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Table 3.12-1. Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class Objectives Table 3.13-1. City of Rawlins, Carbon County, and State of Wyoming Population Data (2010 & 2020)......................................................................................................371
Table 3.12-1. Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class Objectives
Class Objective
Class I Preserve the existing character of the landscape. Changes to the landscape character should be very low and must not attract attention.
Class II Retain the existing character of the landscape. Changes to the landscape character should not attract the attention of a casual observer. Changes must repeat the basic elements of form, line, color, and texture found in the predominant natural features of the landscape. The level of change should be low.
Class III Partially retain the existing character of the landscape. Changes to the landscape character may attract attention but should not dominate the view of the casual observer. The level of change can be moderate.
Class IV Allow for activities that modify the existing character of the landscape. Changes to the landscape character may dominate the view and be the major focus of viewer attention. However, these activities should minimize changes to the landscape where possible. The level of change can be high. Source: BLM 1986.
The Carbon County Land Use Plan demonstrates the importance of natural landscapes in the area with Land Use Goal 3 which states “Sustain scenic areas, wildlife habitat, and other important open spaces.” (Carbon County 2012). The Carbon County Natural Resource Management Plan establishes policies regarding the use and management of federal lands in local governments’ jurisdictions and can influence the development and implementation of federal policies, programs, and decision-making that may affect local communities (Carbon County 2021). Overall, Carbon County is supportive of the renewable energy opportunities within the County including wind, hydroelectric, and solar. The County’s zoning regulations specifically discuss commercial-scale energy facilities to ensure that these types of facilities: 1) are placed in the appropriate locations and potential negative impacts are mitigated, 2) provide minimum design and development standards, and 3) provide a consistent standard to ensure development.
3.12.1 Affected Aesthetic Environment
The proposed Project will be located within the Seminoe Mountains on the North Platte River; this area is recognized for its aesthetics (Carbon County undated-a). The Seminoe Mountains have a peak elevation of 7,421 feet above msl (WSGS 2013). The canyons and forested ridges of the Seminoe Mountains produce a striking visual contrast with the rolling high desert grasslands and dunes in the study area, which are typical of the Wyoming Basin. The south slope of the Seminoe Mountains forms a distinct edge against the lowerrelief, rolling terrain to the south and also with the large, flat surface of Seminoe Reservoir.
There are numerous modifications to the natural environment such as reservoirs, dams, roads, camping areas, established recreational facilities, and transmission lines that are visible in the study area. Seminoe Reservoir is the most visible modification, which adds an element of visual interest to the typical grassland landscape and provides a recreational
attraction drawing many more viewers to the area than would otherwise be expected in this rural area.
Most lands within the Footprint of Potential Disturbance are managed by the BLM. The objective of the RFO RMP is to implement multiple use activities within the planning area with mitigation measures consistent with the visual resource management classes.
Based on the RFO Visual Resource Inventory (BLM 2011), the study area is within VRI Class Objectives: Class II, Class III, and Class IV (see Appendix K). The upper reservoir and access bridge will be located within a Class II area. Most of the Project access roads will be located within Class II lands, with some access roads within Class III lands. The lower intake structure will be located within a Class II area. The transmission line will cross through Class II, Class III, and Class IV lands. There are no designated Class I areas within the Footprint of Potential Disturbance. According to correspondence with the BLM RFO (personal communication, December 5, 2019), most of the Project is located within VRM Class II.
Visual and Aesthetic Resources Study
Black Canyon performed a visual and aesthetic resources study in 2021 and 2022 to document visual resource conditions relating to proposed Project facilities and confirm consistency with relevant agency visual and aesthetic resource goals, standards, guidelines, recommendations, objectives, and desired conditions. The 2021 and 2022 Visual and Aesthetic Resources Study report is included in Appendix K.
The Visual and Aesthetic Resources Study area was defined as all lands anticipated to be affected by Project construction and operation, and areas within a 1-, 5-, 10-, and 15-mile buffer surrounding the Footprint of Potential Disturbance (HDR 2022i). Using GIS, the viewshed study assessed site terrain data to achieve the following goals:
• Establish baseline conditions for visibility using a binary (visible/not visible) technique; • Qualify or disqualify potential Key Observation Points (KOPs); and • Cross-validate two-dimensional photo-simulations or other deliverables that are byproduct derivatives of the analysis.
From the results of the viewshed analysis, KOPs were reviewed and identified where potential visual impacts may occur. KOPs are intended to represent views from publicly accessible locations such as improved roads and developed recreation areas.
Black Canyon identified five representative KOPs for critical viewing locations of the proposed Project facilities. Using these KOPs, photo-simulations of the proposed Project facilities were developed. The visual conditions and scenic integrity of the photosimulations were assessed in terms of form, line, color, and texture, as well as proximity, extent, duration, and aspect of viewing. The Visual and Aesthetic Resources Study Report described the impacts to the existing visual quality by analyzing and explaining if changes to the visual resources of the natural environments were compatible or incompatible with existing visual resources by land type.
The study report also analyzed if the existing visual condition was compatible with the Scenic Integrity Objectives (i.e., high, moderate, low, or very low) for the area on BLMowned land. Black Canyon has determined the degree of impact of Project facilities and whether the impact is adverse, beneficial, or neutral. On BLM lands, Black Canyon has determined the scenic integrity level using the scenic integrity scale (i.e., very high, high, moderate, low, very low, and unacceptably low).
Following the guidance of statutory requirements created by the BLM, Black Canyon analyzed proposed changes to visual resources utilizing the Visual Resource Management (VRM) program. The VRM program establishes a quantitative protocol for inventorying, planning, and managing the qualities of visual resources on public lands. The VRM classes describe the limits of allowable visual change to the characteristic landscape. Proposed management activities must comply with the VRM classes. Black Canyon has also identified any potential modifications to the Project facilities to comply with existing visual setting and direction.
3.12.2 Direct and Indirect Environmental Effects – Aesthetic Resources
This section presents information available at this time regarding potential direct and indirect effects of the proposed Project on aesthetic resources.
3.12.2.1 Key Observation Points (KOPs)
As described above, KOPs were identified to better understand existing conditions and potential viewer experience. KOPs were selected using the Project viewshed analysis and included input from stakeholders and agencies during Study Plan development. Because it is not feasible to analyze all views of the Project, five KOPs were selected to provide representative views of existing conditions and depict potential changes from the Project. KOP selection focused on the most well-used locations with views of the Project, such as Seminoe State Park and viewpoints along Seminoe Road. The selected KOPs are shown in Figure 3.12-1 and described below. A photograph from each KOP is included in Appendix K.
KOP 1 is located off Seminoe Road at an established viewpoint overlooking Seminoe Dam and Reservoir. This KOP is approximately 0.3 mile south of the proposed new bridge. Seminoe Road is a designated scenic byway, also known as the Seminoe to Alcova Backcountry Byway. From this elevated viewpoint, unobstructed foreground views of the Seminoe Mountains and Seminoe Dam and Reservoir are present. The view represented by this KOP is typical of the visual experience traveling north along the scenic byway through Seminoe State Park. Seminoe Reservoir, Seminoe Dam, Seminoe Tailrace, access roads, and recreational fishing areas are visible. KOP 1 is within a Class II VRM. Viewer groups include travelers, recreationists, residents, and workers.
3.12.2.3 KOP 2: Seminoe State Park, North Red Hills
KOP 2 is located at the North Red Hills Campground in Seminoe State Park, approximately 0.8 mile southwest of the Footprint of Potential Disturbance. This location is a well-used
recreational area and was selected to be representative of the recreational user experience in Seminoe State Park. From this low elevation position across Seminoe Reservoir, unobstructed foreground and middleground views of the Project, Seminoe Mountains, reservoir, and surrounding grasslands are present. The view represented by this KOP is typical of established recreational areas along Seminoe Reservoir. KOP 2 is within a Class II VRM. Viewer groups include travelers, recreationists, and workers.
3.12.2.4 KOP 3: Seminoe Reservoir Viewpoint
KOP 3 is located off Seminoe Road, at an established viewpoint overlooking Seminoe Reservoir. This KOP is approximately 0.6 mile south/southeast of the Footprint of Potential Disturbance. Seminoe Road is a designated scenic byway, also known as the Seminoe to Alcova Backcountry Byway. From this elevated viewpoint, foreground views of the Seminoe Mountains, Seminoe Reservoir, and access roads are present. Due to the topography, views of Seminoe Dam are obscured. The view represented by this KOP is typical of the visual experience traveling north along the scenic byway through Seminoe State Park. KOP 3 is within a Class II VRM. Viewer groups include travelers, recreationists, residents, and workers.
3.12.2.5 KOP 4: Seminoe Tailrace
KOP 4 is located at the Seminoe Tailrace, at the upstream extent of the Kortes Reservoir, and is approximately 300 feet south of the Footprint of Potential Disturbance. The site is primarily used for shore angling along the North Platte River near the tailrace of Seminoe Dam. From this position of relatively low elevation, foreground views of the Project, North Platte River, and surrounding mountains are present. This location is a well-used recreational (angling) area and was selected to be representative of the recreational user experience along the North Platte River. KOP 4 is within a Class II VRM. Viewer groups include recreationists, anglers, and workers.
3.12.2.6 KOP 5: Bennett Mountains WSA
KOP 5 is located in the Bennett Mountains WSA, at the western edge, and is approximately 555 feet east of the Footprint of Potential Disturbance. The WSA is a destination for scenic vistas, quiet landscapes, and numerous recreational opportunities, such as hiking and exploration, photography, horseback riding, dispersed camping, antler collecting, hunting, bird watching, and rock climbing. From this elevated viewpoint, unobstructed foreground views of the Project, Seminoe Mountains, surrounding mountains and surrounding desert grasslands and dunes are present. The view represented by this KOP is typical of the visual experience of the WSA. KOP 5 is within a Class II VRM. Viewer groups include recreationists and workers.
