4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Transcription

1 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Section of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines requires that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) include a description of the physical environmental conditions in the vicinity of a proposed project at the time the Notice of Preparation (NOP) is published and states this environmental setting will normally constitute the baseline physical conditions used to determine if an impact is significant. 4.1 REGIONAL SETTING Inyo County Inyo County is located near the center of California (from south to north) and adjacent to the eastern edge of California (see Section 3.0, Project Description, Figure 3.0-1, Regional Location Map). The County is bordered by Mono County to the north, Tulare and Fresno Counties to the west, San Bernardino and Kern Counties to the south, and the State of Nevada to the east. The western boundary of Inyo County follows the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This steep, rugged range is only crossed by one public road or highway in Inyo County (Nine Mile Canyon Road at the southern end of the County). There is no direct access between Inyo County and the population centers of Fresno and Tulare Counties. Most travel into and out of the County occurs on US 395, which runs in a north/south orientation through the Owens Valley. Several roads and highways also provide access into Inyo County from Nevada. Inyo County was organized in 1866 from land that had been set aside from Mono and Tulare Counties. Independence is designated as the County seat. Presently, Inyo County is the second largest county in California, comprising more than 10,142 square miles (approximately 6,490,000 acres). The County has a wide range of topography, including the highest point in the continental United States (Mt. Whitney at 14,505 feet above mean sea level [amsl]) and the lowest point in the western hemisphere (Badwater Basin in Death Valley at 282 feet below mean sea level [bmsl]). Most of the land in Inyo County is managed by public agencies. Table 4.0-1, Land Management in Inyo County, approximates land management in Inyo County. Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

2 Table Land Management in Inyo County Land Ownership Square Miles Acres Percentage of County Total Bureau of Land Management 2, ,401, National Park Service 5, ,300, United States Forest Service 1, , Department of Defense , State of California , City of Los Angeles , Inyo County/other local agencies , Private ownership , Total 10, ,491, Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013) Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages an estimated 1.4 million acres of public land, including wilderness areas, in Inyo County. Under the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, 18 BLM wilderness areas were designated in Inyo County. BLM land in Inyo County is managed at district offices in Bishop, Ridgecrest, and Barstow. BLM lands offer several types of recreation opportunities, including fishing, hunting, camping, wildlife viewing, off-road vehicle recreation, rock climbing, bouldering, and hiking. Much of the BLM land in the Owens Valley is located in a belt between lands managed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on the valley floor and lands managed by the Inyo National Forest that are part of the Inyo-White Mountains and the Sierra Nevada United States Forest Service The Inyo National Forest (INF), which is administered by the United States Forest Service (USFS), encompasses approximately 1.8 million acres in California and 106,001 acres in Nevada, and extends 165 miles in length. 1 The INF is located in the western portion of Inyo County, along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada and the crest of the Inyo and White Mountains. Designated wilderness areas 2 include the Inyo 1 U.S. Department of Agriculture: Forest Service, About the Forest, Inyo National Forest (2013), /about-forest. 2 U.S. Department of Agriculture: Forest Service, Wilderness Area, Inyo National Forest (2013), Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

