Swan Falls Hydro 2012
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United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IDAHO FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICE 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368 Boise, Idaho 83709 Telephone (208) 378-5243 https://www.fws.gov/idaho Kimberly D. Bose FEB 0 1 2012 Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20426 Subject: Swan Falls Hydroelectric Project-Ada and Owyhee Counties, Idaho-Biological Opinion In Reply Refer To: 14420-2011-F-0318 For Internal Use: CONS-lOOb FERCNo. 503 Dear Ms. Bose: Enclosed are the Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Biological Opinion (Opinion) and concurrence with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) determinations of effect on species listed under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended, for the proposed Swan Falls Hydroelectric Project in Ada and Owyhee Counties, Idaho. In a letter dated August 21, 2011, and received by the Service on September 1, 2011, the Commission requested formal consultation on the determination under section 7 of the Act that the proposed project is likely to adversely affect the Snake River physa (Haitia (Physa) natricina). The Service acknowledges this determination. The enclosed Opinion and concurrence are based on our review of the proposed action, as described in your August 21,2011 amended Biological Assessment (Assessment), an updated analysis of Snake River physa substrate preferences, and the anticipated effects of the action on listed species, and were prepared in accordance with section 7 of the Act. Our Opinion concludes that the proposed project will not jeopardize the survival and recovery of Snake River physa. A complete record of this consultation is on file at this office. It is important to note that our analysis of effects of the proposed action on Snake River physa are based on several assumptions (see Section 2.5.1 ofthe Opinion), necessitated by the limited information available regarding the species. Given this, it is plausible that project-related impacts may have more or less severe effects on the species than our analysis indicates in this Opinion, based on our current understanding of the species, its habitat, and potential pathways of effect. A number of the Terms and Conditions provided in this document are intended to develop information on project-related impacts of the action on the Snake River physa. We wish to emphasize that should information on these impacts indicate effects to the species or its habitat such that the probability of its persistence is reduced in the Action Area, the Commission should re-evaluate the project's effects and consider reinitiation of section 7 consultation, as appropriate. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary 14420-2011-F-0318 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Swan Falls Hydroelectric Project Clean Water Act Requirement Language: This Opinion is also intended to address section 7 consultation requirements for the issuance of any project-related permits required under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Use of this letter to document that the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) has fulfilled its responsibilities under section 7 of the Act is contingent upon the following conditions: 1. The action considered by the COE in their 404 permitting process must be consistent with the proposed project as described in the Assessment such that no detectable difference in the effects of the action on listed species will occur. 2. Any terms applied to the 404 permit must also be consistent with conservation measures and terms and conditions as described in the Assessment and addressed in this letter and Opinion. Thank you for your continued interest in the conservation of threatened and endangered species. If you have questions concerning this Opinion, please contact Dwayne Winslow at (208) 378- 5249 or Michael Morse at (208) 378-5261. Sincerely, ~~~ BrianT. Kelly State Supervisor Enclosure 2 BIOLOGICAL OPINION FOR THE Swan Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 503 14420-2011-F-0318 February 1, 2012 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IDAHO FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICE BOISE, IDAHO Supervisor ----;.A--=---:-..- ~~.. -~-___,...___ Date ___l__ Ol__,_ /_;_1__,,,_/_ao--=-..:/~a....:;;.,__ ___ Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary 14420-2011-F-0318 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Swan Falls Hydroelectric Project Table of Contents 1. BACKGROUND AND INFORMAL CONSULTATION ........................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Consultation History .............................................................................................................. 1 2. BIOLOGICAL OPINION .......................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Description of the Proposed Action ...................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Action Area ...................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................... 5 2.1.2.1 Background ............................................................................................................ 5 2.1.2.2 Proposed Action ..................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Analytical Framework for the Jeopardy and Adverse Modification Determinations ........... 7 2.2.1 Jeopardy Determination ................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Status of the Species .............................................................................................................. 8 2.3.1 Listing Status ............................................................................................................ 8 2.3.2 Species Description ................................................................................................... 8 2.3.3 Life History ............................................................................................................... 9 2.3.4 Status and Distribution ............................................................................................ 11 2.3.5 Conservation Needs ................................................................................................ 16 2.4 Environmental Baseline of the Action Area ........................................................................ 18 2.4.1 Species ........................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.1.1 Status of the Snake River physa in the Action Area ............................................ 18 2.4.1.2 Factors Affecting the Species in the Action Area ................................................ 24 2.5 Effects of the Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 29 2.5.1 Direct and Indirect Effects of the Proposed Action ....................................................... 30 2.5.1.1 Direct Effects ....................................................................................................... 30 2.5.1.2 Indirect Effects ..................................................................................................... 36 2.5.2 Effects of Interrelated or Interdependent Actions .......................................................... 40 2.6 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 41 2.6.1 Climate Change .............................................................................................................. 41 2.6.2 Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 42 2.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 42 i Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary 14420-2011-F-0318 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Swan Falls Hydroelectric Project 2.8 Incidental Take Statement ................................................................................................... 44 2.8.1 Form and Amount or Extent of Take Anticipated ......................................................... 44 2.8.1.1 Considerations in Determining Amount of Take ................................................. 44 2.8.1.2 Form and Extent of Take ..................................................................................... 44 2.8.2 Effect of the Take ........................................................................................................... 46 2.8.3 Reasonable and Prudent Measures ................................................................................. 47 2.8.4 Terms and Conditions .................................................................................................... 47 2.8.5 Reporting and Monitoring Requirements....................................................................... 48 2.9 Conservation Recommendations ......................................................................................... 48 2.10 Reinitiation Notice ............................................................................................................. 48 3. LITERATURE CITED ...........................................................................................................