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Nashville District ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Proposed Master Plan Update Old Hickory Lake January 2016 For Further Information, Contact: Kim Franklin U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District 110 Ninth Ave South, Room A-405 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 PROPOSED MASTER PLAN UPDATE OLD HICKORY LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ..................................................................... 1 3 ALTERNATIVES ...................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update .................................... 2 3.2 No-Action ............................................................................................................ 2 4 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ........... 3 4.1 Project History and Setting ............................................................................... 3 4.2 Climate, Physiography, Topography, Geology, and Soils .............................. 4 4.3 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................ 4 4.3.1 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update ...................................... 5 4.3.2 No-Action .......................................................................................................... 5 4.4 Aquatic Environment ......................................................................................... 5 4.4.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 5 4.4.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update .................................... 10 4.4.3 No-Action ........................................................................................................ 10 4.5 Terrestrial Resources and Land Use .............................................................. 11 4.5.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 11 4.5.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update .................................... 15 4.5.3 No-Action ........................................................................................................ 15 4.6 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................. 15 4.6.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 15 4.6.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update .................................... 16 4.6.3 No-Action ........................................................................................................ 17 i 4.7 Archaeological and Historic Resources. ........................................................ 17 4.7.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 17 4.7.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update .................................... 18 4.7.3 No-Action ........................................................................................................ 18 4.8 Air Quality ......................................................................................................... 18 4.8.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 18 4.8.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update or No-Action ............... 18 4.9 Socio-Economic Resources ............................................................................ 18 4.9.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 18 4.9.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update .................................... 19 4.9.3 No-Action ........................................................................................................ 20 4.10 Recreation Resources .................................................................................. 20 4.10.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 20 4.10.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update ................................ 20 4.10.3 No-Action ..................................................................................................... 21 4.11 Health and Safety .......................................................................................... 21 4.11.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 21 4.11.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update ................................ 21 4.11.3 No-Action ..................................................................................................... 21 4.12 Aesthetics ...................................................................................................... 21 4.12.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 21 4.12.2 Full Implementation of Proposed Master Plan Update ................................ 22 4.12.3 No-Action ..................................................................................................... 22 4.13 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................... 22 5 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ........................................................................ 25 5.1 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ................................................................. 26 5.2 Endangered Species Act ................................................................................. 26 5.3 Environmental Justice ..................................................................................... 26 5.4 Cultural Resource Requirement ...................................................................... 26 6 SCOPING AND PUBLIC CONCERN ..................................................................... 27 6.1 Public Involvement ........................................................................................... 27 6.2 Scoping Responses ......................................................................................... 27 6.3 Environmental Assessment Responses ........................................................ 27 ii 6.4 Master Plan Update Comments ....................................................................... 27 7 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................... 28 8 REFERENCES....................................................................................................... 28 9 LIST OF PREPARERS .......................................................................................... 29 Tables and Figures Table 1. Titles for Land and Water Classification ........................................................... 2 Table 2. Resources Likely Affected With Proposed Implementation .............................. 4 Table 3. Project Elevations and Statistics ..................................................................... 5 Table 4. 303(d) Listed Streams in Old Hickory Watershed ............................................. 8 Table 5. Common Invasive Plants ................................................................................ 12 Table 6. Sites Proposed for ESA Designation .............................................................. 14 Table 7. Federally Listed Species Recorded in the Old Hickory Lake Project .............. 16 Table 8. Population Statistics for Old Hickory Lake Area ............................................. 19 Table 9. Federal Act/Executive Order Compliance ..................................................... 25 Figure 1. Old Hickory Lake Vicinity Map .................................................................................... 3 Figure 2. Land Use of Old Hickory Lake Watershed ................................................................11 Appendix Scoping Letter and Responses, Environmental Assessment Review Responses iii 1 INTRODUCTION The original Old Hickory Lake Master Plan was approved in 1954 and last updated in 1987. This document serves as a guide for coordination of project development and management of all land and water resources. The intent of an updated Master Plan is to present a current inventory and assessment of resources, provide an analysis of resource use, and evaluate existing and future needs required to protect and improve the value of resources at Old Hickory Lake. With the proposed Master Plan Update, an Environmental Assessment (EA) is being completed to evaluate existing conditions and potential impacts of proposed alternatives. The EA is prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR, 1500–1517), and the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) implementing regulation, Policy and Procedures for Implementing NEPA, Engineering Regulation 200-2-2, 1988. Various documents are referenced in this EA as providing background or supplemental information. Those of primary importance include the following: Old Hickory Lake Master Plan (1987); Cumberland River Environmental Impact Statement (1975 and updated 1992); Old Hickory Lake Operational Management Plan Part I Natural Resources Management, and Operational Management