Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Final Environmental Assessment Project Name: Pickwick Landing Dam: FUDHC Raw Water Intake Line Relocation Project Number: 2019-25 PICKWICK LANDING DAM FIRST UTILITY DISTRICT OF HARDIN COUNTY RAW WATER INTAKE LINE RELOCATION FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Hardin County, Tennessee Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Chattanooga, Tennessee April 2020 To request further information, contact: Caitlin Fitzpatrick NEPA Specialist Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street, BR 2C-C Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................................ 2 1.4 Necessary Permits or Licenses ............................................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Section 26a Permit ............................................................................................................ 4 1.4.2 General Construction Permit ............................................................................................. 4 1.4.3 Permanent Easement ........................................................................................................ 4 1.4.4 Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) Section 401 Water Quality Certification ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.4.5 Section 10 River and Harbors Act / Section 404 Clean Water Act Permit ........................ 4 1.4.6 Consultation Requirements ............................................................................................... 5 1.4.6.1 National Historic Preservation Act .............................................................................. 5 1.4.6.2 Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) ..................................................... 5 1.5 Public Outreach ........................................................................................................................ 5 CHAPTER 2 – ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Description of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ................................................................................ 7 2.1.2 Alternative B – Action Alternative – Directionally Bored Intake Line ................................. 7 2.1.3 Alternative C – Action Alternative – Conventionally Excavated Intake Line ..................... 8 2.1.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Further Discussion .................................... 8 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives ...................................................................................................... 8 2.3 The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Identification of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 13 3.1 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................. 13 3.1.1 Geology ........................................................................................................................... 13 3.1.2 Soils ................................................................................................................................. 14 3.1.3 Floodplains ...................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.1 General Setting ................................................................................................................ 16 3.2.2 Groundwater and Groundwater Quality ........................................................................... 16 3.2.3 Water Supply ................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.4 Wetlands .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.5 Surface Water and Surface Water Quality ...................................................................... 16 3.3 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 17 3.4 Terrestrial Ecology ................................................................................................................. 18 3.4.1 Terrestrial Vegetation ...................................................................................................... 18 3.4.1.1 Bottomland Hardwoods ............................................................................................. 18 3.4.1.2 Oak-Hickory-Pine ...................................................................................................... 19 3.4.1.3 Open/Maintained ....................................................................................................... 19 3.4.2 Non-Native Invasive Species ........................................................................................... 19 3.4.3 Terrestrial Wildlife ............................................................................................................ 19 3.4.4 Migratory Birds................................................................................................................. 20 3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 20 3.5.1 Plants ............................................................................................................................... 21 3.5.2 Aquatic Animals ............................................................................................................... 22 Final Environmental Assessment i Pickwick Landing Dam: FUDHC Raw Water Intake Line Relocation EA 3.5.3 Terrestrial Animals ........................................................................................................... 24 3.5.3.1 Hellbender ................................................................................................................. 24 3.5.3.2 Bald Eagle ................................................................................................................. 25 3.5.3.3 Gray Bat .................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.3.4 Indiana Bat ................................................................................................................ 25 3.5.3.5 Northern Long-Eared Bat .......................................................................................... 25 3.5.3.6 Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes ................................................................................... 26 3.6 Natural Areas, Parks and Recreation .................................................................................... 26 3.7 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................... 27 3.8 Transportation ........................................................................................................................ 27 3.9 Navigation .............................................................................................................................. 27 3.10 Utilities .................................................................................................................................... 27 3.11 Solid Waste ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.12 Socioeconomic Conditions and Environmental Justice ......................................................... 28 3.13 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 28 3.13.1 Historical Resources ........................................................................................................ 29 3.13.2 Archaeological Resources ............................................................................................... 30 3.14 Noise Levels ........................................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER 4 – ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .................................................................... 33 4.1 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................. 33 4.1.1 Geology and Soils ..........................................................................................................