washington ground squirrel activity was confirmed through visual detection of a squirrel, audio confirmations (hearing alarm or social calls), and/or fresh, Washington ground squirrel scat near burrows. Scat samples were collected for confirmation of squirrel presence. A burrow was identified as potential if it was a hole that was freshly dug (no vegetation or cobwebs), that was structurally sound and the appropriate size for this species, but no other Washington ground squirrel sign (scat, visual, audio) was observed. Each site was resurveyed approximately two weeks after the first survey; spacing the surveys apart by roughly two weeks ensured that ground squirrel activity would be captured despite any local differences in activity level throughout the season. During the second survey, all potential burrows identified during the first survey were revisited and any confirmed activity was documented on the colony field datasheets. During the second survey, 165-foot-wide transects were walked perpendicularly to the first survey transects in order to maximize coverage of the habitat. In areas where no or few potential burrows were found during the first survey, surveyors had the option of walking offset transects parallel to, but between, the original transects (i.e. offset by roughly 82 feet). Any potential burrows identified during the first survey were approached at a 90 degree angle during the second survey in order to minimize the chance of

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missing a visual or audio detection due to landscape features or prevailing wind directions. These resurvey methods used at each site were also used for the 2012 resurvey of known or potential colonies identified in 2011.

3.5 Recording Data Potential burrows were recorded on the field datasheet and labeled with a unique numeric identifier. Information recorded on the datasheet for potential burrows included location of burrows, number of burrows, habitat, and identifying features of location. When potential burrows were revisited during the second set of surveys, the date, surveyor, and notes on activity were recorded. Areas where Washington ground squirrel presence was confirmed were delineated with Juniper® Mesa global positioning system (GPS) units in the field, and later mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Confirmed presence was defined as a visual of the species or detection of an audio call. Once a general area was determined to be active based on these cues, all fresh burrows in the vicinity of the cue(s) were included in the colony delineation. Information collected on the Juniper GPS units included activity centers, such as locations where squirrels were observed or heard in high densities, and the colony boundary (i.e. the extent of active burrows on the periphery of activity centers). Colonies were delineated beyond the survey area if they straddled or were located just outside the survey area boundary and access to the adjacent area had been granted. Information recorded for each colony included habitat characteristics, locations of activity centers and colony boundaries, number of burrows, number of scat, the time and weather conditions under which the colony was discovered, and how the colony was first discovered. Photographs of burrows, scat, and habitat were taken at some active colonies. Weather, survey personnel, time of day, and areas surveyed were recorded each day surveys were conducted. Precipitation, average wind speed and direction, cloud cover, and temperature were recorded at the start, middle, and end of each survey day.

4.0 RESULTS

Between April 4 and May 8, 2012, Tetra Tech conducted 18 days of Washington ground squirrel surveys divided over two survey periods to coincide with the seasonal activity period of the Washington ground squirrel. The first survey period occurred over a 10-day period starting on April 4 and ending on April 13. Temperatures were cool to moderate ranging from 35 to 65 degrees. Most days were partly cloudy to overcast. No precipitation occurred. On the afternoon of April 4, 2012, surveys could not be conducted due to wind speeds exceeding that allowed in the protocol. The second survey period occurred over an 8-day period starting on May 1 and ending on May 8. Weather during the second survey period was generally good with temperatures ranging from 40 degrees to 70 degrees. Most days were mostly sunny to partly cloudy. No precipitation occurred. On the afternoon of May 4, 2012 surveys could not be conducted due to wind speeds exceeding that allowed in the protocol. Tetra Tech documented 4 confirmed active colonies during the 2012 surveys (Table 4-1; Figures 4-1 through 4-3). Colony size ranged from 0.01 acres (Colony 762-A) to 1.18 acres (Colony 762-B) (Table 4-1; Figures 4-1, 4-4. 4-6, and 4-7). Five colonies identified in 2011 were resurveyed in 2012 as they are located within the 2012 disturbance area. Only one of these was found to be active (22-3A) (Table 4-1) and is included in the count of four confirmed colonies

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(Figure 4-4). The other four colonies identified in 2011, but not reconfirmed in 2012 are presented in Table 4-2; Figures 4-1 through 4-5. Twenty-three colonies identified in 2011 were not resurveyed in 2012 because alignment changes no longer included these colonies within the disturbance area. These colonies are not presented in this report but can be referenced in the 2011 technical report (Tetra Tech 2011). There are a total of 8 colonies that have been identified that are within the 785-foot buffer of the Project disturbance area (Table 4-1 and 4-2). For the purposes of this survey, an active colony was defined as a combination of visual and audible confirmations (hearing alarm calls) and presence of characteristic Washington ground squirrel scat around burrow entrances. Because ground squirrel use of the landscape often changed every day, the colony delineations in this report represent the areas of Washington ground squirrel activity during the delineations. The activity that Tetra Tech delineated likely included individual dispersing juveniles as well as well-established, more permanent colonies. Tetra Tech confirmed three of the active colonies delineated in 2012 by the unique species- specific alarm call and the presence of active burrows. The fourth colony was confirmed by the presence of fresh scat and active burrows (Table 4-1). Table 4-1 outlines Tetra Tech’s observations at each colony, including detailed habitat information, the sign used to confirm activity, and the date Tetra Tech first observed each colony. Table 4-1 additionally lists the acreage of each colony and the distance of each colony’s edge to a disturbance feature of the proposed Project (transmission line, roads, substations, laydown and fly yards, or communication sites). Colonies within the 785-foot buffer of the site boundary are displayed in bold. All four of the confirmed colonies intersect the 785-foot buffer of the site boundary (Table 4-1; Figures 4-2 through 4-12). In 2012, Tetra Tech observed Washington ground squirrel activity primarily in grassland habitat dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) (Table 4-1). Shrub cover within colonies ranged from zero to 80 percent; the median range of shrub cover was 1-20 percent with 3 of the 4 colonies falling in this range. Half of the colony locations were dominated by exotic species and half were dominated by native species. Cheatgrass was the most prevalent invasive species found within colonies. Two of the colonies were located in silty loam soil and two were located in silty sand or loam with gravel (Table 4-1). One of the colonies was located in or near disturbed landscapes, influenced by agricultural activities. Agricultural activities near colony boundaries included varying degrees of grazing and cattle activities, and actively farmed wheat fields. Additionally, herbicide and pesticide spraying occurs within existing colonies (spot spraying by farmers), and on crops adjacent to active colonies (on crop circles and wheat).

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Table 1. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary – Confirmed Colonies Found During the 2012 Surveys

Colony Colony Distance to Site Colony Shrub identified Easting Northing Date Route Name Activity Confirmation Soil Type Plant Species Dominant Plant Species Disturbances # Boundary (feet)1 Acreage Cover in 2011 Morrow Alarm Call and Fresh Silty Sand or 1-10% native species Agropyron spicatum, Bromus 22-3A Yes 119.881 45.63317 4/7/2012 154.37 0.09 None Proposed Burrow (2 &4) Loam/w Gravel (4) (2) present (percent__) tectorum Alarm Call and Fresh 11-20% exotic species Bromus tectorum, 7932-A No 119.521 45.67262 4/9/2012 215.54 Longhorn 0.07 Silty Loam (3) None Burrow (2 &4) (3) dominant (>60%) Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Umatilla Alarm Call and Fresh Silty Sand or 61-80% exotic species 762-A No 119.18 45.56078 4/11/2012 736.71 0.01 Bromus tectorum None Proposed Burrow (2 &4) Loam/w Gravel (4) (6) dominant (>60%) Umatilla Scat and Fresh Burrow native species 762-B No 119.182 45.56072 4/11/2012 432.62 1.19 Silty Loam (3) <1% (1) Agropyron spicatum Agriculture Proposed (3 & 4) present (percent__) 1 Documented colonies within 785 of the site boundary are noted in bold text.

Table 2. Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project 2012 Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Summary – Colonies Confirmed During 2011 Surveys That Are Within the 2012 Survey Area

Colony Distance to Site Route Colony Activity Soil Shrub Easting Northing Date Plant Species Dominant Plant Species Disturbances # Boundary (feet)1 Name Acreage Confirmation Type Cover Silty Morrow 11-20% Native Species 22-3b 119.89668 45.63431 4/7/2011 556.2 0.05 Alarm Call (2) Loam annual grasses, Chrysothamnus spp. Anthropogenic Proposed (3) dominant (>60%) (3) Silty Morrow Exotic Species CX-35 119.67875 45.61842 5/10/2011 0 1.42 Alarm Call (2) Loam <1% (1) Agropyron cristatum, Bromus tectorum Anthropogenic Proposed dominant (>60%) (3) Silty Agropyron cristatum, Bromus tectorum, Poa Morrow Alarm Call and 1-10% Exotic Species CX-30 119.90965 45.63344 5/11/2011 134.5 1.75 Loam secunda, Vulpia bromoides, Ericameria None Proposed Scat (2 & 3) (2) dominant (>60%) (3) nauseosum Silty Artemisia tridentata, Poa secunda, Festuca Morrow Alarm Call and 11-20% Native Species CX-31 119.94866 45.63398 5/11/2011 74.5 41.03 Loam idahoensis, Phlox longiflora, Astragalus None Proposed Scat (2 & 3) (3) dominant (>60%) (3) purchii 1 Documented colonies within 785 of the site boundary are noted in bold text.

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5.0 CONCLUSIONS

Current ODFW guidance identifies Washington ground squirrel burrow(s) (including a 785-foot buffer of suitable habitat around the burrow) as an avoidance area for energy development projects. Eight colonies were found to be within the 785-foot buffer and therefore IPC will use the Washington ground squirrel colony locations from the 2011 and 2012 surveys to inform siting of the Project. The objective will be to site Project features, in coordination with ODFW, outside the 785-foot buffer of known colonies wherever possible and warranted by site habitat conditions. The colonies that Tetra Tech observed during surveys were clustered in two general areas: along the margins of and in the vicinity of the Boardman Bombing Range and Boardman Conservation Area, and in Umatilla and Morrow Counties, located east of the bombing range along the Proposed Route and along the Longhorn Alternative. The colonies Tetra Tech observed in the vicinity of the Boardman Bombing Range and in or adjacent to the Boardman Conservation Area belong to a known and well-studied population of Washington ground squirrels that have been previously documented and researched. The Washington ground squirrel colonies Tetra Tech observed in Umatilla and Morrow Counties, located east of the bombing range along the Proposed Route and along the Longhorn Alternative, are part of, prior to 2011, a previously undocumented population of the species. Several of the colonies were located outside the GAP species distribution (Kagan et al. 1999) for this species (Figure 3-1), and were not included in previous research documenting the geographic distribution of this species (Betts 1990). However, the data readily available during survey planning in 2009 and 2010 should not be considered exhaustive in nature and more recent habitat modeling efforts may indicate that these colonies are distributed within potential or predicted habitat. In 2011, sites found during the first survey period were often not reconfirmed during the second period. Also, on occasion no colonies were identified during the first survey but colonies were found during the second survey outing. Similar patterns occurred in 2012. Research by Finger (2007) and Delavan (2008) indicate that Washington ground squirrels have strong site fidelity to colonies; however, within and between years there are drift and shifts in home ranges due to local annual variation such as survival, reproduction, food availability, and juvenile dispersal. Due to the relatively narrow width of the study area (approximately 2,000 feet at its widest), surveys may not have encompassed the full extent of these colonies given the spatial and temporal dynamics of the species. Therefore, colonies confirmed at any point during 2011 or 2012, whether or not identified in previous or subsequent surveys that are found within the disturbance area should be considered in any future siting of Project features. The eight colonies identified during the 2011 and 2012 surveys are presented in Table 4-1 and 4-2.

5.1 Remaining Survey Work No additional surveys are planned for 2013. Preconstruction surveys may need to be conducted in the year that construction commences to ensure no new colonies have been established. Coordination with ODFW will identify any future survey work required for the Project.

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6.0 REFERENCES

Betts, B.J. 1990. Geographical distribution and habitat preferences of Washington ground squirrels (Spermophilus washingtoni). Northwestern Naturalist 71:27-37. Carlson, L., G. Geupel, J. Kjelmyr, J. Maciver, M. Morton, and N. Shishido. 1980. Geographical Range, Habitat Requirements, and a Preliminary Population Study of Spermophilus washingtoni. Final Technical Report, National Science Foundation Student-originated Studies Program. 24 pp. Delavan, J. L. 2008. The Washington ground squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni): home range and movement by habitat type and population size in Morrow County, Oregon. Master’s thesis. Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Finger, R., G. J. Wiles, J. Tabor, and E. Cummins. 2007. Washington ground squirrel surveys in Adams, Douglas, and Grant Counties, Washington, 2004. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. Greene, E. 1999. Abundance and Habitat Associations of Washington Ground Squirrels in North-Central Oregon. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 59 pp. Kagan, J.S., J.C. Hak, B. Csuti, C.W. Kiilsgaard, and E.P. Gaines. 1999. Oregon Gap Analysis Project Final Report: A geographic approach to planning for biological diversity. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, Oregon. 72 pp. + appendices. Marr, V. 2004. Washington Ground Squirrel Monitoring, Boardman Conservation Area, 2004. The Nature Conservancy. Morgan, R.L., and M. Nugent. 1999. Status and Habitat Use of the Washington Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni) on State of Oregon Lands, South Boeing, Oregon in 1999. Report to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Northwest Wildlife Consultants (NWC) and Western Ecosystems Technology (WEST). 2005. Wildlife Baseline Study for the Leaning Juniper Wind Power Project. Gilliam County, Oregon. NWC. 2008. Leaning Juniper Wind Power Project 2006-2008 Wildlife Monitoring Final Report. The Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC). 2011. Biotics, Element Occurrence Record Digital Data Set. March 2011. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). 1999. Washington Ground Squirrel Biological Status Assessment. ODFW, Portland, OR. 62 pp. PGE. 2010 Portland General Electric Cascade Crossing Transmission Line Project. Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Report 8 pp. + maps. PGE. 2011 Portland General Electric Cascade Crossing Transmission Line Project. Washington Ground Squirrel Survey Report 17 pp. + maps PPM Energy. 2006. Pebble Springs Wind Project. Application for Conditional Use Permit. Presented to the Gilliam County Planning Department. Sherman, P.W., and J.S. Shellman Sherman. 2005. Distribution, Demography, and Behavioral Ecology of Washington Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus washingtoni) in Central Washington. Unpublished report, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. September. 26 pp.

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Tarifa, T., and E. Yensen. 2004. Washington Ground Squirrel Diets in relation to Habitat Conditions and Population Status: Annual Report 2003. Unpublished report, Albertson College, Caldwell, ID. October. 98 pp. Tetra Tech. 2011. 2011 Washington Ground Squirrel Surveys. Submitted to Idaho Power Company, Boise Idaho. 13 pp. + maps. Verts, B.J., and L.N. Carraway. 1998. Land Mammals of Oregon. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 668 pp. Yensen, E., and P.W. Sherman. 2003. Ground-dwelling Squirrels of the Pacific Northwest. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and BLM, Boise, ID. 28 pp. + maps.

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FIGURES

Figure 1-1. Idaho Power Proposed Route and Alternative Routes UV14

¨¦§82 Longhorn ¨¦§84

Horn Butte Grassland

¨¦§84

UV74

¤£395

UV74

WAGS Survey Area Route Features Highways FIGURE 2-1 WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL ° Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate SURVEY AREA 04 Alternative Primary US and State Highways ! IDAHO POWER COMPANY Miles #0 Proposed Substation Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY #0 Alternate Substation TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT September, 2012 UV14

¨¦§82 Longhorn ¨¦§84

Horn Butte Grassland

¨¦§84

UV74

¤£395

UV74

Survey Features Route Features Highways FIGURE 3-1 WASHINGTON GROUND SQUIRREL ° WAGS Survey Area Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate HABITAT DISTRIBUTION MAP FOR OREGON 04 WAGS Modeled Range* Alternative Primary US and State Highways ! IDAHO POWER COMPANY Miles #0 Proposed Substation Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY R #0 Alternate Substation TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT *Data Source: Oregon GAP Species Distribution September, 2012 UV14

