Appendix A Eagle Conservation Plan Biglow Canyon Wind Project Eagle Conservation Plan for the Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Prepared for Portland General Electric Prepared by 1750 SW Harbor Way, Suite 400 Portland, OR 97201 July 2019 [008423.002/195307/1] This page intentionally left blank [008423.002/195307/1] BIGLOW CANYON WIND FARM EAGLE CONSERVATION PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................................................... 7 3.0 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................................. 11 3.1 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ....................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .............................................................................................................................. 11 3.3 Oregon Regulations ........................................................................................................................................... 11 4.0 SITE ASSESSMENT AND SURVEYS TO DATE (ECPG STAGES 1, 2, 5) ................................................ 12 4.1 Site Assessment (ECPG Stage 1) ................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 Pre- and Post-construction Surveys (ECPG Stage 2) ........................................................................... 13 4.2.1 Pre-construction Avian Point-Count Surveys ............................................................................... 13 4.2.2 Post-construction Avian Use and Behavior Surveys .................................................................. 21 4.2.3 Pre-construction Raptor Nest Surveys ............................................................................................ 27 4.2.4 Post-construction Raptor Nest Surveys .......................................................................................... 28 4.3 Fatality Monitoring and Incidental Monitoring (ECPG Stage 5) ..................................................... 33 4.3.1 Fatality Monitoring Surveys ................................................................................................................. 33 4.3.2 Incidental Fatality Monitoring ............................................................................................................ 35 4.3.3 Eagle Fatalities to Date ........................................................................................................................... 35 5.0 RISK ASSESSMENT (ECPG STAGE 3) .............................................................................................................. 39 5.1 Collision .................................................................................................................................................................. 39 5.1.1 USFWS Bayesian Collision Risk Model ............................................................................................. 39 5.1.2 Observed Annual Fatality Rates ......................................................................................................... 48 5.1.3 Comparison of Observed Fatalities to Predicted Fatalities ..................................................... 48 5.2 Electrocution ........................................................................................................................................................ 49 5.3 Disturbance/Displacement ............................................................................................................................ 49 6.0 PROJECT PLANNING AND DESIGN AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES (ECPG STAGE 4) ................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 6.1 Macro- and Micro-siting .................................................................................................................................. 50 6.2 Facility Design Measures................................................................................................................................. 51 7.0 CONSTRUCTION PHASE AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES (ECPG STAGE 4) ..... 55 8.0 OPERATIONAL PHASE AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES (ECPG STAGE 4) ........ 56 9.0 ONGOING MONITORING AND REPORTING (ECPG STAGE 5) ............................................................... 56 [008423.002/195307/1] i BIGLOW CANYON WIND FARM EAGLE CONSERVATION PLAN 9.1 Systematic Fatality Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 56 9.2 Incidental Fatality Monitoring ...................................................................................................................... 56 9.2.1 Reporting ..................................................................................................................................................... 56 9.2.2 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................................... 57 9.3 Nest Monitoring .................................................................................................................................................. 57 9.4 Reporting ............................................................................................................................................................... 57 10.0 MITIGATION (ECPG STAGE 4) ........................................................................................................................... 58 10.1 Power Pole Retrofits ......................................................................................................................................... 60 10.2 Other Compensatory Mitigation Options ................................................................................................. 60 10.2.1 Roadside Carcass Removal ................................................................................................................... 60 10.2.2 Lead Abatement ........................................................................................................................................ 61 11.0 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................................. 61 12.0 LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................................................................... 65 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Record of Consultation with USFWS ............................................................................................................... 1 Table 2. Wind Turbine Specifications .............................................................................................................................. 7 Table 3. Project Land Cover Composition by Phase ................................................................................................... 8 Table 4. Chronological List of Avian Studies Conducted at the Project........................................................... 13 Table 5. Pre-Construction Avian Point-Count Studies Conducted 2004-2006 ............................................ 14 Table 6. Bald and Golden Eagle Observations during Post-Construction Avian Use Surveys by Phase ............................................................................................................................................................. 25 Table 7. Pre-Construction Raptor Nest Surveys Conducted at Project 2001-2010 ................................... 27 Table 8. Project-specific Post-Construction Raptor Nest Surveys Conducted 2008-2017 ..................... 29 Table 9. Post-Construction Data on Eagle Breeding Area Occupancy and Productivity from 2010-2014 and 2017 .................................................................................................................................... 30 Table 10. Summary of Post-Construction Fatality Monitoring Conducted 2008 –2012 ......................... 34 Table 11. Variables Used in the USFWS Bayesian Collision Risk Model ......................................................... 39 Table 12. Input and Output Values from FCMR Analysis of Post-construction Monitoring Results per Project Analysis Period ....................................................................................................... 43 ................................................................................... 47 Table 13. Data Inputs for Calculation of Estimated Mean Exposure Rate (λ) and Expansion Table 14. Predicted Take for Eagles at the Project by Species ........................................................................... 47 Factor (ε) for Eagles at the Project by Species Table 15. Comparison of Fatality Rates for Bald and Golden Eagles at the Project ................................... 48 Table 16. Allowable Take and Mitigation Requirements for Bald and Golden Eagles Under the Eagle Rule Revision ..............................................................................................................................