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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-192 SQRU ID NUMBER DESCRIPTION SCENIC QUALITY RATING 1 IOP 05_26v This unit includes flat, sagebrush dominated, undeveloped land in the context of highly modified agricultural and industrial landscapes along the Columbia River. The unit is bordered by a steep bench transitioning to the Wahluke Slope to the north and by the Umtanum Ridge and Columbia River to the south. Cultural modifications a prevalent but not dominant, are not orderly or visually cohesive, and generally detract from the simple, natural, regionally common landscape. C D 06_25v Inferred from BLM VRI and similar regional landscapes (see Table 3.8-1, Unit 25). C None 07_64v Landscape is bounded by BLM Unit 64 and the Saddle Mountains to the south and includes the Lower Crab Creek corridor. The variable vegetation forms and colors of the corridor coupled with the dramatic slopes of the Saddle Mountains provide visual interest. Cultural modifications, such as the transmission lines, radio towers, canals, roads, and other engineered features somewhat detract from the dominant natural features provided by Nunnally Lake/Lower Crab Creek Wildlife Area and the riparian corridor. The slopes of the adjacent mountain reinforce and contribute to the overall visual quality of the landscape. C E 08_26v Inferred from BLM VRI and similar regional landscapes (see Table 3.8-1, Unit 26). B None 09_26v Landscape is bounded by BLM Unit 64 and the Saddle Mountains to the south and includes the Lower Crab Creek corridor. The variable vegetation forms and colors of the corridor coupled with the dramatic slopes of the Saddle Mountains provide visual interest. Cultural modifications, such as the transmission lines, radio towers, canals, roads and other engineered features somewhat detract from the dominant natural features provided by Nunnally Lake/Lower Crab Creek Wildlife Area and the riparian corridor. The slopes of the adjacent mountain reinforce and contribute to the overall visual quality of the landscape. B F 01_27v This unit is associated with BLM Unit 27 located to the north (not in Project study area) and is located along the Manastash Ridge. It is characterized by undulating, rolling hills, and contains some rock outcrops and formations adding interest to the generally uniform slopes, but it is common to the region. Developed features that detract from the natural landscape are linear features associated with the I-82 corridor, JBLM YTC roads, and existing transmission lines. C G 02_27v This unit is associated with BLM Unit 27 located to the north (not in Project study area) and includes the western part of the Saddle Mountains. It is also characterized by undulating, rolling hills, with interesting erosional patterns and ephemeral drainages and draws, and contains rock outcrops and formations adding interest to the generally uniform slopes, but it is common to the region. Developed features that detract from the natural landscape are linear features associated with JBLM YTC roads and existing transmission lines. C H 1 See Appendix C - Visual Resources Supporting Data Developed landscapes were not evaluated for scenic quality because scenic quality evaluations focus on natural landscape features which are often subordinate or absent from developed landscapes. In order to characterize heavily modified landscapes, “Development Character Areas” were identified. The dominating features of form, line, color, and texture of the human dominated landscape is characterized to compare with the Project activities to determine compatibility or contrast with the architectural or development patterns that exist in the developed landscape. Development Character Areas typically fall into land use/land cover categories with similar visual attributes, each with similar visual patterns (e.g., architectural form, building arrangement, visual density, and complexity) that dominate or supplant the natural landscape. The general Development Character Areas identified for the Project fall into the following categories: