Document Accession #: 20210512-5086 Filed Date: 05/12/2021 Via Electronic Filing May 12, 2021 Honorable Kimberly D. Bose Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 1st Street N.E. Washington, D.C. 20426 Subject: Wells Hydroelectric Project – FERC Project No. 2149 2020 Annual Wildlife and Botanical Report and 2021 Work Plan Dear Secretary Bose: Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County, Washington (Douglas PUD), licensee for the Wells Hydroelectric Project No. 2149 (Wells Project) respectfully submits the enclosed annual report titled: 2020 Annual Wildlife and Botanical Report and 2021 Work Plan. This report describes the implementation of activities conducted during calendar year 2020 in compliance with Article 409 of the license for the Wells Project, and the terms of the Wildlife and Botanical Management Plan (WBMP), Avian Protection Plan (APP) and Off-License Settlement Agreement. The enclosed report also includes a description of the measures to be implemented during calendar year 2021 in association with the same resource protection plans and agreements. Article 409 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for the Wells Project requires Douglas PUD to implement the WBMP filed with the FERC on May 27, 2010 and as described in Appendix E-3 of Exhibit E of the Final License Application. Article 409 also requires the development of an annual report that documents the results of the prior year’s measures and describes the upcoming year’s proposed measures pursuant to the WBMP. Article 409 further requires Douglas PUD to annually update the list of sensitive plant species found in the WBMP based upon an annual review of the Washington Natural Heritage Program rare plant list. Finally, Article 409 requires Douglas PUD to develop the WBMP annual report and work plan in consultation with specific federal and state agencies and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.1 A draft version of the enclosed report was distributed to the Terrestrial Resources Work Group (TRWG) on April 14, 2021 and the TRWG met on May 11, 2021 to confirm the contents of the 2020 Report and 2021 Work Plan (Appendix F). No comments were received from the TRWG in advance of the meeting. Douglas PUD is required to submit the 1 The Terrestrial Resources Work Group is composed of representatives from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Bureau of Land Management, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Ecology, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Douglas PUD. Document Accession #: 20210512-5086 Filed Date: 05/12/2021 annual report and work plan to the FERC by May 31st of each year following license issuance. In addition to Article 409, Ordering Paragraph (I) of the license directs Douglas PUD to implement the APP that was included within Appendix E-6 of Exhibit E of the Final License Application filed with the FERC on May 27, 2010. The Off-License Settlement Agreement is not a requirement of the FERC license.2 However, many of the measures funded by Douglas PUD, through this agreement, are also required measures contained within the WBMP. Because of the interrelated nature of all of the wildlife and botanical measures associated with the new license and the Off-License Settlement Agreement, Douglas PUD has elected to report on both actions within one report. The 2020 Annual Wildlife and Botanical Report and 2021 Work Plan provides a summary of all of the actions implemented by Douglas PUD in compliance with Article 409 of the license, and in compliance with the terms of the WBMP, APP and Off-License Settlement Agreement. The body of the report provides a summary of all of the actions implemented in compliance with the various plans and agreements. If you have any questions or require further information related to this report, please feel free to contact me at (509) 881-2323 or [email protected]. Sincerely, Andrew Gingerich Natural Resources Supervisor Enclosure: 2020 Annual Wildlife and Botanical Report and 2021 Work Plan Cc: Terrestrial Resource Work Group Jason Schilling – Douglas PUD Shane Bickford – Douglas PUD Wells Compliance – Douglas PUD 2 In December 2007, Douglas PUD entered into an Off-License Settlement Agreement with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The Off-License Settlement Agreement was filed with the FERC on May 27, 2010 as Appendix E-11 of Exhibit E of the Final License Application. The Off-License Settlement Agreement is not a requirement of the FERC license for the Wells Project. Instead, it is a contract between Douglas PUD and WDFW that addresses funding for various wildlife and botanical related projects located both within and adjacent to the Wells Project. Document Accession #: 20210512-5086 Filed Date: 05/12/2021 2020 ANNUAL WILDLIFE AND BOTANICAL REPORT AND 2021 WORK PLAN WELLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC NO. 2149 May 2021 Prepared for: Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County East Wenatchee, Washington © Copyright 2021. Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County. All Rights Reserved. Document Accession #: 20210512-5086 Filed Date: 05/12/2021 For copies of this Annual Wildlife and Botanical Report, contact: Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County Attention: Natural Resources 1151 Valley Mall Parkway East Wenatchee, WA 98802-4497 Phone: (509) 884-7191 Document Accession #: 20210512-5086 Filed Date: 05/12/2021 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1 2.0 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................1 3.0 WILDLIFE AND BOTANICAL MAMAGEMENT PLAN ..........................................3 3.1 Protect RTE Terrestrial Species Habitat on Wells Project Lands................3 3.1.1 American White Pelican ..............................................................................3 3.1.2 Sharp-tailed Grouse .....................................................................................4 3.2 Protect RTE Botanical Species from Land Disturbing Activities and Herbicide Sprays ..........................................................................................4 3.2.1 Resurvey Thompson’s Clover and Little Bluestem Protected Sites ............5 3.2.2 Ground Disturbing Activities and Weed Control at RTE Plant Protection Sites ............................................................................................5 3.2.3 Weed Control at Thompson Clover Sites ....................................................5 3.2.4 Washington Natural Heritage Program Rare Plant List ...............................6 3.3 Conserve Habitat for Species on Wells Project Lands Protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act ....................................................................6 3.3.1 Bald Eagle ....................................................................................................6 3.3.1.1 Bald Eagle Perches Pole Inspection .............................................................6 3.3.1.2 Bald Eagle Surveys ......................................................................................6 3.3.1.3 Protect Trees from Beaver Damage .............................................................7 3.3.1.4 Loss of Perch Trees due to Erosion .............................................................8 3.3.1.5 Protection of Small Trees.............................................................................8 3.3.2 Waterfowl ....................................................................................................8 3.4 Protect Wildlife Habitat on Wells Project Lands .........................................9 3.5 Maintain Productive Wildlife Habitat on the Cassimer Bar Wildlife Management Area ......................................................................................10 3.5.1 Weed Control .............................................................................................10 3.5.2 Access Management and Habitat Replacement .........................................11 3.5.3 Fencing .......................................................................................................11 3.5.4 Control Noxious Weeds on Project Lands .................................................11 3.5.5 Weed Map ..................................................................................................11 3.5.6 Weed Management Plan ............................................................................12 3.5.7 Preventing Weed Infestations ....................................................................13 3.6 Consultation ...............................................................................................13 4.0 WELLS 230 KV TRANSMISSION LINE AVIAN PROTECTION PLAN ...............14 4.1 Bird Flight Diverters ..................................................................................14 4.2 Record Keeping .........................................................................................14 4.3 Nest Management ......................................................................................15 4.4 Tree Removal .............................................................................................15 4.5 Training ......................................................................................................16 4.6 Consultation ...............................................................................................16