3 Mountains, White Mountains, John Muir, Golden Trout, and South Sierra. INF covers four ranger districts: White Mountain, Mount Whitney, Mono Lake, and Mammoth, of which parts of the first two are within Inyo County Los Angeles Department of Water and Power The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) owns approximately 250,000 acres in Inyo County to secure water rights, 3 including a large portion of the Owens Valley floor. Approximately 75 per cent of the land owned by the LADWP is open to the public for recreational use LOCAL SETTING Owens Valley The Project sites are located in and to the east of the Owens Valley in the western portion of Inyo County. The edge of the Owens Valley is framed by the Sierra Nevada to the west and by the Inyo and White Mountains to the east. The Owens Valley is a deep north-south trending basin. 5 Communities within the Owens Valley include the City of Bishop and the unincorporated communities of Aberdeen, Big Pine, Independence, and Lone Pine (see Figure 3.0-2, Western Inyo County Communities). The major road that passes through the Owens Valley is US 395. Various recreational activities and destinations are available throughout the Owens Valley and surrounding mountains. Outside of Bishop, the proposed combined-use routes lead to a variety of destinations, including the challenging Coyote Valley Road that leads high up onto a plateau in the Eastern Sierra, the complex road system and dramatic canyons of the White Mountains, the granitic rock outcroppings and old mines of the Tungsten Hills, the dramatic cliffs and boulders of the Volcanic Tableland, the meandering Owens River, and creeks crossing the alluvial fans. Near Big Pine, proposed combined-use routes lead to the spa retreat of Keough s Hot Springs and up McMurray Meadows Road, past the dramatic volcanism of the Big Pine Volcanic Field. A proposed route links with a dirt road on Forest Service and BLM lands to routes in the Aberdeen Area. 3 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Eastern Sierra Recreation (n.d.), faces/wcnav_externalid/a-w-estrnsirra-recrtion?_adf.ctrl-state=fvrcd3avu_4&_afrloop= &_ afrwindowmode=0&_afrwindowid=kwyqmo6ur_86#%40%3f_afrwindowid%3dkwyqmo6ur_86%26_afrloop%3d %26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dkwyqmo6ur_114 4 LADWP, Eastern Sierra Recreation (n.d.). 5 Darla Heil, Owens Valley Geology, Owens Valley Committee (n.d.), Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

4 Death Valley Road leads to a rich network of dirt roads and trails in the area where the Inyo and White Mountains meet. The combined-use routes easterly terminus is in Cowhorn Valley just on the east side of the Inyo and White Mountains. The Aberdeen Area routes travel north and south along Tinemaha Road to roads traveling up the alluvial fan toward the Sierra Nevada, to portions of the Big Pine Volcanic Field, and to creeks combing down from the high country. In Independence, the combined-use routes lead east across the Owens River to the varying geology of the Inyo Mountains. To the west of Independence, the proposed combined-use routes travel up the alluvial fan to Foothill Road, which travels along the base of the Sierra escarpment past small creeks. In the Lone Pine Area, routes lead west of town into the Alabama Hills. The Alabama Hills have long been a popular movie location for television and movie productions. 6 Hikers, photographers, fishermen, and off-road vehicle enthusiasts travel to a variety of interesting rock outcroppings featuring numerous small arches and windows. Hikers and photographers from around the world traverse the Mobius Arch Loop Trail located in the Alabama Hills Recreation Area, an area with 30,000 acres of public land dedicated by the BLM. 7 The Alabama Hills are also accessible to rock climbing and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) travel. A proposed combined-use route also travels east across the Owens River to the foot of the Inyo Mountains. 4.3 EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS As mentioned previously, the Project sites are located primarily within the western portion of Inyo County and the 38 proposed combined-use routes would utilize existing roads that are part of the County-maintained mileage system. All County-maintained roads, whether paved or dirt, are considered highways for the purpose of the California Vehicle Code. OHVs are currently not allowed to travel on County- or City-maintained roads. The designation of these roads as being eligible for combined-use is a discretionary action considered by the County and the City. Each proposed combined-use route has a distinct start point and end point. The routes link lodging facilities and goods and services with OHV recreation areas or trail segments. All of the linked trail segments are on land managed by the BLM or INF and are currently legal for use by OHVs. The section that follows describes the existing site 6 Gregg Wilkerson, Mark Milliken, Pierre Saint-Amand, and David Saint-Amand, Roadside Geology and Mining History: Owens Valley and Mono Basin (2007). 7 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, The Alabama Hills (Bishop, CA: Bishop Field Office, 2013), Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

