C150240 Vegitation Montioring Analysis

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Forested areas within the newly inundated zone is less than 5% of the total area and are ' dominated by supalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), aspen (Populus tremuloides), and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii). The supalpine fir and aspen trees that are within the inundated area are dead or dying. Engelmann spruce trees can tolerate more moisture than firs and do not ' visually appear to be affected by the increased water level. Shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphorafruiticosa spp.floribunda) is located mainly on the east side of the reservoir and is present at a moderate frequency with only a scattered occurrence throughout the survey area. Shrubby cinquefoil is surviving in the newly inundated zone only at the highest elevations and is dead further down the basin. On the east side of the reservoir there is a visual transition zone abutting the new high water level and extending approximately 10 to 15 feet below the high water line. Dominant species in this ' transition zone are arctic pearlwort (Sagina saginoides), oval-leaf knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum), willow dock (Rumex salicifolius), and alpine yellowcress (Rorippa curvipes var. alpine). ' Below the transition zone within the reservoir basin, water sedge is dominant at the upper elevations and Northwest Territory sedge is dominant at the lower elevations. Above the ' transition zone in the upland area, plant species consist of beautiful cinquefoil (Potentilla pulcherrima), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Virginia strawberry(Fragaria virginiana). tIn the willow-dominated wetland on the west side of the reservoir, the willows create a thick canopy cover. Bluejoint(Calamagrostis canadensis) was present in the understory just below the ' new high water level with patches of Northwest Territory sedge. Bare ground and litter constitute approximately 50% of the substrate, likely from insufficient light exposure below the willow canopy. Wetland Delineation ' In 2009, a wetland delineation was performed by WestWater biologists. The wetland delineation was withdrawn and never verified by the ACOE. This delineation, however, was used to establish the area of wetland for baseline conditions at Bull Creek Reservoir #4 within the newly ' inundated zone. A wetland delineation was conducted following three growing seasons of normal operations at the reservoir by WestWater biologists on August 18 and 21, 2014. Delineation Results ' On the basis of wetland vegetation, soils, and hydrology, wetland totaled 9.67 acres and was verified by a site visit with the ACOE (Nathan Green, Regulatory Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) on September 5, 2014 (Figure 2). In the newly inundated zone, wetland has ' increased from 3.38 acres to 6.49 acres. A detailed wetland delineation report was prepared and accompanies this report. Individual acres of aquatic resource are found in Table 3. WestWater Engineering Page 4 of 14 February 2015