Environmental Assessment Snow Lake Water Release Control Valve Replacement Chelan County, Washington U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Northwest Region, Pacific Region Columbia Cascades Area Office Leavenworth Fisheries Complex Yakima, Washington Leavenworth, Washington December 2017 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation’s natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities. MISSION OF THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. MISSION OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Cover Photograph: Existing butterfly valve and valve support at the Snow Lake Water Control Structure. Acronyms and Abbreviations ALWA Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area BiOp Biological Opinion BMP Best Management Practices CCT Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation cfs cubic feet per second Complex Leavenworth Fisheries Complex DAHP Washington Department of Archelogy and Historic Preservation dB decibel DO Dissolved Oxygen EA Environmental Assessment ESA Endangered Species Act FWCA Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act IPID Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts ITAs Indian Trust Assets LNFH Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery MIS Management Indicator Species MRA Minimum Requirements Analysis NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NRHP National Register of Historic Places NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Units PCBs Polychlorinated Biphenyls PDSI Palmer Drought Severity Index PEIS Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation RM River Mile TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load UCR Upper Columbia River USFS United States Forest Service, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service USGS United States Geological Survey Wilderness Act Wilderness Act of 1964 Yakama Nation Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Project Area ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Operation and Maintenance ....................................................................................... 3 1.3 History and Documents Related to LNFH Water Delivery System........................... 4 1.4 Proposed Action ......................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................... 6 1.6 Public Notification and Scope of EA ......................................................................... 7 1.7 Legal Authority .......................................................................................................... 8 2 Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................8 2.1 Alternative 1: No Action ............................................................................................ 8 2.2 Alternative 2: Water Release Control Valve Replacement with Helicopter Flights and No Camping ................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Alternative 3: Water Release Control Valve Replacement with Helicopter Flights and Camping ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.4 Commonalities between Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 .......................................... 9 2.4.1 Construction Standards, Resource Protection Measures and Best Management Practices 18 2.4.1.1 General ....................................................................................................... 18 2.4.1.2 Air Quality ................................................................................................. 18 2.4.1.3 Noise Control ............................................................................................. 18 2.4.1.4 Invasive Species Control ........................................................................... 19 2.4.1.5 Wilderness Regulations and Guidance ...................................................... 19 2.4.1.6 Solid waste and hazardous substance management ................................... 19 2.4.1.7 Use of Helicopter ....................................................................................... 20 2.4.1.8 Activities related to helicopter use (e.g. traffic control, dust abatement) .. 21 2.5 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ............................ 21 2.5.1 Use of Pedestrian Transportation and Traditional Skills ................................ 21 2.5.2 Use of Pack Animals ....................................................................................... 22 2.5.3 Remove LNFH ................................................................................................ 22 2.6 Comparison of Alternatives ..................................................................................... 23 i Table of Contents 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ..............................................27 3.1 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................... 27 3.1.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences ......................................................................... 27 3.1.2.1 Alternative 1: No Action ........................................................................... 27 3.1.2.2 Proposed Action: Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 ..................................... 28 3.2 Fish ........................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 31 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ......................................................................... 31 3.2.2.1 Alternative 1: No Action ........................................................................... 31 3.2.2.2 Proposed Action: Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 Effects Common to Both Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 32 3.3 Noise......................................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 32 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ......................................................................... 34 3.3.2.1 Alternative 1: No Action ........................................................................... 34 3.3.2.2 Proposed Action: Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 Effects Common to Both Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 34 3.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................ 34 3.4.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 34 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ......................................................................... 41 3.4.2.1 Alternative 1: No Action ........................................................................... 41 3.4.2.2 Proposed Action: Alternative 2 and Alternative 3, Effects Common to Both Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 41 3.4.2.3 Alternative 2: Helicopter Only .................................................................. 41 3.4.2.4 Alternative 3: Helicopter and Camping ..................................................... 42 3.4.3 ESA Conclusions on Threatened and Endangered Species ............................ 42 3.5 Water Resources ....................................................................................................... 43 3.5.1 Hydrology ....................................................................................................... 43 3.5.1.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 43 3.5.1.2 Environmental Consequences.................................................................... 49 ii Table of Contents 3.5.2 Water Quality .................................................................................................. 51 3.5.2.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................... 51 3.5.2.2 Environmental Consequences...................................................................