Palen Solar Project, Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR/LUPA

Home , Chuckwalla Mountains, Coxcomb Mountains, Eagle Mountains, Palen Mountains

Palen Solar Project 4: Introduction

*Please refer to tables 4.1-1 Existing Projects t:J ROW Boundary Joshua Tree National Park and 4.1-2 for Existing and f.:··::r:::·I Wilderness Area Foreseeable Projects 0 /V C] ~ Section 368 Energy Corridors Figure 4.1-1 e r-----, Area of Critical Environmental Foreseeable Projects DRECP Development Focus Areas L___J Concern Cumulative Projects: 0 4 8 Bureau of Land Management Land Miles 0 ,,,,,; CJ National Landscape Existing and Foreseeable Conservation System Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR/LUPA Palen Solar Project 4.10-1: Paleontolo ical Resources

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D ROW Boundary Geologic Unit and Paleontological Sensitivity Figure 4.10-1 8 ( ~ Fenceline Qya/Qal; Class 5 - Low to High Sensitivity (increasing with depth) Paleontological Sensitivity of 0 0.5 1 - Qoa; Class 3 - Moderate Sensitivity Miles Project Area Geologic Units

Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR/LUPA Palen Solar PV Project 3.16: Transportation and Public Access

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Source: Owlshead GPS • / Off-Highway Vehicle Property Boundary Project, 2013 1 c:::::J " ' (OHV) Route 8 c:::::J Fenceline /'./ Gen-Tie Line Figure 4.12-1 BLM Land 0 0.25 0.5 Removed for OHV Road Miles Avoidance (29.3 ac.) Open Route Mitigation

June 2017 Palen Solar Project 4.14: Soil Resources

Zone Ill

Zone II

' ~~---....:.:.::___r=:JFRUOW Boundary .---·1 Sand TransPort Zone L._ ___J L nd CJ Reduced Footprint Bureau of a d Figure 4.14-1 E:223 Alternative . Management Lan 1 Miles ~AVOI·dance Alternative rt Zone and Alternatives San d Transpo I mental EIS/EIR/LUPA Draft Supp e Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

