Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
81 - 25 PLANNING COMMISION MINUTES & AGENDAS MARCH 10, 1982 6 OF 9
A, PLATE 2 1 !Y , Ladl I TIGER CREFIC Npt+�' her No. PAv,motjn4, POWERPLANT '- -,r Srotwla 1 1 � Ir 49 / {\•\7\vrl�tk G Jackson s� j Pardee Reservoir f, Comanche Reservoir p,6Ukelul""� a' San Andreas '' Morldlo �� Fork + (�26�, , New Hagan �b`° �✓ ��Reservoir Camp`s t0E p! BELLOTA `a ;5L1 �SATIoN�{ New Melones Lake Sonora cr� Copperotaolis,,.�; NEW MELoNES ` $ SONORA o�POWERPLANT ° RANGER STATION 119791 1.1 ch Reservoir f Jarriestbvyn s GROVELAND �'' ' RANGER STATIC,N nI �� !(NIGHTS FER WILLMS 120 S7'*� 210 KV Oakdale\AN 49 A;VISLAU RANCH nw�� F,FtC11Y. �» .; 10H wARNERVILLE�"' SUBSTATION 1ecsF' New Don Pedro A PARkER "ti�q Reservoir I SUBSTATION Modesto ti, +a� 79© Kv 11MIp � a � 99 M'IE' 6 ` �r UNIttb VMEs OEPARTMEN1 Of ME INtER1b1I Turlock RUREAL Of PMAMAtiON CENTIRAI VALLEY PROJECT a WALNUT` Wt ME blvtsloN r SUBSTATION NEW MELONS$ UNIT.CALIK NCSVErAECW 1416 LOCATION MAP 991„SOI! 135 NOTICE OVERSTZE DR -A ING ` HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILMED ON 15MM PLATE 4 PROPOSED NEW MELONES 230 KV TRANSMISSION LINE Inv PIL TO La Grw" PFX)PC*ED ROUTETHE AUIRVAnYE EXISTM TRANS&UMON -a S� FEET CONTOL�AS Aorta R— P4 sbt. 0 MILES ROUTE LOGATI ON 'COURTESY P.G.&E.' proposal The Bureau has consulted with the staff of the Federal Power Commission (Commission) in the preparation Of this environ=- mental statement, in light of the Commission's responsibilities with respect to the subject transmission line. in rider to con- struct, operate, and maintain the line, PG&E must first obtain a license for the line From the. Commission, under the Federal Powe -r Act (16 U.S.C. 979la-875r). There is pending before the Commission an application by PG&E for such a license .for the proposed ,line, designated Project No. 2781 by the Commission. The long-term environmental impacts of th1111 line will be physical and visual. Potential impacts on wildtil't�, vegetation, and archeological sites can, to a large degree, Wh ;mitigated. The line has been located to minimize the effects on Iri.trl;ori.cal sites and scenic areas. PG&E has submitted an Environmental Data :statement covering the proposed facilities to the California Public Utilities Commission. A copy may be obtained by contacting PG&E at 77 .Neale Street, San Francisco, CA 94106, or telephone (415) 781-4211. a• Legislative Histo7{y and Authorization The New Melones Project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, substantially in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief of Engineers in Flood Control Committee Document No,, 74 78th Congress, Second Session. That authorization was subsequently modified by the 1962 Flood Control Act (Public Law 87-874)• This project, as modified now, is under construction by the Corps of Engineers. Public Law, 87-874 contains the afollowing provisions: (1) "a • • . i Provided, That upon completion, of construction of the dam and powerplant by the Corps of Engineers,_ alae project shall become an integral part of the Centra]. Valley Project, and be operated and maintained by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federal, reclamation laws, (2) " Provided further, That contracts for the sale and delivery of the additional, electric energy available .from thr., Central Valley Project power system as a result of the construe-- tion of the plants herein authorized and their integration with that system shall be made in accordance with Ptafetei;aes expressed in federal reclamation laws except that first f to the extant as needed and as fixed by the Secretary pofthenInteriior, but not to exceed 25 per centum of such additional energy, shall be given, under reclamation law, to preference customers in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, California, for use i;t that county, w110 are ready, able, and willing, within twelve months after notice of availability by the Secretary of the Interior, to enter into contracts for the energy and that Tuolumne and Calaveras Proposal County preference customers may exercise their option in the Same date in each successive fifth year providirig, writtVa notice of their intention to use the energy is given to the Secretary of the Interior not less than eighteen months priur tc RaW dates: . . . b. Project Facilities The East Side Division feasibility report in the 196018 envisioned an electrical transmission system which would integrate New Melones into the CVP system at Tracy Switchyard, A Farmington Switchyard, which was Planned, would sectionalize I -be New Melones-Tracy 230 -kV circuits and connect the Farmington) Cooperol.(MA, and Montgomery Pumping plants. Delays in authorization ()r, the East Side Division required that an alternative plan be (j(!Veloped. Since the Bureau is required by contract to deliver (I'vp power to the Tracy Switchyard) the most likely alternative Watj assumed to be a 62-m.` e (100 km) New Melones to Tracy 230j000 -volt line. 2" Proposed AGtio►r A 23 -mile (37 km), 230 -kV, double circuit, three-phase electrical transmission line to interconnect the New Melones Switchyard to the northern California Power grid is to be constructed and operated by PG&E. This is a majir action involving Federal funds. The line will loop into the: l'istitig PG&E Bellota-Herndon 230 -kV transmission line No. 2 immediately South of the city and county of San Francisco Warnervillo Substations Plates 2 and 4 show the locations of the facilities. 3. Pur ase The Proposed PU&9 230 -kV electrical transmission line would tie the New Melones POWOthouse to the OVp Tracy Switchyard load center via the PG&E Power grid. Tile Power would be delivored to Bureau loads from Tracy Switchyard via the CVP POWdr grid or wheeled over the PG&E system tinder various contractual arrangements. 4. Interrelationships With Other Facilities a. New Melones The line would tie to the Powerplant which switchyard at the New Meloties 18 being constructed by the Corps of Engineers. initial plant testing is scheduled for January 1-979. b. Central Valley Projett The Central Valley transmission grid is Shown in red on Ifit of do plate 3- The nearest potential point _livery to the CVP is the Tracy Switchyard tihich is about 62 miles (100 kffl) away. Power from New Melones, except for the Calaveras and - Tuolumne County entitlements, has already been contracted. Proposal c. PG&E Company The proposdd line would tie to the PG&E company system near Oakdale, California by looping into the PG&E tellota-Herndon 230 -kV No. 2 circuit. A schematic diagram is shown on plate 5. The power entering the PG&E system will be integrated with CVP power through various contracts with the company. S. Transmission Line Location Methods Independent preliminary line location studies were made by the Bureau and by PG&E. The primary purpose of the Bureau study was to estimate the cost of Federal construction or the line. After a corridor analysis (described in Soction 6 which follows) was made, alternative routes within the corridors were explored. The Bureau considered: (1) "Environmenwit Criteria for Electric Transmission Systems,:" published by the United States Departments of Interior and Agriculture which is the official guideline used by the Bureau in the location, design) and construe- tier! of the transmission line, and (2) other docu ents including "Electric Power Transmission and the Environment" and "Environ- mental Guidelines• Aerial photographs were made to investigate existing facili-, ties and were coordinated with Geological Survey topographic maps. Routes selected by the Bureau and PG&E were further refined by onsite inspection and helicopter flight. The tower structures will be located in the field to avoid archeological site- to the greatest extent possible. Construction and operation and maintenance road easements will be selected using similar archeological criteria. 6: Corridor Analysis a. Introduction The corridor concept was used by the Bureau as a planning tool for determining a transmission line route from the New Melones Switchyard to the point of interconnection with the PG&E power system. 2 U.S, Department of the Interior and U.S. Departmovit of Agriculture, 8ftvit6tmdntAl Criteria f6t Electric Ttanspisaioq. 8y8tetfis 3 (Washington) D.C.; U.S. Government Prihtiog Office, 1970) U.S. Federal Power Commigsioftj Electric Power. Transmission and 4 the Environment (Washington, D.C.;Vederal Power Commission) 1970) Western Systems Coordinating Comicil, Environmental Guidelines (Log Angeles, California; Western Systems Coordinating Coundilt 1912) 4 SELLOTA (PG&E) 2,3 ml PLATE 5 NEN/ MELONES ii \► -F)-<---DOUBLE (G�, � r 1 I 1 I I DOUBLE-, I CIRCUIT —>-dl, (PG BE) ' a I I f I f 230 KV - - f i f ( I I WARNERVILLE 1 r — USBR ' I (ccsF) I C L1. - I I I i 1 I I L l ►- •r .J f I I I I ' i I I f 1 r L i � f f j EY -'L _ -4 I co k j �OR[%ON y~ (PG��E) i ~� - I I t f 1 1= - L 1 � 3 2,3 ml PLATE 5 NEN/ MELONES ii \► -F)-<---DOUBLE (G�, � r { -� �- 230 KV - - r — USBR rfJ-L- C L1. C CIRCUIT 1 r UNITED STATES DEPARRMENT0P THg INTER),of# r DUOW OF AtOLAMATION CENTRAL VALLEY pROjECT -L ~ .- NERNL)ON EAST SIDS DIV, -NEW M8LONE8 UNIT--CALI>=, (PG&E) NM MELONE8 TRANS 8DAGRAAGIL (r1Es CHLMATICIM Proposal A corridor is a strip of land used in transmission line planning which is sufficient in width to provide a latitude for locating a transmission line therein. A corridor may be several miles wide or more depending on the constraints. 