Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
Welcome Draft Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement Public Meeting
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
NEPA and ESA Process
NEPA ESA
Technical assistance to Applicant Plan area, covered species, covered activities, preliminary conservation measures Begin compiling existing conditions
Initial proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Notice of Intent (NOI) Scoping · 30-day formal scoping period
Continued technical assistance Develop alternatives
Develop Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Develop Administrative Draft HCP
Public Draft EIS Public Draft HCP
Public comment period Start Section 10 Findings WE ARE HERE Respond to comments on EIS and HCP, modify documents as necessary Start Section 7 Biological Opinion
Final HCP Final EIS · 30-day cooling off for EIS Finalize Section 7 Biological Opinion Finalize NEPA · Record of Decision (ROD) Finalize Section 10 Findings
Permit Decision
Implementation
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
Alternatives
Comparison of Key Components of Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 The Draft EIS analyzes Component Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 four alternatives in detail: Covered species Covered species are those species for which the applicants are seeking incidental take coverage (Draft Deschutes HCP Chapter 3). They include the following. Alternative 1 Three species listed as threatened under ESA: · Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) · No Action · Middle Columbia River steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) · Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) Alternative 2 Two nonlisted species: · Middle Columbia River spring Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) · Proposed Action (Draft · Sockeye salmon (O. nerka) Deschutes Basin HCP) Covered lands and The covered lands and waters are the areas where the covered species are present and the covered activities have effects. waters Specifically, these include the aquatic, wetland, riparian, and floodplain habitats associated with Crane Prairie, Wickiup, Ochoco, and Crescent Lake Reservoirs and the Deschutes River, Crescent Creek, Little Deschutes River, Tumalo Creek, Whychus Alternative 3 Creek, Crooked River, Ochoco and McKay Creeks, and several other small tributaries (Draft Deschutes HCP Chapter 3). · Enhanced Variable Covered activities and Covered activities are the activities with the potential to result in take of covered species for which the applicants are facilities applying for incidental take coverage. These include the storage, release, diversion, and return of irrigation water by Streamflows the DBBC member districts and groundwater withdrawals, effluent discharges, and surface water diversions by the City of Prineville (Draft Deschutes HCP Chapter 3). The covered facilities include four dams and reservoirs and 25 water Alternative 4 supply diversion structures, pumps, and intakes. Permit term 30 years 30 years 20 years · Enhanced and Conservation Strategy: a series of conservation measures implemented to reduce and offset the adverse effects of Accelerated Variable covered activities on the covered species (Draft Deschutes HCP Chapter 6) Streamflows Deschutes River Increases fall and winter Deschutes Accelerates increases of fall and Further accelerates increases of fall River flows based on schedule of flow winter Deschutes River flows (see and winter Deschutes River flows increases (see table below) table below) (see table below) Alternatives 2, 3, and Crooked River Supplements releases of Same as Alternative 2 but also Same as Alternative 3 but increases uncontracted storage from Prineville protects the releases of uncontracted releases of uncontracted Prineville 4 are compared to the Reservoir Prineville Reservoir storage to Lake Reservoir storage to 80 cfs no-action alternative, Billy Chinook for fish and wildlife Conservation Fund Provides for Crooked River and Same as Alternative 2, but also Same as Alternative 3 which assumes no permit Whychus Creek Conservation Funds includes Upper Deschutes Basin Conservation Fund issuance, continuation Other measures Provides other conservation measures to modify operation and maintenance of water facilities to enhance flows on the of existing water Deschutes River, Crescent Creek, Little Deschutes River, Whychus Creek, Crooked River, Ochoco Creek, and McKay Creek. management operations, and existing and Minimum Fall/Winter Flow Releases from Wickiup Reservoir (cubic feet per second) Years No Action Proposed Action Alternative 3 Alternative 4 reasonably foreseeable 1-5 100 100 200 300
future projects, plans, 6-10 100 200 300 400-600 a and programs. 11-15 100 300 400-500 a 400-600 a 16-20 100 300 400-500 a 400-600 a 21-30 100 400 a 400-500 a a Flow levels at full implementation
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
Wickiup Reservoir Storage (Years 21–30) Deschutes River Flow below Wickiup Reservoir (Years 21–30) Water Resources
• RiverWare modeling was conducted to predict how changes in water management operations would affect streamflow and reservoir elevations, reservoir storage and water supply.
