4.15 RECREATION 4.15.1 Existing Conditions The County contains vast areas of undeveloped open space areas rich in natural resources and features that provide a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Most of the land within the County is publically owned. Public agencies provide and manage various outdoor recreational facilities and resources that are heavily frequented by visitors and residents alike. These recreational resources are described below and their locations are shown on Figure 4.15-1. 4.15.1.1 Parks County Parks The Inyo County Parks and Recreation Department manages and maintains seven parks within the County that total approximately 139 acres of parkland. Existing County parks are summarized in Table 4.15-1. Table 4.15-1 INYO CONTY PARKS Park Millpond Recreation Area Izaak Walton Park Starlite Park Mendenhall Park Dehy Park Independence Park Spainhower Park Source: Inyo County Parks 2014 Location 220 Sawmill Road Bishop 3600 West Line Street Bishop 880 Starlite Drive Bishop 370 North School Street Big Pine 435 North Edwards Street Independence 609 East Edwards Street Independence 445 North Main Street Lone Pine Size (acres) 124.9 2.1 1.0 4.8 1.4 Amenities Play equipment, softball fields, tennis courts, horseshoe pits swimming pond, and gazebo with tables and barbeque. Play equipment, event-size barbeque, large serving area, and creek. Play equipment, tennis court, and picnic tables. Play equipment, basketball court, picnic gazebo, and horseshoe pit. Play equipment, horseshoe pit, basketball court, restroom, and creek. 0.5 Shaded areas and restroom. 4.1 Play equipment, lawn area, tennis and basketball courts, horseshoe pit, gazebo, and creek. Death alley National Park Most of the 3 million acre Death alley National Park is located within the eastern portion of Inyo County. Death alley is a major tourist destination and provides a multitude of recreational facilities, including campgrounds, hiking and mountain biking trails, historic sites, museums, and back country roads. INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-1 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
4.15.1.2 Campgrounds The Inyo County Parks and Recreation Department operates 11 lower elevation campgrounds readily accessible from S 395 within the County, including Diaz Lake, Portagee Joe, Independence Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Millpond, Baker Creek, Pleasant alley, Glacier iew, Brown s Town, and Tecopa Park and Campground. All of these campgrounds support surface water features and offer fishing. In addition to County-operated campgrounds, there are numerous campgrounds on federal land, including within Death alley National Park, Inyo National Forest, and BLM lands. There are also numerous private campgrounds throughout the County. 4.15.1.3 Historical Sites/Points of Interest The County contains many historical sites and notable points of interest that provide recreation for visitors and residences. Major historical sites and points of interest include, but are not limited to: Manzanar National Historic Site; Cerro Gordo Ghost Town; Scotty s Castle; Stovepipe Wells; Armargosa Hotel and Opera House; Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery; Lone Pine Film History Museum; Austin Home; Putnam s Stone Cabin; Earthquake ictims Grave; Eastern California Museum; Laws Railroad Museum; Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest; Fossil Falls; and, Alabama Hills. 4.15.1.4 Dispersed Recreation Dispersed recreational activities are those that are not limited to a specific location such as campgrounds or parks. Such outdoor activities can occur in larger use areas on a regional level as well as a local level. Given the amount of open space and wilderness areas within the County, there is an abundance of natural resources that support dispersed recreational activities. Types of dispersed recreational activities that are available in certain geographic areas of the County include the following: Fishing Hunting Hiking and backpacking Off-highway vehicle (OH) riding Rock climbing Horseback riding Mountain biking Boating Hang gliding Rockhounding (i.e., recreational mining) Wildlife and nature viewing Birding Wilderness camping Scenic Driving INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-2 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
Fishing is common at many of the numerous lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers within the County. Boating is also provided at many of the lakes. Hunting is dispersed throughout the County and is popular for big game, and birds including waterfowl. Hiking and backpacking primarily occurs within wilderness areas and forest land with trailheads that lead to a large network of trails within the many mountain ranges and valleys. OH riding and all-terrain vehicle (AT) use is a popular activity that occurs in designated OH areas, as well as within certain areas of the Inyo National Forest and BLM lands. Popular locations for rock climbing include Mount Williamson, Mount Brewer, Charlotte Dome, Mount Clarence King, North Guard, Central Peak, Mount Gardiner, Dragon Peak, Mount Tyndall, Owens River Gorge, the Alabama Hills, and the Buttermilks. Horseback riding takes place primarily within the John Muir Wilderness and Inyo National Forest. Inyo County also has approximately 2,500 miles of unpaved rural roads and trails used by hikers and mountain bikers, including abandoned railroad corridors and roads maintained by the Inyo National Forest, NPS, BLM, SCE, and the LADWP. Hang gliding is most popular in the summer months and occurs on mesa tops. Rockhounding is common in areas off of S 395. Wildlife and nature viewing is provided in most areas of the County, but particularly within the wilderness areas and forest land. Similarly, birding is popular in natural open space areas and at Owens Lake. Wilderness camping occurs within Death alley, the Inyo National Forest, and BLM lands. Scenic driving is provided in most areas of the County due to the abundance of scenic resources, and there are officially designated state scenic highways and scenic byways. 