Botany Resource Report for Plants - USFS Tongass National … · 2013. 4. 26. · the dock on Gilbert Bay. A road would be built connecting the powerhouse and the dock site. At this

Botany Resource Report for Plants - USFS – Tongass National Forest – Juneau Ranger District – FINAL REPORT

For: Juneau Hydropower, Inc. - Sweetheart Lake Hydro Project

Koren Bosworth - Bosworth Botanical Consulting –and Richard Carstensen - Discovery Southeast

Galium kamtschaticum

April 2013

©2013 BOSWORTH BOTANICAL CONSULTING

20130426-5009 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/25/2013 5:26:22 PM

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Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction 3

2.0 Project Description 4

3.0 Effected Environment 6 3.1 General Vegetation 6

4.0 Rare Plants 11

5.0 Invasive Plants 16

6.0 Pre-field Review of Existing Information 17

7.0 Survey Methods for Rare and Invasive Plant Species 19

8.0 Survey Results 19

9.0 Environmental Consequences 20

10.0 Cumulative Effects 24

10.0 References 28

Appendix A - Alaska Region Sensitive Plants, February 2009 29

Appendix B - Sweetheart Lake Project Plant Survey - Species List. 30

Appendix C - Gilbert Bay Plant List - Species List 36

Appendix D - USFS - Tongass National Forest - GIS Rare Plant Records for Three Rare Species 42

Appendix E - USDA Forest Service Element Occurrence Forms for Carex bicolor, Chrysosplenium

tetrandrum and Galium kamtschaticum 45


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1.0 Introduction

This document is a botanical resource report for rare plant species in support of permit

documents, determination of direct and indirect impacts, and mitigation planning for the

Sweetheart Lake hydroelectric project. For the past two years Juneau Hydropower, Inc.

has been evaluating the Sweetheart Watershed for siting a hydroelectric project (FERC

No. 1356-001).

Forest Service policy requires that a review of programs and activities, through an effects

analysis, be conducted to determine their potential effect on threatened and endangered

species, species proposed for listing and Regional Forester designated sensitive species.

The purpose of this document is to present the analysis and determination of effects of

the alternatives on federally listed species (endangered, threatened, and proposed) and

Forest Service sensitive species (FSM 2670.31-2670.32), rare plant species and invasive

species.

For threatened and endangered species and species proposed for listing, the analysis and

document are referred to as a Biological Assessment, or BA. No plants federally listed or

proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are known or suspected to occur in the

Alaska Region, therefore there will be no further discussion of federally listed or

proposed plants in this document.

A rare plant on the Tongass National Forest is defined as a plant that:

1. is on the Alaska Natural Heritage Program (ANHP) Rare Vascular Plant Tracking List that are known or suspected to occur on the Tongass (ANHP, 2012), is

considered S1 and S2 in State ranking (some S3 are considered), and is not on the

sensitive plant list for the Tongass.

2. is proposed upon consultation and agreement among Tongass ecologists, District botanists, and the Region 10 botanist because of rarity on the Tongass (i.e. plants

with range edges or disjunct populations on the Tongass but not yet given a state

ranking on the ANHP list).

3. has population viability concerns on the Tongass, but is not on the sensitive plant list.

4. has been or is being raised as an issue because of rarity or conservation concerns (through the NEPA process).

The list of rare plants is dynamic; plants may be dropped when they are found to be more

abundant than previously thought, or plants may be added if they are newly discovered in

the state or Forest. Plants may also be added or dropped as their taxonomic status

changes. Generally, the Tongass rare plant list is based on the ANHP rare plant-tracking

list. The USFS and other agencies contribute rare plant occurrence information to the

ANHP for database inclusion. The plants considered sensitive on the Tongass are also on

the ANHP plant-tracking list.


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2.0 Project Description Gilbert Bay is on the mainland of SE Alaska, approximately 35 miles south of Juneau and

just north of Tracy Arm (Figure 1). Sweetheart Creek and Lower Sweetheart Lake are at

the head of Gilbert Bay on the east side. Lower Sweetheart Lake is a long, narrow lake

(5.28 miles x 0.6 miles) two miles up Sweetheart Creek from Gilbert Bay. With this

project I am using a slightly different terminology than is often used in these reports. The

term project area is expanded to include all of the Sweetheart watershed and the potential

transmission line corridor on the western shore of Gilbert Bay. This allows for the

consideration of watershed wide impacts to fish and wildlife. The area around Lower

Sweetheart Lake that would be inundated by the damming of the lake outlet is referred to

as the impact area and is what is used for mapping and calculation of impacted acres in

the lake area (Figure 2). The powerhouse, tailrace, a road and a dock would be located at

the mouth of Sweetheart Creek on the southeast shore of Gilbert Bay.

Figure 1 - Project location map


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Figure 2 - Generalized map of inundated area around Lower Sweetheart Lake (Carstensen 2012).

Figure 3 - Proposed impacts at Lower Sweetheart Lake dam site and the lower Sweetheart Creek, powerhouse,

tailrace, upper road and dock.


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Figure 4 - West side transmission line

alternatives.

The proposed project consists of an

intake structure at Lower Sweetheart

Lake, a dam at the outlet of Lower

Sweetheart Lake which would raise

the level of the lake from 551 feet to

576 feet permanently and then

another 60 feet seasonally, a power

conduit consisting mostly of a tunnel

rather than a road, which considering

the steep terrain would be very

difficult and invasive, and a steel

penstock leading to a buried or

partially buried powerhouse located

above the barrier falls at Sweetheart

Creek. An operator’s house would be

built either at the powerhouse or at

the dock on Gilbert Bay. A road

would be built connecting the

powerhouse and the dock site. At this

time there are two road alternatives:

one is the 1.1 mile forest road that

would stay high on the hillside to just

above the dock and then switchback

down and the other, the1.0 mile

coastal road, would stay low, staying

in the rocky intertidal from the dock

to the north edge of the delta sediments, when it would angle fairly steeply up the hill to

the powerhouse. The forest road would have 3.4 acres of road fill and the beach road

would have 3.0 acres of road fill.

The transmission lines between the dock and the powerhouse would either be overhead

lines (forest route) or buried cable (coastal route). From the dock transmission of

electricity would occur either by a mix of submarine and overhead transmission

traversing the west side of Gilbert Bay or through a submarine cable across Gilbert Bay

to the Snettisham transmission line (Figures 2-4).

3.0 Effected Environment

3.1 General Vegetation The impact area vegetation patterns correspond to the age and the geomorphic,

hydrologic and soils patterns of the specific sites and the overall area. The well-drained

alluvial and colluvial sediments and the steep bedrock slopes are mostly upland


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vegetation. The finer lakeshore and beaver pond edge sediments and flatter basin, hill

slope and terrace areas have wetland vegetation of various types. Following are

vegetation maps of the project area including one using the National Wetlands Inventory

(Cowardin 1976) and the USFS - Tongass National Forest Vegetation Maps with some

specific categories devised to better fit the Sweetheart Lake conditions.

Figure 5 - General vegetation map altered from USFS vegetation type GIS layers


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Figure 6 - NWI map for Gilbert Bay


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Figure 7 - NWI map for Sweetheart Lake area


10

Figure 8 - Geology map and bedrock type keys for project area


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4.0 Rare Plants

Following is the ANHP 2012 Global and State Ranked Rare Plant List, edited to include

only species known to occur in or near SE Alaska. There are 110 species on the list.

Scientific Name and Authority Global Rank

State Rank

Abies amabilis Douglas ex J. Forbes G5 S3*

Agoseris aurantiaca (Hooker) Greene var. aurantiaca

G5T4T5 S1S2

Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Rafinesque G5 S2S3Q

Ambrosia chamissonis (Lessing) Greene G4G5 S2

Arnica mollis Hooker G5 S2Q

Arnica ovata Greene G5 S3S4Q

Asplenium trichomanes ssp. quadrivalens D. E. Meyer

G5T5? S2S3

Astragalus robbinsii ssp. harringtonii (Rydb.) Barneby

G5T3 S3

Botrychium ascendens W. H. Wagner G2G3 S2S3

Botrychium robustum Rupr. G4G5 S1S2

Botrychium spathulatum W. H. Wagner G3 S1

Botrychium tunux Stensvold & Farrar G2G3 S2

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Swartz G5 S3

Botrychium yaaxudakeit Stensvold & Farrar

G2 S2

Brasenia schreberi J. F. Gmel. G5 S1*

Cardamine angulata Hook. G5 S1S2

Cardamine pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. G5 S1

Carex adelostoma V. I. Krecz. G4 S1S2*

Carex athrostachya Olney G5 S1*

Carex atratiformis Britt. G5 S3*

Carex bebbii Olney ex Fernald G5 S1S2*

Carex hoodii Boott G5 S1*

Carex interior L. H. Bailey G5 S3*

Carex phaeocephala Piper G4 S3*

Carex preslii Steud. G4 S1*

Carex stipata Muhl. ex Willd. var. stipata G5 S2*

Castilleja hyetophila Pennell G4G5 S2S3*

Castilleja miniata ssp. dixonii (Fernald) Kartesz

G5TNR SU*

Catabrosa aquatica (L.) P. Beauv. G5 S1S2


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Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W. P. C. Barton ssp. umbellata

G5T5 S2*

Crassula aquatica (L.) Schönland G5 S1S2

Crataegus suksdorfii (Sarge) Kruschke GNR SH*

Cryptogramma stelleri (S. G. Gmel.) Prantl G5 S3S4

Cypripedium montanum Douglas ex Lindl. G4 S2*

Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (Willd.) Knight

G5TNR S1*

Danthonia spicata (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.