5 conditions for the proposed combined-use routes. The total length of these routes is approximately 242 miles. The total distance of roads proposed for designation as combined-use routes is miles, of which 85.9 miles are on dirt roads and 96.0 miles are on paved roads. The reason for the difference is that some routes use the same portion of County-maintained road. For example, Independence Routes 3, 4, and 6 each use the same portion of Onion Valley and Foothill Roads. Elevations of combined-use routes range from approximately 3,610 feet amsl east of Lone Pine to 10,480 feet amsl at the pass over the White Mountains on Silver Canyon Road Regional Roadway Network In Inyo County, there is a roadway network created by roads maintained by the following: The federal government (on lands managed by the BLM, INF, National Park Service, and the Department of Defense) The State of California (including U.S. and State highways) The County [county-maintained streets and roads) The City of Bishop (city streets) The City of Los Angeles Privately maintained roads County-maintained roads travel across lands owned by other parties, including private, the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, BLM, and INF. The principal highway for Inyo County is US 395, which begins at the junction of Interstate 15 near Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County and continues northward through Inyo County, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. This highway is the primary means of travel into and out of the County. Other highways include US 6, State Route (SR) 168, SR 190, SR 178, and SR 136. The existing roadway network comprises approximately 3,396 miles of road, of which only 850 miles are paved. Out of the 3,396 miles of roads, the County and the City of Bishop maintain 1,226 miles of roadway (of which about half of the County s roads are paved), while the rest of the roads are maintained by federal, State, and private parties. The California Vehicle Code allows agencies of the federal government, the Director of Parks and Recreation, the City, and the County to designate highways as open for use by OHVs as combined-use routes for distances up to 3 miles in length. For a limited time, and on a pilot program basis, the County is allowed by the Vehicle Code to designate combined-use routes up to 10 miles in length. Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

6 4.3.2 Bishop Area The Bishop Area combined-use routes originate in and around the City of Bishop. The City and neighboring unincorporated areas have the largest population in Inyo County. The City itself spans approximately 2 square miles of land. 8 The City is located at the northern end of the Owens Valley at an elevation of approximately 4,150 feet, east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and west of the White Mountains. The Owens River and Bishop Creek Recreational Area provide more scenic views and recreational opportunities. Notable OHV recreational areas that surround the Bishop site include Coyote Flats, the Poleta OHV Recreation Area, Tungsten Hill, Volcanic Tableland, and White Mountains. The 17 proposed combined-use routes would utilize existing County-maintained roads. Bishop Area Routes 1, 2, 3, and 4 also include roads maintained by the City of Bishop. Table 4.0-2, City- and County- Maintained Roads for Bishop Area, illustrates the roads associated with each route, as well as the mileage and surface of each road. These routes would span approximately 106 miles of paved and unpaved roads, which would connect to both BLM- and USFS-maintained roads Big Pine Area Big Pine is an unincorporated community located 15 miles south of Bishop. 9 Big Pine is flanked between the Eastern Sierra Nevada and the White Mountains. Crater Mountain, a volcano that stands at approximately 6,108 feet in elevation, lies to the south of Big Pine, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains, at approximately 10,000 feet in elevation, lies to the east. Big Pine serves as the access point to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and the Palisade Glacier. 8 The Planning Center, General Plan for the City of Bishop (City of Bishop General Plan), Conservation/Open Space Element (1993). 9 Jones & Stokes, BRW, Mintier & Associates, and Applied Development Economics, Goals and Policies Report for the Inyo County General Plan (Inyo County General Plan), Guide to Inyo County Communities (2001), p Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

7 Table City- and County-Maintained Roads for Bishop Area Bishop Area Route 1 Short Street 0.1 Sneden Street 0.1 East Line Street 0.4 Poleta Road 4.0 Total Bishop Area Route 1 Total 5.9 Bishop Area Route 2 Coats Street 0.1 (Alternative A) Yaney Street 0.5 Spruce Street 0.4 Wye Road 0.8 Haul Road 1.2 Airport Road 0.3 Poleta Road 3.1 Total Bishop Area Route 2 (Alternative A) Total 7.7 Bishop Area Route 2 Coats Street 0.1 (Alternative B) Yaney Street 0.7 Hanby Avenue 0.5 East Line Street 0.3 Poleta Road 4.0 Total Bishop Route 2 (Alternative B) Total 6.9 Bishop Area Route 2 Coats Street 0.1 (Alternative C) Yaney Street 0.5 Spruce Street 0.3 Hanby Avenue 0.4 East Line Street 0.3 Poleta Road 4.0 Total Bishop Area Route 2 (Alternative C) Total 6.9 Bishop Area Route 3 Park Street (Alternative A) Bruce Street 0.2 Spruce Street 0.5 Wye Road 0.8 Haul Road 1.2 Airport Road 0.3 Poleta Road 3.1 Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

