FOREST HABITAT 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ARTICLE 0 FOREST HABITAT 01 ANNUAL REPORT REPORTING PERIOD JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 31, 01 BAKER RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC No. 10 September 01 PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project

2 CONTENTS CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary Introduction Activity Report Principal Management Activities Acquisition Activities Documents Submitted Accounting Funding and Expenditures Prescribed by SA Adjustments... List of Tables Table 1. Capital funding and expenditures prescribed by SA 0 for Table. Operations & Maintenance (O & M) funding and expenditures prescribed by SA 0 for List of Figures Figure 1. Knotweed regrowth at a Burpee Hill treatment site.... Figure. Restoration plantings at a Burpee Hill knotweed treatment site Figure 3. Total number of focal species observations by survey station in Figure. Total number of species observations by survey station in Figure. Total number of focal species observations by survey station in 01 and Figure. Total focal species observations (by species) in 01 and PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page ii

3 1.0 Executive Summary This Forest Habitat Annual Report reviews Puget Sound Energy s actions in 01 to implement settlement agreement article 0 (SA 0), Forest Habitat, for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 10. This report was prepared by Puget Sound Energy in accordance with the SA 0 Forest Habitat Plan for review by the Terrestrial Resource Implementation Group (TRIG). This report summarizes the activities conducted in 01 in accordance with SA 0, which included: Monitoring of knotweed at Burpee Hill treatment sites. Monitoring of neotropical migratory birds in forest habitat management units at Burpee Hill in accordance with SA 1, Effectiveness Monitoring. Planning for legacy wood management at Alder Creek and Burpee Hill. Development and review of the SA 0 annual report for 01. Section of this report outlines 01 expenditures for SA 0..0 Introduction This report has been prepared for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project (the Project), and documents the activities conducted in 01 to implement settlement agreement article 0 (SA 0), Forest Habitat, in consistence with the Forest Habitat Plan. The goal of SA 0 is to acquire and manage deciduous forest habitat (deciduous forest, mixed forest, or riparian forest with at least 0% deciduous trees) for the purpose of increasing, protecting, and enhancing habitat for deciduous forest-dwelling species including neotropical migratory birds that are in decline in the Puget Sound region. The objectives of forest habitat management are to: Promote willow, cottonwood, and other desirable tree species to provide the most benefit to the most species of wildlife, and neotropical migratory birds in particular. Manage legacy wood in a way that supports the goals and objectives of the forest habitat plan. Manage weed species in forest habitat management units in accordance with settlement agreement article 0, Noxious Weeds. Monitor the effectiveness of management actions in forest habitat management units in accordance with settlement agreement article 1, Effectiveness Monitoring, and in consultation with the TRIG. This report was prepared by Puget Sound Energy and reviewed by the TRIG, which is composed of representatives of the signatories to the settlement agreement. The SA 01 Terrestrial Resource Management Plan annual report contains the service list for the TRIG review of this document, along with a table of reviewer comments and PSE replies/revisions. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 1

4 Activity Report 3.0 Activity Report 3.1 Principal Management Activities Management activities conducted under SA 0 during the reporting period included monitoring of weed management and restoration plantings at knotweed treatment sites, legacy wood planning, and baseline monitoring of neotropical migratory birds Knotweed Treatment and Restoration Monitoring PSE initially treated knotweed in 011 at five sites in Burpee Hill Management Unit. Follow-up treatments occurred in 0 and 013. No knotweed plants were observed in 01; however, some minimal regrowth occurred and was retreated in 01. PSE will continue to monitor the sites until the infestation is considered eradicated, or two consecutive years with no knotweed plants present. In November 013, PSE planted 00 black cottonwood and Sitka willow stakes in the knotweed treatment areas. In March 01, PSE planted cascara, Oregon ash, western red cedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce to supplement the black cottonwood and Sitka willow. PSE is monitoring the plants to ensure restoration success. So far, the majority of the plants have survived and are becoming established. The goal of the restoration plantings was to improve the overall forest habitat by increasing the biodiversity with native and more desirable tree species, and to reduce the threat of invasive or noxious weed species in open areas where knotweed has been removed. Figure 1. Knotweed regrowth at a Burpee Hill treatment site. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page

5 Activity Report Figure. Restoration plantings at a Burpee Hill knotweed treatment site Legacy wood management PSE identified legacy wood areas within the Burpee Hill forest habitat management unit in 01, and selected approximately alder trees for use in creating snags. However, the contractor that had conducted previous work was unable to conduct the work in 01. In addition, PSE has some concerns regarding the steep access and wet conditions at the site and the ability to haul equipment to the site. In 01, PSE will contact additional contractors and coordinate with them to identify any safety concerns, and to continue to develop site-specific work plans for implementing legacy wood in Burpee Hill management unit. In addition, once a contractor has been selected, legacy wood sites in forest habitat at Alder Creek will be reviewed Effectiveness Monitoring Neotropical Migratory Birds Year two of baseline point count surveys were completed during the reporting period in conjunction with SA 1, Effectiveness Monitoring, in the forest habitat management unit at Burpee Hill. The protocol was developed by PSE in consultation with the TRIG, and the NPS and USDA-FS in particular. One season of surveys was conducted in 013, but the survey stations were relocated prior to the 01 season to get better coverage of the forest habitat management unit and to allow for collecting data near forest habitat management activities including legacy wood and knotweed treatment/restoration sites. The surveys conducted in 01 provide a second year of data consistent with the 01 survey stations, and conclude the baseline surveys at Burpee Hill. Two seasons of surveys were conducted at Alder Creek in 0 and 013, and another round of surveys PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 3

