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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-152 segments above (Section 4.5.3) for potential recreation impacts on Route Segment 2d. Low impacts are expected for this route segment. 4.5.4.8 Route Segment 3a No impacts on recreational resources would occur for Route Segment 3a because this short segment is located in a utility corridor not used for recreation. 4.5.4.9 Route Segment 3b Impacts would potentially occur to recreation resources as a result of constructing, operating, and maintaining the Project. These impacts would occur on recreationists using the Columbia River corridor, Priest Rapids Reservoir, and the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. The highest impacts would be related to the visual experience of users and are covered in Section 4.8 Visual Resources. However, recreation resources associated with the John Wayne Pioneer Trail may be directly impacted in the long-term if the Project displaces or converts a portion of the trail to non-recreation uses. Potential impacts would occur where the Project parallels and crosses the John Wayne Pioneer Trail between mile posts (MP) 17.3 and 19.0, where the Project would potentially conflict with the use of the trail. Short-term impacts related to the closure of the trail during construction may potentially affect trail users. Overall, high impacts would result from trail conversion to non-recreational uses. The existing ROW for the trail (railroad corridor), where the Project would be located within this corridor, is 200 feet. High impacts are expected for 1.7 mile, low impacts for 0.6 mile, and no impacts are expected for 19.4 miles of this route segment. 4.5.4.10 Route Segment 3c Potential impacts on open off-highway vehicles (OHV) areas of the Saddle Mountains Management Area (MA), the Saddle Mountains Private Hang Gliding Area, Beverly Sand Dunes OHV Area, and Burkett Lake Recreation Area would occur. Indirect impacts related to the road closures, restricted access and the visual effects of the transmission line (see Section 4.8 Visual Resources) would potentially occur. Impacts on OHV users in the Saddle Mountains MA would be low because riding areas are abundant and would remain. OHV users would be able to easily avoid the transmission line structures. Use may increase in these areas due to access established as a result of transmission line access road construction and areas that might otherwise be difficult to traverse would be accessible. Other activities occurring in the Saddle Mountains MA, such as petrified wood collecting, hunting, horseback riding, and mountain bike riding would be impacted at a low level and could continue as they currently occur. Access to the Saddle Mountains Private Hang Gliding Area may be restricted during construction, causing short-term impacts on the site. Long-term impacts related to the alteration of gliding and landing patterns would also potentially occur. Gliders land in the Beverly Sand Dunes area in the Lower Crab Creek Valley below and would likely alter their gliding and landing location due to the presence of the transmission line, causing low impacts due to minor dispersed activity displacement. As described in Section 4.3, waterfowl injury and mortality could occur as a result of the Project, which may disrupt hunting activities if the Project affects waterfowl use and potential hunting activities of the Lower Crab Creek area. However, there is very limited open water along Lower Crab Creek in the Project area and hunting generally is prohibited or would conflict with the other recreational activities occurring in the area (Beverly Sand Dunes OHV Park, Burkett Lake Recreation Area, John Wayne/Milwaukee Road Trail, etc.). In addition, there are four existing transmission lines traversing the Lower Crab Creek area between the proposed Project and Priest Rapids Lake, where most of the wetlands and open water used by waterfowl occurs. Therefore, the Project is not expected to reduce waterfowl use of the area. Crab Creek Corridor/Burkett Lake Recreation Area and Beverly Sand Dunes OHV Park impacts would be related to ground disturbing activities occurring in close proximity to the recreation areas. This route