Columbia River Basin Tributary Habitat Restoration Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment September 2020 DOE/EA-2126 Table of Contents 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ............................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Need................................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Purposes ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 The Columbia River Basin ............................................................................................................ 3 1.4.2 Federal Columbia River Power System ...................................................................................... 4 1.4.3 Biological Opinion for the Continued Operation and Maintenance of the Columbia River System ........................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Lead and Cooperating Agencies ................................................................................................................. 6 1.5.1 Bonneville Power Administration............................................................................................... 6 1.5.2 Bureau of Reclamation.................................................................................................................. 7 1.6 Public Involvement....................................................................................................................................... 8 1.6.1 Scoping ............................................................................................................................................ 8 1.6.2 Public Comments ........................................................................................................................... 8 2 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ................................................................10 2.1 Proposed Action..........................................................................................................................................10 2.1.1 Category 1 - Reestablishing and Improving Fish Passage .....................................................11 2.1.2 Category 2 – Improving River, Stream, Floodplain, and Wetland Habitat..........................13 2.1.3 Category 3 - Invasive Plant Control and Vegetation Management.......................................17 2.1.4 Category 4 - Piling Removal .......................................................................................................22 2.1.5 Category 5 - Road and Trail Erosion Control, Maintenance, Decommissioning, and Construction.................................................................................................................22 2.1.6 Category 6 - In-Channel Nutrient Enhancement.....................................................................23 2.1.7 Category 7 – Irrigation, Water Delivery, and Water Use Actions .........................................23 2.1.8 Category 8 - Fish, Hydrologic, Wildlife, and Geomorphologic Surveys ...............................26 2.1.9 Category 9 – Riparian and Upland Habitat Improvements and Structures ........................26 2.1.10 Category 10 - Artificial Pond Development and Operation...................................................28 2.2 Implementation of the Proposed Action .................................................................................................29 2.2.1 Project Selection ..........................................................................................................................29 2.2.2 Project Design and Environmental Reviews ...........................................................................30 2.2.3 Tiering Future Analyses to this NEPA Document ...................................................................30 2.3 No Action Alternative.................................................................................................................................31 2.4 Mitigation Measures and Design Criteria................................................................................................31 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .......................34 3.1 Effects Common to Construction Activities ............................................................................................35 3.1.1 Pre-construction ..........................................................................................................................35 3.1.2 Site Preparation ...........................................................................................................................36 3.1.3 Construction .................................................................................................................................37 3.1.4 Site Restoration............................................................................................................................38 Columbia River Basin Tributary Habitat Restoration Environmental Assessment i 3.1.5 Construction Activity Effects Summary ...................................................................................39 3.2 Effects Specific to Categories of Action ...................................................................................................39 3.2.1 Effects of Fish Passage Restoration (Category 1) ...................................................................39 3.2.2 Effects of Improving River, Stream, Floodplain, and Wetland Habitat (Category 2) ...........................................................................................................................................40 3.2.3 Effects of Invasive Plant Control and Vegetation Management (Category 3) ....................42 3.2.4 Effects of Piling Removal (Category 4).....................................................................................47 3.2.5 Effects of Road and Trail Erosion Control, Maintenance, and Decommissioning (Category 5) .........................................................................................................................48 3.2.6 Effects of Nutrient Enhancement (Category 6) .......................................................................49 3.2.7 Effects of Irrigation and Water Delivery/Management Actions (Category 7) ...................50 3.2.8 Effects of Fish, Hydrologic, Wildlife, and Geomorphologic Surveys (Category 8) .............54 3.2.9 Effects of Actions for Riparian and Upland Habitat Improvements and Structures (Category 9) .....................................................................................................55 3.2.10 Effects of Artificial Pond Development and Management (Category 10) ...........................56 3.2.11 Summary of Effects by Categories of Action............................................................................56 3.3 Affected Environment and Effects to Resources by Resource Type ...................................................59 3.3.1 Fish and Aquatic Species ............................................................................................................59 3.3.2 Water Resources..........................................................................................................................74 3.3.3 Vegetation.....................................................................................................................................84 3.3.4 Wetlands and Floodplains..........................................................................................................97 3.3.5 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 104 3.3.6 Geology and Soils ...................................................................................................................... 120 3.3.7 Transportation .......................................................................................................................... 124 3.3.8 Land Use and Recreation......................................................................................................... 126 3.3.9 Visual Resources ....................................................................................................................... 130 3.3.10 Air Quality, Noise, and Public Health and Safety ................................................................. 132 3.3.11 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................... 137 3.3.12 Indian Trust Assets................................................................................................................... 140 3.3.13 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice......................................................................... 140 3.3.14 Climate Change ......................................................................................................................... 145 3.4 Cumulative Effects..................................................................................................................................