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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 <br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment <br /> PAGE 3-210 <br />Steep drainages within the Saddle Mountains that have eroded cliffs and ribbons of more variable <br />vegetation deviates from the dominant sagebrush slopes. The development character is dominated by <br />vertical, industrial structures expressed by the existing steel lattice and wood H-frame structures of Wind <br />Ridge-Wanapum 230 kV, Schultz-Wautoma 500 kV, and Schultz-Vantage 500 kV transmission line <br />corridor. <br />Sensitive viewers are limited to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail (Iron Horse Trail), which parallels the <br />route segment within the immediate foreground and foreground on the west and the middleground on the <br />east, generally (KOP 21 - John Wayne Trail). Ginkgo Petrified Forest NNL (Wanapum State Park boat <br />launch) is located in the in the seldom seen distance zone within the Project study area and views are <br />typically screened by topography. <br />The existing transmission lines currently in the Project viewshed dominate the visual context of NNR-7. <br />Two-track trails and transmission line service roads are the most significant modifiers of the landscape in <br />this area. <br />3.8.4.17 Route Segment NNR-8 <br />Route Segment NNR-8 shares the same alignment with Route Segment 3b where the line crosses the <br />Columbia River on its extreme north end. This route segment crosses the Columbia River just south of the <br />Wanapum Dam in an Industrial/Utility Development Character Area adjacent to four other transmission <br />lines of various voltages (230 to 500 kV). The route segment also crosses BLM land and Huntington <br />Road on the west side of the Columbia River in a largely undeveloped Class B Scenic Quality landscape. <br />Interim VRM Class III land is crossed by this route segment. Route Segment NNR-8 also crosses BLM <br />VRI Class IV lands as identified by the 2010 study. <br />Sensitive viewers associated with this route segment include recreationists using the John Wayne Pioneer <br />Trail and associated facilities who would view the route segment in the immediate foreground, as well as <br />Huntzinger Road travelers and residences associated with Wanapum Village. The route segment would <br />also be potentially viewed in the background by recreationists using the Huntzinger Boat Launch, Priest <br />Rapids Recreation Trail, Desert Air Dock, Priest Rapids Dock, and dispersed users of Priest Rapids <br />Reservoir-Columbia River. Travelers using SR-243 would also potentially view the route segment in the <br />immediate foreground distance zone where the line would cross the highway. Ginkgo Petrified Forest <br />NNL (Wanapum State Park boat launch) is located in the seldom seen distance zone within the Project <br />study area. Route Segment NNR-8 also crosses a moderate BLM sensitivity level rating unit as identified <br />by the 2010 study. <br />The visual context of this Route Segment NNR-8 is dominated by the industrial features of the Wanapum <br />Dam, existing transmission lines, and Vantage Substation along its entire route. <br />3.8.4.18 Route Segment MR-1 <br />Landscape character along this route segment is similar to Route Segments NNR-3 and NNR-4, with <br />relatively undeveloped, rolling sagebrush steppe, and the I-82 transportation corridor and associated <br />Manastash Ridge (MR) Viewpoints. Several stream corridors that are crossed have some rocky <br />outcropping and riparian vegetation which adds to visual interest. As with Route Segment NNR-5, the <br />landscape character in the vicinity of Route Segment MR-1 is expressed as an interface between the <br />largely undeveloped, rolling, sagebrush dominated landscape of the army base, and the rural, agricultural <br />landscape of Badger Pocket. Scenic Quality is Class C along this route segment. <br />Visual sensitivity is associated with Route Segment MR-1 is associated primarily with the MR <br />Viewpoints (east-bound and west-bound) that would have immediate foreground, foreground, and <br />middleground views of the route segment as it crosses the interstate. As with Route Segment NNR-3, this