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Section 7 Environmental Effects of the Selected Plan

EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006

7-7

herbaceous and shrub wetlands include marsh rabbit, red-winged blackbird,

roseate spoonbill, anhinga, great egret, green-backed heron, belted kingfisher,

little blue heron, tri-colored heron, and common moorhen, among others. These

species are expected to occur in the seepage buffer, littoral zone, and STA

constructed outside the reservoir.

Within the reservoir, some emergent wetlands may develop along a narrow shelf

on the margins of each reservoir cell. Vegetation along the shelf will likely be

dominated by herbaceous cover with occasional areas of shrubs. Woody species

will likely be managed to maintain low stature along the upland embankments.

Many of the species observed in the existing wetlands will use littoral zone

wetlands in the reservoir.

Creation of wetlands within seepage buffers is proposed as part of the preferred

alternative. These seepage buffers would be located within the reservoir

footprint, exterior to the reservoir embankment. Under the preferred

alternative, approximately 404 acres of valuable wetland habitat would be

created within the footprint. The STA would add approximately 1,495 acres of

functional wetlands to be utilized by wildlife. The seepage buffer would help to

reduce adverse water quality effects of seepage water. The STA would further

filter any discharged water routed to natural areas downstream of the project

site. Both the seepage buffer and the STA are anticipated to provide habitat for

macroinvertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, wading and aquatic birds, and small

mammals.

The seepage buffer will contain upland “islands” between the wetland area and

the littoral zone. This wetland/upland mosaic will provide habitats for a variety

of species that require both these habitat types to survive.

7.8.3 Upland Fauna

No existing natural upland communities will be displaced by the proposed

reservoir footprint, although some agricultural areas may provide terrestrial

“upland-like” habitat for some species.

Construction of both reservoir cells would create a system of interconnected

upland embankments separating the reservoir cells. These embankments will

allow for flexible water management. The upland embankments will not

technically be upland communities within the land cover classification, but they

will partially function as an upland habitat. They would provide some upland

habitat as resting, basking, and burrowing places for birds and reptiles; provide

corridors for non-aquatic species and nesting habitat for aquatic turtles,

ground-nesting birds, snakes and possibly alligators. The presence of the

embankments will help to improve wildlife and plant diversity in an area to be

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Wenger 72944 Spezifikationen Seite 273