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Fish Creek Reservoir Expansion EIS &;:i.?~~;;:;:;"t:&w;::;."'S.w;:~.m:;:-;;;~'"W~1W"..>>:&<<~::...<@~~:::-,..w~..m~~h~~~1U:'W~W>!".;;,m;;:m:;:;:;$,:;<&~W<<..~~*S::~<<:&..,'~~:;::.: The project area occurs within elk and mule deer summer range, and project development would result in a slight reduction of summer range in the region. Permanent habitat loss would occur in the areas inundated by the expanded reservoir. Additionally, new roads would account for a minor amount of relatively permanent habitat loss. It is also projected that vegetation in the borrow areas would not be returned to pre-disturbance diversity and productivity levels. Therefore, lost carrying capacity or displacement from these areas would continue after construction. These habitat losses and reductions in habitat quality, however, are not expected to have any measurable effect on regional elk and mule deer populations because summer habitats are not considered limiting for these species, and existing recreational activities in the vicinity of the reservoir have already limited the suitability of existing habitats. As indicated in Section 3.8, Wildlife, a variety of forest birds of prey occur and nest in the region. Nesting habitat for most species is limited in the project area by the general lack of suitable tree or cliff nest sites. In addition, no old-growth forested habitat, preferred for nesting by species such as pygmy owl and boreal owl, would be disturbed by reservoir expansion. As a result, project development is expected to have little effect on regional populations of nesting raptor species. Fisheries habitat would be affected by the reservoir expansion. Reservoir expansion would create additional high mountain lake habitat but would reduce the amount of available stream habitat in Middle Fork Fish Creek and Granite Creek above the reservoir. The greatest amount of inundation would occur along Granite Creek since its gradient is less steep than Middle Fork Fish Creek. Because of the steepness of Middle Fork Fish Creek in most of the inundation area there are few pools, and trout habitat was rated as relatively poor. In contrast, the portion of Granite Creek which would be inundated exhibits characteristics of a mountain meadow stream with numerous deep pools. This section of the stream provides high quality trout habitat and supports numerous, but small, brook trout. Human Presence and Noise - Increased levels of human actIvity and noise associated with construction activities related to reservoir expansion has the potential to displace local wildlife populations beyond the actual areas of habitat disturbance. The most common response of wildlife to noise and human presence is avoidance or accommodation. Reaction of animals to noise varies depending on the intensity of the noise source and whether it is continuous or intermittent. Transient loud noises generally provoke alarm responses, while many animals apparently learn to ignore more constant, lower level noise sources that are not associated with negative experiences such as being chased or hunted. Avoidance would result in displacement of animals from an area larger than the actual disturbance area. The total extent of habitat lost as a result of wildlife avoidance response is impossible to predict since the severity of this response varies from species to species and can even vary between different individuals of the same species. Also, after initial avoidance of human activity and noise producing areas, certain wildlife species may acclimate to the activity and begin to reinvade areas formerly avoided. Since the project area already receives considerable human recreational activity, additional wildlife avoidance in response to construction activities is expected to occur only in the immediate area of construction activity. This avoidance should be relatively short-term and cease shortly after construction is completed. In addition to avoidance response, increased human presence intensifies the potential for wildlife/human interactions ranging from harassment of wildlife to poaching and legal harvest. Possible impacts from poaching can be alleviated by prohibiting the possession of firearms by the 3;::.::::w.~~~~%::;:;::.7.~~~~mW&::::.::-:x:.w"w;~i{-;i~~>>:%:t'.:i::::~~:;<<:.;..W;:::Bffi~:::AA::<<:;:;:;:3~;:t.%:::;:;:::-;;<<;*;:0:-:>>;:;;::~;l::~;:;.x.~::'~" PAge 4.28 SqJeanber 199)