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<br />n rp '(~.'o 3 <br />~'" ~.'y " Wetland Mitigation <br /> <br />A- 4 <br /> <br />baseline conditions, will be conducted annually for the first 5 years of <br />Facility operation. The monitoring methods will mirror the methods used in <br />the baseline program. This is necessary to scientifically compare the changes <br />over the years. At the end of the 5 years, a determination will be made as to <br />the future wetland monitoring frequency. If, as a result of the annual <br />monitoring, it is determined that Facility impacts to any of the resources (i.e. <br />terrestrial, aquatic, channel stability) result in greater than 10 percent of the <br />original resource being adversely affected annually, annual monitoring will <br />continue and increased efforts to reduce the impacts and replace the resource <br />will be initiated." ROD at p. 15. <br /> <br />During the 404 application and pre-SEIR consultation process, the Corps has further <br />specified that functional replacement is important, and that monitoring and mitigation <br />should extend to woody/riparian vegetation in addition to jurisdictional wetlands. It is <br />the Sponsors' intent that this plan document fulfill both the Corps' and Reclamation's <br />requirements under the 404 permit and ROD, respectively, for wetlands and riparian <br />impact monitoring and mitigation. <br /> <br />A.2.4 Monitoring Plan Components <br /> <br />A.2.4.1 Aerial photography <br /> <br />The Sponsors will conduct low-level aerial photography of the river corridor prior to <br />facility operation, and then semi-annually through the first five years of operation. <br />According to MEI (See their 1995 Letter Report on Temporary Sedimentation Effects, <br />included in the 404 Comment Responses), most of the channel adjustment process will be <br />completed by the fifth year of operation. After that time, additional system changes <br />should be minor and occurring slowly. It therefore makes sense to review results after 5 <br />years, and re-evaluate the necessity and extent of future efforts at that time. <br /> <br />Aerial photography will be used to monitor wetland and riparian impacts, as well as to <br />document erosion and identify remedial stabilization needs. During semi-annual <br />monitoring, photographs will generally be taken in the mid-spring (typically May), and <br />again in early summer (typically July). These dates will allow the Sponsors to <br />differentiate between riparian effects of the spring flood (typically June) and project- <br />related impacts. If and when a change from semi-annual to annual photography occurs, <br />annual flights will be conducted during the growing season to ensure collection of valid <br />wetland information. Photographs will extend at least 1/2 mile upstream and downstream <br />of the project impact area to help establish reference conditions (e.g. annual changes <br />associated with natural hydrologic and weather conditions, unaffected by project <br />operation). During each year of the monitoring program, standard procedures will be <br />used to quantify total wetland area from the aerials. Large-scale vegetative cover and <br />wetland type will also be documented and tracked with the aerials. Loss of cottonwoods <br />and willow stands should also be evident. <br /> <br />AB Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />July 2000 <br /> <br />