1.3.5 Conductor Stringing

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1.3.4 Support Structure Assembly and Erection

Foundations for the lattice steel towers will be completed before erecting the structures.

Four holes will be augered into the ground (one hole per tower footing) at each tower

location as illustrated in Figure 1-2. The holes will be filled with steel-reinforced

concrete to form piers. Stub angles for anchoring the tower will be embedded at the

center of the concrete foundations.

Each lattice steel tower will be assembled on the ground near its designed location.

Tower assemblies will then be lifted by crane and aligned with and attached to

foundation stub angles with structure arms oriented perpendicular to the transmission

line centerline. For angle structures, towers will be set with structure arms oriented on

the angle bisector.

Foundations for the pole structures as illustrated in Figure 1-3 will be completed before

erecting the structures. One hole will be augered into the ground at each structure

location; an anchor bolt cage will be placed in addition to steel rebar to reinforce the

foundation and the holes will then be filled with concrete. Depth and diameter of thefoundation will vary depending on the design of the structure specific to that location.

1.3.5 Conductor Stringing

Once a series of structures have been erected along the transmission line centerline, the

conductor stringing phase can begin. Specialized equipment will be attached to properly

support and protect the conductor during the pulling, tensioning, and sagging operations.

Once conductors and shield wire are in place and tension and sag have been verified,

conductor and shield wire hardware is installed at each suspension point to maintain

conductor position. Conductor stringing continues until the transmission line

construction is complete. All construction equipment will be removed. All temporary

culverts and environmental controls previously installed will be removed.

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THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

rage i-u Halff Associates

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2.0 ROUTE SELECTION METHODOLOGY

The objective of this study is to identify and evaluate alternative transmission line routes

for Oncor's proposed New Bethel 345 kV Transmission Line Project. Throughout this

report, the terms "environment" or "environmental" are used to include the human

environment as well as the natural environment. Halff utilized a comprehensive

transmission line routing methodology to identify and evaluate alternative transmission

line routes. Potential routes were identified and evaluated in accordance with Section

37.056(c)(4)(A)-(D) of the Texas Utilities Code, PUCT Substantive Rules Section

25.101, including the PUCT policy of prudent avoidance, PUCT Procedural Rules

Section 22.52(a)(4), and the PUCT CCN Application Form for a Proposed Transmission

Line.

The following subsections provide a description of the route selection methodology,

including study area delineation, data collection, constraints mapping, identification of

preliminary alternative routes, public involvement program, adjustment of preliminary

alternative routes following field review and public participation meetings, and evaluation

of the alternative routes.

2.1 Study Area Delineation

The first step in the identification of alternative routes was to define a study area. This

area needed to encompass potential termination points (e.g. the New Bethel Switching

Station in Anderson County), and include an area large enough that a reasonable

number of forward progressing geographically diverse alternative routes could be

identified. The purpose of delineating the study area for the proposed project was to

establish boundaries and limits for the information gathering process (i.e., identifying

environmental and land use constraints). The delineation of the study area also allowed

Halff to focus its evaluation within a specific area.

Halff reviewed U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000 scale topographic maps

(USGS, 1960 - 1984) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aerial photography

(USDA, 2014), and conducted site reconnaissance to develop and refine the study area

boundary for this project. Halff located and depicted the project endpoints on the various

maps and identified major features in the general study area such as United States

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Highway (US) 84, US 287, State Highway (SH) 31, SH 274, Richland Chambers

Reservoir, Fairfield Lake, Fairfield State Park, the Trinity River, Gus Engling Wildlife

Management Area (WMA), Richland Creek WMA, Big Brown Power Plant facility (Big

Brown SES) and various cities, towns, and communities located in the vicinity. Figure

2-1 shows the study area boundary Halff delineated overlain on aerial photography and

general constraints as a result of the above-described process.

Figure 2-2 provides a more detailed map of the study area. The study area is a

rectangular shape with a northern boundary (approximately 16 miles in length) aligned in

a west to east direction generally between the City of Trinidad and the City of Athens.

From the City of Trinidad in Navarro County, the study area boundary extends south

approximately 33 miles to a point south of the City of Fairfield, representing the longer

axis. The study area boundary then extends east for approximately 16 miles roughly

parallel to the northern boundary. From the southeastern corner, the study boundary

extends north approximately 33 miles paralleling the western boundary to a point south

of the City of Athens.

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Figure 2-1. Project Area Map

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2.2 Data Collection

2.2.1 Solicitation of Information from Local, State, and Federal Officials and

Agencies

Once the study area boundary was identified, Halff initiated a variety of data collection

activities. One of the first such activities was the development of a list of officials to

whom a consultation letter regarding the proposed project would be mailed. The

purpose of the consultation letters was to inform the various officials and agencies of the

proposed project and give them the opportunity to provide information they may have

regarding the study area. Halff utilized the North Central Texas Council of

Governments, Heart of Texas Council of Governments, East Texas Council of

Governments, and the Texas Municipal League websites, as well as confirmation via

telephone calls, to identify incorporated cities and towns within the study area, and

identify the local officials within each city or town. State and federal agencies that may

have potential permitting requirements for or other interests in the proposed project were

also identified. Correspondence was sent to the following federal or state agencies, and

local officials and departments. Copies of all correspondence to and from these

agencies are included in Appendix A.

FEDERAL AGENCIES

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Southwest Division

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Fort Worth District

• U.S. Department of Defense

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) - Arlington Field Office, Austin Field

Office, and Houston Field Office

STATE AGENCIES

• Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)

• Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL)

• Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Coffield Unit

• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) - Aviation Division, Bryan District,

Dallas District, Office of Environmental Affairs, and Tyler District


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• Texas General Land Office (GLO)

• Texas Historical Commission (THC)

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

• Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

REGIONAL OR INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

• East Texas Council of Governments

• Heart of Texas Council of Governments

• North Central Texas Council of Governments

• Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD)

• Trinity River Authority - Anderson, Freestone, Henderson, Navarro County

Directors

• Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority

COUNTY AGENCIES

• Texas Farm Bureau - Anderson County, Freestone County, Henderson County,

and Navarro County

• County Historical Commission - Anderson County, Freestone County,

Henderson County, and Navarro County

• Anderson County Officials (County Judge, County Commissioners)

• Freestone County Officials (County Judge, County Commissioners)

• Henderson County Officials (County Judge, County Commissioners)

• Navarro County Officials (County Judge, County Commissioners)

CITY AGENCIES

(includes council members, city staff, and economic development boards)

• City of Athens

• City of Fairfield

• City of Goodlow

• City of Kerens

• City of Malakoff

• City of Trinidad

• City of Trinidad Economic Development Board


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SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Athens Independent School District (ISD)

• Cayuga ISD

• Cross Roads ISD

• Fairfield ISD

• Kerens ISD

• LaPoynor ISD

• Malakoff ISD

• Palestine ISD

• Trinidad ISD

Other data collection activities included a file and record review of various regulatory

agency databases, a review of published literature, and review of a variety of maps,

including recent aerial photography (USDA, 2014), seamless USGS topographic maps

(National Geographic Society [NGS], 2013), county highway maps, and county appraisal

district land parcel boundary maps. Findings of the data collection activities are detailed

in Section 3.0.