• The changes informed the analysis of effects Prineville Reservoir Storage (Years 21–30) Crooked River Flow below NUID Pumps (Years 21–30) on other resources: • Water quality • Groundwater • Biological resources • Land use and agricultural resources • Aesthetics and visual quality • Recreation • Tribal resources Central Oregon, North Unit, and Ochoco Irrigation District Diversions (April-October) Arnold, Lone Pine, and Tumalo Irrigation District Diversions (April-October) • Cultural resources 350 60
300 • Socioeconomics and environmental justice 50 250 40 • Future water conservation and reduced 200 30
150
irrigation water demand were not modeled. x1000) (AF Diversion x1000) (AF Diversion 20 100
10 50
0 0 North Unit Central Oregon Ochoco Arnold Lone Pine Tumalo
No Action Normal No Action Dry No Action Very Dry No Action Normal No Action Dry No Action Very Dry PA (Years 0-5) Normal PA (Years 0-5) Dry PA (Years 0-5) Very Dry PA (Years 0-5) Normal PA (Years 0-5) Dry PA (Years 0-5) Very Dry PA (Years 21-30) Normal PA (Years 21-30) Dry PA (Years 21-30) Very Dry PA (Years 21-30) Normal PA (Years 21-30) Dry PA (Years 21-30) Very Dry
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
Oregon Spotted Frog
Key Oregon Spotted Frog Life
k e History Periods in Relation to Upper e
r
C
Hydrological Effects: s Proposed Action vs. No Action
u
h
c
y h Deschutes River Flows
W
Rearing Bend Pre-winter Overwintering Breeding Pre-winter
Tumalo Creek LSA Marsh
er iv R es ut ch es D Upper Deschutes River below Wickiup Reservoir East • Reduced flows during the vegetation growing Slough season would result in movement of wetland Camp habitat closer to the river • More gradual changes in flows during fall BENO would reduce travel distance for frog between Crane Prairie Reservoir rearing and overwintering locations Sunriver • Stabilized water elevations would result • Increased winter flows would result in in inundated wetland habitat during inundation of overwintering habitat and breeding and rearing periods reduced distances between overwintering and breeding sites Sunriver Summary of Effects
La Pine State Park · Hydrological changes under SW Slough Crane Prairie Reservoir La Pine State Park Upstream Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 would improve Dead Slough conditions for Oregon spotted frog
Casey Tract and its habitat compared to the no- Wickiup Reservoir Bull Bend action alternative in Crane Prairie • Habitat conditions would decline as a result of lower and along the Upper Deschutes River water volume and elevation WICO LAPO below Wickiup Reservoir.
La Pine Wickiup Reservoir · Alternatives 3 and 4 would reach full implementation flows earlier in
• Crescent Creek the permit term than Alternative 2 • Pre-winter and overwintering habitat conditions would decline as a result of and thereby improve the existing lower water volume and elevation
Crescent degraded habitat conditions for the Creek BLM oxbows frog sooner.
CREO t Creek Crescen · Expansion of invasive bullfrog and No Effect nonnative predatory fish species Crescent Creek below Hwy 58 Beneficial Effect (all life history periods) tes River Crescent Lake Little Deschu Reservoir Beneficial Effect (except in rearing) populations and distributions would Adverse Effect (all life history periods) persist with, even benefit from, the Adverse Effect (two life history periods) hydrological changes. · Alternatives 3 and 4 include an Upper Deschutes Conservation Fund to address these ongoing threats.
