US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement Environmental Assessment Washington State Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Washington Division June 30, 2021 Title VI Notice to Public It is the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7090. 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US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement –Environmental Assessment ii US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement –Environmental Assessment iii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Background and Purpose and Need ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Need and Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 Need ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1.2.3 Cooperating Agencies and the Decision-Making Process ............................................................ 2 Chapter 2: Alternatives ................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1 No Build Alternative ............................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Build Alternative ................................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed ............................................................................................ 10 2.3.1 New Bridge on Existing Alignment ............................................................................................. 10 2.3.2 Replace U.S. Highway 101 with State Routes 112 and 113 ....................................................... 10 2.3.3 Develop Alternate Highway West of State Road 112 Bridge ..................................................... 11 2.3.4 Retrofit Existing Bridge .............................................................................................................. 11 2.3.5 New Bridge on Parallel Alignment ............................................................................................. 12 Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ....................................................... 13 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Cumulative Impact Scenario ............................................................................................................. 15 3.4 Affected Environment and Impact Analysis ...................................................................................... 18 3.4.1 Geology and Soils ....................................................................................................................... 18 3.4.2 Vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 21 3.4.3 Water Resources ........................................................................................................................ 24 3.4.4 Wetlands .................................................................................................................................... 29 3.4.5 Fish ............................................................................................................................................. 32 3.4.6 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ...................................................................................................... 36 3.4.7 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................................ 39 3.4.8 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 48 3.4.9 Acoustic Environment ................................................................................................................ 51 3.4.10 Social and Environmental Justice ............................................................................................. 58 3.4.11 Transportation ......................................................................................................................... 62 3.4.12 Land Use ................................................................................................................................... 65 US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement –Environmental Assessment iv 3.4.13 Public Access ............................................................................................................................ 68 3.4.14 Visual Quality ........................................................................................................................... 72 3.4.15 Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 ........................................ 80 3.4.16 Hazardous Materials ................................................................................................................ 81 3.4.17 Climate Change ........................................................................................................................ 82 3.3.18 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...................................................................................................... 83 Chapter 4: Consultation and Coordination ................................................................................................. 86 4.1 Public and Agency Outreach ............................................................................................................. 86 Chapter 5: References ................................................................................................................................. 90 Appendix A Elwha Act Legislation ..................................................................................................... 93 Appendix B Discipline Studies/Memos and List of Preparers ......................................................... 100 Appendix C EA Distribution List ....................................................................................................... 101 Appendix E Agency and Tribal Correspondence ............................................................................. 106 Appendix F Bridge Design and Cross-sections ................................................................................ 107 Appendix G Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation and Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement .............. 108 US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement –Environmental Assessment v Tables Table 1. ESA-Listed Species and Critical Habitat……………………………...............40 Table 2. Effect determinations for Species and Designated Critical Habitat…………...47 Table 3. Predicted Noise Levels (LAeq)……………………...………………………...57 Table 4. Minority and Elderly Populations…………………………...………………...59 Table 5. Dry Creek Elementary School Demographic Data……………...……….……60 Figures Figure 1. Vicinity Map……………………………………………………………………3 Figure 2. Project Area Overview…………………………………………………………5 Figure 3. Construction Access……………………………………………………………7 Figure 4. Demolition Access……………………………………………………………..8 Figure 5. Wetland Location Map………………………………………………………..30 Figure 6. Conceptual Engineered Log Jam Placement………………………………….35 Figure 7. The Project Area of Potential Effect (APE)…………………………………..49 Figure 8. Project Map with Proposed Informal Parking Area…………………………..70 Figure 9. GHG Emissions by Sector, Washington State (2012) and National (2013)….84 US 101 Elwha River Bridge Replacement –Environmental Assessment vi Acronyms APE Area of Potential Effect BMP Best Management Practice CEQ Council on Environmental Quality DAHP Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation dbh Diameter at breast height DOI Department of the Interior EA Environmental Assessment EFH Essential Fish Habitat ESA Endangered Species Act FHWA Federal Highway Administration FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact HED Highway Easement Deed LEKT Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe NEPA National Environmental Policy