4.15.1.5 Other Recreational Facilities In addition to the outdoor recreational resources and facilities described above, the County contains a few golf courses (Mount Whitney Golf Course, Bishop Country Club, Furnace Creek Golf Course, and Trona Golf Club), several recreational vehicle parks, a few hot springs, and eco-tourist locations that provide recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. 4.15.1.6 Regulatory Framework Federal Regulations Omnibus Public Federal Land Management Act The Omnibus Public Federal Land Management Act was passed in 2009 and protects more than two million acres of land as designated wilderness in nine states; designates over 1,000 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers; and established three national parks, three national conservation areas, four national trails, ten national heritage areas, and a national monument. It also created several water conservation, habitat restoration and land management programs, and gives formal recognition to the 26 million-acre National Landscape Conservation System. Among these protected wilderness lands include approximately 350,000 acres within the Inyo National Forest and BLM land. Federal Land Policy and Management Act The FLPMA was enacted in 1976 and governs the way in which public lands administered by the BLM are managed. The FLPMA is the landmark legislation that provides a framework for INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-3 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
managing federal land in perpetuity for the benefit of present and future generations. nder the FLMPA, public lands are to be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals; and that will provide for outdoor recreation and human occupancy and use. National Trails Systems Act The National Trails Systems Act (16 SC 1241), enacted in 1968, created a series of national trails to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the nation. This act established three types of trails, including the National Scenic Trails, National Recreation Trails, and connecting-and-side trails. The National Trails System currently consists of 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails and over 1,000 National Recreation Trails, and two connecting-andside trails, with a total length of more than 50,000 miles. The National Trails provide for recreational activities of hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and camping. Trails within Inyo County that are part of the National Trails System include the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and Old Spanish National Historic Trail. Inyo National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan The Inyo National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) provides direction for management activities in the Inyo National Forest. The LRMP guides where and under what conditions an activity on national forest lands can occur and includes guidance on the provision of recreational opportunities. National Park Service Management Policies The NPS Management Policies (2006) provide broad policy guidance for the management of units of the national park system. Topics include park planning, land protection, natural and cultural resource management, wilderness preservation and management, interpretation and education, recreational uses, special uses of the parks, park facilities design, and concessions management. State Regulations California State Parks Off-Highway Motor ehicle Recreation Division The Off-Highway Motor ehicle Recreation Program was created in 1971 to manage off-highway recreation, while balancing the need to protect the state s resources. In addition to providing accessibility to off-highway recreation for hikers to bikers to bird watchers, the program provides a variety of services and benefits to California's residents and visitors, including resource management of state lands, wildlife habitat protection, youth development and law enforcement. INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-4 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
California Outdoor Recreation Plan The California Outdoor Recreation Plan is the statewide master plan for parks, outdoor recreation, and open space for California. The plan provides policy guidance to all outdoor recreation providers, including federal, state, local, and special district agencies that provide outdoor recreational lands, facilities and services throughout California. Local Regulations Lower Owens River Recreation se Plan The Lower Owens River Recreation se Plan provides a conceptual framework to protect the area from the unintended consequences of increased use. The plan s purpose is to support LORP goals while creating opportunities for local residents and visitors to experience recreation, learn more about the ecosystem, and become active stewards of the lower Owens River. Fishing, birding, wildlife viewing, hunting, and OH riding are the most popular recreation activities within the LORP area. Owens alley Land Management Plan The LADWP owns and manages approximately 250,000 acres in Inyo County, mainly within the Owens alley floor. Approximately 75 percent of LADWP land in Inyo County is open to the public for recreational uses such as fishing, hiking, hunting, nature studies, photography, painting, and other daytime recreational uses. LADWP s OLMP (2010) provides management direction for resources on all city of LADWP lands in the County (excluding the LORP area discussed above). Resource management issues include water supply, habitat, recreation and land use. The OLMP provides a framework for implementing management prescriptions through time, monitoring the resources, and adaptively managing changed land and water conditions. Inyo County General Plan Recreational resources are addressed within the Conservation/Open Space Element of the Inyo County General Plan. Section 8.9, Recreation, contains the following goals and policies: Goal REC-1: Develop a public parks, recreation, and open space system that provides adequate space and facilities to meet the varied needs of County residents and visitors. Policy REC-1.1: Natural Environment as Recreation. Encourage the use of the natural environment for passive recreational opportunities. Policy REC-1.2: Recreational Opportunities on Federal, State, and LADWP Lands. Encourage continued management of existing recreational areas and open space, and appropriate expansion of new recreational opportunities on federal, state, and LADWP lands. Policy REC-1.3: Existing Park Facilities. Enhance existing County recreational parks and campground sites. INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-5 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
