20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM Whitewater Creek Hydroelectric Project WHITEWATER GREEN ENERGY, LLC Revised Study Plans April 15, 2014 April 15, 2014 Kimberly Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20426 Subject: Whitewater Creek Hydroelectric Project Revised Study Plans (FERC Project No. 14383) Dear Secretary Bose: Whitewater Green Energy LLC is submitting our Revised Study Plans (RSP) for the Whitewater Creek Hydro Project (FERC No. 14383). Whitewater Green Energy, LLC hosted the Proposed Study Plan Meeting on January 28, 2014 in Salem, Oregon with assistance from Environmental Resources Management (ERM). PSP comments from stakeholders filed with FERC by March 29, 2014 have been incorporated into the RSP. Sincerely, David G. Harmon, P.E. Whitewater Green Power, LLC ELECTRONIC FILING 2532 Santiam Hwy SE, Albany, Oregon 97322 541-405-5236 Page 1 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM Whitewater Creek Hydroelectric Project Revised Study Plan FERC No. 14383 Prepared by Whitewater Green Energy, LLC with support from ERM April 2014 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES V LIST OF ACRONYMS VI 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 2.0 REVISED STUDIES 4 2.1 WATER QUALITY STUDY 4 2.1.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 4 2.1.2 Study Area 5 2.1.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 5 2.1.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 5 2.1.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 5 2.1.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 6 2.1.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 8 2.1.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 8 2.1.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 8 2.2 HYDROLOGY STUDY 9 2.2.1 HYDROLOGY STUDY 9 2.2.10 References 18 2.3 WETLANDS AND WATERS OF THE US DELINEATION 18 2.3.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 18 2.3.2 Study Area 18 2.3.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 19 2.3.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 19 2.3.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 19 2.3.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 19 2.3.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 22 2.3.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 22 2.3.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 22 2.3.10 References 23 2.4 CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY 23 2.4.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 23 2.4.2 Study Area 23 i 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM 2.4.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 23 2.4.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 24 2.4.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 24 2.4.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 24 2.4.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 25 2.4.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 25 2.4.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 25 2.5 AESTHETIC RESOURCES STUDY 25 2.5.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 25 2.5.2 Study Area 26 2.5.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 26 2.5.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 26 2.5.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 27 2.5.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 28 2.5.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 31 2.5.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 31 2.5.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 31 2.6 BYPASS REACH INSTREAM FLOW AND AQUATIC HABITAT STUDY32 2.6.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 32 2.6.2 Study Area 32 2.6.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 32 2.6.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 33 2.6.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 33 2.6.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 34 2.6.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 47 2.6.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 47 2.6.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 48 2.6.10 References 48 2.7 BOTANICAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE HABITAT STUDY 49 2.7.1 Goals and Objectives §5.11(d)(1) 49 2.7.2 Study Area 50 2.7.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 50 2.7.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 50 2.7.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 52 2.7.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 53 2.7.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 56 2.7.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 57 2.7.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 58 2.7.10 References 58 2.8 SOILS AND GEOLOGY RESOURCES STUDY 58 2.8.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 58 2.8.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 63 ii 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM 2.8.10 References 63 2.9 RECREATION RESOURCES STUDY 63 2.9.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 63 2.9.2 Study Area 64 2.9.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 64 2.9.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 65 2.9.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 66 2.9.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 67 2.9.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 70 2.9.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 70 2.9.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 70 2.11 BEDLOAD STUDY 82 2.11.1 Goals and Objectives § 5.11(d)(1) 82 2.11.2 Study Area 82 2.11.3 Resource Management Goals §5.11(d)(2) 82 2.11.4 Existing Information §5.11(d)(3) 83 2.11.5 Nexus to Project §5.11(d)(4) 83 2.11.6 Study Methods §5.11(b)(1) & (d)(5) 84 2.11.7 Study Results §5.11(b)(3) 85 2.11.8 Schedules §5.11(b)(2) 85 2.11.9 Level of Effort and Cost §5.11(d)(6) 85 2.11.10 References 86 3.0 STUDY REQUESTS NOT ADOPTED 87 3.1 FISH SCREENING AND UPSTREAM PASSAGE ALTERNATIVES 87 3.2 EFFECTS TO ESA SPECIES AND DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT 87 3.3 WILDLIFE OBSERVATIONS 87 3.4 STREAM MACROINVERTEBRATES 88 3.5 HARLEQUIN DUCK STUDY 88 3.6 BALD EAGLE STUDY 89 3.7 LAND USE STUDY 90 iii 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM APPENDICES APPENDIX A — STUDY REQUEST LETTERS APPENDIX B — SUMMARY OF STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS ON THE NINE PROPOSED STUDY PLANS (PSP) AND APPLICANT RESPONSES APPENDIX C — SUMMARY OF INFORMAL CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE FORMAL PSP MEETING (28 JANUARY 2014) AND THE PSP COMMENT DEADLINE (29 MARCH 2014) APPENDIX D —PSP MEETING ATTENDANCE LIST APPENDIX E —WHITEWATER IFS WORKPLAN APPENDIX F —WETLAND DETERMINATION DATA FORMS APPENDIX G —WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST T/E OR SENSITIVE SPECIES FROM RFSSS LIST 2011 iv 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM LIST OF FIGURES (Figures immediately follow the text) 1 Site Location 2 Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. Study Area 3 Cultural Resource Survey Areas 4 Aesthetics Study Area 5 Botanical Study Area 6 Recreation Study Area 7 Northern Spotted Owl Study Area 8 Osprey Study Area 9 Amphibian Study Area 10 Terrestrial Mollusks Study Area v 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM LIST OF ACRONYMS APE Area of Potential Effect AWS Area weighted suitability BAGS Bedload Assessment for Gravel-Bed Streams BMPs Best Management Practices Ca Calcium CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs Cubic feet per second Cl Chlorine CO32 Carbonate CSI Combined suitability index DO Dissolved oxygen DTM Digital terrain model ESA Endangered Species Act FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FPA Federal Power Act GIS Geographic Information System HCO3 Bicarbonate HPMP Historic Properties Management Plan HSI Habitat suitability index IDP Inadvertent Discovery Plan IFIM Instream Flow Incremental Methodology IFS Instream flow study ILP Integrated Licensing Process ISR Initial Study Report K Potassium KOPs Key observation points kV Kilovolt Mg Magnesium msl Means sea level MW Megawatt NA Sodium Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation NAGPRA Act NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NH4 Ammoniuum NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NI No regional indicator NO No known occurrence vi 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM NO2 Nitrogen dioxide NO3 Nitrate NOI Notice of Intent NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service NWFP Northwest Forest Plan ODEQ Oregon Department of Environmental Quality ODFW Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife PAD Preliminary Application Document PLP Preliminary Licensing Proposal PO43 Phosphate PSP Proposed Study Plan QAPP Quality Assurance Project Plan RFSSS Regional Forester’s Special Status Species RSP Revised Study Plan fSD1 Scoping Document 1 SEFA System of Environmental Flow Analysis SHPO State Historic Preservation Office SO42 Sulfate SPD Study plan determination TES Threatened and endangered, or sensitive TKN Total kjeldahl nitrogen USACE US Army Corps of Engineers USC United States Code USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency USFS US Forest Service USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service WNF Willamette National Forest WUA weighted usable area vii 20140416-5027 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/15/2014 9:29:06 PM 1.0 INTRODUCTION On 8 July 2013 Whitewater Green Hydro, LLC (the applicant) filed a revised Notice of Intent (NOI) to submit a license application and an associated Preliminary Application Document (PAD) for the Whitewater Creek Hydroelectric Project Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No.