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Non binding translation 6.4 SceneryFor and convenience leisure only Scenic beauty and leisure environment surveys for this project were carried out in August 2016 and May 2017. The survey results were similar and there was not much change in the overall environment. Photos of scenic spots from the two surveys are shown in Figure 6.4-1. Provincial Highway 61 at the estuary of Provincial Highway 61 at the estuary of Old Huwei River (2016.08.18) Old Huwei River (2017.05.06) Santiaolun Fishing Harbor (2016.08.18) Santiaolun Fishing Harbor (2017.05.06) Shoal south of Santiaolun Fishing Harbor Shoal south of Santiaolun Fishing Harbor (2016.08.18) (2016.05.06) Figure 6.4-1 Photos of the project's scenic spots taken during surveys in 2016 and 2017 6-312 Non binding translation For convenience only Observation platform on the western Observation platform on the western embankment of Gangxi Village embankment of Gangxi Village (2016.08.18) (2017.05.06) On the Aogu Wetland embankment On the Aogu Wetland embankment (2016.08.18) (2017.05.06) Dongshih Fisherman's Wharf (2016.08.18) Dongshih Fisherman's Wharf (2017.05.06) Figure 6.4-1 Photos of the project's scenic spots taken during surveys in 2016 and 2017 (continued) 6.4.1 Environmental scenic beauty I. Survey and analysis of the current development site scenic beauty status The wind farm is located off the coasts of Sihu Township and Kouhu Township, Yunlin County. Provincial Highways 17 and 61 (Western Coast Expressway) and County Roadways 155, 160, 164, and 166 are the main traffic access ways along the coast of Yunlin and Chiayi. Lands along the coastal area are mostly used by fish farms, fishing harbors, rivers, wetland, farmlands, and residential 6-313 Non binding translation homes. Townships are densely developed with frequent human activity and traffic.For The coastal convenience area consists mostly of windbreak only forests, fish farms, wetlands, sand banks and fishing harbors. It offers abundant scenery resource in the form of natural environments, ecology, weather, and industry. Small settlements are scattered around the area but have relatively little human activity. The wind farm of this project is over 8 km off the coast and involves sea cable and land cable constructions. The goal of this project is to promote the use of renewable energy, increase energy diversity, improve environmental quality, stimulate the related industries in nearby areas, and promote sustainable national development. II. Establishing the area for evaluating the impact of development activities on scenic beauty According to the Technical Specifications for Scenic Beauty Assessment of Environmental Impact Assessment (draft) of the Environmental Protection Administration, a scenic beauty assessment must be conducted for the development area plus a 1,200 meter radius. This development project, however, is about 8 km offshore and the area covered by a 1.2 km radius is still offshore. Hence, the area assessed for this project is the coastal area west of Provincial Highways 17 and 61, where the wind turbines can still be seen and may potentially affect surrounding residents and visitors, as shown in Figure 6.4.1- 1. III. Landscape Resources Survey The project site is located offshore of Yunlin County. Aside from agricultural settlements, surrounding areas mainly consist of large fish farms, oyster farms, and farmlands. Due to the low volume of artificial facilities, the area is rich with an ecological landscape of animals and plants, as well as the meteorological landscape of the setting sun, both simple scenery of coastal areas. Characteristics of scenery in the project area are described below: (I) Key natural sceneries 1. Geographical landscapes The coastal area of Yunlin and Chiayi contains large wetlands, windbreak forests, fish farms, and farmlands, and is adjacent to the Taiwan Strait to the west. The area is mainly formed by an alluvial plain, tidal land, and 6-314 Non binding translation offshore sand banks. The area is relatively flat with an average altitude Forbelow 10convenience m and mainly offers the scenery of a coastal only plain. The project area mainly has straight coastlines with sandy beaches; due to the interaction between wind, tide, and waves, the estuary sand accretion gradually rising outward, forming a natural tidal land or sand bank, including Boziliaoshan, Tongshanzhou, and Waisandingzhou. These form a semi-closed sea area with the island of Taiwan, forming a special geographic scenery in the area. Zhuoshui River, Xinhuwei River, Huwei River, Niutaowan River, and Beigang River are the main rivers passing through this area, which means that, along with the vast Taiwan Strait to the west, there are abundant hydrological resources. Figure 6.4.1-1 Area surveyed for landscape of development activity 6-315 Non binding translation 2. Geological landscape ForThis area convenience is a coastal plain that is part of the Holocene only alluvium, which is mainly formed by sand, silty sand, and mud. The unconsolidated sediments are interlayered with marine deposits. Sand is mainly distributed in the river courses and estuaries, and offshore sand banks are mainly formed by medium to fine sand sediments from the late Holocene to present day. The soil is wind-deposited sediments, mostly sandy soil and sandy loam. The soil has high salinity due to seawater intrusion from the Taiwan Strait to the west. Overall, this area does not have any special geological scenery. 