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

5. Environmental Analysis
and will be exposed to prescribed burns and vegetation management. Burning,
mowing and weed whacking, and pest eradication activities should occur
seasonally in the known prescribed burn areas. Residual impacts would be minor.
With implementation of these measures, residual minor impacts would likely
result in a finding of no adverse effect.
5.4.5 Scenic/Aesthetics
As described in Section 2.8, the Plan Area offers scenic qualities including
expansive vistas of rolling terrain and open water. In addition, SR 152 in the Plan
Area is a county- and state-designated scenic highway. Built structures and
operational facilities remind visitors of the Plan Area’s purpose of water storage
and distribution. The expansion of existing facilities and construction of new
facilities in the Plan Area could have the potential to reduce these scenic qualities.
The Plan includes scenic/aesthetic goals and guidelines to reduce or avoid impacts
to these resources.
5.4.5.1 Impact Summary
The following mechanism has the potential to affect scenic resources and
aesthetics in the Plan Area:
• Facilities expansion and construction.
• Climate change
5.4.5.2 Impact Criteria (Scenic/Aesthetics)
• Beneficial Impact: Impact that would occur if the visual quality or the
visual character of an existing viewshed improved as a result of a specific
Plan element or group of elements, or if a new viewshed was created.
There is no CEQA equivalent to a NEPA beneficial impact.
• No Impact: No detectable change in the quality or visual character of a
viewshed.
• Minor Adverse Impact: Impact that would occur if a specific element or
group of elements results in a decrease in the visual quality or visual
character of a viewshed. This impact would be minimal or temporary, but
detectable. A minor adverse impact is equivalent to a less-than-significant
impact under CEQA.
• Major Adverse Impact: Impact that would occur if a specific element or
group of elements results in a permanent, highly noticeable, and
substantial decrease in the visual quality or visual character of a viewshed.
A major adverse impact is equivalent to a significant impact under CEQA
and would result from one or more of the following:
− A substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista;
− Substantial damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to
trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings;
− Substantial degradation of the existing visual character or quality of
the site and its surroundings; or
- Creation of a new source of substantial light or glare that would
adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area.
5-46 San Luis Reservoir SRA
Draft RMP/GP and Draft EIS/EIR