2.2.2 Reconnaissance Surveys

Halff conducted multiple reconnaissance surveys of the study area to develop and

confirm the findings of the above-mentioned research and data collection activities and

to identify existing conditions or constraints that may not have been previously noted.

Results from the site visits were also utilized to assist in the route selection process.

Ground reconnaissance surveys were conducted by visual observations of study area

characteristics from public roads and public ROW located within the study area.

Reconnaissance survey information was noted in the field and geographically referenced

to digital aerial photography base maps. Reconnaissance surveys (including aerial fly-

overs) were conducted on the following dates:

• July 18, 2013 • April 8, 2014• September 18, 2013 • April 23, 2014• September 19, 2013 • June 11, 2014• October 16, 2013 • March 6, 2015

• April 14, 2015


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The data collection effort, although concentrated in the early stages of the proposed

project, continued up to the point of final development of alternative routes. Results of

the various data collection activities (e.g., solicitation of information from local, state, and

federal officials and agencies, file/record review, and visual reconnaissance surveys) are

included in Section 3.0 and Section 7.0 of this report.

2.3 Constraints Mapping

The data and information collected from the activities outlined above were used to

develop an environmental and land use constraints map. The constraints map, public

maps, aerial photography, reconnaissance surveys, and other research were used to

identify and select potential preliminary alternative routes within the study area.

Locations of avoidance areas and opportunity areas within the study area were located

and considered during transmission line route identification. Halff sought alternative

routes that minimized potential impacts to "avoidance areas".

Avoidance areas could require special considerations or mitigation measures, even

though there is no law or regulation that would prohibit the crossing by a transmission

line. A few examples of avoidance areas would be public parks or residential

developments. Avoidance areas vary in significance depending upon the type of

constraint. For example, an archaeological site may be considered a low or medium

avoidance area as actual disturbance of the site could likely be avoided by spanning the

transmission line over the site.

Once the avoidance areas are identified and mapped as routing constraints, the

remaining areas are considered opportunity areas. Opportunity areas are considered to

be low-impact areas, or those areas with a lower likelihood of containing existing natural

or human resources that could be negatively affected by a transmission line.

2.4 Identification of Preliminary Alternative Route Links

Upon completion of initial data collection activities and the constraint mapping process,

the next step in the process was to identify preliminary alternative route links to connect

the New Bethel Switching Station to potential endpoints. Halff utilized the following

sources of information to identify the preliminary alternative routes:


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• input received from the various meetings and correspondence with agencies and

local officials, as described in Section 2.2.1;

• results from the visual reconnaissance surveys of the study area;

• review of recent aerial photography;

• findings of various data collection activities;

• environmental and land use constraints map;

• apparent property boundaries;

• existing compatible corridors;

• locations of existing developments; and

• other information.

Preliminary alternative route links were identified in accordance with Section

37.056(c)(4)(A)-(D) of the Texas Utilities Code and PUCT Substantive Rules Section

25.101 including the PUCT policy of prudent avoidance. The intent was to identify an

adequate number of geographically diverse alternative routes which were

environmentally acceptable considering such factors as the following: community values;

park and recreation areas; historical and aesthetic values; vegetation, wildlife, and water

resources; environmental quality; length of route parallel to or utilizing existing

compatible corridors; length of route parallel to apparent property boundaries; and the

PUCT policy of prudent avoidance. In addition, Oncor provided engineering guidance

relating to paralleling existing compatible corridors in the study area and setback

guidelines for oil and gas wells and wind turbines. The preliminary alternative route links

identified by Halff were then presented at open house public participation meetings. A

more detailed discussion of the development of alternative routes is presented in

Section 4.0.

2.5 Public Involvement Program

Once the preliminary alternative routes were identified, a series of public participation

meetings were held. The first set of public participation meetings was held November 19

and November 21, 2013 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Cross Roads High School and

Cayuga High School campuses, respectively. A second set of public participation

meetings was held February 18 and February 20, 2014 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at

Fairfield High School and Cross Roads High School campuses, respectively.

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The purpose of the public participation meetings was to solicit comments and input from

residents, landowners, public officials, and other interested parties concerning the

proposed project, preliminary alternative routes, and the overall transmission line routingprocess, and to:

• promote a better understanding of the proposed project including the need,

purpose, potential benefits, potential impacts, and the CCN certification process;

• inform the public with regard to the routing process, schedule, and the decision-

making process; and

• identify the values and concerns of the public and community leaders.

Oncor mailed a written notice of the public participation meetings to owners of property

within 500 feet of the centerline of the preliminary alternative routes. Notices were also

mailed to local officials and state and federal regulatory agencies. In addition,

advertisements were published in local newspapers announcing the location, time, and

purpose of the meetings. A summary of the newspapers in which public meeting notices

were published and the dates of publication are shown in Table 2-1, and a copy of thenotices can be found in Appendix B.

Table 2-1. Newspapers and Publication Dates for Notices of Public Participation

Meetings.Nnvpmhar 9n13 Mnn+G.,.,^

: Newspaper t Y Publication DateThe Palestine Herald Anderson November 15 and 18 2013Malakoff News Henderson

,November 15 2013

Athens Dail Review Henderson,

November 15 and 19, 2013

Februarv 201d Maptir,r,a

Newspaper County Publication DatePalestine Herald Press Anderson February 11 and 18 2014Fairfield Freestone County Times Freestone

,February 11 and 18 2014Fairfield Recorder Freestone

,February 13 and 20 2014Malakoff News Henderson

,Februa 14 2014

Athens Dail Review Henderson,

Februa 11 and 18, 2014

At the public participation meetings, Oncor and Halff set up information stations in the

meeting rooms. Each station was devoted to a particular aspect of the proposed project

and was staffed by Oncor, ML&M Realty Advisors, LLC (a land and title research firm

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contracted by Oncor), and/or Halff representatives. Each station had maps, illustrations,

photographs, and/or text explaining each particular topic. Interested citizens and

property owners were encouraged to visit each station so that the entire project process

could be explained in the general sequence of project development. The information

station format is advantageous because it allows attendees a chance to receive the

information in a relaxed manner and allows them to focus on their particular area of

interest and ask specific questions. Furthermore, the one-on-one discussions with

Oncor, Halff, and the other representatives encouraged more interaction from those who

might be hesitant to speak out in a speaker/audience forum.

Upon entering, visitors were asked to sign in and were handed an information packet

including an explanation of the proposed project, a map of preliminary alternative

transmission line route links, and a questionnaire. The information packet also included

answers to frequently asked questions, a drawing of the proposed typical transmission

tower, and a flow chart that detailed the CCN certification process for new transmission

lines. The questionnaire solicited comments on the proposed project as well as an

evaluation of the information presented at the open house meeting. Copies of the

information packet and questionnaire can be found in Appendix B.

Halff reviewed and evaluated the responses to the questionnaire that were submitted at

the meetings and by mail following the meetings. Attendee comments were considered

and factored into the overall evaluation of the alternative routes.

2.6 Adjustments of Alternative Route Links Following the Open House Public

Participation Meetings

Following the November 2013 public participation meetings, modifications were made to

a number of the links presented at the public meetings and numerous new links within

an expanded study area were added. The modifications, expansion of the study area,

and addition of links were the result of input from meeting attendees, the acquisition of

more detailed property boundary maps, and Halff's further evaluation of the preliminary

alternative route links. This second set of preliminary alternatives was presented at the

February 2014 public meetings. Following these public meetings, modifications were

similarly made to several route links and numerous route links were deleted from the set

haitt AssociatesPage 2-13

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of preliminary alternatives. The new route links and modified route links are locatedthroughout the study area and are further described and discussed in Section 6.0.

2.7 Evaluation of the Alternative Routes

Possible alternative route combinations were recalculated after making the route link

adjustments noted above, and were evaluated in detail. The analysis of the alternatives

presented in Section 7.0 involved the inventory and tabulation of data related to multiple

environmental and land use evaluation factors. Many of these factors relate to natural

and man-made features that would be crossed by an alternative route (e.g., number of

stream crossings, and length across cropland). Some of the evaluation factors include

features that are counted or measured if an alternative route link would be within a

specified distance of a feature (e.g., airports or communication towers). Another factor

included the length of an alternative route that runs parallel to and/or utilizes existing

compatible corridors such as power transmission lines and public roads. The number or

amount of each factor was determined primarily by reviewing recent aerial photography

within a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping program, and, where possible,

verified by visual observations during field reconnaissance.


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3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF THE STUDY AREA

3.1 Constraints Mapping

Halff identified environmental and land use constraints within the study area. A

constraints map was developed that identifies the locations of environmentally sensitive

areas, exclusion areas, avoidance areas, and other land use constraints, all of which are

mapped on an aerial photograph base map that is contained in Appendix G; a reduced

copy of the constraints map is shown in Figures 3-1A and 3-1B. The information

obtained and reviewed in completing this study, and the environmental and land use

constraints depicted in these figures, are described in detail in the following sections.

3.2 Physiography and Geology

The study area falls within portions of Anderson, Freestone, Henderson, and Navarro

Counties in northeast Texas. As shown in Figure 3-2, the study area lies in the Interior

Coastal Plains subregion of the Gulf Coastal Plains physiographic region (or `province'),

near the boundary of the Blackland Prairies subprovince of the same province (Bureau

of Economic Geology [BEG], 1996). Bedrock features throughout the study area were

created by sedimentation and progressive construction of the southern continental

margin of North America. Outcrops in the area are rare, since the last 60 million years

has been a process of continual sinking rather than uplift (Spearing, 1991).

Rocks and unconsolidated deposits from the Tertiary and Quaternary geologic periodsare represented in the study area. The Interior Coastal Plains province is composed ofTertiary period alternating belts of resistant uncemented sands among weaker shales

that erode into long, sandy ridges. Lignite is mined extensively along a wide band in

northeast Texas. This Eocene deposit, which is compressed peat derived from plant

material, was laid down 50 million years ago in the muddy areas between river channels.

The Blackland Prairies subprovince is comprised of limestone chalks, shales, and marls

formed in the latter part of the Cretaceous period (66-144 million years ago; Spearing,1991). However, no surface Cretaceous bedrock is mapped within the study area.

Quaternary period geologic features are consolidated and unconsolidated deposits from

wind or alluvial processes occurring over the past two million years.


66

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The topography of the study area is mainly rolling hills between the low, flat floodplains

of the Trinity River. The Interior Coastal Plains subprovince generally ranges in

elevation from approximately 300 to 800 feet above mean sea level (msl) (BEG, 1996).

The elevation of the study area ranges from approximately 220 feet above msl in the

southern part of the study area along the Trinity River to elevations near 500 feet above

msl in somewhat gently rolling terrain along the eastern edge of the study area in

Henderson County (NGS, 2009).

Outcropping geologic formations across the study area get progressively younger from

west to east, with strata that dip east and gradually to the southeast. One miniscule part

of the study area dates from the Paleocene and includes the Simsboro Formation

(material). Most of the study area is underlain by formations that date from the Eocene

and include (from west to east) the following formations: Calvert Bluff Formation

(mudstone, sandstone, and lignite); Wilcox Group undivided (quartz sand, glauconite,

silt, clay, and lignite); Carrizo Sand (quartz sand, feldspar, and chert grains); Reklaw

Formation (clay, silt, glauconite, quartz sand, ironstone); Queen City Sand (quartz sand,

clay, ironstone); Weches Formation (glauconite, glauconitic marl, quartz sand, and clay);

and Sparta Sand (quartz sand and clay).

Quaternary formations within the study area primarily include alluvium, floodplain, and

channel deposits associated with the Trinity River and major streams such as Catfish

Creek, Walnut Creek, and Tehuacana Creek. The fluvial deposits associated with these

streams are composed of clay, silt, and sand. Fluviatile terrace deposits composed of

gravel, sand, and silt are also present (USGS and BEG, 1992; BEG, 1996).


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345 kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECTOEM

Source: Bureau of Economic Geology, 1996 ®®n HALFF


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3.3 Soils

3.3.1 Soil Associations

Data from the NRCS (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) were used to identify and

characterize the soils that encompass the study area. In 2006, the NRCS completed its

Digital General Soil Map of the United States, which consists of a broad inventory and

mapping of general soil association units. Soil associations are main patterns of soils

defined and delineated based on criteria such as soil texture, parent material, slope,

characteristics of horizons in soil profile, and degree of erosion (NRCS, 2006). The

NRCS project merged soil association data from the myriad of county soil surveys into a

seamless national data set. This soil mapping approach resolved a basic challenge in

using county soil surveys, which often reflect different soil names for similar soils from

one county to the next. A brief description of each soil association's general

characteristics is in Table 3-1, and Figure 3-3 shows the NRCS-mapped soil

associations within the study area. The soil associations in the seamless NRCS map

were compared graphically with the soil associations defined and mapped in the county-

level soil surveys for Anderson, Freestone, Henderson, and Navarro Counties (SCS,

1974 - 2002), and the column on the right side of Table 3-1 shows the names of the

corresponding soil association(s) from each county soil survey.

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Table 3-1. Soil Associations within the Study Area.Soil Association ^

Unit # - NameMaStudoy

Area l Description of Soil Association 2 County Soil Survey:3p o Soil Association Name

UPLAND SOILS (77,4% of Study Area)

Loamy, moderately slowly permeable, gently7202 - Pits-Bigbrown 2.4 sloping, well drained soils on uplands and high Freestone- Bigbrown

stream terracesLoamy, very slowly permeable, nearly level to

7306 - Tabor-11 1 strongly sloping, well drained and moderately

Gredge-Edge well drained soils on uplands and high stream Freestone Edge Taborterraces

7331 - Freestone- Loamy to sandy, nearly level to moderately Anderson. Axtell-Lufkin-Derly-Bienville- 8.4 steep, well drained soils on uplands Stidham; Darco; Fuquay-Attoyac-Annona Kirvin-Darco

Freestone: Cuthbert7354 - Gredge- Fine sandy loam, very slowly permeable toCrockett 2 0 moderately permeable, gently sloping to sloping Navarro: Axtell-Konawa

soils.Loamy to sandy, very slowly permeable and Anderson Axtell-Lufkin-

7355 - Rader-Lufkin-16 4 slowly permeable, nearly level to moderately Stidham; Darco

Gredge-Crockett .steep, moderately well drained to well drained Henderson: Axtell-soils on rid eto s and side slopes. FreestoneLoamy, moderately permeable and very slowly

7409 - Konsil-Gasil-2 2 permeable, nearly level to strongly sloping, well Freestone: Silawa-Gasil-

Axtell .drained and moderately well drained soils on Taborstream terraces and uplands

7508 Wolfpen- Loamy and sandy, moderately permeable and Freestone: Wolfpen-Oakwood 0.5 moderately slowly permeable, gently sloping to Cuthbert-Pickton;

steep, well drained soils on uplands Oakwood-KirvinSandy, moderately permeable, gently sloping to

7525 - Silstid-Padina 0.8 moderately sloping, well drained soils on Freestone: Padina-SilstiduplandsSandy to loamy, moderately permeable and Freestone: Pickton-

7549 - Tonkawa-40 rapidly permeable, nearly level to moderately Tonkawa

Tenaha-Pickton steep, well drained and excessively drained Anderson- Darco;soils on upland s Fu ua -Kirvin-Darco

7550 - Wolfpen- Loamy and sandy, moderately permeable andPickton-Cuthbert 88 moderately slowly permeable, entl slo tog y ping Freestone: Wolfpen-

steep well drained soils on up lands Cuthbert-Pickton7662 - Sacul-Kirvin-

2 0 Loamy, moderately slowly permeable, stronglyCuthbert .

sloping to steep, well drained soils on uplands Freestone: Cuthbert

Clayey and loamy, very slowly permeable, Freestone: Kaufman-7732 - Wilson-

1 4 nearly level to gently sloping, moderately well Trinity; Burleson-WilsonCrockett-Burleson .

drained soils, on ancient stream terraces. Navarro- Trinity-Kaufman;Axtell-Konawa

7741 - Woodtell- Sandy, moderately permeable, gently sloping to Anderson: DarcoWolfpen-Pickton 78 moderately steep, well drained, soils on Henderson, Pickton-

ndgetops and upland side slopes Wolfpen

7742 - Woodtell- Loamy, very slowly permeable and slowlyFreestone <0.1 permeable, moderately well drained, gently Henderson Woodtell-

s Floping to moderately steep soils. reestone

7752 - Wilson- Clay loam and fine sandy loam, slowlyCrockett 1 3 permeable, nearly level to sloping soils on Navarro: Crockett-Wilson

u lands.

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Table 3-1. Soil Associations within the Study Area.Soil Association ^^

Ma p Unit # - Name^ StudyArea !o Description of Soil Association 2 County Soil Survey:

Soil Association Name 3BOTTOMLAND SOILS (22.6% of Study Area)

Loamy, moderately to moderately rapidly7364 - Nahatche-

0 5permeable, nearly level, somewhat poorly Freestone- Nahatche-

Hatliff ' drained to moderately well drained soils on flood Hatliffplains of creeks

Anderson: Kaufman-Trinity

7392 - Tinn- Freestone Kaufman-Kaufman- 21.8 Deep, clayey, nearly level soils on bottom lands. TrinityGladewater Henderson: Trinity-

KaufmanNavarro- Trinity-Kaufman

7697 - Trinity- Clayey, very slowly permeable, somewhat Henderson: Trinity-Kaufman 6.7 poorly drained, nearly level to gently sloping Kaufman

soils in flood lams and bottom land. Navarro Trinity-KaufmanSources. Digital General Soil Map of the United States (NRCS, 2006); and NRCS (formerly SoilConservation Service, or SCS) soil surveys for the following counties: Anderson (SCS, 1975), Freestone(2002), Henderson (1979), and Navarro (1974)Notes:1. Map unit # and name correspond with the number and name assigned to each soil association in th e

2006 NRCS Digital General Soil Map of the U.S., as shown for the study area in Figure 3-4.2. The description used for the soil association is a composite of the descriptions for the soil associations

from county soil surveys that correspond geographically with the 2006 NRCS Digital General Soil Map.3. This column shows the soil association names from the county soil surveys that correspond to the

2006 NRCS Digital General Soil Map.


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There are 18 different soil associations within the study area, of which 15 are upland

soils and three are bottomland soils. The bedrocks discussed in the previous section

are the foundation for the soils found within the study area, and soil maps bear a general

similarity with geologic maps of the area (compare Figures 3-2 and 3-4). Regardless of

the type of underlying bedrock, the upland soils throughout the study area occur

generally on flat to strongly sloping topography and have predominantly sandy and

loamy texture. Soils formed in bottomlands are typically clay, occur on slopes of variable

steepness, and comprise 29.0 percent of the study area (SCS, 1974 - 2002).

3.3.2 Prime Farmland

The United States Congress, in the Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA), definesprime farmland as " land that has the best combination of physical and chemical

characteristics for producing food, feed fiber, forage, oilseed, and other agricultural crops

with minimum inputs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, ..." (7 U.S. Code Section

4201(c)(1)(A)). Such lands have the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply

needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and

managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods.

Additional potential prime farmlands are areas with soils that meet most of the

requirements of prime farmland but fail because they lack water management facilities

such as irrigation systems, or they lack sufficient natural moisture; such areas would be

regarded as prime farmland if these areas were irrigated.

Just over one-tenth of the study area is comprised of soils that are considered prime

farmland according to county soil surveys (SCS, 1974 - 2002); the majority of these

soils are located in close proximity to the Trinity River floodplain. However, the NRCS

responded to Halffs solicitation for information in a letter dated June 24, 2013 (see

Appendix A), stating, "The proposed project is exempt because transmission lines are

not a conversion of Important Farmlands and the site can still be used after

construction." The NRCS encourages the use of accepted erosion control methods

during the construction of all projects, regardless of exemption status.


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3.4.1 Surface Water and Floodplains

The study area lies within the Trinity River watershed, with approximately 66 percent of

the study area within the Lower Trinity-Tehuacana basin, and 24 percent within the

Upper Trinity River basin (located in the northwestern portion of the study area) (TCEQ,

1999; TWDB, 2009a). The remainder of the study area falls within the Cedar Creek

basin (5 percent) and the Richland Creek basin (5 percent).

The Trinity River is the predominant river within the study area, and is a perennial

stream that flows southeastward across the western portion of the study area (NGS,

2013). Major perennial Trinity River tributaries within the western portion of the study

area include (from west to east) the following: Cedar Creek and its primary tributary

Walnut Creek; Turkey Creek including its tributary Tick Branch; Wildcat Creek including

its tributaries Prairie Creek and Barron Creek; Mitchell Branch; Saline Branch and its

tributaries Hall Branch and Bee Branch. The eastern edge of the study area is drained

by Catfish Creek, which is a perennial tributary to the Trinity River. Major perennialtributaries to Catfish Creek are located east of the study area. Other major perennial

Trinity River tributaries within the southern portion of the study area include (from west to

east) the following: Tehuacana Creek and its tributaries Cottonwood Creek, Pin Oak

Creek, Prairie Creek and Big Brown Creek; Rocky Branch; Edwards Creek including its

tributaries Cold Springs Branch and Willow Creek; Indian Creek. Many named and

unnamed intermittent and ephemeral streams are present throughout the study area,

many of which support riparian vegetation that was observed in the aerial photography

and field reconnaissance.

Two surface water bodies that exceed 500 acres are wholly located within the study

area. The largest of these is Fairfield Lake (2,159 acres) which is located approximately

5 miles northeast of the City of Fairfield in the southern portion of the study area.

Trinidad Lake (710 acres) is in the northwest portion of the study area approximately 1.5

miles south of the City of Trinidad. A small portion (4,389 acres) of the much larger

Richland Chambers Reservoir extends into the western part of the study area where

Richland Creek continues downstream of the reservoir's dam. Other moderately sized

(90 to 155 acres) water bodies, most of which are located on-channel to larger drainages

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in the study area. Additionally, there are dozens of smaller stock ponds, flood control

reservoirs, small private recreational lakes, and soil conservation lakes throughout the

study area ranging in size from less than 1 acre to 56 acres.

State legislation in 1997 (see Texas Water Code Section 16.051) modified the state-

wide water resources planning process by authorizing regional planning groups to

recommend ecologically unique river and stream segments to the Texas State

Legislature in regional and state water plans (TWDB, 2009b). A primary purpose for this

approach is to ensure that future water impoundments do not destroy stream segments

that are considered unique under specified designation criteria (see 31 Texas

Administrative Code Section 357.8), which include biologic functions and habitat for

threatened and endangered species. State designation as ecologically unique would

also prevent state agencies or municipalities from acquiring property or easements that

would destroy the ecological values forming the basis for the designation. Part of the

process for designating ecologically unique stream segments requires regional water

planning groups to coordinate with TPWD about candidate stream segments (TWDB,

2009b and 2009c). Within the study area, TPWD has identified the following river or

stream segments as ecologically significant under the relevant designation criteria: the

Trinity River in Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, and Freestone Counties; and Catfish

Creek in Anderson County (TPWD, 2002a; 2002b). The regional water planning groups

(Region C and Region I) with responsibility for the study area considered TPWD's

recommended stream segments for inclusion in the 2012 State Water Plan, but did not

forward any proposals to TWDB for designating these or any other stream segments as

ecologically unique (TWDB, 2012). Consequently, TWDB did not include any of the river

or stream segments noted above in its list of recommendations that is part of the 2012

State Water Plan (TWDB, 2012), and the Texas Legislature has therefore not yet

considered the matter.

Planning meetings between TPWD and TWDB have clarified that the only legal effect of

legislative designation of a unique stream segment would be to prevent the development

of a reservoir on the designated segment (TWDB, 2011 b), and would not preclude thecrossing of such features by a power transmission line. The most recent draft regional

water planning group report addressing these stream segments does not include a

recommendation for designating of either as ecologically significant, but calls for the

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creation of a working group to further clarify the legal effects of making a legislative

designation (TWDB, 2011b; TWDB, 2011c). Nevertheless, TPWD's recommendations

relating to these water features remain a planning consideration, and correspondence

from TPWD recommended that these stream segments not be spanned by a

transmission line, where feasible (TPWD, 2013a).

Research into the water quality for monitored water bodies within the Trinity River

watershed portion of the study area indicates water quality concerns related to effluents

from a number of large municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Dallas/Fort Worth

Area, as well as stormwater runoff from urbanized and agricultural areas. Two streams

within the study area are included in the 303d list of impaired water bodies maintained

by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ, 2012). These streams

include the Trinity River (for the entire length of the study area) and Catfish Creek (from

US 287 to just upstream of SH 19 east of the study area). Listing criteria for the Trinity

River include polychlorinated biphenyls in edible tissue and dioxin in edible tissue.

Listing Criteria for Catfish Creek includes bacteria and depressed dissolved oxygen. No

other water quality concerns were identified within the portion of the study area located

in the Trinity River watershed.

FEMA data for counties within the study area varies from detailed floodplain analyses in

Navarro County, redelineated floodplains using historic data in Anderson and Henderson

Counties, and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Freestone County. Floodplains have

been mapped for all major streams. Digital versions of available FEMA maps (FEMA,

2013) were included in the inventory of study area features.

3.4.2 Groundwater/Aquifer

The Carrizo Aquifer is the only major aquifer in the study area and it extends throughout

(TWDB, 2011 a). This aquifer is part of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer system, extending in a

wide arc from the Louisiana border to the border of Mexico, adjacent to and northwest of

the Gulf Coast Aquifer. This aquifer consists of the Wilcox Group and the overlying

Carrizo Formation of the Claiborne Group. The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer is primarily

composed of sand locally interbedded with gravel, silt, clay, and lignite (TWDB, 2011 a).

Within the vicinity of the study area, the aquifer occurs in the Carrizo Sand Formation.

Groundwater recharge within this aquifer zone is diffuse and occurs primarily from


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precipitation across interstream areas. Overlying soil type significantly affects recharge

rates for the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer (BEG, 2013b). The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer reaches

approximately 3,000 feet in thickness. However, freshwater saturation averages 670

feet (TWDB, 2011 a). Municipal use and irrigation account for approximately 35 percent

and 51 percent of water use from the aquifer respectively (BEG, 2013b). The

groundwater resources within the study area are within three different groundwater

conservation districts (GCD) including the Mid-East Texas GCD, the Neches and Trinity

River Valleys GCD, and the Anderson County Underground Water Conservation District

(TWDB, 2013a, 2013b, and 2013c). In general, water from this aquifer within the

outcrop area is fresh but hard (i.e., typically less than 500 mg/L total dissolved solids),

and salinity of the water varies from slightly to moderately saline (TWDB, 2011 a).

3.5 Ecology

3.5.1 Vegetation

The NRCS has studied the characteristics of ecological regions for decades to better

understand the biology and management of natural resources. The NRCS published a

handbook in 2006 that maps general Land Resource Regions (LRRs) that share similar

geology and land physiography, moisture and climate, and soils characteristics (NRCS,

2006a). The study area is within two LRRs. The majority of the study area falls within

the Southwestern Prairies Cotton and Forage Region (which is part of the southern

Great Plains), which has annual precipitation averaging from 26 to 46 inches. The

southeastern portion of the study area within Freestone County falls within the South

Atlantic and Gulf Slope Cash Crops, Forest, and Livestock Region, which has annual

precipitation averaging from 44 to 63 inches (NRCS, 2006a).

As shown in Figure 3-4, NRCS soil scientists have further subdivided the LRR within the

study area into four Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs). As the criteria used to define

both MLRAs and the larger LRRs focus fundamentally on soils and soil-forming factors,

the delineation of MLRAs is therefore closely linked to the various soil associations that

have been mapped over the past half century. This approach to the study of vegetation

focuses on the land's potential for supporting natural vegetation or agricultural practices,

rather than simply reporting a snapshot of vegetation as it may exist at a single point in

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time. A summary of key attributes associated with the four MLRAs in the study area is

shown in Table 3-2.

Although various factors distinguish the ecology of the MLRAs in the study area, there

are also ecological characteristics that are essentially common for all the MLRAs

represented in the study area. For example, annual precipitation comes principally as

rainfall from convective thunderstorms in the spring and fall, and the growing season

generally ranges from 225 to 290 days (NRCS, 2006a). Topography throughout the

study area is generally characterized as nearly level to gently sloping plain, with

occasionally steeper slopes where streams have cut into the landscape.

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Table 3-2. Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs) within the Study Area.11

MLRA Name and(NRCS Number) *

StudyArea

IGeology

AverageAnnual

11 11General Native

% Preci Vegetation

Land Resource Region : Southwestern Prairies Cotton and Forage Region

Texas Blackland Prairie Cretaceous chalk, mixed tall and mid prairie,

Northern Part (86A)8 claystone, marl, and 30 - 46 in. grasses, with savanna

forests primarily inshalelowlandsoak savanna vegetation,

Tertiary fluviodeltaic and some mixed pine-Texas Claypan Area,Southern Part (87A)

70 marine sediments:sandstone, siltstone, 27 - 45 in. hardwoods in the

southwestern part of theshale, sands, silts, clays area, hardwood forests on

bottomlandTexas Claypan Area, <1 Tertiary marine sands,

39 - 45 in oak savanna vegetation,Northern Part (87B) silts, clays .

native pines in some areasLand Resource Region: South Atlantic and Gulf Coast Cash Cro s, Forest, and Livestock Region

Tertiary and Cretaceous

Western Coastal Plain marine sediments:

(133B) 21 sandstone, siltstone, and 39 - 63 in. pine-hardwood vegetationshale, calcareous claysand marls

Source: NRCS, 2006a."' The MLRAs occurring within the study area are listed from west to east; the NRCS-assigned numericalcode for each MLRA is noted in parentheses.

Prior to modern human settlement, native vegetation communities were characterized by

a high level of species diversity, and varying mixes of herbaceous (primarily grass) and

woodland species. Within the native prairie ecosystems (i.e., Texas Blackland Prairie),

occasional prairie fires ensured grass dominance over ever-encroaching woodland

trees. Prairie and savannah grasses that in prehistory dominated areas less favorable

for plant growth (e.g., relatively shallow soils) included short and mid grasses such as

buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), silver bluestem (Bothriochloa laguroides), andsideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). Dominant grasses on favorable sites

throughout the study area were primarily tall grasses, which included little bluestem

(Schizachyrium scoparium), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indiangrass(Sorghastrum nutans), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Upland savanna

woodlands in the western part of the study area (i.e., Northern and Southern Post Oak

Savanna) were predominantly post oak (Quercus stellata) and blackjack oak (Quercusmarilandica) savanna forests. Over a centurv of farminn rnnrhinn nnri jerhnn

development has resulted in widespread replacement of native prairie grass species with

introduced pasture grasses such as Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), King Ranchbluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), weeping

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lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula), and kleingrass (Panicum coloratum). However, remnant

patches of native prairie grasses (predominantly little bluestem) may still be found within

the study area. Woodland trees within the study area generally reflect the same mix of

trees thought to exist in prehistory, with the exception of new tree species that were

introduced by settlers. Upland wooded areas in the eastern part of the study area

(Western Coastal Plain) typically consist of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), shortleaf pine(Pinus echinata), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), southern red oak (Quercusfalcata), white oak (Quercus alba), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), and post oak.

This general description of the overall vegetation type based on NRCS research is

consistent with other regional delineations and descriptions of ecological regions in north

central Texas. Research completed in 2007 for TCEQ produced delineations of four

ecoregions in the study area that correlated closely with the NRCS MLRAs. The TCEQ

delineations (from west to east) include the following: Southern Post Oak Savanna

(eastern part of Navarro county and most of Freestone County), Floodplains and Low

Terraces (along Trinity River), Northern Post Oak Savanna (western part of Henderson

County and Anderson County), and Tertiary Uplands eastern part of Henderson County

and Anderson County) (Griffith et al., 2007). The main difference between the NRCS

MLRA and the TCEQ ecoregions is that no Blackland Prairie is mapped within the study

area in the TCEQ ecoregions. Maps and information from other sources have

maintained a more generalized approach to defining ecological regions, which is quite

similar to the NRCS designations at the LRR level. For example, the Gould's ecoregion

map defines only two major ecoregions in the study area, which are Blackland Prairie

(Navarro County, western Henderson, western Freestone, and northwestern Anderson

counties) and Post Oak Savannah (eastern Henderson, eastern Anderson, and eastern

Freestone counties) (TPWD, 2007). Other discussions of regional ecology provide

similar treatment of major ecoregions (Hatch et al., 1990; Diggs et al., 1999).

3.5.1.1 Terrestrial Vegetation

GIS data from the TPWD Texas Ecological Mapping System were used to estimate

areas of major types of existing vegetation cover within the study area. These data were

developed from satellite imagery with 10-meter by 10-meter mapping resolution

collected from 2005 to 2007 and refined with in situ data. Using this refined imagery,

TPWD created a statewide land cover data set that includes a sufficient number of land

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cover classes to provide insights for planning and management at a variety of scales(TPWD, 2012). For the purpose of this study, the more specific ecological classificationswere grouped into nine general land cover classes. Figure 3-5 displays the TPWD landcover data by different land/vegetation cover types, as it was grouped for the purpose ofthis study.

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Use of these digital data yielded the following estimates of cover as applied to the study

area: 33.2 percent upland forest, 36.0 percent grass-dominated rangeland and

pastureland, 22.9 percent bottomland forest, 3.6 percent open water, and 2.8 percent

cultivated cropland. The remaining cover classes. each accounted for less than 1

percent of total acreage within the study area. This review of land cover in the study

area clearly shows that woody vegetation is the predominant vegetation type. Areas

dominated by herbaceous vegetation (grass-dominated rangeland and pastureland and

cultivated cropland) are generally used for some level of agricultural production ranging

from intensively managed croplands (including grain crops and hay meadows) to

variably managed rangeland pastures (i.e., the presence and extent of invading woody

species varies widely).

The description of study area terrestrial vegetation that follows is based on field

observations, interpretation of recent aerial photography (USDA, 2014), and a review of

reports and maps produced by NRCS (2006b), TPWD (1984 and 2007), and TCEQ

(Griffith et al., 2007).

The vegetation within the Texas Claypan Area (Post Oak Savannah) is a mosaic of mid

and tall grass prairies and upland woodlands dominated principally by post oak and

blackjack oak trees, along with a variety of other deciduous tree species. Although

much of the area within this MLRA has been cleared of original prairie and woodland

vegetation to create croplands, this portion of the study area continues to have the

highest concentration of remnant upland oak and mixed woodlands. Tree canopies

within post oak woodlands grow to a height of 40 feet or greater and woodland

understory vegetation is frequently densely covered with shrubs, vines, and grasses.

These same oak and prairie grass savanna ecosystems extend into the adjacent

Blackland Prairie MLRA, with the principal difference being that upland woodland areas

diminish significantly in favor of herbaceous species, except for forested bottomlands

and fencerows. A list of plant species commonly found in upland areas throughout the

MLRAs in the study area is presented in Table 3-3. The prairie component in these

MLRAs was originally maintained by periodic fires that destroyed invading woody

species such as eastern red cedar. During historic times, farmers -and ranchers have

used fire as well as mechanical clearing and herbicides to suppress encroaching woody

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plants. In the eastern part of the study area, the Western Coastal Plain is dominated by

mixed pine and hardwood trees.

Table 3-3. Upland Plant Species in the Study Area.Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name

Grasses Ma 'or Associated Wood Plants (continued )Bahia grass Pas alum notatum Hone locust Gleditsia triacanthosBeaked panicum Panicum anceps Loblollpine Pinus taedaBermuda grass C nodon dact lon Plum Prunus sBig bluestem Andro 0 on gerardii Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicansBristle grass Setaria spp Post oak Quercus stellataCurly threeawn Aristida desmantha Shumard red oak Quercus shumardiiCylinder jointtail grass Coelorachis c lindrica Shortleaf pine Pinus echinataDropseed Sporobolus s. Southern red oak Quercus falcataEastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides Sweet um Li uidambar st racifluaFlorida as alum Pas alum floridanum Sumac Rhus sHairy rama Bouteloua hirsuta Virg inia creeper

.Parthenocissus uin uefolia

Indian grass Sor hastrum nutans Wax myrtle Morella ceriferaIndian woodoats Chasmanthium /atifolium White oak Quercus a/baJapanese brome Bromus "a onicus Winged elm Ulmus alataJohnson grass Sorghum hale ense Yaupon Hex vomitoriaKing Ranch bluestem Bothriochloa ischaemumKlein grass Panicum co/oratumLittle barley Hordeum pusillum Representative Associated ForbsLittle bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Alabama su le•ack Berchemia scandensPinehill bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Asters Symphyotrichum spp.

var. diver ensPlains love grass Era rostis intermedia Catclaw sensitive-briar Mimosa nuttalliiPur leto Tridens flavus Coastal indigo Indigo fera miniataRescue grass Bromus catharticus Coneflower Rudbeckia sSand love grass Era rostis trichodes Croton

.Croton s

Sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula Dewber.

RubussippSilver bluestem Bothriochloa laguroides Dotted gayfeather Liatris punctataSpike tridens Tridens strictus Engelmann daisy En e/mannia pensteniaSwitch grass Panicum wr atum Evening rimrose Oenothera sTall dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus Giant ragweed

.Ambrosia trifida

Texas winter grass Nassella leucotricha llinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensisTexas cupgrass Erioch/oa sericea ndian blanket Gaillardia ulchellaThreeawn Aristida s. ronweed Vernonia sppTumble windmill grass Chloris verticdlata Maximillian sunflower Helianthus maximilianiWeeping love grass Era rostis curvula Prairie bluet Hedyotis nigricans

Major Associated Wood y Plants Prairie clover Da/ea spp.American beau ber Callicarpa americana Prairie vervain Glandu/aria bipinnatifidaBlack hickory Carya texana Sedge Carex sppBlackjack oak Quercus marilandica Sdverleaf nightshade Solanum e/aea nifoliumBluejack oak Quercus mcana Snoutbean Rh nchosia sCedar elm Ulmus crassifolia snow on the prairie Euphorbia bicolorCommon persimmon Diospyros vir iniana Sum weed Iva annuaCoralberry S m horicar os orbiculatus Ticktrefod Desmodium sEastern red cedar Junipqerus vir iniana Tratlin ratang

.Krameria /anceolataFarkleber Vaccinium arboreum Western ragweed Ambrosia silostach aGrape vine Vitis s. Whitemouth da flower Commelina erecta

Greenbrier Smilax P . Yankeeweed Eupatorium com ositifoliumHackberry Celtis laevi ata Yellow uff Ne tunia luteaHawthorn Crate us s. Yellow sweetclover Melilotus a/baSources. Diggs et al , 2006; Griffith et al., 2007; NRCS 2006a TPWD 1984 and 2007 d F. Idian e observations in September 2013.

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Riparian forests represent an ecologically important component of the study area, and

occur in the floodplains of rivers and major streams such as the Trinity River, Tehuacana

Creek, Cedar Creek, Turkey Creek, and Catfish Creek. Along the major streams,

sufficient soil moisture to support these bottomland forest ecosystems is limited to

narrow bands immediately adjacent to perennial streams. Along the Trinity River, the

floodplain is much wider, reaching over 5 miles across in some areas. The relatively tall

overstory canopy of riparian forests is a mix of many tree species, which may include

American elm (Ulmus americana), pecan (Carya illinoiensis), black hickory (Caryatexana), black willow (Salix nigra), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), water oak(Quercus nigra), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), flowering dogwood (Cornusflorida), eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis),slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), winged elm (Ulmus alata), box elder (Acer negundo), redbud(Cercis canadensis), and bois d'arc (Maclura pomifera). In the upper reaches of stream

channels, where water flow is intermittent or ephemeral, riparian forests become patchy

and brushy, with thickets that may include sugar hackberry (Celtis laevigata), and cedarelm (Ulmus crassifolia). Additional woody species often found in this vegetation type

include vines such as greenbrier (Smilax spp.), grape (Vitis spp.), and Carolinamoonseed (Cocculus carolinus), as well as shrubs such as sumac (Rhus spp.), yaupon(llex vomitoria), and gum bumelia (Sideroxylon lanuginosum). Although upland grass

species may be found in riparian areas, it is more likely to find grass species adapted for

shaded/moist environments such as Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus), woodoats(Chasmanthium latifolium), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). The typical riparian

understory may include members of a wide variety of species, but shading by overstory

trees generally results in a relatively sparse amount of herbaceous vegetation.

The bulk of the region is used for pasture and range; cropland within the study area is

uncommon. The cropland in the area is used primarily for corn, sorghum, or hay.

Managed pastureland typically consists of introduced pasture grasses such as Bermuda

grass and King Ranch bluestem, occasionally interspersed with little bluestem and other

native grasses. A variety of grasses, forbs (non-grass herbaceous plants), and woody

species pervade unimproved rangeland pastures and roadside areas. As previously

noted, unmanaged, grass-dominated areas (in the absence of fire) eventually become

upland woodland areas. These woodland areas continue to provide rangeland pasture

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for livestock, although of decreasing forage quality and quantity. Without periodic

mechanical removal, herbicide treatment, or prescribed burning to control woody plants,

grass-dominated areas eventually develop into upland woodlands.

3.5.1.2 Aquatic/Hydric Vegetation

The hydric habitats in the study area are generally adjacent to streams, impoundments,

and depressions. The Trinity River, perennial streams, Richland Chambers Reservoir,

Fairfield Lake, Trinidad Lake, and numerous small to moderate sized man-made

impoundments comprise the major aquatic habitats of the study area. Impoundments

generally result in either permanent, intermittent, or ephemeral freshwater flat wetlands,

marshes, or fringe marshes. Vegetation in aquatic habitats is typically limited to the

shallow edges of the water. Plant species common to this habitat tvnP inr.hirla nichae

(Juncus spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), cattail (Typha latifolia), flatsedges (Cyperus spp.),and spikerushes (Eleocharis spp.). The wetter portions of bottomland forests could alsobe classified as hydric habitat, because these areas may undergo seasonal inundation

and/or maintain saturated soils.

The majority of the hydric areas in the study area that may also be jurisdictional

wetlands ( i.e., those wetland areas subject to USACE regulations) are located alongstreams and rivers. To identify areas that may potentially contain wetland habitats,National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps (on 1:24,000 scale topographic base maps)were examined. These maps highlight areas where potential jurisdictional wetland

features may be found, based on aerial photography and ground topography (USFWS,1989 - 1993). The NWI maps indicate that wetland areas that range in size and

classification are predominately located in close proximity to the major streams within

the study area. Livestock watering ponds are also frequently mapped water features on

the NWI maps, many of which would likely not be considered jurisdictional under currentUSACE regulations.

3.5.1.3 Commercially or Recreationally Important Vegetation

Within the study area, production of crops such as grain and hay is concentrated in the

Blackland Prairie MLRA (see Figure 3-4 and 3-5) (USDA, 2012; TPWD, 2012). The

production of forage for livestock is the most widespread use of agricultural land

throughout the study area, in terms of the number of acres (USDA, 2013). Forage in the


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form of hay, pasture, or silage is used principally as feed for cattle and horses. Hay

meadows (which may be rotated with pasture) are generally planted with introduced

grasses, most commonly Bermuda grass, in addition to King Ranch bluestem, Johnson

grass, tall fescue, and legumes such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (SCS, 1974 - 2002).Commercially important crops include corn, sorghum, and hay.

Habitat, rather than any particular plant species, is important for recreational hunting in

the study area. Aerial survey observations and historical aerial photography review

showed the large-scale alteration or conversion of habitats to support recreational

waterfowl hunting within the study area. At a lesser scale (e.g. food plots), similar

alterations are evident in forested communities to supplement foraging habitat for other

game species. Regardless of these man-made habitats, riparian forests and other

woodlands provide abundant essential cover for certain game species, most notable of

which is white-tailed deer. Birds and mammals that prefer open habitat make use of the

abundant croplands and rangeland throughout the study area. References provided by

the General Land Office identified two Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) conservation

easements. Administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the WRP is a

voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance

wetlands on their property. The Big Woods Mitigation Bank is located in the study area

adjacent to the east bank of the Trinity River in Anderson County. A special type of

reserve program, the mitigation bank consists of privately-owned land managed for its

natural resource values. In exchange for permanently protecting the land, the bank

operator is allowed to sell habitat credits to developers within a particular service area

who need to satisfy legal requirements for compensating environmental impacts of

development projects.

3.5.1.4 Endangered and Threatened Plant Species

TPWD maintains the Natural Diversity Database (NDD) to track known occurrences of

threatened, endangered, and otherwise rare plant and animal species throughout Texas.

Maps and data received from the NDD in July 2013, November 2013, and February

2015 indicated there are no recorded observations of state or federally listed plant

species within the study area (TPWD, 2013b; 2014; 2015a). TPWD and USFWS lists of

endangered and threatened species for Anderson, Freestone, Henderson, and Navarro

Counties include three listed plant species (TPWD, 2013c; TPWD, 2015; USFWS,

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2015). These include the tinytim earth fruit (Geocarpon minimum) in Anderson County,

and the Navasota ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes parksh) and the large-fruited sand-verbena

(Abronia macrocarpa) in Freestone County.

While known from Arkansas, Missouri, and Louisiana, the tinytim earth fruit was

discovered in Texas in 2004 in Anderson County. This species is limited to saline barren

soil complexes just above the floodplain of the Neches River, which represents the

eastern boundary of Anderson County. As of 2009, TPWD recognized three populations

of this species. Two were known to occur on private property, within the acquisition

boundary of the then-proposed Neches River National Wildlife Refuge. The third site

also occurred mostly on private property, extending into the Caddo Lake State Park,

which is near the Texas-Louisiana border (USFWS, 2009a). It is unlikely the species

would occur within the study area.

The Navasota ladies'-tresses and the large-fruited sand-verbena are Texas endemics

generally associated with the sandier upland soils of the post oak woodlands (USFWS,

2010; TPWD, 2013d). The large-fruited sand-verbena is known only from three counties

and is restricted to sparse herbaceous vegetation in deep, somewhat excessively

drained sands in openings in post oak woodlands. All known sites are underlain by

sandy Eocene strata. Freestone County has Eocene geology and sandy soils that may

support the large-fruited sand verbena. A relatively small area located southeast of the

Big Brown SES mine is mapped as an Arenosa series soil, a fine sand somewhat

excessively drained, which could serve as suitable habitat. However, the majority of

Freestone County within the study area is primarily composed of floodplain forests of the

Trinity River and other major streams. It is unlikely that this species would be found

within the study area.

The Navasota ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes parksii) is an endemic Texas orchid. This

plant is clearly associated with the Post Oak Savannah vegetation type of east-central

Texas, and is found in openings in post oak woodlands. The Navasota ladies'-tresses is

adapted to life in the xeric, upland forest. It is rarely found in floodplain forests or

openings or open areas dominated by tall grasses (Wilson, 2013). The orchid is found

mostly along drainage areas that represent naturally disturbed areas, and is rarely if ever

found in unnaturally disturbed areas such as roadsides, utility line rights-of-way, or open


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1.3.5 Conductor Stringing

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