EXHIBIT E ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT MARTIN DAM PROJECT FERC NO. 349 APPLICATION FOR NEW LICENSE FOR MAJOR WATER POWER PROJECT – EXISTING DAM ALABAMA POWER COMPANY EXHIBIT E TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... E-1 1.1 CONTENTS OF EXHIBIT E ...................................................................................... E-1 1.2 COMMONLY USED TERMS IN EXHIBIT E ............................................................... E-2 2.0 RIVER BASIN AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................... E-4 2.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVER BASIN ....................................................... E-4 2.1.1 PROJECT FACILITIES.................................................................................. E-9 2.1.2 PROJECT LANDS AND WATERS ................................................................ E-11 2.1.3 EXISTING PROJECT OPERATION .............................................................. E-24 2.1.3.1 SUMMARY OF PROJECT GENERATION AND OUTFLOW RECORDS .............................................................................. E-28 3.0 PROPOSED ACTION ................................................................................................... E-29 3.1 SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................................................................... E-29 3.2 PROPOSED PROJECT OPERATION ......................................................................... E-33 3.2.1 PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES ................................................ E-35 3.2.1.1 PME MEASURE TIMELINE .................................................... E-42 3.3 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................... E-45 3.3.1 EARLY SPRING FILL ................................................................................ E-45 3.3.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION .............. E-45 4.0 GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE, CUMULATIVE EFFECTS AND APPLICABLE LAWS ............................................................................................................................ E-46 4.1 GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF FERC APPROVED STUDIES ........................................... E-46 4.2 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS........................................................................................ E-49 4.2.1 TEMPORAL SCOPE ................................................................................... E-50 4.3 APPLICABLE LAWS ............................................................................................. E-50 4.3.1 SECTION 401 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ............................................... E-50 4.3.2 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT/NATIONAL BALD EAGLE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES ............................................................................................ E-51 4.3.3 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT....................................................... E-51 E-i TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D.) 4.3.4 MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT ......................................................................................................... E-52 4.3.5 NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT .............................................. E-52 4.3.6 WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS AND WILDERNESS ACTS ............................... E-53 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED ACTION AND OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................. E-54 5.1 GEOLOGY AND SOILS .......................................................................................... E-54 5.1.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... E-54 5.1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ..................................................................... E-68 5.1.2.1 ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSAL ............................................ E-68 5.1.2.2 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ......................... E-73 5.1.2.2.1 EARLY SPRING FILL ............................................ E-73 5.1.2.2.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION ................................................ E-75 5.1.2.3 PROPOSED PME MEASURES ................................................. E-78 5.1.2.4 NO ACTION ........................................................................... E-81 5.1.2.5 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ....................................... E-81 5.2 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................ E-82 5.2.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... E-82 5.2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................................... E-101 5.2.2.1 ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSAL .......................................... E-101 5.2.2.2 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... E-106 5.2.2.2.1 EARLY SPRING FILL .......................................... E-106 5.2.2.2.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION .............................................. E-108 5.2.2.3 PROPOSED PME MEASURES ............................................... E-110 5.2.2.4 NO ACTION ......................................................................... E-113 5.2.2.5 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS........................................................ E-114 5.2.2.6 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ..................................... E-114 5.3 FISH AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ....................................................................... E-114 5.3.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................................................... E-114 5.3.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................................... E-145 5.3.2.1 ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSAL .......................................... E-146 5.3.2.2 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... E-149 5.3.2.2.1 EARLY SPRING FILL .......................................... E-149 5.3.2.2.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION .............................................. E-151 5.3.2.3 PROPOSED PME MEASURES ............................................... E-154 5.3.2.4 NO ACTION ......................................................................... E-157 5.3.2.5 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS........................................................ E-157 5.3.2.5.1 HISTORICAL ...................................................... E-158 5.3.2.5.2 FUTURE ............................................................. E-158 5.3.2.6 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ..................................... E-158 5.4 TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES ................................................................................ E-159 5.4.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................................................... E-159 5.4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................................... E-167 E-ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D.) 5.4.2.1 ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSAL .......................................... E-167 5.4.2.2 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... E-168 5.4.2.2.1 EARLY SPRING FILL .......................................... E-168 5.4.2.2.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION .............................................. E-168 5.4.2.3 PROPOSED PME MEASURES ............................................... E-169 5.4.2.4 NO ACTION ......................................................................... E-173 5.4.2.5 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ..................................... E-173 5.5 RARE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES ............................................ E-173 5.5.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................................................... E-173 5.5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................................... E-174 5.5.2.1 ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSAL .......................................... E-175 5.5.2.2 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... E-175 5.5.2.2.1 EARLY SPRING FILL .......................................... E-175 5.5.2.2.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION .............................................. E-176 5.5.2.3 PROPOSED PME MEASURES ............................................... E-176 5.5.2.4 NO ACTION ......................................................................... E-178 5.5.2.5 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ..................................... E-178 5.6 RECREATION RESOURCES ................................................................................. E-178 5.6.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................................................... E-178 5.6.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................................... E-190 5.6.2.1 ALABAMA POWER’S PROPOSAL .......................................... E-193 5.6.2.2 OTHER OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... E-196 5.6.2.2.1 EARLY SPRING FILL .......................................... E-196 5.6.2.2.2 FIVE FOOT INCREASE IN WINTER POOL AND FALL EXTENSION .............................................. E-199 5.6.2.3 PROPOSED PME MEASURES ............................................... E-202 5.6.2.4 NO ACTION ......................................................................... E-205