June 2016 XCEL ENERGY, INC. TUCO to Yoakum 345-kV Transmission Line Project Environmental Assessment and Alternative Routing Analysis Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum Counties, Texas Docket No. 46042 PROJECT NUMBER: 135321 PROJECT CONTACT: Anastacia Santos EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 858.810.5368 (This page left blank intentionally.) POWER ENGINEERS, INC. TUCO to Yoakum 345-kV Transmission Line TUCO TO YOAKUM 345-kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT PREPARED FOR: XCEL ENERGY, INC. PREPARED BY: POWER ENGINEERS, INC. POWER ENGINEERS, INC. TUCO to Yoakum 345-kV Transmission Line (This page left blank intentionally.) POWER ENGINEERS, INC. TUCO to Yoakum 345-kV Transmission Line TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED ....................................................................................................... 3 1.3 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ............................ 3 1.3.1 Design Criteria ................................................................................................................ 3 1.4 CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................ 17 1.4.1 Clearing and Construction Access ................................................................................ 17 1.4.2 Construction ................................................................................................................. 17 1.4.3 Cleanup ......................................................................................................................... 18 1.5 MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS .......................................................................... 18 1.6 AGENCY ACTIONS ......................................................................................................... 18 1.6.1 Public Utility Commission of Texas ............................................................................ 18 1.6.2 United States Army Corps of Engineers ....................................................................... 18 1.6.3 United States Fish and Wildlife Service ....................................................................... 19 1.6.4 Federal Aviation Administration .................................................................................. 19 1.6.5 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department .......................................................................... 19 1.6.6 Floodplain Management ............................................................................................... 20 1.6.7 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ............................................................. 20 1.6.8 Texas Historical Commission ....................................................................................... 20 1.6.9 Texas Department of Transportation ............................................................................ 21 1.6.10 Texas General Land Office........................................................................................... 21 2.0 ROUTE SELECTION METHODOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................................ 23 2.1 ROUTING STUDY METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 23 2.1.1 Study Area Boundary Delineation ................................................................................ 23 2.1.2 Base Map Development ............................................................................................... 27 2.1.3 Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................................ 27 2.1.4 Data Collection and Constraints Mapping .................................................................... 29 2.1.5 Agency Consultation .................................................................................................... 30 2.1.6 Reconnaissance Surveys ............................................................................................... 31 2.2 COMMUNITY VALUES, LAND USE AND SOCIOECONOMICS ............................ 31 2.2.1 Land Jurisdiction .......................................................................................................... 31 2.2.2 Land Use ....................................................................................................................... 32 2.2.2.1 Urban/Developed ............................................................................................................... 32 2.2.2.2 Planned Land Use .............................................................................................................. 34 2.2.2.3 Agriculture ......................................................................................................................... 35 2.2.2.4 Oil and Gas Facilities ........................................................................................................ 35 2.2.2.5 Transportation/Aviation/Utility Features ........................................................................... 36 2.2.2.6 Communication Towers ................................................................................................... 40 2.2.3 Socioeconomics ............................................................................................................ 40 AUS 146-128 (PER-02) XCEL (10/02/2015) 135321 LD PAGE i POWER ENGINEERS, INC. TUCO to Yoakum 345-kV Transmission Line 2.2.3.1 Population Trends .............................................................................................................. 40 2.2.3.2 Employment ...................................................................................................................... 41 2.2.3.3 Leading Economic Sectors ................................................................................................ 43 2.3 PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS ............................................................................ 44 2.3.1 National/State/County/Local Parks .............................................................................. 45 2.3.2 Wildlife Viewing Trails ................................................................................................ 45 2.4 HISTORICAL AND AESTHETIC VALUES ................................................................. 45 2.4.1 Cultural Background .................................................................................................... 46 2.4.1.1 Prehistory ........................................................................................................................... 48 2.4.1.2 Historic Period ................................................................................................................... 50 2.4.2 Records Review ............................................................................................................ 52 2.4.3 Previous Investigations ................................................................................................. 58 2.5 AESTHETIC VALUES ..................................................................................................... 59 2.6 ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY ................................................................................. 60 2.6.1 Physiography and Geology ........................................................................................... 60 2.6.1.1 Geological Hazards ........................................................................................................... 62 2.6.2 Soils .............................................................................................................................. 62 2.6.2.1 Soil Associations ............................................................................................................... 62 2.6.2.2 Hydric Soils ....................................................................................................................... 64 2.6.2.3 Prime Farmland Soils ........................................................................................................ 65 2.6.3 Water Resources ........................................................................................................... 65 2.6.3.1 Surface Water .................................................................................................................... 65 2.6.3.2 Ground Water .................................................................................................................... 66 2.6.3.3 Floodplains ........................................................................................................................ 66 2.6.4 Ecological Resources .................................................................................................... 66 2.6.4.1 Ecological Region ............................................................................................................. 66 2.6.4.2 Vegetation Types ............................................................................................................... 67 2.6.4.3 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................ 69 2.6.4.4 Wildlife and Fisheries .......................................................................................................