20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ 5 TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. 6 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 11 1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................ 11 1.2 CONSULTATION HISTORY .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.3 PROPOSED ACTION .......................................................................................................................................... 11 1.4 ACTION AREA ................................................................................................................................................. 12 2. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: BIOLOGICAL OPINION AND INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT ................................................................................................................. 14 2.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE BIOLOGICAL OPINION ....................................................................................................... 14 2.2 RANGE‐WIDE STATUS OF THE SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT ................................................................................. 15 2.2.1 Climate change ...................................................................................................................................... 20 2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ............................................................................................................................... 21 2.3.1 Overview of the Environmental Baseline ............................................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Project Components ............................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2.1 Wells Dam ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2.2 Wells Reservoir ............................................................................................................................................. 23 2.3.2.3 Wells Tailrace ................................................................................................................................................ 26 2.3.2.4 Wells and Methow Hatchery Programs ........................................................................................................ 26 2.3.2.5 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4 EFFECTS OF THE ACTION ON THE SPECIES AND ITS DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT ....................................................... 27 2.4.1 Method of Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 27 2.4.2 Spring‐run Chinook salmon .................................................................................................................... 28 2.4.2.1 Analysis of Effects ......................................................................................................................................... 28 2.4.3 UCR Spring Chinook Salmon Designated Critical Habitat ...................................................................... 39 2.4.4 UCR Steelhead ........................................................................................................................................ 41 2.4.4.1 Analysis of Effects ......................................................................................................................................... 41 2.4.5 UCR Steelhead Critical Habitat .............................................................................................................. 52 2.5 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ...................................................................................................................................... 54 2.6 INTEGRATION AND SYNTHESIS ............................................................................................................................ 56 2.6.1 Current Rangewide status of UCR spring‐run Chinook salmon and UCR steelhead ............................... 56 2.6.2 Environmental baseline ......................................................................................................................... 57 2.6.3 Effects of the proposed action ............................................................................................................... 57 2.6.3.1 Effects of the proposed action on UCR spring‐run Chinook salmon and designated critical habitat ........... 57 2.6.3.2 Effects of the proposed action on UCR steelhead and designated critical habitat ....................................... 59 2.6.4 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................................. 59 2.6.5 Summary—Integration and Synthesis ................................................................................................... 59 2.6.5.1 Summary for UCR Spring Chinook Salmon and designated critical habitat .................................................. 59 2.6.5.2 Summary for UCR Steelhead and designated critical habitat ....................................................................... 59 2.7 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................................. 60 2 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM 2.8 INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 60 2.8.1 Amount or Extent of Take ...................................................................................................................... 61 2.8.2 Effect of the Take ................................................................................................................................... 64 2.8.3 Reasonable and Prudent Measures and Terms and Conditions ............................................................. 65 2.9 CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................. 67 2.10 REINITIATION OF CONSULTATION ....................................................................................................................... 67 2.11 “NOT LIKELY TO ADVERSELY AFFECT” DETERMINATION .......................................................................................... 67 3. MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSULTATION ................................................................. 69 3.1 ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT .............................................................................................. 69 3.2 ADVERSE EFFECTS TO ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ..................................................................................................... 69 3.3 ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................... 69 3.4 STATUTORY RESPONSE REQUIREMENT ................................................................................................................. 70 3.5 SUPPLEMENTAL CONSULTATION ......................................................................................................................... 70 4. DATA QUALITY ACT DOCUMENTATION AND PRE-DISSEMINATION REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 71 5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 73 3 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. GENERAL LOCATION OF THE WELLS PROJECT. ..................................................... 13 4 20120307-5193 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 3/7/2012 4:54:15 PM LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. ADULT CONVERSION RATES FOR ALL AVAILABLE RELEASE GROUPS OF UCR SPRING CHINOOK SALMON TO THE POINT AT WHICH A SPAWNER EXITS WELLS RESERVOIR (DOUGLAS PUD AND ANCHOR ENVIRONMENTAL. 2012) ............................ 34 TABLE 2. JUVENILE AND ADULT PASSAGE STUDIES AND EFFECTS ON UCR SPRING CHINOOK UNDER THE PROPOSED ACTION (PER YEAR) ...................................................... 39 TABLE 3. PROJECT EFFECTS ON UCR SPRING CHINOOK CRITICAL HABITAT ....................... 40 TABLE 4. ADULT STEELHEAD CONVERSION RATES FOR ALL AVAILABLE RELEASE GROUPS. ..........................................................................................................................................