GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

VINITA, OKLAHOMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PENSACOLA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

(FERC PROJECT NO. 1494)

 

 

 

 

 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AMENDMENT TO LICENSE – SHORELINE

MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

VINITA, OKLAHOMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PENSACOLA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

(FERC PROJECT NO. 1494)

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AMENDMENT TO LICENSE – SHORELINE

MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:

 

 

 


GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

VINITA, OKLAHOMA

 

PENSACOLA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

(FERC PROJECT NO. 1494)

 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AMENDMENT TO LICENSE - SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS LIST. AA-1

STANDARD TERMS. ST-1

1.0...... Proposed action and PURPOSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT. 1

1.1       Shoreline Management Plan. 2

2.0...... AGENCY CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. 3

2.1       Agency/Stakeholder Consultation. 4

3.0...... Project Description.. 5

3.1       General Locale. 5

3.2       Pensacola Project 6

3.2.1    Project Facilities. 7

3.2.2    Project Boundary. 8

3.3       Project Operation. 11

4.0...... environmental analysis. 12

4.1       Geology and Soils. 12

4.1.1    Geology    12

4.1.2    Soils   13

4.1.3    Effects of Implementing the SMP. 13

4.2       Water Resources. 14

4.2.1    Water Quality. 15

4.2.1.1       Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen. 17

4.2.1.2       pH.. 18

4.2.1.3       Phosphorus. 19

4.2.1.4       Sediments and Heavy Metals Contamination. 19

4.2.1.5       Bacteria. 20

4.2.2    Water Quantity. 21

4.2.2.1       Project Operations. 23

4.2.2.2       Seasonal Target Lake Elevations. 23

4.2.2.3       Water Use. 23

4.2.3    Effects of Implementing the SMP. 23

4.3       Fish, Wildlife and Botanical 26

4.3.1    Fish and Aquatic Species. 26

4.3.1.1       Current Management 27

4.3.2    Wildlife    28

4.3.2.1       Birds. 28

4.3.2.2       Mammals. 29

4.3.2.3       Reptiles and Amphibians. 29

4.3.2.4       Current Management 30

4.3.3    Botanical  30

4.3.4    Wetlands   31

4.3.5    Threatened and Endangered Species. 33

4.3.5.1       Aquatic. 33

4.3.5.2       Terrestrial 34

4.3.6    Effects of Implementing the SMP. 35

4.4       Historical and Archaeological 38

4.4.1    Cultural  39

4.4.1.1       Known Cultural Properties. 41

4.4.2    Historical  41

4.4.2.1       Known Historic Properties. 41

4.4.3    Effects of Implementing the SMP. 41

4.5       Recreation. 42

4.5.1    Recreation Sites and Public Access. 43

4.5.2    Recreation Use. 46

4.5.3    Recreation Management 46

4.5.4    Effects of Implementing the SMP. 47

4.6       Land Uses and Aesthetics. 48

4.6.1    Land Use    48

4.6.2    Aesthetics   51

4.6.3    Effects of Implementing the SMP. 54

4.7       Additional Shoreline Management Policies. 60

4.7.1    Habitable Structures Policy. 61

4.7.2    Vegetation Management and Shoreline Stabilization Policies. 62

4.7.3    Dredging    63

4.7.4    Other Policies and Provisions. 63

4.8       Agency Consultation and Enforcement 65

4.9       SMP Monitoring and Amendment 65

4.10     Socioeconomics. 66

4.10.1  Demographics. 66

4.10.2  Economy    67

4.10.3  Effects of Implementing the SMP. 70

4.11     Tribal Resources. 70

4.11.1  Lands of Tribal Significance. 70

4.11.2  Effects of Implementing the SMP. 71

5.0...... LITERATURE CITED.. 72

 

 


 

LIST OF TABLES

 

Table 5.2.1-1:....... Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature Criteria to Protect Fish and Wildlife. 17

Table 5.2.2-1:....... Summary of Hydraulic Characteristics of Grand Lake. 21

Table 5.2.2-2:....... Mean Monthly Streamflow Recorded at the Grand River Gauge (No.
07190500) near Langley, Oklahoma (1940-2003) 22

Table 5.3.4-1:....... Wetland Cover Types (in acres) by Elevation Zone at Grand Lake,
Oklahoma. 31

Table 5.6.1-1:....... Land Uses Within the Project Boundary. 51

Table 5.6.3-1:....... Allowable Commercial Uses Within Shoreline Management
Classifications. 57

Table 5.6.3-2:....... Allowable Residential Uses Within Shoreline Management
Classifications. 58

Table 5.10-1:........ Selected Demographic and Economic Characteristics for Craig,
Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa Counties, Oklahoma. 66

Table 5.10.1-1:      Annual Population Estimates for Craig, Delaware, Mayes and
Ottawa Counties, Oklahoma, 2000 through 2004. 67

Table 5.10.2-1:      Employment by Industry in Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa
Counties, 2000a 69

Table 5.3.3-1:....... Botanical Species Typical of the Grand Lake Vicinity. D-1

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES

 

Figure 3.2-1:... Location Map for the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project 9

Figure 3.2-2:... Project Boundary Map for the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project 10

Figure 5.2-1:... Location of Oklahoma PDES Sites in the Vicinity of Grand Lake. 16

Figure 5.2-1:... Annual Mean Streamflow at Grand River near Langley, OK.. 22

Figure 5.3-1:... Wetlands Mapping for Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. 32

Figure 5.5-1:... Public Recreation Sites at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. 45

Figure 5.6-1:... Land Use Within the Project Boundary. 50

Figure 5.6-2:... Vegetation Patterns around Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. 53

 

 

LIST OF APPENDICES

 

Appendix __:    Draft ER Comments

Appendix __:    Grand Lake Botanical Species

Appendix __:    GRDA’s Existing Permit Program

 

 

 

 

 

 


GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

VINITA, OKLAHOMA

 

PENSACOLA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

(FERC PROJECT NO. 1494)

 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AMENDMENT TO LICENSE - SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS LIST

 

BMP                            Best Management Practice

BOD                            Biological Oxygen Demand

cfs                                Cubic feet per second

Commission
or FERC                      Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

DO                              Dissolved oxygen

EPA                             Environmental Protection Agency

ER                               Environmental Report

ESA                             Endangered Species Act

GIS                              Geographic Information System

GRDA                         Grand River Dam Authority

kW                              Kilowatts

Licensee                       Grand River Dam Authority

mg/L                            Milligrams per liter

msl                               Mean sea level

MW                             Megawatt

National Register          America’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation

NGOs                          Non-Governmental Organizations

NGVD                         National Geodetic Vertical Datum

NHPA                         National Historic Preservation Act

NRHP                          National Register of Historic Places

NWS                           National Weather Service

oF                                 Degrees Fahrenheit

OK                              Oklahoma

OKCC                         Oklahoma Conservation Commission

OKDEQ                      Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality

OKDNR                      Oklahoma Department of Natural Resources

OKDOC                      Oklahoma Department of Commerce

OKDWC                     Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

OKSU                         Oklahoma State University

OKTRD                       Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department

OKWRB                     Oklahoma Water Resources Board

PD                               Pensacola Datum

PDES                           27/96

PWC                           Personal Water Craft [e.g. jet skis]

RM                              River Mile, numbered from mouth to source

SHPO                          State Historic Preservation Office

SMC                            Shoreline Management Classification

SMP                            Shoreline Management Plan

Stakeholders                Federal and state resource agencies, NGOs, and other interested parties

TDS                             28/96

TMDL                         Total Maximum Daily Load

TNC                            The Nature Conservancy

USACE                       U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USFWS                       U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USGS                          U.S. Geological Survey

 

 

 


GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

VINITA, OKLAHOMA

 

PENSACOLA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

(FERC PROJECT NO. 1494)

 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AMENDMENT TO LICENSE - SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

STANDARD TERMS

 

af                                             Acre-foot, the amount of water needed to cover one acre to a depth of one foot.

APE                                         Area of Potential Effect as pertaining to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

base flow                                  Sustained, low flow in a stream; ground-water discharge is the source of base flow in most places.

bedload                                    Sediment that moves on or near the streambed and is in almost continuous contact with the bed.

bedrock                                   General term for consolidated (solid) rock that underlies soils or other unconsolidated material.

benthic invertebrates                 Insects, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and other organisms without a backbone that live in, on, or near the bottom of lakes, streams, or oceans.

benthic                                     Refers to plants or animals that live on the bottom of lakes, streams, or oceans.

confluence                                The flowing together of two or more streams; the place where a tributary joins the main stream.

cubic foot per second               Rate of water discharge representing a volume of 1 cubic foot passing a given point during 1 second, equivalent to approximately 7.48 gallons per second or 448.8 gallons per minute or 0.02832 cubic meter per second.

cumulative impact                     The impact on the environment that results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions.  Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time.

direct effect                              Direct effects are caused by the action and occur at the same time and place.

drawdown                                The difference between the water level in a reservoir before pumping and the water level in the reservoir during pumping. Also, the act of discharging of water to lower reservoir storage levels.

flashboards                               Removable boards installed seasonally in reservoir spillways to temporarily increase storage capacity.

flood plain                                The relatively level area of land bordering a stream channel and inundated during moderate to severe floods.

indirect effects                          Indirect effects are caused by the action and are later in time or farther removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable.  Indirect effects may include growth-inducing effects and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other natural systems, including ecosystems.

instream use                              Water use taking place within the stream channel for such purposes as hydroelectric power generation, navigation, water-quality improvement, fish propagation, and recreation. Sometimes called nonwithdrawal use or in-channel use.

license application                     Application for a new license; submitted to FERC no less than two years in advance of expiration of an existing license.

mean discharge                         The arithmetic mean of individual daily mean discharges during a specific period, usually daily, monthly, or annually.

mouth                                       The place where a stream discharges to a larger stream, a lake, or the sea.

noncontact water recreation      Recreational activities, such as fishing or boating that does not include direct contact with the water.

Nonpoint source                       A pollution source that cannot be defined as originating from discrete points such as pipe discharge.  Areas of fertilizer and pesticide applications, atmospheric deposition, manure, and natural inputs from plants and trees are types of nonpoint source pollution.

normal operating capacity         The maximum MW output of a generator or group of generators under normal maximum head and flow conditions.

peaking                                    Operation of generating facilities to meet maximum instantaneous electrical demands.

Pensacola Datum                      Pensacola Datum (PD) is 1.07 feet higher than NGVD (National Geodetic Vertical Datum), which is a national standard for measuring elevations above sea level.

penstock                                  An inclined pressurized pipe through which water flows from a forebay or tunnel to the powerhouse turbine.

point source                              A source at a discrete location such as a discharge pipe, drainage ditch, tunnel, well, concentrated livestock operation, or floating craft.

Project Area                             Project Area is defined as the zone of potential, reasonably direct Project impacts, typically extending 0 to 100 feet from the Project Boundary.

Project Boundary                     The area defined in the license issued by FERC for the Project as needed for Project operations.  For the Pensacola Project, the real boundary is described by a metes and bounds description.  For the purposes of this ER, elevation 750 feet PD is identified as the approximate Project Boundary.

Project Drainage Basin             The Project’s Grand (Neosho) River drainage basin.

Project Region                          The area around the Project at the County level to include Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa counties.

Project roads                            Roads within Project Boundary primarily used for Project purposes excluding Federal, state, county, and non-Licensee private roads.

Project Vicinity                         The area extending to about five miles from the Project Boundary.

Project viewshed                      The area from which the Project is visible. The land base from which the Project may be seen.

Project works                           All of the infrastructure associated with the operations of the Project.

ramping                                    The act of increasing or decreasing stream flows from a powerhouse, dam or division structure.

RD                                           Recreation Day, which equals a visit by a person to a Project development for recreation purposes during any portion of a 24-hour period.

recreation day                           Each visit by a person to a development for recreational purposes during any portion of a 24 hour period.

relicensing                                 The process of acquiring a new FERC license for an existing hydroelectric project upon expiration of the existing FERC license.

Reservoir Useable Capacity      A volume measurement of the amount of water that can be stored for generation, down to a minimum level.

RM                                          River mile as measured along the river course, measured from the headwaters of the river to its mouth.

RT&E Species                         Rare, threatened, endangered and special status species, which for purposes of this PAD is defined to include (1) all species (plant and animal) listed, proposed for listing, or candidates for listing under the Federal and state Endangered Species Acts and the California Native Plant Protection Act, and (2) all species (plant and animal) listed by the USFS as sensitive, special status or watch list.

run-of-river                               A hydroelectric project that uses the flow of a stream with little or no reservoir capacity for storing water.

spillway                                    A passage for releasing surplus water from a reservoir or canal.

tailrace                                     Channel through which water is discharged from the powerhouse turbines.

trash rack                                 A mechanism, found on a dam or intake structure, which clears the water of debris before the water passes through the structure.

tributary                                    A river or stream flowing into a larger river, stream or lake.

turbine                                      A machine that converts the energy of a stream of water into the mechanical energy of rotation.  This energy is then used to turn an electrical generator or other device.  Also called a “water wheel”.

 

 


GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

VINITA, OKLAHOMA

 

PENSACOLA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

(FERC PROJECT NO. 1494)

 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AMENDMENT TO LICENSE - SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

1.0              Proposed action and PURPOSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

 

Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), licensee for the Pensacola Project (Project) (FERC No. 1494), filed a long-term recreation plan for the Project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) on October 3, 1997, per License Article 407.  Article 407 specified that the recreation plan was to include, among other things, information on the current management of shoreline development at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees (Grand Lake or Lake).  In its August 14, 1998 order modifying and approving the long-term recreation plan, FERC recommended, but did not require, that GRDA develop a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP).  To provide a framework for managing Grand Lake’s shoreline, GRDA has voluntarily prepared a SMP for the Project.  Because implementing the proposed SMP may affect resources (i.e., fishery, cultural, land use, socioeconomic, etc.) at the Project, GRDA is submitting this draft environmental report (Draft ER) as an attachment to the SMP.  The Draft ER describes the existing environment at the Project and the potential effects of the proposed SMP on the resources.

 

1.1              Shoreline Management Plan

 

GRDA is proposing to implement a SMP for the Pensacola Project.  The proposed SMP includes the following:

1)                  An inventory of existing shoreline resources;

2)                  A description of GRDA’s existing permitting system;

3)                  Shoreline management guidelines for Project lands;

4)                  A process for the evaluating new shoreline uses under the SMP;

5)                  Monitoring and enforcement strategies;

6)                  An amendment process; and

7)                  Land use classifications and allowable uses of the shoreline.

 

In addition to the SMP, GRDA is filing a Revised Recreation Management Plan (RMP) and a Carrying Capacity Study (CCS) of Grand Lake in support of the SMP.  FERC will review the two aforementioned documents in a proceeding separate from the SMP.  FERC may or may not use the RMP and/or CCS in their analysis of the SMP.

 

The purpose of this Draft ER is to provide a summary of the existing resources at the Project and to assess the effects of implementing the SMP on those resources.  Specifically, this Draft ER addresses the 503 miles of shoreline[1] for Grand Lake, at the normal high water elevation contour of 745 feet PD (Pensacola Datum[2]).  Although the Project Boundary is described by a metes and bounds survey, the elevation 750 feet PD is identified as the approximate Project Boundary for the purposes of this Draft ER.  Although this document acknowledges development activities upland of the Project Boundary, GRDA has jurisdiction only on lands and waters it owns or that are within the FERC Project Boundary.


2.0              AGENCY CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

 

In preparing the SMP, GRDA consulted with Federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and members of the public.  Federal and state agencies included the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OKCC), Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (OKDEQ), Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OKTRD), Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OKWRB), the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (OKDWC), the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey (OAS).

