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Asian Carp Mitigation Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment

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Asian Carp Mitigation Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment Project Name: Asian Carp Mitigation PEA Project Number: 2020-24 ASIAN CARP MITIGATION DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Knoxville, TN July 2021 To request further information, contact: Elizabeth Smith NEPA Compliance Tennessee Valley Authority 400 W. Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Phone: 865.632.3053 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Tennessee River System .................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2 Asian Carp Challenges ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1.3 Efforts to Control Asian Carp ............................................................................................. 9 1.2 Programmatic Analysis and Tiering ......................................................................................... 9 1.3 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................. 10 1.4 Decision to be Made .............................................................................................................. 10 1.5 Related Environmental Reviews ............................................................................................ 11 1.6 Public and Agency Involvement ............................................................................................. 11 1.7 Scope of the Programmatic EA .............................................................................................. 11 1.8 Cooperating Agencies ............................................................................................................ 12 1.9 Necessary Permits or Licenses ............................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 2 – ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................ 13 2.1 Description of the Lock and Dam System on the Tennessee River ...................................... 13 2.1.1 Tennessee River System ................................................................................................ 13 2.1.2 Overview of the Locks and Dams on the Tennessee River ............................................ 14 2.2 Screening of Lock and Dams ................................................................................................. 17 2.3 Decision Tree Process ........................................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 Background...................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.2 Decision Tree Modeling Approach .................................................................................. 18 2.3.3 Decision Tree Modeling Inputs and Assumptions ........................................................... 18 2.4 Overview of Fish Barriers and Alternatives Considered in the Decision Tree Process .................................................................................................................................. 20 2.4.1 Fish Barriers Considered in the Decision Tree Process ................................................. 20 2.4.2 Outcome of the Decision Tree Process ........................................................................... 22 2.5 TVA Programmatic EA Alternatives ....................................................................................... 22 2.5.1 Alternatives Initially Considered by TVA ......................................................................... 22 2.5.2 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Detailed Analysis .................................... 23 2.6 Final Alternatives Retained for Analysis ................................................................................ 24 2.7 Programmatic Bounding Analysis .......................................................................................... 25 2.8 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 31 2.9 TVA’s Preferred Alternative ................................................................................................... 33 2.10 Summary of Environmental Commitments, Mitigation Measures, and BMPs ....................... 34 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................................................................................................. 37 3.1 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 37 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 37 3.1.2 Tennessee River Dam and Reservoir System ................................................................ 37 3.1.3 Fish .................................................................................................................................. 38 3.1.4 Macroinvertebrates .......................................................................................................... 39 3.1.5 Aquatic Macrophytes ....................................................................................................... 40 3.1.6 Invasive Aquatic Species ................................................................................................. 40 3.1.7 Reservoir Ecological Health ............................................................................................ 40 3.1.7.1 Fort Loudoun Reservoir ............................................................................................ 41 3.1.7.2 Melton Hill Reservoir ................................................................................................. 44 3.1.7.3 Watts Bar Reservoir .................................................................................................. 44 3.1.7.4 Chickamauga Reservoir ............................................................................................ 44 Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment i Asian Carp Mitigation PEA 3.1.7.5 Nickajack Reservoir .................................................................................................. 45 3.1.7.6 Guntersville Reservoir ............................................................................................... 45 3.1.7.7 Wheeler Reservoir .................................................................................................... 45 3.1.7.8 Wilson Reservoir ....................................................................................................... 46 3.1.7.9 Pickwick Reservoir .................................................................................................... 46 3.1.7.10 Kentucky Reservoir ................................................................................................... 46 3.1.8 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 47 3.1.8.1 Alternative A – No Action .......................................................................................... 47 3.1.8.2 Alternative G – Install a Combined System of Fish Barriers (i.e., BAFF and CO2) at Multiple L&D Sites within the Tennessee River System ....................... 49 3.2 Recreation .............................................................................................................................. 52 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 52 3.2.1.1 Recreation on TVA Reservoirs ................................................................................. 54 3.2.1.2 Recreation at TVA L&D Sites .................................................................................... 55 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 56 3.2.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .......................................................................................... 56 3.2.2.2 Alternative G – Install a Combined System of Fish Barriers (i.e., BAFF and CO2) at Multiple L&D sites within the Tennessee River System........................ 57 3.3 Economic Impact .................................................................................................................... 58 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 58 3.3.1.1 Economic Benefits of Recreational Boating and Fishing .......................................... 58 3.3.1.2 Economic Benefits of TVA Reservoirs ...................................................................... 58 3.3.1.3 Conceptual Economic Benefits Model ...................................................................... 59 3.3.1.4 Operational Economic Benefits Model ...................................................................... 61 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences........................................................................................
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