8 Total Bishop Area Route 3 (Alternative A) Total 7.4 Bishop Area Route 3 Park Street (Alternative B) Bruce Street 0.2 Spruce Street 0.06 Yaney Street 0.1 Haney Avenue East Line Street 0.3 Poleta Road 4.0 Total Bishop Area Route 3 (Alternative B) Total 6.56 Bishop Area Route 3 Park Street (Alternative C) Bruce Street 0.2 Spruce Street 0.2 Hanby Avenue 0.4 East Line Street 0.3 Poleta Road 4.0 Total Bishop Area Route 3 (Alternative C) Total 6.4 Bishop Area Route 4 MacIver Street 0.2 (Alternative A) Spruce Street 0.3 Wye Road 0.8 Haul Road 1.2 Airport Road 0.3 Poleta Road 3.1 Total Bishop Area Route 4 (Alternative A) Total 7.2 Bishop Area Route 4 MacIver Street 0.2 (Alternative B) Spruce Street 0.1 Yaney Street 0.1 Hanby Avenue 0.6 East Line Street 0.3 Poleta Road 4.0 Total Bishop Area Route 4 (Alternative B) Total 6.6 Bishop Area Route 4 MacIver Street 0.2 (Alternative C) Spruce Street 0.4 Hanby Avenue 0.4 East Line Street 0.3 Poleta Road 4.0 Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

9 Total Bishop Area Route 4 (Alternative C) Total 6.6 Bishop Area Route 5 Schober Lane 0.5 Sunland Drive 1.5 Warm Springs Road 5.3 Eastside Road 1.7 Total Bishop Area Route 5 Total 9.6 Bishop Area Route 6 Pleasant Valley Dam Road 1.2 Round Valley Road 4.2 Horton Creek Road 0.8 Total 6.2 Bishop Area Route 6 Total 6.2 Bishop Area Route 7 Pleasant Valley Dam Road 1.2 Sawmill Road 1.7 Ed Powers Road 0.8 Tungsten City Road 2.7 Total Bishop Area Route 7 Total 6.4 Bishop Area Route 8 Pleasant Valley Dam Road 0.8 Chalk Bluff Road 5.9 Casa Diablo Road 1.4 Total Bishop Area Route 8 Total 8.1 Bishop Area Route 9 Schober Lane 1.5 Barlow Lane 0.5 Bir Road 1.7 Total 3.7 Bishop Area Route 9 Total 3.7 Bishop Area Route 10 Coyote Valley Road 2.1 Total 2.1 Bishop Area Route 10 Total 2.1 Bishop Area Route 11 Silver Canyon Road 7.1 Total 7.1 Bishop Area Route 11 Total 7.1 Bishop Area Route 12 Silver Canyon Road Wyman Canyon Road 7.4 Total 9.3 Bishop Area Route 12 Total 9.3 Bishop Area Route 14 Joe Smith Road 1.1 Jean Blanc Road 3.6 Casa Diablo Road 1.4 Total Bishop Area Route 14 Total 6.1 Bishop Area Route 15 Joe Smith Road 0.2 Silver Canyon Road 0.5 Laws Poleta Road 2.9 Poleta Road 1.1 Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

10 Total Bishop Area Route 15 Total 6.0 Bishop Area Route 16 Joe Smith Road 0.2 Silver Canyon Road Total Bishop Area Route 16 Total 6.6 Bishop Area Route 17 Wyman Canyon Road 3.2 Total 3.2 Bishop Area Route 17 Total 3.2 Bishop Area Route 18 Eastside Road 1.7 Black Canyon Road 5.6 Total Bishop Area Route 18 Total 7.9 Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013). Notes: Distance is calculated in miles. Bishop Route 13 was withdrawn from the combined-use routes application dated June 28, The three proposed combined-use routes would utilize County-maintained roads that radiate away from town. Table 4.0-3, County-Maintained Roads for Big Pine Area, illustrates the County-maintained roads associated with each route, as well as the mileage and surface of each road. These routes would span approximately 27 miles of paved and unpaved roads that connect to USFS-maintained roads. The first route would end at Keough s Hot Springs, and the other two routes would begin at gas stations Death Valley Road Area The Death Valley Road Area is located east of Big Pine, in an area that is a transition between the White Mountains to the north and the Inyo Mountains to the south. Access to the Death Valley Road Area is gained through SR 168. Death Valley Road eventually leads to Eureka Valley and Death Valley National Park. The portion of the road proposed for combined-use is outside of Death Valley National Park on INF and BLM land. The three proposed combined-use routes would utilize County-maintained roads that are located east of the community of Big Pine. Table 4.0-4, County-Maintained Roads for Death Valley Road Area, illustrates the roads associated with each route, as well as the mileage and surface of each road. These routes would span approximately 11.7 miles of paved roads, which would connect to USFS and BLM OHV trail segments. Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

11 Table County-Maintained Roads for Big Pine Area Big Pine Area Route 1 Crocker Avenue 0.2 School Street 0.5 County Road Keough s Hot Springs Road 0.3 Total Big Pine Area Route 1 Total 9.02 Big Pine Area Route 2 Crocker Avenue 0.5 Glacier Lodge Road 2.0 McMurray Meadows Road 5.9 Total Big Pine Area Route 2 Total 8.4 Big Pine Area Route 3 Pine Street 0.1 Poplar Street 0.1 Baker Creek Road 0.2 School Street 0.2 Crocker Avenue 0.3 Glacier Lodge Road 2.0 McMurray Meadows Road 5.9 Total Big Pine Area Route 3 Total 8.8 Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013). Note: Distance is calculated in miles. Table County-Maintained Roads for Death Valley Road Area Death Valley Road Area Death Valley Road 2.1 Route 1 Total 2.1 Death Valley Road Area 2.1 Route 1 Total Death Valley Road Area Death Valley Road 5.8 Route 2 Total 5.8 Death Valley Road Area 5.8 Route 2 Total Death Valley Road Area Death Valley Road 3.8 Route 3 Total 3.8 Death Valley Road Area Route 3 Total 3.8 Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013). Note: Distance is calculated in miles. Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

12 4.3.5 Aberdeen Area The Aberdeen Resort is a recreational vehicle (RV) and mobile home park, campground, and store located between the communities of Big Pine and Independence, just to the west of US 395. Aberdeen is zoned and designated for commercial recreation. 10 Aberdeen is situated in the northern portion of Owens Valley, located halfway between Big Pine and Independence. The three combined-use routes would utilize existing County-maintained roads that travel north and south from Aberdeen. Table 4.0-5, County-Maintained Roads for Aberdeen Area, illustrates the Countymaintained roads associated with each route, as well as the mileage and surface of each road. These routes would span approximately 18 miles of paved and unpaved roads, which would connect to BLMand USFS-maintained roads. All three routes would begin at the Aberdeen Resort. Table County-Maintained Roads for Aberdeen Area Aberdeen Area Route 1 Tinemaha Road 3.0 Division Creek Road Total Aberdeen Area Route 1 Total 6.5 Aberdeen Area Route 2 Tinemaha Road 1.6 Taboose Creek Road 2.6 Total Aberdeen Area Route 2 Total 4.2 Aberdeen Area Route 3 Tinemaha Road Birch Creek Road 2.2 Total Aberdeen Area Route 3 Total 5.8 Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013). Note: Distance is calculated in miles Independence Area Independence is located in the Owens Valley, between Big Pine and Lone Pine on US 395, and has an elevation of approximately 3,930 feet. Views from Independence show the Sierra Nevada Crest to the west. Several historic buildings are located in the town of Independence, such as the Edwards House, which is the oldest structure in Owens 10 Inyo County General Plan, Guide to Inyo County Communities (2001), p Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