G5 S1

Douglasia laevigata A. Gray G3 SP*

Draba incerta Payson G5 S3

Draba praealta Greene G5 S1Q

Eriophorum viridicarinatum (Engelm.) Fernald

G5 S2S3*

Festuca occidentalis Hook. G5 S1

Gentianella propinqua ssp. aleutica (Cham. & Schltdl.) J. M. Gillett

G5T2T4 S3*

Geum aleppicum ssp. strictum (Aiton) R. T. Clausen

G5T5 S3*

Geum schofieldii Calder & R. L. Taylor GNR SPQ*

Glehnia littoralis ssp. leiocarpa (Math.) Hult.

G5T5 S2S3

Glyceria leptostachya Buckley G3 S3

Glyceria striata (Lam.) Hitchc. G5 S3

Isoetes occidentalis L. F. Hend. G4G5 S3S4*

Isolepis cernua (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. var. cernua

G5 S1*

Juncus articulatus L. G5 S1S2*

Juncus nodosus L. G5 S1S2*

Juncus tenuis Willd. G5 S2*

Lactuca biennis (Moench) Fernald G5 S2S3

Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. G5 SH

Ligusticum calderi Math. & Const. G3G4 S2

Lobelia dortmanna L. G4G5 S1S2

Luzula comosa E. Meyer G4G5 S1*

Lycopodiella inundata (L.) Holub. G5 S3*

Lycopus uniflorus Michx. G5 S3S4*

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule (Nutt.) LaFrankie

G5 S1*

Maianthemum stellatum (L.) Link G5 S3*


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Malaxis monophyllos (L.) Swartz ssp. monophyllos

GNRTNR SU*

Malaxis monophyllos ssp. brachypoda (A. Gray) F. Morris & E. A. Eames

GNRTNR SU*

Melica subulata (Griseb.) Scribn. G5 S2S3

Micranthes charlottae (Calder & Savile) GNR S2*

Micranthes occidentalis (S. Watson) Small G5 S1*

Micranthes tolmiei (Torr. & A. Gray) Brouillet & Gornall

GNR S2S3*

Mimulus lewisii Pursh G5 S2S3*

Mitella nuda L. G5 S1*

Myriophyllum farwellii Morong G5 S1*

Packera subnuda var. moresbiensis Calder & R. L. Taylor) Trock

GNRT3T4 S3

Phyllodoce empetriformis (Sm.) D. Don G5 S1S2*

Phyllospadix serrulatus Rupr. ex Asch. G4 S3*

Physocarpus capitatus (Pursh) Kuntze G5 S2*

Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson

G5T5 SU*

Piperia unalascensis (Spreng.) Rydb. G5 S3*

Plagiobothrys orientalis (L.) I. M. Johnst. G3G4 S3

Platanthera orbiculata (Pursh) Lindl. G5 S3S4*

Poa macrantha Vasey G5 S1S2

Podagrostis humilis (Vasey) Björkman G5 S3

Polygonum fowleri B. L. Robinson ssp. fowleri

G5TNR S3S4

Polygonum minimum S. Watson G5 S1

Polystichum kruckebergii W. H. Wagner G4 S1*

Polystichum setigerum (K. Presl) K. Presl G3 S3*

Ranunculus orthorhynchus Hook var. orthorhynchus

G5T5 S2S3

Ranunculus pacificus (Hultén) L.D. Benson G3 S3S4

Romanzoffia unalaschcensis Cham. G3 S3S4

Rorippa curvisiliqua (Hook.) Bess. ex Britt. G5 S1S2

Salix hookeriana Barratt ex Hook. G5 S2S3*

Salix planifolia Pursh G5T5 S2*

Salix prolixa Andersson G5 S1

Saussurea americana D. C. Eaton G5 S2S3

Saxifraga adscendens ssp. oregonensis (Raf.) Bacig.

G5T4T5 S2S3

Schoenoplectus subterminalis (Torr.) Soják

G4G5 S2*

Sedum divergens S. Watson G5? S1


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Sedum lanceolatum Torr. var. lanceolatum

G5T3T5 SP

Sedum oreganum Nutt. var. oreganum G5TNR SH

Sidalcea hendersonii S. Watson G3 S1*

Stachys mexicana Benth. G5 S1*

Suaeda calceoliformis (Hook.) Moq. G5 S1S2

Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S. F. Blake G5 S2

Taxus brevifolia Nutt. G4G5 S3*

Thalictrum minus ssp. kemense (Fr.) Cajander

GNR S2

Thalictrum occidentale A. Gray G5 S2S3

Tiarella trifoliata var. laciniata (Hook.) Wheelock

G5T5? S3*

Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. G5 S2

Viola selkirkii Pursh ex Goldie G5? S3S4*

Viola sempervirens Greene G5 S1*

Zannichellia palustris L. ssp. palustris G5 S3S4*


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Following is the Tongass National Forest, 2009 Rare Plant List

TNF Rare Plant List

Abies lasiocarpa

Aquilegia flavescens

Arctophila fulva

Asplenium trichomanes

Brasenia schreberi

Bromus pacificus

Calamagrostis deschampsoides

Carex arctiformis

Carex bicolor

Carex membranacea

Chimaphila umbellata

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum

Clintonia uniflora

Cyrpipedium montanum

Cypripedium guttatum

Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens

Festuca subulata

Galium kamtschaticum

Gaultheria shallon

Goodyeara oblongifolia

Isoetes occidentalis

Isoetes truncata

Juncus articulatus

Juncus dudleyi

Juncus falcatus var. sitchensis

Juncus triglumis var. albescens

Juncus wahlenbergii

Listera convallarioides

Luzula kjellmaniana

Lycopodiella inundata

Melica subulata

Piperia unalascensis

Platanthera orbiculata

Poa macrocalyx

Poa x norbergii

Poa psuedoabbreviata

Polysticum andersonii

Polysticum kwakiutlii

Polysticum munitum

Potamogeton robbinsii

Rannunculus occidenntalis var. nelsonii

Rannunculus pacificus

Rannunculus pallasii

Salix setchelliana

Saxifraga serpyllifolia

Saxifraga tolmiei

Schaenoplectus subterminalis

Sedum divergens

Tephroseris atropurpurea

Tofieldia coccinea

Tofieldia pusilla

Viola biflora ssp. carlottae

Woodsia alpina


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5.0 Invasive Plants

Tongass National Forest High Priority Invasive Plants.

High Priority Invasive Plants--actively controlling these plants where feasible

Scientific Name Common Name

Rank

0-100

(low-

high)1

Alliara petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande garlic mustard 70

Centaurea biebersteinii DC spotted knapweed 86

Cirsium arvensis L. Scop. Canada thistle 76

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. bull thistle, common thistle 61

Hieracium aurantiacum L. and Hieracium

caespitosum

orange hawkweed, devil's paintbrush & meadow

hawkweed 79

Hieracium lachenalii K.C. Gmel. Common hawkweed 57

Linaria vulgaris Miller yellow toadflax, butter and eggs 69

Senecio jacobaea L. ragwort, stinking willie 63

Sonchus arvensis L. ssp. uliginosis (Bieb.) Nyman perennial sowthistle, moist sowthistle 73

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb & Zucc. Japanese knotweed 87

High Priority Invasive Plants—actively controlling these plants only in certain locations

Brassica rapa field mustard 50

Brassica rapa var. rapa purple-topped turnip 50

Cotula coronopifolia L. common brassbuttons 42

Crepis tectorum L. narrow-leaf hawk's beard 56

Galeopsis bifida Boenn. and G. tetrahit L. split-lip hemp-nettle 50

Hieracium umbellatum L. narrow-leaved hawkweed 51

Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. oxeye daisy, white daisy 61

Melilotus alba Medikus white sweetclover 81

Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam yellow sweetclover, king's crown 69

Phalaris arundicacea L. reed canarygrass, canarygrass 83

Polygonum convolvulus black bindweed 50

Tanacetum vulgare common tansy 60

Watch list--plants not known to occur on TNF, but occur elsewhere and are highly invasive

Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) Beauv. false-brome 70

Carduus nutans L., C. acanthoides L., C.

pycnocephalus L., C. tenuiflorus W. Curtis

musk thistle, plumeless thistle, Italian thistle,

slender-flowered thistle 61

Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier giant hogweed 81

Hydrilla verticillata (L. fil.) Roy Hydrilla 80

Lythrum salicaria L. & L. virgatum L. purple loosestrife, spike loosetrife 84

Potentilla recta L. sulphur cinquefoil 57

Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees Himalayan blackberry 77

Spartina alterniflora Loisel, S. angelica C.E. Hubbard,

S. densiflora Brongn., S. patens (Ait.) Muhls

Atlantic cordgrass, saltmarsh grass, smooth

cordgrass 86

Zostera japonica Aschers. & Graebn. dwarf eelgrass 53 1--Ranking designated by the Alaska Natural Heritage Program; see

http://akweeds.uaa.alaska.edu/akweeds_ranking_page.htm for more information


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6.0 Pre-field Review of Existing Information

A pre-field review of existing information concerning the plants listed above was

conducted for the project area. This review included E-Flora BC, the USFS - Alaska

Region Sensitive Species List, Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP) data base

records for 2008 and 2012, ALA-ARCTOS database, the Illustrated Flora of British

Columbia and Hulten’s Flora of Alaska. The USFS has done field surveys for sensitive

species in the area of the project and presumably if rare species were found during the

surveys they were noted.