 

GRDA held three public Shoreline Management Issues Workshops in October 2005 to solicit information from residents’ and visitors’ about issues affecting shoreline development, water quality, recreation, and lake management.  From those meetings, a Stakeholder Working Group was formed to provide input on the components of the SMP.  The members of the Stakeholder Working Group included individual homeowners, homeowners associations, commercial interests and agency personnel.  Details regarding the Stakeholder Working Groups may be found in the SMP.  The initial Stakeholder Working Group meeting was held in December 2005 in which three smaller working groups were formed:  Allowable Uses, Land Use Classifications, and Permitting.  The Allowable Uses and Land Use Classifications working groups met five times in 2006; the Permitting working group met four times in 2006. The groups provided their views of the issues and potential management strategies for the SMP.  They also provided valuable information regarding the lakes resources from their perspective as local residents or regular users of the Project.

 


2.1              Agency/Stakeholder Consultation

 

On December 15, 2006, GRDA distributed a Draft SMP and ER to stakeholders for review and comment.  The following agencies and other stakeholders commented on the Draft ER:

 

AGENCY/STAKEHOLDER

DATE FILED

INSERT LIST OF AGENCIES

INSERT DATES FILED

 

 

NOTE TO STAKEHOLDERS:  THIS SECTION WILL BE COMPLETED AFTER WE RECEIVE COMMENTS ON THE DECEMBER DRAFT SMP & ER.

 

A summary of comments on the Draft ER is found in Appendix __, along with GRDA’s response to those comments.  Comments received on the Draft SMP that affected the Draft ER are also summarized in Appendix __.  As appropriate, changes were made throughout the Draft ER to address those comments.

 

 

 

 


3.0              Project Description

 

3.1              General Locale

 

The Pensacola Project is located on the Grand River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, and begins as the Neosho River in the Flint Hills of east central Kansas, just north of the city of Council Grove in Morris County.  The Neosho River flows generally southeast through Kansas for a distance of approximately 300 miles into Oklahoma.  After the Neosho’s confluence with the Spring River at River Mile (RM) 131.0 southeast of Miami, Oklahoma, it becomes the Grand River.  RM “0” is the confluence of the Grand and Arkansas Rivers.  Pensacola Dam, located at RM 77, backs Grand Lake to the confluence of the Neosho River and Spring Creek.  At flood pool (under USACE control), the pooled water extends further up the tributaries.  Principal tributaries of the Grand River are the Neosho, Spring, Cottonwood, and Elk rivers and Labette, Big Cabin, Spavinaw, and Lightning creeks.  The Project occupies portions of Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa Counties in northeastern Oklahoma (FERC 1991).  Downstream of the Project is the FERC licensed Markham Ferry Project (FERC No. 2183), also owned and operated by GRDA.

 

After passing Pensacola Dam, the river flows south for approximately 150 miles to its confluence with the Arkansas River near Muskogee, Oklahoma.  The river basin has a total area of 12,520 square miles of which approximately 6,220 square miles are in Kansas, 2,960 are in Missouri, 2,930 are in Oklahoma, and 410 are in Arkansas.  The River basin ranges from approximately 1,500 feet mean sea level (msl) in the upper basin in Kansas to about 500 feet msl in the lower basin in Oklahoma (FERC 1991).

 

Normal daily temperatures in the Project Vicinity average approximately 57°F and range from 21°F in January to 91°F in July and August.  Total annual rainfall in the Project Vicinity is approximately 44 inches with an average snowfall of approximately 6 inches at the project (NWS, 2005).

 

 

Land use in the Grand River basin is devoted primarily to agriculture and mining.  Corn, small grains, sorghum, alfalfa, fruits, and vegetables are the principal crops grown while coal, clay, lead, zinc, lime, and petroleum and natural gas are mined in the basin (FERC, 1991).  Grand Lake is highly developed.  GRDA owns title to lands within the Project Boundary as well as some areas outside of the Project Boundary and has authority to prescribe and enforce rules and regulations for commercial and recreational use of the Lake (Title 300:Chapter 35 1-5).  GRDA is vested by the OK Legislature with police powers within the Project Boundary (82 O.S. 2001 § 861 et. seq., as amended) (http://www.grda.com/Water/Publications/Official%20GRDA%20Lake%20Rules%202006.pdf; accessed on October 17, 2006).  GRDA currently manages the shoreline through its existing permitting system and operates a lake patrol to enforce regulations.

 

3.2              Pensacola Project

 

Construction on the Pensacola Project, which was the first hydroelectric project in Oklahoma, began in 1938.  Grand Lake was created by closing the spillway Taintor gates in March 1940.  GRDA has operated and maintained the Pensacola Project since August, 1946. On April 24, 1992, FERC issued a new license for the 86.9 megawatt (MW) Pensacola Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 1494) to GRDA.

 

The Project consists of a dam, two auxiliary spillways, an intake structure, a powerhouse containing six turbine generator units, and appurtenant equipment and facilities.  The Project also includes Grand Lake, which has 503 miles of shoreline spread over a 41 mile reach of river (Figure 3.2-1).

 


3.2.1        Project Facilities

 

The existing Pensacola Project consists of:

 

1.                  A main dam, which has a maximum height of 147 feet, and is comprised of (a) a 53.5 foot long non-overflow abutment section on the west end, (b) a 4,284 foot long multiple-arch section with a crest elevation of 757 feet PD, (c) an 861 foot long main spillway section, which has a crest elevation of 730 feet PD and is controlled by 21 Taintor gates each 36 feet long by 25 feet high, (d) a 451 foot long non-overflow gravity section on the east end, and (e) a 300 foot long non-overflow abutment section consisting of a concrete core wall;

2.                  Two auxiliary spillways with approximate lengths of 464 feet and 422 feet about 1.0 mile east of the main dam, which consist of concrete gravity overflow type spillways with crest elevations of 740 feet PD controlled by a total of 21 Taintor gates each 37 feet long by 15 feet high;

3.                  Grand Lake, which has a surface area of 46,500 acres and a storage volume of 1,680,000 acre-feet at the maximum power pool of 745 feet PD;

4.                  A 27-foot by 246 foot intake structure;

5.                  A powerhouse with dimensions of 87.75 feet by 279.0 feet, located immediately downstream of the western end of the dam, which contains seven turbine-generator units with a total nameplate capacity of 86,900 kilowatts (kW); and,

6.                  Appurtenant equipment and facilities.

 


3.2.2        Project Boundary

 

The existing Project Boundary is defined by metes and bounds, but generally follows the 750 foot PD contour elevation[3].  The Project extends approximately from just downstream of the Pensacola Dam (RM 77) to RM 143.  GRDA also owns title to some lands adjacent to the Project Boundary (see Figure 3.2-2).

 

 

 

 

 


Figure 3.2-1:   Location Map for the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project

(FERC Project No. 1494)

 


Figure 3.2-2:   Project Boundary Map for the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project

(FERC Project No. 1494)

 


3.3              Project Operation

 

The GRDA operates the Project according to its existing operating rule curve, approved by a December 3, 1996, FERC Order Amending the Project License, Article 401.  The existing rule curve for hydro generation and flood control is as follows:

 

PERIOD

RESERVOIR ELEVATION

May 1 – May 31

Spring fill - Raise elevation from 742 to 744 feet PD

Jun 1 – Jul 31

Elevation 744 feet PD

Aug 1 – Aug 15

First summer drawdown - Lower elevation from 744 to 743 feet PD

Aug 16 – Aug 31

Second summer drawdown - Lower elevation from 743 to 741 feet PD

Sep 1 – Oct 15

Elevation at 741 feet PD

Oct 16 – Oct 31

Fall fill - Raise elevation from 741 to 742 feet PD

Nov 1 – Apr 30

Elevation at 742 feet PD

 

GRDA shares operations with the USACE as part of a basin wide system of flood control and navigation projects.  At the Pensacola Project, GRDA controls all operations below elevation 745 feet, and USACE controls operations (flood storage) above 745 feet.  Flood storage at the Project is provided between elevations 745 and 755 feet PD.  Under the terms of the 1992 Letter of Understanding and Water Control Agreement between the USACE and GRDA, the USACE directs the water releases from the dam whenever the reservoir elevation is within the limits of the flood pool (i.e., 745-755 feet PD) (USACE 1992).

 

 

 

 


4.0              environmental analysis

 

In this section, each resource potentially affected by implementing GRDA’s proposed SMP is first described by its existing conditions and then analyzed to disclose any effects—beneficial or adverse—that may occur on or to that resource as a result of the measures contained in the SMP.

 

4.1              Geology and Soils

 

The Project Vicinity (i.e., the area extending to about five miles from the Project Boundary) contains several unique geologic features and supports several industrial interests associated with mineral extraction.  As mentioned in Section 3.1, coal, clay, lead, zinc, lime, and petroleum and natural gas are mined in the basin.

 

4.1.1        Geology

 

The Project is located in northeastern Oklahoma, bordered on the east by the Ozark Plateau and on the west by the Prairie Plains.  Bedrock in the Project Vicinity includes limestone, chert, sandstone, and shale.  The Project dam is constructed on chert (FERC, 1991).

 

The southern and eastern portions of the Project Vicinity (the lower portion of the reservoir) contain deep ravines and narrow valleys separated by broad, gently rolling uplands.  The shorelines of the lower portions of the reservoir are mostly limestone bluffs and steep rocky beaches (FERC, 1991; GRDA, 2004).

 

The northern and western portions of the Project Vicinity lie in the Prairie Plains, which are typified by gently rolling plains with occasional hills and ridges.  The shorelines in these portions of the reservoir generally have gentler slopes. Wetlands are confined to inlets and coves along the numerous small tributaries that enter the reservoir, and are more abundant along the upper, shallower reaches of the reservoir.  Extensive cave systems occur in some of the limestone formations along the reservoir (FERC, 1991; GRDA, 2004)

 

4.1.2        Soils

 

The shores of Grand Lake are primarily stony, silty-loam soils on 5- to 20-percent slopes.  This soil composition also occupies timbered upland ridges in cherty limestone areas.  The soil surface layer is dark grayish brown in the upper 2 inches and pale brown in the lower horizon.  The subsoil, which is a brown, stony, silty, and clay loam, is about 60 percent chert by volume (GRDA 2002).

 

Substantial shoreline erosion has occurred in certain areas of the Lake as a result of fluctuating water levels and natural weather conditions.  Wake-generated waves of powerboats and personal watercraft (PWC) have also contributed to this erosion (FERC 2002).

 

4.1.3        Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

Implementing the SMP would likely improve shoreline protection and stability due to the shoreline management classification (SMC) system and the restrictions and regulations identified in the SMP (see Section 1.2).

 

The SMP contains measures that would protect geologic features such as steep slopes, cliffs, caves, wetlands and other sensitive areas from long term development through its SMC system.  Areas of steep slopes, identified as slopes of greater than 100 percent and which are at least 20 feet in height, as well as wetlands and shallow areas would be classified as “Sensitive Resources”.  As such, the SMP affords protection from unnecessary development through GRDA’s policy to discourage and/or limit development proposals for lands within this classification.  Also, the permit program and SMP require a potential permittee to include with their permit application, extensive additional application support and justification of development in the sensitive resource classification, along with appropriate protection, mitigation and enhancement measures.  These procedures provide a mechanism to ensure that if GRDA determines that development could occur in the sensitive resource area, a permittee would be required to mitigate adverse impacts.

 

The SMP contains measures that promote retention and maintenance of shoreline vegetation to stabilize shorelines and to reduce erosion and runoff of soils.  Measures include requiring landowners to obtain permits to modify the existing shoreline vegetation or to remove vegetation to allow reasonable and safe access paths to docks and/or shoreline.

 

Construction that is permitted on Project lands could cause temporary disturbance to soils and could potentially cause sediments or silt to be released downstream; however, permits require the use of control measures during construction.  GRDA would require erosion and sedimentation control plans and the proper permits (i.e., USACE permits, etc) to ensure that any construction impacts are minimized.

 

The SMP supports and promotes applications for consolidated shoreline uses (e.g., community docks).  The SMP also supports the voluntary use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for purposes of stabilizing soils during construction and using vegetation to minimize erosion and slope failure on or from non-Project lands.

 

4.2              Water Resources

 

Grand Lake is the third largest reservoir in Oklahoma and provides power generation, flood control, recreation, and public and private water supply.  In a federally-funded Clean Lakes Phase I Study in 1995, the primary environmental concerns were related to heavy metal contamination in the upstream portion of the reservoir, and eutrophication which is accelerated by high phosphorus inputs (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).

 

 

4.2.1        Water Quality

 

Grand Lake is an alkaline lake that stratifies in the summer with respect to temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH.  Grand Lake shows indications that eutrophication is occurring faster than a natural rate, partially due to high nutrient levels, especially phosphorus.  Additional concerns stem from heavy metals released from abandoned mines that are bound to sediments in the upper portion of the reservoir.  The designated beneficial uses for Grand Lake include public and private water supply, fish and wildlife propagation as a warmwater aquatic community, Class I irrigation, and primary body contact recreation (OKWRB, 2001).

 

Point sources of pollution into the Grand Lake watershed include nutrient input from residential development around the Lake, from 22 wastewater treatment plants in the watershed in Oklahoma plus more in portions of the watershed in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and acidic mine drainage with associated heavy metal contaminants from several sources in the Neosho and Spring River watersheds.  Much of the nonpoint source pollution in the watershed comes from agricultural activities, lakeside recreation, and possible trace metal contamination in the surface runoff from mining operations (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995; OK Office of the Secretary of the Environment, 2004).  Figure 5.2-1 shows the location of all PDES sites near Grand Lake in Oklahoma.

 


Figure 5.2-1:   Location of Oklahoma PDES Sites in the Vicinity of Grand Lake

(Source: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality)

 

 

 

Various portions of the Grand Lake watershed are listed on the state 303(d) lists as impaired waters.  Grand Lake has been listed on the 303(d) State Impaired Waters list for organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen (EPA, 2002).  Eighty segments of the watershed are listed on the Kansas 1998 303(d) list as impaired by low dissolved oxygen, eutrophication, pH, siltation, fecal coliform, cadmium, hydro, zinc, ammonia, selenium, chlordane, sulfate, lead, metals, copper, and organic enrichment.  Twenty segments are listed on the Missouri 1998 303(d) list as being impaired by zinc, nutrients, BOD, fecal coliform, algae, sediment, ammonia, and suspended solids.  One segment is on the Arkansas 1998 303(d) list for heavy metals.  Sixteen segments are listed as impaired and in need of a TMDL in Oklahoma's 2002 Integrated Report for low dissolved oxygen, chloride, lead, pathogens, pH, sulfates, TDS, and turbidity (OKDEQ, 2002).

 

4.2.1.1  Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen

 

State standards have been established for Warm Water Aquatic Communities and are provided in Table 5.2.1-1.

 

Table 5.2.1-1:       Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature Criteria to Protect Fish and Wildlife

 

FISHERY CLASS

DATES APPLICABLE

MINIMUM D.O. CRITERIA (mg/L)

SEASONAL TEMP (C)

Early Life Stages

04/01 - 06/15

6.0a

25b

Other Life Stages - Summer Conditions

06/16 - 10/15

5.01

32

Other Life Stages - Winter Conditions

10/16 - 03/31

5

18

a      Because of natural diurnal dissolved oxygen fluctuation, a 1.0 mg/l dissolved oxygen concentration deficit shall be allowed for not more than eight (8) hours during any twenty-four (24) hour period.

b      Discharge limits necessary to meet summer conditions will apply from June 1 of each year. However, where discharge limits based on Early Life Stage (spring) conditions are more restrictive, those limits may be extended to July 1.

 

Surface temperatures at Grand Lake typically range between 4 and 28 degrees C on an annual basis.  Grand Lake begins exhibiting thermal stratification in May and anoxic conditions begin to develop in the hypolimnion several weeks later (OKWRB, 2001).  As algae from the warmer surface waters die and fall to deeper water, they are degraded by bacteria in a process that consumes much of the oxygen in the hypolimnion.  The anoxic condition in the hypolimnion is exacerbated by high levels of phosphorus which "fertilize" the Lake and encourage greater algal productivity (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).

