Final Visual Impact Assessment Report November 2020 Prepared for: Prepared by: 851 SW Sixth Avenue Suite 1600 Portland, Oregon 97204 This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Project Alternatives ....................................................................................................................... 3 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................................... 6 Preferred Alternative EC-2 ................................................................................................... 8 Alternative EC-1 ................................................................................................................ 13 Alternative EC-3 ................................................................................................................ 17 Construction of the Build Alternatives ............................................................................... 21 3. Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 25 Area of Potential Impact / Area of Visual Effect ................................................................. 25 Regulations, Standards, and Guidelines ............................................................................. 26 Sources of Existing Data..................................................................................................... 28 Data Collection or Development ........................................................................................ 28 Impact Analysis Techniques ............................................................................................... 28 3.5.1. Establishment Phase........................................................................................... 28 3.5.2. Inventory Phase.................................................................................................. 29 3.5.3. Analysis Phase .................................................................................................... 29 3.5.4. Mitigation Phase ................................................................................................ 30 Agency Coordination ......................................................................................................... 30 4. Affected Environment ................................................................................................................. 30 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................................................. 30 Existing Visual Conditions .................................................................................................. 30 Area of Visual Effect .......................................................................................................... 31 Landscape Units and Affected Environment....................................................................... 32 Affected Population........................................................................................................... 38 Key Views .......................................................................................................................... 40 5. Visual Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 52 No Action Alternative ........................................................................................................ 52 5.1.1. Construction Impacts ......................................................................................... 52 5.1.2. Direct Impacts .................................................................................................... 52 5.1.3. Indirect Impacts ................................................................................................. 52 Preferred Alternative EC-2 ................................................................................................. 53 5.2.1. Construction Impacts ......................................................................................... 53 5.2.2. Direct Impacts .................................................................................................... 53 5.2.3. Indirect Impacts ................................................................................................. 79 Alternative EC-1 ................................................................................................................ 79 5.3.1. Construction Impacts ......................................................................................... 79 5.3.2. Direct Impacts .................................................................................................... 80 Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project Page i Final Visual Impact Assessment Report November 2020 5.3.3. Indirect Impacts ................................................................................................. 81 Alternative EC-3 ................................................................................................................ 81 5.4.1. Construction Impacts ......................................................................................... 81 5.4.2. Direct Impacts .................................................................................................... 81 5.4.3. Indirect Impacts ................................................................................................. 81 Summary of Impacts by Alternative ................................................................................... 82 6. Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Commitments ......................................................... 83 Construction Impacts ........................................................................................................ 83 Long-Term Impacts ............................................................................................................ 83 7. Preparers .................................................................................................................................... 84 8. References .................................................................................................................................. 84 LIST OF EXHIBITS Exhibit 1. Project Area ............................................................................................................................. 1 Exhibit 2. Location of the Preferred Alternative EC-2, Alternative EC-1, and Alternative EC-3 ................... 4 Exhibit 3. Summary Comparison of Key Elements of Alternatives ............................................................. 5 Exhibit 4. Navigation Clearance of Existing Bridge and Proposed Replacement Bridge ............................. 6 Exhibit 5. Preferred Alternative EC-2 Alignment ..................................................................................... 10 Exhibit 6. Preferred Alternative EC-2 Enlargements ............................................................................... 11 Exhibit 7. Replacement Bridge Typical Cross-Section.............................................................................. 13 Exhibit 8. Alternative EC-1 Alignment .................................................................................................... 14 Exhibit 9. Alternative EC-1 Enlargements ............................................................................................... 15 Exhibit 10. Alternative EC-3 Alignment .................................................................................................. 18 Exhibit 11. Alternative EC-3 Enlargements ............................................................................................. 19 Exhibit 12. Area of Visual Effect ............................................................................................................. 26 Exhibit 13. Foreground and Middleground Limits Relative to the AVE .................................................... 31 Exhibit 14. Landscape Unit Descriptions and Affected Environment ....................................................... 32 Exhibit 15. Landscape Units, CRGNSA KVAs, and Key Views.................................................................... 37 Exhibit 16. Viewer Type and Viewer Preference ..................................................................................... 40 Exhibit 17. Photograph of Key View #1 .................................................................................................. 41 Exhibit 18. Photograph of Key View #2 .................................................................................................. 42 Exhibit 19. Photograph of Key View #3 .................................................................................................. 43 Exhibit 20. Photograph of Key View #4 .................................................................................................. 43 Exhibit 21. Photograph of Key View #5 .................................................................................................. 44 Exhibit 22. Photograph of Key View #6 .................................................................................................. 45 Exhibit 23. Photograph of Key View #7 .................................................................................................