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Skagit River Emergency Bank Stabilization And

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Skagit River Emergency Bank Stabilization And United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Washington Fish and Wildlife Office 510 Desmond Dr. SE, Suite 102 Lacey, Washington 98503 In Reply Refer To: AUG 1 6 2011 13410-2011-F-0141 13410-2010-F-0175 Daniel M. Mathis, Division Adnlinistrator Federal Highway Administration ATIN: Jeff Horton Evergreen Plaza Building 711 Capitol Way South, Suite 501 Olympia, Washington 98501-1284 Michelle Walker, Chief, Regulatory Branch Seattle District, Corps of Engineers ATIN: Rebecca McAndrew P.O. Box 3755 Seattle, Washington 98124-3755 Dear Mr. Mathis and Ms. Walker: This document transmits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Biological Opinion (Opinion) based on our review of the proposed State Route 20, Skagit River Emergency Bank Stabilization and Chronic Environmental Deficiency Project in Skagit County, Washington, and its effects on the bull trout (Salve linus conjluentus), marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), and designated bull trout critical habitat, in accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act). Your requests for initiation of formal consultation were received on February 3, 2011, and January 19,2010. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District (Corps) provided information in support of "may affect, likely to adversely affect" determinations for the bull trout and designated bull trout critical habitat. On April 13 and 14, 2011, the FHWA and Corps gave their consent for addressing potential adverse effects to the bull trout and bull trout critical habitat with a single Opinion. Daniel M Mathis and Michelle Walker 2 The enclosed Opinion addresses the proposed action's adverse effects on the bull trout and designated bull trout critical habitat, and includes mandatory terms and conditions intended to minimize certain adverse effects. The Opinion also finds that the action's foreseeable effects on the marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, their habitat, and prey base are insignificant and that no measurable effects to the marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl are anticipated. Ifyou have any questions regarding the Opinion or your responsibilities under the Act, please contact Ryan McReynolds at (360) 753-6047 or Emily Teachout at (360) 753-9583 of this office. '!:;e:rfrYSincerely, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office cc: WSDOT, Seattle, W A (B. Bigler) WSDOT, Olympia, WA (P. Wagner) Endangered Species Act - Section 7 Consultation BIOLOGICAL OPINION U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reference: 13410-2011-F-0141 & 13410-2010-F-0175 State Route 20, Skagit River Emergency Bank Stabilization & CED (MP Vic. 100) Skagit County, Washington Agency: Federal Highway Administration, Washington Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Olympia & Seattle, Washington Consultation Conducted By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington Fish and Wildlife Office Lacey, Washington 3~ ICo-\ ( Ke . B rg, Manager Date Washington Fish and Wildlin Office TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSULTATION HISTORY ....................................................................................................... 1 CONCURRENCE FOR MARBLED MURRELET ....................................................................... 3 CONCURRENCE FOR NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL ............................................................... 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION .......................................................................... 7 Emergency Actions ............................................................................................................. 7 Permanent Stabilization – Design ....................................................................................... 8 Permanent Stabilization – Construction ........................................................................... 11 Conservation Measures ..................................................................................................... 14 ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE JEOPARDY AND ADVERSE MODIFICATION DETERMINATIONS ....................................................................................................... 15 STATUS OF THE SPECIES (BULL TROUT) ............................................................................ 17 STATUS OF CRITICAL HABITAT (BULL TROUT) ............................................................... 17 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ................................................................................................ 17 Description of the Action Area ......................................................................................... 17 Environmental Baseline in the Action Area ..................................................................... 20 Status of the Species in the Action Area (Bull Trout) ...................................................... 22 Status of Critical Habitat in the Action Area (Bull Trout) ............................................... 23 EFFECTS OF THE ACTION ....................................................................................................... 25 Insignificant and Discountable Effects ............................................................................. 27 Adverse Effects of the Action (Bull Trout) ...................................................................... 29 Emergency Replacement of Failed Bank Armor ................................................... 30 Effects Resulting from Fish Capture and Handling .............................................. 32 Exposure to Elevated Turbidity and Sedimentation During Construction ........... 35 Summary of Effects (Matrix of Pathways and Indicators) .................................... 40 Effects of the Action (Designated Bull Trout Critical Habitat) ........................................ 41 Effects of Interrelated and Interdependent Actions .......................................................... 46 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .......................................................................................................... 47 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 48 INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT .......................................................................................... 51 AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF TAKE ................................................................................ 52 EFFECT OF THE TAKE .................................................................................................. 53 REASONABLE AND PRUDENT MEASURES ............................................................. 54 TERMS AND CONDITIONS .......................................................................................... 54 CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................. 58 REINITIATION NOTICE ............................................................................................................ 58 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................. 59 APPENDIX A: WSDOT Fish Exclusion Protocols and Standards (2009) ................................. 64 APPENDIX B: Status of the Species (Bull Trout; Coterminous Range) .................................... 65 APPENDIX C: Status of Designated Critical Habitat (Bull Trout; Coterminous Range) ........... 66 APPENDIX D: Lower Skagit River Core Area (Bull Trout) ...................................................... 67 APPENDIX E: Sediment Analysis Framework (2010) ............................................................... 68 ii LIST of FIGURES and TABLES Figure 1. Vicinity map. .................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 2. Aerial photo of project reach. ......................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. ELJs and revetment in plan view. ................................................................................ 10 Figure 4. Typical ELJ, embankment, and roadway cross-section; dolotimber and log detail. .... 10 Figure 5. Traffic control detail. .................................................................................................... 12 Figure 6. Action area. .................................................................................................................. 18 Figure 7. Graphic model output depicting post-project 10-year bed shear stress differentials. .. 20 Table 1. Emergency bank armor installations (WSDOT 2009, p. 6). ............................................ 8 Table 2. ELJ and revetment quantities (Acosta, pers. comm. 2011b). ........................................ 11 Table 3. Effects of the action (“Matrix of Pathways & Indicators”). .......................................... 40 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS BA Biological Assessment BMP Best Management Practice CED Chronic Environmental Deficiency Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cy cubic yard ELJ engineered log jam ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. l53I et seq.) FHWA Federal Highway Administration FMO Foraging, Migration and Overwintering HCP Habitat Conservation Plan ISPG Integrated Streambank Protection Guidelines NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NTU nephelometric turbidity units OHWM Ordinary High Water Mark Opinion Biological Opinion PCE Primary Constituent Element RPM Reasonable and Prudent
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