Draft EIS/EIR for the San Luis Reservoir SRA Resource ...

5. Environmental Analysis
Emissions effects would vary by alternative as follows:
• Alternative 1, No Action/No Project, would not construct any additional
features or facilities in the Plan Area that would accommodate or support
increased visitor use. Continued visitation and motorized vehicle and
vessel use could have minor adverse effects to air quality, but to a lesser
degree than the action alternatives. Airborne emissions such as VOC,
NO x , and CO from continued use of nonconformant two-stroke engines
with Alternative 1 would have minor adverse impacts on air quality, which
would be greater than with the action alternatives.
• Alternative 2 proposes the fewest additional features and facilities of the
three action alternatives. A minor increase in visitors and motorized
vehicle travel to, from, and in the Plan Area could result from expanding
the group picnic facilities at San Luis Creek Use Area and the campground
at Los Banos Creek Use Area, as well as adding up to 30 tent sites at the
northwestern shoreline of San Luis Creek Use Area. Some increase in
boating could occur from expanding the boat launch at Dinosaur Point Use
Area or reopening/relocating the boat launch at Medeiros Use Area. Any
addition in motorized vessel use would be offset by the three-year
phaseout of nonconformant two-stroke engines that Alternative 2 and the
other action alternatives would impose. The phaseout of nonconformant
engines will reduce VOC, NO x , and CO emissions. Since VOC and NOx
are precursors to ozone formation, the phaseout will also reduce ozone
creation. Overall, Alternative 2 could result in minor adverse effects to air
quality that are greater than Alternative 1 but less than Alternatives 3 and
4.
• Alternative 3 proposes many of the same expanded or additional facilities
as Alternative 2, along with the three-year phaseout of nonconformant
two-stroke engines, but includes features to accommodate a greater
number of visitors. This alternative would allow for several new campsites
and other facilities at Basalt, San Luis Creek, Medeiros, and Los Banos
Creek use areas. Alternative 3 would allow for potential expansion of the
OHV Use Area if new property becomes available, although any related
increase in emissions would be minimized with continuation of seasonal
restrictions on Red Sticker OHV use (Section 2.5.1.2). WROS
designations for Alternative 3 would not result in any increases in boat
density. Minor adverse air quality impacts from Alternative 3 would be
greater than from Alternatives 1 and 2.
• Alternative 4 would allow for many of the same expanded or additional
facilities as Alternative 3 but provides for a greater number of overnight
and day use facilities. It also includes a separate launch area for personal
watercraft at San Luis Creek Use Area and construction of a professional
motocross track at the OHV Use Area. By providing the largest increase in
facilities to accommodate additional visitors and motorized vehicle and
vessel use, Alternative 4 could result in minor adverse air quality impacts
that are greater than the other alternatives. In addition, WROS
designations for Alternative 4 (Map 11) would allow for increases in boat
5-20 San Luis Reservoir SRA
Draft RMP/GP and Draft EIS/EIR