'Lanes located within a corridor may be in close parallel or vary in, separation. Selection of a corridor provides a base for notal hand -use management planning which considers requirements to minimize environmental impacts and future land—use conflicts. Aspects considared during the adopted and alternate corridor analyses include topography, economics, soils, present and planned land uses, visual impact, noise, vegetation, wildli.fn, and areas of social significance. bi Corridors The study area includes darts of Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties. The corridors are about 25 mileo (40 km) long_ and are shown on plate 64 A northern and a southern corridor were considered. The southern corridor begins at the New rielones Switchyard, crosses the Stanislaus River, and proceeds in a southerly direction adjacent to the ME 115 -kV Melones-Riverbank line, crosses State Highway 1,08,/120, the Vetch-Hetchy Aqueduct and associated 230 -kV electrical transmission lines, the Sierra Railroad, several minor roads, and continues to the PG&E lines just south of the Warnerville Substatione it is primarily located in 'Tuolumne and Stanislaus Counties. The 'northern corridor has the same terminals but skirts the northern part of an asbestos mine, crosses the northern arm of Tullochi lake, the Copper Cove Subdivision, farmlands, and rural posies; it, also, has the Oakda.lu airport runway jutting into it. 7. Proposed Route The results of the corridor analyses led to a route in the southern corridor• The corridors and alternative routes within the corridors which were investigated, are showg;on plate 6 Further route modifications were made by P= , The proposed transmission line route is 23 miles (37 km) long. 5 ME 1976 Environmental Data Statement 5 Proposal The northeastern terminus of the transmission line will be in Calaveras County at the New Melones Switchyard, now under g construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. site is west of the Stan slaus Rxver near Dean Gulch The switchyard switchyard, the line will head west to nearby structures ontItliwill then turn to the southeast to cross the ,Stanislaus River, enter. Tuolumne County, and head up a small draw into scattered trees towattl Peoria Basin. There it w3.11 turn southwest continuing over Table Mountain, cross the Melones—Riverbank Junction 115—kV wood Pole line, pass outside the Sierra Conservation Camp security fence and cross New Peoria Flat. The proposed turn southwest about 3/4 of a mile 0.2km) southnf owthe�Newen Peoria flat Road, crossing Tulloch Lake at the eastern end of Green Springs Run (Federal Power Commission Project 2067). It would cross owl Creek and State Highway 108/120 passing through scattered oaks and pasture. it will then turn slightly southeast along private dirt roads to the Stanisl.aus-Tuolumne County line. In: Stanislaus County, the line turns slightly west and crosses the Lletch�Netchy Aqueduct and then crosses open rolling foothills e a point just northeast of Willms Road. The line turns southwest until it crosses the city and county of San Francisco 2,50— and 115—kV powerlines and continues to the south side of the Warnerville. Substation where it will interconnect with pC&E lines. 8. Structuter, The entire line, except for two poles at the New Melones ThSwitchyard will be supprrted by double circuit steel lattice towers: eself-su 15S feetPP reed square base structures will vary in height from to 7(].524tom610 mjan engths wi11 vary from about SOO to 2,.0100 feet . shown an plate 7. Typical tower designs are - 9. Conductors The main aluminum conductors will, be 1013 kcmil (696 mm2), 61 strand, 1.216 -inch (31.2 mm) nominal. diameter 19,700—pound (8 I 936 kg) rated strength, and weighs 1.94' pounds per foot (1.56 kg per m) Two overhead ground wires will: be installed for only the first 1-1/2 miles (2.4 km)from New Melones Switchyard to provide lightning Protection. The No. 8 AWG ground' wires will consist of seven—strand' Pounds (7 21,2 kg), rated strength, and weigh 0.2618 ' alumotseld 0,385—inch 9.8 mm) nominal diametor, 15 900 (0.39 k8 per m). 8 pound per foot 6 Proposal 10, PG&E Construction Criteria -------------- a Access Existing roads will be used where available, but addi- 4ional access Will be required to meet construction needs. The additional access roads will ;be designed for multiwheel-dr Ve vah:icles and tr_^ctors. Existing acc MS roads which were developed for the 115 -kv wood pole Line will be used at Table Mountain. An effort Will be made to avoid developing a r, oxxsting plateau. p $ w access road across the The area 1 mile (16 km) north oftate Highway .17.0/1Qg to S the point of intersection and parallel with f S city and county of San Francisco' s transmission lines will regUire a lesser amount of new road construction due to the existing access in the parallel section, And to the type of terrain. b. Rght-Of 1 Waw (1) Re u;irements There are about 28 land ownerships along the proposed line route. The propo„ed right-of-way for. the line requires a � total of about 265 acres %add ha) of private land and 20 acres ($ ha) of Federal lands. In acldxtion, there are several utility, railroad, and road crossings which will requ11t ats. right-of-way width for the line is The to be about t- feetgreeme°rts. m) This will maintenance. Exrovide adequate e ade 9uate work ing space for construction inroads and trails will be used for access wherever feasible, but some new access roads will be required fo Construction and maintenance. r (2) A, equi.siti.on acquired in the form dofean1easementred for theThenlandown�}ofT-wa+ PC&E or its successors an easement to The eruct, of y will be r recoest brant operate, an, maintain one electric transmission erne together with struct, all towers, crossarms, conductor8, and such other structures used in, the construction, maintenance of t operation, antithe transmissionline across the right-of-wa . a The landowner will be paid just compensation based upon an tory to both ppraisal. When a settlement, satisfae� parties, eannot be secured through negotiations, condemnation notion will be takers. Whenever it is Impossible to stay on. the .line right-of-way with the access roads for coristructan beused to purchasetaceess�rothe same acquisition Procedures will ' operation, roads or an merits over existing private roads to be constructed eacross privato p''operty. 7 Proposal Right-of-way through r-ederal and State-owned lands will be obtained from the appropriate administering agency* (3) Laad Use The private landowner will have the right to culti- Vilte, use, and occupy the acquired right-of-way for any purposes which would not, by the determination of the PG&E company) consti- tute a hazard to human life, Interfere with any of the rights and privileges granted to the company, at endanger any of its property* This is in accordance with the policy of encouraging multiple. use of transm:Lssion line right-of-way. Use Of right-of-way through Federal: (Ind State-owned lands will be, at 0le discretion of the dd minis tering land -use arvency, subject to the above considerations. 0 c. t�Iearin Clearing will be in two stages: M clearing for !tures, conductor stilnging, line safety and roads, and (2) aeJc_ted landscape clearing will be conducted after the structures and conductors are in place, Selective clearing will be requ-Lted along the line for conductor clearance-. Clearing 04 the right-of-way will be limited to only that which is necessary to prevent interference of trees and brush Witt' Proposed tizansmission facilities. Tree topping and pruning techniques will be used to provide minimum conductor clearance. Tile most c-tunsivu clearing will be raquived along the alinement between the .,!W Malones Switchyard and the Tuolumne County line. The vegetation along this area is primarily scattered oaks and brush. A cleared construction area of approximately $0 feet (15 in) radius will be required around each structure location. In addition, 5- to 1.0-foot-wida (1.5 to 3 m) trails will be cleared in order to install the conductorand between tovers. The only other clearing will involve vegatontioft which would en4anger the operation of the line. Vegetation along th- alinement between, the Tuolumne County line and, the connection Point is primarily grass and Pasture; therefore, clearlftg is not required,, Structure TqataL lation Voundations require auger or hand -dug holes4 gein- forcing steal is placed in the holes and anchor bolts or base stubs are positioned. Fours are placed for the concrete pour above the ground. Tile forms and holes are than filled with concrete. Proposal M, the concrete is cutin earth backfi' Placed around the forms are removed and each found the structural members are delivered to each individual st lo��aLi.on. After the concrete has cured, the structures .1dualg this time as0"ati-On. and erected. rucCure The erection u�tures are by the use of a mobile crane. In somelselected eall,, be accomplished construction will be used for structure xs, gin Pale erection. e. Conductor Installation Temporary wood pole clearance structures will be. installed at public and private roads and at locations w� new conductors could interfere with existing elactxic communication facilities tare the are strung, temporary or road traff ic, Af ter th;rl I'.i.ndu tostructures will, be removed conductors Will be returned to its natural aura tlrr+ grade. -� ground Special sites (1 acre C. set up reeks of conductor and related4ha) or equi mentess) am required to conductor (pull, and P for stringing the Payout sites). Under some circumstances, the reel trailers can be little or no effect on adjacent areas.e Conductorsdwa� related equipment Ys with site, , and materials be be positioned at trailers., Conductors mill, be attached to a payout where the terrain and vegetation would allowctravel along the crawler tractor, right-of-way. In areas where vegetation and steepness of terrain vent the use of ground vehicles, aerial or manual metht,c4 will be used to pull in a lead rope or a steel cable Pre- Will be used to pull in the conductors, (sock line) which Plated ,in the traveler sheaves u After the conductors are Precaiculated tension. a they are then pulled into a f• Site Cleanub Clearance structures will be removed as such as packing crates and shippingThr~ aellottt-Hind 230 -kV transmission line will be te,r�t�tbrarials, well to debris to its ,ol farmer location after conductors have beencPlac but restored final position. Itis areas where sails and vegetation may In the beco►ne altered or disturbed, they will be restored to near natural conditions ettcept where squired where Operationbrand o ne have Prohibit it, maintenance 9 • Tt:,ee Remova l Tree removal gill be minimal but some will be 'required the oak and pine growth areas as depicted on the predominate Ve e,ta t ion t q red Yn g � Ypes map, Plate o th trees which %could interfere with soperttti.onuof�ther�mOv yfew those on yr near structures sites. al c,+auld e and 9 NOTICE O'"ERRE D A IN �i r y y Proposal H. Schedule of Construction Activities a.. .Access: January 1, 1978. to July ,f,. 