3.19 WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS

No Wild and Scenic Rivers segments have been designated by the Department of the Interior in the project area; therefore, the proposed project will have no impacts on Wild and Scenic Rivers.

3.20 COASTAL BARRIERS

The proposed project is not located along a coast and no Coastal Barrier Units have been designated by the Department of the Interior in the project area; therefore, the proposed project will have no impacts on coastal barriers.

3.21 COASTAL ZONE IMPACTS

The proposed project is not located along a coast and no Coastal Zone Management Areas have been designated by the State; therefore, the proposed project will have no impacts on coastal zones.

3.22 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

3.22.1 Existing Conditions

Based on letters from the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) (Appendix A), four federal and state endangered and threatened species had the likelihood to occur in the beltways study area. Since that time, the status of two species have changed, and NGPC has listed three other species with the likelihood of occurrence in the beltway study area. These species, and their current listing status are presented in Table 3.21. Based on information compiled by the Nebraska Natural Heritage Program (NNHP) and field surveys for the beltway study, none of the listed species are known to inhabit the south and east beltways study area.

3.22.2 Impacts of the Four Finalist Alternatives

Bald Eagle. The bald eagle has been sighted in various locations in Lancaster County; mostly in the vicinity of larger creeks and lakes, and thermal discharge points from local industries. It is generally considered a winter visitor and nesting is not known in the county. The wetlands, ponds and streams along the four potential alignments of the beltway are generally small and isolated in nature, and do not contain typical bald eagle habitat. No nests or individuals were observed during the field surveys for wetlands and the western prairie fringed orchid. The FWS has indicated that the bald eagle may pass through the project area, but they have not observed any potential feeding habitat that would attract them to the area.

For the above reasons, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

Peregrine Falcon. Although the peregrine falcon does feed in wetlands, the wetlands, ponds and streams along the four potential alignments of the Beltway contain only marginal feeding habitat. The drainages in the study area contain only small open water areas, and have low plant diversity (being mostly dominated by reed canarygrass, peachleaf willow and cottonwoods). The surrounding hills are mostly in agricultural production (row crops). The only potential peregrine falcon nesting habitat is in downtown Lincoln at the State Capitol and other high-rise buildings.

For the above reasons, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

American Burying Beetle. The American burying beetle is a carrion feeder that buries its prey, which it then uses below the ground surface for the feeding of its young. Habitat for the beetle has not been clearly defined. Although virgin or primary forest has been suggested as habitat, recent captures in the Midwest since 1960 have been in mixed agricultural lands. Most past records in Nebraska show that it has been collected near major watercourses such as the Platte Elkhorn, Loup, and Dismal Rivers. Until more information on habitat is acquired, any area with enough humus and topsoil for burying carrion is considered potential beetle habitat. Past surveys have not found any beetles in the Lancaster area, therefore, a survey is not required by the FWS.

For the above reasons, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

Salt Creek Tiger Beetle. The Salt Creek tiger beetle has one of the most restricted ranges of any insect in the United States; it is found only in the eastern Nebraska saline wetlands of Lancaster County (Spomer and Higley, 1994). Within the saline wetlands, it is restricted to the wetter unvegetated, mudflat (saltflat) sites and internal drainages. Although once found predominately on mudflats on the terraces on Salt Creek and its tributaries, the tiger beetle is commonly found near the base of the Little Salt Creek embankment where salt crusts form from interception of the local groundwater. According to Steve Spomer (Research Associate, University of Nebraska-Lincoln), the Salt Creek tiger beetle may be found at one location in a given year, but not be present at the same location in another year. This is particularly true for mudflats, saltflats, and ephemeral pond areas where populations of the tiger beetle are considered transient. In comparison stable populations are known from locations along Little Salt Creek. Between 1990 and 1995, the number of Salt Creek tiger beetles counted in the annual surveys of the species steadily increased as new populations were found (personal communication between Amy Zlotsky and Steve Spomer, 23 August 1995 and 2 June 1998). Since 1995, population estimates based on visual counts of adults have averaged around 600 individuals per year (Spomer and Hoback, 1998). Because of its highly localized distribution, the beetle is considered vulnerable to environmental threats.

There are no areas of saline soils mapped within any of the beltway alignments, and there are no saline wetlands within any of the beltway alignments (see Appendix D). The closest location of saline soils and saline wetlands is approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) west of the proposed I-80 interchange location near Cornhusker Highway and 98^th Street. These particular saline wetlands do not contain saltflat or unvegetated mudflat habitats.

For the above reasons, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

Western Prairie Fringed Orchid. The western prairie fringed orchid grows in wet tall grass meadows and wet-mesic tall grass prairies, and has been found at a few native prairie tracts in Lancaster County. The closest known populations of the orchid are at Nine-Mile

Prairie on West Fletcher Avenue 1.6 km (1 mi) west of NW 48^th Street, and at two locations in southern Lancaster County, both of which are over 16 km (10 mi) away from the beltway alignments.

Because its presence in the study area was possible, a survey to look for the orchid was conducted as part of the South and East Beltways Study. The survey was conducted in 1998, 1999 and 2000 during the blooming period of the orchid which is considered to extend from the second half of June through the first half of July. The survey was conducted by biologists Dr. Joan Darling and Mr. Craig Meilke in 1999 and 2000, and Amy Zlotsky in 1998. During the survey, native grass hayfields and native prairies along the finalist alignments were investigated for the orchid. In addition, other grassland and wetland areas that might support the orchid were investigated. No orchids were found during the survey. Table 3.22 provides a list of the surveyed sites, dates they were surveyed, grassland type (including water regime and location in the landscape), associated species, known management practices, and a subjective assessment of the quality of the site.

Based on the negative results of the survey, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

Small White Lady's Slipper. The small white lady's slipper is a perennial orchid. In Nebraska, it is known from native sub-irrigated wet meadows which are not common in the study area. The species appears to be intolerant of cattle grazing, and susceptible to herbicides application and drift from adjacent agricultural fields (NGPC, 1999). There are only two documented localities of the species in Lancaster County, and these are over 20 years old.

Table 3.22

GRASSLAND SITES SURVEYED FOR THE

WESTERN PRAIRIE FRINGED ORCHID

As part of the beltway survey, native grass hayfields, native prairies, and other grassland and wetland areas along the finalist alignments were investigated for the western prairie fringed orchid. No orchids of any kind were found during the survey. Based on Table 3.22, there are four locations of native prairie hay along the beltway alignments; all but one are upland locations. Prairie P-9 does have a drainage wetland through the field; however, the wetland portion is dominated by cattail, cordgrass and peachleaf willow (Wetland EF-3 in Appendix D) which are not species indicative of a diverse biological assemblage more typical of conditions for the small white lady's slipper. In addition, the approximately 4 ha (10 ac) prairie is surrounded on four sides by cropland.

For the above reasons, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

Saltwort. The saltwort is a weedy annual species that grows in moist saline and alkaline soils throughout the midwest. Within Nebraska, it is known only from the saline wetlands in Lancaster County, and from an alkali saltflat near a pothole wetland in Phelps County. Saltwort grows in the areas of highest salt concentration within the saline wetlands, and is typically found in the saltflat areas.

There are no areas of saline soils mapped within any of the beltway alignments, and there are no saline wetlands within any of the beltway alignments (see Appendix D). The closest location of saline soils and saline wetlands is approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) west of the proposed I-80 interchange location near Cornhusker Highway and 98^th Street. These particular saline wetlands do not contain saltflat or unvegetated mudflat habitats.

For the above reasons, we conclude there will be no effect on this species from any of the four beltway alternatives.

3.22.3 Proposed Mitigation

Since construction is not expected for several years, surveys for threatened and endangered species will be updated, as appropriate.

3.22.4 No Build Alternative

As with the build alternatives, the no build alternative would have no effect on endangered or threatened species.