ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT HOLT HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC NO. 2203 EXHIBIT E DRAFT LICENSE APPLICATION Alabama Power Company Birmingham, Alabama Prepared by: July 2012 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT HOLT HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC NO. 2203 EXHIBIT E DRAFT LICENSE APPLICATION Alabama Power Company Birmingham, Alabama Prepared by: July 2012 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT HOLT HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC NO. 2203 ALABAMA POWER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA EXHIBIT E DRAFT LICENSE APPLICATION TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... VI 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 1.1 CONTENTS OF EXHIBIT E ..........................................................................................1 1.2 COMMONLY USED TERMS IN EXHIBIT E ...................................................................2 1.3 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVER BASIN ...........................................................2 1.4 PROJECT FACILITIES..................................................................................................6 1.5 PROJECT LANDS AND WATERS ..................................................................................8 1.5.1 FLOOD CONTROL OPERATIONS ....................................................................12 1.6 SUMMARY OF PROJECT GENERATION AND OUTFLOW RECORDS .............................13 2.0 PROJECT CONSULTATION ...........................................................................................14 3.0 APPLICABLE LAWS .......................................................................................................16 3.1 SECTION 401 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ...............................................................16 3.2 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT/NATIONAL BALD EAGLE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES ............................................................................................................16 3.3 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT.......................................................................17 3.4 MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT .............17 3.5 NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT ..............................................................18 3.6 WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS AND WILDERNESS ACTS ...............................................18 4.0 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT..........................................................................................18 4.1 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES .........................................18 4.1.1 EXHIBIT G MAP REVISIONS ........................................................................19 4.1.2 CONDUCT WATER QUALITY MONITORING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION ..................20 4.1.3 CONTINUE LIGHT MAINTENANCE OF THE OVERLOOK PARK AND CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH USACE AND ADCNR................................21 4.1.4 MAINTENANCE OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE...............................................21 4.2 PME MEASURE TIMELINE ......................................................................................21 5.0 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ..................................................................................................22 5.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................22 5.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................25 - i - TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D.) 5.3 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................25 6.0 WATER RESOURCES .....................................................................................................26 6.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................26 6.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................31 6.3 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................40 6.4 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................41 7.0 FISH AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ..............................................................................41 7.1 FISH RESOURCES .....................................................................................................41 7.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................44 7.3 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................47 7.4 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................48 7.5 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................49 8.0 TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES .........................................................................................49 8.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................49 8.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................55 8.3 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................55 8.4 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................56 9.0 RARE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES .............................................56 9.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................56 9.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................60 9.3 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................60 9.4 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................60 10.0 RECREATION RESOURCES ..........................................................................................60 10.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................60 10.2 RECREATION NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN MANAGEMENT PLANS .....................................66 10.2.1 ALABAMA STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN 66 10.2.2 SPECIALLY DESIGNATED RECREATION AREAS ...........................................66 10.3 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................66 10.4 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................67 10.5 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................67 11.0 CULTURAL RESOURCES ..............................................................................................68 11.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................68 11.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................68 11.3 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................69 11.4 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................71 - ii - TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D.) 12.0 LAND USE AND AESTHETIC RESOURCES ...............................................................71 12.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................71 12.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................74 12.3 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................74 12.4 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................74 13.0 SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES ..................................................................................74 13.1 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................74 13.2 STUDY RESULTS .....................................................................................................76 13.3 EXISTING MEASURES TO BE CONTINUED AND NEW MEASURES PROPOSED BY APPLICANT ........................................................................................................76 13.4 CONTINUING IMPACTS ............................................................................................76 14.0 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................76 14.1 SECTION 1.0 - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................76