1978. b. Clearing: January 1, 1978 to July 1, 1.978 c, Structure 'Installation: April 1, 1978 to November 1, 1978 d. Conductor Installation: July 15, 1978 to January 1, ;1979 e. Cleanup! September 1, 1978 to Jamigry 3o, 1979 12. PG&E Operation and Maintenance The proposed line will be patrolled and inspected by a ground patrol at least once a year to insure a high degree of, aervice continuity. If electrical or mechanical trouble occurs either a ground or air patrol will be made to determine the location of the fault. If line damage occurs, repairs will be scheduled during norwal, working hours unless the system dispatcher and local supervisors determine that immediate action is required. Emergency situations might require nighttime work. Minor repairs could be handled by crews why •ould carry tools and equipment on foot from their trucks t. the vorksites if road access were not available: These tools will normally consist of hand ---operated tools and, for night work; a portable generator for lighting. In the rare event of major structural damage to a tower; repair will be handled in the. same manger and with similar equipment as used in the original construction. (See Appendix B Except for occasional planned outages for maintenance purposes and forced outages, the transmission system will be energized continuou8ly. Certain construction roads will be retained for oper,ntlon and. maintenance purposes: These roads are to provide access for PGCE maintenance persc and L9ehi.clos for the purposes of keeping the transmission ling fr.,ier operating conditions. A right-ot-way for use of the 'ma ce roads will, be secured between PG&E and affected landowners land -use agency. ",xist ng roads will be used for maintenance purposes wherever poi-ilble to minimize the additional access surface disturbance. Hdintenance of the right"of-way usually consists of erosion control, seeding and sponsoring revegetatiu,1 that; is compatible with the transmission Line; brush and tree trimming for vegetation which could interfere with the operation of the system, and repair of the maintenance roads. 10 Proposal 13. En ineerin Criteria proposed PG&E 2:30—kV transmission Linc would be a three — 4) se, duu`1e—circuit tower line with a single, 1,1,13 kcmil (696 mm aluminum conductor for each hase. be self --supported, square base, lattice steel hstructures,e towerslvarying in height from approximately 90 to 155 feet (27 to 47 m) The two poles at the New Melones Switchyard will range between. 500 to 2,000 feet (155 to 600 m), depending on topography and design constraints.6 The required right-of-way will be 100 feet (30 m) wide, except where it parallels Lhe 230,000—volt the criteria Retch—Hetchy lines. Th(Ire it will be 103 feet (.31 ret) wide. The line will be designed to III r set fort it she California Public Utilities Commi8"iOD Cenera.l Order q y and FPC Guidelines. Line Specifications n' -Lw flliown in Appendix C. ` 14. Sa�'ety and Health All activities are subject to the Federal Occupational Safety and Hea1Lh Admina,stration (OSHA) provisions and California standards. 15. Powor Facilit+ Certification and Licenses Certi'icati.on by the State of California Public Utilities Commission an:i d.11 licenses are being obtained by PC&S. They also applie 1 for a t,., :smis,,Fto . ii,-te license from the Federal Power Commission on u,luber 2rs, 1976. The Tuolumne County Planning Commission approv j the d'.'opo- 5d loute on .January 12, 1977. CalaVcras and Stani:slaus ount.,- ha•ie also approved the proposed route. 6 Outlined in Cener+l. Order 95 "Mules for Overhead Electric Line Construction," State of California Public Utilities Commission, ll E, DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 1. Exz__._stzn Environment The project area has social and cultural heritage developed from the California gold rush in 1849 and the prospectors thronged to the Sierra Nevada foothills in search ohp Years following when gold. Prior to that time, Indians occupied the arca n earch o while hunting and gathering plant food. Man des gold rush days still remain in the y Ctendants ll the abandoned manes, ,Ferry sites; artifacts, and�ruir�crstoric buildings, mining activity has largely been replaced b a rcmainy The recreational activities. y gra.et!1L•ural and There is d wide variety of historic, acenir., atld recreational attractions which include historic sites and montnN`cvhts, special geological features, lakes, reservoirs hiking. State Highway s mountaxna, camping, and g y and to 0 is one of the main routes to the Yosemite National, Park and to parts. of the Mother Lode the average daily traffic (ADT area. In 1076, Proposed line crossin B ) use on the highway was 7400 near the 12,Q00. g y 1995, the AUT use is projected -to be The O'Syrnes ferry Road eminates from the highway androv` access to the New Melones Powerhouse Copperopolis Sierra Conservation Center. the Al;Och servoir, end the Vides line dossing was 1,100 in 1976. ube at the proposed a Climate The Stanislaus River Basin has climate characterised by hot n temperate, semiarid Temperatures at the New Melones Switchyard area have ranged , dry summers and cool,,. wet winters. summer high of 11501 (450C) to a from a temperature wa.nter low of 140E (-10 C), Air precipitation and wind are shown on table 1. Temperatures may drop below freesia several consecutive days florins the winter but no g for few hours of Periods of subrreeging temperatures accur.s extended occurs as rain. Show,£all is rare. Ec precipitation generally the valley floor. The average g m+:y occur in the winter at from 75 percent in Januar g midday relative humidity ranges July and 47 percent in Octobers percettt in April, 39 percent in Columbia Airport records. Thin n formation was derived from 12 ENVIRONMENT Average values are listed below: shown for the -various stations as Station Count � Elevation -------___� Yeats Temp, Of Record Preczp, Groveland Ranger Tuolumne 34145 ( F) (inches) ) 37 (944 m) (2.8 C) Knights Perry 2SG Stanislaus 3.15 (95 m) 15 (--9 4 C) 15 (38 cm) Modesto 3tanislaus 89 1o4 (27 mi (40 C) 48 (122 cm) Sonora :Ranger Tuolumne 1,749 (525 m) 66 (15.9 C) 82 (221 cm) Feet above mean sen level TABLE I :-:.CLIMATIC DdTA Jan. Feb- Mar Apr. �� - Jun: Jul Ate¢ Sept OcC No^v- Dec .4==331 Average Air Temp. F 3,night7a Ferxy 2S 47 (9-3 'C) 47 !!:_3 C) 54 (12'.2 -C) 55 {12.8 'C) Se (17.8'-C) 74, (23-3 'C) 77 (25 -C) 76 (24.4 -C) 74 (23.3 -C) 66 (18.9 'C) 51 (10.6 C). 44 (6.7 'C) 61 C_6.1 -C) Modesto 45 (T-2 'C) 50 (10 'C) 54 (12.2 'c) 59 (}; 'C) 65 (28.3 -C) 71 (21.7 'C) 76 1,24.4 -C) 74 (23.3 -C) 7L (21.7 -C) 63 (17.2 -C) 53 (11.7 'C) 46 (7-8 -C) 61. (16.1 -C) Sonoro Ranger $ta_ 44 (6.7 'C) 47 (8.3 'C) 49 (9.4 -C)+ 55 (12.8 -C)` 61 (16.1: -C) 69 (20.6 •C) 77 (25 -C) 75 (23.9 'C) 71 (21.7 'C) 62 (16.7 'C) 52 (11.1 -C) 45 (7.2 -C) 34.' (15 'C) --ecSvitatiaa - Sor� _. inches Crovelaad Sanger Stzrloa 7.08 5_?B 5_45, 3.81 2-28 .3T .04 .06 .38 1.62 4_8. 6.73'. 35_63 (IS c) (14_7 cm) (`.3-5 c} (9-7 m) (3.3 tn) (0.9 c=) 10-1, m) (0,2.:a) (1-0 m} (4:1 m) (12. 3- ca) {I7_1 m1 :S5.2 x} 3n7ts-Feizy 25g - 19 19i+ 1.89 1.16 4.72 2.Ic. 0_00 0.70 1.5'J 0_00' :0_00' 1.39 1.11. 2.14 1E.97 (4.8-) (3.0 m) 1_7Z-. cm) (5_5 ca=d (0.0' m) (I.8 cm) I C3.8 }. (0`.0 m) (0-0 cm) (4.0 m) (2.8 cm) (5.4 ea) J-13-1 cc) Modesto 2.15 1.8L L65 1_36 0.38' (1.0 6.07' (0.2 cc)' 0.02 (0.05 ©) 0.04 (a -I.) 0_16 (0.4 m) 0.62 (1.6 m) 1.52 (3.9 } 2.10 (5.3 s) 11.87 (5,5 -) (4.6 a) (4,_2 0) (3.5-) cm) Sonora Ranger Sta- 5.69;' 4.88 4.92 a} -19 (8_1 re) 1.19 (3.4 ca) 0.33 (0.8 m) 0.03 (0.1 m) 0.05 (0'-1 a) 0.35 (0.9 cm) 1.49 (3.8 e} 4.21 (10.7' m) 5.61 (14.3 m)tiffs_'_ cm* (14S a) (1r.4 m) (12-5 ` rz97C - FLIES) Zaps Ferry 2 -SE 527 (827 1-1 273 (437 i=)- 44-7 (725 ts) 364 (582 lm) 519 (830 k=) 690 (1 108 5ss) 615 (984 ia) 503 (305 ia) 344 (5501.) 318 (4933.) 256 (410 Im) 530 (848 fs) 5,375 0 602 k-) Saareez Cliratology Data--ralifnraia.Anaual s�ac=3 i574�-tS. pa tent of Caaoerca- 9o1.. 78 30. 13. i •C': 'F -3s 1.& Environment The location of these stations is shown; on plate 2. (1) Calaveras Count The climate in the western section of the county lr3 hot during the summer and cool during the winter. temperatures fluctuate between 380and 54°F o and 1vrj A26C), Jan«�try average July temperatures range between 610 and 97 F (160 and 360 C)• Going west to east, temperatures drop with a cor'respgndin increase in elevation. Annual precipitation fluctuates between 20 inches and 50 inches (51 and 127 cm), of which ever 90 occurs during the Winter. percent (2) Stanisl,aus Count Th a the winter months, tlithe imateav�ral�� January dile summer temperature cool during between 370 and 53'°] (3b and 12°C p uic range tures range between 58° and g120 ), while the average Jtt],y tempera- tures of over 260 days ( and 34 C), Along Stowing wide assortment of cro spzovi.dcs ample opportunity for growing a p Annual precipitation averages 11 inches (28 cm), the bulk of which occurs during the winter months. (3) Tuo umne Count the winter months Climate heavy snowsVaries fnl,ll13nlocation easternaltitude. During county (Sierra Nevada section of the the extreme )3 but there is no appreciable snowfall in ty .From west to east with aannual precipitation crossing western foothills. the coon From 30 inches (76 cm.) in the western foothills to overrGOging (152 cm) in the western section of the Sierra Nevada. Average January temperatures range between 34' and 54or cher and during July the average 'temp;ezature range (10 and C)an 95OF (16" and 35'C), d b. Ton-- °l add Dram (1) General The transmission line corridors traverse portions of ` two physiographic provinces in nortltcrn California 1�ltyin at and Province � P of California),,.The ecrrldnrs9� begin nt the New Melones Dain in the foothills Portion of the Sierra Nevada province and than traverst sou t parallel to the Stanislaus River, crossing jiltocthe Greattially 'Vaile Province hear Knights Ferry; The transition between the two Provinces is marked by a distinct change in topography where the corridors dross from the low, rolling Sierra opogda hoc�wheres to the slightly undulating margin of the creat Valley, The slliiso drainage ro intermittent tile str,,; s River, with several drainage in the p Sett area, y amss is the primary GREAT BASIN Environment (2) Sierra Nevada Generally, the topography of the corridors in the Sier,~a Nevada province consists of elongated, nor, tb -gouth trending ridges separated by broad, undulating high plateaus. Surface elevations vary from about 400 feet (120 m) at the western edge of the province to 1,916 feet (575 m) at Barth Mountain, abo+at 4 miles (6,4 km) nortri;,est of New Melones Dam. The Stanislau.s River has carved a deep canyon through the foothills. Surface elevations of the river vary from about 650 feet (195 m) at New Meloces Dam to 200 Feet (60 m) near Knights ferry. The canyon walto are steep -sided throughout this section. (3 ) Great_ Valle In the project arca,, th- "ri't Vall(IY Province is generally a nearly flat allu Iial plait t ii -1i ,;: . bk-on Ott by numerous intermittent stream valleys tributavy U, 1,.c, ''1 :•r �slaus River. Broad mesas and cuestas exist as erosional x ;;•,a;; between the tributary valleys. Elevations vary from slightly ier".; than 150 feet (45 m) near Oakdale to about 400 feet (1.20 m) near Knights Ferry. Elevations of the Stanislaua River vary from 200 feet (60 m) to slightly less than 150 feet (45 m). (4) Table Mountain Table Mountain is the most unique topographical feature in Tuolumne County. This flat-topped 'mesa begins northeast of Melones Reservoir at an elevation of about 1,800 feet and trends in a southwest directiona long- the Stanislaus River. It slopes very gently along its length dropping to an elevation of about 600 feet where it terminates near the Stanislaus County line. c. General Geology and Soils (1) Genera] The varying topography described in the previous section reflects bedrock geology in the project area. A geologic map of Lhe study area is shown on plate 10. The rolling Sierra Nevada foothills are composed primarily of MesozG metamorphic and igneous rocks, while the flatlands and dissected hills of the Great Valley are composed primarily of unconsolidated to semiconsoli- dated) Cenozoic sedimentary deposits. Soil cover in the proposed project area is also a reflection of bedrock geology. In the more resistant Sierra Nevada foothills, soil cover generally consists of a thin veneer of slopewash material, `while a thicker soil horizon has developed on the less resistant Cenozoic strata of the Great Valley. 15 OTICE OVERSIZE DR -SING HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILMED ON 35MM Environment (2) Sierra Nevada In the portion of the Sierra Nevada foothills cro'9pr,tl by the proposed corridors, metamorphic ror_!ts of upper Jurassic age are predominant. At the eastern margin of the project area, a 3- (4-8 km) to 4— (6.4 km) mile—wide complex of major faults, large serpentine bodies, inclusions of. Paleoz c metamorphic rocks, tectonic melanges, and Mesozoic intrusivw rocks is called. the Bear Mountains fault zone (part of the foothills fault system)., It is believed that the various faults In the foothills fault; system are actually late Mesozoic subduction zones along the plate tectonic boundaries. Southwest of the .Sear Mountains fault rode in the project area are metavolcanic rocks usually consisting of massive greenstones with some interbedded slates and other metasedi- mentary rocks. These are shown on the geologic map ns being pares of the Logtown Ridge Vormatiog and the Maripcga Cormation (after T,alia9erro and Solari, 1945). Clarksional studies (Clark; 1964) suggest that these rocks may not �8 y c� rs^elate with the formations' type localities past of the BL ar Mounta,ns fault zone. diet therefore, named the sequence as follows, from east to west, youngest to oldest. Copper Hill Volcanics Salt Springs Slate Gopher Ridge Volean cs Along and near the southwestern margin of the theta" morphic rocks in the project area, large, irregularly shaped, sill—like bodies of quartz porphyry appear to have intruded the. metavolcanic rocks. above are ovThe Mesozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks described Orlain in places by the Pliocene age Table Mountain Latite and associated sedimenta. The haute forms a long, sinuous, flat—topped ridge and is generally considered to be a local member of the lower part of the Mehrten formation (described i (5) below). It was formed about 5 millin paragraph on sa very extensive lava flow came down an ancient valleyor,thehStanis],au8 River. The lava—covered valley floor was then overlain by andesitic sediments of the Meheten formation and was subsequently exposed by erosion of the overlying and adjacent materials. 2 ;N. L. Taliaferro and A. J. Solari (1549), Geologic iia- of the (1949), Geologic Map of the p Copperopolis Quadrangle, California; Calif. biv. of Mines and Geol. 8 hu11. 145 (map only). Western+Sier.�ra Nevada Metamorphic Belt, , , f the Lorin A Clark (1964), Strati rah and Structure of part o Pt of. Paper 410. p t, Califoen n. U.S. Geol. Sur. 16 Environment Soil covet in the Sierra Nevada footfttlls is sparse, generally "consisting of only a few feet of slopewash materials. The exception to this occurs in strenmbeds and channel fills along the flanks of 'fable Mountain arl near Tulloch Lake, where recent alluvial deposits may exceed a few tens at feet in thickness. Soil deposits may also be thicker in alluvial deposits near the mouths Of small tributary streams where they `enter the channel of the Stanislaus River- Generally, soils in the Sierra Nevada foothills have been cate- gorized as Classes VT and V11 --fair to poor --in terms of agricultural use.5 (3) Great Halle Province In the Great Valley province, the Mes()zu;�,c, rocks described above are unconformably overlain b a of Cenozoic age which di Y sequettc4� Of sedimentary The oldest of the Cenozoic stratagint�he�3 to 8 degrees) leo the southwest. which occu;.s as scattered erosianal remnant-sJontbothasideshofrone th Ptoovincial boundary. The zone consists of clays, sands and conglomerate, and is Eocene in ages The predominate Creat Valley province formations in the corridors are ---oldest to youngest --the Valley Springs Formation, the Mehrten Formation, the Turlock Lake Formation, the Riverbank Formation, and Modesto Formation. Recent alluvial: and terrace gravels, sands, andclays occur in the flood plains and as channel fill in the streams, The Miocene Valley Springs Formation is a qorthwest- trending belt along the border between the Great Valley and Sierra Novdda provinces. The formation is composed of thyalitic stream deposits of tuffaceous sand, sand cla interbedded with rhyolitic tuff, which has��beenravelpartiallyese alteare red to bentonitic clay. The Valley Springs Formation is easily eroded, forming gently rounded hills in the project area. The Pliocene Mehrten Formation consists of a sequence Of aitdestic mudflows, tuff lenses, sands and gravels. The madflows consist of hard, subangular to rounded volcanic cobbles and boulders in a consolidated matrix of fib to coarse andesitt sediments. Tt, tuff is tveattiering fine --grained, hard and resistant to The formation The Turlock Lake Formation is Pliocene to pl.eistocenet Consists of stream deposi gravel which ts of pebbly sand and are ittterbedded with l.akebed deposits of silt and clay. These deposits consist of dissected rolling hills in the middle portion of the pr6ject area and form flat to mildly dissected Plains in the southern portions of the project area. 5 Stanislaus Transportation flan t1Ct--California bepattment o, Transportation, January 1575, Volume 4 -. p 5-7 and Chart 58. 17 Envi ronm an t 9:.ie I le-istocene Riverbank Formation forms low, slip hCly dissected hills iI th,' south portion of the project aroa nnar'Dry Croek and. on the north aid�a of !.he Stanislaus:River at Oakdale. The! a sediments con- sist of brown tO gray, locally pebbly sand with minor amounts of silt and clay. The Modesto Formation consists of brown to gray sands and silts witl 1- even westward loping surface. Soil cover in the Great Valley is thicker than in the Sierran foothi 1;;. '!,►e more easily eroded Cenozoic seditrtints have been reworked and 6tposited in the flood plains and channeln Of existing and anci,ekit drain,:raes. Topsoils in these flood plains --part cularly in the KS Oakdale -h ween classifizid as Classes I and II (prime) in terms of nAricultural flood plain of the Stanislaus River from Knights Ferry L use. Soil cc,-er on the surface of in situ'fornations contrnts of slopewash mat srial, Ls thinner than in the flood plains 111(1 cha :,is, and has been categorized a terms of agr cultural use«laOClass IxI to Class VI—marginal tot 14) Se;smicity Th( intensive deformation of the tipper Jurassic meta- morphic rocks and tete complex faulting of the Foothills fault system shows that late Mesozoic deformation and fault activity ware extensive. Prior to the: August 1, 1975, Oroville earthqua%e, it was widely accepted that all of the Fov-hills fault system was seismically i�Oact'-ve« However, intensive geologic studies of the system by various agencies and a con•- sulting firs; as stimulated by the Oroville earthquake have revealed that there has b, ,en late Cenozoic activity along some segments of the Foothills fault system. Near Jamestown, east of the project area, segments of the Melones and Dear Mountains fault zones have offset the 'fable Mountain l . ' atiCe by several tens of feet vertically, and have also offset soil horizons esti- mated to be 100,O00 years old and possibly younger. "Phis has led to the conclusion that these segments of the Foothills fault system are "capable structures' under nuclear siting requirements. 14owever. they are ancient features without associated historic seismic activi,tyy, Tite maximum credible earthquake from future movements along these faults has been determined to be of Richtor magnitude 6«5. An earthquake epicenter map is shown on plate 11, indicating earthquakes Of Richter magnitude 5.0 or larger: tVo 50 or larger earthquakes have been recorded in the project area,, d Vegetation The vegetation of the proposed alternative corridors varies names of lints ere' Moisture, aspece, and disturbance , �aic.ntific with a tatude soil raven in Appendix D. Three vegetation assembly es Plants given g Or communities are manif' ted a -long the proposed corridors and are described as follows: b NV, o Grants Pass PLATE R D F� �j Crescent C)ty G ti cv C'qL/hod N > c° ,g22� go i$ d Yreka N I .;q '- ✓1!' 4 Qj b [)Urtisrriulr 'Altura. 7C eaverville °Burney f oGarbervilla o usanville L7 Googol d Q 41 owillits W 00hico O Quincy Gl Q Lt veloclr tg s owillfams 61m oMarytsville �7 oReno d1 `4D I Truckee QI oFal lo�n Sacrarnento �C' olalacerville/ """��Yerf�tonn @; d 4 Markloev°iilo` �•�- "ages Stockton O lyz F onora m 2 01�ve `- �awthorne I PPOJECT A PEA off* ssa m Ite �. 4 "T'Onopah 0 0 -�. Merced Monterey 4Hollistor t Bishop ` inClty 4 8YMBOL MASNITUtlfr o Coalinga o Lona Pine o t julare 5,0=E.4 an Slmeo J 5,4 5.9 M / uNit�rj stares d 6,0-6.0 / D"ATMENr 00 SHE INr€alalt o an Ub Luys fspr, surrlAu 'op ki4pMArlov 7,0"79 a5� SCENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT' CALIF B-0 -I3.4' EA"HQUAKE EPICENTER M . I;A�7T"HpUAkES AP AbOtZb PROM CALIF. b.W.k, bULLErIN 116=2r OF MAGNIT�UI)8 5,0 .. OR LA HGEH NbVl��idER 1gyG 214 9-6116 .1 Environment (l) Valley Crass and The valley grassland community is Characterized by an open treeless grassland, with winter rain and hot, dry summers. Its species Composition has changed markedly over the last 2.00 years. Originally, the valley grassland was composed of perennial bunchgrasses such as Stipa,ulchra, S. cernua, Poa scabrelln, and Arxstirla divaricata. Because of introduced seed, destzuction b gracing pressures, and prolonged drought, the native perennials succumbed to the better adapted European annual grasses and (orbs. Presently, the valley grassland is composed of Av� ena tap., Bromus spp•, Festuca spp., Hordeum spp., and. Erodium spp. The valley grassland is governed by o1i average rainfall of 6 to 20 inches (15 to 51 cm), and a growing season of 7 to 11 moYths. Mean maximum summer temperatures are 881 to i02"t� (310 to 35°C), and mean winter minimum temperatures are 320 to 38nr (p- to 3°0). The valley grassland ranges between 100 and :00 feet (30-152 m) above sea level. (2) Chaparral This vegetation community is composed of broadleafed. evergreen displaya 8clerophyll shrubs, 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m) high. The ever Teen scl se, nearly impenetrable, vase -shaped branching y pattern, Typical dominant species are Adenostomafasiculatum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Arctostaphylos _pp,, Ceanothus s cercus ,dutnosa. Pp,, and. Chaparral is found on dry slopes and ridges at ele- vations 400 to 3,000 feet (120 to 900 m),r,ally on rocky, gravelly or fairly heavy soils. Although t -h, occurrence o£ chapparal is edaphically determined, the presence of chaparral may also indicate a seral stage in community composition resulting from fire. The growth habit of many shrubs of this community exhibits stump sprouting which accouutts for 'their fire adaptability. The chaparral: community experiances 14 to 25 inches (36 to Ott cm) of rainfall annually, with hot, dry summers and cool. winters. Crowing season is a to 12 months. Mean summer maximum tempetaturen are 820 to 940r (280 to 5400) anti mean winter minimum. temperatures are 290 to 4.50 r (�20 to 16C) (3) Foothill. Woodl7nd An open or dense woodland with trees 15 to 20 feet (5 to 6 m) tall and scattered brush and grassland between the tteos is characteristic of the foothill woodland community. It occurs in foothills and valley borders 400 to 3,000 feet (122 to r HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILMED ON 35MM Environment The thistle was recorded in 1545 in Sections 33 and 34, R. 12 E., T. 2 N., MDB&M near the town of COpperopolis and in the NE 1/4, Section 3, R. 12 E, T. 1 N. No occurrence of this species' has 'been recently reported, and tho plant was not carried on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed list of endangered species which was published in the Federal Register, Volume 41, No. 1.17, .lune 14, 1976. f. Exis_tinQ Recreation Althoi„gh recreation participation determin -its such as visitor preferences and site characteristics are used Co describe recreation areas, they are not helpful in assessing the existing recreation uses along the proposed powcrline corridors. Areas of recreation are shown on plate 13. In this instance, land ownership largely influences recreation use, as it also affects access and entry to potential recreation areas. The various land ownership entities and the existing recreational uses are described as follows: (1) Private 'hand Almost all of thee land within the proposed powerline corridors is held in prPrate ownerships. This severely limits the: availability of the land for recreational use, except to those persons having consent from the landowner. Some trespassing occurs from the general public, yet this is felt to be minimal because of fencing and patrol by the owner. Although net formal records are kept pit recreation activity participation, it is assumed that some upland game hunting, hiking, and horseback riding ,occur. (2) CarLs of EnQinccrs' land Land administered by the Corps of Engineers is Located at the substation of Neu* Melones Dam powerhouse. It will be administered by the Bureau of Reclamation during operation of the facilities, For security and public safety this area will probably be closed to the public. (3) Tuolumne and tlnlaveras Counties The proposed transmission route would cross the Green spring Run Bay of Tulloch peservoi.r more than: 1/2 tni1e (d.a km) from the upper end of r'>.' 'bray (south of HaMtnil's rlountain). There are; no recreation developments in this portion of Tulloch Reservoir. Very little general boating is donor I,ere because it is shallow. Tuolumne County recreation developments sre all farther south near the southern end of the reservoir. 2i NOTICE OVERSIZE D ..-. E`,;G Environment All land 5 feet (1.5 m) ur Nigher above the normal high waterline of the reservoir (515 feet/155 m) is except in the area of the Lake Tullocli lvtarina private land Private developments of. Poker Flat, ]clack Cr(County) and the Resort in Black Creed. Bay. Lodge) and Cdppereksvt, (4) Stanislaus Count The recreation and water alternate route e SBan11 would cross J., lt.. 11 t-, T. 2 S. slaws itive�.��a. potential at Section unique in that it Authorization for the New MOlones tlr , t is Fiver. Based on the autliorization,cludes etile mU.1S.oA the )"PF,roStarlislaus has proposed a .ower river progtam for the riverYwh'lci}ts p of Engineers Includes.- to some (a) Acquire develoufor s��enic continuity ment rights 4,000 acres (1 615 ha) of riparian habitat. (b) Purchase in fee all salmon spawning beds. (c) Purchase flow easements on lend near the rivet so that the land may be occasionally flooded. make posijble a water Punch ase of 12 public ail,ccess sites which will on takeout (e) Provide a 3- to S -mile (4, t point) kayak tun and Olympic kayak tr�lnlrtg2areambr�lcwpending Goodwin Dam. (£) Provide mangers to patrol thr f to prevent ttespassing on private .property., ede;rally awned .narks (g) Prevent tli(: use of guns on the river Private land) in cooperation with the county. (execpt on in cooperation si(lt) Restrict or prohibit the sof motors the county= on rhe river,er, however this is all fut��re and. riot now existing. 96 Land Ownershi and .Use `he study area for Primarily within the areas the Proposed transmission :Line f - zoned for agriculture, sand class- ills use, and ownership are shown on plates 14) 15s and 16, respective] 22 11 0TICE MT ERSIZE DRAWING AS BEEN REMOVED AND FILMED ON 35MM NOTICE OVERSIZE DRAWE-NIG, HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILZ.�ED ON 35MM NOTICE oVERSIZE DRAWING HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILMED O'INT 35MM Environment Agriculture Zone A-1 within Calaveras County is largely used for cattle grazing with recreation allowed in some areas. Most of the area within Stanislaus County is in an A-2, Exclusive Agricultural Zone with 10 -acre (4 ha) minimum parcels. The majority Of the study area within Tuolumne County is either under an Exclusive Agricultural Zone A-E with a 37 -acre (15 ha) minimum lot size, or a General Agricultural Zoite A-1 with a 10 -acre (4 ha) minimum lot size. The study area also includes pockets of residential zone. (1) Southern Corridor The area traversed by the proposed route Lies south of the Stanislaus River and is used primarily for dryland grazing. The boundary between Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties, approximately 600 feet (180 m) in elevation, is the approximate dividing line between barren grazing land to the south and nest and the grazing land to the north and east which is contrastingly hovered with scattered oaks and brush► 'Between Warnerville Substation,, the western terminus of the corridor, and Emery 'toad, apFtoxima,tely 2.5 miles (4 km) east, the land has been developed as irrigated pasture. This is possible because the tOpographyj between 250 Leet (75 m) and 275 :Coot (83 m), is still gently rolling in nature. As the corridor proceeds east and north, the terrain becomes increasingly undulating, mountainous and undeveloped, making further irrigatio►t difficult or impossible. ilowever; marry creeks, springs, and intermittent streams traverse the corridor along its entice length. There are very few residences in the area and owner.- ships along the corridor are in large tracts and devoted to ranching cad livestock operations. Located in the corridor approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) east oC Warnerville Substation near the intersection Of Fogarty and Emery Road- is a 40 -acre (1.6 ha) Ceodlot. Also located in the corridor, approximately 4 miles (6 .5 icm) south o> the New Me? nag damsita, the eastern tormictus of the corridor, on O'Dyrne, o rry Road is the Sierra Conservation Camp of the California State Department of Corrections4 in the upper elevations of the foothills, a number of limestone and marble quarries are in operation. One such juarry is located within the corridor approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the New lwlclot cs damsite. Numerous operating, nonoperntW ing, and abandoned gold mines and other prospects are located in the foothills; however, no mines are known operating within the corridor. 23 Environment Due to tile restricted access and 17LIggOdneSS Of tile higher elevations within the corridoi!, there has been no recreational development in this area. In addition, there are no cullj1horcial, industrial or urbanized areas within the corridor. Land use within the corridor is as fol.j,owtj: Irrigated Pasture 11% Dry Grazing 89Z Land ownership within the corridor, is As follows; Public Lands 2Z State of California 6Z, Private Lands 92% The southern corridor traverses 0 13YV00 Perry Road, State Highway 108/120, Tulloch Lake, Iletch—Hetchy Aqueduct; Will Road, Sierra Railroad, and. Warnerville Road, as well. as jnjscejlam�9 canals, laterals, pow,'-�rlinc-8 and other surfaced, gravel and dirt.tleous r o;jd s . Towns, villages,, ard most ranches in the 417LI.4 have electricity and telephones. (2) Northern Corridor The corridor, which lies north of the Stalilslaus River, traverses approximately six different land uses. ',Phase Have been identified as irrigated pasture, rural hohiesites, dry grazing, dry crop, recreational hothe8ites, and river wash. The rural homesite class if Lea tion also includes ranchottes, orchards, and vineyards: Tho Oakdale Airport is located I thiip (1.6 km) ftc-'th of the Warnerville Substation which is tile western terminal 1-f the corridor. The surrounding land, formerly used for dry grazing, has now been developed as irrigated pasture] This has been possible because the topography, between 200 feet and 250 feet (60 and 75 th), is still gently rolling in nature. Proceeding northeast, the corridor ihtersects and parallels the flood plain Of the SratiSlau8 River. Excellent access, soil., topography, and Proximity, to the town O. Oakdalej 4 miles (6.3 km) to the west, encourage a Vat'< tY of uses as dry agriculture, Poultry p)-oductiotl) rural homuLtesj part-time farthing operations, and a diversity of agricultural production, such as walnuts, almonds, peaches, grapes; and barley. Land in this dVO4 which is not adaptable to these uses because of soil and topography is Ut-jljzed as dry grazing land, This diversity or use continues until the corridor leaves tile river Plain and proceeds- into tile foothitIs or the Sierras. Hern the terrain is inoreagingly undulating, muuntain,ous, and undeveloped, matting irrigatioa difficult Or i1hpossible, 24 Environment Scattered oaks and brush are encountered at 400 feat (.120 m) elevation and many creeks, springs, and intermittent streams traverse the corridor. Land use for the remainder ofthe corridor is primarily dry grazing. Approximately 5 miles (7.9 km) west of the New Melones Switchyard the eastern terminus of the transmission line, the northern corridor crosses Lhe Black Creek arm of Tulloch Lake. Because: of view, access, topography, and location, boar sides of the ]ake in this area have been significantly developed for recreational homesites of 1 acre (0.4 ha) or more. 