Policy REC-1.4: Adequate Parkland. The County shall provide adequate parkland throughout the County. The County shall provide parkland dedication and/or developer fees for new subdivisions within the County to provide adequate recreation space for residents. Policy REC-1.5: Distribution of Community Parks. The County shall ensure that community parks are located to ensure equitable distribution of facilities within the County. Policy REC-1.6: Range of Recreational Activities/Facilities. The County shall provide for a broad range of active and passive recreational activities in community parks. When possible, this should include active sports fields and facilities in community parks that will provide for the needs of leagues and programs. Policy REC-1.7: Park Design. The County shall ensure that community members are involved in the design and development of all park facilities. 4.15.2 Significance Thresholds The thresholds for determining significance under CEQA are based on Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines. In this analysis, the proposed project would have significant impacts associated with recreation if it would result in any of the following: Increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated. Include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment. 4.15.3 Impact Analysis The REGPA is designed to minimize impacts to recreation opportunities in the County by constraining renewable energy development throughout the County in conjunction with the General Plan s existing protection for such resources. Indirectly, individual future projects have the potential to impact recreational resources. The following impact analysis primarily focuses on utility scale solar energy facilities because those would likely result in the greatest influx of new workers due the potential size and job opportunities associated with such facilities; however, the analysis also applies to the other proposed categories of solar energy facilities, including distributed generation and community scale facilities. The proposed REGPA also includes provisions for development of small scale solar energy facilities. However, due to their small size(e.g., small array of ground- or roof-mounted P panels), and location (on the building or the property it serves), these developments are currently allowed throughout the County within any zoning district under ICC Title 18, and require only electrical and building permits for development. As a result, these developments are not INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-6 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
considered to result in impacts under CEQA, and would not typically require the CEQA analysis or associated mitigation measures described in this document. The County routinely reviews all development proposals for environmental impacts. Therefore, all future solar energy projects would be evaluated on a project-specific basis to assess specific recreation impacts against the program-level analysis contained in this PEIR. Applicable mitigation measures identified in this PEIR would be implemented for the individual project, as well as any additional mitigation or design measures identified in the recreation analysis conducted for the project. 4.15.3.1 Recreational se Impacts tility scale solar energy development is not compatible with recreation uses. Implementation of solar energy projects that would displace or preclude existing or planned recreational uses would result in direct impacts. In determining and identifying the proposed SEDAs, the County has identified areas that may be appropriate for solar energy development projects through analysis of geographic, physical, cultural, and environmental constraints and opportunities. Among these considerations, areas containing recreational uses and resources were generally not included in the SEDAs so that direct impacts to existing recreational resources would be avoided. Associated direct impacts to recreational uses would be less than significant. In addition to direct impacts, indirect impacts to existing recreational resources could occur if solar energy projects would block or remove access to recreational areas due to solar energy development. As discussed above, the SEDAs have largely been sited in areas that do not contain recreational resources; thus, it is not anticipated that blockage or severance of access routes to recreational areas would occur. Associated indirect impacts to recreational uses would be less than significant. 4.15.3.2 Population Based Park and Recreation Facility Impacts Demands for parks and recreational facilities are directly related to local population levels. Future solar development projects within the SEDAs and the OSA would not be expected to result in substantial direct or indirect population increases. Temporary construction jobs would be generated during construction of individual future solar development projects, the number of which depends on the type and size of the project. Peak construction workforces for solar energy projects generally range from approximately 400 to 1,400 daily workers, with averages from about 100 to 400 or more workers over construction periods ranging from 2 to 4 years. Construction personnel could use parks and other recreational facilities near the specific project site or their housing. It is anticipated that most of the construction workforce would come from the local or regional employment pool, but some would likely come from areas outside of the County. Construction workers that currently reside in the County would not create an increased demand for recreational facilities as they have already been accounted for in current population levels. Temporary construction workers that come from areas outside the County could, depending on their permanent housing location and distance from the specific project site, stay in temporary housing within the County. The housing needs of the temporary influx of construction workers would be spread throughout the County at various areas in relative INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-7 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