13 Valley, 11 and the Inyo County Courthouse, which was built in Additionally, the historic Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery is located just north of Independence and was completed in Independence has some of the few remaining examples of rural Victorian architecture in the Owens Valley. 13 Mazourka Canyon Road, located east of Independence, is a place where recreationists can explore the trails and mines of Inyo Mountains. 14 The five proposed combined-use routes would utilize existing County-maintained roads that travel east and west from town. Table 4.0-6, County-Maintained Roads for Independence Area, illustrates the roads associated with each route, as well as the mileage and surface of each road. These routes would span approximately 35 miles of paved and unpaved roads, which would connect to BLM and USFS OHV Trail Segments Lone Pine Area The community of Lone Pine is situated in the southern portion of the Owens Valley, 15 miles south of Independence on US Lone Pine is positioned near Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which is located west of the community, and provides views of Mount Whitney. The five proposed combined-use routes would utilize existing County-maintained roads that travel east and west from town. Table 4.0-7, County-Maintained Roads for Lone Pine Area, illustrates the roads associated with each route, as well as the mileage and surface of each road. These routes would span approximately 52.5 miles of paved and unpaved roads, which would connect to USFS and BLM OHV trail segments. 11 Inyo County General Plan, Guide to Inyo County Communities (2001), p Inyo County General Plan, Guide to Inyo County Communities (2001), p Inyo County, Independence, The Other Side of California (2013), /independence/. 14 Inyo County General Plan, Guide to Inyo County Communities (2001), p Inyo County General Plan, Guide to Inyo County Communities (2001), p Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

14 Table County-Maintained Roads for Independence Area Independence Area Route 1 East Park Street 0.1 South Clay Street 0.2 Mazourka Canyon Road Total Independence Area Route 3 Total 8.5 Independence Area Route 2 Mazourka Canyon Road 4.0 Total 4.0 Independence Area Route 2 Total 4.0 Independence Area Route 3 Park Street 0.1 Jackson Street 0.3 Kearsarge Street 0.1 Washington Street 0.1 Market Street 0.1 Onion Valley Road 4.2 Foothill Road 2.8 Total Independence Area Route 3 Total 7.7 Independence Area Route 4 Wall Street 0.1 Washington Street 0.1 Market Street 0.2 Onion Valley Road 4.2 Foothill Road 2.8 Total Independence Area Route 4 Total 7.4 Independence Area Route 6 Kearsarge Street 0.1 Washington Street 0.1 Market Street 0.2 Onion Valley Road 4.2 Foothill Road 2.8 Total Independence Area Route 6 Total 7.4 Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013). Notes: Distance is calculated in miles. Independence Route 5 was withdrawn from the combined-use routes application dated June 28, Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

15 Table County-Maintained Roads for Lone Pine Area Lone Pine Area Route 1 Lubkin Canyon Road 3.4 Horseshoe Meadows Road.9 Total 4.3 Lone Pine Area Route 1 Total 4.3 Lone Pine Area Route 2 Gene Autry Lane 0.03 Washington Street 0.2 Whitney Portal Road 0.5 Tuttle Creek Road 3.9 Sunset Drive 0.3 Horseshoe Meadows Road 2.1 Whitney Portal Road 0.4 Movie Road 0.3 Total 7.73 Lone Pine Area Route 2 Total 7.7 Lone Pine Area Route 3 Lone Pine Narrow Gauge Road 3.3 Owenyo - Lone Pine Road 5.3 Dolomite Loop Road 0.04 Total Lone Pine Area Route 3 Total 8.6 Lone Pine Area Route 4 Statham Way 0.02 Washington Street 0.2 Whitney Portal Road 0.5 Tuttle Creek Road 3.9 Sunset Drive 0.3 Horseshoe Meadows Road 2.1 Whitney Portal Road 0.4 Movie Road 0.3 Total 7.72 Lone Pine Area Route 4 Total 7.7 Lone Pine Area Route 5 Begole Street 0.03 Jackson Street 0.2 Whitney Portal Road 0.6 Tuttle Creek Road 3.9 Sunset Drive 0.3 Horseshoe Meadows Road 2.1 Whitney Portal Road 0.4 Movie Road 0.3 Total 7.83 Lone Pine Area Route 5 Total 7.8 Lone Pine Area Route 6 Lone Pine Avenue 0.1 Whitney Portal Road 0.7 Tuttle Creek Road 3.9 Sunset Drive 0.3 Horseshoe Meadows Road 2.2 Total 7.2 Lone Pine Area Route 6 Total 7.2 Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