'There are a number of fine homes, both seasonal and .Full-time, M,;Ittered throughout tl•,is area: There are ;some residences in the arvgto and the sire of ownerships along the corridor varies depending can land use. Ownerships are in small tracts, 5 to 40 acres2 ( to 16 ha), throughout the areas utilized in connection with rural homesites, ranchettes, and part-time farming operations, in contrast land used for grazing and field crop production is owned in large tracts. Located in the torridorx approximately 3-1/2 miles (55 km) northeast of Warnerville Substation, near State highway 108/120, is a 20 -acre (8 ha) turkey ranch, In the upper elevations of the foothills, a number of limestone and marble quarries are in operation, No such quarries are known operating within the northern corridor; 'however, near the VeW Melones damsite, a Targe asbestos mine is currently in operation. Numerous abandoned gold mints and other prospects are located throughout the foothills. "lbere are no commercial, industrial, or urbanized areas within the corridor. follows: Land use within the norther►, tort,4dor is as River Mash 2% Dry "top 2/ Recreational Homesites 7% Irrigated Pas,ure 111 Rural i,";,meshes 12% ..y Crazing, 66% La,=1 .rrairip Within the corridor is its follows: .undo 2% e o.: California 4% «e Lands 93% 25 Environment The corridor traverses O'Byrne Ferry Mond, Sonora Road, grange .Blossom Road, Stanislaus River, 'Lancaster Road, State Highway 108/120, Tull( -ch Lake, Sierra Railroad, Wamble Road, and Warnerville Road, as well as miscellaneous irrigation canals, latrrals, powerlines, and other surfaced gravel and dirt- roads. Towns, village`,, and most residences in the area hsve electricity and telephoner. h. Special_lnterest Points (1) Geologic Loints of Interest As a, portion of California's historic Mother Lode country; the Sierran foothills in general, are an area of geologic interestb Numerous manes --both operating, nonopera`ting and abandoned dot the landscape. Deposits of Fold, silver, copper, zinc, chromium, t�;anganese, asbestos, slate, clay, and limestone are presently being; mined in the portion of the foothills the proposed corridors traverse. The deformation of the Mesozoic strata, as well ars the variety and types of rock in the area, make the foothills an interesting geologic study area. Picturesque Table Mountain, which actually represents a "fossilized stream channel," is another feature of special geologic interest. (2) Natural. Areas. The only known recreational natural area designated for public else is Kerr Park Lying about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the proposed alternative alinement "B" along clic Stanislaus River. (3) Ttcgio�al history Calaveras, Staniglaus, and Tuolumne Counties encompass nn area rich in history atld tradition. the aria was inhabited by iiwok Indians, Gabriel Moraga was among the first explorers journeying into this arra on several, expeditions bttwoen 1806-1808. (ether explorers who .follnweud were: Jodedidh S. Smith (1827), John Bidwell, .iohtt C. Fremont, and Kit Carson, In 1848, the discove , ry of gold near Sacramento brought the first greet influx of settlers. Many a disappointed 49er, however, turned to farming and service industric; ins the veins ran out. Currently, the three -county area has some of the ;Host p"ductive agricultural lands in the world, as wall as a myriad of tLereaL•ional facilities. 16 Environmept (a) Calaveras County One of the oldest gold mining districts in the State, Caleveras County, was incorporated, in 1850. Named for the Calaveras River, which in Spanish means skull, by Ganbriel Moraga who discovered its banks strewn with Indian skulls, the county is in the heart of the Mother Lode country. (b) Stanislaus County Incorporated in 1854 by annexing a section, of Tuolumne County, the tounty derives its, name from the Stanialaus River. Explored in 1806 by Gabriel Moraga, who named it kio de Los Dolores, tile rier was subsequently renamed after a Christian educated Indian chieftan who adopted the name Fstanisloa from the Polish Saint Stanislaus, (c) Tuolumne Count It is an integral part of tile Mother 'Lode courittY, and immortalized by such men as Bret 'Harte and Kark Twain* TutAumne County is one of the 27 original counties in the State. There are some old mines, an abandoned railroad bed, the Sierra Railroad, etc., located near the line touting. During the historic period, and for an unknown span of prehistoric time, the Stanislaus River Basin) including the project area, was the homeland of Central Sierra Miwok Indians. In addition) the area was a part of California.'s historic "Gold Country." The area purchased for the New Melones, Project is Included in a proposed "New Melones historic District" and has been declared eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places on the basis of its extensive historical. and archeological resources. (4) Historica! Sites, An inventory of historic and prehistoric features is Lven in Appendix M. The remains of the gold rush community of Knights Terry is in Stanislaus County. In researching this subject, the 11G&5 company con- tatted the California State Office's 11istotic PrLiservatiot, officer, 11is response, which identified the Willms Ranch) is given in Appendix V. The t4illms Ranch no -or Knights rarry is designated as California 11ist,rical Landmark No. 4154 It is shown on plate 17. 27 1 i If h ., ' 1 �� . +���' �tt�r�h�t, a^•+ a :-.:-, � wt- �'���°�N•pe �r,�� � �' ,rr,� ^",3�'°�� �' ! ..�tM:�� Fi�.P r,�,�l�, y �,.« � A . ^'"k''Lti_.�z' x��f _ - '�'�_.''K'r�Y �. •.�,..-_�s � ,.r � t''�Eii9�i a2 W"+�: s ' 1'�'�'� qe D PLATE 17 : WILLMS RANCH Environment ThH PG&E ,Melones Powerhouse, located about 1/2 mil; (0.8 km) upstream fr.,:)m the, New Melones Switchyard, was constructed about 1927. Although it is nearly 50 years old, it has little historic slgvificance. (5') archeological Sites The "s&E company contracted for a Phase 1 (site identification) survey of 100 feet (30 m) on each side Of Ui aurveyad centerline as well as a survey for sites, up to 100e efeet (90 m) from the proposed route centerline. Access roads wore also surveyed in a similar manner. A final report was providetj to PG&E, in January 1977. Four of the seventeen archeological site,, located are prehistoric. 4 -TUU -S-441 is a biidrock mortar site, while NM -12 and 'M-13 are habitation cites. NM -5 is a prehistoric, habitation site with historic ranch structures. Eight of the thirteen historic, sites are rock alinements Site NM -1 is a historic dam. site NM -2 is a historic ranch, Sites NM -14 and 4-TU0-S-442 are historic^ ditches. 4-TU0-5-453 is a placer minin area. A contract for a Phase lz (site signi) ficance survey is n)w being arranged by the PG&E company. The ficaVeddnce Power Commission, will ace as the agency official. Socioeconomic Aspects (1) Introduction Tha socioeconomic setting for the proposed trans- mission line is given in the following paragraphs. The area of c6nsiderati6n is within Ca averaq; 5tanr8laus, and 'Tuolumne 'Counties. (2) b, emol;ra Calaveras, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties occupy a total land area of 3,104,190 acres, (1 256 22r ha), of which 31,640 acres (12805 ha) are water -'covered by lakes, reservoirs, and streams. Of this acreage:, bas on the 1:974 County Agricultural Cummissioner's Reports, 1,493,740 acre, (604 495 ha) --or 48:6 percent of the available land arca-"wdre being farmed. The retraining 1,578,8019 notes (638 921 ha) --or .51.4 percent of the AVailable land area --was available for commercial, municipal, and resid,nti„l,' as well ag recreational uses, 28 Environment Although the three counties are contiguous, they are not homogeneous. Calaveras and Tuolumne are primarily rural counties without substantial, concentrated population centers. With an average population density of 15.$7 and 12.05 persons per square utile (6.13 and 4.65 persons per square km), respectively, and with only one incorfurated catty in each, it is evident that the major proportion ox* these two counties' inhabitants reside in unincorporated areas. In contrast, Stanislaus is a heavily populated county ---average density per square mile is 143.2 persons (55 persons per square km) --with a nucleus of its inhabitants residing in concentrated. population centers, thus providing for a much wider and diversified economic as well as social base. About 30 percent of Calaveras and over 60 percent of Tuolumne Countieso land areas are within the: Stanislaus National Forest or Yosemite National. Parki Table 2 depicts population distributions for each respective county in 1970 and 1975. A quickglance indicates that a substantial propo,,�.ion resides in unincorporated (rural) areas and that population growth in the three -county region is expected to increase at an annual rate of around 2-3 percent. Calaveras, Stani.sl.aus, and Tuolumne Counties had a combined population of 230,260 in 1970, which was split 49.5 percent to 50.5 percent between males and females. The median age in each county was 58.5, 28.0, and 34.3, respectively. Minorities totaled 6,882 or about 3 percent of the total population, with the most numerous being: Blacks, American I ndiaot,, rilipinos, Chinese, and Japanese.; The majority of the inhabitants are married and native born; otth a,. educational achievement level equivalent to a high school eaucatiou4 About 98 percent of the total population, were organized within households; with the relative distribution of male to female family treads being 91 percent to 9 percent The most prevalent languages spoken in the area were English and Spanish, witli over 85 pereen:t of the total population regarding these as their primary language. The differences between the rural nonfam and the rural farm populations were of some ronsequence Although the median age for the rural. farm population is higher, thay are on the whole, better educated than their :rural nonfarm peers. 29 Environment TABLE 2 - POPULATION DISTRIBUTION (1970) 3.970 1.975 Ca.lz voras Crrsnty Angels Camp 1.,710 ",1100 Unincorporated il,£375 ... 