Figure 9 - USFS survey records for the Port Snettisham and Tracy Arm area.

There is a small section of the potential impact area along the proposed transmission line

route, shown on the geology map to have ultra-mafic rock. This part of the impact area

was surveyed intensively for Polystichum kruckebergii and Piperia unalascensis and

other rare species that are found primarily on ultramafic rock.


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There is a section of the potential impact area listed on the geology map to have a small

percentage of low-grade carbonates mixed in with gneiss: PzZyp Paragneiss and marble

(Paleozoic and Precambrian): Sandwiched between 2 granitic units in the central

portion of Sweetheart Lake, from Marble Point to Harlequin Narrows. In Coast

Mountains, from Atlin to Ketchikan, includes dominantly well foliated, well layered,

locally lineated fine to coarse grained quartz-biotite-feldspar gneiss with lesser schist.

Some quartzite layers retain fine lamination textures. Association with marble suggests

marine protoliths. Rock types alternate on a scale of a meter or less. Amphibolite to

granulite facies.

This part of the impact area was surveyed intensively and checked for carbonates but

neither carbonate rock nor any species restricted to carbonate rock were found. We

determined that very little of the carbonates outcropped in the area - it was mostly the

non-carbonate paragneiss.

All of the impact areas habitats were surveyed but there were several habitats that were

surveyed more intensively: Sweetheart Creek banks and bars (Romanzoffia

unalaschensis, Papaver alboroseum), openings at small tribs into the creek, beach /forest

ecotone (Siddalcea hendersonii, Cypripedium montanum), low beach meadow

(Botrychium tunux, Botrychium yaaxudakeit), lake shore, stream mouths (especially

diverse were the high-volume streams that come straight down from alpine/subalpine

areas - we found a number of alpine/subalpine species in these areas), early seral to

mature wet meadows, gravelly stream bars and lake shores, toe of slope forested

peatland, disturbed areas around older beaver ponds, and slope peatland/forest ecotones.

By far the largest percentage of the impact area is avalanche slope dominated by Alnus

viride, Salix sitchensis, Oplopanax horridus, Athyrium felix-femina and Sambucus

racemosa and the forest on steep bedrock slopes dominated by Tsuga heterophylla,

Picea sitchensis, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Menziesia ferruginea, Vaccinium

ovalifolium, Oplopanax horridus, Polysticum braunii, and Dryopteris expansa. The

shorelines of these habitats were surveyed , intensively in areas where streams came

down and scattered transects done up to 85 feet in these habitats.


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7.0 Survey Methods for Rare and Invasive Plant Species

Botanists:

Koren Bosworth - Bosworth Botanical Consulting and

Richard Carstensen - Discovery Southeast

SURVEY DATE LAST NAME AND FIRST NAME OF EXAMINERS FOR EACH VISIT

9/5/2011 BOSWORTH, KOREN - CARSTENSEN, RICHARD


















General Survey Intensity - Level 5 - Focused (Intuitive Controlled)

Habitats with a high likelihood of rare species such as high velocity stream deltas on Sweetheart Lake and uplifted beach habitat on the Sweetheart Delta, were

surveyed at Level 6.

The more uniform, stable and extensive forest habitat was surveyed at a level 3.

8.0 Survey Results

Two site survey forms

No USFS Sensitive plant species were found.

No invasive species were found.

No ANHP-2012-listed rare plants were found.

Three TNF-listed rare plants were found:


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Carex bicolor Bell. ex All. The USFS - TNF GIS files show no records. (Appendix D) Range - circumpolar - North America, Greenland, Iceland, Eurasia. In Alaska,

ALA-ARCTOS records show Carex bicolor as being uncommon in coastal and

mountainous areas of the state and rare in other areas. In SE Alaska there are five

records, two in Glacier Bay (1967-68), two in Mendenhall Recreation area(1993)

and one in Sitkoh Bay, Chichagof Island (2006).

Habitat - Moist to wet meadows, stream sides, seepage slopes, and sandy river

bars. Open or shaded habitats.

Element occurrence form is in Appendix E.

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum (Lund ex Malmgr.) Th. Fr.

The USFS - TNF GIS files show seven records for Chrysosplenium tetrandrum. (details in Appendix D)

Range - Circumpolar - North America, Greenland, Iceland, Eurasia. In Alaska,

ALA - ARCTOS records show Chrysosplenium tetrandrum as being common in

Alaska north of Glacier Bay and rare in SE Alaska. In SE Alaska there are four

records for Chichagof Island (1994-2004) and one record for Skagway (2002).

Habitat - Moist to wet shady banks, rock crevices, mossy seeps, and shorelines

in montane and subalpine zones.


Galium kamtschaticum Steller ex Schult. & Schult.

The USFS - TNF GIS files show 51 records for Galium kamtschaticum. (details in Appendix D)

Range - Circum-North Pacific - Kamchatka, Alaska, BC and NW US. In Alaska

ALA - ARCTOS records show Galium kamtschaticum scattered and rare in

south coastal areas north of Glacier Bay and nine records on Chichagof Island

(1980- 2007), two records on Baronof Island (2004, 2007), one Taku Inlet record

(2012), one Montana Ck. record (1941), and three southern SE Alaska records

(Eva Creek, Wilson Arm) (1982, 1993).

Habitat - Moist stream banks, thickets, forests and talus slopes in the lowlands

and montane zones.


9.0 Environmental Consequences

Habitat

Project Impacts Direct Effects Indirect Effects

Sweetheart


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Habitat


Sweetheart Lake

Beaver ponds and pond

edges

Inundation 25ft.

permanently and 60 more

feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat1

Stream banks, bars and

deltas

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential habitat

for Carex

bicolor, Papaver

alboroseum and

Romanzoffia

unalaschensis

Yazoo channels- forested

wetland

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential rare

plant habitat -

Papaver

alboroseum and

Romanzoffia

unalaschensis

Avalanche and alluvial fan

channels at lake level

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential rare

plant habitat

Papaver

alboroseum and

Romanzoffia

unalaschensis -

Steep slope mixed evergreen

forest

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat

Dam and tunnel

construction site

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat

Construction site for dam Clearing and Disturbance and

1 Potential rare species from the ANHP and TNF list are listed on pages 12-16.


22

Habitat


and tunnel entrance filling of dam

and tunnel site,

construction of

dam and tunnel

equipment movement

could be vector for

spread of invasive

species. Potential for

acid rock drainage

from road fill

Slope peatlands Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat –

Lycopodiella

inundata

Valley floor young Sitka

spruce/cottonwood/devils

club/Sitka alder floodplain

forest

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat –

Cypripidium

montanum

Floodplain/outwash Sitka

alder/spiny woodfern thicket

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat

Cypripidium

montanum -

Hillside bench forested

wetland

Inundation 25ft.


feet seasonally

Flooding of

potential

rare/sensitive

plant habitat

Sweetheart Creek

Sweetheart Creek channel

and splash zone

Damming of flow Dewatering of

channel for part

of growing

season. Potential

habitat for

Romanzoffia

unalascensis

Create a raw

disturbed habitat

more susceptible to

invasion by invasives

Sweetheart Creek Delta


23

Habitat


Area

Intertidal Intertidal road option

would go from dock to

north edge of delta in this

habitat.

Road fill on

rocky intertidal -

potential

introduction of

invasive species

by construction

equipment.

Slight change in tidal

flow and sediment

retention because of

damming effect of

elevated fill

Uplifted beach meadow Small section of the lower

road would cross this

habitat - 25 ft wide road

corridor

Road fill -

destruction of

habitat -

Sidalcea

hendersonii,

Botrychium spp.

Probable rerouting of

fishermen off

multiple routes

through the intertidal

and uplift area to the

road surface reducing

impacts those areas.

Uplift Sitka spruce, gaps

and shrubby edges

Small section of the lower

road would cross this

habitat - 25 ft wide road

corridor and 150 ft. tree

clearing for transmission

line.

Road fill, tree

clearing -

destruction of

habitat for

Sidalcea

hendersonii,

Cypripidium

montanum and

others.

Probable rerouting of

fishermen off

multiple routes

through the forest to

the road surface

reducing impacts to

surrounding areas.

Sweetheart Creek banks Tailrace constructed from

powerhouse to creek edge

Clearing and

filling of tailrace

route - potential

habitat for

Romanzoffia

unalascensis

Disturbance and

equipment movement

could be vector for

spread of invasive

species.

Possible increase

in # of fishermen

because of ease

of access

More physical

impacts to creek

banks -

Hillside W.

hemlock/yellow-cedar/Sitka

spruce forest

Construction of: 25 ft wide

access road and clearing of

150' transmission line

Road fill, tree

clearing -

destruction of

Disturbance and

equipment movement

could be vector for


24

Habitat


clearance, powerhouse and

tunnel entrance.

habitat for

Cypripidium

montanum and

others.

spread of invasive


acid rock drainage

from road fill.

Increased blowdown

because of clearing.

Hillside/bench forested

wetland

Construction of: 25 ft wide

access road and clearing of

150' transmission line

clearance, powerhouse and

tunnel entrance.

Road fill, tree

clearing

Disturbance and

equipment movement

could be vector for

spread of invasive


acid rock drainage

from road fill

Increased blowdown

because of clearing..

West Gilbert Bay -

transmission line

Hillside W.

hemlock/yellow-cedar/Sitka

spruce forest

Transmission line tower

placement and tree clearing

Small footprint

tower foundation

constructed and

trees cleared

Increased blowdown


Hillside bench peatlands Transmission line tower

placement and tree clearing

Small footprint

tower foundation

constructed

Increased blowdown


10.0 Cumulative Effects

According to the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing

NEPA (50 C.F.R. 1508.7), a cumulative effect is the effect on the environment that

results from the incremental effect of the action when added to other past, present, and

reasonably foreseeable future actions, regardless of what agency (federal or non-federal)

or persons undertakes such other actions. Cumulative effects can result from individually

minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time, including

hydropower and other land and water development activities.


25

Geographic Scope

The project area is located within the Holkham Bay Complex Ecological Subsection of

Southeast Alaska. The Boundary Ranges Icefields Ecological Subsection is just to the

east of the project area and includes the Coast Range and the headwaters of the Whiting

River and Tracy Arm just to the north and south of the project area. The geographic

scope of analysis for this report and for rare plant species will be defined as the Holkham

Bay Complex from Taku Inlet south to Holkham Bay.


26

Impacts

Human activities within this geographic area that may cumulatively affect rare plant

species include: (1) past and potential mining operations in the area (2) present and

potential hydroelectric projects at Snettisham, Lake Dorothy and Sweetheart Lake (3)

visitor pressure from the personal use sockeye fishery at Sweetheart Creek (4) small scale

commercial shrimping operations in Gilbert Bay

At present there are no other planned hydroelectric projects within this geographic area.

There is relatively intense use of the SE Gilbert Bay area because of a personal use

fishery for the hatchery-released sockeye salmon that return to the mouth of Sweetheart

Creek in the mid to late summer. The fishing is concentrated in a cascading 250-yard

stretch of the lower creek, and most fish are taken from three pools. Fishermen anchor in

the bay and make their way to the creek along the upper beach meadow, through the

forest and up along the creek. There is a main trail through the uplift spruce forest but

many others have been beaten down through the intertidal marsh and the uplift meadows

surrounding the forest. The winding creek- side trail is brushy, steep, muddy and

frequented by brown bears who are there for the sockeyes and the pinks and chums that

also spawn in the mouth of the creek. Fish and Game records indicate that the number of

permittees for the fishery varies from 100 to 400 and the number of fish caught from

2,500 to 6,000.

The human users can bring in invasive species on their boats, shoes and gear and

invasives can be spread further inland by the bears that intersect with the fisherman on

the delta and the lower creek and then go up the hill and along the beach to eat and bed

down. A regulation was adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries in 2010 banning the

use of foot gear with absorbent felt or other fibrous material on the while fishing in the

fresh waters of Alaska, to reduce the potential for introduction and spread of invasive

organisms, including plants, into Alaska waters.

Degradation of these beach meadow and forest ecotone habitats could affect potential

habitat for Henderson's checker-mallow, Mountain lady's slipper orchid and three or four

of the other sensitive and rare species found in the beach meadows and nearby habitats.

In the modern context, no cumulative risk analysis is complete without reference to

global climate change. Conservation biology frequently emphasizes the importance of

adaptation, including maintaining resilience in ecosystem function, as a means of

sustaining representative plant populations including rare plant species. Also, the

temperate coastal rainforest is thought to be vulnerable to an increase in catastrophic fire,

to the extent that it could replace wind-throw as a determinate of ecosystem structure.


27

Furthermore, a climate-induced northern shift in ecotones is predicted to bring insect

infestations at a scale heretofore unknown in the region.


28

10.0 References

AKNHP. 2008 & 2012. Alaska Natural Heritage Program Rare Plant Species Lists.

(http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/botany/rare-plants-species-lists)

Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, D. Meidinger and J. Pojar. 2001. Illustrated Flora of British

Columbia, Volume 7 - Monocotyledons (Orchidaceae through Zosteraceae). British

Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of Forests. 379 pages.


Columbia, Volume 6 - Monocotyledons (Acoraceae through Najadaceae). British



Columbia, Volume 5 - Dicotyledons (Salicaceae through Zygophyllaceae) and

Pteridophytes. British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of

Forests. 389 pages.


Columbia, Volume 4 - Dicotyledons (Orobanchaceae through Rubiaceae). British



Columbia, Volume 3 - Dicotyledons (Diapensiaceae through Onagraceae). British



Columbia, Volume 2 - Dicotyledons (Balsaminaceae through Cucurbitaceae). British



Columbia. Volume 1 - Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons (Aceraceae through Asteraceae).

British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of Forests. 436

pages.

Hultén, E. 1968. Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories. Stanford University Press,

Stanford, California.

E-Flora BC 2012. http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/eflora/index.shtml

Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon (eds.). 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. Lone Pine Publishing, Redmond,

Washington. 527 pages.

UAMNH. 2010. University of Alaska Museum of the North Herbarium. Specimen search

available at http://arctos.database.museum/SpecimenSearch.cfm. Accessed March, 2012.


29

Appendix A - Alaska Region Sensitive Plants, February 2009

Common Name Scientific Name Occurrence CNF TNF

Vascular Plant

Eschscholtz's little nightmare Aphragmus eschscholtzianus

Y S

Moosewort fern Botrychium tunux S Y

Spatulate moonwort fern Botrychium spathulatum S Y

Moonwort, no common name Botrychium yaaxudakeit S Y

Edible thistle Cirsium edule var. macounii

Y

Sessileleaf scurvygrass Cochlearia sessilifolia S Spotted lady’s slipper Cypripedium guttatum Y Mountain lady’s slipper Cypripedium montanum S Y

Large yellow lady’s slipper Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens

S Y

Calder’s loveage Ligusticum calderi S Y

Pale poppy Papaver alboroseum Y S

Alaska rein orchid Piperia unalascensis S Y

Lesser round-leaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata Y

Kruckeberg’s swordfern Polystichum kruckebergii Y

Unalaska mist-maid Romanzoffia unalaschcensis

Y Y

Henderson’s checkermallow Sidalcea hendersonii Y

Dune tansy Tanacetum bipinnatum subsp. huronense

S Y

Lichen Lichen, no common name Lobaria amplissima S Y


30

Appendix B - Sweetheart Lake Project Plant Survey - Species List. NRCS Code Scientific Name Life form Habitat

ACMIB Achillea millefolium var. borealis herb lake shore gravel

ACRU2 Actea rubra herb forest edge

AGME3 Agrostis mertensii graminoid lake shore gravel

ALVIS Alnus viridis ssp sinuata shrub avalanche slope

ANMA Anaphalis margaritacea herb avalanche slope

ANPO Andromeda polifolia sub-shrub peatland

ANRI Anemone richardsonii herb stream delta

ANGE2 Angelica genuflexa herb lake shore meadow

ANLU Angelica lucida herb lake shore meadow

AQFO Aquilegia formosa herb lake shore meadow

ARLY2 Arabis lyrata herb lake shore gravel

ARLA2 Arctagrostis latifolia graminoid lake edge

ARAM2 Arnica amplexicaulis herb lake shore meadow

ARLA8 Arnica latifolia herb lake shore meadow

ARAR9 Artemisia arctica herb avalanche slope

ARDI8 Aruncus dioicus herb lake shore meadow

ATFI Athyrium felix-femina fern avalanche slope

BLSP Blechnum spicant fern steep forest

BORO Boschniakia rossica parasite avalanche slope

CACA4 Calamagrostis canadensis graminoid lake shore meadow

CANO9 Callitropsis nootkatensis tree all

CALE4 Caltha leptosepala herb lake shore meadow

CARO2 Campanula rotundifolia herb avalanche slope

CAOL Cardamine oligosperma herb lake shore gravel

CAAN10 Carex anthoxanthea graminoid peatland

CABI4 Carex bicolor* graminoid lake shore gravel

CABR15 Carex brunnescens graminoid wet meadow

CACA11 Carex canescens graminoid wet meadow

CACA12 Carex capillaris graminoid lake shore gravel

CAFL4 Carex flava graminoid wet meadow

CALA10 Carex lachenalii graminoid wet meadow

CALA13 Carex laeviculmis graminoid peatland

CALE8 Carex lenticularis graminoid lake edge

CALI7 Carex limosa graminoid peatland

CALI Carex livida graminoid peatland

CAMA11 Carex macrochaeta graminoid lake shore meadow

CAME6 Carex mertensii graminoid lake shore meadow

CAPA19 Carex pauciflorus graminoid peatland

CAPL6 Carex pluriflora graminoid peatland


31

CASA10 Carex saxatilis graminoid wet meadow

CASC10 Carex scirpoidea graminoid wet meadow

CASI3 Carex sitchensis graminoid lake edge

CAUT Carex utriculata graminoid lake edge

CAVI5 Carex viridula graminoid wet meadow

CAME7 Cassiope mertensiana sub-shrub peatland

CAMI12 Castilleja miniata herb lake shore meadow

CEBE2 Cerastium beeringianum herb lake shore gravel

CHAN9 Chamerion angustifolium herb lake shore meadow

CHLA13 Chamerion latifolium herb lake shore gravel

CHTE3 Chrysosplenium tetrandrum* herb lake edge

CIDO Cicuta douglasii herb wet meadow

CIAL Circaea alpina herb forested wetland

CLPY? Cladothamnus pyroliflorus shrub peatland

CLSA2 Claytonia sarmentosa herb stream delta

CLSI2 Claytonia siberica herb stream delta

COPA28 Comarum palustre aquatic wet meadow

COGM Conioselinum gmelinii (chinense) herb lake shore meadow

COAS Coptis asplenifolium herb forest

CPTR2 Coptis trifolia herb peatland

COTR18 Corallorhiza trifida parasite young forest

COCA13 Cornus canadensis sub-shrub forest

COSE16 Cornus stolenifera shrub young forest

COSU4 Cornus suecica sub-shrub peatland

CYFR2 Cystopteris fragilis fern forest edge

DECA18 Deschampsia caespitosa graminoid lake shore meadow

DOJE1 Dodecatheon jeffreyi herb lake shore meadow

DOPU Dodecatheon pulchellum herb peatland

DREX2 Dryopteris expansa graminoid forest

ELPA3 Eleocharis palustris graminoid peatland

EMNI Empetrum nigrum sub-shrub peatland

EPILO Epilobium herb lake edge

EPAN4 Epilobium anagalidifolium herb lake edge

EQAR Equisetum arvense pteridophyte all

EQFL Equisetum fluviatile pteridophyte wet meadow

EQPA Equisetum palustre pteridophyte wet meadow

EQPR Equisetum pratense pteridophyte young forest

EQVA Equisetum variegatum pteridophyte lake edge

ERHU Erigeron humilis herb lake shore gravel

ERPE3 Erigeron peregrinus herb lake shore meadow

ERAN6 Eriophorum angustifolium graminoid peatland

ERRU2 Eriophorum russeolum graminoid peatland


32

FERU2 Festuca rubra graminoid lake shore gravel

FRCA5 Fritillaria camschatcensis herb lake shore meadow

GAAP2 Galium aparine herb avalanche slope

GATR2 Galium trifidum herb lake shore meadow

GATR3 Galium triflorum herb lake shore meadow

GAKA Galium kamtschaticum* herb lake edge

GEDO Gentiana douglasiana herb peatland

GELI2 Geocaulon lividum sub-shrub peatland

GECA6 Geum calthifolium herb peatland

GEMA4 Geum macrophyllum herb lake shore gravel

GYDR Gymnocarpium dryopteris fern forest

HAST3 Harrimanella stelleriana sub-shrub peatland

HEMA80 Heracleum maximum herb lake shore meadow

HEGL5 Heuchera glabra herb young forest

HITR2 Hieracium triste herb lake shore gravel

HIOD Hierochloe odorata graminoid lake shore meadow

HUSEC Huperzia selago pteridophyte forest

IRSE12 Iris setosa beach iris lake shore meadow

JUAL4 Juncus alpinoarticulatis graminoid lake shore gravel

JUAR2 Juncus arcticus graminoid lake shore gravel

JUBI2 Juncus biglumis graminoid lake shore gravel

JUEF Juncus effusus graminoid beaver pond

JUME3 Juncus mertensianus graminoid beaver pond

KAPO Kalmia polifolia sub-shrub peatland

KUCO Kumlienia cooleyae (Ranunculus cooleyae) herb stream delta

LEGR Ledum groenlandicum sub-shrub peatland

LEPY Leptarrhena pyrolifolia herb lake shore meadow

LICA10 Listera caurina herb forest

LICO6 Listera cordata herb forest

LUNO Lupinus nootkatensis herb lake shore gravel

LUMU2 Luzula multiflora graminoid beaver pond

LUPA4 Luzula parviflora graminoid lake shore gravel

LYAN2 Lycopodium annotinum pteridophyte forest

LYAM3 Lysichiton americanus herb forested wetland

MADI Maianthemum dilatata herb forest

MAFU Malus fusca tree young forest

METR3 Menyanthes trifoliata herb peatland

MEFE Menziesia ferrunginea shrub all

MIPE Mitella pentandra herb stream delta

MOUN2 Moneses uniflora herb forest

NECR2 Nephrophyllidium crista-galli herb peatland


33

NULUP Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepala aquatic peatland

OPHO Oplopanax horridus shrub avalanche slope

ORSE Orthilia secunda herb young forest

OSPU Osmorhiza purpurea herb forest

OXDI3 Oxyria digyna herb stream delta

PAPA19 Packera pauciflora herb lake shore gravel

PAFI3 Parnassia fimbriata herb lake shore gravel

PAPA8 Parnassia palustris herb stream delta

PEOR Pedicularis ornithorhyncha herb lake shore gravel

PEFR5 Petasites frigidus herb stream delta

PHCO24 Phegopteris connectilis fern forest

PHAL2 Phleum alpinum graminoid lake shore gravel

PHGL6 Phyllodoce glanduliflora sub-shrub peatland

PISI Picea sitchensis tree forest

PIVU Pinguicula vulgaris insectivore peatland

PLMA Plantago macrocarpa herb wet meadow

PLCH3 Platanthera chorisiana herb peatland

PLDI3 Platanthera dilatata herb all

PLHY2 Platanthera hyperborea herb all

POAL2 Poa alpina graminoid lake shore gravel

POAR2 Poa arctica graminoid lake shore gravel

POARV2 Poa arctica (vivipara) graminoid lake shore gravel

POVI3 Polygonum viviparum herb lake shore gravel

POBR4 Polysticum braunii fern forest

POBA2 Populus balsamifera tree young forest

POGR8 Potamogeton gramineus aquatic peatland

PRAL Prananthes alata herb lake shore meadow

PRVU Prunella vulgaris herb lake shore gravel

PTAQ Pteridium aqualinum fern peatland

PYAS Pyrola asarifolia herb young forest

PYMI Pyrola minor herb young forest

RAFL2 Rannunculus flammula aquatic lake edge

RATR Rannunculus trichophyllus aquatic lake edge

RAOC Ranunculus occidentalis herb lake shore meadow

RAUN Ranunculus uncinatus herb lake shore meadow

RIBR Ribes bracteosum shrub forest

RILA3 Ribes laxiflorum shrub forest

ROSI Romanzoffia sitchensis herb stream delta

RUAR Rubus arcticus sub-shrub young forest

RUCH Rubus chamaemorus sub-shrub peatland

RUPE Rubus pedatus sub-shrub forest

RUSP Rubus spectabilis shrub avalanche slope


34

SANI7 Sagina nivalis herb lake shore gravel

SAAL Salix alexensis shrub lake shore meadow

SABA3 Salix barclayii shrub lake shore meadow

SACO2 Salix communtata shrub lake shore meadow

SASI2 Salix sitchensis shrub all

SARA2 Sambucus racemosa shrub avalanche slope

SACA14 Sangisorba canadensis herb all

SAFE Saxifraga ferruginea herb stream delta

SALY3 Saxifraga lyalii herb stream delta

SAME7 Saxifraga mertensiana herb stream delta

SANE3 Saxifraga nelsoniana (Saxifraga punctata) herb lake shore gravel

SCMI2 Scirpus microcarpus graminoid lake edge

SETR Senecio triangularis herb lake shore meadow

SOCA6 Solidago canadensis herb lake shore meadow

SOMU Solidago multiradiata herb lake shore meadow

SOSI2 Sorbus sitchensis tree peatland

SPHY Sparganium hyperboreum aquatic peatland

STELL Stellaria herb lake shore meadow

STCR2 Stellaria crispa herb lake shore gravel

STAM2 Streptopus amplexifolius herb forest

STLA16 Streptopus lanceolatus herb forest

STST3 Streptopus streptopoides herb forest

SWPE Swertia perennis herb peatland

TAAL? Taraxacum alaskanum (ceratophorum) no horns herb lake shore gravel

TEGR2 Tellima grandiflora herb stream delta

THQU2 Thelypteris quelpaertensis (T. limbosperma) fern forested wetland

TITR Tiarella trifoliata herb forest

TITRU Tiarella unifoliata herb forest

TRGL5 Triantha glutinosa herb lake shore meadow

TRCE3 Trichophorum caespitosum graminoid peatland

TREUA Trientalis arctica (T. europea ssp arctica) herb lake shore meadow

TRCA21 Trisetum canescens graminoid lake shore meadow

TRSP2 Trisetum spicatum graminoid lake shore gravel

TSHE Tsuga heterophylla tree forest

TSME Tsuga mertensiana tree forest

VAAL3 Vaccinium alaskaense shrub forest

VACE Vaccinium caespitosum shrub peatland

VAOV Vaccinium ovalifolium shrub forest


35

VAOX Vaccinium oxycoccus sub-shrub peatland

VAUL Vaccinium uliginosum shrub peatland

VAVI Vaccinium vitis idaea sub-shrub peatland

VAAT2 Vahlodea atropurpurea graminoid lake shore meadow

VASI Valeriana sitchensis herb lake shore meadow

VEVI Veratrum viride herb lake shore meadow

VEWO2 Veronica wormsjoldii herb lake shore gravel

VIED Viburnum edule shrub young forest

VIGL Viola glabella herb forested wetland

VILA6 Viola langsdorfii herb peatland

VIPA4 Viola palustris herb lake edge

* On TNF Rare Plant List - not on 2012 ANHP Rare Plant List


36

Appendix C - Gilbert Bay Plant List - Species List NRCS Code Scientific Name Life form Habitat