3. Sceneries of plants and animals It is hard for vegetation to grow in the coastal area due to strong winds and the salinity of seawater. There are relatively diverse and dense vegetation in nearby campuses and communities. Otherwise, large plants are generally lacking, and the windbreak forest is mainly Casuarina equisetifolia. Aogu Wetland is a coastal wetland that serves as a buffer zone between land and sea. The plant ecology is characterized by plants which are wind and drought resistance, psammophytes, halophytes, and mangrove. The windbreak forest is mainly Casuarina equisetifolia and Hibiscus tiliaceus. Psammophytes mainly include Ipomoea pes-caprae, Operculina turpethum, Canavalia rosea, Atriplex maximowicziana, and Phyla nodiflora. Halophytes mainly include Suaeda maritima, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Paspalum vaginatum, and Sporobolus virginicus. Mangrove mainly consists of Lumnitzera racemosa and Avicennia marina. There is a relative abundance of plant sceneries. As for sceneries of animals, the continental shelf along the coastal area is flat with a gentle slope, and has abundant marine biology as it provides an ideal habitat for fish to reproduce. Species found on the tidal flat and wetlands have the most distinguishing features, in which the majority are birds and fish, while mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and butterflies are rare. The project area mainly consists of fish farms, most of which farm oysters, and only Egretta garzetta, Pycnonotus sinensis, and Acridotheres cristatellus are found in the area. Many wild birds gather near Xinhuwei River Estuary, which is a relatively sensitive habitat. A large wetland 6-316 Non binding translation formed between the estuaries of Niutaowan River and Beigang River due Forto the largeconvenience hinterland. Chenglung Wetland, Yiwu only Wetland, and Aogu Wetland have abundant fish, shrimp, and shellfish, making them suitable habitats for water birds. Dozens of species have been sighted in the wetlands, including Ciconia boyciana, Elanus caeruleus, Bubulcus ibis, Ixobrychus sinensis, Centropus bengalensis, Himantopus himantopus, Gallinula chloropus, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Alcedo atthis, Gallinago gallinago, and Rostratula benghalensis. These are important national wetlands, where bird watching areas and wetland ecological protected areas have been planned. 4. Visual scenery Areas around the project site have relatively good landscape resources as they mainly contain natural landscape elements, such as sand banks, wetlands, ocean, animal and plant ecology, and sunsets, see Figure 6.4.1- 2 for photos of the current environment. (II) Main artificial and cultural scenic elements Traditional architecture in the area is rarely preserved. Other than temples with local features, such as Mailiao Kongfan Temple, Taixi Anxi Temple, Sihu Haiqing Temple, Kouhu Wanshanye Temple, and Dongshi Xiantian Temple, no important historic sites or relics were found in the area. Farmers in Yunlin County converting their farmland into fish farms has been common in recent years. Coastal fishery activities are mainly hard clam cultivation and eel gathering. There are many small fishing villages and wind turbines scattered in nearby areas. The Western Coast Expressway passes through the west side of Yunlin County. The frequent human activity and traffic forms a special coastal scenery and artificial scenery of fishing villages. The overall scenic quality is still quite good (Figure 6.4.1-3). (III) Distinctive scenic elements Yunlin is located on the alluvial plain on the west coast of Taiwan and has a subtropical monsoon climate. Coastal areas have relatively little rainfall, which is concentrated in May to July. Winter is dry with strong monsoons. There are many storm days and sandstorms, which cover the sky with black and gray sand when severe. The coastal areas of Yunlin and Chiayi offer a broad view of special scenic elements along the coastline. The distinctive 6-317 Non binding translation climate condition here makes blue skies, seas and sun a pleasant coastal Forscenery, and convenience the sunset