Hanford Reach National Monument Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

              U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Hanford Reach National Monument
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Impact Statement
The Hanford Reach National Monument (Monument) covers an area of 196,000 acres on the Department
of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Reservation in south-central Washington State. Of this, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) manages approximately 165,000 acres through a DOE permit (see Appendix F)
and other agreements with the DOE. The DOE directly manages approximately 29,000 acres, and the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife currently manages the remainder (approximately 800 acres)
under a DOE permit.
The Presidential Proclamation establishing the Monument (Presidential Proclamation 7319, see Appendix
C) directs that it be jointly managed by the DOE and FWS. However, the development of a
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for management of the Monument (i.e., any lands managed as
part of the National Wildlife Refuge System) is solely a requisite of the FWS under the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act (see Appendix E). As such, this CCP is being written to guide the FWS
in its management of the Monument, although the DOE may also adopt the final CCP. As this is a FWS
document and directs its management of the Monument, throughout the CCP references are made to
“FWS management of the Monument” or other similar phrases. It should be understood that this is meant
to mean ‘FWS management of the Monument through permits or agreements with the DOE.’ Further,
whatever the context of any particular portion of the CCP, it should be kept firmly in mind that the FWS
and DOE are joint managers of the Monument.
Although the DOE is a cooperating agency in the preparation of this environmental impact statement
(EIS), this document is the FWS’s, and as such, although the differences may not be expressly stated in
the text, the document may not in all instances reflect the DOE’s views.
Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions and set forth
goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are
sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily used for strategic
planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing
increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition.
Hanford Reach National Monument
Vision Statement
The Hanford Reach National Monument is a biologically diverse landscape,
embracing a remarkable natural and historic legacy. The Hanford Reach, the
last free-flowing non-tidal stretch of the Columbia River, is the ribbon that
weaves shrub-steppe and riverine communities together, defining an
irreplaceable landscape—a place to discover the richness of life, to reflect upon
history, and to experience nature in solitude.
The Monument’s diversity of plants and wildlife are critical to the biological
integrity of the Columbia Basin. The unique combination of an expansive and
increasingly rare shrub-steppe ecosystem, the free-flowing river, and the last
major salmon spawning grounds in the Columbia River create a diverse and
precious mosaic of habitats. The Monument is a refuge for a multitude of
species, many new to science.
The Monument is a natural gathering place to learn, to experience and celebrate
cultures, where stories are protected and passed on. Its history of immigrant
settlement and the dawning of the atomic era is acknowledged, as well as its
continuing physical and spiritual sustenance of the Native Americans who have
used the area and those who came later.
The Monument is a testimonial to the past and the sacrifices of our ancestors.
The Monument is also a vision into the future where visitors, neighbors and
partners are valued and respected; where natural and historic resources are
protected; and where all may come to experience the Monument and its
magnificent resources.
Hanford Reach National Monument • Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan & EIS August 2008
The Secretary of the Interior has authority pursuant 1 to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, as
amended (16 U.S.C. § 661-666c), and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 742a-j; 70 Statute
1119), to enter into cooperative agreements to manage fish and wildlife resources on lands owned by, or under the
jurisdiction of, another entity. The National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 668dd),
consolidates all areas administered by the FWS for the management, conservation and protection of fish and wildlife
(including those areas managed by the FWS under cooperative agreement with other federal departments or
agencies) into the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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Executive Summary
The Hanford Reach National Monument Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) will provide
direction to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the United States Department
of Energy (DOE) on management of the Hanford Reach National Monument (Monument) for
the next 15 years. The CCP will provide the framework for making decisions on conserving
natural, cultural and recreational resources; managing visitor use; developing facilities; and
addressing day-to-day operations of the Monument. The CCP will ensure that future
opportunities are realized and problems addressed effectively.
The Monument was created from buffer lands that were no longer necessary for the mission of
the DOE’s Hanford Site in eastern Washington. These buffer lands form a horseshoe around
lands still needed by the DOE for its current missions. Being a buffer for the Hanford Site, the
lands within the Monument have remained largely untouched, or at least undeveloped, for over
six decades. It was this remnant of the vast shrub-steppe ecosystem that once covered the
interior Columbia Basin that lead to Presidential Proclamation 7319 on June 9, 2000,
establishing a 195,000-acre national monument, managed by the FWS and DOE, superimposed
over the outskirts of the 375,040-acre Hanford Site. The FWS administers the Monument as an
overlay national wildlife refuge.1
The Monument encompasses a biologically diverse landscape containing an irreplaceable natural
and historic legacy. Limited development over the years has allowed for the Monument to
become a haven for important and increasingly scarce objects of scientific, historic and cultural
interest. It supports a broad array of newly discovered or increasingly uncommon native plants
and animals. Migrating salmon, birds and hundreds of other native plant and animal species,
some found nowhere else in the world, rely on its natural ecosystems. The Monument also
includes 46.5 miles of the last free-flowing, non-tidal stretch of the Columbia River, the 51-mile
“Hanford Reach.”
The Monument is managed by the FWS and the DOE; each agency has several missions they
fulfill at the Hanford Site. The FWS, under existing permits from the DOE, is responsible for
the protection and management of Monument resources and the management of people and their
access to Monument lands under FWS control. The FWS also has the responsibility to protect
and recover threatened and endangered species; administer the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and
August 2008 Hanford Reach National Monument • Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan & EIS
City of Richland; Adams, Benton and Grant Counties; 2 Washington State Departments of Ecology, Fish and
Wildlife, and Natural Resources; Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of
Reclamation, DOE, and Federal Highway Administration; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation;
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and Nez Perce Tribe
3 This CCP either directly addresses these issues, or it lays the foundation to address them in subsequent, more
detailed “step-down plans.”
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protect fish, wildlife and Native American and other trust resources within and beyond the
boundaries of the Monument. The DOE is responsible for protecting the resources of the
Monument, managing energy research, and remediating wastes remaining from weapons
material production. The DOE also administers land use agreements and permits with the
Washington Department of Transportation, United States Bureau of Reclamation, South
Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Northwest,
adjacent counties, and others to enable these entities to fulfill their missions in energy
production, energy distribution, communications, transportation and irrigation. Because the
DOE is currently the underlying land holder, it retains approval authority over certain
management aspects of the Monument.
A Notice of Intent to begin development of this CCP and environmental impact statement (EIS)
was published in the Federal Register on June 12, 2002. This began a multi-year process to
identify issues that needed to be addressed and the management alternatives that would best
address those issues. Along the way, the FWS received assistance and input from the Hanford
Reach National Monument Federal Advisory Committee (FAC); 15 cooperating agencies and/or
governments;2 internal resource reviews; and the public through formal scoping, a series of three
public workshops, and other means. The following key issues were identified (defined as
matters of controversy, dispute, or general concern over resource management activities, the
environment, or land uses) during the planning process.3
1) How will the biological resources be managed, protected, enhanced and/or restored?
2) What actions can be taken to protect fisheries?
3) How will cultural resources be protected?
4) How will geological and paleontological resources be protected?
5) How will contamination issues be addressed?
6) How will the elk population be managed on the Monument?
7) What recreation activities and interpretation and education programs are appropriate
and where will they occur?
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8) How will transportation be managed to provide access for public uses, management
needs, and valid existing rights?
9) What facilities and infrastructure are needed and where?
10) Which additional Monument lands are suitable and appropriate for FWS management
as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System?
In order to address these issues, the FWS—in partnership with the public, the FAC, other
agencies, and tribal governments—identified and developed six management alternatives in the
draft CCP. Based the comments received on the draft and on an unrelated lawsuit, eight
alternatives are considered in the final CCP.
The eight alternatives each vary by emphasis theme and degree of public access. Under each
alternative (likely including Alternative A), historic administrative units would be reorganized
into new management units for administrative purposes. The proposed new units are based
primarily on ecological values rather than geographical, historical, or political boundaries;
however, easily identifiable features were used to the extent possible to define boundaries, both
to aid the public and the FWS in its management. The proposed new units reflect a culmination
of ideas and input received from the FAC, cooperating agencies, tribal governments, and the
public, as well as the combined expertise of Monument staff.
Alternative A: No Action
Alternative A assumes no change from existing management and thus provides a baseline for
evaluating impacts of the other alternatives. Current management practices would be continued
in accordance with Monument Proclamation mandates and agreements to conserve and protect
biological, geological, paleontological and cultural resources. Conservation activities would
involve inventory and monitoring, habitat restoration, invasive species control, fire protection,
fire rehabilitation, and maintenance of existing facilities. Land use designations that were in
place at the time of Monument establishment would be maintained.
Public access for recreational, interpretive and educational purposes would continue to be
allowed year-round in designated areas and restricted from sensitive resource areas. Limited
interpretive and educational programs would be presented on request, dependent upon the
availability of staff.
