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 />
access <strong>and</strong> a large available surface area to obtain water. Elevation ranges from 190 to 7,520 feet.<br />
The project area contains multiple stock tanks which the pocketed free-tailed bat could utilize as a<br />
source of water. Suitable prey for the bat is also likely to be present within the project area.<br />
However, the project area does not contain any high cliffs, rugged rock outcrops, or human<br />
structures which the bat could utilize as roost sites. Therefore, it is unlikely that the pocketed freetailed<br />
bat is present within the project area.<br />
Western Burrowing Owl<br />
The burrowing owl is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act <strong>and</strong> Arizona State Law, Title<br />
17-101, 235, 236 (USFWS 2003). As defined in the Arizona Game <strong>and</strong> Fish Departments<br />
Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol, suitable habitat for burrowing owl nesting habitat typically<br />
consists of dry, treeless, short-grassl<strong>and</strong> or prairie plains. In the desert environment, they nest in<br />
areas of short, open scrubl<strong>and</strong>s such as mesquite (Prosopis spp.), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata),<br />
rabbit-brush (Chrysothanmus nauseous), <strong>and</strong> four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). Burrowing<br />
owls will nest in human-modified l<strong>and</strong>scapes such as: ab<strong>and</strong>oned lots within rapidly developing<br />
urban areas, airports, golf courses, agricultural fields, irrigation canals, storm drains, roadsides, <strong>and</strong><br />
parking lots. In the western United States, burrowing owls do not dig their own burrows, <strong>and</strong><br />
therefore, depend on the presence of burrowing mammals. The project area does contain suitable<br />
habitat for the burrowing owl. The majority of the suitable habitat for the burrowing owl is<br />
northeast of the mesquite bosque areas, where there are fewer trees <strong>and</strong> more open areas.<br />
4.12 TRANSPORTATION<br />
Major existing transportation corridors near the <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS, Vineyard Road FRS, <strong>and</strong><br />
Rittenhouse FRS are Loop 202 (5 miles east of <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS), US 60 (0.5 mile north of north end<br />
of <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS), Baseline Road (just north of <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS), <strong>and</strong> Ironwood Drive (located<br />
west of the dams).<br />
Future transportation freeway corridors are currently being planned within the study area by the<br />
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). These include State Route 802 <strong>and</strong> the North-<br />
South Freeway. Potential alternative alignments of these freeways cross within the Sponsor’s<br />
modified easement. Some alignments are shown to cross the actual dam embankment or near the<br />
Rittenhouse auxiliary spillway.<br />
Local transportation planning by the City of Apache Junction indicates a network of future planned<br />
local roads within the modified easement at <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS.<br />
4.13 LAND USE<br />
The majority of the <strong>Powerline</strong> FRS watershed (upstream of the dam) is owned by Arizona State<br />
L<strong>and</strong> Department Trust L<strong>and</strong>s (ASLD) <strong>and</strong> the US Forest Service (Tonto National Forest).<br />
Downstream of the dam is State Trust L<strong>and</strong>s, CAP (Bureau of Reclamation), <strong>and</strong> private l<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
L<strong>and</strong> use in the study area upstream of the dam is open desert. Downstream of the dam is open<br />
desert, rural residential, <strong>and</strong> master planned subdivisions. Municipalities located near the dams<br />
include the City of Apache Junction, City of Mesa, <strong>and</strong> Town of Queen Creek.<br />
Future planning efforts for the vast majority of the surrounding project study area is within the<br />
ASLD Superstition Vistas planning area. Superstition Vistas includes approximately 175,000 acres<br />
USDA- NRCS Page 4-8 <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2013</strong><br />
Kimley-Horn <strong>and</strong> Associates, Inc.