[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 160 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20431]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration

 

Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for Vancouver 
Lowlands and Western Pond Turtle Wildlife Mitigation Projects

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: BPA proposes to fund the Vancouver Lowlands Wildlife 
Mitigation Project located in floodplains and wetlands in Clark County 
in the State of Washington and the Western Pond Turtle Wildlife 
Mitigation Project located in floodplains and wetlands in Lane, Linn, 
Marion, Polk, Benton, Clackamas, Yamhill, Washington, Multnomah, and 
Douglas Counties within the State of Oregon.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), BPA 
will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and will perform the 
proposed actions in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm 
to or within the affected floodplains and wetlands.
    The assessment will be included in each of the environmental 
assessments being prepared for the proposed projects in accordance with 
the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. A floodplain 
statement of finding will be included in any findings of no significant 
impact that may be issued following the completion of the environmental 
assessments.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than August 22, 
1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Public Involvement Manager, 
Bonneville Poser Administration--ALP, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon 
97212.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roy B. Fox, NEPA Compliance Officer-PG, Bonneville Poser 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, telephone 
number 503-230-4261, fax number 503-230-3752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Vancouver Lowlands Wildlife Mitigation 
Project area is located along the western border of Clark County, 
extending north and west of the City of Vancouver, Washington. It 
consists of approximately 2123 hectares (5245 acres) of riparian, 
wetland and pasture habitat along the Columbia River floodplain. The 
Columbia River borders the southern and western boundaries of the 
project area (T2N, R1E, Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 20; T2N, R1W, 
Sections 1 and 12; T3N, R1W, Sections 35, 36, and 37; T3N, R1E, 
Sections 30 and 31.) Major riparian and wetland features of the area 
include the Columbia River, Vancouver Lake, Lake River, Buckmire and 
Matthew Sloughs, Shillapoo Lakebed, and Post Office, Round, Green, 
Curtis, and Campbell lakes. Several smaller wetlands occur throughout 
the project area. Land ownership within the project area includes 
Washington Department of Wildlife, Clark County, Port of Vancouver, 
Washington Department of Natural Resources and several private 
landowners. BPA proposes to fund implementation of a wildlife 
management strategy that would protect, enhance and restore wildlife 
habitat in the Vancouver Lowlands. Existing wetlands would be 
maintained or restored where possible, and enhanced to improve wildlife 
habitat. Enhancement activities could include control or removal of 
non-native fish and plant species and agricultural cultivation, 
planting and irrigation.
    The Western Pond Turtle Wildlife Mitigation Project spans the 
entire Willamette River Hydrographic Basin, thus including the 
Willamette River floodplain. the townships and ranges that 
approximately compose the basin are: T3N, R5W-R2W; T2N, R5W-R2W; T1N, 
R5W-R7E; T1S, R5W-R7E; T2S, R5W-R7E; T3S, R5W-R7E; T4S, R5W-R7E; T5S, 
R5W-R7E; T6S, R5W-R7E; T7S, R5W-R7E; T8S, R5W-R7E; T9S, R5W-R7E; T10S, 
R5W-R7E; T11S, R5W-R7E; T12S, R5W-R7E; T13S, R5W-R7E; T14S, R5W-R7E; 
T15S, R5W-R7E; T16S, R5W-R7E; T17S, R5W-R7E; T18S, R5W-R7E; T19S, R5W-
R7E; T20S, R5W-R7E; T21S, R5W-R7E; T22S, R5W-R7E; T23S, R5W-R7E; T24S, 
R5W-R7E; T25S, R3E-R7E. Within the boundaries of the Willamette River 
Hydrographic Basin, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's (ODFW) 
Western Pond Turtle Management Plan offers a system of nodes and 
corridors as potential mitigation lands. This proposal is called the 
Willamette Ecosystem Reserve Matrix (WERM). The major WERM nodes that 
include wetlands are: the Fern Ridge Reservoir area, the West Eugene 
Wetlands area, the Finley National Wildlife Refuge area, and the 
Buckhead Slough-Hospital Creek area. Land ownership within the project 
area includes the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Forest Service, the 
United States Bureau of Land Management, the State of Oregon, Lane 
County, the Nature Conservancy, and several private parties. BPA 
proposes to fund implementation of the ODFW Western Pond Turtle 
Management Plan in order to protect, enhance and restore western pond 
turtle habitat in the Willamette River Hydrographic Basin. Enhancement 
activities could include control or removal of non-native fish and 
plant species, the restoration of native vegetation, coalescence and/or 
augmentations of western pond turtle populations in secure habitats, 
application of wire enclosures to protect nests, and/or alterations of 
current land management/use patterns.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on August 8, 1994.
Roy B. Fox,
NEPA Compliance Officer, Office of Power Sales.
[FR Doc. 94-20431 Filed 8-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P-M