Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Final Environmental Assessment Project Name: Watts Bar Reservoir Land Management Plan Amendment Project Number: 2017-5 WATTS BAR RESERVOIR LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Loudon, Meigs, Rhea, and Roane Counties, Tennessee Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE March 2019 To request further information, contact: W. Douglas White NEPA Compliance Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Phone: 865-632-2252 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................... 5 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................ 5 Other Pertinent Environmental Reviews or Documentation .................................................... 5 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................................ 8 Scoping and Public Involvement .............................................................................................. 8 Necessary Permits of Licenses ................................................................................................ 9 CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................................................... 11 Development of Alternatives .................................................................................................. 11 Description of Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Alternative A – The No Action Alternative ....................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment Alternative ................................. 11 Property Administration .......................................................................................................... 13 Environmental Review Process Update ................................................................................. 14 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 14 Identification of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 17 The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 21 Land Use and Prime Farmland .............................................................................................. 21 3.1.1 Land Use ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.2 Prime Farmland ............................................................................................................... 21 Recreation .............................................................................................................................. 23 Terrestrial Ecology (Plants and Wildlife) ................................................................................ 23 3.3.1 Plant Communities .......................................................................................................... 23 3.3.2 Wildlife Communities ....................................................................................................... 24 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 26 3.4.1 Benthic Community ......................................................................................................... 26 3.4.2 Fish Community ............................................................................................................... 27 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 29 3.5.1 Plants ............................................................................................................................... 31 3.5.2 Terrestrial Wildlife ............................................................................................................ 32 3.5.3 Aquatic Species ............................................................................................................... 33 3.5.3.1 Fish ........................................................................................................................... 33 3.5.3.2 Mussels ..................................................................................................................... 34 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................... 34 3.6.1 General Water Quality Characteristics ............................................................................ 35 3.6.2 TVA Water Quality Monitoring and Results ..................................................................... 35 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 38 Floodplains ............................................................................................................................. 40 Navigation .............................................................................................................................. 40 Air Quality and Climate Change ............................................................................................. 41 3.10.1 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 41 3.10.2 Climate Change ............................................................................................................... 42 Historic and Archaeological Resources ................................................................................. 43 Natural Areas and Ecologically Significant Sites ................................................................... 45 Watts Bar Land Plan Amendment Final Supplemental EA i Contents Aesthetics and Visual Resources .......................................................................................... 46 Noise ...................................................................................................................................... 47 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice.......................................................................... 48 CHAPTER 4 – ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .................................................................... 49 Land Use and Prime Farmland .............................................................................................. 49 4.1.1 Land Use ......................................................................................................................... 49 4.1.1.1 Alternative A .............................................................................................................. 49 4.1.1.2 Alternative B .............................................................................................................. 49 4.1.2 Prime Farmland ............................................................................................................... 50 4.1.2.1 Alternative A .............................................................................................................. 50 4.1.2.2 Alternative B .............................................................................................................. 50 Recreation .............................................................................................................................. 51 4.2.1.1 Alternative A .............................................................................................................. 51 4.2.1.2 Alternative B .............................................................................................................. 51 Terrestrial Ecology (Plants and Wildlife) ................................................................................ 51 4.3.1 Plant Communities .......................................................................................................... 52 4.3.1.1 Alternative A .............................................................................................................. 52 4.3.1.2 Alternative B .............................................................................................................. 53 4.3.2 Wildlife Communities ....................................................................................................... 53 4.3.2.1 Alternative A .............................................................................................................. 53 4.3.2.2 Alternative B .............................................................................................................