131450 4— TOTAL 1.3,535 3.5;1300 5tanisl.aus County Ceres 6,029 9,375 Modesto 61,712 79,300 Newmatx 2,505 2,570 Oakdale 6,594 7,200 Patterson 3,147 3j740 'Riverbatk 3,949 4,230 Turlock 13,992 150900 Waterford 2,`243 2,240 Unitzco pnrated 54,335 88,845 TOTAL 1.94,506 213,600 Tuolumao County Saz�art 3,100 5,540 Uriincarparatcd 3.9,069 22,360 TOTAL 22;169 25 MO 30 Environment (3) �Lducatjon The public school system for elementary and 'high school which exists in Calaveras,, Stallisl"us, antt TL101UMne CountUota offers a wide variety of courses which culminate with the graduatIotj of the student from a college -preparatory curriculum. The active public school enrollment for the three -county area as Of fall 197,5 was 59,306, with a staff total of 3,209 based a,. 1.973 Figures. The private and parochial enrollments within the three-couhty area were 4,867 students who attended 32 Private or parochial srhools in Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Calaveras has no Private or parochial enrollment) where full-time and 68 part-time teachers carried out their .1 There are two community collages: lIud(�J) to Junior College in Stanislaus County and '70lumbia Junior Colle8c in Tuolumne County. Their enrollments were 18,269 and 2,769,, respectively, Both provide a 2 -year (wrriculum leading to the Associate of Arts or Associate Of Science degrees, As well as Providing ample Opportunity for nonstudent citizens of the community to enrich and expand their educational horizons. Only one 4 -year public institu- tion, the Stanislaus Campus S,Of tile California SE ate Iltniversity systems is within the three -county area. tqjtjl an enrollment cif 2,700, this 4 -,year Public institution Provides a curriculum leading to either a Bachelor in Arts or Science :� tj,u human.,ties and in the sciences. (4) Income meas of Cal.tveras, Stdnij laus, and Tuolumne Counties are Pers'8tent uftatnPloyment.-V 1)uring the pajk raceSsicn, 1975, unemployment rates to these three a)untes were almost twice the above-average rate of ufteml,)loyme t ome of families are allown on in 1970. Tile Yabor force Ind ino rl that Pat8i,ited tables 3 and 4, eespectively. Calaveras, stanil.u. considered three of California'sand XuOIUmnQ COul'ities can he.,*it middle income', cOLjjjtiojg,, 'rhe median incomes of these throe counties ranked 25, 30 and 34, respectively, among California's 58 couatiesi based oil a personal "como—tax statistics comparison, by county, for the 1975 income cO18'ructed for tThe thoelowing temploymend oannd 19i7n0coUme4" 8P, rBoUfriLlaeas wofore Census data. .......... 'Department Of Labor, EMPIOYMent and Training Adminj8tration� "Area Treads ill Employment and Unemploymelli. Oct bacembol, 19751, pa��-s 16-17. �: obor� Novdmber, 8/Statc of calif Orn � ' I "Calirornia Statistical Abstraat__,,q7,,_ page 35, environment TABLE 3 LAWR FORCE, 1970 (1.6 YEARS ANt7 OVER) Calaveras S+LanJ,slaus Tuolcrmov County CounrY Cc�unGu� Total Labcr force l3/ 4,737 72,259 8,179 Civilian Labor Forca 1.3/ c 4,712 72,015 Employod 4, 278 . G5, 2.-2 7,423 Unomployed 434 6, 7L l 744 Uncinpinyment Vate, percent 9.2 9,4 9.11 Total Employed, All Industries 14/ 4,278 65,232 7,428 Agri culture, forestry and fisheries 302 7,059 405 mire Lng 97 153 81 ConstY.uct- on 481. 14,073 945 Manufacturing 643 12,676 921 Transportation 22 2,057 187 Corrunuylications and, public utilities 209 2,108 396 Mio1 a5alo. ar.d r°etai?. trade 776 1.4, 21.8 1, 570 Vitrxr, e, insurance, and real estate 197 2,434 400 S rv.ices 1,225 3.7, 030 1, 953 Public administration 326 3,384 570 State of California, Dupar'tme'nt oC Human Ragourcos Development, Employment Data. and Research Division, "Calitornit, Manpower: xndicatots From the 1970 Census: Summary of Manpower Indicntnrsi" July 1912s Table 6, page 8 ---for each of tl,(-- three counties. 14/ 1:1)3d, , Table, 10 page 1.2 • Environment l TABLE 4 - INCO14L OF FAMILIES, 1969 Calaveras Stanislaus Toolulmic. Count �'_CoUtttl+,,� Cnttitt:y�_ 15/ Type if income of Fami.li cs Total families a.6/ 3,758 50,709 5,967 Mean family . income z 9 � , S1i r � a,0, qua $ 9,970 (Total positions filled) 3,()51 531627 5,884 Mean carni iigs $ 8,573 $ 8046 $ 8,642 With social security income 1,067 10"38/+ 1,424 Mean social security income $ 1.,707 $ 3,604 $ 1,727 With public assistanco income: 249 6,301 413 Mcan public assistance income $ 1,228 $ 1,523 $ 11276 With Other income 1,636 16,461 1,995 Mean o Lher income $ 21108 $ 2,041 $ 2,833 Total Families Bclow roverty Level 1711 Total families 351 ".-002 559 Pc -.cent of all families 9,3 11.8 9,4 Mean income, all sources $ 1,597 $ 2,1.00 $ to 694 15/ State of California, MleVArtment of Human, Rvsource8 Development, Employment Data and Research Division, " Cnl.i.fol.r►iq Manpower Indicators Vronr the 1970 Census; SumPia.y Of, rfanpoWer Indii:ators," July 1.9721 Tablo 1.,21 page 1.4 --for tech of the three counties. 16/ Thiel,, Table 11, page 13. 17./ lbi u 4 , 'able 13, page 15, 35 Environment (5) Economic Base Altiough CalaveraR, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties are oftentimes classified as ueing rural, they derive a significant proportion of their revenues front industries other th.an agriculture. In Stanislaus, a very Prolific agricultural county, over 81 percent of the work force is concentrated in service, o.upporti and manufacturing industries. Calaveras and Tuolumne, in the heart of the MotheLode couucLy, have a signifi- cant tourist and recreation inductry. Miscallane'ous services which are available include the usual: Welfare and Public Assistance City and County (General) Law Enforcement Medical Social and Religious Recreation Transportation Mas:, Media Housiftg Family Life j. Noise Noise levels in the corridor locations can be largely atk1ributad to the following sources: Motor vehicle and road construction, Sierra Railroad, powerboats on Tulloch Lake, New Melones Dam construction, ngticul- tural activities, mining, natural background sounds, aircraft, hunting, and paging systems. Noise levels were measured in the study area on July P6 and 27, 1976. Daytime levels ranged from 31 to 62 dtA, and nighttime levels were 26 to 56 dBA. Tractors and motor vehicles ranged from 5Q to 80 dBA at 100 feet (30 m) when ".hey passed. 2. Probable Future, Environment Without, the Project Without the transmission line, the environment of the cor- tidot would remain ralativaly the same as its pra8eat use because OE sail, tOP09r,1PM 11, 6nd access restrictions. No plans for major changes In land use are 'known to the writers at this time. The slow changes in land use patterns now occurring in the area can be expected to continuo. Recreation development of the 'B".ack Creek arm of Tulloch take 18 Jtl8t getting started and can be expected to expand considerably during the next iew years. Likewise, the demand for rural homesites is also considerable, and this use will be continuously expanding throughout the area. 54 Environment Agriculture and its supporting industries continue to be a substantial revenue producer in Stan .,laus County. Calaveras and Tuolumne, U4tb a less diverse base than Stanislaus, is expected to continue to experience problems in finding and may experience some population ot;`,mi,garion,obs respeciiall� -1mong the young: The prospects for these two counties tt industries and capital io attracnew nvestments are unfavorable at this time. A general lack of concentrated population centers does not allot, utilization of economies of scale for manufacturinnd service g a industries or provide a Pot JLscrative marketing area. Currently both Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties are taking advan Of their substantial recreational facilities and historical tage folklore in p w ,oting a lucrative tourist industry. C. lsNViRt7h'MENi'QL 11•IPAGTS pF T1IE 2'hnpC;N_ D [t�7+� 16 zn� oroduction This section discusses the impacts the expecteU to have during construction pa s tax; proposed line is short-torm and long-term im act; Aerations have begun, impacts occur mainly during construction whi,lveolong-term e�� during operation and maintenance.. Short-term ects occur; Impacts for various landscap" zones P section. Lhe transmission line tr»versa variot►I;tiin this types. landscape The visual eCte,its of the proposed project are examined Construction Related x�c�ts in table 5; rt. pot�sical S stems systems wo.lSoccurtdutingminor thedlmonthrconst. air electrical transmission line; 2- include the > water, and land ytion period of the ' following; durin{�) Visual impacts associated with equipment and activity g clearing and construction will be 5 impacts are expected to ;^ minimal - temporary and local. al relatively �ittc� most Of the line wculd beam } remote areas anew Construction a�ti.viticare of short Shownon table 5, duration in arty one location. s Impacts cwt various selandscape zo nes are crossed (2) highway 108/120 and Boned routes of -travel will be at or near right an8les, Lon tangents should not be g %anCa of t.lte ?�awerline visible �'r.{yam these ttreas: g where the structures would be skylitted will be avoided � Construction on ridge tops however, skylining will occur at Table Ii,nuntai,n ,end The itnpact at lable Two en S passible unta�n is reduced b Green Spring Run, on plate 18, y is remote location as shown (3) There will be small amounts of ca;�tyon monoxide and nitrogen oxides emitted from construction vehicloa lh t3ve1y arae frr,rt vehicul�Ar traCCic. 1n tlelareas novo c lwt structi�ert vehicles and equipment showyt,. art estimated 5l motorized Pon- along tale line during various phases of cons�ruotl.on}wt h'. be respersed' the exhaust run,c.8 not be roncorttrtted in otic area. at There will be ct local tamp effect on air r ualit_, �r,om particulate mat ger released when burning a1' slash from clearing y is pormit.ted, In Cha air quality for extreme case, burning would likoly aCCoot local. y about 50 days through the 1 -year construction period, 6 Table 5 Visual Effects of the Proposed. Project Visual Landscape Quality Zone [.ith 4vre Rating. Transmission.Lir;:!�; (line in zone) {See Text) --rigated` pastures (1-3 mi.. 2.1. T_ my. f I _J I dry grazing. lands C4-0 mi-,. 