6 Activity Report is planned for 01 and 019. Another round of surveys is planned at Burpee Hill in 00 and 01. Focal bird species identified in the USDA-FS Preliminary Terms and Conditions for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project Relicensing include willow flycatcher, Swainson s thrush, yellow warbler, and red-eyed vireo. Additionally, the NPS included the downy woodpecker, warbling vireo, black-headed grosbeak, and Bullock s oriole. These are considered indicator species for desired forest habitat conditions. The most commonly observed focal species was the Swainson s thrush, with a total of observations during the three surveys. Additional focal species observations included Downy woodpecker (1), willow flycatcher (1), warbling vireo (13), yellow warbler (), and black-headed grosbeak (1). No red-eyed vireos or Bullock s orioles were observed during the 01 surveys at Burpee Hill (figure 3). The three surveys were conducted on May 7, June, and June, 01. Vegetation data for the three survey stations was recorded in 01, and is provided in the 01 report. Vegetation data will be recorded again during the next round of surveys (00-01). Focal Species 01 Number of observations Survey Station /7/01 //01 //01 Total Figure 3. Total number of focal species observations by survey station in 01. In addition to the focal species data summarized above, the most commonly observed species include Pacific-slope flycatcher, American robin, and winter wren. Additional species observed during the three surveys included hairy woodpecker, red-breasted sapsucker, western wood pewee, Steller s jay, black-capped chickadee, chestnut-backed chickadee, dark-eyed junco, hermit thrush, varied thrush, western tanager, Bewick s wren, brown creeper, purple finch, spotted towhee, rose-breasted grosbeak, blackthroated gray warbler, orange-crowned warbler, Townsend s warbler, Wilson s warbler, song sparrow, and rufous hummingbird (figure ). PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page

7 Activity Report Species Diverstity 01 Number of species observed Survey Station /7/01 //01 //01 Total Figure. Total number of species observations by survey station in 01. Survey Stations and 3 had the highest number of individual observations for all three surveys combined ( each), and Station 7 had the fewest (3). Stations 3 and had the highest species diversity, with 1 different species observed at Station 3 and 0 species at Station ; while Station had the lowest diversity, with different species observed during the three surveys (figure ). In addition, more focal species observations were recorded in 01 than in 01 (figures and ). PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page

8 Activity Report Number of observations Total Focal Species Observations by Survey Station 01 & Survey Station Figure. Total number of focal species observations by survey station in 01 and Total Focal Species Observations Figure. Total focal species observations (by species) in 01 and 01. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page

9 Accounting 3. Acquisition Activities No acquisition activities related to SA 0 occurred in Documents Submitted The SA 0 annual report for 01 was developed by Puget Sound Energy and submitted to the TRIG for a 30-day review and comment period. The final SA 0 report for 013 was filed with the FERC..0 Accounting Puget Sound Energy, pursuant to settlement agreement articles, 01, 301, 01, and 0, 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 all expenditures made between January 1, 01 and December 31, 01 related to SA 0. All disbursements, adjustments, and relevant calculations were determined using the guidelines provided in settlement agreement article 0, Required Funding..1 Funding and Expenditures Prescribed by SA 0 Table 1. Capital funding and expenditures prescribed by SA 0 for 01. SA 0: Deciduous Forest Habitat Capital Credit Debit Explanation Previous year s remaining balance $13,13 Required funding deposit for 01 reporting period (deposited October 01) a 01 deposit escalation $0 Required interest b $33 0.0% Total Expenditures Against Required $0 Funds Total Remaining Balance $13, $0 No required funding prescribed for SA 0 in 01. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 7

10 Accounting Table. Operations & Maintenance (O & M) funding and expenditures prescribed by SA 0 for 01. SA 0: Deciduous Forest Habitat O&M Credit Debit Explanation Previous year s remaining balance $11,7 Required funding deposit for 01 reporting period (deposited October 01) a $, deposit escalation $701 Labor expenses $ PSE labor Outside services expenses Materials & other expenses $1 Required interest b $3 0.0% Total Expenditures Against Required Funds Total Remaining Balance $1,9 a Funding was provided on the anniversary of license issuance. b Interest is based on the 90-day Treasury bill rate and is applied to the account balance as of the last day of the reporting period.. Adjustments No adjustments were made to the funding for SA 0 during the reporting period. $00 PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page