B O N N E V I L L E P O W E R A D M I N I S T R A T I O N Wallooskee-Youngs Confluence Restoration Project Draft Environmental Assessment December 2014 DOE/EA-1974 This page left intentionally blank � Contents Contents .............................................................................................................................................................. i � Tables v � Figures ............................................................................................................................................................... vi � Appendices ....................................................................................................................................................... vi � Chapter 1 ......................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 � Purpose of and Need for Action ............................................................................................................. 1-1 � 1.1 Need for Action .................................................................................................................................. 1-3 ­ 1.2 Purposes ............................................................................................................................................... 1-3 ­ 1.3 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1-4 ­ 1.3.1 Statutory Context .............................................................................................................. 1-4 ­ 1.3.2 Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion............................. 1-4 ­ 1.3.3 Project Review ................................................................................................................... 1-5 ­ 1.4 Roles of Other Entities .................................................................................................................... 1-5 ­ 1.4.1 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ...................................................................................... 1-5 ­ 1.4.2 Clatsop County Board of Commissioners ................................................................ 1-6 ­ 1.4.3 Cowlitz Indian Tribe ........................................................................................................ 1-6 ­ 1.4.4 Astoria Wetlands, LLC ..................................................................................................... 1-6 ­ 1.4.5 Memorandum of Agreement ........................................................................................ 1-6 ­ 1.5 Scoping, Public Involvement, and Issues ................................................................................ 1-7 ­ 1.5.1 Issues Outside the Scope of This EA .......................................................................... 1-8 ­ Chapter 2 ......................................................................................................................................................... 2-1 � Proposed Action and Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 2-1 � 2.1 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................................ 2-1 ­ 2.1.1 Project Area ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 ­ 2.1.2 Project Elements ............................................................................................................... 2-5 ­ 2.1.3 Construction Activities ................................................................................................ 2-20 ­ 2.1.4 Environmental Design Features/Mitigation Measures and BMPs Included ­ as Part of the Project .................................................................................................................... 2-26 ­ 2.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................................... 2-31 ­ Bonneville Power Administration i Contents 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study.................................... 2-31 ­ 2.3.1 Alternate Restoration Configurations and Sites ............................................... 2-31 ­ 2.3.2 Alternate BPA Infrastructure Configurations .................................................... 2-32 ­ 2.3.3 Alternate ODOT Wind-Wave Mitigation Features ............................................ 2-32 ­ 2.4 Comparison of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 2-32 ­ Chapter 3 ......................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 � Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .......................................................... 3-1 � 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3-1 ­ 3.2 Geology and Soils .............................................................................................................................. 3-2 ­ 3.2.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 3-2 ­ 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................... 3-3 ­ 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences – No Action ............................................................ 3-6 ­ 3.3 Vegetation and Wetlands .............................................................................................................. 3-7 ­ 3.3.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................... 3-7 ­ 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................ 3-13 ­ 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences – No Action ......................................................... 3-17 ­ 3.4 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................ 3-18 ­ 3.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-18 ­ 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................ 3-19 ­ 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences – No Action ......................................................... 3-23 ­ 3.5 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................................................ 3-24 ­ 3.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-24 ­ 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................ 3-36 ­ 3.5.3 Environmental Consequences – No Action ......................................................... 3-41 ­ 3.6 Land Use and Recreation ............................................................................................................ 3-42 ­ 3.6.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-42 ­ 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................ 3-46 ­ 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences - No Action .......................................................... 3-49 ­ 3.7 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 3-49 ­ ii Wallooskee-Youngs Confluence Restoration Project Draft Environmental Assessment Contents 3.7.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-49 ­ 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................ 3-52 ­ 3.7.3 Environmental Consequences – No Action ......................................................... 3-53 ­ 3.8 Aesthetics and Visual Resources ............................................................................................. 3-53 ­ 3.8.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-53 ­ 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences – Action Alternative ........................................ 3-55 ­ 3.8.3 Environmental Consequences – No Action ......................................................... 3-57 ­ 3.9 Air Quality and Climate Change ............................................................................................... 3-58 ­ 3.9.1 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 3-58 ­ 3.9.2 Climate Change ............................................................................................................... 3-60 ­ 3.10 Noise, Hazardous Waste, and Public Health and Safety ................................................ 3-62 ­ 3.10.1 Noise .................................................................................................................................... 3-62 ­ 3.10.2 Hazardous Waste ..........................................................................................................