BALD EAGLE MANAGEMENT 2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ARTICLE 513 BALD EAGLE MANAGEMENT 2012 ANNUAL REPORT REPORTING PERIOD JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 31, 2012 BAKER RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC No April 2014 BAK SA 513 Annual Report 2012.Doc PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC April 2014

2 CONTENTS CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary Introduction Activity Report Bald Eagle Nest Survey Bald Eagle Communal Night Roost Surveys Minimizing Effects of Construction Incidental Observations Maps of Aerial Surveys and Incidental Observations Adult Eagle Mortality Acquisition Activities Design and Planning Activities Documents Submitted Accounting Funding and Expenditures Prescribed by SA Additional PSE Expenditures for SA Adjustments Agency Review Comments Distribution List Cover Letter Summary of Reviewer Replies... 9 List of Tables Table 1. Bald eagle nest activity observed during 2012 aerial survey Table 2. Incidental bald eagle observations Table 3. Draft Bald Eagle Management 2012 Annual Report reviewers List of Figures Figure 1. Map of Baker Lake bald eagle nest sites and 2012 observations Figure 2. Map of Lake Shannon bald eagle nest sites and 2012 observations Figure 3. message from PSE accompanying the draft report Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page ii

3 1.0 Executive Summary This Bald Eagle Management Annual Report reviews Puget Sound Energy s actions in 2012 to implement settlement agreement article 513 (SA 513), Bald Eagle Management Plan, for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No This report was prepared by Puget Sound Energy in accordance with the Bald Eagle Management Plan for review by the Terrestrial Resource Implementation Group (TRIG). This report summarizes the activities conducted in 2012 in accordance with SA 513, which included: Development and TRIG review of the SA 513 annual report for Completion of an aerial nest survey. Documentation of incidental bald eagle observations during the nesting season. Coordination with construction project managers, Project operations staff, and the Recreation Resources Group (RRG) to minimize any potential disturbances to nesting or roosting bald eagles or their habitat from Project-related construction or recreation activities. Section 4 of this report outlines funding expenditures in 2012 for SA Introduction This report has been prepared for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project (the Project), and documents the activities conducted in 2012 to implement settlement agreement article 513 (SA 513), Bald Eagle Management Plan, in a manner consistent with the FERC-approved Bald Eagle Management Plan. The goals of SA 513 are to protect known bald eagle nests and communal winter night roosts within the Project boundary from disturbance due to Project-related activities, and to assist the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Forest Service (USDA-FS) in identifying nests and communal night roosts in need of protection in the Project area. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 1

4 Activity Report 3.0 Activity Report Bald eagle management and monitoring activities at the Project during 2012 were directed by license article 410 (LA 410), Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species, as well as SA 513. This section provides an overview of activities conducted in 2012 related to both of these articles. 3.1 Bald Eagle Nest Survey Puget Sound Energy conducted an aerial survey of the Project area on July 2, Only one of the five nest territories was confirmed active during this survey. Of these, the Thunder Creek nest site had one adult present, but offered no view of any young in the nest itself. Three of the other nest territories were believed to be active in 2012 based on incidental observations, but may have fledged young prior to the July 2 survey. No eagle observations were recorded during 2012 near the North Shannon nest territory. Details related to incidental observations are provided in section of this report. Table 1. Bald eagle nest activity observed during 2012 aerial survey. Nest territory Nest site Number of adults Number of chicks Maple Grove Panorama Point 2c 1 No chicks present, may have fledged Baker River 1c 0 0 Thunder Creek 4 1 Unknown couldn t see in nest North Shannon Bald Eagle Communal Night Roost Surveys Bald eagle night roost surveys were not conducted during the reporting period in accordance with SA 512, Bald Eagle Night Roost Surveys. Two seasons of surveys were conducted from November 2009 through February 2010, and again from November 2010 through February Two additional seasons of surveys will be conducted in years of the license, as directed by SA Minimizing Effects of Construction During the reporting period, PSE biologists met with construction project managers, land use planners, and Project operations staff to minimize any potential effects to nesting or roosting bald eagles in the Project area. No existing projects are being undertaken in the vicinity of nests or roosts, which is in keeping with the USFWS biological opinion. PSE biologists coordinated with construction project managers regarding Lower Baker floating surface collector, pier, and dam control building construction activities and Upper Baker spawning beach decommissioning activities to ensure that trees are removed only where necessary for construction, safety, and operations. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 2

5 Activity Report 3.4 Incidental Observations Bald eagles were observed incidentally during loon and osprey surveys throughout the nesting season. Survey Date Number of Eagles Age Class Table 2. Incidental bald eagle observations. Location Nest Comments 4/4/ Adult Thunder Creek Thunder Creek Circling the nest 4/4/ Unknown Lake Shannon north of Soaring on thermals Bear Creek 4/4/ Adult Near Noisy Creek Perched in snag on shore 4/23/ Unkown Near Kulshan boat launch Soaring on thermal, flew over the lake 4/23/ Adult Maple Grove Maple Grove One on nest, one perched nearby 4/23/ Adult Baker River Baker River On nest 4/23/ Adult Panorama Point Panorama Point 2a and 2c. One adult on each nest in the nest territory 5/23/ Adult Maple Grove Maple Grove On nest 6/12/ Adult Panorama Point Panorama Point 2a Perched near nest 6/27/ Adult Thunder Creek Thunder Creek Perched near nest Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 3

6 Activity Report 3.5 Maps of Aerial Surveys and Incidental Observations Figure 1. Map of Baker Lake bald eagle nest sites and 2012 observations. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 4