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Alternative B
Alternative B emphasizes the restoration of native plants and animals in upland, riparian and
aquatic habitats. Compared to the other alternatives, Alternative B would provide the greatest
emphasis on the conservation, protection and monitoring of the biological, geological,
paleontological and cultural resources described in the Monument Proclamation. Increased
opportunities for restoration-based research of the native landscape and habitat for species of
concern would be promoted, and information sharing between partners and researchers would
be encouraged.
Public access for day-use recreation, interpretation, and education would continue to be allowed
year-round in designated areas, with a greater degree of management controls and use
restrictions in place to ensure resource protection as compared to the other alternatives.
Visitor facilities would be developed only in the least sensitive areas of the Monument and only
after a comprehensive inventory of Monument resources is conducted and sensitive areas are
identified in the area under consideration.
Interpretation and education programs would be provided; however, fewer people would be
served than in Alternatives C, C-1, D, E and F.
Alternative B-1
Alternative B-1 is identical to Alternative B, except no hunting would be allowed anywhere on
the Monument. This alternative was developed due to a lawsuit challenging expansion of
hunting opportunities on a number of national wildlife refuges across the country.
Alternative C
Alternative C would protect and conserve biological, geological, paleontological and cultural
resources described in the Monument Proclamation by creating and maintaining extensive areas
within the Monument free of facility development. This would serve conservation, restoration,
protection and recreation purposes by maintaining large natural landscapes, protecting sensitive
resources, and providing opportunities for solitude.
The facilities and access points that would be provided would be concentrated together to
minimize overall impacts to the Monument and to provide economies of scale in management
and maintenance. Public access points and recreational facilities would be planned and
developed along highways and in perimeter areas of the Monument. Certain existing facilities
and infrastructure within the Monument would be relocated. Facilities, such as the boat-in
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campsites along the Hanford Reach provided for in this alternative, would be developed after
inventories of resources are conducted and sensitive areas are identified in the area under
consideration. Vehicle access into the interior of the Monument would be limited; however,
much of the Monument would be open to foot and other non-motorized access.
Interpretation and education programs would serve greater numbers of people than Alternatives
A, B, C-1 and F, but fewer than Alternatives D and E.
Alternative C-1 (Preferred Alternative)
Alternative C-1 was developed in response to comments received on the draft CCP. Most
comments received did not want extremes in public use, either it being too extensive or too
tightly controlled. This pointed to developing an alternative that allowed for a high level of
resource protection while permitting a wide range of public access and uses. Of all the initial
alternatives, Alternative C came closest to meeting the needs of the FWS; complying with the
policies and laws affecting native resources; incorporating the advice of the FAC; and providing
the public the access it desired, all the while protecting Monument resources. However, in order
to best respond to comments, Alternative C needed some minor modifications (described in
Chapter 2).
Like Alternative C, Alternative C-1 would protect and conserve the biological, geological,
paleontological and cultural resources described in the Monument Proclamation by creating and
maintaining extensive areas within the Monument free of facility development. This would
serve conservation, restoration, protection and recreation purposes by maintaining large natural
landscapes, protecting sensitive resources, and providing opportunities for solitude. The
facilities and access points that would be provided would be concentrated together to minimize
overall impacts to the Monument and to provide economies of scale in management and
maintenance. Public access points and recreational facilities would be planned and developed
along highways and in perimeter areas of the Monument.
In contrast to Alternative C, few existing facilities and infrastructure currently present within
the Monument would not be relocated or closed, such as the White Bluffs Boat Launch. Vehicle
access into the interior of the Monument would be less limited, although like Alternative C much
of the Monument would be open to foot and other non-motorized access. Facilities, such as the
boat-in campsites along the Hanford Reach provided for in this alternative, would be developed
after inventories of resources are conducted and sensitive areas are identified in the area under
consideration.
Interpretation and education programs would serve greater numbers of people than Alternatives
A, B, B-1 and F, but fewer than Alternatives C, D and E.
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Alternative D
Alternative D provides the greatest degree of public access, recreational opportunities, and
facilities development. The conservation, protection and monitoring of the biological,
geological, paleontological and cultural resources described in the Monument Proclamation
would still be the primary priorities; however, more time, effort and resources would be devoted
to public use than in the other alternatives, likely decreasing the resources available for
restoration activities. Resource inventories, identification of sensitive areas, and restoration
activities would be concentrated in the areas of highest public use. Resource protection,
restoration research, and monitoring would focus on the impacts created from recreational
activities.
Public access sites and facilities would be developed throughout the Monument and to a greater
extent than Alternatives A, B, B-1, C, C-1 and F; access would be restricted from the most
sensitive areas. Visitor facilities would include improved boat launches, auto tour routes, and
campgrounds.
Interpretation and education programs under Alternative D would serve a higher number of
people of than the other alternatives.
Alternative E
Alternative E was formulated by the FAC during a workshop held June 16-17, 2004. It provides
an alternate public use emphasis to that of Alternative D.
Alternative E provides a high degree of public access and facilities development. It does this
through the combination of elements from Alternatives C and D. The underlying open space
concept of Alternative C is maintained through the concentration of facilities in perimeter areas
of the Monument; however, access and areas open to the public more closely resemble
Alternative D. The conservation, protection and monitoring of the biological, geological,
paleontological, and cultural resources described in the Monument Proclamation are the top
priorities, but as in Alternative D, substantial effort and resources would be devoted to public
use, likely decreasing the resources and attention available to restoration activities.
Resource inventories, identification of sensitive areas and restoration activities would be
concentrated in the areas of highest public use. Resource protection, restoration research, and
monitoring would focus on the impacts created from recreational activities.
Public access points and facilities would be developed in perimeter areas of the Monument and
to a greater extent than Alternatives A, B and F; access would be restricted from the most
sensitive areas. Visitor facilities would include improved boat launches and campgrounds.
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Interpretation and education programs would serve a high number of people, although not as
many as Alternative D.
Alternative F
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) developed this alternative
using Alternative B as the basis for management emphasis and public access. Public use would
be controlled through a permit system, with some areas requiring use fees to help fund
Monument programs.
While similar to Alternative B, Alternative F provides for slightly more areas open to public
access. The one significant difference is the addition of a public access permit system, with the
possible establishment of fee areas.
Interpretation and education programs would be provided; however, fewer people would be
served than in Alternatives C, C-1, D and E.
Preferred Alternative
All alternatives, in some form, meet the primary purposes of the Monument Proclamation and
the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) mission; therefore, every alternative had the
potential to be selected as a final management plan. However, Alternative C-1 has been
identified as the preferred alternative because it best achieves Monument Proclamation
mandates; fulfills FWS and DOE missions and purposes; allows for public uses as defined by
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act; and is consistent with principles of
sound wildlife management.
Possible Consequences/Impacts
The alternatives are assessed for their potential consequences to biological, geological,
paleontological, recreational, aesthetic and economic resources and systems. Chapter 4 provides
a detailed analysis of these impacts, and a summary is provided in the table following the
Reader’s Guide.
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Reader’s Guide
The FWS will manage the Monument through an approved CCP and in accordance with a permit
and Memorandum of Agreement with the DOE. The CCP provides long-range guidance on
Monument management through its vision, goals and objectives. The CCP also provides a basis
for a long-term adaptive management process, including implementation, monitoring progress,
evaluating and adjusting, and revising plans accordingly.
This CCP is a landscape-scale plan and addresses what areas are open to what uses. It provides
the basis for protection of natural, cultural, scenic and recreational resources, setting the goals
that the FWS will strive to meet in management of the Monument. The specific details of those
uses and protection mechanisms, and how they will be achieved, will require additional step-down
planning. For example, the management of invasive species—an Integrated Pest
Management Plan—was included in the draft CCP as a draft step-down plan for public
comment; it will be finalized following the signature of an ROD on this CCP. Other step-down
plans will follow on everything from habitat management to visitor use.
This document combines both a CCP and an EIS. The draft CCP/EIS was released for review
and comment by the public, tribes, special interest organizations, and local, state and federal
agencies (see Chapter 5 for details). Based on the comments received, the FWS modified the
draft as necessary and appropriate and selected a final Preferred Alternative. Following
publication of this final CCP/EIS, the FWS will publish an ROD that identifies the alternative
selected as the CCP. The FWS will then publish a stand-alone CCP comprised of parts of
Chapter 1, the selected alternative from Chapter 2, appropriate sections of Chapters 3 and 5, and
the necessary appendices.
The following chapter and appendix descriptions are provided to assist readers in locating and
understanding the various components of this combined document.
Chapter 1: Introduction, Purpose, Need For Action, and Issues, includes the regional context,
establishment and purposes of the Monument; the vision for future management; and the purpose
of, and need for, a CCP. This chapter also provides background on major planning issues
identified by FWS staff; federal, tribal, state and local agencies; and the general public.