ACMIB Achillea millefolium var. borealis herb beach gravel

ACRU2 Actea rubra herb forest edge

AGME3 Agrostis mertensii graminoid beach gravel

ALVI5 Alnus viridis shrub avalanche slope

ANMA Anaphalis margaritacea herb avalanche slope

ANPO Andromeda polifolia sub-shrub peatland

ANRI Anemone richardsonii herb stream delta

ANGE2 Angelica genuflexa herb beach meadow

ANLU Angelica lucida herb beach meadow

AQFO Aquilegia formosa herb beach meadow

ARLY2 Arabis lyrata herb beach gravel

ARLA2 Arctagrostis latifolia graminoid lake edge

ARAM2 Arnica amplexicaulis herb beach meadow

ARLA8 Arnica latifolia herb beach meadow

ARAR9 Artemisia arctica herb avalanche slope

ARDI8 Aruncus dioicus herb beach meadow

ATFI Athyrium felix-femina fern avalanche slope

BLSP Blechnum spicant fern steep forest

BORO Boschniakia rossica parasite avalanche slope

CACA4 Calamagrostis canadensis graminoid beach meadow

CANO9 Callitropsis nootkatensis tree all

CALE4 Caltha leptosepala herb beach meadow

CARO2 Campanula rotundifolia herb avalanche slope

CAOL Cardamine oligosperma herb beach gravel

CAAN10 Carex anthoxanthea graminoid peatland

CABI4 Carex bicolor* graminoid beach gravel

CABR15 Carex brunnescens graminoid wet meadow

CACA11 Carex canescens graminoid wet meadow

CACA12 Carex capillaris graminoid beach gravel

CAFL4 Carex flava graminoid wet meadow

CALA10 Carex lachenalii graminoid wet meadow

CALA13 Carex laeviculmis graminoid peatland

CALE8 Carex lenticularis graminoid lake edge

CALI7 Carex limosa graminoid peatland

CALI Carex livida graminoid peatland

CAMA11 Carex macrochaeta graminoid beach meadow

CAME6 Carex mertensii graminoid beach meadow

CAPA19 Carex pauciflorus graminoid peatland

CAPL6 Carex pluriflora graminoid peatland

CASA10 Carex saxatilis graminoid wet meadow


37

CASC10 Carex scirpoidea graminoid wet meadow

CASI3 Carex sitchensis graminoid lake edge

CAUT Carex utriculata graminoid lake edge

CAVI5 Carex viridula graminoid wet meadow

CAME7 Cassiope mertensiana sub-shrub peatland

CAMI12 Castilleja miniata herb beach meadow

CEBE2 Cerastium beeringianum herb beach gravel

CHAN9 Chamerion angustifolium herb beach meadow CHLA13 Chamerion latifolium herb beach gravel

CHTE3 Chrysosplenium tetrandrum* herb lake edge

CIDO Cicuta douglasii herb wet meadow

CIAL Circaea alpina herb forested wetland

CLPY? Cladothamnus pyroliflorus shrub peatland

CLSA2 Claytonia sarmentosa herb stream delta

CLSI2 Claytonia siberica herb stream delta

COPA28 Comarum palustre aquatic wet meadow

COGM Conioselinum gmelinii (chinense) herb beach meadow

COAS Coptis asplenifolium herb forest

CPTR2 Coptis trifolia herb peatland

COTR18 Corallorhiza trifida parasite young forest

COCA13 Cornus canadensis sub-shrub forest

COSE16 Cornus stolenifera shrub young forest

COSU4 Cornus suecica sub-shrub peatland

CYFR2 Cystopteris fragilis fern forest edge

DECA18 Deschampsia caespitosa graminoid beach meadow

DOJE1 Dodecatheon jeffreyi herb beach meadow

DOPU Dodecatheon pulchellum herb peatland

DREX2 Dryopteris expansa graminoid forest

ELPA3 Eleocharis palustris graminoid peatland

EMNI Empetrum nigrum sub-shrub peatland

EPILO Epilobium herb lake edge

EPAN4 Epilobium anagalidifolium herb lake edge

EQAR Equisetum arvense pteridophyte all

EQFL Equisetum fluviatile pteridophyte wet meadow

EQPA Equisetum palustre pteridophyte wet meadow

EQPR Equisetum pratense pteridophyte young forest

EQVA Equisetum variegatum pteridophyte lake edge

ERHU Erigeron humilis herb beach gravel

ERPE3 Erigeron peregrinus herb beach meadow

ERAN6 Eriophorum angustifolium graminoid peatland

ERRU2 Eriophorum russeolum graminoid peatland

FERU2 Festuca rubra graminoid beach gravel


38

FRCA5 Fritillaria camschatcensis herb beach meadow

GAAP2 Galium aparine herb avalanche slope

GATR2 Galium trifidum herb beach meadow

GATR3 Galium triflorum herb beach meadow

GAKA Gallium kamchaticum* herb lake edge

GEDO Gentiana douglasiana herb peatland

GELI2 Geocaulon lividum sub-shrub peatland

GECA6 Geum calthifolium herb peatland

GEMA4 Geum macrophyllum herb beach gravel

GYDR Gymnocarpium dryopteris fern forest

HAST3 Harrimanella stelleriana sub-shrub peatland

HEMA80 Heracleum maximum herb beach meadow

HEGL5 Heuchera glabra herb young forest

HITR2 Hieracium triste herb beach gravel

HIOD Hierochloe odorata graminoid beach meadow

HUSEC Huperzia selago pteridophyte forest

IRSE12 Iris setosa beach iris beach meadow

JUAL4 Juncus alpinoarticulatis graminoid beach gravel

JUAR2 Juncus arcticus graminoid beach gravel

JUBI2 Juncus biglumis graminoid beach gravel

JUEF Juncus effusus graminoid beaver pond

JUME3 Juncus mertensianus graminoid beaver pond

KAPO Kalmia polifolia sub-shrub peatland

KUCO Kumlienia cooleyae (Ranunculus cooleyae) herb stream delta

LEGR Ledum groenlandicum sub-shrub peatland

LEPY Leptarrhena pyrolifolia herb beach meadow

LICA10 Listera caurina herb forest

LICO6 Listera cordata herb forest

LUNO Lupinus nootkatensis herb beach gravel

LUMU2 Luzula multiflora graminoid beaver pond

LUPA4 Luzula parviflora graminoid beach gravel

LYAN2 Lycopodium annotinum pteridophyte forest

LYAM3 Lysichiton americanus herb forested wetland

MADI Maianthemum dilatata herb forest

MAFU Malus fusca tree young forest

METR3 Menyanthes trifoliata herb peatland

MEFE Menziesia ferrunginea shrub all

MIPE Mitella pentandra herb stream delta

MOUN2 Moneses uniflora herb forest

NECR2 Nephrophyllidium crista-galli herb peatland

NULUP Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepala aquatic peatland


39

OPHO Oplopanax horridus shrub avalanche slope

ORSE Orthilia secunda herb young forest

OSPU Osmorhiza purpurea herb forest

OXDI3 Oxyria digyna herb stream delta

PAFI3 Parnassia fimbriata herb beach gravel

PAPA8 Parnassia palustris herb stream delta

PEOR Pedicularis ornithorhyncha herb beach gravel

PEFR5 Petasites frigidus herb stream delta

PHCO24 Phegopteris connectilis fern forest

PHAL2 Phleum alpinum graminoid beach gravel

PHGL6 Phyllodoce glanduliflora sub-shrub peatland

PISI Picea sitchensis tree forest

PIVU Pinguicula vulgaris insectivore peatland

PLMA Plantago macrocarpa herb wet meadow

PLCH3 Platanthera chorisiana herb peatland

PLDI3 Platanthera dilatata herb all

PLHY2 Platanthera hyperborea herb all

POAL2 Poa alpina graminoid beach gravel

POAR2 Poa arctica graminoid beach gravel

POARV2 Poa arctica (vivipara) graminoid beach gravel

POVI3 Polygonum viviparum herb beach gravel

POBR4 Polysticum braunii fern forest

POBA2 Populus balsamifera tree young forest

POGR8 Potamogeton gramineus aquatic peatland

PRAL Prananthes alata herb beach meadow

PRVU Prunella vulgaris herb beach gravel

PTAQ Pteridium aqualinum fern peatland

PYAS Pyrola asarifolia herb young forest

PYMI Pyrola minor herb young forest

RAFL2 Rannunculus flammula aquatic lake edge

RATR Rannunculus trichophyllus aquatic lake edge

RAOC Ranunculus occidentalis herb beach meadow

RAUN Ranunculus uncinatus herb beach meadow

RIBR Ribes bracteosum shrub forest

RILA3 Ribes laxiflorum shrub forest

ROSI Romanzoffia sitchensis herb stream delta

RUAR Rubus arcticus sub-shrub young forest

RUCH Rubus chamaemorus sub-shrub peatland

RUPE Rubus pedatus sub-shrub forest

RUSP Rubus spectabilis shrub avalanche slope

SANI7 Sagina nivalis herb beach gravel

SAAL Salix alexensis shrub beach meadow

SABA3 Salix barclayii shrub beach meadow


40

SACO2 Salix communtata shrub beach meadow

SASI2 Salix sitchensis shrub all

SARA2 Sambucus racemosa shrub avalanche slope

SACA14 Sangisorba canadensis herb all

SAFE Saxifraga ferruginea herb stream delta

SALY3 Saxifraga lyalii herb stream delta

SAME7 Saxifraga mertensiana herb stream delta

SANE3 Saxifraga nelsoniana (Saxifraga punctata) herb beach gravel

SCMI2 Scirpus microcarpus graminoid lake edge

SETR Senecio triangularis herb beach meadow

Senicio pauciflorus herb beach gravel

SOCA6 Solidago canadensis herb beach meadow

SOMU Solidago multiradiata herb beach meadow

SOSI2 Sorbus sitchensis tree peatland

SPHY Sparganium hyperboreum aquatic peatland

STELL Stellaria herb beach meadow

STCR2 Stellaria crispa herb beach gravel

STAM2 Streptopus amplexifolius herb forest

STLA16 Streptopus lanceolatus herb forest

STST3 Streptopus streptopoides herb forest

SWPE Swertia perennis herb peatland

TAAL? Taraxacum alaskanum (ceratophorum) no horns herb beach gravel

TEGR2 Tellima grandiflora herb stream delta

THQU2 Thelypteris quelpaertensis (T. limbosperma) fern

forested wetland

TITR Tiarella trifoliata herb forest

TITRU Tiarella unifoliata herb forest

TRGL5 Triantha glutinosa herb beach meadow

TRCE3 Trichophorum caespitosum graminoid peatland

TREUA Trientalis arctica (T. europea ssp arctica) herb beach meadow

TRCA21 Trisetum canescens graminoid beach meadow

TRSP2 Trisetum spicatum graminoid beach gravel

TSHE Tsuga heterophylla tree forest

TSME Tsuga mertensiana tree forest

VAAL3 Vaccinium alaskaense shrub forest

VACE Vaccinium caespitosum shrub peatland

VAOV Vaccinium ovalifolium shrub forest

VAOX Vaccinium oxycoccus sub-shrub peatland

VAUL Vaccinium uliginosum shrub peatland

VAVI Vaccinium vitis idaea sub-shrub peatland


41

VAAT2 Vahlodea atropurpurea graminoid beach meadow

VASI Valeriana sitchensis herb beach meadow

VEVI Veratrum viride herb beach meadow

VEWO2 Veronica wormsjoldii herb beach gravel

VIED Viburnum edule shrub young forest

VIGL Viola glabella herb forested wetland

VILA6 Viola langsdorfii herb peatland

VIPA4 Viola palustris herb lake edge

* On TNF Rare Plant List - not on 2012 ANHP Rare Plant List


Appendix D - USFS - Tongass National Forest - GIS Rare Plant Records for Three Rare Species

SCIENTIFIC DATE EXAMINER COMMENTS

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 8/20/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Unnamed Mtn. 9 mi. S of Hoonah, narrow canyon, sm.

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 6/22/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is. Iyoutug area

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 7/20/2004 Dillman, Karen Windham Bay, Chuck River Wild. Taylor Ck drainage 3-4 plants

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 7/20/2004 Dillman, Karen Windham Bay, Chuck River Wild. Taylor Lake shoreline, on mossy rock, approx 5 plants

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 8/15/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., outlet from Kook L., streambank, reported by Eric Dow, SRD.

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 7/18/2010 Johnson, Joni Heceta Island, Bald Mtn

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum 5/10/2011 Lease, Kristen Prince of Wales, Natuk Creek

Galium kamtschaticum 7/22/2012 Krieckhaus, Brad Baranof Island, Sashin Lake

Galium kamtschaticum 9/3/2008 Ross, Aimee Revillagigedo Island, North Saddle Lake

Galium kamtschaticum 7/3/2002 Anderson, Ellen Prince of Wales, Sunny Cove, Moira EIS,

Galium kamtschaticum 8/6/2002 Anderson, Ellen SUEMEZ I.,SCRATCHINGS,RDLINE TO U46

Galium kamtschaticum 7/26/2005 Johnson, Joni POW, Not a rare pl survey. Fine sands of island, frequently flooded, 30 stems

Galium kamtschaticum 8/5/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is. Iyoutug

Galium kamtschaticum 8/6/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is. Iyoutug area

Galium kamtschaticum 8/16/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Island, Iyouktug TS, above unit 40, avalanche brushfield, 15 plants

Galium kamtschaticum 8/17/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is, Iyouktug TS, Unit 9006-7, OPHO/ATFI/VEVI cover in open forest, 10 counted

Galium kamtschaticum 8/17/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is, Iyouktug TS, Unit 9006-7, muskeg edge, ALSI/ATFI/LYAM/OPHO patch, 20 counted

Galium kamtschaticum 8/19/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Iyouktug TS, Unit 5 and proposed Rd., open, wet LYAM/ATFI/OPHO grove, 40 count

Galium kamtschaticum 6/18/2003 Dillman, Karen Chichagof Is. Low Ridge TS. in slide are

Galium kamtschaticum 6/21/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is. Iyoutug area

Galium kamtschaticum 8/3/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is. Iyoutug

Galium kamtschaticum 7/17/2004 Trimble, Steven, T CLEVELAND PENINSULA; UNION BAY MINE; SMALL POPULATION NEAR SMALL


43

SEEP IN BEACH FRINGE

Galium kamtschaticum 6/27/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Iyouktug TS, wet meadow w/ ATFI-FORB

Galium kamtschaticum 6/29/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Iyouktug TS, forest opening w/ ATFI-FORB veg

Galium kamtschaticum 6/29/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Iyouktug TS, forest gap wet ATFI/LYAM/FORB veg

Galium kamtschaticum 7/13/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Iyouktug TS, ATFI/LYAM/FORB opening in forest

Galium kamtschaticum 7/19/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chich. Is., Boomerang TS, rdside gap, shrubby w/ ATFI/LYAM

Galium kamtschaticum 8/9/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is, Iyouktug TS, forest edge, shrubby w/ LYAM/FACR

Galium kamtschaticum 8/10/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is, Iyouktug TS, subalpine ATFI/FORB meadow

Galium kamtschaticum 8/12/2006 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Island, Iyouktug TS, ATFI/FORB meadow

Galium kamtschaticum 7/26/2004 Dillman, Karen Chichagof Is. Pavlof area, RAWS TS unit, in nf wetland along stream, 10 plants, with BOMU

Galium kamtschaticum 7/26/2005 Anderson, Ellen N CHICHAGOF IS,N OF FRESHWATER BAY,DIVIDE UNIT, 50-75 stems,

Galium kamtschaticum 7/22/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Rust L. area, ATFI/HELA/VEVI etc field at base of steep limestone ridge, 75 counted

Galium kamtschaticum 8/3/2004 Calhoun, Kelly Chichagof Is., False Island TS., 75406 Proposed Rd, ALSI/LYAM/ATFI grove, 30 + plants

Galium kamtschaticum 8/3/2004 Calhoun, Kelly Chichagof Is., False Island TS., forest edge, ATFI/ALSI cover, 30 plants

Galium kamtschaticum 6/28/2005 Trimble, Steven, T MISTY FIORDS N.M. CHECATS COVE. 7 IND. AT BEACH FRINGE NEAR CHECATS CABIN SITE

Galium kamtschaticum 7/15/2006 Johnson, Joni Cent Kupreanof EIS, adj to unit 247;est. 300 indiv. trans betw mix con wet to sm fen. w/LICO5

Galium kamtschaticum 7/2/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof,False Island Timber Sale

Galium kamtschaticum 7/2/2003 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof,False Is sale - heli- unit

Galium kamtschaticum 6/17/2004 Calhoun, Kelly Baranof Is., Long Lake area, brushfield on steep slope in forest opening, rocky soils

Galium kamtschaticum 6/17/2004 Calhoun, Kelly Baranof Is., Long Lake area, large rockslide sloping into lake, brushfield, 75 plus plants counted.

Galium kamtschaticum 6/17/2004 Calhoun, Kelly Baranof Is., Long Lake area, large rockslide sloping into lake, brushfield, 25 plus plants counted.

Galium kamtschaticum 6/19/2004 Calhoun, Kelly Baranof Is., Long Lake area, brushfield below cliffs, organics over broken rock and gravel

Galium kamtschaticum 7/20/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Rust Lake area, 100 plants under lady fern patch near dry stream channel.


44

Galium kamtschaticum 7/21/2004 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is., Rust L. area; base of limestone bluff and down into brushfield; 50 plus

Galium kamtschaticum 8/3/2006 Dillman, Karen Wrangell Is. Anita Bay, THPL forest, forb rich area, 8 stems, 2 flowering, near Rd 51720

Galium kamtschaticum 8/3/2006 Dillman, Karen Wrangell Is. Anita Bay, forested wetlands forbs rich area 50+ stems, few flowers, near rd 51720

Galium kamtschaticum 6/22/2005 Johnson, Joni Wrangell Is. Anita bay, Forest edge bordering on sm pond, Fishtrap Ck; .15 stems

Galium kamtschaticum 8/2/2010 Cummins, Michelle, Jean Wrangell Is. Thoms Creek. Adjacent to high gradient stream channel.

Galium kamtschaticum 8/3/2010 Cummins, Michelle, Jean Wrangell Is. Thoms Creek. This chute was lower on slope;

Galium kamtschaticum 8/4/2010 Cummins, Michelle, Jean Wrangell Is. Fools Inlet. Robust individuals.

Galium kamtschaticum 8/14/2010 Cummins, Michelle, Jean Wrangell Is. Thoms Creek.

