DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MULTIPLE SPECIES GENERAL CONSERVATION PLAN DOUGLAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Prepared by: Eastern Washington Field Office U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE and Foster Creek Conservation District Waterville, Washington October 2014 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MULTIPLE SPECIES GENERAL CONSERVATION PLAN FOR AGRICULTURE DOUGLAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. i LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ............................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION....................................................... 5 DECISIONS TO BE MADE ...................................................................................................... 5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS, POLICIES, AND LAWS ........................................... 6 CHAPTER II - ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................... 11 DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................ 11 SCOPING ................................................................................................................................. 11 ISSUES ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Issues Key to Development and Evaluation of Alternatives ................................................ 12 Issues Eliminated from Detailed Study................................................................................. 14 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER STUDY .......... 15 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL...................................................................... 15 Alternative 1, No-Action ...................................................................................................... 15 Alternative 2, Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 15 Alternative 3, Expanded MSGCP (Additional Conservation Lands) ................................... 18 COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER III – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................... 24 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 24 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................... 24 County Overview .................................................................................................................. 24 1. Aesthetics ............................................................................................................................. 30 2. Economics (Agricultural Production and Socioeconomics) ................................................. 31 Current Land Use .................................................................................................................. 31 Development ......................................................................................................................... 32 Agricultural-Based Revenues ............................................................................................... 32 3. Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 35 4. Earth Resources (Air quality and Soils)................................................................................ 36 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................ 36 Visibility and Particulate Matter ........................................................................................... 37 Soils....................................................................................................................................... 37 Erosion and Sedimentation ................................................................................................... 38 i 5. Fish and Aquatic Species ...................................................................................................... 38 Stream and Creek Characteristics ......................................................................................... 39 Endangered and Threatened Fish Species ............................................................................. 39 Recreational Fisheries ........................................................................................................... 43 Candidate, Sensitive, and Species of Concern- Fish and Aquatic Species ........................... 43 6. Water Resources (Wetlands, Riparian, Water Quality) ........................................................ 46 Streams and Lakes ................................................................................................................ 46 Wetlands and Riparian Habitat ............................................................................................. 48 Wetland/Riparian Species of Concern .................................................................................. 49 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................ 50 7. Covered Wildlife Species ..................................................................................................... 52 Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit ............................................................................................. 53 Greater Sage-Grouse ............................................................................................................. 54 Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse ............................................................................................ 55 Washington Ground Squirrel ................................................................................................ 55 8. Range Resources, Habitats, and Other Wildlife and Plant Species ...................................... 56 Shrub-steppe and Rangelands ............................................................................................... 56 Shrub-steppe Plant and Animal Species of Concern ............................................................ 58 CHAPTER IV - ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES......................................................... 70 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 70 1. Aesthetics .............................................................................................................................. 70 Effects Common to All Alternatives..................................................................................... 70 Effects from Alternative 1, No-Action Alternative .............................................................. 70 Effects common to Alternatives 2 and 3 ............................................................................... 71 Effects from Alternative 2, Proposed MSGCP ..................................................................... 71 Effects from Alternative 3, Expanded MSGCP .................................................................... 71 2. Economics (Agricultural Production and Socioeconomics) ................................................. 71 Effects Common to All Alternatives..................................................................................... 71 Effects from Alternative 1, No-Action Alternative .............................................................. 72 Effects Common to Alternatives 2 and 3 .............................................................................. 72 Effects from Alternative 2, Proposed MSGCP ..................................................................... 72 Effects from Alternative 3, Expanded MSGCP .................................................................... 73 3. Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 75 Effects Common to All Alternatives..................................................................................... 75 Effects from Alternative 1, No-Action Alternative .............................................................. 75 Effects Common to Alternatives 2 and 3 .............................................................................. 75 4. Earth Resources (Air Quality, Geology, Minerals, and Soils) .............................................. 75 Effects Common to All Alternatives..................................................................................... 75 Effects from Alternative 1, No-Action Alternative .............................................................. 76 Effects Common to Alternatives 2 and 3 .............................................................................. 76 Effects from Alternative 2, Proposed MSGCP ..................................................................... 77 Effects from Alternative 3, Expanded