Chapter 2: Management Goals, Objectives and Alternatives, describes ten management goals,
the objectives to meet those goals, and eight management alternatives. Each alternative
represents a potential CCP for the Monument. Alternative A describes current management on
the Monument. Alternative B places a heavy emphasis on resource protection. Alternative B-1
mirrors Alternative B and considers an elimination of recreational hunting on the Monument.
Alternative C outlines a method of using social engineering to protect resources. Alternative C-
1 uses Alternative C as its base, but pulls in elements of Alternatives D and E. Alternative D,
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while still protecting resources, places an increased emphasis on recreational use of the
Monument. Alternative E, provided by the FAC, combines elements from Alternatives C and
D. Alternative F, provided by the CTUIR, overlays a use-permit system over Alternative B.
Chapter 3: Affected Environment, describes the existing physical and biological environment,
public uses, cultural resources, and socioeconomic conditions. These represent baseline
conditions for the comparisons made in Chapter 4.
Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences, describes the potential impacts of each of the eight
alternatives on the resources, programs and conditions outlined in Chapter 3.
Chapter 5, Consultation, Coordination and Preparation, provides details on public involvement,
interagency coordination, and tribal consultation during the planning process. It also presents
the people who prepared this CCP/EIS.
Appendix A – Glossary & Abbreviations, contains acronyms, abbreviations and definitions of
terms used in this document.
Appendix B – Comments Received & Responses, provides a summary of the public, agency and
tribal comments received on the draft CCP/EIS and how the FWS addressed the comments.
Appendix C – Monument Proclamation, includes the Presidential Proclamation signed by
President Clinton that established the Monument and a White House background paper
providing management direction.
Appendix D – Public Laws 100-605 and 104-333, Section 404, is the text of the legislation that
initiated the study of the conservation of DOE lands and the subsequent legislation that amended
the original legislation to permanently protect the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River from
certain types of water projects.
Appendix E – Laws, Executive Orders, and Policies of Impact, contains brief descriptions of
some of the more pertinent laws, executive orders, and policies applicable to management of the
Monument.
Appendix F – Permit To Operate A National Wildlife Refuge, includes the agreement signed
between the DOE and FWS to manage DOE lands as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
System.
Appendix G – Hanford Reach National Monument Federal Advisory Committee, includes the
members that helped to shape this draft CCP.
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Appendix H – Appropriate Uses, considers the possible public uses of the Monument and if they
are appropriate for the Monument, in consideration of applicable laws, FWS policies, the
Monument Proclamation, and resource protection.
Appendix I – Compatibility Determinations, describe uses, anticipated impacts, stipulations and
a determination of compatibility or non-compatibility for existing and proposed public uses on
the Monument.
Appendix J – Common & Scientific Names of Plants & Animals Identified in the CCP,
represents a cumulative list of all the plants and animals mentioned in the CCP.
Appendix K – Common Vascular Plants on the Monument, lists the more common plants that
have been observed on the Monument.
Appendix L – Summary of Plant Communities, lists the different plant communities and
associations that have been observed on the Monument.
Appendix M – Plant Communities by Management Unit, lists the different plant communities
and associations that have been observed on the Monument by unit for all units, except the Arid
Lands Ecology Area, according to a 2003 study.
Appendix N – Reptiles and Amphibians on the Monument, lists reptiles and amphibians that
have been observed on the Monument.
Appendix O – Fish Species in the Hanford Reach and Monument Waters, lists fish species found
in the Hanford Reach, WB-10 Ponds, and Saddle Mountain Lake.
Appendix P – Birds on the Monument, lists birds that have been observed on the Monument, as
well as when they can be found.
Appendix Q – Mammals on the Monument, lists mammals that have been observed on the
Monument.
Appendix R – National Wildlife Refuge System Strategic Goals and the Hanford Reach National
Monument RONS and MMS Project Lists, briefly describes projects and costs associated with
the current management of the Monument as well as projects anticipated under Alternative A.
Appendix S – Monument Staffing Needs, describes the current and staffing levels needed to
fully implement any of the alternatives.
Appendix T – Literature Cited, provides bibliographic references for the citations in this
document.
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Appendix U – Distribution List, contains the list of federal, tribal, state and local agencies; non-government
organizations; academic institutions; and individuals who received planning
updates, summaries and other mailings associated with this planning effort, including the release
of this draft CCP/EIS.
Comparison of Hanford Reach National Monument CCP/EIS Alternatives
Plan Features Alternative A
(No Action) Alternative B Alternative B-1 Alternative C Alternative C-1
(Preferred) Alternative D Alternative E Alternative F
Biological Resource Actions • Biological Resource Actions • Biological Resource Actions • Biological Resource Actions • Biological Resource Actions • Biological Resource Actions
Treat Invasive Species Treat 9,000 acres
annually.
Treat 18,000 acres
annually.
Same as Alternative B. Treat 13,000 acres
annually.
Same as Alternative C. 11,000 acres treated
annually
12,000 acres treated
annually
Treat 18,000 acres
annually.
Restore Upland Habitat Restore 500 acres
annually.
Restore 6,000 acres
annually.
Same as Alternative B. Restore 4,000 acres
annually.
Restore 3,000 acres
annually.
Restore 2,000 acres
annually.
Restore 3,000 acres
annually.
Restore 6,000 acres
annually.
Restore Rattlesnake Mountain Summit The DOE to remove
unused military
buildings and restore
the site.
The DOE to remove
unused military
buildings, including the
observatory, and
restore the site.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative B.
Protect, Manage and Restore Riparian and
Aquatic Areas
Treat 1,166 acres over
the life of the CCP.
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A.
Cultural Resource Actions • Cultural Resource Actions • Cultural Resource Actions • Cultural Resource Actions • Cultural Resource Actions • Cultural Resource Actions
Cultural Resource Management No cultural resource
plan currently exists.
Develop a cultural
resource management
plan with tribes and
stakeholders.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Monument-Specific Policies for Artifact
Recovery and Human Remains Discovery
No specific procedures
exist for recovered
artifacts and
inadvertent discoveries
of human remains.
Existing FWS regula-tions,
policies and
procedures are used.
Develop new,
Monument-specific
policies and procedures
with tribes and
stakeholders.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Cultural Resource Inventories Cultural resource
inventories are solely
project-driven (e.g., for
wildfire area
rehabilitation).
Same as A, plus at least
1,000 additional acres
inventoried annually.
Same as Alternative B. Same as A, plus at least
750 additional acres
inventoried annually.
Same as Alternative C. Same as A, plus at least
500 additional acres
inventoried annually.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative B.
Historic Properties Inspections Conduct mandatory
project-related Section
106 inspections.
Conduct all project-related
Section 106
inspections plus 1,000
acres annually.
Same as Alternative B. Conduct all project-related
Section 106
inspections plus 750
acres annually.
Same as Alternative C. Conduct all project-related
Section 106
inspections plus 500
acres annually.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative B.
Comparison of Hanford Reach National Monument CCP/EIS Alternatives
Plan Features Alternative A
(No Action) Alternative B Alternative B-1 Alternative C Alternative C-1
(Preferred) Alternative D Alternative E Alternative F
Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access • Public Access
Columbia River Corridor Unit 11,718 acres open. 9,642 acres open. Same as Alternative B. 25,840 acres open. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative C. 25,301 acres open. 9,642 acres open.1
Rattlesnake Mountain Unit Closed except by
Special Use Permit.
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A,
plus one hiking trail
established.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative A,
plus two hiking trails
established.
Same as Alternative D. Same as Alternative A.1
Ringold Unit 3,120 acres open. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A.1
Saddle Mountain Unit 24,055 acres open. 21,411 acres open. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A.1
Wahluke Unit 29,486 acres open. Open additional acres
west end of unit,
35,176 acres open.
Same as Alternative B. Open west end of unit,
57,747 acres open.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative C.1
Recreational Uses and Facilities • Recreational Uses and Facilities • Recreational Uses and Facilities • Recreational Uses and Facilities • Recreational Uses and Facilities
Big Game and Upland Game Hunting 58,260 acres open. 59,707 acres open. No hunting. 67,769 acres open —
plus 42,204 additional
acres possibly open for
elk population control
on the Rattlesnake
Unit.3
67,245 acres open. 70,669 acres open. Same as Alternative D. 84,922 acres open.1
Waterfowl Hunting Ringold Unit, WB-10
Ponds, and most north
shore areas 1/4-mile
from the high water
mark open.
Same as Alternative A. No hunting except for
below the ordinary high
water mark on the
Columbia River.
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A.1
Fishing 9,994 surface acres
open (9,642 on the
Columbia River, 352
on the Bureau of
Reclamation’s WB-10
ponds).
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A.1
Interpretative and Education Sites Four primitive
interpretive sites
currently exist.
Up to ten new
interpretive sites
created.
Same as Alternative B. Up to fifteen new
interpretive sites
created.
Up to thirteen new
interpretive sites
created.
Up to twenty new
interpretive sites
created.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative B.1
Interpretative Trails No interpretive trails
exist.
Up to two interpretive
trails created.
Same as Alternative B. Up to four interpretive
trails created.
Same as Alternative C. Up to six interpretive
trails created.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative B.1
Comparison of Hanford Reach National Monument CCP/EIS Alternatives
Plan Features Alternative A
(No Action) Alternative B Alternative B-1 Alternative C Alternative C-1
(Preferred) Alternative D Alternative E Alternative F
Interpretive Programs and Special Events Conduct one program/
event on the Monument
and six programs/
events off the
Monument annually.
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Conduct two programs/
events on the
Monument and eight
programs/events off the
Monument annually.
Same as Alternative C. Conduct three
programs/events on the
Monument and twelve
programs/events off the
Monument annually.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative A.
Wildlife Photography Sites No photography sites
exist.
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A. Up to two photography
sites created.
Same as Alternative C. Up to three
photography sites
created.
Up to two photography
sites created.
Same as Alternative B.
Wildlife Observation Sites One wildlife viewing
site currently exists.
Up to six new wildlife
viewing sites created.
Same as Alternative B. Up to eight new
wildlife viewing sites
created.
Same as Alternative C. Up to twelve new
wildlife viewing sites
created.
Same as Alternative C. Same as Alternative B.1
Hiking Trails Zero miles of
designated hiking trails
exist.
Create/designate up to
30 miles of trails.
Same as Alternative B. Create/designate up to
100 miles of trails,
including trails on the
Rattlesnake Unit and
sand dunes in the River
Corridor Unit.
Same as Alternative C,
except no trails in the
sand dunes.
Create/designate up to
150 miles of trails,
including trails on the
Rattlesnake Unit and
sand dunes in the River
Corridor Unit.
Same as Alternative C,
but only on the east
half of the sand dunes
in the River Corridor
Unit.
Same as Alternative B.1
Campgrounds (Float-In/Drive-In) No campgrounds. No campgrounds, one
proposed campground
at the Ringold Fish
Hatchery.
Same as Alternative B. Three-six non-motorized
boat-in
sites;2 one proposed
campground at the
Ringold Fish Hatchery.
Same as Alternative C. Three-six non-motorized
boat-in
sites;2 two developed
campgrounds on the
Monument (Vernita
area and Near State
Route 24); one
proposed campground
at the Ringold Fish
Hatchery.
Three-six non-motorized
boat-in
sites;2 one developed
campground (Vernita
area); one proposed
campground at the
Ringold Fish Hatchery.
Same as Alternative B.1
Boat Launching Facilities (Onsite and/or
Adjacent to the Monument)
One developed (White
Bluffs Boat Launch),
one primitive (Vernita),
one primitive
(Ringold).
One developed (White
Bluffs Boat Launch),
one primitive (Vernita),
one proposed
developed (Ringold).
Same as Alternative B. One developed
(Vernita), one proposed
developed (Ringold).
Two developed (White
Bluffs, Vernita), one
proposed developed
(Ringold).
Three developed
(White Bluffs, Vernita,
South Shore launch),
one proposed
developed (Ringold).
One developed
(Vernita), one non-motorized
access only
(White Bluffs Boat
Launch), one proposed
developed (Ringold).
One primitive
(Vernita), one proposed
developed (Ringold).1
Comparison of Hanford Reach National Monument CCP/EIS Alternatives
Plan Features Alternative A
(No Action) Alternative B Alternative B-1 Alternative C Alternative C-1
(Preferred) Alternative D Alternative E Alternative F
Horseback Riding Cross-country use
allowed in portions of
the proposed Ringold,
Saddle Mountain and
Wahluke Units (58,034
acres).
Allowed in the
Ringold, Saddle
Mountain and Wahluke
Units but limited to
existing roads and
trails.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.1
Motorized Vehicle Access (Does Not Include
State/County Roads)
Saddle Mountain Road
and roads on the
Ringold and Wahluke
Units open (25 miles).
Saddle Mountain Road
closed at halfway point,
roads on the Ringold
and Wahluke Units
same as Alternative A
(19.5 Miles open).
Same as Alternative B. Saddle Mountain Road
closed, Wahluke Road
to White Bluffs Boat
Launch closed, Ringold
Unit roads same as
Alternative A (18 miles
open).
Same as Alternative A. Same as Alternative A
plus two auto tour
routes opened. Access
roads opened to points
on the south side of the
river (37 miles open).2
Same as Alternative C
except Saddle
Mountain and White
Bluffs Roads remain
open (23 miles open).
Same as Alternative B.1
Hunting and Fishing Plans A hunting plan has
been developed, no
revisions are necessary;
no fishing plan exists.
Revise hunting plan
based on the final CCP,
if necessary; create a
fishing plan within five
years.
Close hunting; create a
fishing plan within five
years.
Revise hunting plan
based on the final CCP,
if necessary; create a
fishing plan within
three years.
Same as Alternative C. Revise hunting plan
based on the final CCP,
if necessary; create a
fishing plan within two
years.
Same as Alternative D. Same as Alternative B.
Aesthetic Resources Plan Develop plans and/or
standards for
controllable aesthetic
variables (e.g., building
design, noise).
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
1 - Use allowed/area open by permit only.
2 - Pending DOE clean-up.
3 - The DOE has determined that hunting in the Rattlesnake Unit is not consistent with its current mission.
As the mission of the DOE changes, or as the current ownership situation changes, hunting may be
desirable and possible for elk population management. This possibility is addressed under Alternative C.
Table of Contents - 1
Table Of
Contents
August 2008 Hanford Reach National Monument • Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan & EIS
Table of Contents - 2
Table of Contents - 3
Table of Contents
Chapter 1– Introduction, Purpose and Need For Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
1.0 Introduction and History.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
1.1 Purpose and Need. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
1.2 Proposed Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
1.2.1 Final CCP Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
1.2.2 Environmentally Preferred Alternative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
1.2.3 Preferred Alternative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
1.3 Planning Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
1.4 Step-Down Plans.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
1.5 CCP Review, Amendment, and Revision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
1.6 Legal and Policy Guidance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
1.6.1 Tribal Rights and Interests.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
1.6.2 Valid Existing Rights.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
1.6.2.1 DOE Remediation and Restoration.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
1.6.2.2 Mineral Rights (Including Oil and Gas). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
1.6.2.3 Columbia Basin Reclamation Project and Columbia River
Transmission System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
1.6.2.4 State of Washington Wildlife Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
1.6.2.5 Columbia River Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
1.6.2.6 Communication Sites and Local Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
1.6.3 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
1.6.4 American Antiquities Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
1.6.5 National Wildlife Refuge System and Policies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
1.6.6 Public Use of the Monument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
1.6.7 Authority to Plan for DOE Lands in the Monument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
1.6.7.1 Protection of Additional DOE Lands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
1.6.8 DOE Goals, Existing Land Use Plan and Policies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
1.7 Monument Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
1.8 Vison for the Hanford Reach National Monument.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
1.9 FWS Coordination With Other Governments, Agencies
And Organizations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
1.9.1 Hanford Reach National Monument Federal Planning
Advisory Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
1.9.2 Tribal Consultation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
1.9.3 Cooperating Agencies/Consulting Tribal Governments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
1.9.4 Public Involvement and Scoping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
August 2008 Hanford Reach National Monument • Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan & EIS
Table of Contents - 4
Table of Contents, cont.
1.10 Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
1.10.1 Biological Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
1.10.2 Fisheries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
1.10.3 Cultural Resources.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
1.10.4 Geological and Paleontological Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
1.10.5 Contaminants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
1.10.6 Elk Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
1.10.7 Visitor Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
1.10.8 Access and Transportation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
1.10.9 Facilities and Infrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
1.10.10 FWS-Managed Lands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31
1.10.11 Other Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31
1.10.12 Issues Outside the Scope of the CCP.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32
Chapter 2 – Management Alternatives, Goals, and Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
2.0 Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
2.1 Monument Purposes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
2.2 Monument Goals.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
2.3 Goals Considered But Addressed By Other Means. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
2.3.1 Treaty Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
2.3.2 Valid Existing Rights; Cooperation with Other Jurisdictions,
Organizations, and Neighbors.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
2.3.3 Infrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
2.4 Management Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
2.5 Development of Alternatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
2.6 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Further Consideration. . . . . . . . . 2-11
2.7 Alternatives Carried Forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
2.7.1 Alternative A: No Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
2.7.2 Alternative B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
2.7.3 Alternative B-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
2.7.4 Alternative C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
2.7.5 Alternative C-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
2.7.6 Alternative D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
2.7.7 Alternative E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
2.7.8 Alternative F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
2.8 Public Use Zones Defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
2.8.1 Open Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
2.8.2 Open, Controlled Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
2.8.3 Designated Use Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
2.8.4 Closed Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Hanford Reach National Monument • Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan & EIS August 2008
Table of Contents - 5
Table of Contents, cont.
2.9 Alternatives as Related to Management Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
2.9.1 Ringold Management Unit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9.1.1 Existing Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9.1.2 Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9.1.3 Size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9.1.4 Open/Closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9.1.4.1 Alternative B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9.1.4.2 Alternative B-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
2.9.1.4.3 Alternative C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
2.9.1.4.4 Alternative C-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
2.9.1.4.5 Alternative D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
2.9.1.4.6 Alternative E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
2.9.1.4.7 Alternative F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
2.9.1.4.8 Other Potential Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
2.9.1.5 Rationale for Ringold Unit Boundaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
2.9.2 Wahluke Management Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
2.9.2.1 Existing Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
2.9.2.2 Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
2.9.2.3 Size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
2.9.2.4 Open/Closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
2.9.2.4.1 Alternative B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
2.9.2.4.2 Alternative B-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
2.9.2.4.3 Alternative C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
2.9.2.4.4 Alternative C-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
2.9.2.4.5 Alternative D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
2.9.2.4.6 Alternative E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
2.9.2.4.7 Alternative F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
2.9.2.4.8 Other Potential Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26
2.9.2.5 Rationale for Wahluke Unit Boundaries.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26
2.9.3 Saddle Mountain Management Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
2.9.3.1 Existing Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
2.9.3.2 Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
2.9.3.3 Size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
2.9.3.4 Open/Closed.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
2.9.3.4.1 Alternative B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
2.9.3.4.2 Alternative B-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
2.9.3.4.3 Alternative C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
2.9.3.4.4 Alternative C-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
2.9.3.4.5 Alternative D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
2.9.3.4.6 Alternative E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
2.9.3.4.7 Alternative F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
2.9.3.5 Rationale for Saddle Mountain Unit Boundaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29
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2.9.4 Columbia River Management Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
2.9.4.1 Existing Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
2.9.4.2 Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
2.9.4.3 Size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
2.9.4.4 Open/Closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
2.9.4.4.1 Alternative B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
2.9.4.4.2 Alternative B-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
2.9.4.4.3 Alternative C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
2.9.4.4.4 Alternative C-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
2.9.4.4.5 Alternative D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
2.9.4.4.6 Alternative E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
2.9.4.4.7 Alternative F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
2.9.4.4.8 Other Potential Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
2.9.4.5 Rationale for Columbia River Unit Boundaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
2.9.5 Rattlesnake Management Unit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
2.9.5.1 Existing Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
2.9.5.2 Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
2.9.5.3 Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4 Open/Closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.1 Alternative B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.2 Alternative B-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.3 Alternative C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.4 Alternative C-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.5 Alternative D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.6 Alternative E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
2.9.5.4.7 Alternative F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-35
2.9.5.5 Rationale for Rattlesnake Unit Boundaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-35
2.9.6 Columbia River Islands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-36
2.9.6.1 Open/Closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-37
2.10 Alternatives & Management Objectives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-37
2.10.1 Actions Common To All Alternatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-38
2.10.1.1 Objective C-1: Government-To-Government Consultation. . . . . . . 2-38
2.10.1.2 Objective C-2 and Objective C-3: Partnerships.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
2.10.1.3 Objective C-4, Objective C-5 and Objective C-6: Valid
Existing Rights.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
2.10.1.4 Objective C-7: Citizen Involvement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40
2.10.1.5 Objective C-8: Staffing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-41
2.10.1.6 Objective C-9: Wildlife Population Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-43
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2.10.2 Goal 1: Conserve and Restore the Plants, Animals and Shrub-
Steppe and Other Upland Habitats Native to the Columbia
Basin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-46
2.10.2.1 Objective 1-1: Protect High-Quality/Sensitive Shrub-Steppe
Plant Communities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-46
2.10.2.2 Objective 1-2: Protect Dense Sagebrush Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-49
2.10.2.3 Objective 1-3: Shrub-steppe Restoration.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-51
2.10.2.4 Objective 1-4: Protect Native Perennial Grasslands. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-54
2.10.2.5 Objective 1-5: Protect Native Short Grasslands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-56
2.10.2.6 Objective 1-6: Native Grassland Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-58
2.10.2.7 Objective 1-7: Protect Unique/Rare Habitats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-60
2.10.2.8 Objective 1-8: Protect Rare Plant Populations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-62
2.10.2.9 Objective 1-9: Protect Microbotic Crust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-64
2.10.2.10 Objective 1-10: Inventory and Monitor Federally Listed
Threatened and Endangered, Rare, and Sensitive Species. . . . . . . 2-66
2.10.2.11 Objective 1-11: Restoration of Lithosol Habitat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-68
2.10.2.12 Objective 1-12: Integrated Pest Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-70
2.10.2.13 Objective 1-13: Elk Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-72
2.10.3 Goal 2: Conserve and Restore the Communities of Fish and Other
Aquatic and Riparian-Dependent Plant and Animal Species
Native to the Hanford Reach National Monument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-73
2.10.3.1 Objective 2-1: Fish and Aquatic Habitat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-73
2.10.3.2 Objective 2-2: Islands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-76
2.10.3.3 Objective 2-3: Irrigation Run-off Aquatic Habitats.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-78
2.10.3.4 Objective 2-4: Natural Springs, Seeps and Vernal Pools. . . . . . . . . 2-79
2.10.3.5 Objective 2-5: Seasonal Wetlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-81
2.10.3.6 Objective 2-6: Riverine Wetlands and Riparian Areas. . . . . . . . . . . 2-82
2.10.3.7 Objective 2-7: Riparian Shoreline Area Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-85
2.10.3.8 Objective 2-8: Inventory and Monitor Habitats.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-87
2.10.4 Goal 3: Enhance Monument Resources by Establishing and
Maintaining Connectivity with Neighboring Habitats. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-89
2.10.4.1 Objective 3-1: Connectivity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-89
2.10.5 Goal 4: Protect the Distinctive Geological and Paleontological
Resources of the Monument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-91
2.10.5.1 Objective 4-1: Geologic Resource Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-91
2.10.5.2 Objective 4-2: Paleontologic Resource Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-92
2.10.5.3 Objective 4-3: Threat Abatement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-93
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2.10.6 Goal 5: Protect and Acknowledge the Native American, Settler,
Atomic and Cold War Histories of the Monument to Ensure
Present and Future Generations Recognize the Significance
Of the Area’s Past, Incorporating a Balance of Views. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-94
2.10.6.1 Objective 5-1: Cultural/Historical Management Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . 2-95
2.10.6.2 Objective 5-2: Oral History Program.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-96
2.10.6.3 Objective 5-3: Cultural Resource Surveys and Inventories.. . . . . . . 2-97
2.10.6.4 Objective 5-4: National Register of Historic Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-99
2.10.6.5 Objective 5-5: Traditional Cultural Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-100
2.10.6.6 Objective 5-6: Cultural Resource Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-101
2.10.6.7 Objective 5-7: Recovered Cultural Resources.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-102
2.10.7 Goal 6: Provide a Rich Variety of Educational and Interpretive
Opportunities for Visitors to Gain an Appreciation, Knowledge
And Understanding of the Monument, Compatible with
Resource Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-103
2.10.7.1 Objective 6-1: Interpretive Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-103
2.10.7.2 Objective 6-2: Interpretive Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-104
2.10.7.3 Objective 6-3: Interpretive Trails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-105
2.10.7.4 Objective 6-4: Recreational Use Education.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-107
2.10.7.5 Objective 6-5: Environmental Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-108
2.10.7.6 Objective 6-6: Interpretive Programs and Special Events. . . . . . . . 2-109
2.10.7.7 Objective 6-7: Training Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-110
2.10.8 Goal 7: Provide Access and Opportunities for High-Quality
Recreation Compatible with Resource Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-111
2.10.8.1 Objective 7-1: Visitor Services Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-111
2.10.8.2 Objective 7-2: Commercial Guide Permit System.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-113
2.10.8.3 Objective 7-3: Columbia River Surface Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-114
2.10.8.4 Objective 7-4: Hunting Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-115
2.10.8.5 Objective 7-5: Fishing Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-117
2.10.8.6 Objective 7-6: Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . 2-118
2.10.8.7 Objective 7-7: Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-119
2.10.8.8 Objective 7-8: Equestrian Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-120
2.10.8.9 Objective 7-9: Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-122
2.10.8.10 Objective 7-10: Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-125
2.10.8.11 Objective 7-11: General Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-127
2.10.8.12 Objective 7-12: Visitor Access Permits.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-130
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2.10.9 Goal 8: Protect the Natural Visual Character and Promote
The Opportunity to Experience Solitude on the Monument. . . . . . . . 2-131
2.10.9.1 Objective 8-1: Visual Resources Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-131
2.10.9.2 Objective 8-2: Light and Noise Standards.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-133
2.10.9.3 Objective 8-3: Solitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-134
2.10.10 Goal 9: Facilitate Research Compatible with Resource Protection,
Emphasizing Research that Contributes to Management Goals
Of the Monument.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-135
2.10.10.1 Objective 9-1: Research.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-135
2.10.11 Goal 10: Establish and Maintain a Cooperative Fire Management
Program that Protects Facilities, Resources and Neighbors and
Fulfills Natural Resource Management Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-137
2.10.11.1 Objective 10-1: Fire Plan.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-137
2.10.11.2 Objective 10-2: Firefighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-139
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
3.0 Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
3.0.1 Methods and Sources of Information.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
3.0.2 Study Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
3.1 Geographic/Ecosystem Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
3.1.1 Current Administrative Units.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
3.1.1.1 Fitzner-Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
3.1.1.2 McGee Ranch/Riverlands Unit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
