Powerline Plan and Environ. Assessment Jan. 2013 - Flood Control ...
Powerline Plan and Environ. Assessment Jan. 2013 - Flood Control ...
Powerline Plan and Environ. Assessment Jan. 2013 - Flood Control ...
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<strong>Powerline</strong> <strong>Flood</strong> Retarding Structure<br />
Pinal County, AZ<br />
Draft Supplemental Watershed <strong>Plan</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Environ</strong>mental <strong>Assessment</strong><br />
Fish <strong>and</strong> Wildlife: No fish present in the project area. Mesquite bosque located upstream of<br />
structure.<br />
<strong>Flood</strong>ing: Homes, businesses, <strong>and</strong> infrastructure are at high risk of flood damages if no action is<br />
taken.<br />
Geology: An earth fissure has been discovered adjacent to the <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS; L<strong>and</strong> subsidence at<br />
<strong>Powerline</strong> FRS <strong>and</strong> the northern 1/3 of Vineyard Road FRS is expected to continue in the near<br />
future.<br />
Migratory Birds: The project area contains suitable habitat for the western burrowing owl (Athene<br />
cunicularia hypugaea) which is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act..<br />
Prime Farml<strong>and</strong>: Prime farml<strong>and</strong> downstream of structure is at high risk of flood damages if no<br />
action taken.<br />
Public Health <strong>and</strong> Safety: Public health <strong>and</strong> safety is at high risk in the event of a catastrophic<br />
failure of the dam if no action taken.<br />
Transportation: Major local roads are located downstream <strong>and</strong> area at high risk of flood damage if<br />
no action is taken.<br />
Threatened <strong>and</strong> Endangered Species: The U.S. Fish <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Service (USFWS) threatened,<br />
endangered, proposed, <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>idate species list for Pinal <strong>and</strong> Maricopa Counties, as well as the<br />
Arizona Game <strong>and</strong> Fish Department (AGFD) Heritage Data Management System (HDMS), were<br />
reviewed. There are no known occurrences of any threatened or endangered species or critical<br />
habitat within the project area.<br />
Suitable habitat is present for the Tucson shovel-nosed snake (Chionactis occipitalis klauberi) <strong>and</strong><br />
dispersal habitat is present for the Sonoran desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). These are<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idate species for the USFWS <strong>and</strong> may become listed in the future <strong>and</strong> warrant additional<br />
assessment.<br />
Desert tortoise has the potential to occur within the project area. The project contains suitable<br />
habitat for the western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) which is protected under the<br />
Migratory Bird Treaty Act.<br />
Vegetative Community: Mesquite Bosque located upstream of structure.<br />
Water Resources: The Central Arizona Project canal is located downstream of the structure <strong>and</strong> is<br />
at high risk of flood damages if no action is taken.<br />
Alternative <strong>Plan</strong>s Considered: The project alternatives that were considered as part of this study<br />
include the following:<br />
• No Federal Action/Future Without Project: <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS remains in unsafe condition until<br />
Sponsor’s eventual Rehabilitation or Replacement of the dam;<br />
• Decommissioning by Replacing the <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS with a Channel to Vineyard Road FRS;<br />
• Decommissioning by Replacing the <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS with Basins <strong>and</strong> Channels;<br />
• Raise <strong>and</strong> Rehabilitate the <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS.<br />
USDA- NRCS Page 1-3 <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2013</strong><br />
Kimley-Horn <strong>and</strong> Associates, Inc.