Stormy Lake Restoration Project: Environmental Assessment Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish 43961 K-Beach Road, Suite B Soldotna, AK 99669 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose and Need for Action .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Legal Authorities ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Issues Selected for Detailed Analysis .......................................................................... 7 1.4.2 Comments on Ecological Effects .................................................................................. 7 1.4.3 Comments on Human Health ....................................................................................... 7 2.0 ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Alternative 1: No Northern Pike Eradication (no action alternative) .................................. 8 2.2 Alternative 2: Lake Draining ................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1 Lake Tap ...................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.2 Pumping ....................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Alternative 3: Rotenone Treatment (Preferred Alternative)................................................. 9 2.3.1 Description of Rotenone .............................................................................................. 10 2.3.2 Description of the Proposed Rotenone Treatment ...................................................... 10 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Analysis Netting and Barriers ................. 12 2.4.1 Mechanical Removal/Netting ..................................................................................... 12 2.4.2 Fish Passage Barrier .................................................................................................. 13 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................13 3.1 Land Status ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.2 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................ 15 3.3 Biological Environment ......................................................................................................... 16 3.3.1 Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 16 3.3.2 Fish ............................................................................................................................. 16 3.3.3 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................ 16 3.3.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ....................................................................... 16 3.4 Human Environment............................................................................................................... 16 3.4.1 Economy .................................................................................................................... 16 3.4.2 Recreational Use ........................................................................................................ 16 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .............................................................................17 4.1 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................ 17 4.1.1 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Soils ............................................................................. 17 4.1.2 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Soils ............................................................................. 17 4.1.3 Impacts from Alternative 3 to Soils ............................................................................. 17 4.1.4 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Water Quality .............................................................. 17 4.1.5 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Water Quality .............................................................. 18 4.2 Biological Environment ......................................................................................................... 21 4.2.1 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Vegetation ................................................................... 21 4.2.2 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Vegetation ................................................................... 21 4.2.3 Impacts from Alternative 3 to Vegetation ................................................................... 21 4.2.4 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Wildlife ......................................................................... 23 4.2.5 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Wildlife ......................................................................... 23 4.2.6 Impacts from Alternative 3 to Wildlife ......................................................................... 24 4.2.7 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Aquatic Resources ...................................................... 26 4.2.8 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Aquatic Resources ...................................................... 26 4.2.9 Impacts from Alternative 3 to Aquatic Resources ...................................................... 26 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 4.3 Human Environment............................................................................................................... 28 4.3.1 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Public Safety and Health ............................................. 28 4.3.2 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Public Safety and Health ............................................. 28 4.3.3 Impacts from Alternative 3 to Public Safety and Health ............................................. 28 4.3.4 Impacts from Alternative 1 to Worker Safety and Health ........................................... 31 4.3.5 Impacts from Alternative 2 to Worker Safety and Health ........................................... 31 4.3.6 Impacts from Alternative 3 to Worker Safety and Health ........................................... 31 4.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 32 5.0 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION .........................................................................34 6.0 REFERENCES CITED .......................................................................................................35 FIGURES Figure 1. Map of Alaska showing native and invasive range of northern pike. ............................................. 2 Figure 2. Kenai Peninsula waters with confirmed northern pike populations ............................................... 3 Figure 3. Map of the Stormy Lake outlet creek. ............................................................................................ 4 Figure 4. Map of the Swanson River drainage.............................................................................................. 6 Figure 5. Kenai Peninsula Borough land ownership map of the Stormy Lake area. .................................. 14 Figure 6. Stormy Lake bathymetric map ..................................................................................................... 15 Figure 7. Approximate wetland area adjacent to Stormy Lake that may be treated with rotenone if high water conditions are present at time of treatment. .............................................................................. 23 APPENDICES Appendix 1. Summary report of public scoping and comments received during the Stormy Lake Restoration public scoping period. ...................................................................................................... 43 Appendix 2. Prentox Rotenone Fish Toxicant Powder product label. ........................................................ 51 Appendix 3. Rotenone Fish Toxicant Powder Material Safety Data Sheet. ............................................... 54 Appendix 4. CFT LegumineTM product label. .............................................................................................. 60 Appendix 5. CFT Legumine™ Material Safety Data Sheet ........................................................................ 67 Appendix 6. Stormy Lake water quality data collected in 2006 and 2007. ................................................. 72 Appendix 7. Map of subsurface water rights in the Stormy Lake area. ...................................................... 73 Appendix 8. Memo on groundwater risk for the Stormy Lake area. ........................................................... 74 Appendix 9. Potassium permanganate material data safety sheet ...........................................................