 

Locations in the downstream portions of the Lake display stronger stratification than locations in the upstream portions of the Lake in terms of the stratification period and extent of anoxia in the hypolimnion.  The stronger stratification in the lower section of Grand Lake is likely due to increased water depth.

 

From November 2003 through August 2004, the Beneficial Use Monitoring Program (OKWRB, 2004) sampled Grand Lake once per quarter.  Vertical profiles showed the strongest stratification in the Lake during the summer sample, taken on August 23, 2004, with approximately 38 percent of the water column having DO concentrations below 2.0 mg/L in the lower portion of the reservoir.  During the fall and winter samples, the Lake was mixed and DO concentrations were above 4.0 mg/L throughout the water column.  The Lake showed weak stratification during the spring sample, taken May 17, 2004, with 6-10 percent of the water column having DO concentrations of less than 2.0 mg/L (OKWRB, 2004).

 

4.2.1.2  pH

 

Grand Lake is an alkaline lake with pH ranging from 6.8 to 8.8.  This is within state water quality criteria for the fish and wildlife propagation beneficial use which require pH to fall between 6.5 and 9.0.  During the summer stratification period, the deeper, hypolimnetic water generally has pH values near the lower end of the range while the surface waters remain more alkaline.  While lower pH values have been shown to be associated with anoxic hypolimnetic conditions, the lower pH in these waters encourages phosphate resolubilization, thus accelerating eutrophication (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).

 

4.2.1.3  Phosphorus

 

Grand Lake has been shown to have excessive quantities of phosphorus.  Phosphorus enters the system from several locations, with 72 percent of it coming from non-point sources and 28 percent of it coming from point sources.  Early residential development paid little attention to sewage and septic systems (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).  The over 8,000 homes found within 500 feet of the Lake perimeter and the additional over 1,000 homes built between 500 feet and ¼ mile from the shoreline contribute an estimated range of phosphorus between 1,396 to 4,656 kg/year to the Lake (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).  Concentrated development around the Lake, including resorts, has exacerbated phosphorus inputs.  Upstream in the watershed, a series of waste water treatment plants and agricultural practices release phosphorus and other nutrients in the system.  Historically, agricultural activities have been relatively low-impact, concentrating on cattle grazing and corn and hay production; however, within the last several decades several large-scale poultry production have also been established.  These facilities produce large amounts of poultry manure in a small period of time, and despite efforts to use the manure for beneficial purposes, a large amount of phosphorus and nitrogen is lost to surface runoff (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).

 

4.2.1.4  Sediments and Heavy Metals Contamination

 

Another result from agricultural practices in the watershed is increased sedimentation with stormwater runoff.  Runoff containing high concentrations of sediments also results from construction sites and paved or unpaved roads.  Sediments present in the upstream portion of the reservoir additionally contain heavy metals including lead, zinc and cadmium.

 

A primary source of heavy metals in the upstream part of the reservoir is abandoned mines.  Mining operations in the watershed ceased in the 1970s and mines were abandoned.  Over time, the mines filled with water resulting in low pH water with associated heavy metals flowing into tributaries of Grand Lake.  Acid mine drainage was a serious problem in Tar Creek, a tributary to the Neosho River.  Tar Creek was considered to be one of the nation's most polluted streams in 1981 and became a Superfund site (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).  The cleanup efforts relating to the Superfund program lasted six years and included efforts to plug and cap abandoned water wells, and diversion of flows around sinkholes and mine cave-ins (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).

 

As a result of mine drainage, heavy metals are now bound to sediments in the upper portion of the reservoir.  No metal toxicity has been found in the water column, but fish species collected downstream of Grand Lake have a higher concentration of lead than the national average (State of Oklahoma, 2003).  Under typical Lake Conditions, metals will remain bound to the sediments and not pose a serious threat to the water column.  However, physical disruption of the sediments, such as would occur from dredging and other in-water construction activities, may cause metals to be released into the water column.  Although it is unlikely to occur, a decrease in pH to 6.0 may also cause a release of metals from the sediments (OKWRB and OKSU, 1995).

 

4.2.1.5  Bacteria

 

In a study conducted during the recreational season of May through September of 2004, five locations in Grand Lake were sampled for E.coli, fecal coliform, and enterococci.  Sample results were within state standards for Primary Contact Beneficial Use in reference to E.coli and fecal coliform.  However, three out of ten samples analyzed for enterococci resulted in values greater than the limit of 61/100 mL for discrete samples for Primary Contact Beneficial Use.  The limit for the monthly geometric mean of the samples, 33/100mL, was not exceeded (OKWRB, 2004).

 

4.2.2        Water Quantity

 

Grand Lake drains three rivers spanning four states, including the Neosho River (also known as the Grand River in Oklahoma), the Spring River, and the Elk River.  Table 5.2.2-1 shows the relative contributions of each river to Grand Lake.

 

Table 5.2.2-1:       Summary of Hydraulic Characteristics of Grand Lake

(OKWRB and OKSU, 1995)

 

SOURCE

DRAINAGE AREA
(sq. mi.)

DISCHARGE CFS

Neosho River

5,879

3,652

Spring River

2,510

2,050

Elk River

872

803

Sum of Above

9,258

6,505

Below Dam

10,298

7,208

 

A USGS gage (No. 07190500) is located near Langley, Oklahoma on the Grand River, 3.6 miles below the Pensacola Dam.  Based on 65 years of data recorded at this gage between 1940 and 2003, the mean flow is 6,704 cubic feet per second.  Figure 3.5-2 shows the annual mean streamflow at this gage.  The mean streamflow in 1940 was substantially lower than other years due to the closure of the Pensacola dam during construction.

 


Figure 5.2-1:   Annual Mean Streamflow at Grand River near Langley, OK

 

 

Data recorded at the Grand River gage shows a seasonal variation in flow with greatest flows in spring and early summer and lowest flows in fall and winter.  Table 5.2.2-2 provides monthly mean flows recorded at the gage for the 65-year period of record between 1940 and 2003.

 

Table 5.2.2-2:       Mean Monthly Streamflow Recorded at the Grand River Gauge (No. 07190500) near Langley, Oklahoma (1940-2003)

 

MONTH

MEAN MONTHLY

STREAMFLOW (CFS)

January

4,844

February

6,087

March

8,899

April

11,120

May

12,070

June

11,130

July

8,909

August

4,354

September

4,866

October

5,939

November

6,673

December

5,620

4.2.2.1  Project Operations

 

The Project generally is operated in load following mode, with generation dependent on the availability of water and the demand for power.  The Project has six turbines having a total hydraulic capacity of 10,200 cfs.  Project discharge varies based on inflows and power demands.  There is no FERC requirement for minimum flow, although when the Project is not generating, a downstream gage records a base flow of approximately 25 cfs.  The base flow is likely due to a combination of leakage from the Project and from a small tributary upstream from the gage.

 

4.2.2.2  Seasonal Target Lake Elevations

 

The Project is currently operated to meet seasonal Lake elevation targets as required by the Section 401 Water Quality certificate and license Article 401, as described in Section 4.3.

 

4.2.2.3  Water Use

 

Water in Grand Lake is used primarily for flood control and power generation.  Flood storage occurs in Grand Lake between the elevations of 745 and 755 feet.  When the reservoir elevation reaches 745 feet, the USACE may direct water releases from the dam.  However, when reservoir levels are below 745 feet, the pool is used for power generation and releases are controlled by GRDA.

 

4.2.3        Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

The SMP includes several actions that, if implemented, may affect the water quality of Grand Lake and the watershed.  The intent of many efforts described in the SMP is to improve water quality in the Lake and to slow the rate at which nutrients and pollutants are entering the Lake.

Erosion of the shoreline may contribute to high sediment levels in the Lake, increased turbidity, and potentially can cause heavy metals and other contaminants bound to the sediments to be released into the water.  GRDA has developed a SMC system as part of the SMP to assist GRDA in managing the shoreline to prevent erosion (the effects of implementing the SMP on soils are also described in Section 4.1.3).  Under the “Multi Purpose” and “Limited Development” management classifications, GRDA would encourage the development of multi-family or community docks, rather than individual docks, to reduce the overall effects of erosion and sedimentation to the shoreline and Lake water quality.  Areas that GRDA has designated as “Sensitive Resource Areas” would be further protected by GRDA from development.  Because these areas often contain features like wetlands and steep cliffs, development in these areas could result in degradation of water quality through erosion, sedimentation, and the loss of sediment-retaining wetlands.

 

As part of the SMP, GRDA outlines a series of guidelines, training requirements, and permit processes for the Project lands to reduce erosion of the shoreline.  The Vegetation Management guidelines would allow GRDA to regulate use of heavy equipment to remove large shoreline debris like logs or driftwood through permits.  Footpaths providing access to the shore could be cleared and maintained, but must be conformed to SMP specifications and be sited so that disturbance of trees and other vegetation is minimized.  GRDA would also encourage stabilization of banks using native vegetation or natural materials to deflect wave action and stabilize the shoreline as part of the SMP.

 

GRDA would require that anyone working with debris management or vegetation removal acquire proper training so that water quality standards are met.  For example, within two years of the issuance of the SMP, any contractor performing dredging activities would need to acquire training of environmental issues relating to dredging in order to work in Grand Lake.  Any excavation or dredging activities would need to be permitted by GRDA and, if applicable, by the USACE.

Because some sediment in the reservoir contains contaminants, the SMP would require that dredging over 250 cubic feet of material requires testing for heavy metals, PCBs and other contaminants.  This requirement as well as mandating training of contractors would likely decrease the likelihood of sediment-bound contaminants entering the Lake.  Inputs of contaminants found in herbicides and pesticides would likely be reduced with the implementation of the SMP as the use of these chemicals would be prohibited on GRDA land.

 

GRDA addresses point-source nutrient load to Grand Lake in the SMP through permitting all shoreline activities.  If the SMP is implemented, the net input of nutrients from point sources would likely decrease.  In turn, a reduction in nutrient input would likely slow the eutrophication process in Grand Lake and may increase DO concentrations.  Under the SMP, the use of fertilizers on GRDA lands would be prohibited.

 

Water Quantity

 

While the SMP would limit the location of commercial water withdrawals to zones classified for “Commercial Uses”, the SMP does not specifically limit or encourage water withdrawals.  The SMP would not affect Project operations or seasonal Lake elevations.  Therefore, implementing the SMP would not likely affect water quantity at Grand Lake.

 

Water Use

 

The SMP would not affect Project operations or seasonal Lake level elevations and would therefore not affect the primary water uses of flood control and power generation.  Because implementing the SMP would likely improve water quality as it relates to turbidity and DO, it would likely enhance the fish and wildlife propagation as a warmwater aquatic community.  Implementing the SMP would also likely reduce bacteria levels in the Lake due to various permitting regulations as described above, and would therefore improve Grand Lake's ability to meet standards for the primary body contact recreation beneficial use.

4.3              Fish, Wildlife and Botanical

 

4.3.1        Fish and Aquatic Species

 

The fish community in Grand Lake is similar to other reservoirs within the region.  The primary sportfish in the Lake is largemouth bass, and Grand Lake is considered one of the top bass tournament reservoirs during the past several years (GRDA, 2004).  The Lake also has a sport fishery for walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, striped bass, white bass, crappie, and panfish.  The panfish in Grand Lake include species such as the warmouth, longear sunfish, bluegill, and green sunfish.  A healthy forage fish population of skipjack herring and gizzard shad maintains the sport fishery.  Other species of recreational interest include flathead, blue, and channel catfish.  Other notable species within the Lake include longnose gar, carp, river carpsucker, smallmouth buffalo, logperch, emerald shiner, river shiner, red shiner, ghost shiner, silverband shiner, bullhead minnow, blue sucker, river redhorse, and river darter (FERC, 1991).  The federally threatened Ozark cavefish and Neosho madtom, found near Grand Lake, is discussed in section 5.3.5 of this report.

 

Another species of particular interest is the paddlefish, a pelagic, filter-feeder, planktivore, that makes long spawning migrations up river to find clean gravel bars to deposit eggs (OKDWC, 2005b). The numbers of paddlefish migrating up the Grand/Neosho River in the springtime make this river system one of the top five paddlefish fisheries in the nation (OKDWC, 2005a).  Special regulations in Oklahoma now limit a person to one paddlefish per day, but ongoing research indicates fishing pressure is still depressing this population.  The paddlefish population of Grand Lake was estimated to be 80,808 and 55,404 in 2003 and 2004, respectively.  The estimates were dominated by juvenile paddlefish, showing strong recruitment potential in this Lake (OKDWC, 2005b).

 

Another filter-feeding species recently discovered in Grand Lake is the zebra mussel.  This exotic invasive species was likely transferred to the Lake using boats as the vector.  Once established this species can rapidly reproduce and spread quickly throughout a watershed.  The presence of this species has been linked to declines in biodiversity and disruption of the food chain (GRDA press release, July 17, 2006).

 

4.3.1.1  Current Management

 

Current management of this fishery is limited to creating juvenile habitat by flooding mudflats seeded with Japanese millet, stocking/regulation of fishery, and lake level manipulation (GRDA 2003c).  The millet-seeding program has low annual success and only seasonal benefits (OKWRB, 2005).  On going research into the feasibility of establishing aquatic plants in the littoral zone of Grand Lake will determine the methods for future habitat mitigation initiatives.  The goal of the new management plan is to replace the millet-seeding program with an initiative to provide a more diverse native plant community, while still creating fish habitat and waterfowl forage (OKWRB, 2005).  Other attempts to create fish refuge include the construction of 13 brush shelters from cedar trees sunk in various parts of the Lake (OKDWC, 2005a).

 

Current fishing regulations are designed to increase the total abundance and quality size of crappie and bass.  OKDWC has never stocked crappie in the Lake, but stocked largemouth bass most recently in 1995 with 30,280 juveniles.  Striped bass and hybrids are the primary species stocked into Grand Lake.  In April 2005, a total of 690,000 hybrid striped bass fry were released into the Lake.  Walleye were stocked heavily in 2001 (264,540) and from 1989-1990 (789,655).

 

The rule curve for Grand Lake is another tool used to manage fish habitat.  The current rule curve is described in Section 4.3.  This rule curve is specifically designed to allow high water to inundate terrestrial vegetation in the spring and provide young-of-the-year largemouth bass refuge.  The late summer draw down exposes large mudflats of nutrient rich soils to encourage the establishment of vegetation (FERC 1991).

 

Currently, GRDA has no plan to contain or manage the risk of zebra mussel.  Zebra mussels can reproduce and colonize new areas very quickly.  A population of zebra mussels would likely out compete filter feeding fish (i.e. paddlefish, herring, and shad) and disrupt the natural food chain.

 

4.3.2        Wildlife

 

4.3.2.1  Birds

 

Raptors, such as barred owl, red-tailed hawk, and red-shouldered hawk occur in both upland and bottomland forests.  Song birds of the wooded lots include tanagers, nuthatches, warblers, and woodpeckers typical of the eastern deciduous forests.  Grassland birds present in the prairie habitat include horned lark, grasshopper sparrow, meadowlark, dickcissel, and bobolink.  Predatory birds in the grasslands consisted of short-eared owl, northern harrier, and rough-legged hawk.  Bald eagles over-winter at Grand Lake, and benefit from the fish passed through the hydro plant (Lish, 1987).  Game birds found at Grand Lake include bobwhite quail, wild turkey, mourning dove, and waterfowl.

