Draft Environmental Assessment Stampede Dam Safety of Dams Modification Washoe Project, California and Nevada Mid-Pacific Region U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Technical Service Center Denver, Colorado November 2011 Mission Statements The U.S. Department of the Interior protects America’s natural resources and heritage, honors our cultures and tribal communities, and supplies the energy to power our future. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Draft Environmental Assessment Stampede Dam Safety of Dams Modification Washoe Project, California and Nevada Mid-Pacific Region U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Technical Service Center Denver, Colorado November 2011 Acronyms and Abbreviations ADT average daily traffic APE area of potential effect BMPs Best Management Practices CAS Corrective Action Study CDFG California Department of Fish and Game CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations Cfs, ft3/s cubic feet per second CWA Clean Water Act DPS distinct population segment EA Environmental Assessment EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact ft3/s cubic feet per second IDF Inflow Design Flood ITA Indian Trust Assets LCT Lahontan cutthroat trout MSE Mechanically Stabilized Earth NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NRHP National Register of Historic Places NSAQMD Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District O&M operation and maintenance P.L. Public Law PMF probable maximum flood Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation RWQCB Regional Water Quality Control Board RWS reservoir water surface SHPO State Historic Preservation Office SOD Safety of Dams SWPPP Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service WDRs waste discharge requirements Contents Page Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need ......................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................. 1-1 1.3 Location and Background .................................................................. 1-1 1.3.1 Background .......................................................................... 1-6 1.4 Authority ............................................................................................ 1-8 1.5 Scoping Issues .................................................................................... 1-8 Chapter 2 – Description of Alternatives .......................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Alternative 1 – No Action .................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Alternative 2 – MSE Raise (Preferred Alternative) ........................... 2-1 2.3.1 Dam Raise ............................................................................ 2-2 2.4 Alternatives Considered and Eliminated from Further Study .......... 2-11 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ....... 3-1 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 3-1 3.2 Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................ 3-1 3.2.1 Affected Environment .......................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences .............................................. 3-4 3.3 Fish ..................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.1 Affected Environment .......................................................... 3-5 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences .............................................. 3-6 3.4 Wildlife .............................................................................................. 3-6 3.4.1 Affected Environment .......................................................... 3-6 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences .............................................. 3-9 3.5 Vegetation ........................................................................................ 3-12 3.5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-12 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-14 3.6 Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species ............................. 3-20 3.6.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-20 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-22 3.7 Transportation .................................................................................. 3-24 3.7.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-24 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-25 3.8 Recreation ........................................................................................ 3-27 3.8.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-27 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-28 3.9 Visual Resources .............................................................................. 3-29 3.9.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-29 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-30 i Page 3.10 Hazardous and Toxic Materials ....................................................... 3-30 3.10.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-30 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-31 3.11 Cultural Resources ........................................................................... 3-32 3.11.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-32 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-34 3.12 Indian Sacred Sites ........................................................................... 3-34 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-35 3.13 Indian Trust Assets .......................................................................... 3-35 3.13.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-35 3.13.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-37 3.14 Noise ................................................................................................ 3-38 3.14.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-38 3.15 Environmental Justice ...................................................................... 3-41 3.15.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-41 3.15.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-43 3.16 Air Quality ....................................................................................... 3-43 3.16.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-43 3.16.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-43 3.17 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change .......................................... 3-45 3.17.1 Affected Environment ........................................................... 3-45 3.17.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-45 3.18 Public Safety .................................................................................... 3-45 3.18.1 Affected Environment ........................................................ 3-46 3.18.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................ 3-46 3.19 Cumulative Effects........................................................................... 3-46 Chapter 4 – Consultation and Coordination ................................................... 4-1 4.1 Public Involvement ............................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Tribal Coordination and Consultation ............................................... 4-2 4.3 Agency Coordination ......................................................................... 4-2 4.4 Agency Consultation .......................................................................... 4-2 4.4.1 National Historic Preservation Act ...................................... 4-2 4.4.2 Endangered Species Act (1973) Section 7 Consultation ..... 4-3 4.5 Other Laws, Executive Orders, and Secretarial Orders ..................... 4-3 4.5.1 National Environmental Policy Act ..................................... 4-3 4.5.2 Clean Water Act (33 USC §1251 et seq.) ............................ 4-4 4.5.3 Clean Air Act (42 USC §7401 et seq.) ................................ 4-4 4.5.4 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 USC §668-668c) ......................................................... 4-4 4.5.5 Executive Order 11988 – Floodplain Management and Executive Order 11990 – Protection of Wetlands ............ 4-5 4.5.6. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 USC §661 et seq.) ......................................................