7 Activity Report Figure 2. Map of Lake Shannon bald eagle nest sites and 2012 observations. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 5

8 Activity Report 3.6 Adult Eagle Mortality One issue was identified at the Project in 2012, when an adult bald eagle was found by a hiker near the Anderson Creek campground on the east side of Baker Lake, 1.5 miles north of the trailhead near the upper Baker dam. The hiker notified the WDFW and USFWS, and the WDFW notified PSE and asked if PSE staff were available to retrieve the eagle, since the site is remote and most easily accessed by boat. PSE biologists working nearby at the Upper Baker fish hatchery were able to go to the site and retrieve the eagle. The eagle was kept temporarily in a freezer at the hatchery until PSE s avian protection biologists picked it up and transferred it to the USFWS Office of Enforcement. The eagle was sent to the USFWS lab for necropsy, which determined that the eagle died of natural causes. 3.7 Acquisition Activities PSE did not acquire any property in No eagle nests have been identified on acquired lands through incidental observations, aerial surveys, or by the WDFW database. If an eagle nest is identified on acquired lands in the future, a nest observation form will be completed and submitted to the WDFW, and a nest site management plan may be developed. PSE will consider nest buffers, timing restrictions, and nesting habitat when conducting timber management and legacy wood activities near any future eagle nest sites. 3.8 Design and Planning Activities Design and planning activities in 2012 included coordination with construction projects near Lower Baker Dam, such as installing line markers on guy wires for the plunge pool instrument to reduce the risk of eagle collision, planning for the Upper Baker spawning beach decommissioning (which will not occur near any known eagle nests), and documentation of tree removal at the Lower Baker floating surface collector, pier, and control building construction sites. 3.9 Documents Submitted During the reporting period, Puget Sound Energy developed the SA 513 Annual Report for 2012 and submitted the report to the TRIG for 30-day review as directed by SA 501, Terrestrial Management Plan. The final 2010 report for SA 513 was filed with the FERC during the reporting period. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 6

9 Accounting 4.0 Accounting Puget Sound Energy, pursuant to settlement agreement articles 102, 201, 301, 501, and 602, is required to provide an annual summary of expenditures made during the preceding year, as well as an accounting of funding expenditures, any interest earned, disbursements made as required by any article, and adjustments for inflation. This section provides an accounting of expenditures made between January 1, 2012 and December 31, All disbursement adjustments and relevant calculations were determined using the guidelines provided in settlement article Funding and Expenditures Prescribed by SA 513 SA 513 did not prescribe any funding during the reporting period. 4.2 Additional PSE Expenditures for SA 513 All funds for SA 513 implementation during the reporting period were combined with all other PSE labor for license implementation The total amount funded for PSE labor for license implementation during the reporting period is located in the SA 602 annual report for 2012 for all articles without prescribed funding. 4.3 Adjustments There were no adjustments made to the funding for SA 513 during the reporting period. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 7

10 Agency Review Comments 5.0 Agency Review Comments 5.1 Distribution List Table 3. Draft Bald Eagle Management 2012 Annual Report reviewers. Name Organization Address Brock Applegate Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Len Barson The Nature Conservancy Cathy Baker The Nature Conservancy Mignonne Bivin National Park Service Chris Danilson Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Patrick Goldsworthy North Cascades Conservation Council Lou Ellen Jones US Fish and Wildlife Service Bob Kuntz National Park Service Theresa Mathis USDA Forest Service Shauna Hee USDA Forest Service Carol Gladsjo USDA Forest Service Bob Nelson Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Bill Richardson Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Scott Schuyler Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Kara Symonds Skagit County Stan Walsh Swinomish Indian Tribe Todd Wilbur Swinomish Indian Tribe Peter McBride Swinomish Indian Tribe Michael Wolten Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe Emily Wirtz Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 8

11 Agency Review Comments 5.2 Cover Letter From: Fuchs, Tony Sent: Friday, March 29, :11 PM To: 'Applegate, Brock A (DFW)'; 'Bob Kuntz'; 'Bob Nelson'; 'Kara Symonds'; 'Len Barson'; 'Lou Ellyn Jones'; 'Michael Wolten'; 'Patrick Goldsworthy ( )'; 'Scott Schuyler'; 'Theresa Mathis'; 'Todd Wilbur'; ' Bill Richardson'; 'Cathy Baker'; 'Chris Danilson'; 'Mignonne Bivin'; 'Stan Walsh'; Carol Gladsjo (cgladsjo@fs.fed.us); 'Emily Wirtz'; 'Peter McBride'; Shauna Hee Cc: Flynn, Tom; Edwards, Haley; Heller, Scott W; Hackbart, Alice; Sibley, Hillary D; OpenText ECM --mail-- Subject: Baker River Draft Annual Report for SA 513 Bald Eagle Management for TRIG "30-day" review Attachments: BAK SA 513 Annual Report RevDraft.pdf TRIG members, PSE is forwarding the 2012 draft annual report for Settlement Agreement Article Bald Eagle Management, to the Terrestrial Resources Implementation Group representatives for the "30-Day" review period and seeks comments and suggestions. We are asking that comments be sent to Haley Edwards via mail or by April 30, This review is part of the TRIG review cycle established per Article Terrestrial Resource Management Plan. Thanks! Tony Anthony D. Fuchs Consulting Natural Resource Scientist Resource Sciences - Terrestrial Puget Sound Energy P.O. Box PSE-09S Bellevue, WA (w) (f) Doc ID: BAK PSE.TRIG Figure 3. message from PSE accompanying the draft report. 5.3 Summary of Reviewer Replies No reviewer replies or comments were received. Doc ID: BAK PSE.FERC-DC Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 9