Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

6.0 Alternatives to the Proposed Action
utilities (including water) would be required, fewer visitors would be subject to the inherent risks
of OHV recreation, and a smaller carbon footprint would be generated by the SVRA.
Because the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan includes many guidelines that would improve water
quality and erosion, and protect, preserve, and restore biological and geological resources, if the
No Project Alternative were chosen, many of these guidelines would not be implemented beyond
the requirements of laws and regulations.
6.2 Conservation Alternative
6.2.1 Description
If the Conservation Alternative were implemented instead of the proposed project, the areas of the
SVRA that include the greatest density of vernal pools would be designated as conservation areas.
No facilities would be built and OHV use would be precluded from these conservation areas.
Developed uses such as paved parking areas, paved access roads, OHV tracks, ATV tracks, MX
tracks, a trials play area, an obstacle course, internal roadways, and staging facilities including
restrooms and picnic areas could be placed throughout the remainder of the SVRA. A dedicated
Open OHV Recreation Area would not be designated, but Open OHV recreation could occur
throughout the SVRA in areas not occupied by developed facilities or designated as conservation
areas.. Goals and guidelines applicable to the Developed Use Area and Drainage Management Area
would be implemented as described in the General Plan, but goals and guidelines applicable to the
Open OHV Recreation Area would not be implemented.
The Larkin Road entrance to the site would be moved opposite the airport entrance road as
described for the proposed project. The headquarters facilities would be developed as described
in the General Plan and would include a headquarters building, a maintenance yard, an entrance
kiosk, and paved circulation roads. Fulltime staff would be on‐site during operating hours.
6.2.2 Evaluation
If the Conservation Alternative were implemented, impacts related to traffic, air quality, noise,
visual resources, cultural resources, public services, utilities, and climate change would remain
largely the same. Impacts to water quality, biological resources, and geological resources would be
different and would be reduced in some ways. Hazardous risks would increase.
Because the facilities envisioned in the General Plan also would be built under the Conservation
Alternative, the number of visitors to the SVRA would be expected to increase by the same
amount. Therefore, impacts to resources would occur in a similar fashion and to the same degree
as with the proposed project. Visual resources and cultural resources would be impacted
differently because facilities would likely be built in different locations, but this would not change
the degree of potential impact.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 6-5 February 2012