proximity to the SEDAs. These workers would represent a temporary population increase, and although they could use nearby park and recreational facilities within the general locale of the project site during project construction, they are not expected to relocate to the area with their families and they are not expected to generate a substantial demand for local park services. Associated impacts would be less than significant. A small number of long-term jobs associated with operations and maintenance would be generated as a result of future solar development projects; however, any population increases associated with long-term jobs for future solar development projects is expected to be minor. Operations crews could number approximately 150 for large solar energy projects, but are anticipated to number 10 to 50 operation and maintenance workers. Minor long-term employment needs are expected to be associated with the operation of future solar development projects and would include jobs associated with management, monitoring, and maintenance of the facilities. These jobs may be filled by persons already residing in the County or some longterm workers may relocate to the County on a permanent basis to fill these positions. Regardless, the small number of jobs generated from long-term operation of future solar development projects is expected to result in a minimal increase in the County s population, and thus, a minimal increase in the usage of local parks. Associated impacts would be less than significant. Implementation of the proposed project would not include development of recreational facilities and would not cause population growth that would generate the need to construct or expand recreational facilities. The proposed project also does not include a recreational component, such as a hotel, resort, campground, or other facility that would attract or accommodate an increase in visitors to the area that would indirectly increase the use or demand for recreational and park facilities and services. No associated impacts would occur. 4.15.3.3 Distributed Generation, and Community Scale Facilities The recreation analysis focuses on utility scale solar energy facilities because those would result in the greatest change to the natural environment due the potential size and expanse of such facilities; however, the analysis also applies to the other proposed categories of solar energy facilities, including distributed generation, and community scale, facilities. Although the proposed REGPA would include provisions for development of smaller scale solar energy facilities, these facilities would be expected to result in a lesser level of impact because of their smaller size (generally less than 20 acres), type (e.g., smaller array of ground-mounted P panels or roof-mounted P panels), and location (generally on-site within, or adjacent to, existing developed areas). Impact conclusions apply to all proposed categories of solar energy facilities. The potential impact to recreation stemming from implementation of distributed generation, and community scale facilities is less than significant; mitigation is unwarranted. 4.15.4 Level of Significance before Mitigation Based on the analyses in Section 4.15.3, with the application of ICC Title 21, future utility scale, distributed generation, and community scale solar energy facility projects under the REGPA would result in less than significant impacts to recreation and mitigation is not required. Small scale projects are typically considered to result in no impacts under CEQA. INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-8 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
4.15.5 Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are required provided compliance with ICC Title 21. 4.15.6 Significant navoidable Adverse Impacts No significant unavoidable adverse recreation impacts would result from implementation of the proposed project. INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 4.15-9 DRAFT PROGRAM ENIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOEMBER 2014
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395 6 Pleasant alley Millpond Recreation Area! (! ( Browns Millpond Izaak Walton Park MONO CONTY 266 Bishop 168 " ) Browns Town Laws BIshop Country Club Golf Course Baker Creek 95 Big Pine! ( 72 Glacier iew Mendenhall Park Tinnemaha Creek Taboose Creek 395 Dehy Park 180! (! ( Independence Park Independence Creek Independence TLARE CONTY N EADA Spainhower Park Lone Pine! ( Mount Whitney Portagee Joe " ) 198 Diaz Lake 95 Golf Course 136 " ) Furnace Creek Golf Course Owens Lake Owens Lake 190 Olancha PA N Rose alley Pahrump 127 A M T IN E NG RA S:\PROJECTS\C\COI-01_InyoCo_REGPA\GIS\MXD\PEIR\Recreation\Figure 4.15-1 Recreation resources_rev.mxd FRESNO CONTY Inyo County Charleston iew County Boundary.S. Navy - China Lake Chicago alley Death alley National Park Solar Energy Development Area (SEDA) Pearsonville Owens alley Study Area! ( " ) County Park KERN CONTY Golf Courses 0 Tecopa Park Tecopa 160 A LL EY Sandy alley SAN BERNARDINO CONTY Inyo County Recreational Resources Credits: Esri, SGS, County of Inyo Map Date: 10-10-2014 N Trona Pearsonville County Campground 178 Inyo National Forest PA HR M P 20 Miles INYO CONTY RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT - PEIR Figure 4.15-1