xs7hy9e06w?redirect_to=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/blm_library/tech_notes.Par.29872.File.dat/TN_444
xs7hy9e06w?redirect_to=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/blm_library/tech_notes.Par.29872.File.dat/TN_444
xs7hy9e06w?redirect_to=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/blm_library/tech_notes.Par.29872.File.dat/TN_444
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
This distribution indicates that<br />
Scenic Quality A is scarce across<br />
the Mojave Desert ecoregion,<br />
whereas Scenic Qualities B and C<br />
are abundant. The Dry Lake SEZ<br />
is located within an area assigned<br />
a Scenic Quality C value, which<br />
indicates scarcity as a nonissue at a<br />
local and regional scale.<br />
2.3.2 Public Sensitivity Scarcity<br />
The Mojave Desert ecogregion<br />
public sensitivity values are:<br />
1. High Sensitivity:<br />
5,840,690 acres (60%)<br />
2. Medium Sensitivity:<br />
2,239,061 acres (23%)<br />
3. Low Sensitivity:<br />
1,713,510 acres (17%)<br />
The majority of the region is<br />
assigned a high public sensitivity<br />
rating in the VRI, including the<br />
location of the Dry Lake SEZ. While<br />
not scarce, this outcome indicates<br />
that the general public has a high<br />
regard for the scenic resources<br />
within these areas and that careful<br />
consideration should be given<br />
to the how solar development<br />
is visually integrated with the<br />
surrounding landscape character.<br />
2.3.3 Distance Zone Scarcity<br />
The Mojave Desert ecoregion<br />
distance zone values are:<br />
1. Foreground/Middle-Ground<br />
7,394,810 acres (76%)<br />
2. Background:<br />
633,769 acres (6%)<br />
3. Seldom Seen:<br />
1,764,931 acres (18%)<br />
The Dry Lake SEZ is located<br />
within the Foreground/Middle-<br />
Ground zone, which contains a<br />
large majority of the BLM landscape<br />
within the ecoregion. While scarcity<br />
is not a factor in respect to the<br />
distance zone, SEZ development<br />
will be within the Foreground/<br />
Middle-Ground and within close<br />
view of the public where the<br />
noticeability of visual change is<br />
highest and the visual contrasts are<br />
typically greatest.<br />
Attention should also be drawn<br />
to the less abundant distance zones<br />
of Background and Seldom Seen<br />
landscapes. The spatial distribution<br />
of these backcountry settings<br />
may indicate a scarcity of more<br />
significance, especially when paired<br />
up with the other high visual values<br />
such as Medium to High Sensitivity<br />
and Scenic Qualities A and B.<br />
2.3.4 Dry Lake Visual Resource<br />
Inventory Class Scarcity<br />
VRI Classes are determined<br />
through overlaying the three<br />
inventoried values (scenic quality,<br />
sensitivity, and distance zones).<br />
The combination of the individual<br />
values assigns VRI Class II, III, or<br />
IV. The VRI Class assignments are<br />
derived from the VRI Class Matrix<br />
where the point of intersection<br />
between the three values<br />
determines the VRI Class (see<br />
Figure 5 and SRMS Tech Reference,<br />
Appendix F, for a complete<br />
explanation).<br />
There are 21 possible<br />
combinations between the three<br />
visual values. The acreage and<br />
percent of the SEZ acreage can<br />
be determined for each of the 21<br />
combinations of scenic quality/<br />
sensitivity/distance zones to<br />
diagrammatically illustrate their<br />
relative commonality or scarcity<br />
within the ecoregion.<br />
Approximately 90% of the<br />
Dry Lake SEZ is inventoried as a<br />
VRI Class III, while the other 10%<br />
is VRI Class IV. The visual resource<br />
values present within the VRI Class<br />
III boundaries of the Dry Lake SEZ<br />
include Scenic Quality C, High<br />
Sensitivity, and Foreground/Middle-<br />
Ground Distance Zone (Figure<br />
5). This particular combination<br />
of values covers 21% of the BLM<br />
acreage within the Mojave Desert<br />
ecoregion. Out of 21 possible<br />
combinations, this specific layering<br />
of values ranks as the second most<br />
abundant behind Scenic Quality<br />
B, High Sensitivity, Foreground/<br />
Middle-Ground. This outcome<br />
indicates that the Dry Lake SEZ<br />
is located within an area that has<br />
common visual values; however, it<br />
should be noted that even though<br />
the SEZ contains common visual<br />
values, there remains high public<br />
sensitivity within the highly visible<br />
foreground. Consideration for the<br />
public sensitivity to visual change<br />
within the foreground should<br />
remain a factor when making final<br />
decisions on whether visual impacts<br />
may warrant regional mitigation.<br />
The other approximately<br />
10% of the Dry Lake SEZ that<br />
was inventoried as VRI Class IV<br />
includes Scenic Quality C, Medium<br />
Sensitivity, and Foreground/Middle-<br />
Ground and represents 8% of the<br />
BLM acreage within the Mojave<br />
Desert Ecoregion.<br />
REGIONAL MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR THE DRY LAKE SOLAR ENERGY ZONE • TECHNICAL NOTE <strong>444</strong> • 67