Galium kamtschaticum 8/31/2010 Cummins, Taya, Katherine Wrangell Is. Thoms Creek.

Galium kamtschaticum 7/19/2010 Johnson, Joni Tuxekan Island, old Karheen

Galium kamtschaticum 7/3/2010 Johnson, Joni Prince of Wales, El Capitan Passage, No GPS; no satellites available.

Galium kamtschaticum 7/8/2008 Krieckhaus, Brad Chichagof Is. Kennel Creek, Population occurs in wetland area near a small timber sale

Galium kamtschaticum 7/10/2012 de Montigny, Jackie Wrangell Is. Thoms Creek.

Galium kamtschaticum 7/27/2010 Hofman, Jacob Misty Fiords, Checats Cove


Appendix E - USDA Forest Service Element Occurrence Forms for Carex bicolor, Chrysosplenium tetrandrum and Galium kamtschaticum


46

Carex bicolor:


47


48


49


50


51

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum:


52


53


54


55


56

Galium kamtschaticum:


57


58


59


60


Invasive Species Risk Assessment -Sweetheart Lake Hydro Project - Final For Juneau Hydropower, Inc.

Taraxacum alaskanum

4/9/2013 Koren Bosworth Bosworth Botanical Consulting

© 2013 Bosworth Botanical Consulting


2

Contents A. Inventory ............................................................................................................................... 3

B. Habitat Vulnerability ............................................................................................................. 5

Table of Survey Intensity Level in Sweetheart Watershed Habitats and Their Pre-Project

Vulnerability and Risk ................................................................................................................ 7

C. Non-project Dependent Vectors ............................................................................................ 9

D. Habitat Alteration Expected as a Result of the Project:........................................................ 9

E. Increased Vectors as a Result of Project Implementation: .................................................. 14

F. Mitigation Measures (prevention and control): ................................................................... 16

G. Species of Concern: ............................................................................................................ 18

References ................................................................................................................................. 19


3

A. Inventory

The Sweetheart Lake Hydro Project invasive plant species survey was conducted in conjunction

with a September 2011, preliminary wetland delineation, a June 2012 final wetland delineation

and July 2012 and August 2012 sensitive plant species and rare plant species surveys. The

wetland delineation surveys were not necessarily driven by the need to survey habitats specific to

invasive species but they were wide ranging and helped to raise the intensity of the invasive

species survey.

The survey level for most of the habitats of interest was a Focused (Intuitive Controlled) or a

Systematic. No invasive species were found on any of the surveys.

SURVEY DATE LAST NAME AND FIRST NAME OF EXAMINERS FOR EACH VISIT





















4

Most of the proposed project area is very isolated and has little or no human traffic, but the area

around the mouth of Sweetheart Creek has quite a bit of human traffic during the mid-to-late

summer, stocked sockeye run into the mouth of the creek.

Perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis - ANHP invasiveness ranking – 73 out of 100) has been

found invading isolated and urban beach meadows alike and is something that was looked for

specifically in the beach meadows of the project area but was not found.

ANHP's AKEPIC database and EDMAPs Alaska show no records for invasive species in the

greater Port Snettisham/Gilbert Bay area. The closest records are at the mouth of Endicott Arm,

approximately fifteen miles away, at several old homestead and fox farm sites. The records are

for small numbers of Taraxacum officinale, Rumex acetosella, Trifolium repens and Lolium

perenne. None of these species are on the USFS - TNF High Priority Invasives List.

Table 1. High priority invasive plant species in or near the project area

Scientific Name Common Name

Rank

0-100

(low-high)1

Species

Present

?

Y or N

If Present, Gross

Area of the

Infestation (sq. ft.)

actively controlling these plants where feasible

Alliara petiolata garlic mustard 70 N

Centaurea biebersteinii spotted knapweed 86 N

Cirsium arvensis Canada thistle 76 N

Cirsium vulgare bull thistle 61 N

Hieracium aurantiacum and

Hieracium caespitosum

orange hawkweed, devil's

paintbrush & meadow hawkweed 79

N

Hieracium lachenalii Common hawkweed 57 N

Linaria vulgaris yellow toadflax, butter and eggs 69 N

Senecio jacobaea. Tansy ragwort 63 N

Sonchus arvensis. ssp.

uliginosis Perennial sow thistle 73

N

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb

& Zucc. Japanese knotweed 87

N

actively controlling these plants only in certain locations

Brassica rapa field mustard 50 N

Brassica rapa var. rapa purple-topped turnip 50 N

Cotula coronopifolia common brassbuttons 42 N

Crepis tectorum narrow-leaf hawk's beard 56 N

Galeopsis bifida and G.

tetrahit split-lip hemp-nettle 50

N


5

Hieracium umbellatum narrow-leaved hawkweed 51 N

Leucanthemum vulgare oxeye daisy, white daisy 61 N

Melilotus alba white sweetclover 81 N

Melilotus officinalis yellow sweetclover, king's crown 69 N

Phalaris arundicacea reed canarygrass 83 N

Polygonum convolvulus black bindweed 50 N

Tanacetum vulgare common tansy 60 N

Lythrum salicaria purple loosestrife 84 N

Zostera japonica dwarf eelgrass 53 N

B. Habitat Vulnerability

The project area vegetation patterns correspond to the age and the geomorphic, hydrologic and

soils patterns of the specific sites and the overall area. The well-drained alluvial and colluvial

sediments and the steep bedrock slopes are mostly upland vegetation. The finer lakeshore and

beaver pond edge sediments and flatter basin, hillslope and terrace areas have wetland vegetation

of various types. Following are vegetation maps of the project area including one using the

National Wetlands Inventory (Cowardin 1976) and the USFS - Tongass National Forest

Vegetation Maps with some specific categories devised to better fit the Sweetheart Lake

conditions.


6

Figure 1 - General vegetation map altered from USFS vegetation type GIS layers

Figure 2 - NWI map for Gilbert Bay


7

The Sweetheart Lake area and to a lesser degree the Gilbert Bay area as a whole has a number of

large and small-scale natural disturbance regimes that leave some of the habitats in the area

vulnerable to invasive species should they be introduced into the area:

The Sweetheart Valley is very steep sloped and there are approximately twenty large

avalanche chutes and alluvial fans and many more small ones that scour and disturb the

slopes of the valley and the lakeshore.

The large creeks that enter the lake at the head both have large active floodplains and

change channels often - disturbing the floodplain habitats.

Beaver are common on the lake and on the creeks flowing into the lake. They dam the

creeks, flooding areas; they cut neighboring trees and shrubs, both for food and for

building material and to open up the areas around their ponds and work areas; and they

abandon or are driven out of their ponds and dams changing the habitat once again

Wind-throw and damage by deep snows.

Spring snowmelt floods on the creeks and the lakeshore.

Ice scour by tidal action on the Sweetheart Delta and Gilbert Bay beaches.

Changes in disease and insect infestations due to global climate change

Table of Survey Intensity Level in Sweetheart Watershed Habitats and Their Pre-Project Vulnerability and Risk

Habitat

Survey

Level

Pre-project Habitat

Vulnerability and

Vectors

Risk

Sweetheart Sweetheart Lake

Beaver ponds and pond edges Level 6 -

Systematic

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Natural disturbance

regimes present including

avalanches, beavers, flooding

and dewatering

Low

Stream banks, bars and deltas Level 6 -

Systematic

Roadless, no human


regime present.

Low

Yazoo channels- forested wetland Level 5 -

Focused

Roadless, no human


regime present

Low

Avalanche and alluvial fan channels at lake

level

Level 4 -

General

Roadless, no human


Low


8

Habitat

Survey

Level

Pre-project Habitat

Vulnerability and

Vectors

Risk

regime present.

Steep slope mixed evergreen forest Level 3 -

General

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Stable

Low

Slope peatlands Level 5 -

Focused

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Stable

Low

Floodplain/outwash Sitka alder/spiny wood

fern thicket

Level 3 -

General

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Stable and distant

from natural vectors

Low

Hillside bench forested wetland Level 3 -

General

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Stable

Low

Sweetheart Creek Delta Area

Intertidal Level 5 -

Focused

Roadless, some human

disturbance from fisherman

landing on delta and trails

across intertidal to creek. Winds

and currents the coast are

natural vectors for light-seeded

and salt tolerant invasives. Sow

thistle is a potential threat in

this habitat.

Medium

Uplifted beach meadow Level 5 -

Focused




across beach meadow to creek.

Winds and currents the coast

are natural vectors for light-

seeded and salt tolerant

invasives. Sow thistle is a

potential threat in this habitat.

Medium

Uplift Sitka spruce and shrubby edges Level 5 -

Focused




across the delta to the creek.

Medium

Sweetheart Creek mouth banks Level 6-

Systematic

Roadless, intense human use by

fisherman for a month a year.

Medium

Hillside W. hemlock/yellow-cedar/Sitka

spruce forest

Level 4 -

General

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Heavy use by bears

escaping human presence in

fishing areas.

Low

Hillside/bench forested wetland Level 5 -

Focused

Roadless, no human

disturbance. Heavy use by bears

Low


9

Habitat

Survey

Level

Pre-project Habitat

Vulnerability and

Vectors

Risk

escaping human presence in

fishing areas.

West Gilbert Bay - transmis

Documents

Botany Resource Report for Plants - USFS Tongass National … · 2013. 4. 26. · the dock on Gilbert Bay. A road would be built connecting the powerhouse and the dock site. At this