20160705-3023 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/05/2016 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR HYDROPOWER LICENSE Loup River Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 1256-031 Nebraska Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects Division of Hydropower Licensing 888 First Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20426 June 2016 20160705-3023 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/05/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................ii LIST OF FIGURES vii LIST OF TABLES x ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.........................................................................xvi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................................xix 1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1 1.1 APPLICATION.............................................................................................1 1.2 PURPOSE OF ACTION AND NEED FOR POWER..................................1 1.2.1 Purpose of Action...............................................................................1 1.2.2 Need for Power...................................................................................3 1.3 STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS .........................4 1.3.1 Federal Power Act..............................................................................4 1.3.1.1 Section 10(j) Recommendations........................................4 1.3.2 Clean Water Act .................................................................................4 1.3.3 Endangered Species Act.....................................................................4 1.3.4 Coastal Zone Management Act..........................................................5 1.3.5 National Historic Preservation Act ....................................................5 1.3.6 Land and Water Conservation Fund Act............................................6 1.4 PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT .........................................................6 1.4.1 Scoping...............................................................................................6 1.4.2 Interventions.......................................................................................8 1.4.3 Comments on the Application............................................................9 1.4.4 Comments on Draft EA......................................................................9 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES...................................................10 2.1 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE..................................................................10 2.1.1 Existing Project Facilities.................................................................10 2.1.2 Project Safety ...................................................................................15 2.1.3 Existing Project Operation ...............................................................16 ii 20160705-3023 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/05/2016 2.1.4 Existing Environmental Measures ...................................................21 2.2 APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL......................................................................22 2.2.1 Project Facilities...............................................................................22 2.2.2 Proposed Project Operation..............................................................22 2.2.3 Proposed Environmental Measures..................................................22 2.3 STAFF ALTERNATIVE ............................................................................24 2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS ............................................................................25 2.4.1 Issuing a Non-power License...........................................................25 2.4.2 Federal Government Takeover of the Project ..................................25 2.4.3 Retiring the Project...........................................................................26 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS.........................................................................27 3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVER BASIN ..............................27 3.2 SCOPE OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS ................................31 3.2.1 Geographic Scope ............................................................................32 3.2.2 Temporal Scope................................................................................32 3.3 PROPOSED ACTION AND ACTION ALTERNATIVES .......................32 3.3.1 Geological and Soil Resources.........................................................32 3.3.1.1 Affected Environment ....................................................................32 3.3.1.2 Environmental Effects....................................................................37 3.3.2 Aquatic Resources............................................................................40 3.3.2.1 Affected Environment ....................................................................40 Water Quantity .................................................................... 40 Water Quality ...................................................................... 54 Fishery Resources................................................................ 65 3.3.2.2 Environmental Effects....................................................................68 Water Quantity .................................................................... 68 Sediment Transport ............................................................. 98 Water Quality .................................................................... 126 Fishery Resources.............................................................. 130 3.3.3 Terrestrial Resources......................................................................144 3.3.3.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................144 iii 20160705-3023 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/05/2016 Wetlands and Invasive Species ......................................... 144 Wildlife.............................................................................. 145 3.3.3.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................146 Project Construction and Revegetation ............................. 146 Invasive Species Management .......................................... 147 Migratory Bird Surveys..................................................... 148 3.3.4 Threatened and Endangered Species..............................................149 3.3.4.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................149 Western Prairie Fringed Orchid ........................................ 151 Whooping Crane................................................................ 152 Interior Least Tern............................................................. 154 Piping Plover ..................................................................... 159 Pallid sturgeon................................................................... 164 Northern Long-Eared Bat.................................................. 176 Red Knot............................................................................ 177 3.3.4.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................178 Western Prairie Fringed Orchid ........................................ 178 Whooping Crane................................................................ 180 Least Terns and Piping Plovers......................................... 190 Pallid Sturgeon .................................................................. 212 Northern Long-eared Bat................................................... 235 Red Knot............................................................................ 236 3.3.4.3 Cumulative Effects.......................................................................237 Least Terns, Piping Plovers and Red Knots...................... 238 Whooping Cranes .............................................................. 239 Pallid Sturgeon .................................................................. 239 3.3.5 Recreation and Land Use ...............................................................240 3.3.5.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................240 Regional Recreation Resources......................................... 240 Existing Project Recreation Facilities ............................... 241 Recreation Use .................................................................. 245 Land Use Management and Aesthetics ............................. 246 3.3.5.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................246 iv 20160705-3023 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/05/2016 Recreation Facilities .......................................................... 246 Headworks OHV Park....................................................... 249 Tailrace Park...................................................................... 250 Land and Water Conservation Fund.................................. 251 Land Use............................................................................ 251 Project Boundary............................................................... 252 Bank Stabilization and Aesthetics..................................... 252 Water Quality Effects on Recreation ................................ 253 3.3.6 Cultural Resources .........................................................................253