Biglow CanyonWind Farm
Portland General Electric
PGE power supply portfolioPGE power supply portfolio
Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
Location: Sherman County, OregonSize: 25,000 AcresOwner: Portland General ElectricPermitted Capacity: 450 MW, max 225 turbinesPhase I: 125 MW (76 Vestas V-82)Phase II and III: 325 MW (141 Siemens
SWT 2.3-93)Transmission: BPA to PGE Grid
Three Phases on 25,000 AcresONE
2007
TWO
2008-2009
THREE
2009-2010
BCWF Pre-project Surveys• Pre-field review – special
status/sensitive plant and animal species
• Four-season wildlife baseline study
• Special status/sensitive species surveys
• Raptor nest surveys• Nocturnal bat surveys• Vegetation community
mapping and habitat categorization
Wildlife Survey ResultsAvian use surveys:
– 78 species total; 48 species in facility area; 59 species in reference area
– Passerines most abundant group year-round– Waterbirds/waterfowl; upland gamebirds; raptors
Raptor nest surveys: (325 sq mi survey area)– 26 R-t hawk nests; 10 Swainson’s hawk nests; 6 GHO
nests; 1 kestrel nest; 1 prairie falcon nest; 25 raven nests
– Within 2 miles facility: 8 R-t hawk nests; 3 Swainson’s hawk nests; 1 GHO nest; 1 kestrel
Special status/sensitive species surveys:– Grasshopper sparrow; loggerhead shrike; Swainson’s
hawk; ferruginous hawk; white-tailed jackrabbit; western toad
Nocturnal anabat surveys:– Low call rates (6 bat calls) compared to other surveys
for similar projects
Habitat Impacts
Permanent impacts:– 8.41 acres Category 3 habitat (CRP, grassland,
shrub-steppe)– 3.52 acres Category 4 habitat (CRP grassland, shrub-
steppe)Calculated potential displacement impacts:
– 33 acres (Category 3 CRP, grassland/shrub-steppe; Category 4 CRP, grassland/shrub-steppe)
Combined impacts:– 45 acres
Pre-construction SurveysRaptor NestingNoxious Weeds
Environmental Awareness Training
Revegetation PlanWeed Control PlanHabitat Mitigation PlanWildlife Monitoring & Mitigation Plan
Habitat Mitigation Plan117-ac Conservation EasementReseedingWeed ControlFencingNew Water SourceSpring Enhancements
Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation PlanRaptor Nest Surveys
Avian/Bat Fatality MonitoringAvian Use and Behavior Surveys
Wildlife Incident Response/Handling
Fatality Rate Thresholds of Concern
0.20State sensitive species (ex. Raptors)
0.59Target grassland birds
2.50Bat species as a group
0.06Raptor species of special concern
0.09Raptors
Threshold of Concern(fatalities per MW)Species Group
Post-construction Wildlife Issues