Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Additions
Environmental Assessment
Pacific County, Washington
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION
1.1 Introduction 1-1
1.2 Proposed Action 1-3
1.3 Need for Action 1-3
1.3.1 Late-Successional Forest 1-3
1.3.2 Freshwater Streams and Associated Upland Forest 1-3
1.3.3 Intertidal Marsh 1-3
1.3.4 Tidelands 1-4
1.3.5 Habitat Fragmentation 1-4
1.4 Purpose for Action 1-4
1.5 Study Area 1-5
1.6 Decisions to be Made 1-5
1.7 Public Participation and Issue Identification 1-5
1.7.1 Biological Issues 1-5
1.7.2 Social and Economic Issues 1-6
1.7.3 Issues Not Selected for Detailed Analysis 1-6
1.8 Planning Efforts 1-8
1.8.1 Conceptual Management Plan and Land Protection Plan 1-8
1.8.2 Comprehensive Conservation Plan 1-8
1.9 National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and Authorities 1-9
1.9.1 Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System 1-9
1.9.2 Guiding Principles of the National Wildlife Refuge System 1-9
1.9.3 Goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System 1-10
1.9.4 Purpose and Goals of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge 1-10
2.1 Introduction 2-1
2.2 Alternatives Considered But Not Given Detailed Study 2-1
2.2.1 Alternative A 2-1
2.2.2 Alternative B 2-1
2.2.3 Alternative C 2-1
2.3 Alternatives Given Detailed Study 2-2
2.3.1 Features Common to All Alternatives 2-2
2.3.2 Features Common to All Action Alternatives (Alternatives 2 and 3) 2-2
2.3.3 Alternative Descriptions 2-5
2.4 Comparison of Alternatives 2-7
3.1 General Description 3-1
3.2 Biological Environment 3-1
3.2.1 Vegetation/Landcover 3-1
3.2.2 Water Resources 3-5
3.2.3 Wildlife Resources 3-6
3.2.4 Fishery Resources 3-8
3.2.5 Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Candidate Species, and
Species of Concern 3-9
3.3 Social and Economic Environment 3-10
3.3.1 Pacific County 3-10
3.3.2 Wildlife-Dependent Public Use Activities 3-13
4.1 Introduction 4-1
4.2 Effects on Biological Environment 4-1
4.2.1 Alternative 1 (No Action) 4-1
4.2.2 Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) 4-2
4.2.3 Alternative 3 4-3
4.3 Effects on Social and Economic Environment 4-4
4.3.1 Alternative 1 (No Action) 4-4
4.3.2 Alternative 2 4-5
4.3.3 Alternative 3 4-6
4.4 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 4-8
4.5 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources 4-8
4.6 Short-term Uses Versus Long-term Productivity 4-8
4.7 Cumulative Impacts 4-8
5.1 Agency Coordination 5-1
5.1.1 Federal Agencies 5-1
5.1.2 State Agencies 5-1
5.1.3 Tribal Governments 5-1
5.1.4 County and City Governments 5-1
5.2 Environmental Consultation and Compliance 5-1
5.2.1 The Endangered Species Act (ESA) 5-2
5.2.2 The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) 5-2
5.2.3 Historic Preservation Laws 5-2
5.2.4 Environmental Justice 5-3
5.2.5 Compatibility Determination of Interim Public Uses 5-3
5.3 Distribution and Availability 5-5
6.1 Authors 6-1
6.2 Reviewers 6-1
6.3 Acknowledgments 6-1
Fish and Wildlife Habitat R-1
Social and Economic R-1
Distribution List for Environmental Assessment A-1
Glossary B-1
TABLES
Table 1: Acres of Vegetation/Landcover Type by Alternative 2-7
Table 2: Comparative Summary of Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 2-7
Table 3: Land Uses in Pacific County 3-11
Table 4: Interim Compatibility Determinations and Interim Uses for the Proposed
Additions to Willapa National Wildlife Refuge 5-4
FIGURES
Figure 1: Study Area 1-2
Figure 2: Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) 2-10
Figure 3: Alternative 3 2-11
Figure 4: Vegetation/Landcover Map 3-2