I‐11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study Existing and Natural Built Environment Technical Memorandum Prepared for and August 2013 Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... vii 1 Existing Natural and Built Environment ................................................................................................ 1‐1 1.1 Introduction and Overview .............................................................................................................. 1‐1 1.1.1 The I‐11 and Intermountain West Corridor ........................................................................ 1‐1 1.1.2 Why the Corridor is Needed ............................................................................................... 1‐1 1.1.3 Purpose of the Corridor Study ............................................................................................ 1‐4 1.1.4 Purpose of the Technical Memorandum ............................................................................ 1‐5 1.2 Planning and Environmental Linkages Process ................................................................................ 1‐5 1.3 Background and Foundational Data Resources ............................................................................... 1‐5 1.3.1 Sensitive Species and Wildlife Linkage Planning ................................................................ 1‐6 1.3.2 State Trust Lands – Arizona State Land Department .......................................................... 1‐6 1.3.3 Utility and Energy Planning ................................................................................................ 1‐6 1.3.4 Broadband Infrastructure Inventories ................................................................................ 1‐7 1.3.5 Bureau of Land Management Land Management Planning ............................................... 1‐8 1.4 Southern Arizona Future Connectivity Segment ............................................................................. 1‐8 1.4.1 Environmental Features ..................................................................................................... 1‐9 1.4.2 Topographic Features ....................................................................................................... 1‐11 1.4.3 Major Drainage Features .................................................................................................. 1‐14 1.4.4 Major Land Ownership ..................................................................................................... 1‐14 1.4.5 Utility and Energy ............................................................................................................. 1‐17 1.5 Priority Section 1: Phoenix Metropolitan Area .............................................................................. 1‐23 1.5.1 Environmental Features ................................................................................................... 1‐23 1.5.2 Topographic Features ....................................................................................................... 1‐25 1.5.3 Major Drainage Features .................................................................................................. 1‐27 1.5.4 Major Land Ownership ..................................................................................................... 1‐27 1.5.5 Utility and Energy ............................................................................................................. 1‐27 1.6 Priority Section 2: Northern Arizona/Southern Nevada ................................................................ 1‐31 1.6.1 Environmental Features ................................................................................................... 1‐31 1.6.2 Topographic Features ....................................................................................................... 1‐34 1.6.3 Major Drainage Features .................................................................................................. 1‐34 1.6.4 Major Land Ownership ..................................................................................................... 1‐34 1.6.5 Utility and Energy ............................................................................................................. 1‐34 1.7 Priority Section 3: Las Vegas Metropolitan Area ........................................................................... 1‐39 1.7.1 Environmental Features ................................................................................................... 1‐39 1.7.2 Topographic Features ....................................................................................................... 1‐39 1.7.3 Major Drainage Features .................................................................................................. 1‐42 1.7.4 Major Land Ownership ..................................................................................................... 1‐42 1.7.5 Utility and Energy ............................................................................................................. 1‐42 1.8 Northern Nevada Future Connectivity Segment ........................................................................... 1‐48 1.8.1 Environmental Features ................................................................................................... 1‐48 1.8.2 Topographic Features ....................................................................................................... 1‐50 1.8.3 Major Drainage Features .................................................................................................. 1‐50 1.8.4 Major Land Ownership ..................................................................................................... 1‐53 1.8.5 Utility and Energy ............................................................................................................. 1‐53 2 Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... 2‐1 3 References ........................................................................................................................................... 3‐1 iii CONTENTS, CONTINUED Tables Table 1‐1 Critical Habitat Species – Southern Arizona ............................................................................................ 1‐11 Table 1‐2 Critical Habitat Species – Phoenix Metropolitan Area ............................................................................. 1‐23 Table 1‐3 Critical Habitat Species – Northern Arizona/Southern Nevada ............................................................... 1‐31 Table 1‐4 Critical Habitat Species – Las Vegas Metropolitan Area .......................................................................... 1‐39 Table 1‐5 Critical Habitat Species – Northern Nevada ............................................................................................ 1‐50 Figures Figure 1‐1 Intermountain West Corridor Influence Area .......................................................................................... 1‐1 Figure 1‐2 Megapolitan Areas in the Continental United States and Southern Canada ........................................... 1‐2 Figure 1‐3 Expanding Southwest Megapolitans ........................................................................................................ 1‐3 Figure 1‐4 Study Area Segments ................................................................................................................................ 1‐4 Figure 1‐5 Environmental Features – Southern Arizona ......................................................................................... 1‐10 Figure 1‐6 HabiMap™ – Southern Arizona ............................................................................................................... 1‐12 Figure 1‐7 Major Topographic Features – Southern Arizona .................................................................................. 1‐13 Figure 1‐8 Drainage Features – Southern Arizona ................................................................................................... 1‐15 Figure 1‐9 Major Land Ownership – Southern Arizona ........................................................................................... 1‐16 Figure 1‐10 Utility Corridor Inventory – Arizona ..................................................................................................... 1‐18 Figure 1‐11 SunZia Southwest Transmission Project Alternate Routes .................................................................. 1‐19 Figure 1‐12 Southline Proposed and Alternate Transmission Routes ..................................................................... 1‐19 Figure 1‐13 Solar Energy Potential – Southern Arizona........................................................................................... 1‐21 Figure 1‐14 Renewable Energy Development Areas on Bureau of Land Management Land ................................. 1‐22 Figure 1‐15 Environmental Features – Phoenix Metropolitan Area ........................................................................ 1‐24 Figure 1‐16 HabiMap™ – Phoenix Metropolitan Area ............................................................................................. 1‐25 Figure 1‐17 Major Topographic Features – Phoenix Metropolitan Area ................................................................ 1‐26 Figure 1‐18 Drainage Features