Existing Resource Information

Transcription

1 Botanical and Wildlife Vegetation alliances/wildlife habitats Grasslands annual/perennial Chaparral mixed/montane/chamise-redshank Riparian montane/valley foothill riparian Sierran mixed conifer Montane hardwood Barren 1

2 Special-status plants Botanical and Wildlife Three species known to occur within or adjacent to FERC Project Boundary Kaweah brodiaea (BLMS, SE, CRPR 1B.2) mouse buckwheat (BLMS, CRPR 1B.2) Munz s iris (BLMS, CRPR 1B.3) 2

3 Botanical and Wildlife CONFIDENTIAL please contact SCE for information 3

4 Botanical and Wildlife CONFIDENTIAL please contact SCE for information 4

5 Botanical and Wildlife CONFIDENTIAL please contact SCE for information 5

6 Botanical and Wildlife CONFIDENTIAL please contact SCE for information 6

7 Special-status wildlife Botanical and Wildlife Two species known to occur within or adjacent to FERC Project Boundary Western mastiff bat (BLMS, CSC) fisher (FPT, CSC) 7

8 Botanical and Wildlife CONFIDENTIAL please contact SCE for information 8

9 Game species Botanical and Wildlife Primary game species is mule deer (2 herds) Kaweah Mule Deer Herd Southern Sierra Foothill Mule Deer Herd 9

10 Game species Kaweah Mule Deer Herd Botanical and Wildlife Migratory Spends majority of time in higher elevations (SNP) Moves to lower elevations in winter Southern Sierra Foothill Mule Deer Herd Resident/non-migratory Occupies western Sierra Nevada foothills 10

11 Botanical and Wildlife CONFIDENTIAL please contact SCE for information 11

12 Wildlife drowning Current license conditions Botanical and Wildlife Wildlife bridges over flowlines Escape ramps in flowlines Mortality monitoring and reporting Monitoring results : 1 deer, 1 coyote, 1 bear cub (2 cows) : No drownings 12

13 Recreation use and facilities in Project vicinity Recreation use: Fishing Recreation Resources Private and commercial WW boating Day-use along Kaweah River No SCE developed recreational facilities or trails SCE maintains one informal access point to the Kaweah River near the Kaweah No. 2 Powerhouse Privately owned campground Three Rivers Hideaway upstream of Kaweah No. 2 Powerhouse Tailrace 13

14 Gateway Bridge Whitewater Run Located on Kaweah River Put-in Gateway Bridge Take-out North Fork Road Bridge Six-mile run Recreation Resources Limited to advanced and expert boaters Holbeck and Stanley (1998) rated run as Class IV at 500-1,000 cfs, Class IV+>1,000 cfs Cassidy and Calhoun (1995) rated run as V+ at 800-3,000 cfs Typically, sufficient water is only available in wetter years 14

15 Recreation Resources 15

16 Recreation Resources National Wild and Scenic Rivers No formally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers (W&SR) in the Watershed Six river reaches identified as eligible/suitable for inclusion in the W&SR System five by NPS (2006) and one by BLM (1996) Bypass reaches not found eligible/suitable for inclusion in the W&SR System 16

17 Recreation Resources 17

18 Recreation Resources Regionally- or Nationally-important Recreational Areas Lake Kaweah (Regionally-important Recreational Area) Located 5 miles downstream of the Project Approximately 1,945 acres Recreation opportunities include camping, picnicking, and waterbased activities Developed facilities: Three boat ramps Horse Creek Campground (80 sites) Four day-use recreation areas (Lemon Hill, Kaweah, Horse Creek and Slick Rock) Kaweah Heritage Visitor Center 18

19 Recreation Resources Regionally- or Nationally-important Recreational Areas Sequoia National Park (Nationally-important Recreational Area) Encompasses approximately 404,000 acres (primarily wilderness) Famous for giant sequoia trees Recreation opportunities include sightseeing, dispersed camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, picnicking, and nature and interpretative studies Developed facilities: Six campgrounds (total of 355 sites) Several day-use facilities and trails 19

20 Land use and management Lands within Project Boundary are under FERC and BLM Section 4(e) jurisdiction Project is consistent with: BLM s Bakersfield Field Office RMP Land Use Tulare County General Plan 2030 Update Three Rivers Community Plan 20

21 Land Use Land use and management BLM s RMP also identifies Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Portions of the Project are within and adjacent to the Kaweah ACEC Relevant goals and objectives of the Kaweah ACEC Provide suitable habitat for sensitive species and protection for various natural processes and cultural resources Protect riparian areas and cultural resources 21

22 Land Use Land use and management Three Rivers Community Plan relevant goals and objectives Objective 1.1 Ensure Development Compatibility Objective 5.1 Protect the Natural Environment Objective 5.2 Protect and Preserve the Kaweah River Objective 5.3 Protect and Preserve Oak Woodlands Objective 5.4 Protect and Preserve Native Vegetation and Habitat Objective 5.5 Preserve Visual Resources Objective 5.6 Preserve Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Resources 22

23 Land Use Land use and management Fuels management in the vicinity of the Project: CDF Tulare Unit - vegetation management programs Local landowner defensible space programs Public education Reduction of overcrowded timber stands BLM s Active Fuel Management Program Prescribed fire and non-fire fuel treatments SCE maintenance activities Vegetation management Hazard tree removal 23

24 Project facilities are visible from two primary access roads Mineral King Road State Highway 198 Aesthetics SCE evaluated the Project facilities consistent with BLM s Visual Resource Management System (1989) during previous relicensing 24

25 Study conclusion: Aesthetics Generally, Project has a minor visual effect on the surrounding landscape Project facilities are minimally perceived due to the distance from public roads, topography, and/or vegetation 25

26 Exceptions Aesthetics Two facilities identified as having an effect on visual quality: Kaweah No. 1 Maintenance and Administration Facility Kaweah No. 2 Flowline Facilities attract attention from State Highway

27 Aesthetics Several Project facilities add visual interest to landscape Kaweah No. 1 Diversion Dam and associated facilities visible from Mineral King Road Kaweah No. 1 Flowline, typical flume section visible from Mineral King Road 27

28 Cultural and Tribal Resources Three known archaeological resources within Project Boundary Occupation site with house pits, scattered artifacts, and a granitic outcrop with several bedrock mortars Bedrock mortars, other grinding surfaces, grinding tools, and similar tools Multi-component site consisting of a single bedrock outcrop with three mortars; and rock-lined hearth, rock wall, and other scattered historic artifacts Sites were evaluated and recommended eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) SHPO concurrence (1990) 28

29 Cultural and Tribal Resources One known historic resource within Project Boundary Kaweah No. 3 Development was deemed eligible as a Historic District SHPO concurrence (1990) 29

30 Cultural and Tribal Resources Contributing elements include: Non-FERC Project facilities Marble Fork Diversion Dam, Flowline, and Siphon Middle Fork Diversion Dam, Flowline, and Siphon FERC Project facilities Kaweah No. 3 Flowline Kaweah No. 3 Forebay Kaweah No. 3 Penstock Kaweah No. 3 Powerhouse 30

31 Cultural and Tribal Resources SCE prepared a CRMP for the Project (1992) CRMP identifies measures to avoid impacts to NRHP-eligible properties Within or adjacent to the Project Boundary No federally-recognized tribal lands No tribal interests or any other Traditional Cultural Properties (TCP) 31