Proposed Gen-Tie Line

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LEGEND Palen Solar Project Proposed Project Boundary Key Observation Point (KOP) KOP Map Visual Resources --"119"------~ Proposed Gen-Tie Line - - Figure 4.18-1 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents the Existing View to the south-southeast from KOP 2 on State Route 177 in Palen Valley, approximately 8.0 KOP 2 Palen Solar Project miles north of the proposed Project site in Chuckwalla Valley. This view overlooks much of the central portions of the Palen and SR 177 Chuckwalla Valleys, which are topographically flat and sparsely vegetated. The Chuckwalla, Little Chuckwalla, and Mule mountains Visual Resources beyond provide distant features of visual interest. Existing View Figure 4.18-2A Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents a Visual Simulation of the proposed Project from KOP 2 on State Route 177 in Palen Valley, approximately 8.0 KOP 2 Palen Solar Project miles north of the proposed Project site in the central Chuckwalla Valley adjacent to and north of 1-10. From this distant vantage SR 177 point, viewing angle, and afternoon viewing time, the proposed facil ity would appear as a medium-gray streak along the distant Visual Resources valley floor near the base of the central mountain ranges. The gen-tie line would not be noticeable at this viewing distance. Visual Simulation Figure 4.18-28 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents the Existing View to the north-northeast from KOP 7 on Corn Springs Road near the northern boundary of KOP 7 Palen Solar Project the Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness, south of 1-1 O and approximately 1.5 miles south of the southwest corner of the proposed Corn Springs Road Project site. This view captures a central portion of Chuckwalla Valley and Palen Dry Lake, backdropped by the Palen Mountains Visual Resources (right center) and Coxcomb Mountains (left center). An existing utility corridor is prominently visible in the foreground of the view. Existing View Figure 4.18-3A Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents a Visual Simulation of the proposed Project from KOP 7 on Corn Springs Road near the northern boundary KOP 7 Palen Solar Project of the Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness, south of 1-1O and approximately 1.5 miles south of the southwest corner of the proposed Corn Springs Road Project site. From this vantage point and afternoon viewing time, the proposed tracking arrays would be facing west and would Visual Resources appear as a narrow dark streak along the valley floor. The eastern-most portion of the gen-tie line would also be slightly visible. Visual Simulation Figure 4.18-38 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents the Existing View to the east from KOP 8 on eastbound 1-10, approximately 0.5 mile west of the Corn Springs KOP 8 Palen Solar Project Road overpass. This view captures a portion of the central Chuckwalla Valley north of 1-1O and south of the Palen Mountains. While Eastbound 1-1 O Visual Resources much of the valley appears undeveloped, an existing solar project to the east is visible as a horizontal, light-gray feature along the valley floor (at the base of the mountains) at the far right of the image, backdropped by the more distant McCoy Mountains. Existing View Figure 4.18-4A Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents a Visual Simulation of the proposed Project from KOP 8 on eastbound 1-10, west of the Corn Springs Road KOP 8 Palen Solar Project overpass. This view encompasses portions of the proposed Project at viewing distances from KOP 8 ranging from approximately Eastbound 1-1O 0.75 mile to approximately 1.8 miles. The tracking panels are illustrated in a westward (afternoon) tilt and are facing in the general Visual Resources direction of KOP 8. Visual Simulation Figure 4.18-48 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents the Existing View to the northwest from KOP 9 on westbound 1-10, approximately 1.6 miles southeast of the KOP 9 Palen Solar Project southeast corner of the proposed Project site and approximately 10.4 miles west of the Palen Dunes Road overpass. This view Westbound 1-1 O encompasses a central portion of Chuckwalla Valley with the Eagle Mountains (center left) and Coxcomb Mountains (center right) Visual Resources providing background features of visual interest. From this vantage point, there are no discernible built facil ities. Existing View Figure 4.18-SA Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents a Visual Simulation of the proposed Project from KOP 9 on westbound 1-10, approximately 1.6 miles southeast KOP 9 Palen Solar Project of the southeast corner of the proposed Project site. This view encompasses portions of the Project at viewing distances from Westbound 1-1 O KOP 9 ranging from approximately 1.6 miles to 3.6 miles. The tracking panels are illustrated in an eastward (morning) tilt and are Visual Resources partially screened by intervening vegetation, particularly vegetation in proximity to Sutro Ditch. Visual Simulation Figure 4.18-58 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents the Existing View to the southwest from KOP 10 in the Palen McCoy Wilderness, approximately 4.3 miles KOP10 Palen Solar Project northeast of the proposed Project site. This elevated view overlooks much of the central Chuckwalla Valley, backdropped by the Palen McCoy Wilderness Chuckwalla Mountains. Due to access limitations, an existing view image could not be obtained, so an existing view image from Visual Resources the PSEGS Draft SEIS was used instead. Existing View Figure 4.18-&A Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents a Visual Simulation of the proposed Project from KOP 10 in the Palen McCoy Wilderness, approximately KOP10 Palen Solar Project 4.3 miles northeast of the proposed Project site. From this elevated vantage point and morning viewing time, the proposed tracking Palen McCoy Wilderness arrays would face east (in the general direction of the viewer at KOP 10) , appearing as a darker area against the lighter soils of the Visual Resources Chuckwalla Valley floor. The gen-tie line would be only faintly visible at this viewing distance due to blending with the valley floor. Visual Simulation Figure 4.18-68 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents the Existing View to the northeast from KOP 11 on Corn Springs Road within the Chuckwalla Mountains KOP 11 Palen Solar Project Wilderness (either side of road), approximately 4.8 miles southwest of the southwest corner of the proposed Project site. This Chuckwalla Mtns. Wilderness view captures a central portion of Chuckwalla Valley, backdropped by the Palen Mountains. Palen Dry Lake is visible as a light- Visual Resources colored streak in the left center of the image. Two existing transmission lines are also faintly visible in the center of the image. Existing View Figure 4.18-7A Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This image presents a Visual Simulation to the northeast from KOP 11 on Corn Springs Road within the Chuckwalla Mountains KOP 11 Palen Solar Project Wilderness (either side of the road), approximately 4.8 miles southwest of the southwest corner of the proposed Project site. From Chuckwalla Mtns. Wilderness this distant vantage point and afternoon viewing time, the proposed tracking arrays would be facing west and would appear as a Visual Resources narrow, dark streak along the distant valley floor. Only a short portion of the gen-tie line would be faintly visible (far left of image). Visual Simulation Figure 4.18-78 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This figure presents a comparison of three alternatives from the vantage point of KOP 8, on Eastbound 1-10, west of the Corn KOP 8 Palen Solar Project Springs Road overpass. The figures above present Google Earth perspectives of (A) the Proposed Action, (B) the Reduced Eastbound 1-1 O Footprint Alternative, and (C) the Avoidance Alternative. The images are not intended to simulate the alternatives. They are Visual Resources presented to illustrate the relative geographic extents of the three alternatives as viewed from KOP 8. Alternatives Comparison Figure 4.18-8 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

Proposed Action

Alternative 1: Reduced Footprint Alternative

Alternative 2: Avoidance Alternative Latitude: 33° 43' 38.60" N Longitude: 115° 7' 53.1 O" W

This figure presents a comparison of three alternatives from the vantage point of KOP 10, in the Palen McCoy Wilderness. The KOP10 Palen Solar Project fig ures above present Google Earth perspectives of (A) the Proposed Action, (8) the Reduced Footprint Alternative, and (C) the Palen McCoy Wilderness Avoidance Alternative. The images are not intended to simulate the alternatives. They are presented to illustrate the geographic Visual Resources extents of the three alternatives in order to better understand their relative impact differences as viewed from KOP 10. Alternatives Comparison Figure 4.18-9 Palen Solar Project Visual Resources

This figure presents a comparison of three alternatives from the vantage point of KOP 11 , on Corn Springs Road, within the KOP 11 Palen Solar Project Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness. The figures above present Google Earth perspectives of (A) the Proposed Action, (B) the Chuckwalla Mtns. Wilderness Reduced Footprint Alternative, and (C) the Avoidance Alternative. The images are not intended to simulate the alternatives. They Visual Resources are presented to illustrate the relative geographic extents of the three alternatives as viewed from KOP 11. Al ternatives Comparison Figure 4.18-10