Chester Diversion FERC Environmental Assessment 2008
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20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Symbiotics, LLC Project No. 11879 -001 – Idaho NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (April 10, 2008) In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as a mended, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC ) regulations (18 CFR Part 380), Commission staff have reviewed the license application for the Chester Diversion Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 11879 ) and have prepared a final environme ntal assessment (EA) on the proposed action . The project is located on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River in Fremont County, Idaho , downstream of some of the most well -known fly fishing areas in the country. Symbiotics, LLC (applicant) filed an applicati on for license with the Commission for an original license for the 3.3 -megawatt ( MW ) Chester Diversion Hydroelectric Project, using the existing Cross Cut Diversion dam ( Chester Diversion dam) .1 In th is final EA , Commission staff analyzes the probable env ironmental effects of construction and operation of the project and ha ve concluded that approval of the license , with appropriate staff -recommended environmental measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of t he human environment. 1 The Chester Diversion dam was initially constructed as the “Cross Cut Diversion dam” because it served as the diversion dam for the Cross Cut irrigation canal. It now also serves as the diversion dam for the Last Chance irrigation canal, and because of its location near Chester, Idaho, is now referred to as the Chester Diversion dam. While both names are appropriate, we use the “Chester Diversion” moniker for consistency and clarity in this EA. 20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 Copies of the final EA are available for review in Public Reference Room 2 -A of the Commission’s offices at 888 First Street, NE, Washington , D C. The final EA also may be viewed on the Commission’s Internet website ( www.ferc.gov ) using the “eLibrary ” link. Additional information about the project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (202) 502 -6088, or on the Commission’s website using the eLibrary link. For assistance with eLibrary , contact [email protected] or call toll -free at (866) 208 -3676, or for TTY contact (202) 502 -8659. Kimberly D. Bose , Secretary . 20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CHESTER DI VERSION HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT (Project No. 11879 -001 ) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects Division of Hydropower Licensing 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20426 APRIL 200 8 20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 This page i ntentionally left blank. 20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ iii LIST OF TABLES ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. iv ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................ ................................ ............ v SUMMARY ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... viii I. APPLICATION ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 1 II. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ................................ ................................ .. 1 A. PURPOSE OF ACTION ................................ ................................ .................. 1 B. NEED FOR POWER ................................ ................................ ....................... 2 III. PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ................................ ..................... 4 A. APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL ................................ ................................ ........... 4 1. Project Description ................................ ................................ .................... 4 2. Proposed Project Operation ................................ ................................ ....... 5 3. Proposed Environmental Measures ................................ ........................... 7 B. STAFF’S MODIFICATION OF THE APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL ............. 9 C. NO -ACTION ALTERNATIV E................................ ................................ ..... 10 IV . CONSULTATION AND COMPLIANCE ................................ ............................ 10 A. SCOPING ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 10 B. INTERVENTIONS AND CO MMENTS ................................ ....................... 11 C. SEPTEMBER 2007 ENVIR ONMENTAL ASESSMENT ........................... 14 D. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ................................ ................................ .... 15 E. STATUTORY REQUIREMEN TS ................................ ................................ 16 1. Water Quality Certification ................................ ................................ ..... 16 2. Section 10(j) Recommendations ................................ ............................. 16 3. Se ction 18 Prescription ................................ ................................ ........... 17 4. Endangered Species Act ................................ ................................ .......... 17 6. Section 106 Consultation ................................ ................................ ........ 18 V. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ................................ ................................ ......... 18 A. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCALE ................................ .......... 19 B. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS A NALYSIS ................................ ....................... 19 1. Geographic Scope ................................ ................................ ................... 20 2. Temporal Scope ................................ ................................ ...................... 20 C. PROPOSED ACTION AND ACTION ALTERNATIVES .......................... 20 1. Geology and Soils ................................ ................................ ................... 20 2. Water Resources ................................ ................................ ...................... 28 3. Aquatic Resources ................................ ................................ ................... 37 i 20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 4. Terrestrial Resources ................................ ................................ ............... 50 5. Threatened and Endangered Species ................................ ....................... 65 6. Recreational Resources ................................ ................................ ........... 66 7. Land Use and Aesthetic Resources ................................ ......................... 69 8. Cultural Resources ................................ ................................ .................. 72 D. NO -ACTION ALTERNATIV E................................ ................................ ..... 79 VI. DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS ................................ ................................ ........ 79 A. POWER AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT S OF THE PROPOSED PR OJECT 81 B. POWER AND ECONOMIC B ENEFITS OF THE STAFF - RECOMMENDED ALTERNAT IVE ................................ ............................ 81 C. COMPA RISON OF ALTERNATIVE S ................................ ........................ 82 VII. COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 100 1. Symbiotics’ Proposed Measures ................................ ........................... 100 2. Staff’s Recommended Measures ................................ ........................... 103 3. Rationale for Staff Recommendations ................................ .................. 104 VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ................... 116 IX. CONSISTENCY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLANS ................................ ....... 117 X. FINDING OF N O SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ................................ ...................... 119 IX. LITERATURE CITED ................................ ................................ ......................... 119 X. LIST OF PREPARERS ................................ ................................ ........................ 122 APPENDIX A ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. A-1 ii 20080410-3039 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 04/10/2008 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Chester Diversion Project location map ................................ ........................ 3 Figure 2. Proposed project facilities ................................ ................................ ............. 6 Figure 3. Bed elevations and areas of fine sediment deposition within the lower Chester Div ersion dam impoundment in the vicinity of the proposed project ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 23 Figure 4. Rating curve for Chester Diversion dam ................................ ..................... 29 Figure 5. Daily and average flow at USGS gage no. 13050500 Henry’s Fork at St Anthony for water years 1962 to 2005 ................................ ........................ 33 iii 20080410-3039