3.1.1.3 Vernita Bridge Access Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
3.1.1.4 Saddle Mountain Unit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
3.1.1.5 Wahluke Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
3.1.1.6 River Corridor Unit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
3.2 Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
3.2.1 Wind.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
3.2.2 Temperature and Humidity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
3.2.3 Precipitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
3.2.4 Fog and Visibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
3.2.5 Severe Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
3.2.6 Global Warming.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
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3.3 Hydrology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
3.3.1 Surface Water.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
3.3.1.1 Columbia River.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
3.3.1.2 Columbia Riverbank Seepage.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
3.3.1.3 Yakima River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
3.3.1.4 Springs and Streams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
3.3.1.5 Runoff and Net Infiltration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
3.3.1.6 Flooding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
3.3.1.7 Non-Riverine Surface Water.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
3.3.2 Vadose Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
3.3.3 Groundwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
3.3.3.1 Monument Aquifer System.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
3.3.3.1.1 Basalt-Confined Aquifer System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
3.3.3.1.2 Unconfined Aquifer System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
3.3.3.2 Groundwater Residence Times.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
3.3.4 Hydrology East and North of the Columbia River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
3.4 Environmental Contaminants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
3.5 Air Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
3.5.1 State of Washington Air Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
3.5.2 Monument Air Quality.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
3.6 Water Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
3.6.1 Columbia River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
3.6.2 Springs and Seeps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
3.6.3 Other Surface Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
3.6.4 Groundwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
3.6.4.1 Natural Groundwater Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
3.6.5 Vadose Zone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
3.7 Geology and Geomorphology.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
3.7.1 Geologic History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
3.7.1.1 Lava Flows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
3.7.1.1.1 Columbia Basin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
3.7.1.1.2 Pasco Basin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
3.7.1.2 Tectonic Forces.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
3.7.1.3 Ancestral Columbia River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
3.7.1.4 Ice Age Floods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
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3.7.2 Landmass Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
3.7.2.1 Physical and Structural Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
3.7.2.2 Rock Strata and Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
3.7.2.2.1 Ellensburg Formation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
3.7.2.2.2 Ringold Formation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
3.7.2.2.3 Cold Creek Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
3.7.2.2.4 Hanford Formation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
3.7.2.2.5 Clastic Dikes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
3.7.2.3 Surface Soils. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
3.7.3 Seismic Activity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
3.7.4 White Bluffs Landslides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
3.7.5 Special Geologic Features of the Monument.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
3.8 Paleontological Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
3.9 Plants and Plant Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
3.9.1 General Description by Management Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
3.9.1.1 ALE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
3.9.1.2 Wahluke Slope (Wahluke and Saddle Mountain Units).. . . . . . . . . . . 3-43
3.9.1.3 Riverlands/McGee Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43
3.9.1.4 Hanford Reach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-44
3.9.2 Microbiotic Crusts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-45
3.9.3 Upland Community Types.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
3.9.3.1 Big Sagebrush/Bluebunch Wheatgrass.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
3.9.3.2 Big Sagebrush/Sandberg’s Bluegrass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
3.9.3.3 Big Sagebrush/Needle-and-Thread.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
3.9.3.4 Bitterbrush/Indian Ricegrass Dune Complex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
3.9.3.5 Big Sagebrush/Cheatgrass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
3.9.3.6 Sand Dropseed/Sandberg’s Bluegrass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
3.9.3.7 Spiny Hopsage/Sandberg’s Bluegrass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-50
3.9.3.8 Winterfat/Sandberg’s Bluegrass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-50
3.9.3.9 Stiff Sagebrush/Sandberg’s Bluegrass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-50
3.9.3.10 Desert Buckwheat (Various)/Sandberg’s Bluegrass.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
3.9.3.11 Three-tip Sagebrush Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
3.9.3.12 Low Elevation Alkaline Vernal Pools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
3.9.4 Riparian and Hanford Reach Plant Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
3.9.4.1 Willow Riparian Complex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
3.9.4.2 Non-Persistent Riverine Emergent Wetland.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
3.9.4.3 Unconsolidated Shore, Cobble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
3.9.4.4 Irrigation Run-off Created Wetlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
3.9.4.5 Island Upland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
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3.9.5 Plant Species of Interest.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
3.9.5.1 Awned Halfchaff Sedge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
3.9.5.2 Canadian St. John’s Wort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
3.9.5.3 Chaffweed.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
3.9.5.4 Columbia Milkvetch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
3.9.5.5 Coyote Tobacco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
3.9.5.6 Desert Cryptantha (Miner’s Candle).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
3.9.5.7 Desert Dodder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
3.9.5.8 Desert Evening Primrose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
3.9.5.9 Dwarf Evening Primrose.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
3.9.5.10 Fuzzytongue Penstemon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57
3.9.5.11 Geyer’s Milkvetch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57
3.9.5.12 Gray Cryptantha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-58
3.9.5.13 Great Basin Gilia (Sand Gilia). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-58
3.9.5.14 Hoover’s Desert-Parsley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-59
3.9.5.15 Loeflingia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-59
3.9.5.16 Persistent-sepal Yellowcress.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-60
3.9.5.17 Piper’s Daisy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-61
3.9.5.18 Rosy Calyptridium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-61
3.9.5.19 Scarlet Ammannia (Grand Redstem). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-62
3.9.5.20 Shining Flatsedge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-62
3.9.5.21 Small-Flower Evening Primrose.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-63
3.9.5.22 Snake River Cryptantha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-63
3.9.5.23 Suksdorf’s Monkey-Flower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-63
3.9.5.24 Toothcup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-64
3.9.5.25 White Eatonella.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-64
3.10 Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-64
3.10.1 Aquatic Wildlife.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-65
3.10.1.1 Aquatic Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-65
3.10.1.1.1 Columbia River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-65
3.10.1.1.2 Springs and Spring Streams.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-65
3.10.1.1.3 Wetlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-66
3.10.1.2 Plankton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-67
3.10.1.2.1 Phytoplankton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-67
3.10.1.2.2 Periphyton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-68
3.10.1.2.3 Zooplankton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-68
3.10.1.3 Macrophytes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-68
3.10.1.4 Benthic Organisms/Aquatic Invertebrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-69
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3.10.1.5 Fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-70
3.10.1.5.1 Salmonids.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-70
3.10.1.5.2 Shad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-72
3.10.1.5.3 White Sturgeon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-73
3.10.1.5.4 Other Fish Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-73
3.10.2 Riparian Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-73
3.10.3 Terrestrial Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-74
3.10.3.1 Terrestrial Invertebrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-74
3.10.3.2 Amphibians and Reptiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-77
3.10.3.3 Birds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-77
3.10.3.4 Mammals.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-81
3.10.4 Unique/Rare Habitats and Associated Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-82
3.11 Threatened and Endangered Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-83
3.11.1 Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-84
3.11.2 Animals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-87
3.12 Special-Status Species and Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-89
3.12.1 Plant Communities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-89
3.12.2 Rare or Sensitive Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-91
3.12.3 Plant Species New to Science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-94
3.12.3.1 Rattlesnake Mountain Milkvetch (Basalt Milkvetch).. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-94
3.12.3.2 Umtanum Desert Buckwheat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-94
3.12.3.3 White Bluffs Bladderpod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-95
3.12.4 Invertebrates.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-95
3.12.5 Amphibians and Reptiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-96
3.12.6 Fish.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-96
3.12.7 Birds.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-96
3.12.8 Mammals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-97
3.12.9 Recreationally/Commercially Important Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-98
3.13 Noxious and Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-99
3.14 Cultural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-101
3.14.1 Pre-Contact Native American Traditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-102
3.14.1.1 Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-103
3.14.1.2 Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. . . . . . . . . 3-103
3.14.1.3 Nez Perce Tribe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-104
3.14.1.4 Wanapum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-104
3.14.1.5 Yakama Indian Nation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-104
3.14.1.6 Ethnographic Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-104
3.14.2 Post-Contact, Euro-American Traditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-110
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3.14.3 Cultural Resources Inventory in the Monument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-111
3.14.3.1 Pre-Contact Archaeological Investigations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-112
3.14.3.1.1 Early Period (14,000–8,000 Years Before Present).. . . . . . . . 3-113
3.14.3.1.2 Middle Period (8,000–4,500 B.P.).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-114
3.14.3.1.3 Late Period (4,500–250 B.P.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-115
3.14.4 Pre-Contact Resources.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-116
3.14.5 Post-Contact Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-118
3.15 Tribal Uses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-120
3.16 Visual/Aesthetic Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-121
3.16.1 Columbia Plateau Aesthetic/Visual Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-121
3.16.2 Monument Aesthetic/Visual Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-122
3.16.2.1 Ringold Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-123
3.16.2.1.1 Topography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-123
3.16.2.1.2 Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-123
3.16.2.1.3 Land Use/Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-123
3.16.2.1.4 Cultural Modifications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-124
3.16.2.2 Wahluke Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-124
3.16.2.2.1 Topography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-124
3.16.2.2.2 Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-124
3.16.2.2.3 Land Use/Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-125
3.16.2.2.4 Cultural Modifications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-125
3.16.2.3 Saddle Mountain Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-125
3.16.2.3.1 Topography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-125
3.16.2.3.2 Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-126
3.16.2.3.3 Land Use/Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-126
3.16.2.3.4 Cultural Modifications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-126
3.16.2.4 Columbia River Corridor Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-126
3.16.2.4.1 Topography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-126
3.16.2.4.2 Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-127
3.16.2.4.3 Land Use/Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-127
3.16.2.4.4 Cultural Modifications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-127
3.16.2.5 Rattlesnake Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-128
3.16.2.5.1 Topography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-128
3.16.2.5.2 Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-129
3.16.2.5.3 Land Use/Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-129
3.16.2.5.4 Cultural Modifications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-129
3.16.2.6 Central Hanford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-130
3.16.2.6.1 Natural Features.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-130
3.16.2.6.2 Cultural Modifications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-131
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3.16.3 Auditory Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-131
3.16.3.1 North of the Columbia River (Ringold, Saddle Mountain,
And Wahluke Units). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-132
3.16.3.2 Columbia River Corridor Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-132
3.16.3.3 Rattlesnake Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-133
3.16.4 Olfactory Resources.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-133
3.17 Visitor Use and Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-134
3.17.1 Public Use Acreages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-134
3.17.2 Visitor Facilities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-134
3.17.2.1 Public Access Roads.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-135
3.17.2.1.1 Wahluke Unit Roads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-135
3.17.2.1.2 Riverlands and Vernita Bridge Unit Roads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-135
3.17.2.2 Boat Launches.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-135
3.17.3 Recreation Use.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-136
3.17.4 Recreation Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-137
3.17.4.1 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-137
3.17.4.2 Hunting and Trapping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-140
3.17.4.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-140
3.17.4.4 Environmental Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-141
3.17.4.5 Interpretation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-141
3.17.4.6 Research and Astronomy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-142
3.17.4.7 Boating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-142
3.17.4.8 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-143
3.17.4.9 Bicycling.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-143
3.17.4.10 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-143
3.17.4.11 Commercial Uses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-143
3.17.5 Hanford Reach Jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-144
3.18 Infrastructure.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-144
3.18.1 Management Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-144
3.18.1.1 Personnel.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-144
3.18.1.2 Buildings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-145
3.18.1.3 Equipment.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-146
3.18.1.4 Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-147
3.18.1.5 Columbia River Boat Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-147
3.18.1.5.1 Monument Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-147
3.18.1.5.2 Administrative Access Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-148
3.18.1.5.3 Off-Monument Access.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-148
3.18.1.6 Other Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-148
3.18.1.7 Adjacent Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-149
3.18.1.7.1 Horn Rapids County Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-149
3.18.1.7.2 Ringold Spring Fish Hatchery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-149
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3.18.2 Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-149
3.18.2.1 Transportation Jurisdictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-150
3.18.2.2 National Highway System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-150
3.18.2.3 Highways of Statewide Significance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-151
3.18.2.4 Roadway Level of Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-151
3.18.2.5 State Highway Design Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-152
3.18.2.6 Access Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-154
3.18.2.7 Washington State/Local Transportation Plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-154
3.18.2.7.1 Washington Transportation Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-154
3.18.2.7.2 Benton-Franklin Council of Governments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-154
3.18.2.7.3 Benton County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-155
3.18.2.7.4 Grant County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-156
3.18.2.8 Transportation Infrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-156
3.18.2.8.1 Roadway Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-156
3.18.2.8.2 National Highway System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-160
3.18.2.8.3 Scenic and Recreational Highways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-160
3.18.2.8.4 Pullouts in Project Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-161
3.18.2.8.5 Parking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-161
3.18.2.9 Refuge Roads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-161
3.18.2.10 Transit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-163
3.18.2.11 Non-Motorized Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-163
3.18.2.12 Rail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-163
3.18.2.13 Airports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-164
3.18.2.13.1 Regional Airport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-164
3.18.2.13.2 Other Local Airports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-164
3.18.2.14 Existing Conditions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-165
3.18.2.14.1 Traffic Volumes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-165
3.18.2.14.2 Level of Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-165
3.18.2.14.3 Accidents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-165
3.18.2.15 Future Planned Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-167
3.18.2.15.1 Regional Planning Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-167
3.18.2.15.2 Vernita Rest Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-168
3.18.3 Utilities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-168
3.18.3.1 BPA Transmission Lines and Substations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-168
3.18.3.2 Energy Northwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-169
3.18.3.3 Communication Towers and Other Transmission Lines. . . . . . . . . 3-169
3.18.3.4 South Columbia Basin Irrigation District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-170
3.18.4 Valid Existing Rights.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-170
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3.19 Social-Economic Setting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-171
3.19.1 Population Demographics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-171
3.19.1.1 General Population. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-171
3.19.1.2 Native American Populations Near the Monument. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-172
3.19.2 Government-to-Government Consultations with Native
American Tribes—Partial History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-172
3.19.3 Environmental Justice Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-173
3.19.3.1 Area of Consideration.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-174
3.19.3.2 Minority and Low-Income Populations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-174
3.19.3.2.1 Hispanic and Latino Populations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-175
3.19.3.2.2 Native American Populations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-176
3.19.3.2.3 Low Income Populations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-177
3.19.4 Fiscal Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-178
3.19.4.1 Industrial Makeup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-178
3.19.4.2 Unemployment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-179
3.19.4.3 Average Wages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-180
3.19.4.4 Economic Development Organizations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-180
3.19.4.4.1 Adams County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-180
3.19.4.4.2 Benton and Franklin Counties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-181
3.19.4.4.3 Grant County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-181
3.19.4.4.4 Kittitas County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-181
3.19.4.4.5 Walla Walla County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-181
3.19.4.4.6 Yakima County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-182
3.19.4.5 Recreational Use at the Monument.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-182
3.19.5 Educational Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-183
3.19.5.1 Public Schools.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-183
3.19.5.2 Private Schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-183
3.19.5.3 Post-Secondary Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-184
3.19.5.3.1 Columbia Basin College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-184
3.19.5.3.2 Washington State University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-185
3.19.6 Agriculture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-185
3.19.6.1 Adams County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-185
3.19.6.2 Benton County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-186
3.19.6.3 Franklin County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-186
3.19.6.4 Grant County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-186
3.19.6.5 Kittitas County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-186
3.19.6.6 Walla Walla County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-187
3.19.6.7 Yakima County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-187
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3.19.7 Emergency Services.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-187
3.19.7.1 Police. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-187
3.19.7.2 Monument Law Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-188
3.19.7.3 Area Fire Fighting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-188
3.19.7.4 Monument/FWS Firefighting Capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-189
3.19.7.5 Other Emergency Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-189
3.20 Special Area Designations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-190
3.20.1 Important Bird Area.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-190
3.20.2 Research Natural Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-191
3.20.3 National Register Listed and Eligible Properties (Historic Districts). . . . 3-192
3.20.4 Washington Heritage Register Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-193
3.20.5 Traditional Cultural Properties Eligible Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-194
3.20.6 B Reactor, Potential Historic Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-197
3.20.7 Wilderness Eligible Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-198
3.20.8 Wild and Scenic River Study Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-199
3.20.9 National Environmental Research Park.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-201
3.20.10 Hanford Site Protective Safety Buffer Zones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-202
3.21 Additional Management Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-204
3.21.1 Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-204
3.21.1.1 Fire Season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-205
3.21.1.2 Fire Ecology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-205
3.21.1.3 Fuels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-207
3.21.2 Elk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-208
3.21.3 River Flows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-210
3.21.4 Sites of Concern.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-211
3.21.5 Islands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-212
3.21.5.1 Island History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-213
3.21.5.2 Island Wildlife Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-214
3.21.5.3 Island Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-214
3.21.5.3.1 Wooded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-215
3.21.5.3.2 Sparsely Wooded/Shrub.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-215
3.21.5.3.3 Grass/Cobble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-215
3.21.5.3.4 Grass/Cobble/Scattered Trees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-215