6..4 km} low low (COURTESY PGAE) VisibilityDegree (exposure and viewers) of visual Impact/Freferred Route. Line will be prominent in non- Tvil' A. transmission line here would parallel section because it be have low visual impact because the major vertical element tl0 s flat panoramic landscape. the line parallels an existing A I-ew ranch house residents line and thus does not create neaa the Warnery lle Substation Raoul new vertical element. be visually affected. Distant,_,' '-mile vi;!Ws of line will be p.ss ble from Highway 108/120. The transmission line in this flat, Lack of variety in this land - relatively undeveloped landscape will be highly I scape and few viewers will visible. However, few viewers make the visual impact in this zone low. will be affected, with no major roads or residences involved. ;ed: line will be vis- The introduction of a new line 'is spacious undis- in this spacious and diverse Ldscape. Scenic diver -landscape will change existing' kis zone is created by visual relationships signifi- :onical hill forms, cantly.. visual impact for . rock fences and viewers drill depend on the hecoveredrocks. , value they nut on this landscape few screening possi type, nd a lack of existing on lines. Landscape Zone Mina in zoney riparian woodland ( mi. 0 nn) rolling oak woodland (8.9 mi,., 14-3 lama) qi..�: sual Quality ,Zone HLth: Rating Transmission Line 1 h3 &h average dry, scru. o_ -k% digger pine slopes high (2.1 mi., 3.4 Icm) (COURTESY P.G.&O Visibility Degree of Visual (e--posure and viewers) Impact/Preferred Route Because of its relatively small Preferred route does not enclosed scale and scenic traverse this zone. nature, a. transmission line would be hi6:zly visible to viewers in this zone. This riparian plain includes exist- ing farms,. a historical town site, proposed conservational and recreation areas.; all of wnich will attract more viewers in the future.. Visibility of the line will A low visual impact can be iepend: on siting in this land- accomplished in this area scape zone. Topography and with,sensxtive tower siting vegetation varyaffording some and construction practices potential screening. A major because views can be blocked. part of highway 108[120 -runs by vegetation and linear qual through this zone. ity of line can be broken. Minimal Line visibility is pos- Icimilar to oak -woodland but sible in many areas because of in few open areas c,ihere great diversity in topographic Table Mountain is visible and vegetative backdrop. More - impact of line would be visitors will visit this land- signifi.:ant. Location: in scape with. the completion: of screened areas can minimize Melones Dam.and continued impact in this zone. recreational use of 'Tullock Lake. (COURTESY P.G,&E) Table 5 Continued - Visual Landscape Zone Quality Zone With Rating Transmission Visibility (exposure Dcgree of Visual in zone)viewers) and IwpactiPreferred Route _ s Table Mountain formation. 1 high A span up the unique Table Because the Table Mountain (D_4 mi., 0.,6 kms Mountain formation from the formation is a distinctive - digger pine zone could be landscape feature, there is. highly visible depending on a high potential for visual (Total 23.0' i•,, where it is sited. At times the mesa runs rear the high- impact.: The preferred trans- scission 37.0) way becoming a visual feature.. route crosses this. mesa once. This crossing is at a visually isolated location out o� view from tra:�elled roads or developed' areas. New 1l10neshi gh The visitors to the public Towor, pole and insulator Switchyard Area overlook will see the panor .co`ioring, background and vegetation reduce the impact.. Special: conductors will reduce is their visibility. r 141t .r� h � x r ��i,,�"tl��'♦i �x ,�y�,,� � ' � !+S �aiah��rk--fly;a y y � ti,y'. , - x d► '�" • �}I,y pi• 4� F� +}1 " w ;al MI. x e� Yr' T^ $ � t" IM ++k-� �:, d ., w.' y ♦W Rlo K'r s � t���'MF `� x� ��Y,cti` ryt � c. fi �♦ �' i {x6+{•AtXhprU`...r'fr' ' � °�' xal./� � 1. � .r a � Y .�"i rb re � ,�x.V �y+k { s�',.+.d , < .�� r 'i i✓.�'' I y p r � "7" 1V 1 r. ,}xf�+ C1r 7' ♦ F'� � � '� 7 g5ti ,, �y�yh' �, �, r 3h� r� to t {,+ a t'Z,�ki9 1�:)t ♦'may,. �x`'1xfr3x�,�""�� �'�. L �'��S ,V,�r .k+... ,d'�„a x . 'F` �+`r M.�L�,"k -t; w r, r•; fti+ry,�j'� f x � f � yT+1:. � 1 J„?'� 3 �5 .Vt tir '"��'♦^7. S♦th` r? p )i. •".tri+ {. r � ,� y C� es•i „}'� ..� �4��� i14 y" %�Y�i+r}t�_. ���,�' tt fx` ' xP•�� ���yt i � fir' � P Y ,��Y+r.k �,1 �". t�• t L S f ♦ i, `{ * �k. ^t{",a ���! �,. '{�+�� �i tiT1 Fe r ,• ,ry{Y�'� x\*.x r+ ,ti i+'Fj�+x 4'' a�Y S 7F rs . � 6 � ♦. i'•K �ti `+S'♦ t � v f{+ :il N r n , �r �x Gr � r` "S e5 +^�', + 3�r" �S ' •{. � � � �7�i'�i { s `. rl .lh , ° �� <i t � ,t 4 y�s l t 1 _ pi \ x aN � + � � ., - x ►t-. v s t� � w ,. i N'hy r,Y � u � ,l � �i S t- S 1� rt .745` 'i,��, t♦'M � 6 ; sk , , rk +u � rt �� ��'^ �• � � t f� 4 c ,! �' a +�� 4 t J ,x r'i + t 'Y�t � , � f M7 �a„<r � a s ,S " +ur r ,� Y � t� � 7 e � 'ic, a 4 . t• * sr � � 4, .M19 N 7 rr'g r iti $ f x ,1S S��'►yY, � lrcyl '.��ett, v'L .e p�tx. y'i��' �. }• 4 } ixt' �. i 11"4..4 �%' ♦ L t 1 :.♦ :1; ! �•.- �t ��Wx �l �� r � �+�v �1 r ` iS * � �, f�! � 4i L (}j i 1� n�'l►ij ¢ y �t � � ,� y., i 't. 41 4 r y , 7 f YS u t + t�."�:Lrr ,� 'lx �'.tj ���'� `l{' ♦4 S > x,q,{t 'L nrr5r x: r , r! 4r ,!+ �1. W, '+ v'1 , r , ° { S `SF 4 't'!R n °i� 4 �+ Y 'tlt i •^ 7�'1 ' .Y { �t7'1t'S S 4a '4 1" t �'ti+ �, P } � { 3. � � r � ♦ p � 1 '�x r�� t f J �...A �,>"r•x\ ��xa }�«" * i+w"' f i'+'�ASa !s 4xt ��r�bx � r. �'a't�� H 7" � r , . r • � � �h 5 K "� � �� � t lT�y+gt r r � � . � �. r t f ' (♦'�:. 1i� �,r e�.k�''.1 + , R ' w xF �� I{ax r '"� _ h ,. i ,}� (, Yi �tS tix�(' �x+x t •{ 1!S � llr h {, , K i! lerx 5 0" N d i �t .� j, ti+ i.', {•... u S t mtt , r a?f p tiN.r'�+{ z r r'•x'+►i W r N �5-', r d{ ;° +r t ._? �,+� y !, +. a • AA ;. yt,,�� 9 � , x ��xti'��' �t I r }•gyp, 1 y,° +�y� _ �, h �' i r4 "� r� (� �d I,N� 6 'Y � ,r � + �� 1ljFi� �, t r .l{t y. ��-i yt�• �k t1f ,�. 1 � � +4 �tx^ P'�.l A. >r° ii ai x M ,� �' + �t t j �r 2 t r � �t ;�y. " �y� � xti } y � � 4t x ,�b.r�'S,y rt .�i � = n � �ixti � ��r •�'b 'b{\'i{ �' ' x} � i.,, ; r„r) N � f i ,�?!�" � ♦ a. fl..4 x' "�°�K + jA ,t k {� } � y' � H � . x �' i t,A7x N4 � �ti" Ri �'1 *? ,�, k t' Impacts Chipping will be one method of slash disposal.. Some brush may be piled for wildlife habitats. Open burning will be subject to ,sir pollution regulations. A chipping machine will cause noise intrusions in relatively quiet areas. (5) Water quality could be adversely affected iC con- struction wastes such as oil, concrete, and sanitary wastes were accidently introduced into surface waters. This spillage could also possibly affect ground grater through percolation. The magnitude of the impact wcsld be dependent on the nature of the accident and the number and location of occurrences. All local, State, and Federal laws aid regulations regarding disposal of wastes, W131 be followed during construction. An emergency contingency plan for nations to be taken in case of ,an rwc dental spillage will be prepared. The, Bureau, the State Water Pollution Control Board) 411d 'Federal Environnisntal Protection Agency (EPA) will be notified if spillage occurs whlz�h has the potential to pollute stream or ground water. 0) When astruction vehicles c.russ unbridged streams and when culverts are installed in live streams, there will be some temporary Localized turbidity introduced ir.° the waterflow. Access toads across unbridged streams will'be el.. ated if possible. It is anticipated that; five culverts will be util.zed for stream crossings during construction. (7) Raw or exposed soils in the foothill areas which are exposed to construction activity will be subject to erosion. The topsoil along with much of the organic material on the steep slopes could be lost from disturbed areas. Typical steep slopes are located above the switchyard, `.Cable Mountain, and Green Springs Run. Foothill terrain subject to erosion would be at structure sites and where new access roads ate constructed. Some erosion could occur and turbidity could be introduced into nearby streams draining the area. With application of normal erosion.control measures, this turbidity will not be severe, and aquatic ecosystems downstream should not be adversely affected, Borrow areas for aggregate and backfill are not anticipated since commercial aggregate sources will be used and excavated material will be adequate Pot use as backfill around structure foundations. (8) Where traffic odours, there will, be some soil compaction. if the same route is used repeatedly, the compaction will cause the soil co lose its ability to hold water and maintain vegetation, This impact Will be confined to the area used by vehicular ttaffic, including heavy contruct on equipment. About 5 acres (2 ha) of Land will be itnp�,cted 40 ImpaCLs (9) Access roads will be mutually designated by agreement between PG&E and the respective landowners.. These roads will be st.tt- bilized and maintained to acceptable standards to prevent damage to both the road and adjacent areas. The roads will be cl.,sed to the public. No roads would be used during powerline construction where excessI,`*.3 damage to the area would occur. A Helicopter may be used at the Stanislaus River Crossing. (10) There will be dust raised during dry periods by traffic, construction activity .and by periodic blasting. This dust will have a short-term and very localized effect on air quality and Y. -ill coat. vege- tation in the immediate vicinity of the activity. (11) No major interfeence with agricultural work is expected.. (.12) Over three --fourths of the proposed PJI'iomen,t is on open rangeland. Nt prime agriculture land f r (1.15.4 ha) of ,.1 ght-or-way are needee ,.Or Lue 2,) -tnile (,.' 1 ton) _ane cf which 3 acr,as (1.2 ha) are for tower locations. The Impact on grazi;g due to disturbances during construction will be very Limited. (13) No relocations of laving accommodations, historical landmarks, or of buildings with redeeming social values are necessary. The only historic location near the line is the Wi.11ms Ranch site An ch is over a mile (1.6 km) away. (14) Materials required for the line will be hauled over existing roads which may cause some traffic congestion: (15) blasting may be required which will cause short""term noise.: (16) Archeological resources along the selected trans: mission alinemeia� are not expected to be impacted by the construction or operation of the line. The report on the archeological survey (Phase T) indicated several sites are so located that they have the potential to be adversely affected by the proposed alinement:, However, the investigatin3 archeologist concluded that if special construct -ion methods are used any adverse effect do the sites would be avoided. PG&t has conferred with the staff of the California Sate Historic Preservation Officer on "a course of action designed to protect the archeological and historic resources that might- be subject to impact by the construction or operation of the pr6posed transmission lane. The Vederal power Commission will att as the Vederal agency official and the "Procedures for the Ptotew., , - of Historic and Cultural Ptopertids" (36 CFR 800) will be foA 41