16 Lone Pine Area Route 7 Hogback Road 4.0 Movie Road 5.2 Total 9.2 Lone Pine Area Route 7 Total 9.2 Source: Inyo County Planning Department (2013). Note: Distance is calculated in miles. 4.4 CUMULATIVE SCENARIO CEQA requires that an EIR contain an assessment of the cumulative impacts that could be associated with the proposed Project. As defined in the State CEQA Guidelines, 16 Cumulative impacts refer to two or more individual effects which, when considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental impacts. Although project-related impacts may be individually minor, the cumulative effects of these impacts, in combination with the impacts of other projects, could be significant under CEQA and must be addressed. 17 Through the evaluation of cumulative impacts, CEQA attempts to ensure that large-scale environmental impacts will not be ignored. The State CEQA Guidelines allow for the use of two alternative methods to determine the scope of projects for the cumulative impact analysis: 18 List Method: A list of past, present, and probable future projects producing related or cumulative impacts, including, if necessary, those projects outside the control of the agency; and Regional Growth Projections Method: A summary of projects contained in an adopted general plan or related planning document or in a prior environmental document, which has been adopted or certified, and describes or evaluates regional or area-wide conditions contributing to the cumulative impact. 19 The analysis of cumulative effects need not provide as great detail as is provided for the effects attributable to the project alone, but the discussion shall reflect the severity of the impacts and their likelihood of occurrence. 20 Where a lead agency concludes that the cumulative effects of a project, taken together with the impacts of past, present, and probable future projects, are significant, the lead agency then must determine whether the project s incremental contribution to such significant 16 State CEQA Guidelines, sec State CEQA Guidelines, sec (a). 18 State CEQA Guidelines, sec (b). 19 State CEQA Guidelines, sec (b)(1)(B). 20 State CEQA Guidelines, sec (b). Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

17 cumulative impact is cumulatively considerable, and thus significant in and of itself. 21 The section additionally states: When the combined cumulative impact associated with the project s incremental effect and the effects of other projects is not significant, the EIR shall briefly indicate why the cumulative impact is not significant and is not discussed in further detail in the EIR. A Lead Agency shall identify facts and analysis supporting the Lead Agency s conclusion that the cumulative impact is less than significant. Cumulative impact discussions for each issue area are provided in the technical analyses contained in Section 7.0, Consideration and Discussion of Environmental Impacts. As previously stated, and as set forth in the State CEQA Guidelines, related projects consist of closely related past, present, and reasonably foreseeable probable future projects that would likely result in similar impacts and are located in the same geographic area. 22 This EIR considers the effects of the proposed Project in relation to the Inyo County General Plan. The General Plan establishes policies that would guide future development and redevelopment within the County and implementation measures that are long-term in nature. Additionally, the EIR includes consideration of specific projects (Related Projects) in the area of the proposed Project. Information about Related Projects was obtained from Inyo County and the City of Bishop. There are a total of 12 related projects. Table 4.0-8, Related Projects, provides information on the land use, location, size, and status of these related projects. Information on the related projects was used to assess cumulative conditions where appropriate (e.g., air quality emissions, traffic, utilities). 21 State CEQA Guidelines, sec (a). 22 State CEQA Guidelines, sec Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra

18 Table Related Projects No. Project Name and Location Description or Land Use Size Status 1. Warren Street Improvement Project Street improvement Portions of City of Bishop ND 2. Wye Road Extension Street improvement Portions of City of Bishop TBD 3. Sneden Street Improvement Project Street improvement Portions of City of Bishop MND 4. Fort Independence Hotel and Casino (360-acre fort) Full-service hotel 80,000 sq. ft. Tribal EIR 5. Southern Owens Valley Solar Ranch Solar facility 3,100 acres DEIR 6. Bishop Paiute Tribe Housing Project I 7. Bishop Paiute Tribe Housing Project II Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Inyo County Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment Single-family residential subdivision, including community center and police station Single-family residential subdivision Conservation plan 14 lots TBD 16 lots TBD Portions of Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties IS/NOP General Plan amendment Inyo County EIR 10. Inyo County Animal Shelter Expansion Animal shelter 3,360 sq. ft. MND 11. Kemp Subdivision Project (Indian Springs Drive and Tuttle Creek Road, Lone Pine) Single-family residential and agriculture 630 acres MND 12. Whitney Portal Subdivision Single-family residential 74 acres EIR Note: EIR = Environmental Impact Report; IS/NOP = Initial Study/Notice of Preparation; MND = Mitigated Negative Declaration, ND = Negative Declaration, TBD = To Be Determined Meridian Consultants ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra