RECORD of PLAN CONFORMANCE and CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION (CX) DETERMINATION Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
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RECORD OF PLAN CONFORMANCE AND CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION (CX) DETERMINATION Bureau of Land Management (BLM) CX Log #: OR-014-CX-05-24 Lease or Serial #: N/A Project Name: _Wood River Channel Maintenance___________________________________________ Location: ___Wood River Wetland_________________________________ County: Klamath County BLM Office: Lakeview District, Klamath Falls Resource Area Phone #: 541-883-6916 Applicant: ____________________________ Address: _______________________________ Description of the Proposed Action: The BLM plans to fill two short canals that were formed in the 1960’s and 1970’s when material was excavated from the wetland to construct a levee (see Attachment 1, Wood River channel maintenance location map). These canals created open water connections between the Wood River and Agency Lake. In 2000 BLM placed rock weirs across these channels as a component of the river restoration project below Dike Bridge (see Attachment 2, Existing Topography Over 2002 Aerial Photo and Attachment 3, Grading Plans). The mouth of the Wood River was relocated to a historic channel, lengthening the river by about ¾ mile. The purpose of the river restoration project is to improve habitat and water quality for fish and wildlife by restoring hydrologic function in the Wood River Delta. The placement of rock weirs in the east and west canals has limited boat access except when the lake is very full. This proposed project is designed to fill the canals, located approximately 150 feet downstream (south) of the Wood River bridge on the entrance road to Wood River Wetland. The purpose is to maintain the channel plugs and stop the flow of the Wood River from entering these channels. Approximately 1200 cubic yards of fill material will be moved from an existing borrow site located in T34s, R71/2e, section 14, NW 1/4. Both of these side channels already have had rock and gravel fill placed in them through a previously approved project, where they intersect the Wood River. Additional rock was added to maintain the channel plug on the west side of the Wood River in 2002. Sheet piling would be placed in a north/south line across the west channel at a top elevation equal to surrounding ground elevation (see Attachment 4, Cross Sections and Longitudinal Profile). Fill material will then be placed on either side of the sheet piling. After filling the two sections of canal (side channels), native plant material that has been removed from the west side of the haul route (between the borrow site and the project site) will be placed on top of the fill. This vegetation will act to stabilize the fill and provide habitat for wildlife. The borrow site is approximately 2.5 miles north of the area to be filled and is an upland site. The fill material from the borrow area consists of secondary deposits excavated during the Wood River Wetland restoration project in 1996. Up to 300 cubic yards of rock may be trucked in to this project from a commercial quarry and used as fill. Once the canals are filled, water quality along the northeast shore of Agency Lake should remain improved over water quality conditions prior to the restoration work. Prior to the river channel restoration, water flowed a short distance below Dike Bridge before entering Agency Lake to the west. Now the Wood River meanders through the historic delta parallel to the east shore of Agency Lake and enters the lake at the southeast end of the Wood River delta. There are many small side channels connecting the Wood River to Agency Lake. Water from the Wood River flows through these natural channels until water levels in Agency Lake drop in late summer. In addition, because of the increase in water levels in the Wood River (up to 16 inches near Dike Bridge in September 2002), there is a pressure gradient that forces seepage through the delta wetland. Surface flow through the natural side channels is also sustained much later in the season because of the higher water surface elevations in the river. Filling the side canals thoroughly will enhance and sustain these processes. BLM conducted pre project and post project water temperature monitoring in Agency Lake to determine the affects of channel relocation on water temperature in the Wood River delta area. Results of this monitoring show that water temperatures after restoration are much lower in the vicinity of the relocated river mouth and in areas south of the wetland and Mallard Bay. IMPLEMENTATION DATE This project is expected to be implemented in fall 2005. PLAN CONFORMANCE The above project has been reviewed and found to be in conformance with one or more of the following BLM plans or NEPA