Aquatic Restoration Activities in and near Umatilla National Forest (DOE/EA-2119/SA-02)

Umatilla, Grant, Columbia, Morrow, Wallowa, Union, Baker, Garfield, Asotin, Wheeler, and Walla Walla counties in Oregon and Washington

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes to adopt the US Forest Service (USFS), Umatilla National Forest’s August 2018 Aquatic Restoration Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA describes Aquatic Restoration activities on or adjacent to Umatilla National Forest and the associated environmental impacts.

The proposed project categories and activities assessed in this environmental assessment for proposed projects in the Umatilla National Forest and adjacent properties include:

• Fish Passage Restoration;
• River, Stream, Floodplain, and Wetland Restoration;
• Invasive Plant Control;
• Piling Removal;
• Road and Trail Erosion Control, Maintenance, and Decommissioning;
• In-Channel Nutrient Enhancement;
• Irrigation and Water Delivery/Management Actions;
• Fisheries, Hydrologic, and Geomorphologic Surveys; and
• Special Actions (for Terrestrial Species).

BPA will tier environmental analysis for site-specific projects to this EA.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, the USFS prepared an EA following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act to help determine potential impacts of the project. The USFS released their EA for public review and comment in June 2018 and received 7 comment letters which have responses in the final EA, released August 2018. The USFS issued a FONSI on the Proposed Action in October 2018. BPA is adopting the USFS EA, which describes and analyzes proposed BPA-funded habitat restoration activities.

CURRENT STATUS

Based on the EA analysis and mitigation measures to help lessen impacts, BPA found that the proposed action will not cause any significant impacts, and issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) on November 08, 2019.

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Israel Duran, ECF-4
Environmental Protection Specialist 
Bonneville Power Administration, EC-4
P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208
Toll-free:  800-622-4519
Direct Line:  503-230-3967
Email:  induran@bpa.gov 

For project information, contact:
Jesse Wilson, EWL-4   
Project Manager 
Bonneville Power Administration 
P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208
Toll-free:  800-622-4519
Direct Line:  503-230-4506
Email:  jcwilson@bpa.gov 

DOCUMENTS

SUPPLEMENT ANALYSES
SA - 02 Desolation Creek Reach 3 Restoration Project  (August 15, 2022)
SA - 01 Granite Creek Restoration Project  (November 15, 2019)

FINAL EA & FONSI
Final EA   November 2019
FONSI   November 8, 2019
Public Letter   November 22, 2019