¨¦§82 Longhorn ¨¦§84

Group CX-2

Grassland Horn Butte Group Group 21-1 7932-A

Group ¨¦§84 Group CX-30 22-3A Group Group Group 7-5 24-2 CX-35 Group CX-31 Group Group 22-3B 22-3A Group 7-5.8

Group 7-5.9 Group 27-15a Group Group 762-B 762-A

UV74

¤£395

UV74

Survey Features Route Features Highways FIGURE 4-1 OVERVIEW OF WASHINGTON ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed Primary Limited Access or Interstate GROUND SQUIRREL COLONIES 04 2012 Colony Group Alternative Primary US and State Highways ! IDAHO POWER COMPANY Miles 2011 Colony Group #0 Proposed Substation Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY R #0 Alternate Substation TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT September, 2012 9.2

9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7

9.8

9.9

10.1

10.2

10.3 CX-31 10.4

10.5 10.6 12.4 12.2 12.3 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 13 10.7 12 12.1 12.9 13.1 13.2 11.9 10.8 11 11.8 10.9 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7

Benton FIGURE 4-2 Survey Features Route Features Mile Markers Highways DETAIL OF WASHINGTON GROUND ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed .! Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate SQUIRREL COLONY CX-31 02,000 Umatilla 2011 Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways IDAHO POWER COMPANY Feet Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Morrow TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

September, 2012 OREGON

CX-30

12.3 12.4 12.5 12.2 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 13 12 12.1 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 14 11.9 13.8 13.9 14.1 10.8 11 11.8 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 10.9 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 14.6

14.7

14.8

14.9

15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6

Benton FIGURE 4-3 Survey Features Route Features Mile Markers Highways DETAIL OF WASHINGTON GROUND ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed .! Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate SQUIRREL COLONY CX-30 02,000 Umatilla 2011 Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways IDAHO POWER COMPANY Feet Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Morrow TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

September, 2012 OREGON

22-3B 12.3 12.4 12.5 22-3A 12.2 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 13 22-3A 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 14 13.8 13.9 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6

14.7

14.8

14.9

15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 16 17 15.8 15.9 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9

Benton FIGURE 4-4 Survey Features Route Features Mile Markers Highways DETAIL OF WASHINGTON GROUND ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed .! Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate SQUIRREL COLONY GROUP 22-3 02,000 Umatilla 2012 Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways IDAHO POWER COMPANY Feet 2011 Active WAGS Colony Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Morrow TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

September, 2012 23 23.2 23.3 22.8 22.9 23.1 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 24 23.9 24.1 24.2 24.3 CX-35 24.4 24.5 25.4 25.5 25.6 26 24.6 25 25.3 25.7 25.8 25.9 26.1 24.7 24.8 24.9 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 27 25.1 26.7 26.8 26.9 27.1 25.2

Benton FIGURE 4-5 Survey Features Route Features Mile Markers Highways DETAIL OF WASHINGTON GROUND ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed .! Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate SQUIRREL COLONY CX-35 02,000 Umatilla 2011 Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways IDAHO POWER COMPANY Feet Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Morrow TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

September, 2012 15

15.1

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16.1 7932-A

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Benton FIGURE 4-6 Survey Features Route Features Mile Markers Highways DETAIL OF WASHINGTON GROUND ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed .! Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate SQUIRREL COLONY 7932-A 02,000 Umatilla 2012 Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways IDAHO POWER COMPANY Feet BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Morrow Secondary State and County TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

September, 2012 OREGON

762-B 762-A

52 51 52.1 52.2 52.3 52.4 52.5 51.8 51.9 52.6 51.1 51.6 51.7 52.7 51.2 51.4 51.5 52.8 51.3 52.9 53 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5 53.6 53.7 53.8 53.9 54 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 54.7 54.8 54.9 55

55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4

55.5

Benton FIGURE 4-7 Survey Features Route Features Mile Markers Highways DETAIL OF WASHINGTON GROUND ° 2012 WAGS Survey Area Proposed .! Mile Primary Limited Access or Interstate SQUIRREL COLONY GROUP 762 02,000 Umatilla 2012 Active WAGS Colony Alternative Tenth Mile Primary US and State Highways IDAHO POWER COMPANY Feet Secondary State and County BOARDMAN TO HEMINGWAY Morrow TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

September, 2012