May 2021 Prepared for: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1011 E. Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99503 JIMS’ LANDING ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Prepared by 1506 West 36th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503 Jims’ Landing Access Improvements Draft Environmental Assessment Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action: .................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Support for Purpose and Need .................................................................................. 4 1.4 Project Area ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Scoping and Public Involvement ...................................................................................... 6 2 Alternatives Considered .......................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Alternative A No Action .................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Alternative B .................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Alternative C Preferred Alternative ................................................................................. 9 2.4 Off-site Parking Options ................................................................................................ 15 2.4.1 Option 1 Skilak Lake Road South .......................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Option 2 Skilak Lake Road North .......................................................................... 15 2.5 Construction Sequence and Equipment .......................................................................... 17 2.6 Alternative(s) Considered, But Dismissed From Further Consideration ....................... 17 3 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Air and Noise Quality .................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................... 18 3.3 Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 19 3.4 Hydrology and Floodplains ............................................................................................ 19 3.5 Water Resources ............................................................................................................. 20 3.6 Wetlands ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.7 Vegetation and Habitat ................................................................................................... 22 3.8 Fish and Essential Fish Habitat ...................................................................................... 23 3.9 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................... 23 3.10 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................... 24 3.11 Recreational Opportunities ......................................................................................... 26 3.12 Public Access .............................................................................................................. 27 3.13 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................ 27 3.14 Socio-Economic Conditions ....................................................................................... 28 3.14.1 Local and regional economies ................................................................................ 28 3.15 Administration ............................................................................................................ 28 ii Jims’ Landing Access Improvements Draft Environmental Assessment 4 Environmental Consequences of the Action ......................................................................... 29 4.1 Cumulative Impact Analysis: ......................................................................................... 45 4.2 Mitigation Measures and Conditions ............................................................................. 46 4.2.1 Monitoring .............................................................................................................. 50 4.2.2 Waters and Wetland Avoidance and Mitigation Measures ..................................... 50 4.3 Summary of Analysis ..................................................................................................... 51 4.3.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ................................................................... 51 4.3.2 Alternative B – Refine Existing Conditions and Provide Off-Site Parking ............ 52 4.3.3 Alternative C – Preferred Alternative ..................................................................... 52 5 List of Sources, Agencies and Persons Consulted ................................................................ 52 6 References ............................................................................................................................. 55 7 Determination: ...................................................................................................................... 57 List of Tables Table 2-1 Summary Comparison of Alternatives A, B and C ...................................................... 14 Table 2-2 Comparison of Off-Site Parking Options ..................................................................... 17 Table 3-1 Summary of Estimated Sport Fishing and Scenic Floats for Year 2018. ..................... 27 Table 4-1 Affected Natural Resources and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternative..................................................................................................................................... 30 Table 4-2 Affected Visitor Use and Experience and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Project and Any Alternative ...................................................................................................................... 39 Table 4-3 Affected Cultural Resources and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives ................................................................................................................................... 41 Table 4-4 Affected Refuge Management and Operations and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternative .......................................................................................................... 42 Table 4-5 Affected Socioeconomics and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives ................................................................................................................................... 43 Table 4-6 Anticipated Cumulative Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives ......... 45 Table 4-7 List of Proposed Best Management Practices and Avoidance, Minimization and Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................................... 46 List of Figures Figure 1-1 Project Location Overview ........................................................................................... 2 Figure 1-2 Overview of the Project Vicinity .................................................................................. 6 Figure 2-1 Overview of the existing Jims’ Landing facility. ....................................................... 10 Figure 2-2 Alternative B with both off-site parking options. ....................................................... 11 Figure 2-3 Alternative C and both off-site parking options. ........................................................ 13 Figure 2-4 View of Off-site Parking Option 1. ............................................................................. 16 Figure 2-5 View of Off-site Parking Option 2 with elevated pedestrian walkway and bridge. ... 16 Figure 3-1 Flooding of Jims’ Landing during 2012 (Source: USFWS, Steve Miller). ................ 20 iii Jims’ Landing Access Improvements Draft Environmental Assessment Figure 3-2 GoogleEarth image showing bald eagle nest from September 2016 (facing north). .. 25 Figure 3-3 Photo of nest tree without the bald eagle nest taken in November 2020 (facing east). ....................................................................................................................................................... 25 List of Appendices Appendix 1 Other Applicable Statutes, Executive Orders & Regulations Appendix 2 Vegetation and Wetland Resource Study Appendix 3 Wildlife Resource Study Appendix 4 Visual Resources (Scenery) Report Appendix 5 Agency Notification Letters Appendix 6 Tribal Coordination and Notification