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Evaluation of Potential Columbia River Effects on Fish Species: Proposed Action vs. No Action Effects on Available Species Habitat
· Changes in seasonal streamflows and reservoir volumes
No Effect Maupin · Year-to-year variation Beneficial Effect Adverse Effect over the permit term Beneficial and Adverse Effects (depending on species) · Within-year and within- season variation · Changes in water quality
T r o u
t
C
r MADO e e
>! k Lake
M e Simtustus to li us R iv er Lake Billy Chinook Madras
r e iv R s e t u h c CULO s e >! >! D CROO Osborne Canyon reek ay C ek McK re C Smith Rock oco Wickiup Reservoir State Park Och CRSO • Species/habitats affected: s Creek NUID >! chu Big Falls redband trout, nonnative Why Pumps Prineville CAPO OCHO resident trout, kokanee >! >!
r salmon, native non-game non- e v Ochoco Reservoir i
R trout species d e >! k o SQSO o • Adverse effects: Redmond r C • Extreme variability in Crooked River reservoir volume and
elevation would affect k • Species affected: bull trout, e re >! rearing habitat and the lake C PRVO steelhead trout, spring lo a >! DEBO Prineville m >! Chinook salmon, sockeye food web u TUMO T Reservoir • Extreme drawdown would salmon, redband trout result in the entrainment Bend • Overall adverse effect under of juveniles in unscreened Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 outlet and displacement of Benham Falls fish to the Deschutes River >! BENO
Sunriver Upper Deschutes River Crane Prairie • Species affected: redband trout and Reservoir Fall River nonnative trout
CRAO • Beneficial effect on nonnative trout >! • Not adverse effect on native non-trout, Wickiup non-game species Reservoir WICO >! >! LAPO • Adverse effect on redband trout: Despite La Pine improved conditions with higher winter streamflows, lower summer streamflows, and potential for improved riparian conditions, increased within year variation in streamflows in the spring and summer Little Deschutes River reek during critical non-mobile or less mobile cent C CREO >! Cres life stages would have an adverse effect on redband. Crescent Lake Reservoir
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Deschutes Basin Photo: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Habitat Conservation Plan Stock with Wade Fredenberg/FWS Photo: FWS Photo: Oregon State University Header Photo: FWS
Socioeconomics Agricultural Economic Impacts: Proposed Socioeconomic Values and the Habitat Conservation Plan Action vs. No Action
Resources Water Agriculture/Land NUID Fish/Wildlife Vegetation Cultural Recreation Jefferson County Elements of the Social Groups Forage-related emp/income EIS Alternatives Conservationists · Dry year: 0 to -30% Storage and release of water in the Farmers and Farmworkers Deschutes and Crooked Rivers Recreationists/Tourists · Average all years: 0 to -14% Incidental take permit for Oregon spotted Tourism/Recreation Industry frog and numerous species of fish for Tribes covered activities Urban Water Users Conservation measures Socioeconomic Values Local Residents Cultural Values Recreational Value Intrinsic Species/Habitat Value TSID LPID Economic Opportunity (jobs, income) Ochoco Government Fiscal Stability Community Way of Life Aesthetic Value TSID COID Energy Reliability/Costs COID
Potential Effects of Reduced Irrigation Water Supplies Tumalo Crook County Swalley Forage-related emp/income • Reduced agricultural production value, on-farm income, and agricultural employment and Deschutes County · Dry year: -1 to -2% income, particularly in dry years in North Unit, Arnold, and Lone Pine Irrigation Districts. Forage-related emp/income · Average all years: 0 to -1% · Dry year: -2 to -4% • Range of values shown on map reflect uncertainty in future conditions (e.g., on-farm and district- COID · Average all years: 0 to -2% level water conservation). Arnold • Potential adverse effects on community way of life (e.g., if some ranches and farms are no longer economically viable or support fewer livestock). Relative effect by irrigation district (all alternatives) • Potential reduced water supply availability or increased water cost to urban/suburban water No Effect Low Effect Medium Effect High Effect users in DBBC districts, particularly Arnold Irrigation District during dry water years.
Note: All % impacts represent change in the contribution of grain and forage crop production to the local economy. Total change in economic contribution of all agricultural production (including specialty crops and animal production) would be much less. The range in economic impacts represents uncertainty regarding future conditions, particularly water conservation by farmers and districts. • Potential adverse environmental justice effects.
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE · COLUMBIA–PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERIOR REGION 9