analyses: Upper Klamath Basin and Wood River Wetland Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan, February 1996, (Wood River ROD/RMP). Refer to Page 3-22. IDENTIFICATION OF EXCLUSION CATEGORY The proposed action has been identified as a categorical exclusion under Bureau of Land Management 516 DM 6, Appendix 5 # H (11): “Actions where BLM has concurrence or coapproval with another DOI agency and the action is categorically excluded for that DOI agency.”; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 516 DM 8.5, Categorical Exclusions, # B (3): “The construction of new, or the addition of, small structures or improvements, including structures and improvements for the restoration of wetland, riparian, instream, or native habitats, which result in no or only minor changes in the use of the affected local area.” COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT The proposed action is categorically excluded from further analysis or documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with 516 DM2, Appendix 1, 1.12 if it does not meet any of the following Exceptions (listed in 516 DM 2, Appendix 2; IM No. OR-2002-130). Will the proposed action meet the following Exceptions? Exception Yes No 1. Have significant adverse effects on public health or safety? ( ) ( X ) 2. Have adverse effects on such unique geographic characteristics or features, or on special ( ) ( X ) designation areas such as historic or cultural resources; park, recreation, or refuge lands; wilderness areas; wild or scenic rivers; sole or principal drinking water aquifers; prime farmlands; or ecologically significant or critical areas, including those listed on the National Register of Natural Landmarks. This also includes significant caves, ACECs, National Monuments, WSAs, RNAs. 3. Have highly controversial environmental effects (40 CFR 1508.14)? ( ) ( X ) 4. Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects or unique or ( ) ( X ) unknown environmental risks? 5. Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future ( ) ( X ) actions with potentially significant environmental effects? 6. Be directly related to other actions with individually insignificant, but significant ( ) ( X ) cumulative environmental effects? This includes connected actions on private lands (40 CFR 1508.7 and 1508.25(a)). CX-05-24_Wood River Channel Maintenance Page 2 7. Have adverse effects on properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of ( ) ( X ) Historic Places? This includes Native American religious or cultural sites, archaeological sites, or historic properties. 8. Have adverse effects on species listed or proposed to be listed as Federally Endangered or ( ) ( X ) Threatened Species, or have adverse effects on designated critical habitat for these species? This includes impacts on BLM-designated sensitive species or their habitat. When a Federally listed species or its habitat is encountered, a Biological Evaluation (BE) shall document the effect on the species. The responsible official may proceed with the proposed action without preparing a NEPA document when the BE demonstrates either 1) a “no effect” determination or 2) a “may effect, not likely to adversely effect” determination. 9. Fail to comply with Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order ( ) ( X ) 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), or the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (water resource development projects only)? 10. Violate a Federal, State, Local, or Tribal law, regulation or policy imposed for the ( ) ( X ) protection of the environment, where non-Federal requirements are consistent with Federal requirements? 11. Involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources (NEPA ( ) ( X ) section 102(2)(E)) not already decided in an approved land use plan? 12. Have a disproportionate significant adverse impacts on low income or minority ( ) ( X ) populations; Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice)? 13. Restrict access to, and ceremonial use of, Indian sacred sites by Indian religious ( ) ( X ) practitioners or adversely affect the physical integrity of such sacred sites; Executive Order 13007 (Indian Sacred Sites)? 14. Have significant adverse effect on Indian Trust Resources? ( ) ( X ) 15. Contribute to the introduction, existence, or spread of: Federally listed noxious weeds ( ) ( X ) (Federal Noxious Weed Control Act); or invasive non-native species; Executive Order 13112 (Invasive Species)? 16. Have a direct or indirect adverse impact on energy development, production, supply, ( ) ( X ) and/or distribution; Executive Order 13212 (Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects)? The proposed action would not create adverse environmental effects or meet any of the above exceptions. DOCUMENTATION OF RECOMMENDED MITIGATION Note: although none of the conditions for the above exceptions are