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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3
<br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment
<br /> PAGE 3-189
<br />Sagebrush and native warm season grasses dominate the ridge landscapes along with other low growing
<br />vegetation such as cheatgrass. In the valleys, irrigated agricultural development covers large areas. There
<br />are pockets of special landforms that deviate from the predominant landscape. Sand dunes, vernal pools,
<br />canyons occur throughout the Columbia Plateau Province.
<br />3.8.2.3 Natural and Developed Settings
<br />The Project is located in Yakima, Grant, Benton and Kittitas Counties in a mix of private and public
<br />owned lands. The Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center (JBLM YTC), Bureau of
<br />Reclamation (Reclamation), BLM, and state (Washington Department of Natural Resources [DNR] and
<br />WSDOT) lands comprise most of the publicly owned lands (see Section 3.4 – Land Jurisdiction and Land
<br />Use).
<br />The majority of undeveloped natural settings occur along much of the Project study area within or
<br />adjacent to the JBLM YTC and on BLM, state, and private land between the Yakima Canyon and I-82, in
<br />Yakima Ridge and Saddle Mountains, in the Rattlesnake Hills, and in the Lower Crab Creek Valley.
<br />Major geographical features in the Project study area include the rivers and river valleys of the Saddle and
<br />Boylston mountains, Yakima River and Columbia River, Selah Valley and Burbank Valley, Selah Butte,
<br />Umtanum Ridge and Manastash Ridge, Selah Canyon, and Badger Pocket. Other valleys in the Project
<br />study area include the Black Rock Valley and the Cold Creek Valley.
<br />Yakima Ridge stretches along the southern end of the Project study area and the south border of the
<br />JBLM YTC. Umtanum Ridge borders the south side of the Columbia River south of Priest Rapids Dam
<br />into Hanford Reach National Monument and Hanford Reach section of the river. The Rattlesnake Hills
<br />occur on the southern boundary of the Project study area, with Black Rock Valley bordering its north
<br />side. Selah Valley occurs along the Yakima River generally north of Pomona Heights Substation north
<br />and east of Selah. The Wahluke Slope occurs east and northeast of the Priest Rapids Dam and south of the
<br />Saddle Mountains, located on the north end of the Project study area. The Wahluke Slope is a major
<br />agricultural area in the region. The uplands of the JBLM YTC, Yakima Ridge, Umtanum Ridge, Saddle
<br />Mountains, and other higher elevation “steppe” areas are dominated by sagebrush, dryland grasses, and
<br />rocky basalt rock outcroppings.
<br />Most of the valleys are dominated by agricultural development in the form of orchards (e.g., apple,
<br />cherry, and pear), hop yards, vineyards, mint, corn, wheat, and other crops. A portion of the undeveloped
<br />arid steppe grasslands are used for grazing. Major and minor urbanized areas include Selah, Yakima,
<br />Moxee City, Desert Aire, and Mattawa. Smaller developed areas include Schwana, Beverly, and
<br />Wanapum Village. Much of the developed area is characterized by low density residential farmland or
<br />lots. Much of the Project study area is also industrialized with hydroelectric dams, high voltage
<br />transmission line corridors, and associated infrastructure (e.g., Vantage Substation, Midway Substation,
<br />Pomona Heights Substation, Bonneville Power Administration [BPA] and Pacific Power transmission
<br />corridors). Major travel routes include I-82, U.S. Highway 12, and SR-24, SR-243, and SR-821. The old
<br />C, M, SP, & P Railroad corridor is located on the south and west side of the Columbia River adjacent to
<br />the JBLM YTC and across the north end of the Project study area through Beverly. Views of the distant
<br />Cascade Mountains (i.e., Mount Rainier and Mount Adams) often occur from residences, recreation areas,
<br />and travel corridors.
<br />Agricultural development occurs in three primary areas: around Selah, in Grant County, and within
<br />Badger Pocket. Grazing occurs across much of the public and private land outside of JBLM YTC. Most
<br />of the developed area in the vicinity of the Project is characterized by transportation corridors, moderate
<br />density residential lots, and the developed areas of JBLM YTC cantonment area. The basalt cliffs along
<br />Yakima and Columbia river corridors, Selah Cliffs area, and elsewhere provide visual interest in the
<br />Project study area. The riparian valleys of Selah Creek, Burbank Creek, Lmuma Creek, Cold Creek,
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