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Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Proposed Wapato Lake Unit Draft Land Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment

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Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Proposed Wapato Lake Unit Draft Land Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Proposed Wapato Lake Unit Draft Land Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Washington and Yamhill Counties, Oregon Prepared by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Planning and Visitor Services 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97232 (503) 231-2096 April 2006 1 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION.........................................................1 1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Proposed Action..........................................................................................................................1 1.3 Need for Action...........................................................................................................................1 1.3.1 Background........................................................................................................................3 1.3.2 Purpose for Proposed Action .............................................................................................4 1.4 Study Area….. ............................................................................................................................5 1.5 Related Actions...........................................................................................................................6 1.6 Decisions to be Made..................................................................................................................6 1.7 Public Participation and Issue Identification ..............................................................................9 1.7.1 Wapato Lake Unit Management ........................................................................................9 1.7.2 Water Rights ......................................................................................................................9 1.7.3 Socioeconomic Values.......................................................................................................9 1.7.4 Land Acquisition................................................................................................................10 1.7.5 Alternatives Identified During Public Scoping..................................................................10 1.7.6 Scoggins Dam Raise and Raw Water Pipeline ..................................................................10 1.8 National Wildlife Refuge System and Authorities .....................................................................11 1.9 Habitat Protection and Land Acquisition Process ......................................................................11 CHAPTER 2. ALTERNATIVES GIVEN DETAILED STUDY ................................................13 2.1 Alternative A, the No Action Alternative...................................................................................13 2.2 Alternative B, a 1,960-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit .........................................................13 2.3 Alternative C, a 2,430-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit .........................................................14 2.4 Alternative D, a 4,310-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit (Preferred Alternative) ...................17 2.5 Alternative E, a 6,280-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit..........................................................17 2.6 Alternatives Considered but not Selected for Detailed Analysis................................................20 2.7 Features Common to All of the Action Alternatives ..................................................................20 2.7.1 Wapato Lake Unit Administration.....................................................................................20 2.7.2 Key Areas of Management Focus......................................................................................23 2.7.3 Rights-of-Way and Easements...........................................................................................33 2.7.4 Law Enforcement…….......................................................................................................33 2.7.5 Facilities Development and Management..........................................................................34 2.7.6 Interagency and Public Coordination ................................................................................34 CHAPTER 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT.............................................................................37 3.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................................37 3.1.1 Water Resources ................................................................................................................37 3.1.2 Wapato Improvement District (WID)................................................................................38 3.1.3 Tualatin Valley Irrigation District (TVID) ........................................................................38 3.1.4 Water Rights ......................................................................................................................39 3.1.5 Contaminants and Hazardous Wastes................................................................................39 3.2 Biological Environment..............................................................................................................40 3.3 Socioeconomic Environment......................................................................................................42 i 3.3.1 Population Growth.............................................................................................................42 3.3.2 Economic Growth ..............................................................................................................42 3.3.3 Land Use ............................................................................................................................44 CHAPTER 4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES............................................................47 4.1 Alternative A, the No Action Alternative...................................................................................47 4.1.1 Physical Consequences .....................................................................................................47 4.1.2 Biological Consequences..................................................................................................48 4.1.3 Socioeconomic Consequences..........................................................................................48 4.2 Environmental Consequences Common to All the Action Alternatives ....................................49 4.2.1 Land Acquisition...............................................................................................................49 4.2.2 Habitat Management.........................................................................................................49 4.2.3 Wildlife-Dependent Public Use ........................................................................................50 4.2.4 County Tax Revenue.........................................................................................................50 4.2.5 Proposed Wapato Lake Unit Tourism and Spending in the Local Economy ...................50 4.2.6 Land Use Zoning...............................................................................................................50 4.2.7 Agricultural Production ....................................................................................................51 4.3 Alternative B, a 1,960-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit ........................................................52 4.3.1 Physical Consequences .....................................................................................................52 4.3.2 Biological Consequences..................................................................................................52 4.3.3 Socioeconomic Consequences..........................................................................................53 4.4 Alternative C, a 2,430-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit .........................................................53 4.4.1 Physical Consequences .....................................................................................................54 4.4.2 Biological Consequences..................................................................................................54 4.4.3 Socioeconomic Consequences..........................................................................................55 4.5 Alternative D, a 4,310-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit (Preferred Alternative)....................55 4.5.1 Physical Consequences .....................................................................................................56 4.5.2 Biological Consequences..................................................................................................56 4.5.3 Socioeconomic Consequences..........................................................................................57 4.6 Alternative E, a 6,280-Acre Proposed Wapato Lake Unit..........................................................57 4.6.1 Physical Consequences .....................................................................................................58 4.6.2 Biological Consequences..................................................................................................58 4.6.3 Socioeconomic Consequences..........................................................................................59 4.7 Rationale
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