Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project FERC No. P-308 Before the United States of America Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Final License Application for Minor Water Power Project with Modification to Proposed Action Volume II of V Exhibit E – Environmental Report Prepared by: PacifiCorp Energy Hydro Resources 825 NE Multnomah, Suite 1500 Portland, OR 97232 February 2015 1 Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ This page intentionally left blank. 2 Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application for Minor Water Power Project with Modification to Proposed Action CONTENTS OF VOLUMES This final license application for the Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) consists of the following volumes: Volume I Initial Statement Exhibit A – Project Description Exhibit G – Project Maps Volume II Exhibit E – Environmental Report Volume III Exhibit E – Appendices Volume IV Exhibit F – General and Preliminary Design Drawings (CEII) Volume V Cultural Recources – Traditional Cultural Properties (CONFIDENTIAL) Filed with the FERC under original License application on February 28, 2014 3 Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ EXHIBIT E – ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) 4 Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ This page left intentionally blank. 5 Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 15 1.1 Application .......................................................................................... 15 1.2 Purpose of Action and Need for Power ..................................................... 18 1.2.1 Purpose of Action............................................................................... 18 1.2.2 Need for Power ................................................................................. 19 1.3 Statutory and Regulatory Requirements .................................................. 19 1.3.1 Federal Power Act ............................................................................. 19 1.3.1.1 Section 18 Fishway Prescriptions ................................................. 19 1.3.1.2 Section 4(e) Conditions ............................................................ 19 1.3.1.3 Section 10(j) Recommendations ................................................... 20 1.3.2 Clean Water Act ................................................................................ 20 1.3.3 Endangered Species Act ........................................................................ 20 1.3.4 Coastal Zone Management Act ................................................................ 20 1.3.5 National Historic Preservation Act ............................................................ 21 1.3.6 Pacific Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act .................................... 21 1.3.7 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act..................................................................... 21 1.3.8 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ............................. 22 1.3.9 Other Statutes as applicable ................................................................... 22 1.4 Public Review and Comment .................................................................. 23 1.4.1 Scoping ......................................................................................... 23 1.4.2 Interventions .................................................................................... 23 1.4.3 Comments on the Preliminary Licensing Proposal ........................................... 24 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ......................................... 25 2.1 No-action Alternative ............................................................................ 25 2.1.1 Existing Project Facilities ...................................................................... 25 2.1.2 Project Safety ................................................................................... 29 2.1.3 Existing Project Operation ..................................................................... 29 2.1.4 Existing Environmental Measures ............................................................. 32 2.2 Applicants Proposal .............................................................................. 33 2.2.1 Proposed Project Facilities .................................................................... 33 2.2.2 Proposed Project Operation ................................................................... 35 2.2.3 Proposed Environmental Measures ............................................................ 38 2.2.3.1 Construction of Proposed Facilities ............................................... 38 2.2.3.2 Operation ........................................................................... 40 2.2.3.3 Geology, Sediment and Substrate .................................................. 40 2.2.3.4 Water Resources ................................................................... 41 2.2.3.5 Fish and Aquatic Resources ....................................................... 41 2.2.3.6 Wildlife and Terrestrial Resources ................................................ 43 2.2.3.7 Recreation Resources .............................................................. 43 2.2.3.8 Aesthetic and Visual Resources .................................................... 45 2.2.3.9 Cultural Resources ................................................................. 46 2.2.4 Modifications to Applicants’ Proposal – Mandatory Conditions ............................. 46 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS .......................................................... 46 3.1 General Description of the River Basin .................................................... 46 3.2 Cumulative Effects ............................................................................... 47 3.2.1 Scope of Cumulative Effects Analysis .......................................................... 47 6 Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-308) Final License Application – Volume II February 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.2.2 Geographic Scope of Cumulative Analysis .................................................... 48 3.2.3 Temporal Scope ................................................................................ 48 3.3 Proposed Action and Action Alternatives .................................................. 48 3.3.1 Geology, Sediment and Substrate .............................................................. 48 3.3.2 Water Resources ................................................................................ 73 3.3.2.1 Environmental Effects .............................................................. 80 3.3.3 Aquatic Resources .............................................................................. 92 3.3.3.1 Environmental Effects ............................................................. 122 3.3.4 Terrestrial Resources ......................................................................... 137 3.3.4.1 Environmental Effects ............................................................. 146 3.3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ......................................................... 151 3.3.5.1 Affected Environment ............................................................. 152 3.3.5.2 Environmental Effects ............................................................. 154 3.3.6 Recreation and Land Use ..................................................................... 155 3.3.6.1 Environmental Effects ............................................................. 166 3.3.7 Aesthetic and Visual Resources ............................................................... 174 3.3.7.1 Environmental Effects ............................................................. 176 3.3.8 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 180 3.3.8.1 Environmental Effects ............................................................. 197 4.0 DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS ........................................................ 198 5.0 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................... 207 5.1 Unavoidable Adverse Effects ................................................................. 207 5.2 Consistency with Comprehensive Plans .................................................. 211 5.2.1 Methods .......................................................................................