 

Grand Lake is also important as an over-wintering and migratory stop for shorebirds and waterfowl; however, the over-wintering habitat is limited by the lack of submerged aquatic vegetation.  Cormorants, pelicans, egrets, and herons are among the non-game birds that show up on Grand Lake annually.  A diverse array of game waterfowl such as geese and dabbling, diving, perching, sea, and stiff-tailed ducks also occur on Grand Lake during migration (Stancill et al., 1988).  Mallards are the only dabbling duck that over-winter on Grand Lake.  Mallards are the most abundant duck seen on the Lake with a peak number in December.  Canada geese and wood ducks live on the Lake through out the year.

 

4.3.2.2  Mammals

 

White-tailed deer, striped skunk, raccoon, fox squirrel, Virginia opossum, eastern cottontail, and red fox inhabit the upland deciduous forest are found in the Project Vicinity.  The bottomland forests contain all of these species, plus muskrat and beaver.  Common species associated with the grassland/savannah are the least shrew, deer mouse, black-tailed jack rabbit, and badger.  Bats are of ecological concern in the area and the endangered gray bat is particularly notable (see Section 5.3.5.2).

 

4.3.2.3  Reptiles and Amphibians

 

A variety of frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards, turtles, and snakes comprise the local herpetofauna.  The amphibians include species such as the American toad, spadefoot toad, tree frogs, narrow-mouthed.  The turtle community includes snapping turtles, mud turtles, softshell turtles, and a diversity of slider, map, and box turtles.  With the exception of the box turtles, most of the turtle community is highly aquatic.  Representative lizard species include the western slender glass lizard, collard lizard, Texas horned lizard, and diversity of skinks. Common snakes include species such as rat snakes, water snakes, bullsnakes, and venomous snakes such as copperheads, western cottonmouths, timber rattlesnakes, and western pygmy rattlesnakes. (Erickson and Leslie, 1988)

 

4.3.2.4  Current Management

 

Currently, waterfowl production and waterfowl food availability are primary concerns of resource managers.  Article 411 of the Project license provided a plan to annually seed 1,000 acres of mudflats along Grand Lake’s shoreline with Japanese millet.  A new aquatic plant program is currently being studied to replace the millet seeding program.  This new habitat enhancement strategy would use native plants planted in the littoral zone to provide forage and shelter to migrating waterfowl and aquatic species such as fish and turtles (OKWRB, 2005).  In addition, GRDA has designated approximately 1,630 acres of Project lands adjacent to Grand Lake as wildlife management areas and management of these lands is covered by Article 406 of the license.

 

4.3.3        Botanical

 

Grand Lake is located in a transitional zone between the Ozark Highlands and Central Irregular Plain ecoregions of northeast Oklahoma (Woods et al., 2005).  In the Ozark Highlands ecoregion, which characterizes most of the Project Vicinity, oak-hickory and oak-hickory-pine are the primary forested cover type associations (Woods et al., 2005).  Typical canopy species on dry uplands and ridgetops include black oak, white oak, blackjack oak, post oak, winged elm, and numerous hickories.  Shortleaf pine also occurs in oak-hickory-pine stands.  Mesic forests containing sugar maple, white oak and northern red oak are typical of north-facing slopes and ravines of more rugged, deeply dissected sites.  Willows, bottomland oaks, maples, hickories, birch, American elm, and sycamore are typical on floodplains and low terraces.  Most level sites in the region have been converted to haylands or pasturelands (Woods et al., 2005).

 

In the extreme northern portion of project, primarily the Neosho River arm of Grand Lake, the oak hickory forests of the Ozark Highlands give way to the tall grass prairies of the Central Irregular Plains (Woods et al., 2005).  Typical dominants of tall grass prairie sites include big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass, and indiangrass.  Dry upland forests, similar to the oak-hickory forests of the Ozark Highlands to the south and east, are common on the low rocky hills of the region.  Riparian corridors typically are forested, with canopy dominants that include American elm, oaks, hackberry, black walnut, sycamore, and pecan.  Much of this region has been converted for agriculture, with rangeland occupying steeper slopes and croplands on nearly level plains.  Common crops include sorghum, alfalfa hay, wheat, and soybeans (Woods et al., 2005).

 

Botanical species typical of the Grand Lake vicinity are listed in Table 5.3.3-1, Appendix D.

 

4.3.4        Wetlands

 

Grand Lake and the surrounding areas contain numerous wetlands, which are most abundant along the upper, shallow reaches of the reservoir (Figure 5.3-1).  In the reservoir’s lower reaches, shoreline areas consist primarily of limestone bluffs, with wetlands restricted to coves and backwaters of inundated tributaries.  Acreages of the various wetland types occurring in the vicinity of the Project are summarized in Table 5.3.4-1.

 

Table 5.3.4-1:       Wetland Cover Types (in acres) by Elevation Zone at Grand Lake, Oklahoma

 

 

ELEVATION ZONES

 

WETLAND COVER TYPES

735-742a

742-755

755+b

Totals

Palustrine Forested Wetlandsc

1,720

5,555

4,374

11,649

Emergent Wetlands

34

145

55

234

Scrub/Shrub Wetlands

194

268

64

526

Mudflats

4,994

645

23

5,662

Ponded Water

89

70

88

247

Totals

7,031

6,683

4,604

18,318

Steep Rocky Shoreline (miles)d

138

 

 

 

(Source: Adapted from Erickson and Leslie, 1988)

a      Elevations 735 to 742 are included because the study was conducted under the pre-1992 rule curve when these elevations were occasionally exposed.  Since then, many of these areas have become permanently inundated.

b      To 1/4 mile from 755 foot PD elevation.

c      Referred to as Bottomland or Floodplain Forests in Erickson and Leslie, 1988.

d      A linear measurement (miles) due to zone being too narrow to accurately digitize.

 

 


Figure 5.3-1:   Wetlands Mapping for Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees

 


4.3.5        Threatened and Endangered Species

 

The Ozark cavefish (Amblyosis rosae), Neosho madtom (Noturus placidus), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are documented as occurring in the Project Vicinity and are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and by the State of Oklahoma.  The gray bat (Myotis grisescens), which is state- and federally-listed as endangered, also occurs in the Project Vicinity.  According to the Oklahoma Biological Inventory (2006), no other state-listed species are documented as occurring in the Project Vicinity or within the Project Area.

 

4.3.5.1  Aquatic

 

Ozark cavefish

 

This Ozark cavefish is sightless cave obligate that requires clean-flowing, permanently dark cave streams, often with rubble bottom (Masters, 1993).  A commensal association exists between this species and the federally-endangered gray bat, as there is some evidence that Ozark cavefish feed directly on gray bat guano (USFWS, 1989).  The Ozark cavefish is found in pools in two caves, Twin Cave and Jailhouse Cave, located near the project (GRDA, 2004).  Jailhouse Cave is located outside of the Project drainage basin and thus is not influenced by the Project (GRDA, 1986).  The land above and adjacent to Twin Cave is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for the protection of the cave and its cave-dwelling species (i.e., Ozark cavefish and gray bat). (FERC, 1991).

 

Neosho Madtom

 

The Neosho madtom is endemic to the Neosho (Grand) River system in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.  It occurs in riffle areas of moderate sized, clear-flowing streams with a substratum of loosely packed gravel pebbles less than one inch in diameter (Masters, 1993).  Neosho madtoms are known to occur at an upstream site on the Grand River that is periodically inundated by the USACE’s flood pool (FERC, 1991).  Because of their intolerance of impounded conditions (Masters, 1993), the Neosho madtom is not expected to occur in Grand Lake with any frequency.

 

4.3.5.2  Terrestrial

 

Gray bat

 

Gray bats inhabit limestone karst areas of the southeastern United States.  This species migrates seasonally between winter (hibernating) and summer (maternity) caves (USFWS, 1982).  Gray bats forage almost exclusively over water along river or reservoir edges bordered by forest (LaVal et al., 1977), and as such, maternity colonies are typically located is close proximity to such features (Tuttle, 1976).  Gray bats utilizing the Grand Lake area are summer residents that hibernate in caves in northern Arkansas and Missouri (GRDA, 1986).  Two gray bat caves have been documented in the Project Vicinity: Beaver Dam Cave and Twin Cave.  Beaver Dam and Twin Caves are located approximately 2 miles apart and are utilized to varying degrees as maternity caves (GRDA, 2004; FERC, 1991).  As previously noted, land adjacent to and above Twin Cave is owned and managed by TNC for the protection of the cave and its cave-dwelling species (i.e., Ozark cavefish and gray bat).  Beaver Dam Creek is located on private property (FERC, 1991).

 

Bald Eagle

 

Bald eagles are found throughout North America, typically near open waterbodies such as lakes and large rivers.  Most eagles consume a diet consisting primarily of fish, with lesser quantities of waterfowl, carrion, and small mammals (muskrats, squirrels, rabbits) (Gough, et al., 1998).  Availability of large trees and snags for perching and open flight paths to feeding areas are important in habitat selection (Polite and Pratt, 2002; BOR, 1994).  Grand Lake is an important wintering area for bald eagles (GRDA, 1986).  Most of the wintering eagles use a large communal roost located on a small island near Twin Bridges State Park at the north end of the reservoir.  Blackbirds represent a large part of the diet for eagles wintering on Grand Lake due to presence of a large blackbird roost near Twin Bridges State Park.  The bald eagle can be expected to forage throughout the Project Area.

 

4.3.6        Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

Aquatic Resources

 

The SMP would potentially increase protection to both water quality and fish habitat at Grand Lake (see Section 5.2 for effects on water quality).  One such protection provided to sensitive resources and shoreline vegetation is that GRDA proposes to minimize construction activities on Project lands, especially on lands that fall within the “Sensitive Resource” management classification.  Sensitive resources include wetlands, shallow areas of shoreline, vegetated islands, and steep upland slopes that are highly susceptible to erosion.  Shoreline vegetation, including wetlands, utilize excess nutrients and trap sediment that may run-off upland habitat before they reach the watershed.  Sediments can increase turbidity in the water and reduce the foraging ability of sight feeding fish.  In addition, silt can settle over important fish nesting substrates (i.e. gravel and sand) or bury nests under layers of silt.  A decrease in oxygen caused by excess nutrients may suffocate fish and cause massive fish kills.  Stabilizing the shoreline with vegetation would likely prevent these harmful pollutants from reaching Grand Lake.

 

Fish habitat would likely be maintained along the shores where Sensitive Areas are located.  These Sensitive Areas would provide overhead cover for both juvenile and adult fish.  In addition, aquatic vegetation would likely establish along the shoreline and provide cover and macroinvertebrate fish forage.  Dead trees that fall into Grand Lake would also provide macroinvertebrate fish forage and cover along the shores of Sensitive Areas.  Maintaining shoreline vegetation would likely provide similar habitat opportunities for fish.  The increased protections to fish and macroinvertebrates from implementing the SMP would likely maintain or enhance the current fishery resource at Grand Lake.

 

The SMP is designed to regulate construction activities at Grand Lake to minimize effects to the fishery resource.  Construction activities permitted along the shore may temporarily displace fish and increase turbidity.  Upland ground disturbance, dredging, and shoreline vegetation management is regulated by GRDA.  Through the SMP, GRDA is encouraging community docks to concentrate construction activities and recreational use along the shoreline.  Community docks would likely minimize construction effects to the fishery resource by limiting the activities to designated areas.  If GRDA requires that construction contractors receive training on BMP measures, construction sites would likely have reduced sediment run-off which would help to maintain fishery habitat.  GRDA encourages the planting of native plants on shoreline property, having a potential beneficial effect on fishery habitat.

 

Shoreline debris management is designed to limit soil disturbance and erosion by regulating the use of heavy equipment to remove driftwood and debris from the Project shoreline.

 

Ozark Cavefish

 

Since neither of the caves where Ozark Cavefish occur are within the Project Area, implementation of the proposed SMP would likely result in no effect on this species.

 

Neosho Madtom

 

Due to the Neosho Madtom’s intolerance of impounded conditions, implementation of the proposed SMP in areas surrounding the reservoir would likely have no effect on this species.

 

Gray Bat

 

Gray bats are known to use two caves in the Project Vicinity, Twin Cave and Beaver Dam Cave, as maternity caves during the summer months. , The bats likely use much of the reservoir’s open water in the vicinity of the caves for foraging.  Implementation of the proposed SMP would likely result in no impacts to Twin Cave, as it is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy for protection of the cave ecosystem.  Beaver Dam Cave is located along the south shore of the Drowning Creek arm of Grand Lake and is intermittently inundated by the USACE’s flood pool.  The shoreline in Drowning Creek near Beaver Dam Cave is designated as a sensitive resource area.  As such the area receives additional consideration and is unlikely to experience approved shoreline activities.  Additional development in other areas of Drowning Creek, may decrease foraging habitat quality due to decreased shoreline forest cover, may affect insect prey base due to increased use of insecticides on non-project lands associated with residential development.  Overall, implementation of the SMP may provide some additional protection for bat habitat through limiting development near the maternity and roosting caves.

 

Bald Eagle

 

While bald eagles are not known to nest in the Project Vicinity, the Lake is used extensively by wintering eagles (GRDA, 1986).  Most eagle wintering on Grand Lake use a communal roost on a small island near Twin Bridges State Park, with much of the prey base provided by a nearby blackbird roost (GRDA, 1986).  Designation of this island, and all other undeveloped islands, as a “Sensitive Resource” area would provide enhanced protection for both the communal eagle roost and the nearby blackbird roost.  Further, implementing the Sensitive Resources and other SCS designations would provide enhanced overall protection for foraging habitat throughout Grand Lake.

 

Botanical

 

Palustrine wetlands[4] represent approximately 83%[5] of total Project wetlands; thus designation of these areas as “sensitive resources” would significantly enhance protection for wetlands in the Project Area.  Further, maintenance by GRDA’s Office of Ecosystem Management of a current GIS database showing all SMCs and other significant resources, including wetlands, would likely increase public awareness of wetlands surrounding the Project and foster protective land use decisions by GRDA during the shoreline permitting process.

 

4.4              Historical and Archaeological

 

Prehistoric peoples, Native Americans in the historic period, and Euro-American settlers in the modern period leading up to Oklahoma’s statehood have made extensive use of the Grand River Valley area as a place of both settlement and transportation.  This pattern of use creates a high probability within the Project Area for intact cultural resources dating from prehistoric eras as well as the periods of early European contact, the early nineteenth century, and the Civil War.

 

4.4.1        Cultural

 

Archaeologists have identified evidence for human occupation in what is now Oklahoma that extends back approximately 15,000 years.  Although humans occupied the Project Vicinity as early as the Paleo-Indian era, most of the archaeological sites that have been found in Oklahoma are more recent.  The most extensive archaeological remains have been found in the caves and ledges of the Ozarks in the northeastern portion of the state (in the general vicinity of the Project), in the caves of the Oklahoma panhandle, and along the banks of a number of rivers and creeks.  In the late prehistoric age, from A.D. 1 to the early sixteenth century, archaeological evidence suggests rapidly increasing social complexity and technological and cultural advancement.  The archaeological evidence clearly points to larger and more settled communities that were connected to other parts of the American continent by trade networks (Gibson, 1984).

 

In the early sixteenth century, there were at least three Native American language stocks suggesting a growing complexity and diversity to the population.  The Project Vicinity was occupied primarily by Quapaw-speaking tribes that were located in the area from the Arkansas River into eastern Oklahoma.  By the 1820s, what is now Oklahoma was carved off to be territory for displaced and relocated eastern Indian tribes.  From then until the late nineteenth century, Oklahoma was inhabited primarily by Native Americans (Gibson, 1984).

 

American settlers began moving into Oklahoma in the late eighteenth century, and by the early nineteenth century they had established trading settlements along the Grand and Verdigris Rivers.  American settlers expanded into the Indian Territory quickly; Fort Smith was the first outpost in the early nineteenth century, but by the 1820s it was merely the gatepost to settlements further west.  Other military outposts included Fort Gibson at the mouth of the Grand River, and Fort Towson near the mouth of the Kiamichi River (Gibson, 1984).

 

At the same time, more Native Americans were relocated from the eastern states into the Oklahoma Territory.  In the wake of the War of 1812, when many Native Americans in the southeast sided with the British, the American government began a policy of relocation as different tribes were forced to cede enormous tracts of land in Alabama and Mississippi.  By the 1830s, the Indian Territory was divided among, and largely governed by, another set of five tribes: Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole.  The Cherokees were located in the northern and eastern parts of the state, including the Project Vicinity (Gibson, 1984).

 

As more and more non-Native Americans discovered the rich farmland of Oklahoma, and as railroads began to snake their way across the region, the Federal government bowed to increased pressure to open what remained of Indian lands to white settlement.  In 1889, in an amendment to the Indian Appropriation Act of that year, Congress declared the land open to non-Native American settlement as of April 22, 1889.  Oklahoma became a Territory later in 1889, and became a state in 1906 (Gibson, 1984).

 

In addition to the historical evidence for the likelihood of intact archaeological deposits, the topography of the region lends itself to the preservation of archaeological resources.  While much of the land in the downstream portion of the Project near the dam rises in steep bluffs from the shoreline, the upriver portions of Grand Lake features a shallower, more riverine topography that has the potential to contain intact archaeological resources.  In addition, there are a number of tributaries that feed into Grand Lake that have a high potential for intact resources (Gibson, 1984).

 

4.4.1.1  Known Cultural Properties

 

In a letter dated February 3, 2004, the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey (OAS) noted that no shoreline surveys for archaeological surveys have been conducted on Grand Lake.  In previous correspondence with FERC, only one archaeological site was identified within the Project Boundary.  Site 34DL202 is a historic cemetery located in Delaware County, in the NE ¼ of Section 17, Township 24N, Range 22E.  Subsequent correspondence with the OAS provided documentation of nearly 50 cultural sites within the Project Area.  The significance of those sites is not known.

 

4.4.2        Historical

 

The Pensacola Dam was the first hydroelectric facility in the State of Oklahoma.  The dam was under construction from late 1938 until its completion in March, 1940.  The Lake was filled by late in the summer of 1940.

 

4.4.2.1  Known Historic Properties

 

The Pensacola Dam hydroelectric project was listed on the National Register of Historic Properties (NRHP) in 2003.  It is one of three dams in Oklahoma that is listed on the NRHP.

 

4.4.3        Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

The SMP states that GRDA would assist the permit applicant in determining whether consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) or the OAS is required.  The SMP requires further that it would be the responsibility of the applicant to have the appropriate investigations carried out prior to any ground-disturbing activity.  The SMP notes GRDA has added a non-public database of known archaeological sites to the GIS data base for the Lake.  GRDA will check applications against this data base and advise applicants of the potential for cultural resources.  As GRDA notes, early involvement with the SHPO or OAS is crucial to the protection of historic properties and for minimizing potential problems in the permitting process.

 

Other than referencing the archaeological data base, the SMP provides no guidelines regarding how GRDA would make a determination regarding when a proposed action has the potential to affect historic properties, and thus when consultation with the SHPO is required.  Article 409 of the Project License states that the Licensee will consult with the SHPO before starting any land-clearing or ground-disturbing activities within the Project Boundary.  In addition, Article 409 requires that all land-clearing and land-disturbing activities would be stopped in the case that previously unidentified archaeological or historic properties are discovered during the course of construction at the Project.  The SMP requires permittees to comply with Article 409.  These existing license requirements are sufficient to provide protection for historic properties at the Project.

 

4.5              Recreation

 

Grand Lake is one of Oklahoma’s most popular recreation areas for boating and fishing.  Grand Lake supports a high-quality sport fishery for largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, and paddlefish.  On average, 135 fishing tournaments are held at the Lake each summer, primarily for bass (GRDA, 2004c).  The Lake is popular for boating activities such as pleasure boating, waterskiing, and rafting (large groups of boats tying up together for socializing).  The Lake is also used for personal water craft (PWCs), sailboats, large yachts and houseboats.  Several regattas are held on the Lake each year (GRDA, 1997).  Waterfowl hunting is also a popular use of Grand Lake and is concentrated on the riverine sections of the Lake between Sailboat Bridge and Twin Bridges State Park and along Horse Creek (GRDA, 2004a).  There are a number of land-based recreation activities provided by state and local parks, as well, such as camping, hunting, hiking, picnicking and sightseeing.

 

4.5.1        Recreation Sites and Public Access

 

Grand Lake is home to a multitude of public, private and commercial land and water-based recreation sites such as state parks, public boat launches, and commercial resorts and marinas.

 

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OKTRD) operates and manages five state parks around Grand Lake:

 

·                    Bernice State Park

·                    Cherokee State Park

·                    Disney/Little Blue State Park

·                    Honey Creek State Park

·                    Twin Bridges State Park.

 

All of these parks provide boat ramps, campsites, picnic tables, and restroom facilities.  Disney/Little Blue, Honey Creek, and Twin Bridges State Parks also provide playgrounds and Honey Creek State Park provides a swimming pool.  Two of these parks, Twin Bridges and Cherokee, have beach access to the Lake for swimming and angling (Caneday, et. al, 1996).

 

In addition, local communities and municipalities provide beaches, picnic areas, boating access, and other recreation facilities.  Municipal and community parks include Willow Park and Riverview Park.  Cabin rentals, boat rentals and other marina services are also provided at several public parks.

 

On the lower section of the Lake, below Sailboat Bridge, there are over 22 public access sites providing boat launching facilities such as Port Ketchum, Duck Creek Bridge, Seaplane Base, Shangri-La and Council Cove Public Access sites, and the City of Miami and the City of Grove Boat Ramps.  Public recreation sites are shown on Figure 5.5-1.  In addition, access to the Lake is provided by publicly accessible, private boat ramps, primarily located in residential areas and at marinas.  Generally, privately operated marinas allow the public to launch their boats for free, but charge a parking fee for vehicles and trailers.  Ramps constructed at private residences are open to the public for free (GRDA, 1997).

 

There are also numerous private and commercial recreation facilities and opportunities at the Project such as commercial marinas, resorts, RV parks, and campgrounds.  Presently, there are approximately 4,000 permitted private docks, located mostly in the lower section of the Lake.  These docks are the primary means of access for most Grand Lake residents.  Over 300 commercial docks are permitted on Grand Lake below Sailboat Bridge, providing 3,589 slips for boats of various sizes.

 

Public access to Grand Lake can also be gained via informal recreation sites such as fishing access points at bridges and impromptu carry-in boat landings.  In addition, numerous “volunteer” public access points correspond with rights-of-way and old road beds scattered throughout the region.  Such locations are undocumented, usually not maintained at any specified level of care, and used primarily by local residents and those knowledgeable of the region.  Such locations are also mandated as the rights of the public (GRDA, 1997).

 

GRDA operates a tourist center at the dam and provides guided tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Although GRDA does not own, operate nor maintain any recreation facilities at Grand Lake, it has provided lands and matching funds for the development, operation, management and maintenance of several recreation sites.  Over 20 of the public boat launching facilities were provided through joint cooperation between GRDA and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (OKDWC).  The five state parks and many municipal parks were transferred to the state and local communities by GRDA.  Six of the publicly accessible, private boat launches were constructed with GRDA matching funds (GRDA, 1997).

 


Figure 5.5-1:   Public Recreation Sites at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees

 


4.5.2        Recreation Use

 

The highest concentration of recreational use occurs on the lower section of the Lake, south of Sailboat Bridge.  Most of the public boat launches and private docks are in the lower section of the Lake, due largely to the nature of the Lake.  The deeper and wider reaches of Grand Lake at the southern end and proximity to population centers make the Lake more accessible in this area, both from shore and from the water.  The population of local communities such as Grove, Ketchum, Disney and Langley, as well as the Project’s proximity to Tulsa, Oklahoma, contributes greatly to the recreational use levels and development pressure at the Project.  According to the most recent FERC Form 80 filing (July 14, 2003), Grand Lake experiences approximately 4 million day use recreation days and 1.5 million nighttime recreation days[6] annually.

 

4.5.3        Recreation Management

 

GRDA generally owns title to the shoreline up to elevation 750 feet PD[7] and has the authority to prescribe and enforce rules and regulations for commercial and recreational development and use of the Lake.  GRDA manages the shoreline via a permitting system and operates a lake patrol to enforce boating regulations.  GRDA also provides information to the public on reservoir conditions through a 24-hour telephone line.  The OKTRD is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and management of the five state parks at the Lake.  The OKDWC regulates recreational and sport fishing and hunting at the Lake.

 

4.5.4        Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

Implementing the Grand Lake SMP would likely promote increased public knowledge of existing recreation resources; identify locations for potential future recreational development; preserve and enhance aesthetics and passive recreation opportunities; and promote continued and responsible shoreline development that supports private and public access for recreational purposes and safe boating opportunities in near-shore and high congestion areas.

 

The SMP would likely provide a single comprehensive source of information for existing and future public access opportunities within the Project Boundary, identified by the proposed SMP.  Further, this information would be periodically updated each time the SMP is reviewed, thereby resulting in a document that can be used as a reference by the public during the life of the Project license.

 

Implementation of the SMP would also likely enhance protection of existing and potential future public access opportunities to the Project.  The proposed SMP would identify the amount and location of lands available for various recreational purposes, such as for county and regional parks, and undeveloped Project lands available for passive recreation activities.  To the extent that the SMP identifies shoreline areas for potential future public access, the SMP would benefit long term recreational use by accommodating potential increased recreational demand at the Project.

 

Adoption of the proposed SMP may limit development in areas identified as “sensitive resource areas”.  Limiting development would likely encourage opportunities for bird watching, nature viewing or other types of passive recreation experiences dependent on natural shorelines.  It would also aid in maintaining and enhancing shoreline aesthetics by limiting development in these locations, and thereby enhancing the Project’s attractiveness for tourism and recreation activities.

 

It is important to note that although private and commercial dock facilities are limited in size and location by the existing permitting program, there are no restrictions under the existing program or within the SMP to limit the density of such structures.  However, GRDA does encourage property owners to develop cluster docks, where appropriate, to reduce environmental impact.  Unlimited dock/pier construction could cause excessive noise, congestion, or increased wave action which would have direct negative implications to recreational use and potential indirect effects to other environmental resources such as water quality and aquatic and terrestrial habitats.  To the extent that the protection of water quality and aquatic, terrestrial, and cultural resources may be achieved through the land use regulations of the SMP, recreational use of the Project would be also enhanced.

 

4.6              Land Uses and Aesthetics

 

4.6.1        Land Use

 

Development along the shoreline of the Lake primarily consists of residential, light commercial and business, and limited agricultural lands.  Grand Lake is a popular location for recreation and residential development, particularly summer homes and cottages.  The scenic quality of the reservoir and surrounding landscape, good sport and recreational fishing, and its proximity to the city of Tulsa contribute to the popularity of the Lake.  The historic availability of land adjacent to the Project Boundary for private ownership has also contributed to this popularity.  The majority of the shoreline above the 750 foot contour elevation is privately owned.  As a result, numerous residences and businesses have been constructed around the reservoir, adjacent to the Project Boundary (Figure 5.6-1).

 

Within 500 feet of the shoreline of Grand Lake, an estimated 4,400 private residences have been constructed as of 2004.  Approximately 50 to 70 percent of these homes are seasonal (summer) residences (GRDA, 2004a).  Likewise, general leisure and retirement community development has expanded on Grand Lake.  Housing density in Ottawa and Delaware counties is approximately 30 housing units per mi2, compared to 25/mi2 for Mayes County and 8/mi2 for Craig County (Wikipedia, 2005a-d).  Housing construction in the area has increased significantly in the last decade with Delaware County being the more popular and congested lower section of the Lake, growing by approximately 33 percent from 1990 to 2000.  Housing growth from 1990 to 2000 for the remaining counties, by comparison, ranges from 6 to 13 percent (US Census, 2005a-d and 1990a-d).

 

The popularity of water-based recreation has resulted in significant economic development around Grand Lake, particularly in real estate, goods, and services.  There are a multitude of marinas, resorts, and other commercial operations such as campgrounds and restaurants located around the shoreline of Grand Lake.  Although manufacturing and health care are the dominant industries for Mayes, Delaware, Ottawa, and Craig counties; retail trade, lodging and food establishments contribute significantly to the employment base, particularly for Delaware and Ottawa counties (see Section 5.3.8, Socioeconomic Resources, for more information).  There are approximately 1,200 lodging and food establishments in Craig and Mayes counties in comparison with almost 1,700 in Delaware and Ottawa Counties (OKDOC, 2005a).

 

Construction of private and commercial boat docks by adjacent landowners is allowed within the GRDA Project Boundary by application through GRDA’s existing permit program.  Approximately 3,962 private and 331 commercial boat docks have been permitted by GRDA, primarily on the lower section of the Lake below Sailboat Bridge.  More information regarding Grand Lake boat docks are provided in Section 5.3.6, Recreational Resources.

 

A total of approximately 77 square miles of land are contained within the Project Boundary.  The majority of lands within the Project Boundary are deciduous forest lands, approximately 50 percent.  Residential, commercial, and other development accounts for approximately 11 percent of total land area within the Project Boundary.  Land uses within the Project Boundary are shown on Figure 5.6-1 and Table 5.6.1-1.

 



Table 5.6.1-1:       Land Uses Within the Project Boundary

 

LAND USE

PERCENT OF TOTAL LAND USE

Commercial and Services

0.3%

Cropland and Pasture

35.0%

Deciduous Forest Land

49.1%

Mixed Urban or Developed

0.7%

Non-forested Wetland

0.4%

Other Agricultural Land

0.0%

Other Urban or Developed

0.1%

Residential

9.3%

Streams and Canals

4.4%

Transportation, Commercial, and Utilities

0.2%

Transitional Areas

0.5%

 

Approximately 53 percent of lands adjacent to the Project boundary are undeveloped forestlands.  In addition, approximately 31 percent of lands adjacent to the Pensacola Project shoreline is designated as agricultural/crop lands.  The majority of the agricultural areas are found in Ottawa County, where over 35 percent of the total land area was used to plant field crops in 2001 (NASS, 2001d).  In Delaware County, less than 3 percent of the total land area was utilized for field crops in 2001 (NASS, 2001b).

 

GRDA has an existing permitting system designed to cover many shoreline activities including vegetation cutting and removal, dredging, commercial and residential docks and other structures, domestic irrigation and water withdrawals, etc. (see Appendix E for the existing regulations).

 

4.6.2        Aesthetics

 

The Project encompasses an area of 49,024 acres, or 76.6 square miles.  The lands adjacent to the northern and western shores of the Project are characterized by rolling plains with occasional hills and ridges.  The shoreline of Grand Lake in these areas has generally gentle slopes.  The lands adjacent to the southern and eastern shores are characterized by deep ravines and narrow valleys separated by broad, gently rolling uplands.  Shorelines in these areas are primarily steep rocky beaches and bluffs.  The shoreline of Grand Lake ranges from forested areas (with a mixture of vegetative cover types) to contiguous manicured lawns, residential housing and commercial development.  The river basin in the Project Vicinity is dominated by deciduous forests (Figure 5.6-2).

 

The Lake varies considerably in the extent of development along the shoreline between the upper and lower sections of the Lake.  The majority of the shoreline of the lower section of the Lake is highly developed.  The upper section of Grand Lake presents some continuous sections of undeveloped shoreline, exhibiting a relatively natural aesthetic.

 


Figure 5.6-2:   Vegetation Patterns around Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees

 


4.6.3        Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

GRDA currently manages shoreline development on lands within the Project Boundary through its existing permit policy.  The existing policy requires GRDA approval and consultation with resource agencies, and necessary state and federal permits, as appropriate for the following activities:

 

·                    Residential docks

·                    Commercial docks

·                    Clean Up/Cut A Tree/Clear Shoreline activities

·                    Domestic and irrigation water withdrawals

·                    Breakwaters

·                    Dredging

·                    Marine and special events

·                    Hazardous tree removal

·                    Buoys

 

GRDA proposes to continue a permitting program with enhanced policies but does not seek FERC approval of the permit system in order to maintain GRDA’s flexibility to modify permit requirements over time as necessary to maximize efficiency of managing the permit program.

 

Implementing the proposed SMP would have a beneficial effect on land use practices at the Project.  The SMCs would define (a) the types of uses and development allowed within each classification and assist GRDA in managing permitting decisions; (b) consolidate GRDA’s existing land use policies and guidelines, including its permitting program; (c) agency consultation and enforcement; and (d) a review process for SMP updates.

 

GRDA’s proposed SMP, which includes both existing and new protection measures, would both directly and indirectly benefit the various resource areas affected by land management actions, such as the development and construction of new commercial and residential facilities, such as marinas, docks, breakwaters, etc., and land-clearing activities near the shore of the Lake.

 

Shoreline Management Classifications and Permitting Program

 

The SMP includes allowable uses and certain development restrictions for its defined SMCs for Grand Lake.  The SMP provides five land use classifications that define the types of existing uses, acceptable future uses, shoreline conditions, and special considerations for areas of the shoreline.  These land use classifications are detailed below.

 

·                    Multi-purpose Areas – These areas will continue to support a mix of residential and commercial development with emphasis placed on consolidating development to minimize effects to natural resources.

·                    Limited Development Areas – These areas will continue to support primarily residential development or undeveloped lands, with limited commercial development.

·                    Sensitive Resource Areas – Those undeveloped or heavily rural areas that contain significant aesthetic values or sensitive environmental resources such as wetlands, bluffs, wildlife habitat, etc. that will be managed to protect the sensitive resources contained therein and, while existing uses will be allowed to continue, new uses will be considered only under special circumstances.

·                    Public/Municipal Use Areas – These areas are currently employed by municipalities, agencies, and others for public uses and administration activities such as parks, municipal water withdrawals, utilities, roads, etc.  As part of the SMP, GRDA will generally not allow any new uses in these areas that are not consistent with existing uses.

·                    Project Operation Areas – These are lands required by GRDA for current and potential future project operations including dams, spillways, transmission facilities, etc.

 

GRDA proposes to implement development restrictions and guidelines unique to each proposed land use classification, and in this way, would guide future development.  Most commercial development would be considered appropriate within the Multi-purpose SMC, and would be generally restricted within the Limited Use and Sensitive Resource SMCs.  Residential uses would be allowed within the Multi-purpose and Limited Use SMCs but would also be limited in Sensitive Resource SMCs.  Only activities that are consistent with existing uses in the Public/Municipal and Project Operation SMCs would be allowed.  The restrictions and guidelines specified for each SMC would be enforced through GRDA’s revised permitting program.  Tables 5.6.3-1 and 5.6.3-2 provide a summary of the allowable uses and a description of what activities would likely be permitted in each SMC.

 


Table 5.6.3-1:       Allowable Commercial Uses Within Shoreline Management Classifications

 

 

Multi Purpose

Limited2

Public/ Municipal Areas

Sensitive Resource3

Project Operations

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES1

 

 

 

 

 

Construction of Commercial Dock

YES

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

YES - if  meets GRDA permitting standards and is within the objectives of the managing entity

YES - if  meets GRDA permitting standards and is within the objectives of the managing entity

NO

NO

Repair in kind of Commercial Facility or Use (Less than 50 %)

YES-if structure has existing permit from GRDA;

YES-if structure has existing permit from GRDA;

Repair/Replacement of Commercial Facility (Greater than 50%)

YES but requires permit review under new SMP standards

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

NO

New Full Service Marina

YES

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

NO

Floating Restaurant/ Hotel/Casino

YES

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

NO

Water Withdrawal (e.g. municipalities/golf courses/commercial irrigation)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Recreation/Water Parks w/ Shorefront Facilities

YES

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

NO

NO

Dredging4

YES

YES

NO

AS NEEDED FOR PROJECT OPERATIONS

Commercial Marine Railways & Trams

YES

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

NO

AS NEEDED FOR PROJECT OPERATIONS

Boat Ramps5

YES

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

NO

NO

Floating Breakwaters

YES

YES

YES

NO

1All new Commercial uses will require some form of permitting and/or review by GRDA; Please refer to GRDA permitting handbooks for further details.

2 Commercial uses are most appropriate it Multi Purpose areas, proponents of such uses within a Limited Development area are required to provide additional support and justification for their permit applications.

3GRDA strongly discourages proposals for commercial uses within Sensitive Resource areas; GRDA cautions proponents that it requires proof of extreme mitigating circumstances, extensive additional permit application support and justification, and mitigation measures for consideration of such uses.

4Dredging is generally limited to 2000 cy and only allowed during drawdown events.  GRDA does not allow any channel dredging.

5 No ramp may be constructed unless at least twenty-five (25) homeowners or the public at large may access the ramp.

 


Table 5.6.3-2:       Allowable Residential Uses Within Shoreline Management Classifications

 

 

Multi Purpose

Limited

Public/ Municipal Areas

Sensitive Resource2

Project Operations

Private Residential/ Multi-Family Uses1

 

 

 

 

 

Docks

Yes

Yes

YES - if  meets GRDA permitting standards and is within the objectives of the managing entity

 

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

 

No

Breakwaters,

YES

YES

NO

Boat Houses

YES

YES

NO

Decks &Patios

YES

YES

NO

Repair/Replacement of Residential Uses (less than 50%)

YES-if structure has existing permit from GRDA;

Repair/Replacement of Residential Uses (greater than 50%)

YES but requires permit review under new SMP standards

YES but requires permit review under new SMP standards

YES - if  meets GRDA permitting standards and is within the objectives of the managing entity

 

GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED

 

NO

Multi-boat slips (<10)

Yes

Yes

No

Multi-boat slips (>10)

YES

Yes with no commercial trade

No

Marine Railways & Trams

YES

YES

NO

Boat Ramps4

YES

YES

As necessary for Project Operations

Vegetation Management

YES-within vegetation management plan guidelines

YES-within vegetation management plan guidelines

Floatable Debris Management

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

Water Withdrawal

YES

YES

YES - if  meets GRDA permitting standards and is within the objectives of the managing entity

 

YES

Yes w/FERC Review

Retaining Walls

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Dredging

Yes

Yes

No

As Necessary For Project Operations

Beaches/Common Use Areas

Yes

Yes

No

No

Picnic/Event Facilities

No

Yes

No

No

Agricultural Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

1All new Residential uses will require some form of permitting and/or review by GRDA; Please refer to GRDA permitting handbooks for further details.

2GRDA strongly discourages proposals for commercial uses within Sensitive Resource areas; GRDA cautions project proponents that it requires proof of extreme mitigating circumstances, extensive additional permit application support and justification, and mitigation measures for consideration of such uses.

3Dredging is generally limited to 2000 cy and only allowed during drawdown events.  GRDA does not allow any channel dredging.

4 Ramp may not be constructed unless at least twenty-five (25) homeowners or the public at large may access the ramp.


Implementation of SMC development activity restrictions and other proposed SMP protection, enhancement and education programs discussed in greater detail below, in conjunction with GRDA’s permitting program, are likely to provide additional protection and benefits to shoreline resources over the existing condition.  The effects of development activities on the environmental and aesthetic resources of the Lake would be a primary consideration in the permitting process.  In particular, GRDA would evaluate proposed new uses, and modifications to existing uses, based on among other things, the existing uses within a half-mile radius of the proposed activities, (including SMC and allowable use determinations) and the environmental and recreational effects, including potential economic development and tourism benefits and safety and navigation issues.

 

The SMP would protect shoreline resources by requiring development permit applications to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with particular scrutiny for certain activities and SMC designations.  Though residential development is allowed in most of the proposed SMC classifications, land disturbance and construction in certain areas would be subject to restrictions, such as prohibiting construction of boat houses and docks in shallow coves and limiting or restricting new uses in areas considered congested.  Municipal or public use areas proposed for locations outside the designated SMCs would need to be demonstrated to be in the public interest before approval by GRDA.  Likewise, applicants proposing new uses in Sensitive Resource areas would be required to demonstrate necessity and public interest and provide required protection, mitigation, and enhancement (PM&E) measures necessary to minimize the effects of the proposed development.

 

Furthermore, permits for commercial activities must address the proposed Project’s environmental effects including those on fish and wildlife, threatened and endangered species, vegetation, cultural resources, water quality and existing recreation uses, including any unavoidable adverse effects and PM&E measures to address those effects.  Applicants must provide, among other things, a statement supporting that the project is consistent with approved recreation, dredging, cultural resource and wildlife protection plans, statutory mandates or project management requirements and describing why the project is in the public interest.  Issues of boating safety during and after construction, as well as a statement of measures proposed to protect adjacent property owners’ access to the shoreline and Lake is also required for commercial permit applications.

 

Implementing the SMP may result in a slight decrease in the rate of residential and commercial development along the shoreline.  Commercial and, to a lesser degree, residential development may be reduced due to restrictions and guidelines that limit development in selected SMCs.  However, because development is not expressly prohibited by the proposed SMP, it is not likely that the rate of development would be substantially reduced from current conditions.  As such, shoreline resources (i.e., riparian vegetation, fisheries, recreational use, etc.) would likely continue to be affected by shoreline development activities.  Because these shoreline resources would be considered by GRDA in any permit application, the proposed SMP and associated programs are expected to benefit land use, aesthetics, and the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Grand Lake.

 

4.7              Additional Shoreline Management Policies

 

The SMP contains additional shoreline management policies designed to protect and enhance the environmental, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic resources of the Lake that would affect land use and development activities along the shoreline.  These policies include:

 

·                    Habitable Structures;

·                    Vegetation Management and Shoreline Stabilization;

·                    Dredging; and

·                    Derelict docks.

 

Each policy, and associated benefits to land use management and the environmental, cultural, and recreational resources of the Lake, are discussed below.

 

4.7.1        Habitable Structures Policy

 

Of increasing interest at Grand Lake is the development of on-water habitable structures or “dock-o-miniums”.  These structures typically resemble cabins or homes and are placed on floating structures, on covered or enclosed docks, or over boat houses.  Generally, these structures may contain water supply and/or waste disposal facilities, such as sinks, showers, toilets, kitchen facilities, and food preparation areas.

 

Existing habitable structures have the potential to contribute to deteriorating water quality in the Project due to non-existent or faulty gray water, septic or other waste disposal systems (see Section 5.2.3).  Their location, over the water, is a particular challenge for proper waste disposal.  In addition, to sanitation issues, these structures may inhibit navigation in near shore areas, block views of boaters and shoreline residents, present a different waterfront aesthetic and can present a safety issue for access.  Closed and covered structures block line of sight for boats entering the Lake and those boating adjacent to these structures.

 

Due to the existence of these structures on the Lake, GRDA proposes to allow the existing structures to remain under its “grandfathering” policy.  As discussed in the SMP, GRDA proposes … [to be completed following review of the SMP]

 


4.7.2        Vegetation Management and Shoreline Stabilization Policies

 

GRDA proposes a policy for the management, removal, and planting of vegetation within the Project Boundary.  The Vegetation Management Policy would generally prohibit the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers; require a permit for live vegetation removal but allow dead trees to be removed; generally not allow mowing; allow the construction of foot paths; and prohibit vegetable gardens within the Project Boundary.  The policy would also encourage the planting of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, native grasses, and ground covers within GRDA lands to create, improve, or enhance the vegetative cover.

 

The proposed SMP also includes a Shoreline Stabilization Policy, wherein GRDA would issue permits allowing shoreline property owners to stabilize eroding shorelines within the Project Boundary.  Through this policy, GRDA would recommend shoreline stabilization methods, such as biostabilization, riprap, or retaining walls.  GRDA would conduct site inspections of the eroded areas to determine the most appropriate methods for stabilization.

 

Neither policy expressly prohibits vegetation removal or requires shoreline stabilization in areas where erosion is identified; therefore, shoreline erosion may not be adequately addressed in the SMP.  However, GRDA would consider effects on soils in permit applications submitted for vegetation removal and would approve the most appropriate measure with emphasis on biostabilization techniques for shoreline stabilization.  Hazardous tree removal, with a permit, is already allowed under GRDA’s existing permitting policy.  The Vegetative Management and Shoreline Stabilization Policies are not likely to significantly change existing land use patterns and trends, though stricter scrutiny for certain land clearing and ground disturbance activities may shift landscape management schemes.  Shoreline property owners may be required to choose alternative landscape and shoreline stabilization methods if proposed measures in applications were deemed by GRDA to be inappropriate or inconsistent with the environmental and aesthetic protection goals of the SMP.

 

4.7.3        Dredging

 

Dredging is a highly regulated activity under the proposed SMP.  All dredging must conform to GRDA’s existing approved Dredging Management Plan (cite).  Additionally the SMP imposes restrictions on dredging in Sensitive Resource areas.  The current plan provides comprehensive regulations and guidelines for dredging, excavation and fill activities.  Among the protective measures that would be imposed under the SMP are: wetland delineation studies, limitations on the amount of material removed, regulations on the disposal of spoil material, and potential soil testing requirements.  In addition, GRDA would require completion of a training program for all contractors wishing to undertake dredging activities at Grand Lake.

 

Because dredging is primarily conducted for on-water navigational purposes, the effects of the policy on land use is negligible.  However, some dredging occurs to provide improved or additional access to Project waters at residential or commercial access facilities.  To the extent that this policy would impose more stringent regulations for dredging activities which may directly affect the construction of access support facilities, there could be a slight decline in new access facility construction, particularly in shallower areas of the Lake.  There may also be an increase in PM&E measures associated with dredging activities.

 

4.7.4        Other Policies and Provisions

 

The SMP contains provisions to address derelict docks and other unimproved and unmaintained structures.  This provision would likely benefit the safety of dock users, prevent floating debris associated with dilapidated on-water structures, and preserve the aesthetic integrity of the Project shoreline.  It is unlikely that enforcement of building standards would result in a decrease or leveling-off of new dock permit applications.

 

GRDA proposes to use GIS as a tool to assist shoreline management activities.  A database would geospatially identify existing land uses, designate SMCs, and parcels of recreation areas, wetlands and other natural resources.  This database would form the basis of the existing condition descriptions and manage permit and ownership information on a parcel basis for each shoreline property.  To the extent that the GIS database would assist GRDA with administration of its permitting system, enforcement of development restrictions, management of SMCs, and identification of environmental, cultural and recreational resources, and land use management within the Project Boundary would be significantly enhanced.

 

Implementation of the SMCs, the aforementioned land management policies, and additional development restrictions imposed through the permitting process would likely afford protection of shoreline resources.  However, the potential remains that fish and wildlife resources, especially those with limited habitat and water quality would be affected, as development activities on adjacent properties are not regulated through GRDA’s permitting process and the provisions of the proposed SMP would not apply to these lands.  Though GRDA has no control over lands outside of the Project Boundary, the SMP promotes Best Management Practices (BMPs) for preserving and protecting natural resources on lands adjacent to the Project.  The goal of promoting shoreline BMPs is to assist in the conservation and protection of valuable shoreline resources and help to reduce potential impacts to shoreline resources and water quality.  BMPs are voluntary guidelines and, as such, are effective in protecting resources to the extent that shoreline property owners adopt and adhere to them.  However, adverse impacts to environmental, cultural, recreational or aesthetic resources by construction activities outside of the Project Boundary are largely beyond the control of GRDA.

 

4.8              Agency Consultation and Enforcement

 

Agency consultation provisions of the proposed permitting program may also offer additional limited protection for resources, depending upon the particular resource and level of consultation required (notification vs. agency permit requirements).  For example, any development that affects wetland areas is subject to the terms of the 401 water quality certification issued by the OKDNR, a 404 permit approved by the Corps, and, other local, county, state and federal permit certifications.  SHPO notification is required for any land disturbing activities and items of cultural significance discovered during land disturbing activities.  Although consultation is currently required under GRDA’s permit program, the proposed SMP would better ensure protection of resources from adverse effects of development by clarifying for the public who may be submitting a permit application, when agency consultation is required.

 

GRDA also has a law enforcement division that enforces GRDA rules and regulations on Project lands and waters.  The SMP does not propose any changes over the existing condition as the enforcement division was created as part of GRDA’s enabling legislation (see Section 4.1).  GRDA’s enforcement division would be responsible for enforcing the provisions of the SMP, once approved by FERC.

 

4.9              SMP Monitoring and Amendment

 

GRDA proposes to review the SMC designations, mapping, SMP policies, and its permitting program every six years.  Review and update of the SMP would help to ensure the applicability and relevance of the SMP provisions, review any new shoreline management issues and address new land uses and shoreline development trends in the future, and provide for responsible land management.

 

4.10          Socioeconomics

 

The Project is bordered by Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa Counties in northeastern Oklahoma.  The primary contributing factors of the socioeconomic environment described below for these counties are: population, income, tourism, development and employment.  Table 5.10-1 provides a summary of the major socioeconomic characteristics of the counties around Grand Lake.

 

Table 5.10-1:        Selected Demographic and Economic Characteristics for Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa Counties, Oklahoma

 

 

Population (2000)a

Population Projection 2030a

Per Capita Income (2000)a

Labor Force (2005)b

Unemployment Rate (11/2005)b

Craig

14,950

20,000

 $16,593

6,770

4.20%

Delaware

37,077

56,200

 $15,424

17,390

4.00%

Mayes

38,369

50,300

 $15,350

16,270

4.50%

Ottawa

33,194

39,600

 $14,478

16,130

4.60%

a U.S. Census, 2005e

b LAUS Oklahoma, 2005

 

 

4.10.1    Demographics

 

The 2000 population of the four county region was approximately123,590 (Table 3.10-1).  Delaware and Mayes Counties have the highest populations and are roughly equal in estimated population.  The largest communities in these counties are Grove and Pryor, respectively.  The Grove Chamber of Commerce (2006) reports that the community was recently rated one of the top retirement areas in the nation by Rand McNally, the Wall Street Journal, and Retirement Places.

 

Ottawa ranks third in population among the four counties, and Craig County ranks last with the lowest 2000 population.  The largest communities in Ottawa and Craig Counties are Miami and Vinita, respectively.  Population projections through the year 2030 show an anticipated increase in the population of all four counties (Table 5.10.1-1).

 

More recent annual population estimates suggest that the populations of Craig and Ottawa are actually decreasing (Table 3.10-2).  Regardless of the conflicting data, it seems clear that the regional population will continue to grow, on balance, in the near future.  All four counties around Grand Lake likely experience some seasonal changes in population due to the influx of summer residents and tourists during the popular summer months from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Per capita incomes in the four counties ranged from $14,478 to $16,593 in 2000 (Table 5.10.1-1).

 

Table 5.10.1-1:     Annual Population Estimates for Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa Counties, Oklahoma, 2000 through 2004

 

 

CENSUS

PROJECTIONS

PERCENT CHANGE

COUNTY

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2000-2004

Craig

14,950

14,800

14,800

14,900

14,900

-0.52

Delaware

37,077

37,700

38,000

38,600

39,100

5.42

Mayes

38,369

38,500

38,800

39,000

39,300

2.36

Ottawa

33,194

33,200

32,900

32,800

32,700

-1.38

 

 

 

 

 

126,000

 

(Source: Oklahoma Department of Commerce, 2005c.)

 

4.10.2    Economy

 

Construction of Grand Lake resulted in the development of a significant recreational resource in the region.  The Lake supports numerous marinas and state recreation sites, all providing water-based access and attracting tourism dollars to the local economy.  Local communities capitalize on this by promoting their individual attractions.  In fact, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation estimated that Grand Lake generated in excess of $28 million in tourism-related revenue to the area in 1987 (Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of the Environment, 2005).  It is likely that tourism related revenue has increased since 1987.

 

Vinita is hailed as the second oldest town in Oklahoma and plays a significant role in the state’s history.  It is also located along historic Route 66.  Miami, Oklahoma – sometimes claimed to be the birthplace of Route 66 – also uses the historic road to attract visitors.  Miami also draws in tourism dollars through several popular gaming facilities.  The community of Grove claims to offer the largest concentration of tourism services and recreation attractions in the area (Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, 2006).  Pryor, Oklahoma, in Mayes County, is substantially removed from Grand Lake, approximately 50 miles away.  Pryor is located closer to Lake Hudson.

 

Many seasonal businesses are established to capitalize on the tourism industry and support the interests and needs of the visitors and permanent and seasonal residents alike.  These businesses include fast food establishments, gas stations, waterfront shops, marinas, retail, etc., all providing employment opportunities and contribute to economic stability of the area.

 

It is generally acknowledged that property values are, in part, a function of location, and that includes proximity to water bodies.  In Oklahoma, the availability of waterfront property is relatively limited when compared to land locked parcels.  Thus, one would expect land values near Grand Lake would be different from land values that are distant from water bodies.  Although detailed information specific to Grand Lake is not available, there is information available that suggests that land values in the vicinity of Grand Lake are greater than those values elsewhere.  Land values in Mayes, Delaware, Ottawa and Craig Counties have increased 75 to 150 percent between the periods 1973-1975 and 1998-2000 (Kletke, 2003).  In terms of dollars per acre, land values in Mayes, Delaware and Ottawa Counties have consistently exceeded land values in the rest of the state during the period 1972 to 1999.  During the same period, land values in Craig County have generally remained equal to or slightly greater than the statewide values.

The primary industries contributing to employment in the region are educational, health and social services; and manufacturing (Table 5.10.2-1).  Recreation and tourism industry plays an important role, but only ranks among the top three industries in terms of employment in Ottawa County.  These establishments employ approximately 4,100 people in the four counties (US Census, 2000e).  The community of Miami, in Ottawa County, supports Northeastern A&M College, which is reflected in the fact that the education, health and social services industry is one of the largest employers in the County.


 

Table 5.10.2-1:     Employment by Industry in Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa Counties, 2000a

 

 

CRAIG COUNTY

DELAWARE COUNTY

MAYES COUNTY

OTTAWA COUNTY

Employed Population

6,366

14,745

16,520

14,172

 

 

 

Percent of Employed Workers by County

Educational, health and social services

23.5

17.2

17.4

23.9

Manufacturing

14.9

21.3

25.1

17.7

Retail trade

11.3

12

11

10.3

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities

9.2

5.2

7.2

5

Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services

6.3

8.1

6

10.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, mining

6.2

5

3.9

4.9

Construction

5.9

9.8

8.5

6.3

Public administration

5.1

3.4

3.4

4.3

Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services

4.4

4.1

4.5

3.4

Other services

3.9

4.9

4.5

6.2

Wholesale trade

3.9

2.4

3.4

2.7

Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing

3.5

4.9

3.5

3.9

Information

1.8

1.5

1.7

0.9

a U.S. Census, 2000e.

 

 

 

 

 


4.10.3    Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

Grand Lake is a popular tourist destination as well as a major recreational destination for residents from Oklahoma.  Expenditures by the recreational enthusiasts, homeowners, and visitors constitute a portion of the local economy that would continue under the proposed SMP as development of the Lake continues.  Similarly, the regional area may experience an increase in construction and seasonal services as development continues around the Lake.  Some property owners may experience slightly lower property values of their undeveloped property if it is located adjacent to property classified as “Sensitive” under the SMC where certain development restrictions may apply.

 

Under GRDA’s proposed SMP, there are no set limits on development at the Lake with the exception of limits in the Sensitive Resource SMC (see Section 5.6.1).  The SMP designates areas where development is more conducive due to already disturbed lands, an absence of sensitive environmental resources, and presence of lands classified as Multi-Purpose and Public/Municipal areas.  Implementing GRDA’s proposed SMP is a reasonable compromise between protecting the Project’s scenic, recreational, and environmental values while also providing adequate development opportunities on Grand Lake.

 

4.11          Tribal Resources

 

4.11.1    Lands of Tribal Significance

 

No tribal lands are located within the Project Boundary.  No cultural resources have been specifically identified as sites of traditional cultural or religious significance to any tribe.  However, the Grand River valley has been occupied more or less continuously since the Paleo-Indian era, as many as 15,000 years ago.  Native Americans have had a presence in the Grand River valley and in northeastern Oklahoma in general, into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  Known federally recognized tribes that have expressed an interest in the Project include the Wyandotte Nation, the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes, the Cherokee Nation, the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, the Muskogee (Creek) Nation, the United Keetowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma, the Cherokee Tribe, the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Osage Tribe, the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.  Under the terms of Section 106 of the NHPA, the Commission would seek consultation with these tribes in any undertaking.

 

4.11.2    Effects of Implementing the SMP

 

There are no known effects of implementing the SMP on tribal resources.  As described in Section 5.4.3, any archaeological and historic resources would be addressed through consultation with the SHPO, Advisory Council and appropriate Native American tribes.

 

 


5.0              LITERATURE CITED

 

Caneday, Lowell, Brandon Neal, Susie Ruby, and Clarence Ruby.  1996.  Recreation Management Plan: Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees.  School of HPEL, University of Oklahoma.  March, 1996.

Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. Golet and E. LaRoe.  1979.  Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. FWS/OSB-79/31.  U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.

EPA.  2002.  303(d) State Impaired Waters list.  [Online] URL: http://oaspub.epa.gov/pls/tmdl/enviro.control?p_list_id=OK121600030020&p_cycle=2002.  (Accessed November 9, 2005).

Erickson, N.E. and D.M., Leslie Jr.  1988.  Shoreline vegetation and general wildlife values around Grand Lake, Oklahoma.  Oklahoma State University.  Stillwater, Oklahoma.  70 pages.  January 1988.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  1991.  Environmental Assessment for Hydropower License: Pensacola Hydro Project (FERC No. 1494-002).  November 19, 1991.  Accession No.: 19911205-0106.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  1992.  Order Issuing New License, Pensacola Project (FERC No. 1494).  April 24,1992.  Accession No.: 19920429-0438.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  1996.  Order Amending License, Pensacola Project (FERC No. 1494).  December 3,1996.  Accession No.: 19961204-3094.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  1998.  Order Approving Recreation Plan.  August 14, 1998.  Accession No.: 19980818-0333.

Gibson, A.M.  1984.  The History of Oklahoma.  University of Oklahoma Press.  August, 1984.

Gough, G.A., J.R. Sauer, and M. Iliff.  1998.  Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Laurel, Maryland. [Online] URL: http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html.  (Accessed October 22, 2002).

Grand River Dam Authority.  1986. Supplemental Information, Assessment of Impact on the Gray Bat and Ozark Cavefish. Pensacola Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 1494. Vinita, Oklahoma. Submitted to FERC July 1886.

Grand River Dam Authority.  1997.  Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees: Recreation Management Plan.  September 26, 1997.

Grand River Dam Authority.  1999.  FERC Form 80 Recreation Report.  March 29, 1999.  Accession No.: 19990331-0208.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2002.  Additional information on the application for non-project use of project lands and waters, Pensacola Project (FERC No. 1494-232).  Grand River Dam Authority, Vinita, OK.  March 29, 2002.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2003a.  Application for License for Major Project - Existing Dam, Markham Ferry Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2183-OK.  June 2, 2003.  Accession No.: 20030616-0371.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2003b.  FERC Form 80 Recreation Report.  July 14, 2003.  Accession No.: 20030715-0193.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2003c.  Grand River Dam Authority Pensacola Project Fish and Waterfowl Habitat Management Plan. 6pp.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2004a.  Article 401 Amendment Application.  January 29, 2004.  Accession No.: 20040130-0300.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2004b.  Article 401 Amendment Application, Supplemental Information Part 2.  January 29, 2004.  Accession No.: 20040526-0141.

Grand River Dam Authority.  2004c.  Grand River Fishing Tournament Data.

Grand River Dam Authority. 2005.  Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees.  [Online] URL: http://www.grda.com/Water/grand.html.  (Accessed November 17, 2005; October 17, 2006).

Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, 2006.  [Online] URL: http://groveok.org.  (Accessed January 10, 2006).

Hoagland B.W., Buthod A.K., Butler I.H., Crawford P.H.C., Udasi A.H., Elisens W.J., and Tyrl R.J. 2004. Oklahoma Vascular Plants Database (http://geo.ou.edu/botanical), Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.

Kletke, D. 2003.  Oklahoma Land Values.  Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University.  [Online] URL: http://agecon.okstate.edu/oklandvalues/.  Site last modified January 4, 2006.  (Accessed January 17, 2006).

LAUS Oklahoma -- Oklahoma Labor Market Information, Oklahoma Counties, November 2005, Released December 22, 2005.  [Online] URL: http://www.oesc.state.ok.us/lmi/
LAUS/2005/Nov/Counties.htm
.  (Accessed
January 9, 2006).

LaVal, R. K., R. L. Clawson, M.L. LaVal, and W. Caire.  1977.  Foraging Behavior and Nocturnal Activity Patterns of Missouri Bats, With Emphasis on the Endangered Species Myotis grisescens and Myotis sodalis.  J. Mammal.  58:592-599.

Lish, J.W. 1987. Diet, Population Size, and Location of High Use Areas for Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Wintering on Grand Lake During January – March 1987. Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.  70 pp.

Masters, R. E.  1993.  Oklahoma's Endangered and Threatened Species.  Formal Extension Report No. 6.  Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University.  Stillwater, Oklahoma.  44pp.

Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2006.  [Online] URL: http://www.visitmiamiok.com.  (Accessed January 10, 2006).

National Agricultural Statistics Service.  2001a.  Field Crops in 2001, Craig County Oklahoma.  [Online]  URL: http://www.fedstats.gov/cgi-bin/mapstats/AgLookup?40035.  (Accessed December 9, 2005).

National Agricultural Statistics Service.  2001b.  Field Crops in 2001, Delaware County Oklahoma.  [Online]  URL: http://www.fedstats.gov/cgi-bin/mapstats/AgLookup?40041.  (Accessed December 9, 2005).

National Agricultural Statistics Service.  2001c.  Field Crops in 2001, Mayes County Oklahoma.  [Online]  URL: http://www.fedstats.gov/cgi-bin/mapstats/AgLookup?40097.  (Accessed December 9, 2005).

National Agricultural Statistics Service.  2001d.  Field Crops in 2001, Ottawa County Oklahoma.  [Online]  URL: http://www.fedstats.gov/cgi-bin/mapstats/AgLookup?40115.  (Accessed December 9, 2005).

National Weather Service Forecast Office.  2005.  Miami, Oklahoma Climatology.  [Online] URL: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/climate/miami.html.  (Accessed November 17, 2005).

Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  2005a.  Census 2000 Community Profiles.  [Online]  URL: http://busdev3.odoc5.odoc.state.ok.us/servlet/page?_pageid=1470&_dad
=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&cwr=68
.  (Accessed December 9, 2005).

Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  2005b.  Census 2000 County Demographics and Population Data.  [Online]  URL: http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?
option=com_docman&task=view_category&Itemid=99&subcat=7&catid=64&limitstart=0&limit=20
.  (Accessed December 9, 2005).

Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  2005c.  Annual Estimates of the Population for Counties of Oklahoma:  April 1, 2002 to July 1, 2004, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau.  [Online] URL: http://staging.okcommerce.gov/test1/dmdocuments/cnty04.pdf (Accessed January 6, 2005).

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.  2003.  Fish Tissues Metal Analysis in the Tri-State Mining Area.  Final Report.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.  2002.  Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report.  Prepared Pursuant to Section 303(d) and Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  2005a. Oklahoma Reservoir Fact Sheet: Grand.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  2005b. Oklahoma Information for Paddlefish Conservation Management Grant.  December Report.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  2005c. Spring Electrofishing Survey Results.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  2005d.  Fishing Restrictions on Grand Lake and the Neosho River.  [Online] URL:  http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
/fishregs/specialrestrict.htm
.  (Accessed December 5, 2005).

Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of the Environment.  2004.  Comprehensive Study of the Grand Lake Watershed - 2004 Initial Report.

Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of the Environment.  2005.  Comprehensive Study of the Grand Lake Watershed.  Final Report. Per Senate Bill 408, 2003 Legislative Session.  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 177 pgs.

Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Division of Planning and Development.  2002.  Oklahoma Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: The Public Recreation Estate (Revised 2002).  Prepared for Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department by Lowell Caneday, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University.  August, 2002.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OKWRB).  2005.  First annual report for GRDA fish and wildlife mitigation project: feasibility study for establishing vascular aquatic plant communities in the littoral zone of Grand Lake.  April 12: 35pp.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Oklahoma State University.  1995.  Diagnostic and Feasibility Study of Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.  Phase I of a Clean Lakes Project, Final Report.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board.  1984.  Oklahoma’s water atlas.  Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Pub. No. 120.  186pp.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board.  2001.  Oklahoma Water Watch.  Grand Lake Association Chapter.  Draft 1993-2001 Data Summary.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board.  2004.  2004 Report of the Oklahoma Beneficial Use Monitoring Program (BUMP). Lake Sampling, 2003-2004 Draft Final Report.

Polite, C. and J. Pratt.  2002.  Bald Eagle. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System. California Department of Fish and Game, California Interagency Wildlife Task Group. [Online] URL: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/B113.html.  (Accessed October 15).

Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce, 2006.  [Online] URL: http://www.pryorok.com.  (Accessed January 10, 2006).

Stancill, W.J., D.M. Leslie, Jr., and R.F. Raskevitz.  1989.  Waterfowl Production on Grand Lake and Associated Wetlands in Northeastern Oklahoma. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci.  69:33-37.

Stancill, W.J., S.B. Haggard, R.F. Raskevitz, and D.M. Leslie Jr.  1988.  Waterfowl Use and Hunting Opportunities on Grand Lake and Ancillary Wetlands.  97

Tuttle, M.D. 1976. Population Ecology of the Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens): Factors Influencing Growth and Survival of Newly Volant Young. Ecology. 57:587-595.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.  1994.  Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan.  2nd Edition.  U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Projects Office. Billings, Montana.

U.S. Census.  1990a.  Craig County General Population and Housing Characteristics, 1990.

U.S. Census.  1990b.  Delaware County General Population and Housing Characteristics, 1990.

U.S. Census.  1990c.  Mayes County General Population and Housing Characteristics, 1990.

U.S. Census.  1990d.  Ottawa County General Population and Housing Characteristics, 1990.

U.S. Census.  2000b.  Delaware County General Demographic Characteristics, 2000.

U.S. Census.  2000c.  Mayes County General Demographic Characteristics, 2000.

U.S. Census.  2000d.  Ottawa County General Demographic Characteristics, 2000.

U.S. Census.  2000e.  Oklahoma Demographic Characteristics, 2000.  [Online] URL: http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=com_docman&task=view_category&Itemid=99&subcat=7&catid=64&limitstart=0&limit=20.  (Accessed January 9, 2006).

U.S. Department of the Interior. 2002.  Response to project (P-1494-224) Thunder Bay Marina expansion. Albuquerque, New Mexico. October 11, 2002.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  1982.  Gray Bat Recovery Plan.  Prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with the Gray Bat Recovery Team.  Atlanta, Georgia.  91 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  1989.  Ozark Cavefish Recovery Plan.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Atlanta, Georgia.  15 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  2002.  Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge Proposed Refuge Expansion Environmental Assessment.  100pp.

US Census.  2000a.  Craig County General Demographic Characteristics, 2000.

Vinita Oklahoma Area Chamber of Commerce, 2006.  [Online] URL: http://www.vinita.com.  (Accessed January 10, 2006).

Wagner, Steve.  1992.  The prehistoric paddlefish.  Outdoor Oklahoma.  March/April.  [Online] http://www.nativefish.org/articles/Pre_paddlefish.php.  (Accessed November 17, 2005).

Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia.  2005.  The Grand (Neosho) River.  [Online] URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neosho_River.  (Accessed November 17, 2005).

Woods, A.J., Omernik, J.M., Butler, D.R., Ford, J.G., Henley, J.E., Hoagland, B.W., Arndt, D.S., and Moran, B.C. 2005. Ecoregions of Oklahoma (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,250,000).

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX __

 

DRAFT ER COMMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX __

 

REPRESENTATIVE BOTANICAL SPECIES

 

 

 

 


Table 5.3.3-1:       Botanical Species Typical of the Grand Lake Vicinity

 

FAMILY

SCIENTIFIC NAME

COMMON NAME

Acanthaceae

Dicliptera brachiata

branched foldwing

 

Justicia americana

American water-willow

 Aceraceae

Acer negundo

boxelder

 

Acer rubrum

red maple

 

Acer saccharinum

silver maple

 

Acer saccharum

sugar maple

 Alismataceae

Alisma subcordatum

American water plantain

 

Sagittaria ambigua

Kansas arrowhead

 

Sagittaria calycina

hooded arrowhead

 Anacardiaceae

Rhus aromatica

fragrant sumac

 

Rhus lanceolata

prairie sumac

 Annonaceae

Asimina triloba

pawpaw

 Apiaceae

Bifora americana

prairie bishop

 

Oxypolis rigidior

stiff cowbane

 

Polytaenia nuttallii

Nuttall's prairie parsley

 Aquifoliaceae

Ilex decidua

possumhaw

 Araceae

Arisaema dracontium

green dragon

 

Arisaema triphyllum

Jack in the pulpit

 Asclepiadaceae

Asclepiasspp.

milkweed

 Asteraceae

Achillea millefolium

common yarrow

 

Helianthus petiolaris

prairie sunflower

 

Ratibida pinnata

pinnate prairie coneflower

 

Rudbeckia hirta

blackeyed Susan

 

Rudbeckia laciniata var laciniata

cutleaf coneflower

 

Symphyotrichum turbinellum

smooth violet prairie aster

 Balsaminaceae

Impatiens capensis

jewelweed

 Berberidaceae

Podophyllum peltatum

mayapple

 Betulaceae

Betula nigra

river birch

 

Corylus americana

American hazelnut

 

Ostrya virginiana

hophornbeam

 Bignoniaceae

Campsis radicans

trumpet creeper

 

Catalpa bignonioides

southern catalpa

 

Catalpa speciosa

northern catalpa

 Caprifoliaceae

Lonicera flava

yellow honeysuckle

 

Sambucus nigra

common elderberry

 Cornaceae

Cornus drummondii

roughleaf dogwood

 

Cornus florida

flowering dogwood

 Cupressaceae

Juniperus virginiana

eastern redcedar

 Cyperaceae

Carex aggregata

glomerate sedge

 

Carex granularis var granularis

limestone meadow sedge

 

Carex oklahomensis

Oklahoma sedge

 

Cyperus pseudovegetus

marsh flatsedge

 

Eleocharis palustris

common spikerush

 

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

softstem bulrush

 

Scirpus atrovirens

green bulrush

 Dryopteridaceae

Cystopteris fragilis

brittle bladderfern

 

Woodsia obtusa

bluntlobe cliff fern

 Fabaceae

Albizia julibrissin

silktree

 

Gleditsia triacanthos

honeylocust

 

Glycine max

soybean

 

Medicago spp.

Alfalfa hay

 

Robinia pseudoacacia

black locust

Fagaceae 

Quercus alba

white oak

 

Quercus falcata

southern red oak

 

Quercus macrocarpa

bur oak

 

Quercus marilandica

blackjack oak

 

Quercus muehlenbergii

chinkapin oak

 

Quercus palustris

pin oak

 

Quercus rubra

northern red oak

 

Quercus shumardii

Shumard's oak

 

Quercus stellata

post oak

 

Quercus velutina

black oak

 Juglandaceae

Carya spp.

hickory

 

Carya alba

mockernut hickory

 

Carya cordiformis

bitternut hickory

 

Carya illinoinensis

pecan

 

Carya laciniosa

shellbark hickory

 

Carya ovalis

red hickory

 

Carya texana

black hickory

 

Juglans nigra

black walnut

 Juncaceae

Juncus acuminatus

tapertip rush

 

Juncus effusus

common rush

 

Juncus marginatus

grassleaf rush

 Lamiaceae

Agastache nepetoides

yellow giant hyssop

 

Mentha spicata

spearmint

 

Mentha X piperita

peppermint

 

Salvia azurea var grandiflora

pitcher sage

 

Scutellaria incana

hoary skullcap

 Lauraceae

Lindera benzoin

northern spicebush

 

Sassafras albidum

sassafras

 Moraceae

Maclura pomifera

osage orange

 

Morus alba

white mulberry

 

Morus rubra

red mulberry

 Nelumbonaceae

Nelumbo lutea

American lotus

 Nymphaeaceae

Nymphaea odorata

American white waterlily

 Nyssaceae

Nyssa sylvatica

blackgum

 Oleaceae

Forestiera acuminata

eastern swampprivet

 

Fraxinus americana

white ash

 

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

green ash

 Onagraceae

Circaea lutetiana

broadleaf enchanter's nightshade

 

Ludwigia alternifolia

seedbox

 

Ludwigia palustris

marsh seedbox

 

Oenothera biennis

common evening-primrose

 Ophioglossaceae

Botrychium virginianum

rattlesnake fern

 Orchidaceae

Calopogon oklahomensis

Oklahoma grasspink

 

Calopogon tuberosus var tuberosus

tuberous grasspink

 Phytolaccaceae

Phytolacca americana

American pokeweed

 Pinaceae

Pinus echinata

shortleaf pine

 Plantaginaceae

Plantago aristata

largebracted plantain

 

Plantago major

common plantain

 Poaceae

Aegilops cylindrica

jointed goatgrass

 

Andropogon gerardii

big bluestem

 

Andropogon saccharoides

silver bluestem

 

Andropogon ternarius

splitbeard bluestem

 

Andropogon virginicus

broomsedge bluestem

 

Aristida oligantha

prairie threeawn

 

Panicum virgatum

switchgrass

 

Schizachyrium scoparium

little bluestem

 

Setaria parviflora

marsh bristlegrass

 

Sorghastrum nutans

Indiangrass

 

Sorghum spp.

Sorghum

 

Spartina pectinata

prairie cordgrass

 

Sphenopholis obtusata

prairie wedgescale

 

Tripsacum dactyloides

eastern gamagrass

 

Triticum aestivum

common wheat

 

Vulpia octoflora

sixweeks fescue

 Polemoniaceae

Phlox divaricata

wild blue phlox

 Polygalaceae

Polygala incarnata

procession flower

 

Polygala sanguinea

purple milkwort

 Polygonaceae

Polygonum aviculare

prostrate knotweed

 

Polygonum hydropiper

marshpepper knotweed

 

Polygonum hydropiperoides

swamp smartweed

 

Rumex acetosella

common sheep sorrel

 

Rumex obtusifolius

bitter dock

 Portulacaceae

Claytonia virginica

Virginia springbeauty

 

Portulaca oleracea

little hogweed

 Potamogetonaceae

Potamogeton diversifolius

waterthread pondweed

 Primulaceae

Androsace occidentalis

western rockjasmine

 

Dodecatheon meadia

pride of Ohio

 

Lysimachia ciliata

fringed loosestrife

 Pteridaceae

Adiantum pedatum

northern maidenhair

 

Argyrochosma dealbata

powdery false cloak fern

 

Pellaea wrightiana

Wright's cliffbrake

 Ranunculaceae

Anemone caroliniana

Carolina anemone

 

Anemone virginiana

tall thimbleweed

 

Aquilegia canadensis

red columbine

 

Clematis catesbyana

satincurls

 

Clematis versicolor

pale leather flower

 

Ranunculus fascicularis

early buttercup

 

Ranunculus hispidus

bristly buttercup

 Rhamnaceae

Ceanothus americanus

New Jersey tea

 

Frangula caroliniana

Carolina buckthorn

 Rosaceae

Agrimonia pubescens

soft agrimony

 

Amelanchier arborea

common serviceberry

 

Crataegus coccinioides

Kansas hawthorn

 

Crataegus mollis

Arnold hawthorn

 

Malus ioensis

prairie crabapple

 

Prunus americana

American plum

 

Prunus serotina

black cherry

 

Rosa foliolosa

white prairie rose

 

Rosa multiflora

multiflora rose

 

Rubus spp.

blackberry

 Rubiaceae

Cephalanthus occidentalis

common buttonbush

 

Diodia virginiana

Virginia buttonweed

 

Galium aparine

stickywilly

 

Galium concinnum

shining bedstraw

 Rutaceae

Ptelea trifoliata

common hoptree

 Salicaceae

Salix caroliniana

coastal plain willow

 

Salix humilis var humilis

prairie willow

 

Salix nigra

black willow

 Scrophulariaceae

Agalinis gattingeri

roundstem false foxglove

 

Agalinis heterophylla

prairie false foxglove

 

Bacopa rotundifolia

disk waterhyssop

 

Buchnera americana

American bluehearts

 

Castilleja coccinea

scarlet Indian paintbrush

 

Collinsia violacea

violet blue eyed Mary

 

Linaria vulgaris

butter and eggs

 

Lindernia dubia

yellowseed false pimpernel

 

Mimulus alatus

sharpwing monkeyflower

 Smilacaceae

Smilax bona-nox

saw greenbrier

 

Smilax glauca

cat greenbrier

 Tiliaceae

Tilia americana

American basswood

 Typhaceae

Typha angustifolia

narrowleaf cattail

 

Typha latifolia

broadleaf cattail

 Ulmaceae

Celtis laevigata

sugarberry

 

Celtis laevigata var reticulata

netleaf hackberry

 

Celtis occidentalis

common hackberry

 

Celtis tenuifolia

dwarf hackberry

 

Ulmus alata

winged elm

 

Ulmus americana

American elm

 

Ulmus rubra

slippery elm

 Urticaceae

Boehmeria cylindrica

smallspike false nettle

 

Urtica dioica

stinging nettle

 Verbenaceae

Phryma leptostachya

American lopseed

 

Verbena hastata

swamp verbena

 Violaceae

Hybanthus concolor

eastern greenviolet

 

Viola sagittata

arrowleaf violet

 

Viola sororia

common blue violet

 Vitaceae

Ampelopsis cordata

heartleaf peppervine

 

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia creeper

 

Vitis vulpina

frost grape

(Source: Hoagland et al., 2004)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX __

 

GRDA’S EXISTING PERMIT PROGRAM



[1] The 503 miles of shoreline within the Project Boundary is referenced from GRDA’s GIS system used to develop the SMP.  Traditionally, GRDA has used an estimate of 1200miles of shoreline based upon original surveys and metes and bounds descriptions of GRDA’s properties at Grand Lake.

[2] Pensacola Datum (PD) is 1.07 feet higher than National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), which is a national standard for measuring elevations above sea level.

[3] The elevation 750 feet PD is identified as the approximate Project boundary.  The real boundary is described by a metes and bounds description.  A legal survey should be consulted for any detailed work or for identifying activities on a specific parcel.

[4] Referred to as Bottomland or Floodplain Forests in Erickson and Leslie, 1988.

[5] Between elevations 742 and 755 PD; See Erickson and Leslie, 1988.

[6]  FERC defines “recreation day” as each visit by a person to a development for recreational purposes during any portion of a 24 hour period.

[7] The elevation 750 feet PD is identified as the approximate project boundary.  The real boundary is described by a metes and bounds description.  A legal survey should be consulted for any detailed work or for identifying activities on a specific parcel.