3.21.5.3.5 Cobble/Dune. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-216
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3.21.5.4 Specific Island Descriptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-216
3.21.4.5.1 Island #1 (WDNR).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-216
3.21.4.5.2 Island #2 (BLM). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-216
3.21.5.4.3 Island #3 (BLM). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-216
3.21.5.4.4 Island #4 (WDNR).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-217
3.21.5.4.5 Island #5 (WDNR).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-217
3.21.5.4.6 Island #6—Locke Island (DOE). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-217
3.21.5.4.7 Island #7 (WDNR).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-218
3.21.5.4.8 Island #8 (DOE).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-218
3.21.5.4.9 Island #9 (BLM). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-218
3.21.5.4.10 Island #10 (WDNR).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-218
3.21.5.4.11 Island #11 (BLM). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-218
3.21.5.4.12 Island #12 (BLM). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-218
3.21.5.4.13 Island #13—Homestead Island (BLM, WDNR, Private). . . 3-219
3.21.5.4.14 Island #14—Wooded Island (FWS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-219
3.21.5.4.15 Island #15 (FWS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-219
3.21.5.4.16 Island #16 (FWS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-219
3.21.5.4.17 Island #17—Johnson Island (FWS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-220
3.21.5.4.18 Island #18 (FWS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-220
3.21.5.4.19 Island #19 (FWS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-220
3.21.5.4.20 Island #20 (ACOE). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-220
3.21.5.4.21 Island #21—Nelson Island.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-222
3.21.5.5 Island Cultural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-222
Chapter 4 – Environmental Impact Analysis.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
4.0 Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
4.0.1 Assumptions and Best Management Practices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
4.0.1.1 Assumptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
4.0.1.1.1 Landscape-level Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
4.0.1.1.2 Resource Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
4.0.1.1.3 Research Projects.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
4.0.1.1.4 Increased Visitor Use.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
4.0.1.1.5 Interpretation and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
4.0.1.1.6 Effects on Wildlife.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
4.0.1.1.7 Effects on Vegetation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
4.0.1.1.8 Spread of Non-native Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
4.0.1.1.9 Wildland Fire and Fire Suppression Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
4.0.1.1.10 Cooperative Agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
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4.0.1.2 Best Management Practices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
4.0.1.2.1 Avoidance of Sensitive Resources.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
4.0.1.2.2 Proper Use of Chemicals in Controlling Non-native
Invasive Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
4.0.1.2.3 Implementation of Integrated Pest Management Plan.. . . . . . . . 4-11
4.0.1.2.4 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
4.0.1.2.5 Natural Resource Data Collection, Monitoring, Adaptive
Management.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
4.0.1.2.6 Cultural Resource Inventories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
4.0.1.2.7 Fire Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
4.0.1.2.8 Facility Design/Aesthetic Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
4.0.2 Effect Severity Ratings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
4.0.3 Description of Management Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
4.0.3.1 Biological Resource Management Actions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
4.0.3.1.1 Control of Non-native Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
4.0.3.1.2 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
4.0.3.1.3 Wildlife Population Control.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
4.0.3.2 Visitor Service Management Actions—Interpretation
And Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
4.0.3.2.1 Interpretive Site Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
4.0.3.2.2 Interpretive Trail Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
4.0.3.3 Visitor Service Management Actions—Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
4.0.3.3.1 Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
4.0.3.3.2 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19
4.0.3.3.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19
4.0.3.3.4 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
4.0.3.3.5 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
4.0.3.3.6 Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
4.0.3.3.7 Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
4.0.3.3.8 Modified Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
4.0.3.3.9 Permit System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
4.1 Effects on Geological/Paleontological Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
4.1.1 Assumptions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
4.1.2 Effects Analysis—Geological Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
4.1.2.1 Effects Common to All Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
4.1.2.1.1 Control of Non-native Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
4.1.2.1.2 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
4.1.2.1.3 Wildland Fire and Fire Suppression Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
4.1.2.1.4 Public Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
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4.1.2.2 Effects of Biological Resource Management Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
4.1.2.3 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—
Interpretation and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
4.1.2.3.1 Interpretive Site Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
4.1.2.3.2 Interpretive Trail Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
4.1.2.4 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—Recreation. . . . . . 4-27
4.1.2.4.1 Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
4.1.2.4.2 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
4.1.2.4.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
4.1.2.4.4 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
4.1.2.4.5 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
4.1.2.4.6 Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
4.1.2.4.7 Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
4.1.2.4.8 Modified Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
4.1.2.4.9 Permit System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
4.1.3 Effects Analysis—Paleontological Resources.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
4.1.3.1 Effects Common to All Alternatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
4.1.3.1.1 Control of Non-native Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
4.1.3.1.2 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
4.1.3.1.3 Wildland Fire and Fire Suppression Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
4.1.3.1.4 Public Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
4.1.3.2 Effects of Biological Resource Management Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
4.1.3.3 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—
Interpretation and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
4.1.3.3.1 Interpretive Site Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
4.1.3.3.2 Interpretive Trail Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
4.1.3.4 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—Recreation. . . . . . 4-34
4.1.3.4.1 Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
4.1.3.4.2 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
4.1.3.4.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
4.1.3.4.4 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
4.1.3.4.5 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
4.1.3.4.6 Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
4.1.3.4.7 Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
4.1.3.4.8 Modified Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
4.1.3.4.9 Permit System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
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4.2 Effects on Shrub-Steppe, Other Upland Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
4.2.1 Assumptions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
4.2.2 Effects Analysis—Wildlife and Habitat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
4.2.2.1 Effects Common to All Alternatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
4.2.2.1.1 Habitat Modification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
4.2.2.1.2 Public Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
4.2.2.1.3 Wildland Fire and Fire Suppression Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
4.2.2.1.4 Wildlife Population Control Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
4.2.2.1.5 Visitor Facility Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
4.2.2.2 Effects of Biological Resource Management Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
4.2.2.3 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—
Interpretation and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43
4.2.2.3.1 Interpretive Site Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43
4.2.2.3.2 Interpretive Trail Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43
4.2.2.4 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—Recreation. . . . . . 4-44
4.2.2.4.1 Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44
4.2.2.4.2 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50
4.2.2.4.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50
4.2.2.4.4 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50
4.2.2.4.5 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50
4.2.2.4.6 Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51
4.2.2.4.7 Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51
4.2.2.4.8 Modified Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-52
4.2.2.4.9 Permit System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
4.2.3 Effects Analysis—Microbiotic Crust.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
4.2.3.1 Effects Common to All Alternatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
4.2.3.1.1 Surface-Disturbing Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
4.2.3.1.2 Control of Non-native Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54
4.2.3.1.3 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54
4.2.3.1.4 Wildland Fire and Fire Suppression Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
4.2.3.1.5 Wildlife Population Control Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
4.2.3.1.6 Public Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
4.2.3.2 Effects of Biological Resource Management Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-56
4.2.3.3 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—
Interpretation and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57
4.2.3.3.1 Interpretive Site Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57
4.2.3.3.2 Interpretive Trail Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
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4.2.3.4 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—Recreation. . . . . . 4-58
4.2.3.4.1 Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
4.2.3.4.2 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59
4.2.3.4.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59
4.2.3.4.4 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59
4.2.3.4.5 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
4.2.3.4.6 Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
4.2.3.4.7 Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
4.2.3.4.8 Modified Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61
4.2.3.4.9 Permit System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-62
4.2.4 Effects Analysis—Sensitive Plant Communities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63
4.2.4.1 Effects Common to All Alternatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63
4.2.4.1.1 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63
4.2.4.1.2 Public Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63
4.2.4.2 Effects of Biological Resource Management Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-64
4.2.4.3 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—
Interpretation and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-65
4.2.4.3.1 Interpretive Site Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-65
4.2.4.3.2 Interpretive Trail Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-65
4.2.4.4 Effects of Visitor Services Management Actions—Recreation. . . . . . 4-66
4.2.4.4.1 Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-66
4.2.4.4.2 Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-66
4.2.4.4.3 Wildlife Observation and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-66
4.2.4.4.4 Hiking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-66
4.2.4.4.5 Equestrian Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
4.2.4.4.6 Boat Launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
4.2.4.4.7 Camping.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
4.2.4.4.8 Modified Public Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-68
4.2.4.4.9 Permit System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-69
4.2.5 Effects on Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-69
4.2.5.1 Effects Common to All Alternatives.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-70
4.2.5.1.1 Control of Non-native Invasive Species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-70
4.2.5.1.2 Restoration Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .