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While scarcity of resources may imply worthiness for protection, in visual resources, scarcity may serve as either a value worthy of preserving or, in some circumstances, exhibit rare opportunities for development. Therefore, it is critical to review the scarcity of each visual value independently and then in combination to best understand the opportunities and constraints on development or regional mitigation. 2.3.1 Scenic Quality Scarcity Scenic quality scarcity should be evaluated from two perspectives. First, note the scoring on the “Scenic Quality Field Inventory” BLM Form 8400-1, in which scarcity of scenic landscape features is documented. The second involves evaluating the level of scarcity within the full range of scenic quality values inventoried for the region. 2.3.1.1 Scarcity Value within the Scenic Quality Evaluation of the Visual Resource Inventory When inventorying visual resources, scarcity is one of the seven key evaluation factors considered in the scenic quality evaluation (see Figure 4). The “scarcity factor” ranges in score from “1” for common landscapes to “5” or more for landscapes identified as “one of a kind,” “unusually memorable,” or “very rare”. A score of 5 and above, and in some circumstances 4, should be considered scarce and should justify onsite preservation or potential regional mitigation (i.e., mitigation locations outside the area of impact). 2.3.1.2 Scarcity of Scenic Quality Values A, B, and C Apart from the scenic quality rating unit scarcity score, a closer examination of individual visual resource value (A, B, and C) acreages and distribution can also provide insight on overall scarcity. The quantity and distribution of Scenic Quality A, B, and C acreages should be assessed and carefully examined. The distribution of these scenic quality classes within the Mojave Desert ecoregion is as follows: 1. Scenic Quality A: 653,808 acres (6.7%) 2. Scenic Quality B: 4,871,253 acres (49.7%) 3. Scenic Quality C: 4,268,449 acres (43.6%) Figure 4: Example - Southern Nevada District visual resource inventory scenic quality scarcity rating map. 66 • REGIONAL MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR THE DRY LAKE SOLAR ENERGY ZONE • TECHNICAL NOTE 444
This distribution indicates that Scenic Quality A is scarce across the Mojave Desert ecoregion, whereas Scenic Qualities B and C are abundant. The Dry Lake SEZ is located within an area assigned a Scenic Quality C value, which indicates scarcity as a nonissue at a local and regional scale. 2.3.2 Public Sensitivity Scarcity The Mojave Desert ecogregion public sensitivity values are: 1. High Sensitivity: 5,840,690 acres (60%) 2. Medium Sensitivity: 2,239,061 acres (23%) 3. Low Sensitivity: 1,713,510 acres (17%) The majority of the region is assigned a high public sensitivity rating in the VRI, including the location of the Dry Lake SEZ. While not scarce, this outcome indicates that the general public has a high regard for the scenic resources within these areas and that careful consideration should be given to the how solar development is visually integrated with the surrounding landscape character. 2.3.3 Distance Zone Scarcity The Mojave Desert ecoregion distance zone values are: 1. Foreground/Middle-Ground 7,394,810 acres (76%) 2. Background: 633,769 acres (6%) 3. Seldom Seen: 1,764,931 acres (18%) The Dry Lake SEZ is located within the Foreground/Middle- Ground zone, which contains a large majority of the BLM landscape within the ecoregion. While scarcity is not a factor in respect to the distance zone, SEZ development will be within the Foreground/ Middle-Ground and within close view of the public where the noticeability of visual change is highest and the visual contrasts are typically greatest. Attention should also be drawn to the less abundant distance zones of Background and Seldom Seen landscapes. The spatial distribution of these backcountry settings may indicate a scarcity of more significance, especially when paired up with the other high visual values such as Medium to High Sensitivity and Scenic Qualities A and B. 2.3.4 Dry Lake Visual Resource Inventory Class Scarcity VRI Classes are determined through overlaying the three inventoried values (scenic quality, sensitivity, and distance zones). The combination of the individual values assigns VRI Class II, III, or IV. The VRI Class assignments are derived from the VRI Class Matrix where the point of intersection between the three values determines the VRI Class (see Figure 5 and SRMS Tech Reference, Appendix F, for a complete explanation). There are 21 possible combinations between the three visual values. The acreage and percent of the SEZ acreage can be determined for each of the 21 combinations of scenic quality/ sensitivity/distance zones to diagrammatically illustrate their relative commonality or scarcity within the ecoregion. Approximately 90% of the Dry Lake SEZ is inventoried as a VRI Class III, while the other 10% is VRI Class IV. The visual resource values present within the VRI Class III boundaries of the Dry Lake SEZ include Scenic Quality C, High Sensitivity, and Foreground/Middle- Ground Distance Zone (Figure 5). This particular combination of values covers 21% of the BLM acreage within the Mojave Desert ecoregion. Out of 21 possible combinations, this specific layering of values ranks as the second most abundant behind Scenic Quality B, High Sensitivity, Foreground/ Middle-Ground. This outcome indicates that the Dry Lake SEZ is located within an area that has common visual values; however, it should be noted that even though the SEZ contains common visual values, there remains high public sensitivity within the highly visible foreground. Consideration for the public sensitivity to visual change within the foreground should remain a factor when making final decisions on whether visual impacts may warrant regional mitigation. The other approximately 10% of the Dry Lake SEZ that was inventoried as VRI Class IV includes Scenic Quality C, Medium Sensitivity, and Foreground/Middle- Ground and represents 8% of the BLM acreage within the Mojave Desert Ecoregion. REGIONAL MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR THE DRY LAKE SOLAR ENERGY ZONE • TECHNICAL NOTE 444 • 67
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Regional Mitigation Strategy for th
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Regional Mitigation Strategy for th
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT_________
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The “Regional Mitigation Strategy
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1.2 Background I n 2012, the BLM an
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1.4 Stakeholder Involvement in the
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Range. A full description of the la
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plant communities of regional impor
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Figure 2-4. Dry Lake Solar Energy Z
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Figure 2-6. Land cover types in the
Page 21 and 22: Geospatial Data 1. Landscape Condit
Page 23 and 24: Table 2-3 (continued). Solar Energy
Page 25 and 26: 2.3 Summary of Solar Development Im
Page 27 and 28: 2.4.2 Minimization 2.4.2.1 Summary
Page 29 and 30: documented (see Appendix A, Impact
Page 31 and 32: • Manage desert tortoise habitat
Page 33 and 34: Step 1: Select Mitigation Action(s)
Page 35 and 36: 2.8 Evaluation of Mitigation Locati
Page 37 and 38: Figure 2-10. Gold Butte Area of Cri
Page 39 and 40: Mitigation Goals and Tasks Reason W
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Page 43 and 44: (MacKinnon et al. 2011) and supplem
Page 45 and 46: are evaluated. These data are also
Page 47 and 48: Remote sensing technologies provide
Page 49 and 50: 2.10 Implementation Strategy This p
Page 51 and 52: References BLM (Bureau of Land Mana
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Page 57 and 58: Appendix B: Regional and Dry Lake S
Page 59 and 60: Tier 3 Conceptual Model, Dry Lake S
Page 61 and 62: Resource/ Issue Unavoidable Impacts
Page 63 and 64: Appendix D: BLM Screening of Candid
Page 65 and 66: # Criteria SEZ Candidate Sites Note
Page 67 and 68: # Criteria SEZ Candidate Sites Note
Page 69 and 70: Appendix E: Mitigation of Visual Re
Page 71: The Dry Lake SEZ is located within
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Page 77 and 78: Figure 7. BLM Southern Nevada Distr
Page 79 and 80: Sensitivity. Distribution of sensit
Page 81 and 82: VRM Class Objectives: The majority
Page 83: Desert National Wildlife Refuge, th
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